Wicked Games Read online

  Hendrix laughed. “Way ahead of you. There is one half a click to the left once you leave the temple complex, then you need to jump portals from there. I’m sending Scur the coordinates.”

  “You’re awesome, Hendy. Thanks.” She cut out the coms and looked to her guys. “Let’s go see my errant guard, shall we?”

  3

  Alyx walked into the newly minted faeblin stronghold as if she owned the place, and stalked toward where she could feel the tug of her wayward guard coming from. Abaxley was already so weaved into her, and he had kissed her once. It was weird, being this in tune with someone that she hadn’t really been intimate with, but they kept telling her the bonds manifested different for each guard so she wasn’t overly concerned.

  “Princess Mayhem,” a woman said and curtsied. “Prince Abaxley is in the bath...”

  “I know exactly where he is,” she said as she, Scur, and Khalid walked into the main bedchamber that Abaxley was using and closed the doors.

  “Abaxley!” she called as she walked into the bathroom proper to see her guard lounging in a tub of green water with herbs and flowers. “What the fuck is this?”

  “Hello to you, too, Princess,” he said without opening his eyes. “I was having a detox.”

  “I can see that. Why?”

  “Kaelyn,” he said by explanation. “Her and Aziz are still working on the goblin scourge.” He made air quotes with his fingers. “And since I’m cured...or more so than the others, they want my essence in these flowers and shit. I don’t know, I don’t fucking understand it. I’m just doing as asked. Now,” he leaned his head up and opened his eyes, “what can I do for you?”

  Ooh, that was a loaded question. Seeing him there, naked in the tub, she felt the ping again, but deeper, darker inside her than it had been with Khalid. Her body wanted Abaxley and bad. Her magic, it wanted to meld with his own, swirl and dance in it. But the fucker was stubborn. Instead of telling him she wanted to climb into that tub with him and ride him ‘til the water sloshed out, she pursed her lips and shook the scroll at him. “I have need of your talents.”

  Smirking, he shook his head. “Princess, I thought I already told you...”

  “Your ability to speak Goblish, you tool,” she said and sneered. He could be one right egotistical bastard. And it attracted her to no end.

  “Goblish? Interesting. Well, I guess I’m at your service.”

  “Stop with the innuendos, you shit. Unless I get to ride that dick, you keep it professional!” she said and leaned on the door frame.

  “Aren’t you going to let me get out of the water?”

  She nodded. “Of course.”

  “Alone?”

  “Oh, hell no. Nothing I haven’t seen before.” Or wanted with the fire of a thousand suns, she thought. “I might not get to ride it, but I’m not passing up an opportunity to ogle your goodies.”

  “Fair enough,” he said as he sighed and rose from the water.

  She all but purred as he made his way out and toward a robe. The man moved with a grace she didn’t know men possessed. And one day, he would be hers. Maybe. Hopefully.

  He breezed past her and into the bedroom to see Scur and Khalid there. “Ah. You brought Mutt and Jeff,” he said. “You guys look awful.” He turned to her. “Covered in cobwebs and dust... Where the fuck have you been?”

  “Unlike some people,” Scur said and sat down on the corner of the bed, “we’ve been working.” His nose twitched. “Not sitting in a bath that makes a man smell like a flower shop. Seriously, Bax, what the fuck?”

  Khalid stood there, arms crossed over his chest, staring at the prince with a shit-eating grin on his face. “We were in Cambodia. Found something we need your assistance on.”

  “Or you wouldn’t be here,” he said and turned to Alyx. “Well, give it up... Let’s see.”

  “Again with the innuendos,” she said and sauntered over to him, hips swaying. She knew he was attracted to her and liked seeing his eyes bug out when she walked to him. Handing him the scroll and standing back, she looked on as he opened it and scanned it.

  “This Goblish is old. Like fucking old.”

  “Not surprising,” Khalid said. “What Alyx translated already we believe is referencing the rift, which is definitely fucking old. Question is, can you read it?”

  He nodded as he walked over to his desk and flattened the scroll out. She followed him over, standing to his left. “Okay, so...let’s see... It looks like it was rewritten over something else.”

  She nodded. “That’s what I said. “

  “Well it says...ah. Okay...”

