The Queen by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Chapter 6

Standing several feet back on the pathway, the brownie was in his full-sized form. He was well over six feet tall, and even in the fading sunlight, I saw that he looked different. I’d have to be missing my eyeballs not to notice it.

His normally shockingly white hair was a dark brown.

“Your hair!”

He stood there, arms at his sides, and I knew with his vision, he could clearly see my face. “Who cares about my hair right now,” he said, and then he moved.

Tink crossed the distance between us, and in a nanosecond, he swept me up. My feet left the ground as the right side of my cheek was planted to his chest. My ribs and the numerous bruises protested the embrace, but I didn’t say a word as I hugged him back just as tightly.

I’d missed him so much.

Sure, he could be a handful sometimes—okay, most of the time. His short stay with me had turned into more of a permanent roommate situation, unbeknownst to me. I was constantly tripping over the numerous boxes shipped from Amazon, he almost always left some sort of mess behind, and on more than one occasion, he’d given me a minor heart attack by hiding while in brownie-sized form under the covers or in cabinets. But I’d missed him.

Slowly, he lowered me to my feet and pulled back, keeping his arms around me. His gaze searched my face in the waning light. “I didn’t know.”

“Tink—”

“I was lounging on the beach, drinking super fruity cocktails, getting my suntan on, and enjoying being treated like the last brownie in this world and any other. And I had no idea.” His eyes glistened. “I had no idea this was being done to you.”

My chest ached. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not,” he replied softly. “Each time I called and either Ivy or Ren or the King answered, my super-brownie senses told me something was up. But they assured me you were fine, and that the Order had you working on a special project or some shit. I should’ve known better. The Order hardly uses you for anything.”

“Well, that’s not necessarily true…”

“But Fabian told me I shouldn’t worry, and he suggested that we stay longer,” he continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “I believed him. I wanted to believe him, even though I knew something was wrong. I was living my best life, and you were fighting for yours.”

“That’s not your fault.” I gripped the front of his shirt. “They didn’t want you to worry when there was nothing to be done.”

“I get that. I do. That’s the only reason I haven’t killed any of them, including Fabian. And trust me,” he said, voice hardening, “I am more than capable of killing each and every one of them.”

I blinked. Sometimes it was easy to forget that Tink wasn’t just an amusing Otherworlder able to change sizes. He was one of the most powerful Otherworld beings alive, who happened to have an addiction to Amazon Prime, Harry Potter, and Twilight.

“I could’ve done something. I could’ve looked for you. I could’ve found—”

“No one was able to find me. Not even the King until…until he did,” I said, tugging on Tink’s shirt. “You would’ve just been worrying and—”

“And that’s what I should’ve been doing. You’re my Lite Bright. I’m your Tink. I should’ve known. And I may or may not punch Ivy when I see her.”

“Don’t punch Ivy.”

“Not even a little?”

“No.”

“How about a love tap?”

A sob settled in the back of my throat as I shook my head no.

“What about when I’m tiny Tink-sized with teeny, tiny fists?”

I choked on a laugh. “Ren would still skewer you with a toothpick.”

“I’d punch him first. He’s had it coming since I had to unexpectedly see his junk in Ivy’s kitchen.”

Another laugh left me. “I’ve missed you,” I said, face-planting against his chest.

“Of course, you did. I’m awesome.” He cleared his throat. There was a pause, and I felt his lips brush the top of my head. “Fabian told me what really happened when we were about an hour out from here. I almost caused a massive pileup on the interstate.”

My lips twitched.

His hands settled on my shoulders and he guided me back. “He said you killed him. Aric?”

“I did,” I whispered.

“Is there anything left of his body?”

“Um, no. He sort of just disintegrated, like most Ancients.”

“Not even ashes?”

“I don’t think so.”

“I’ll ask the King.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“Because I want to take a shit on his remains.”

“Oh my God.” I laughed again. “That is so disgusting.”

“I know. It’s the most disrespectful thing I can think of,” he explained and then led me toward a loveseat that often reminded me of a birdcage sliced open. “Tell me, Bri. Tell me everything you can.”

As we sat on the thick cushions, and the gauzy curtain draped over the chair rippled in the breeze, I told him everything I could remember. It wasn’t the first time, but there was a sense that the weight was lifting, just a little this time around. It was like letting out a breath.

“The King is most likely right,” Tink said after I told him about the hallucination I’d had earlier. “Your mind is stronger.”

“I hope so.”

“It could have nothing to do with the feedings.” He was toying with my hair. Somehow, it had come out of its ponytail. “It could be that post-traumatic syndrome thing that sometimes causes people to hoard things in their houses.”

