Crow (Faeries of Oz Book 2) Read online

  “Only myself when I was Tip. Then Jack...” Ozma drifted off, and Reva knew she was thinking about her true love.

  “Now you’ve seen more.” Reva’s gaze carried throughout the room as she followed the nymph toward a hallway. Paintings covered the wall of lovers fucking. Prostitutes and their clients appeared as if they were trying to mirror the positions depicted.

  Ozma didn’t look surprised anymore. She seemed inquisitive while watching the females and the males together, as if she were attempting to learn how it all worked.

  “It will come naturally when you reunite,” Reva whispered to Ozma as they turned down a hall filled with rooms and crimson curtains as doors.

  “Would you like me to get either of you some company for the night?” Falyn asked while lifting one of the curtains leading into a room with a single bed and dresser.

  “No, but would you have a change of clothing?” Reva pulled out a ring from her satchel. “Something black.” She’d been ignoring the itching of the clothing but she couldn’t handle it anymore.

  Falyn waved the ring away. “Only if you replace it with what you’re wearing. That clothing is far more valuable than anything I own.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Trade for anything in the closet you wish. I’m going to work for the remainder of the night, but you two can rest here.” Falyn spun around to leave, but stopped to glance over her shoulder. “I’m glad you’re back. Glinda mentioned what a wonderful leader and sister you were.”

  Reva didn’t say anything—her fists tightened at what Langwidere, Locasta, and the Wizard had set into motion.

  Chest heaving, Reva turned to find Ozma sitting on the bed, peering down at her hands. “What is it?”

  “I just want to get back to him.” Ozma sighed. “I’ve always wanted to get back to him.”

  Sometimes Reva wanted to roll her eyes because Ozma was more than who she used to be. She hadn’t known she was the ruler of Oz—not until she’d broken free from Mombi’s curse, then had been cast away to the dark place because of the Wizard. And now, there was so much more for Ozma than a single fae male. “You’ve known what”—Reva shrugged—“four fae your whole life before meeting Thelia and the others? Mombi, Oz, Jack, and me. I know Jack will be happy to see you from what I’ve heard of him, but you also have a whole new path now. It might not be a path that Jack would ever choose to walk.”

  “The Jack I know would. But I’m more concerned about my body.” Ozma motioned at her breasts. “What if he doesn’t like it? What if he doesn’t like me anymore?”

  “You did say he doesn’t have a preference between males and females, so why wouldn’t he? And if he doesn’t, then fuck him. You’re Ozma, Queen of Oz.” Reva would strike Jack down with her magic if need be.

  Ozma bit her lip.

  Reva pressed her hands on Ozma’s narrow shoulders. “When the sun rises, go to him and warn him about the Wizard. I’ll be fine. After I deal with Locasta, I’ll wait for you in the Emerald City and help you claim the palace. But if you arrive and there’s still war over the territory, go back to Thelia in the South.”

  “I’ll meet you there.” Her blue eyes met Reva’s, gleaming with determination. “Unless you need my help with Locasta first.”

  “No, you can’t. Not with her ability to change you into something else. That’s why I had Thelia stay at the Southern palace—we can’t all be in the same place at the same time. If something happens to me, there will still be the two of you.”

  Ozma pressed her hand to her chest. “I only had my wings for moments, but I wish I had them now to help.”

  “You’ll grow a new pair once you get the silver slippers. The shoes’ magic will yield to you in whatever way you wish.” The way Thelia had wanted Reva gone… Even though Thelia should have wanted her truly dead for everything Reva had done.

  Ozma nodded and pulled back the red satin sheets. “Let’s get some rest.”

  Reva removed her boots and slipped beneath the covers, but she couldn’t shut her thoughts off. “Do you know what you’re going to say to Jack when you see him?”

  “I’ve gone over it a thousand times in my head, and I still don’t have an answer. I still miss being Tip at times, but perhaps that’s because I know Jack loved him. But I love myself now. I just hope Jack can too.” Ozma stretched and closed her eyes, breathing slow and even.