  “What?”

  “It says that goblins were created, but by those that wished for things to be...parted? Yes, parted. Guess they meant that shithead, Poseidon. They were aware of this place, this scroll, and the beginnings, and that they wished to return to the origin of their own power.” He looked at Alyx. “Apparently not all goblins were shitheads like their creator. They called themselves Nomart goblins, and they left coordinates on where they went to.”

  “That’s it?” she asked.

  “No. It also says that they rewrote this section because they wanted to be included when the time was right. The names of the home islands are Hybrasil and Dewa... I can’t make the last letter out but that’s what it says.”

  “According to Cetus, Poseidon created the goblins as spies for the Light,” Khalid said. “It would make sense that not all of them fell in line. Even if you create a species, they still have their own morals and beliefs. There is no way to control all of them.” Both Khalid and Scur stayed back by the bed, giving Abaxley and her space.

  “I’ve never heard of either of those places,” Scur said, “and I’ve been all over Faerie and the human realm.”

  “Hybrasil is a mythical island in the Atlantic,” Alyx said. “Humans think it’s actually Avalon, of the Arthurian legends. It showed up on several human maps, too. It’s like Atlantis, an island that doesn’t exist.”

  “Maybe not here...maybe it exists in Faerie, because it is Faerie,” Abaxley said.

  “Could have been lost when Faerie shifted,” Khalid said. “Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s back. I believe we found our next target.”

  “Seems Faerie wants us to go on a scavenger hunt,” Scur said with a grin. “We should pop by Dank while we’re here. See if Nihar can dig into that brain of his and tell us what he knows.”

  “Not sure if he will know,” Khalid said. “If the island was a goblin territory, that information might not be available to him.” He looked at the prince. “Have you been able to locate all the goblin scrolls and history around here yet?”

  He nodded. “Almost all of it has been sent over to Nihar, though my attendants have found a few more boxes hidden in the storerooms below. Gerrin?” He turned to the man standing in the far corner. “Can we get the other chests brought up here?”

  “Right away, Prince,” the man said, bowed, and walked out.

  “I think your best bet right now is to visit with Hendrix and see where these coordinates take you for the Nomart. They might be able to help you on the trek.”

  She arched a brow. “Your interest isn’t at all piqued?”

  “Well sure, but...I have a shit to do here.”

  “You’re shitting me right now,” Scur said with a scoff. “Alyx just handed you an opportunity to find out more about your people and you have shit to do here?” The berserker shook his head. “I hope there is an ancient Goblish translator in those chests you’re bringing up then.”

  “Scur, he’s got his reasons.” She sighed, shaking her head. “If he doesn’t want to help then it’s fine. We will figure it out.” Gods, she was tired of this.

  “Prince Abaxley!” they heard as one of his retainers ran in. “Oh. I didn’t know you were entertaining...”

  “What the fuck is wrong, Faust?” he said with a frown. “Is someone dead?”

  “Actually, yes,” he said. “Gerrin. Found him in the hallway a few y
ards down. Throat slit. Lady Vesta is with him.”

  They took off at a run after Faust to see Gerrin lying there, Vesta’s hand over his throat, attempting to heal him.

  “Jesus... Who did this?! I just sent him down to get the chests.”

  “On it,” Faust said and ran off.

  “Gerrin, don’t move too much. Did anyone see what happened?”

  Alyx pointed to Gerrin and they saw his hand was moving on the left of him. She rounded on the prone body to see words, not English, written in blood. “Abaxley...”

  The prince came to her and went to his knees. “It says Traitor...and Hink.” He looked to Gerrin. “Hink is a traitor?”

  Gerrin nodded once as the light left his eyes and his body went limp.

  “I’m sorry, Prince. I tried,” she said as she pulled her hand away to see the gash was black, and spreading. Whatever Hink used to slash him had been coated in poison.

  “I’m calling Jedreck,” Khalid said, pulling out his phone. “The Hunt is at your disposal, Prince Abaxley. We’ll help hunt this little fuck down.”

  “Who is this Hink?” Scur asked, looking down at the body. “To kill one of your men a few feet away from where you were...” He shook his head. “Bax, man, shit...I don’t even know what to say.”