I arched a brow. “You watch way too much television.”

“But I could be right. You experienced some trauma. Hearing voices, reliving the events is pretty common afterwards, according to Dr. Phil.”

I stared at him.

“After I saw Ren’s junk, I kept seeing it. Sometimes, it would talk to me—”

“You’re a mess.”

He grinned at me. “Fabian told me something else.”

“What?”

“He told me how the King nearly tore the city apart looking for you,” he said, and every muscle in my body tensed. “Wouldn’t give up on finding you. He also said that Ivy told him he’s barely left your side since he found you.”

I looked away. “You know that I helped him when he was wounded. He felt like he owed me—”

“Are you forgetting that I saw him kiss you like you were a snack?”

My cheeks heated. “No, I’m not forgetting that, but you know he’s the King and I’m…it doesn’t matter. Tell me about your hair. Please?”

Momentarily distracted, he ran his hand through his locks. It wasn’t spiky but fell over his forehead. “Do you like it?”

“I …I do.” The color matched his brows now, and somehow made him appear more adult. Which was weird, but the darker color suited him. In all honesty, any color fit him. Tink was gorgeous. “It’s just a shock.”

“I didn’t recognize myself when I saw my reflection. It was strange.” He lifted a shoulder. “I sort of got bored with it, you know? Fabian suggested I should color it, and since I was bored, I thought YOLO, bitches. Fabian did it for me.” His voice lowered. “He didn’t wear gloves. It took days for the dye to fade from his hands.”

“Oh no.” I grinned. “But he did a good job.”

“He does a good job at everything. It’s annoying, and I mean that in the best way.” The smile on his face faded. “Lite Bright…”

“I’m okay. I really am. I know I don’t look it, but I’m fine.” I changed the subject once more. “Where’s Dixon?”

“Fabian has him. Carrying him around in the sling.”

I sort of wished I could see that.

“I know he loves you.”

“What?” I squeaked, my gaze shooting back to his.

“He spoke to Fabian before we got here. I don’t know exactly what he said, but Fabian knows his brother.” Tink lightly touched my arm. “He also told Fabian what he did.”

There could be several things that Caden might’ve told him.

“He ended his engagement.”

I closed my eyes. Why did it have to be that?

“I honestly thought that when I got here, I’d find you with him. So, color me surprised when he told us you were out in the courtyard by yourself.”

My eyes opened as my lips pursed. I couldn’t say that I was shocked that Caden knew exactly where I was.

“And here you are, acting like nothing’s going on when the motherfucking King of the Summer Court is in love with you.” He tapped my arm again. “I know you like him. You like him a lot, and you were hurt when he pushed you away.”

“Things have…they’ve changed. I’ve been through a lot,” I said, hating that I was using what’d happened to me as an excuse.

“Bri, you’ve been through a lot. But, girl, you’d already been through a lot. You’re a fighter. You’re a survivor,” he said, and my gaze lifted to his. “What you’ve gone through is terrible. But I don’t think it sucked out your ability to love and the ability to recognize the feeling. Or your common sense.”

“My common sense?”

“Yes. Your common sense seems to have taken a vacation,” he said, and my brows lifted. “You have the love and devotion of a King. Granted, he’s not human, but who in their right mind would swipe left on him?”

“That’s the problem, Tink. He’s the King.”

“So? That should fall under the pro category,” he reasoned.

I stared at him. “Do you know what will happen if he doesn’t choose a Queen from his people? I know you do. That’s why you got all quiet and weird after you saw him kiss me. That’s why you tried to get me to understand that he had reasons for pushing me away.”

“You’re right, but he still chose you. He chose you over his Court, over—”

“And you know what that means.” I couldn’t hear how he chose me. That wasn’t helping. “You know what will happen.”

“Is that why you’re saying things are different now?”

“Why else would I say it?” I admitted, shoulders slumping.

His gaze roamed over me, and his chest rose with a heavy breath. “You love him, right?”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“It’s the only thing that matters,” he responded. “Despite what and who he is, you still fell in love with him. Is that not true?”

I wanted to be able to say no, and maybe that would be the right thing to do. I needed to get better at saying it because perhaps then I’d believe it. But I couldn’t lie to Tink. “Yes,” I whispered. “But you can’t tell him that.”

He arched a brow. “You think he doesn’t already know?”

“It doesn’t matter what he knows or thinks. He needs a Queen, and the last thing he or I need is for someone to confirm how I feel.”

