"That is good. Thank you." Her eyes drifted shut.
Tzader handed Lanna off to Trey, who lifted her into his arms, waiting for instructions.
Turning to the Fae, Tzader said, "Tha--"
"Tzader!" Mattie ordered with the strength of a general.
"What?"
"Do not ask for favors or thank the Fae."
He knew a little about the Fae and had heard that, but wanted to know what Mattie would say. "Why not?"
"I know it won't make sense to you, but it is practically insulting. Saying thank you for something they have gone to a great deal of trouble to accomplish is almost dismissing the deed as inconsequential."
"That's ... " Tzader couldn't begin to understand such nonsense.
Caron said, "I want no debts. What do you want for saving and protecting my family and their friends?"
Tzader angled his head toward Mattie. "Now what do I say?"
"Tell her what you want. You're not asking for anything, just allowing her to clear a debt."
His gaze jumped to the dragon. "Can she break a curse?"
"No," Mattie answered before Caron could get the words out. "But I can tell you how."
Adrianna had been resting in the shadows at the far end of the room, melting into obscurity when no one had needed her services. Now she strode forward. "I've already tried using an incantation that includes the reverse of what Daegan remembers as the specific curse." She stopped at the foot of the table where Mattie was sitting.
The witches had a little stare-off for a moment, then Mattie said, "I argued against Rowan to keep you out of our council."
Adrianna said nothing.
"But after hearing of how you joined this group of lunatics who went after one of Queen Maeve's prized possessions--"
Growling rumbled from the direction of the throne, and smoke puffed from the dragon's nose.
Mattie merely tossed him a look meant to let him know she was not impressed, and finished telling Adrianna, "I might have to revise that opinion. As for the curse, I can tell you how to do it based on some very old tricks of our trade, but even with the Witchlock power, that doesn't mean you will be successful in breaking it in this realm. Some curses are bound by one realm and vulnerable in another."
Daegan had remained silent during the exchange, but now he said, "She's right. I mentioned earlier that I know of a place the reversal would have the best chance of working."
Mattie twisted toward him and her tone changed from polite to one of blasting reprimand. "Trying to break your curse anywhere else than the ideal spot is risky for everyone involved. Reversing a spell by a powerful being is a dangerous proposition to begin with."
Tzader's gaze narrowed to a sharp edge when it sliced at Daegan. "Where is this ideal place?"
"Does it really matter, when your gryphon can't take us anywhere?" Daegan snapped back at him. "Besides, I'm beginning to doubt Adrianna possesses enough power or skill to break the curse." He cast a surly look her way. "No insult intended."
Adrianna wheeled on him. "If I can't do it with Witchlock, then you should prepare to spend the rest of your life as furniture. No insult intended."
Daegan growled.
Caron looked at Mattie. "Is this going anywhere?"
"Patience, dear. We will leave in a moment." Then the elderly witch told Daegan, "Adrianna is correct. Witchlock is as ancient as you are." She swung her attention to Adrianna. "However, where you have power, I have experience. Come closer and I'll tell you what you need to know. This is for no one else's ears."
The room seemed to hold its collective breath as everyone waited to see what Adrianna would do.
She stepped over to the older woman and leaned down to where she was sitting. Adrianna's expression went from stiff to interested to a surprised frown as Mattie whispered to her.
Adrianna finally stepped back. "Really. That works?"
"Yes." Mattie smiled with the kind of quiet smugness due a woman of her years.
"If everyone is finished swapping curse recipes, I want to wrap this up and get these women out of here," Caron announced.
Tzader bit his tongue to keep from pointing out they had all been waiting for her, but the woman had saved Lanna and dealt with Grendal. He'd cut her some slack.
"Daegan," Tzader called over. "Where is this perfect location?"
"Treoir Island, of course. That's why I kept saying we have to go there."
Evalle murmured, "I thought you were saying it because we have to get to Brina."
"That's correct as well. Matters not either way, if we can't go."
A hologram began to take shape near Daegan. When it fully formed, it was Brina clutching the scale, now faded to a pale pink like a red mint that had been sucked on.
Tzader's heart started pounding. He looked at Daegan, who said, "The scale is losing its power."