  Reva shouldn’t have brought up the subject, because now she couldn’t stop her thoughts from turning to her past lover and how they had first met.

  Reva strolled down to the market because she preferred to pick her fruit herself. It had to be perfect. Not too soft, not too hard. She bid a passing hello to every fae she encountered on the way, only stopping to tickle a young brownie beneath her chin.

  Merchants filled their stands with goods—dark clothing, obsidian jewelry, and fruit. Her favorite fruit stand caught her eye. Apples and oranges rested in baskets along the counter. Beneath the afternoon sun, a perfect green apple sparkled. That was the one. She reached for the luscious piece of fruit, but a male’s hand grabbed it first.

  Reva narrowed her eyes at him, first for stealing her apple, and second because he wore a mask shaped like a bird’s head that covered half his face. Black hair with feathers entwined fell past his shoulders. “You’re not from around here,” she accused.

  “How do you know?” he asked, cradling the apple closer to his chest, his brown eyes flashing impishly from beneath the mask.

  “Because I know everyone in this territory.” She looked at the stand’s owner, Yovey, who was busy talking to another customer. His gold ring-covered fingers flashed as he gestured toward his fruit.

  The stranger lifted his mask over his head, revealing a handsome face that made her catch her breath. He had a chiseled jaw, a light scar running across his nose, and high cheekbones. Reva came back to herself, not one to be swayed by a pretty face. She’d had plenty of those in her bed.

  He arched a brow. “Every single one?”

  “Every single one.” Reva named each owner and customer at the stands circling the area, reciting the monikers like a shopping list. She held out her hand, palm up. “Now give me my apple.”

  He tossed the apple into the air and caught it again. “I was planning on bringing it to the Western Witch, Reva—I hear she favors pristine fruit.”

  Her eyes narrowed.

  “And why’s that?” She didn’t do well with strangers entering her or her sister’s territory—not with the Eastern Witch becoming more and more deceptive. Inora had already sent spies on multiple occasions, so the arrival of an outsider was never a good sign. If she had to kill him right then and there, so be it.

  “Why does she like pristine fruit or why am I bringing her some?” he asked with a playful smile.

  “The latter.”

  He shrugged. “I need to discuss a Northern problem with her, so I was hoping it would help put her in a helpful mood.”

  A Northern problem? What was Locasta up to now? Everyone believed the bitch to be good, but Reva could see through her lies. She just couldn’t prove anything—yet. Locasta wasn’t like Inora, who didn’t care about showing the Land of Oz who she truly was.

  “You want Reva?” She cocked her head. “Go to her palace, then.”

  He dropped the apple into her palm. “Do you really believe I wouldn’t recognize you, Reva?”

  Reva had never been caught off guard. Not until right then. “Who the fuck are you?”

  “You can call me Crow.”

  “What do other people call you?” she asked.

  “Crow. Though, I suppose it depends on who you ask,” he said with a wink.

  “I’m leaving,” Ozma whispered, rousing Reva from sleep before kissing her on the cheek. “We will meet again soon.”

  “Stay safe, Ozma.” Reva’s heart beat faster, missing her friend already. “I know you can do this. You’re strong and determined, and Jack will fall in love with you all over again when he sees you. It doesn’t matter that your body is different. He will see you.”

  “I hope so.” Ozma bit her lip. “Now, try not to be too hard on Crow.”

  Crow…

  Ozma smiled, pushed back the curtain, and left. Reva was alone again, as she had been in the dark place before Ozma had arrived. But this was for the better. Going after Locasta would be dangerous, and Reva didn’t want anyone else to suffer from the witch’s vicious curses.

  She sat up and quickly removed Glinda’s one-piece pink outfit to leave on the bed for Falyn, then walked to the wardrobe in the corner. Ropey vines were etched into the wood and heavy brass handles accentuated the doors. Reva pulled the doors open to sift through the nymph’s clothing. She found black leather pants, a corset, and a tight tunic with lace around the collar and the ends of the sleeves. When she turned over the shirt, there were ribbons crisscrossed in the back. It was perfect.

