Free The Seven Year King (The Faerie Ring #3) by Kiki Hamilton

night seem to shimmer. Callan and the two other Macanna who had identified themselves as her bodyguards earlier flickered into view.
    “Majesty.” Callan’s tone was a mix of relief and reproach. “For your own good as queen, you shouldn’t leave without telling us.” He scowled at Rieker, his thick dark brows pulling low over his green eyes. “We are the best trained to protect you now.” His gaze slowly perused her outfit but his face remained impassive.
    “I’m sorry, Callan,” Tiki said, hoping the man wouldn’t question why she was dressed like a boy and out in the middle of the night. “I only planned to be gone a short time…”
    “Teek.” Fiona’s brow scrunched in a perplexed look. “Who are you talking to?” She looked around in confusion.
    “ Any amount of time is too long,” Callan interrupted. “And to be around goblins …” he spat the word out as if he could think of nothing more distasteful to say.
    Behind them, Tiki heard a slow murmur building, like a wave growing as it drew near to shore. She glanced behind her and was alarmed to see that a number of goblins had gathered and watched them with what appeared to be a combination of anger and curiosity. Were they reacting to the presence of the Macanna? Unseen to a mortal eye, it was obvious the goblins could see the other faeries. These men immediately caught one’s eye, with their wild hair, bulging muscles and bevy of weapons that hung from their belts.
    “Yes, well, thank you for checking on me, but as you can see, I’m quite fine and I’ll be returning home shortly. No need for you to stay.”
    “Perhaps you haven’t heard, Majesty?”
    “Heard what?” Rieker asked.
    Callan’s eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly and his nostrils flared as if he could smell a foul odor as he faced Rieker. There was an underlying antagonism in his manner that Tiki didn’t understand. “It’s the liche. He’s been spotted in London. In the vicinity of Grosvenor Square.”

Chapter Thirteen
     

    T iki’s heart plummeted into her boots. “Where?” Clara and Toots were unguarded back at Number Six. Could the liche be headed there?
    “Majesty!”
    Tiki jerked around to see who had called her. At her movement, a cry erupted from the group of goblins watching them. Whispers and hisses exploded at the same time crooked fingers pointed their way.
    “I told you that’s what he called the boy!”
    “Is it a boy or a girl? It must be a girl if she’s queen.”
    “What could she be queen of?”
    “Why is she dressed like that?”
    “Who is she with?”
    “Do you think she’s spying on us?”
    Their heated whispers and grumbles sounded like an approaching thunder storm.
    “Majesty,” Callan said in a low voice, moving to stand between Tiki and the group, “we should go now. Goblins are an unpredictable lot.”
    “Teek,” Rieker murmured, “we should listen to them.”
    “Yes,” Tiki said, “I think you might be right.”
    Fiona’s eyes were round moons in her face as she looked from Rieker to Tiki. “Have you two gone mad? What are you on about?” Her eyes got even wider as she looked at something over Tiki’s shoulder.
    Tiki reached for Fi’s hand. “I’ll explain when we get home. I want you to know we did talk to one of these…er… men…” she tilted her head toward the goblins, “about the cup and he said it’s not here. These aren’t the ones who have it.”
    With a squeal of fright, Fiona darted behind Rieker and clutched at the back of his coat, hiding.
    “Fi.” Tiki’s jaw dropped in surprise. “What’s wrong?”
    Rieker tried to glance back over his shoulder, then lifted an arm, twisting, trying to see Fiona behind him.
    Fiona pointed a shaking finger.
    Tiki turned on her heel to see a tall, well-dressed man approaching. He wore a top hat cocked over his black hair and he was swathed in a long black coat that swirled about his knees as he strode through the market, oblivious to the succulent fruit displayed