The Faerie Queen (The Faerie Ring #4) by Kiki Hamilton

face.
    “ No, he said they could stay as long as we need.” Rieker ran the backs of his fingers along her cheek. “And what of you? Have you learned anything?”
    “ I have learned something,” Larkin said. Her gaze shifted to Tiki. “The boy you took in—the pickpocket—is dying.”
    Tiki sucked in her breath. “Johnny?”
    Larkin shrugged. “I suppose that’s his name. The one the liche brought to the Otherworld. I tried to warn you when you fed him faerie drink from the Cup of Plenty—”
    “ I was trying to save his life,” Tiki sputtered.
    “ But it also doomed him to life in Faerie. You should know by now that magic has consequences for a mortal. The boy can’t live in this world any longer – the food and drink are killing him. If you truly want to save him, he’ll have to live in Faerie the rest of his days.”
    “ No,” Tiki whispered as unwanted images danced before her eyes. “What about Fiona?”
    Larkin’s lip curled. “Wasn’t it you who said better alive in Faerie than dead forever? The boy won’t last much longer. He needs to be returned to the Otherworld and cared for there. I’ll take him with me when I return.”
    Rieker gently squeezed Tiki’s hands. “Let’s get Johnny well and then we can decide where he lives. Tell me what you’ve learned.”
    Tiki quickly brought him up to speed on their search for the flag and the news about the Jester being captured. “We’ve just returned to London to search for the missing MacLeod but Larkin has informed us she’s going to return to Faerie to help the Jester.”
    Ri eker glanced over at Larkin.  “I agree the Jester was entertaining, but why would you risk your life for a man who didn’t claim allegiance to either court?”
    The air seemed to thrum as they waited for Larkin’s answer.
    “ Because—” Larkin practically snarled— “he is important…to me .”
    Tiki’s stomach did a slow roll at the turbulent expression in Larkin’s eyes. Something wasn’t right. What was the faerie hiding?
    Rieker half-laughed. “That’s all you’re going to tell us? The Jester is important to you and you’re going to risk your life—to what? Save him?” Disbelief was thick in his voice.
    “ Perhaps the meaning of the word loyalty— ” she spat the word from her mouth— “has never been properly explained to you, but in my world it—”
    “ Come off it, Larkin,” Rieker interrupted. “You’re not going to save the Jester.” His lip curled in disgust. “There’s something else going on and in typical fashion you’re not being honest with us.”
    Larkin’s eyes narrowed to deadly slits. “How little you know of my world and yet, for some inexplicable reason, you think you know it all. You—”
    Dain stepped between them and raised his hands for them to stop. He turned toward Larkin. “I’ll go with you.”
    Tiki choke d. “ What?”
    “ I said I’ll go with Larkin,” Dain shrugged. “I can vouch that she knows more about Donegal than anyone outside, and possibly inside, the UnSeelie Court. If she says it’s more important to save the Jester than to find the Fourth Treasure then I will help her do it.”
    “ Thank you, Dain,” Larkin said.
    “ I don’t believe this.” Rieker slammed his hands on his hips and turned away, his shoulders rigid with anger.
    Tiki didn’t know what to think. She shuddered at the idea of the Jester being tortured as Larkin and Dain had been, but to try and sneak into the White Tower again or the Palace of Mirrors while Donegal ruled….her skin crawled at the thought. She spoke to Larkin.
    “ At least tell us why the Jester is so important?”
    The faerie looked away, seeming to fight some kind of internal battle. Finally the words exploded from her lips.
    “ Because he saved me.” Her turbulent gaze circled the group. “You three should know better than anyone that there is no escape from the White Tower without help.  When Donegal captured me I would have died there if it