  Just as Reva finished sliding on the clothing and buttoning the front of the tunic, Falyn entered the room, wet-haired and more than a little rumpled.

  “I would have returned sooner,” Falyn said, “but my client paid me for the entire night and multiple rounds. I do hope he returns, because he was exquisite.”

  Reva ground her teeth as she thought about something distasteful. Crow’s mind had been back for ten years—had anyone else found him exquisite?

  “Something wrong?” asked Falyn.

  “No, only thinking about the journey ahead,” Reva replied, dropping her scowl and picking up her pack to head back out.

  Falyn lifted Glinda’s garment and hugged it to her chest. “I’m not sure I’ll see you again, but stay safe. The Emerald City isn’t as it once was.”

  Reva told Falyn goodbye, passing couples buried deep in each other as she left the brot
hel to venture north once again on the yellow brick road. The sunlight revealed that the road wasn’t as pristine here as it was in the South, its color faded to a dull mustard.

  The farther she traveled out, the worse the road became. Cracks in bricks, some missing, others uneven. She’d been traveling for too long when she stopped to eat berries and drink from a glistening stream. Brushing her hands clean against her pants and filling her canteen with more water, she spun around as a loud clicking noise reverberated off the trees. Whatever it was, it didn’t sound small.

  Reva’s magic thundered, and she crept around a tree trunk. As she took a step forward on a bed of leaves, a crack echoed and she flew up off the ground, screaming. Iron-spun ropes with tiny holes surrounded her, the net swaying gently. It had been hidden by leaves—one that was used for hunting. The iron burned her hands and rendered her powerless.

  “Fuck!” she shouted.

  A rustle stirred the bushes, drawing her attention. Out came a harmless water fae with gills on the side of its neck, making the same clicking sound before darting on all fours into the river.

  Trapped in iron with no one else around, Reva’s only hope was for someone to pass by and help before she grew too weak and became something’s prey.

  Chapter Five

  Crow

  Crow trudged along the yellow brick road as dawn filtered through the trees. For fae who’d only gotten a few hours’ head start, Reva and Ozma hadn’t wasted a second. He’d pushed himself to walk faster, and sleep less, just to close the gap between them, but it had been three days. Given that Reva hadn’t visited the Southern woods for decades, Crow figured she would keep mostly to the path. And that would lead to the same town where he’d finally found Thelia and Tin.

  How ironic, he thought as he glimpsed a white-washed building. He would soon be asking around town for Reva instead of his daughter. It seemed Reva and Thelia had something in common—running, unknowingly, from him. Though Reva should’ve known better. There was no chance he would let her run off to fight Locasta alone.

  He paused across the street from the brothel and set his pack on the ground to stretch. There were only a few places he could enter this early—eateries, galleries, and trade shops wouldn’t open for another hour or so—which left the inn and the brothel.

  “Hello,” a nymph called brazenly from an upstairs window.

  Ah, shit. With his luck, Reva had spent the night in town and would emerge just in time to see him chatting up a prostitute. “I’m not looking for company, thank you,” he called back.

  “Are you sure I can’t—”

  The front door opened and a petite blond female emerged. She wore a simple blue dress, no longer one of Langwidere’s. Ozma. “Fucking finally,” he whispered to himself. But where was Reva?

  The true ruler of Oz stared at him from across the road for a long moment before moving toward him. He felt frozen in place. If he moved, would she change her mind about approaching? Run and tell Reva they’d been found?

  “Good morning,” Ozma said cheerfully. She stopped in front of him and met his gaze. “It took you long enough.”

  He wasn’t sure if that was an accusation or not. “I’m sorry?”

  Ozma picked nervously at her skirts. “I… shouldn’t be talking to you.”

  “Why’s that?” he asked, as if he didn’t know.

  “Reva doesn’t want you to go to the North with her.” Her gaze fell to the ground. “I knew you were following us so I pretended to leave on my own mission first. I stayed behind to catch you even though…”

  Crow waited for her to continue but only silence stretched between them. His heart went out to her—Reva was her friend. They’d survived some dark place together. And now, she was betraying that bond they’d built.