“You mean confirm what he already knows.” Tink looked out over the darkened courtyard while I debated punching him, but since I’d just told him he couldn’t punch Ivy, I couldn’t turn around and do it to him. “I know what could happen. Sure, the Court would weaken, and they’d be without a King, but that doesn’t mean fae will start dropping dead everywhere.” He sat back against the thick, cream-colored cushion. “It doesn’t mean that the King will become so weakened that he can’t defend himself. It doesn’t mean that you should both sacrifice what you deserve. Love is more important.”

“You really believe that? That Caden and I being together is more important than the survival of the fae? Of the human race and our—?” I cut myself off as my stomach dropped.

His eyes shot to mine. “And what?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar. What were you going to say?”

Shaking my head, I looked away. “It’s nothing, Tink.”

He was quiet for a moment. “What are you not telling me?”

“Why does everyone keep asking me that?” I threw up my hands in frustration. Okay. Only he and Caden had said that, but whatever.

“Maybe because there’s obviously something you’re not sharing.” There was a pause. “I’m offended.”

“Are you now?”

“Yes. I’m Tink. We’re roomies. We have joint custody of Dixon.”

My brows puckered. “We do not have joint custody of your cat.”

“Not true. He sleeps in your bed. That means we have joint custody whether you’re aware of it or not,” he said. “And you’re keeping something from me. You’re not telling me the truth, and I’ve just spent weeks with everyone keeping the truth from me. I expected better from you.”

My mouth dropped open as I stared at him. A trickle of guilt crept into me, which I was sure he’d intended. “That is so manipulative.”

“Is it working?”

A short laugh escaped me as my gaze traveled to where my arms were folded over my stomach. I opened my mouth and then closed it. The need to confide in Tink—in anyone—hit me hard. It hadn’t even been a day, and I was bursting to tell someone.

And Tink…if he was still living with me in a few months, would know. It would eventually become noticeable. I couldn’t hide it from everyone. I needed someone who knew. I could confide in Ivy, but she was prone to outbursts, and there was her own messy history with Caden.

Lifting my hands, I scrubbed them down my face, covering my mouth. “If I tell you this, you have to promise me you won’t say anything.”

“I promise,” he agreed quickly.

“I mean it, Tink. You’re going to want to say something, but you can’t repeat this. Not to Fabian or Ivy or even Dixon.”

“What in the hell would Dixon do? He’s a cat.”

“I don’t care.” Lowering my hands, I looked at him. “You can’t repeat this. If you do, I will…” I searched for the worst possible thing that could happen to Tink. “I will find a way to blacklist you from Amazon, and until then, I will throw every single one of your packages in the garbage. I will cancel your orders. I’ll discontinue the internet.”

His eyes widened as he pressed his hand to his chest. “That’s harsh.”

“I know.” I held his gaze. “Do you still want to know?”

Tink tilted his head. “I can keep a secret, Bri. You have no idea how many secrets I already keep. I’m practically the keeper of secrets. You all don’t even know my real name.”

I frowned. “What is your real name?”

He smirked.

“Does Fabian know?”

“Nope.”

“For real?”

“For reals.”

I was kind of surprised that he hadn’t told Fabian. There was power in knowing a fae’s true name. I nibbled on my lip and then it sort of just spilled out of me. Two simple words that were incredibly life-altering. “I’m pregnant.”

Tink blinked slowly. “With a baby?”

“What other thing would I be pregnant with?” I asked.

He gave a little shake of his head, and then a wide, beautiful smile broke out across his face, briefly stunning me. “Does that mean I get to be a godfather? I’ve always wanted to be a godfather. I can babysit. There are so many things I can show this child. I can make his or her toys come to life. Did you know that? I can teach them the wonders of Harry Potter and Twilight. Oh! And Game of Thrones. Well, that will probably have to come later. But think of all—” He came to a grinding halt while I gaped at him.

Tink drew back from me and then stood, lifting his hands. “I’m about to ask a potentially obvious question here. Bear with me while I collect myself.”

“Yes, it’s Caden’s child,” I stated dryly.

“You didn’t bear with me!”

“Tink.”

He clasped his hands together under his chin. “You are having his child?”

I nodded.

“You are carrying a baby inside you right now that has your and his DNA?”

“Yes.”

Tink bent at the waist so we were at eye level with each other. “You are impregnated by him?”

“Yes. Yes, Tink. I’m pregnant. He’s the father. Caden’s the dad,” I told him, exasperated. “The King is the father.”

“Holy shit.”

I snapped my mouth shut.

Tink blinked.

My heart stopped as my belly rolled all the way to the tips of my toes.

Neither of us had said that.

Tink straightened.

I looked over his shoulder.

And I saw not one, not two, but three fae staring at us in utter shock.