Brina said, "I came to say goodbye, Tzader."
Her words filled his chest with ice water.
She looked at no one but Tzader. Could she even see anyone else? He said, "Don't give up, Brina. I'm on my way to see you." As soon as he figured out how to get there.
"It's not necessary," she said in a flat voice, as if she read her words from a script. "Macha explained how you hate life on Treoir, and that it's my duty to tell you that Allyn and I will be wed within the hour so this is goodbye. She wants me to stay safe inside the castle until I can produce a child." Brina's image wavered, vanishing.
Tzader roared, "Brina!"
But she was gone.
He couldn't breathe. Macha had taken Brina from him. No, this couldn't be happening. His hands fisted. Power warped inside his body. "I'm going to kill that bloody goddess with my bare hands!"
"You'll wait in line behind me!" Daegan declared. "Take me to Treoir, now!"
Tzader shouted back, "Are you sure we can break it there?"
"Yes. I'll tell you everything as soon as I'm freed, but we need to leave here before Queen Maeve catches up to us or Macha marries Brina to someone else. Once Brina gives her wedding vow, she cannot break it."
Tristan stood up. Dried blood still speckled around his ears and nose. "I can give it a try, but I might kill all of us."
Caron was tapping her foot. "Would someone give me the bullet points so we can wrap this up and let me leave with my family?"
Tzader felt Evalle's hand on his arm. That stalled his outburst that had been building all evening.
Evalle told Caron, "To break the curse on that dragon called Daegan, we have to take him to Treoir Island, which is hidden in another realm. Then Daegan says he can bring back the memories that our warrior queen, Brina, is losing due to a Medb Noirre attack. Tristan--" She nodded at him. "Has been teleporting us, but he wasn't born with the gift so his power to do that is limited. He's maxed out after three trips in a few hours, and his head's going to explode if he tries to take me, Tzader, Storm, Adrianna, and the dragon with him to Treoir. That simple enough?"
"That works." Caron was back to tapping her chin with her nail, thinking. She asked, "Who's going to transport these women to Mattie's home?"
Trey spoke up. "I've got three ambulances operated by Beladors standing by. They can carry two patients each. They're sitting a mile away, waiting for my call. Our warriors will keep watch over the women in transit and at Mattie's home if she'll allow that."
Bless Trey for knowing his way around witches. He aimed a questioning look at Mattie, and the elderly witch nodded her agreement. Caron looked to Tzader. "Get your group together. I'll teleport you, then my debt is paid."
"Really, you're--"
"Are we going to talk or go? If you cost me another ten seconds, I'm leaving."
Tzader turned to gather his group around Daegan, but they were already hurrying to take their places. Adrianna dropped hard onto the throne seat.
Daegan cursed in Gaelic.
Adrianna's eyes twinkled. "Careful what you suggest. I could give you the ability to do that by yourself."
Trey call
ed out. "Ambulances are on the way, coming in with no lights or sirens. I'll have these women to Mattie's house ASAP."
Caron gave him a nod and touched Tzader's shoulder.
He got a sizzle of power that shocked the hell out of him, and he had a feeling she was holding back.
She told him, "You're driving. I'm just giving you the power to get there. Focus on exactly where you want to land. The minute we arrive, I'm out of there. I am not battling a Celtic goddess for any of you."
Tzader said, "Everyone make contact. We're leaving."
Chapter 36
Tribunal meeting, Nether Realm
Perspiration trickled down Quinn's back. He was trapped in this Tribunal meeting and Queen Maeve was the one holding the trip wire.
Why was she here if she knew about her throne being stolen? That was the only possible theft that had been committed by Beladors.
Did she see this as the perfect chance to shove Macha and the Beladors completely out of VIPER? Maybe that's the war Adrianna had been dreaming about.
Cathbad and the queen were smug in their silence, waiting to humiliate Macha. That would make the Belador goddess even more furious. Quinn prepared to face her wrath, glad he'd put his foot down to keep Lanna out of all this.
If only he had a way to warn Tzader and the rest of the team.