  “I only want to protect her,” he reassured Ozma. “Reva can’t take on Locasta alone.”

  Ozma nodded. “That’s why I stayed back. We survived too much for her to get herself killed so recklessly.”

  Crow swallowed a dozen questions about what exactly they’d survived. Where they had been. What was Reva like now? It had been decades…

  “She went that way.” Ozma pointed down the yellow brick road. “If you hurry, you’ll catch up to her by midday.”

  Crow swept his pack off the ground and quickly flung it over his back. The movement sent his mask sliding down from the top of his head to cover his face. “Thank you,” he said in a rush. “Truly. Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me.” Ozma sounded torn, but determined. “Just keep her safe.”

  “You have my word.” He lifted her hand and planted a kiss on her knuckles. Then he took off after Reva with renewed energy.

  Crow didn’t slow his pace—not until he, finally, caught his first glimpse of Reva. The sight of her sent his pulse racing. She had ditched the pink one-piece outfit in favor of a black-lace tunic and leather pants. Seeing her in her favorite color again hit Crow with a wave of nostalgia. His body yearned to step out of the alley and go to her. He missed the days when they would walk side by side—arguing, touching, laughing, touching some more.

  But it was nothing like old times. He would do whatever it took to make things return to how they’d been, to when she’d loved him, but first he had to find the courage to speak to her.

  She was bent near the river, cupping water in her hands to drink. The sun beat down, caressing her long hair, and making the water behind her sparkle. She looked so magical. So lethal and beautiful. How had he ever gotten so lucky to win the heart of such a female?

  Drawn forward by her presence, Crow stepped off the crumbling yellow brick road. A twig snapped underfoot, and he cringed. Reva would attack if she thought someone was sneaking up on her. He cleared his throat to call out to her, but stopped himself at the last moment. Announcing himself could send her running—being attacked would bring her right to him. And maybe help her work out some of the anger she clearly carried for him.

  Before he could make a solid decision, another, louder snap echoed through the forest. At first, he thought he’d stepped on an entire pile of sticks. Then the sound was followed by Reva’s scream. Crow’s blades shot out from beneath his bracers, arching over his hands like claws, as he prepared to slay any dangerous fae that threatened her.

  What Crow found instead stopped him in his tracks. Reva hung from a tree in a large iron net. His first instinct was to rush over and save her, as much as she would hate that, but he retracted his blades, chuckling silently. The indignity of it had to be killing her.

  Crow’s chuckle slowly gave way to a mischievous grin. Reva would have to speak with him if she wanted to get down. The question was, should he approach her now or wait until she was truly desperate to escape?

  The answer was simple, though. She had suffered enough because of him and, while he needed her to hear him out, he wouldn’t purposely terrify her. There was no telling what horrors she’d experienced over the last two decades, first as Locasta’s monstrous puppet and then wherever she’d gone after the curse broke.

  “Who the fuck is there?” Reva called as Crow strode toward her. Even trapped in a net, she didn’t seem to be frightened of whatever predator prowled the forest.

  “That depends.” Crow paused beneath the net and waited for it to spin slowly around so she could see him. When she did, her face quickly morphed from shock to anger—likely because he had followed her, though perhaps also because she hadn’t noticed that he was doing so. “Would you rather someone else save you?” he asked with a chuckle.

  “Don’t you dare leave me here,” she seethed.

  Crow made a show of releasing his blades and walking up to where the net met the tree trunk, then paused. “If I let you down, we’ll talk?”

  Reva mumbled something unintelligible, her eyes narrowing, and a harsh scowl formed on her face. “Why are you here?”

  He wanted to admit that Ozma was worried about Reva but didn’t want to cause a rift between them. Ozma had clearly felt disloyal when she’d found him. Instead, he pointed a finger playfully at Reva in the net. “You’re as light on your feet as always, my love, and rather quick too. I didn’t hear you leave your room at Glinda’s which put me hours behind, yet it still took me days to catch up.”