Kiki Hamilton - The Faerie Ring

For my daughter, Carly, who taught me that love truly has no limits

AND

For all of us who see the shadows move and know theres something more

K EY TO P RONUNCIATION AND M EANING OF I RISH W ORDS

(With thanks to irishgaelictranslator.com)

An finne s (un FAWN-yeh shee):

The faerie ring

Na sochna, aontamid (nuh SHEE-uh-khaw-nuh, EEN-tee-mij):

For the sake of peace, we agree

Gr do dhuine bsmhar (graw duh GGWIN-yeh BAWSS-wur):

Love for a mortal person

inseach (OWN-shukh):

Fool/idiot (for a female)

C ONTENTS

Chapter One

LONDON, DECEMBER 1871

Y OU wouldnt be here pickin pockets, would you?

Tiki jumped as the dark figure loomed over the corner where she sat, pretending to be half-asleep. Thick, black hair hung low over the figures forehead, shadowing his eyes. The glittery light of the pub illuminated his face as he leaned toward her, and the fear that bubbled in her stomach dissipated as she recognized him.

Rieker. Tiki spoke in a low voice. What are you doing here? His timing couldnt be worse. Are you following me again? Shed identified her mark and was just waiting for the right moment to make her move.

Me follow you? Rieker gave an arrogant snort. Now why would I do that? He jingled the coins in his pocket as if to taunt her. Ive been workin the Worlds End for a few months now. He leaned an elbow on the plank table, a mug of ale clutched in his hand. Maybe youre followin me . He looked her up and down with a mocking gaze. Because Id swear Ive never seen your pretty face in here before.

Tiki forced an insincere smile. Maybe you werent looking hard enough. She tugged the bill of her cap down to hide her features. Dressed in breeches and a mans oversize jacket, Tiki was perfectly disguisedno one but Rieker would have known she was a sixteen-year-old girl. And even he hadnt known until two months ago.

Shed spotted him coming out of a clockmakers shop in Kings Cross with both hands shoved into the pockets of his tattered black coat. The cautious way hed glanced around had made her wonder what hed nicked. Curious, shed followed him.

Rieker was a thief who had made a name for himself throughout the slums of London. Stories about him stretched from Bishopsgate in the East End, to Charing Cross in the heart of the City, all the way to Kings Cross here in the North End.

As if the weight of her stare had tapped him on the shoulder, Rieker had glanced back at her. Before she could react, his gaze had skipped from her face to something behind her. Without a word, hed turned and run. Instinct had made Tiki run, too. Thats when the bobby had shouted at them to stop.

Fear had fueled her feet, for she didnt know the nooks and crannies of Kings Cross well enough to be confident of escape. Shed followed Rieker until hed dashed through an archway, rounded a corner, and simply disappeared. Tiki had slowed in surprise. The bobby had just latched on to the back of her loose jacket when shed spotted Rieker motioning to her from a narrow corridor.

With a jerk, shed slipped her arms from the sleevesrevealing long braided hair and a shape that couldnt belong to a boyand raced into the shadows of the brick hallway. Shed never forget the look on Riekers face that day.

What are you doing up north here in Camden Town? Riekers voice brought her back to the present. Bit far from Charing Cross, arent you?

Maybe. Tiki kept her tone even. But the biggest pub in all of London is worth the trip.

Rieker pulled one of the chairs away from the table, the wooden legs scraping against the floor. Are you here alone?

Tiki put out a hand to block him. Dont sit downyoure not staying. And its none of your business who Im with or where I go. Irritated, she turned back toward the crowd. Where was her mark?

A smoky cloud hung in the room above the motley crew of sailors, chandlers, coal porters, and dustmen who filled the pub. She recognized Bilby the rat catcher, and Mr. Bonfield the costermonger from up round Covent Garden Market, but where was MacGregor?

For weeks shed been watching the big, ruddy Scotsman, following him in the evenings from pub to pub. He owned clothing shops in Seven Dials and Petticoat Lane and loved to drink his profits, especially on a Friday night. When he drank he got careless. Tikis fingers itched in anticipation. It was hardly a challenge for someone of her skills, but she had grown to dislike his swaggering and the way he bullied the barmaids. It would be a pleasure to lighten his pockets. Had she missed her chance?

Last call! The bartenders voice cut across the noise of the room. Drink up, fellers, pubs closin. The Worlds End had a packed house tonight. The wooden plank floor of the pub was slick with spilled ale, and the rich, yeasty smell of beer hung thick in the air.

A row of sailors sat shoulder to shoulder along the wooden bar, hunched over their drinks. Big mirrors lined the walls, etched with the names of ales or whiskeys, reflecting the bright lights in the room as well as the cloud of tobacco smoke. Barmaids and prostitutes, their skirts partially tucked up in their waistbands, worked their way through the crowd smiling and joking with the customers. The tinkling notes of a piano were a backdrop to the cacophony of accents that clashed above it all.

Tikis eyes stopped on the silhouette of a tall man with a large, bulbous nose.

There he was.

A meaty-looking fellow with shoulders like a bull underneath his worn brown jacket, MacGregor looked in fine form tonight. Red-faced, he was belting out a raunchy tune as he waved his mug of ale in time to the song.

Rieker followed Tikis gaze. No. Not MacGregor.

Tiki let out an impatient breath. Why in bloody hell not? Ive been watching him half the night. She started to slide out of her chair, but Riekers hand clamped down on her wrist, pinning her to the table.

Hes too drunk, he warned. If he catches you, therell be no mercy.

Take your hand off me, she gritted through clenched teeth. Tiki yanked away and shot out of her chair. Fiona might chatter on about how handsome Rieker was with his tall, rugged build and elusive air, but Tiki found him insufferable.

The corners of Riekers mouth quirked, his smoky eyes dancing.

Just like a kitten pretending to be a lion, he said. Except I dont think your claws are sharp enough to hurt anyone, little kitten.

Tiki reacted without thinking. She jabbed her finger into his chest.

Listen to me, Rieker. Im not your kitten or anybody elses. Ill do what I please, and Ill thank you to leave me the hell alone.

Fast as a cat, he grabbed her arm. A look Tiki couldnt decipher crossed his face. Whats this? he asked, holding up her wrist.

Riekers grip was so tight that her fingers began to tingle. Tiki winced, swallowing a gasp.

Rieker, stop it. Youre hurting me.

His grip loosened, but he didnt let go. Tiki, where did you get this mark?

Riekers strange reaction made Tiki glance down at her arm where her birthmark was exposed. Delicate lines twisted and turned like a tangle of vines, dark against her pale skin.

Riekers gaze was incredulous, searching, as if trying to see into her very thoughts. She couldnt help but notice how long his dark lashes were, framing his smoky eyes. A strange nervousness started to flutter in the pit of her stomach when MacGregors drunken bellow for more ale cut through the noise in the pub and broke the spell.