  “Hink was Gerrin’s lover,” Abaxley said, his voice monotone.

  “Which means...” Alyx said, a frown forming on her lips. “That Hink was a plant.”

  Abaxley nodded. “Incanta... No one else is alive.”

  Khalid pocketed his phone. “Jed is sending a few men over.” He crossed his arms, looking down at the body before surveying the room. “It would have been easy for Hink to get through the screening we did for possible traitors, being close with Gerrin. I think you’re going to need to take a closer look at who’s still here. Incanta’s been quiet as of late, which means she’s plotting. With Poseidon out of the picture, she’s going to need as many eyes and ears here as she can get.”

  He nodded. “And Gerrin probably told him what we found. I mean they were close and it’s not like we would keep that from my people. Hell, Gerrin was probably excited about the Nomart. Hink got info that could help Incanta...” He shook his head.

  “Prince, all the chests are accounted for,” Faust said as he came up, four other men carrying the chests behind him.

  “Thank you, Faust. We need to alert Gerrin’s mother.”

  “I will do it,” Lady Vesta said. “I tried...”

  “I know, Ves,” Abaxley said and hugged her. “Thank you.”

  “We will take care of his body,” Faust said. “Lirt, Fog, Jip, take the chests into the prince’s rooms.”

  Alyx looked at Abaxley and sighed. Now he had a traitor in his midst that they needed to find, and a funeral to handle and probably more. Shit. He wasn’t going anywhere. “I’m sorry to bring this to your doorstep, Prince,” she said and turned from him. “The Hunt will be here soon, and I’m sure you need to handle everything.”

  He nodded. “I’ll be in touch with any info I find in the chests, yeah?”

  “Thank you. We will be at Outura Ken with Gogo and Nihar figuring this out.”

  “We’ll keep you in the loop,” Khalid said, walking over to shake the man’s hand. “Jed told me to tell you, anything you need, all you have to do is ask. Also,” he lowered his voice, but Alyx could still make out his words. “When you have a minute, I’d like to speak to you. Now isn’t the time, but soon.”

  He nodded. “I’ll be in touch.” He looked up to her, regret in his eyes for a split second before he blinked and gave her a small smile. “And if you find anything...”

  She nodded. “I’ll have Khalid call.”

  They walked out, Alyx trying to ignore the tug on her own soul as she moved further from him and through the stronghold. “We need to let the other houses know, and V, because the High Sithen might have info hidden.”

  Scur moved to her side, taking hold of her hand. “I’ll give Puizel a call when we get to Dank, have him notify everyone. I think it’s crucial we find the location and get there as soon as possible. Incanta doesn’t want us to know about it, which means she’s probably trying to locate it as well. We need to get there before she does.”

  “We need to find out why this has been hidden as long as it has been, and why,” she said. “Let’s get to Gogo.”

  4

  “We didn’t put him in a knowledge coma, did we, Gogo? Because he looks replete in a way this asshole is after I go down on him.” She hiked her thumb at Scur. They were watching Nihar slumped back in a large wingback chair, his head back, arms slack, and eyes closed. Alyx was even sure she saw a little bit of drool. “Or did you do that to him?”

  Gogo laughed. “Probably a little from column A and a little from column B. I needed to bring him back to himself because he was getting a raging brainer, if you know what I mean.” She winked. “He’s just sleeping it off. Should be back to being his chipper self in moments.”

  They had walked into Outura Ken and Alabaster had informed them both Gogo and Nihar were in the Library and they were welcome to meet them there. They had walked in on Nihar in the position he was in, and Gogo checking her hair in the mirror.

  “So how did it go with the prince?” Gogo asked as she nodded to Alabaster who wheeled a cart of drinks and cakes in.

  “Ass gave us some intel off the scroll, but if you’re talking about me making any headway on breaking his hip, that would be a no.” She sighed.

  “Well, he can’t hold out forever. I believe that record is held by Riven or Damari, and both cracked and ran to Nymea so...” She smiled. “Let’s see this scroll, yes? Nihar is absolutely giddy over taking a trip to the repository to do a little snooping.”

  Alyx handed her the scroll which the other woman smoothed out and laid flat with little weighted pillows with the Argos crest on them. “This is amazing, and the prince deciphered the Goblish?”

  Alyx nodded. “Said there’s a faction of goblins that broke from Poseidon’s original purpose for them, calling themselves the Nomart, and that ultimately we are looking for two islands, Hybrasil and Dewa-something. He couldn’t read the end there, it is too smudged.”

  She nodded. “Nihar told me about the rest...the rift and the wellspring. This is all extremely exciting. So what can we do for you?”

  “Well, we have a problem. Apparently Abaxley had a death while we were there.” She recounted what happened with Gerrin and Hink. “So you can see why this is bad.”

  “Indeed. Incanta getting her grubby mitts on anything is a bad thing,” Hendrix said as he walked in. “We need to be quick.”

  “Which is why we are here. There’s coordinates for the Nomart, but my captain,” she looked at Khalid, “isn’t going in without intel. So...”

  “So, you came to the right place,” Hendrix said and leaned down, kissed Gogo’s cheek and then kicked the chair Nihar was openly drooling in. “Asshole. You are drooling all over that three-hundred-dollar shirt. Wake up, you are needed.”

  “Hendy...” Gogo said with a chuckle. “Be nice.”

  “I was. I didn’t yell at him that his dick was hanging out like last time, did I?”

  A pillow was suddenly thrown on Nihar's lap, but the man didn’t so much as flinch. "And none of us would have realized that if you hadn't said anything," Scur said and Khalid laughed.

  "First things first," her captain said. "We need to locate the islands."

  Gogo shrugged. “No, I think you need to locate these Nomart...”

  Hendrix nodded. “Hybrasil historically is here,” he said and pulled up a sat photo on the wall projector. “See? Open ocean. It’s not like there’s a whirlpool there or an energy plane like the triangles around the world. Maybe Cetus knows something.” He looked at Gogo. “Or is he too old?” he asked, smirking.

  "Since the goblins separated early on, he might know," Khalid said.

  "The Nomart never ascended their plane of existence to Faerie. No portal will t
ake you to their land," they all heard Nihar say, but when Alyx looked over at him, he still appeared to be asleep. "You'll need a boat."

  “This omnipotent bullshit,” Hendrix said and shook his head. “Put your dick away and help us.”

  Gogo chuckled and shook her head. “And the coordinates for the Nomart?”

  Hendrix hit some buttons on his tablet and things started zooming in on the screen. “Oh. Oh. Oh, that’s cool.”

  “What? What’s cool?” Alyx said as she watched what looked like an infinite loop happen on the screen.

  “It’s an island...a sub-sub-sub island. But not in the ocean. An island in a lake on an island in a lake, on an island.”

  Nihar blinked his eyes opened as he reached under the pillow to fix himself. He stared at Hendrix and blinked several times. "You wanna repeat that a little slower?"

  "Don’t worry," Khalid said, "I followed. Is the main island inhabited? Like can we easily get on it and then work our way to the center island?"

  Hendrix laughed. “It’s in Canada, like northern Canada, like freeze your balls off area of Canada.”

  Scur and Khalid looked at each other and shrugged. "Cold doesn’t bother either of us, so that's not an issue," her berserker said. "And we know how to keep Alyx warm." He bobbed his brows at her.

  “Well then en-fucking-joy this madcap trip. Cuz you are going to the Northwest Territory!” Hendrix said like a game show host. “And I think it’s bloody brilliant. Hiding up there, away from everything and everyone. There’s talk there’s several tribes of Inuit there. It’s very possible the goblins are posing as humans.”

  Khalid looked at her, brows furrowed. "We're going to need to get up there as soon as possible. Since we're near the Front I think we should get in touch with Anders, he'll have any equipment we'll need to combat the cold."

  Alyx nodded. “I’m down. So? Professor Dick-out-your-pants? What do you got for us?”

  Gogo sipped her drink and rolled her eyes.

  "My dick is already tucked back in, thank you very much." He made a face at her. "As far as the Nomarts...well, they have spent millennia keeping away from fae life. They are not going to be happy to have you show up. Which means you'll need to be polite and non-threatening."