Were they already locked in Queen Maeve's dungeon, or was she allowing them to run, giving them the rope to hang themselves once they were caught red-handed? Hope flitted through his chest that Adrianna had been able to break the curse and free the dragon.
Quinn's freedom was a lost hope at this point, but the dragon might be able to save the others. Or buy them time to escape.
Light flashed between him and the TAmr Medb pair, drawing everyone's attention to Macha, who had dressed to dazzle. Her hair shimmered in deep-auburn waves and the gown she'd chosen for this face-off was of a rich, green color that flowed and shone as though made of flexible lacquered paint.
Queen Maeve yawned.
Cathbad ignored her.
Macha could see everyone from where she stood. When her head swiveled to her right, she raked a merciless glare toward Quinn.
Smiling as if he found all of this entertaining, Loki said, "This is the last time I will be part of any Tribunal held to discuss the gryphons or any other conflict between the Beladors and the Medb."
Varpulis and Ma'at both agreed.
Continuing, Loki said, "Queen Maeve has asked that we address a theft of her property, and frankly, after listening to the longest opening speech ever for a Tribunal meeting by this Belador Maistir, I'm inclined to make a swift decision and end this."
Macha's lips tightened at the embarrassment Quinn had wrought on her, but with the hole he'd dug for himself, he could only go up.
Queen Maeve tilted her head at Loki. "Thank you all for your patience. I would like to point out that I've answered questions raised by Vladimir Quinn about my involvement in missing white witches. I ask only that I am given equal respect for my questions."
Quinn didn't need Macha to look his way to know she gritted her teeth. The minute she had no audience, she would demand to know how white witches were her problem and why he'd created this fiasco with a Tribunal.
He'd have no answer for her. He'd stall for as long as he could to give Tzader and company time to complete their mission. There was one positive in this. Now that Macha was here, she wouldn't be in the way when the time came to bring the dragon and Brina together.
"I expect the truth," Queen Maeve added.
Macha made a show of releasing a heavy sigh. "Oh, do get on with it, Maeve, or have you already forgotten that anyone who tells a lie here will glow like a red beacon?"
Queen Maeve's face twisted in advance of a snarl, but Cathbad calmed her with a hand on her arm and something whispered that relaxed her face. Her deadly eyes focused on Quinn. A viper prepared to strike.
She asked Quinn, "Did you entomb the Medb priestess Kizira's body in the human world?"
That's what that queen wanted? Quinn had a moment of relief that she didn't know about her throne yet, but panic smashed through his relief. Why was she asking about Kizira?
Macha had turned to stone. Oh, yes, he still had her to face.
"I don't understand the question," Quinn hedged, buying time to think.
"Is it true that you placed Kizira's body in Oakland Cemetery, in Atlanta, Georgia, of the human world?"
Quinn was shocked speechless. How could she know that?
Ma'at demanded, "Answer her, Belador."
His pulse jacked into overdrive. He swallowed, still watching Macha, who had yet to flick a second look his way. There was no way around it. He said, "Yes, Kizira's body is laid to rest in Oakland Cemetery."
Queen Maeve shouted, "I demand the return of my priestess and her body intact."
"By what right do you claim such?" Quinn argued, tossing all diplomacy to the wind. "She died during a Medb attack on Treoir. There is no law that demands we return slain enemy."
Kizira had not been his enemy, but his statement was still true.
"Are you not familiar with Dli Fola? The Blood Law allows me the right to claim the body of any blood relation in my line."
"What?" Quinn searched his mind for this, but he'd never come across any such law. He looked to Macha, who met his gaze with disgust.
Loki had cocked his head in a thoughtful pose and said, "That is a viable claim." He looked at the Belador goddess. "Do you agree, Macha?"
She ignored Quinn when she said, "Yes."
A six-foot-tall candle appeared on the dais and Loki lit the wick with a touch of his finger. "We are all three in agreement that Vladimir Quinn will deliver the body--not the ashes--of Kizira to this Tribunal before the flame burns out in five cycles of Earth's revolution around the sun. The body may not be moved to a new location during that time. If the body is not handed over by the deadline, Queen Maeve is granted freedom to gain this body in any manner she chooses, and VIPER will be sent to bring in Vladimir Quinn."
Quinn couldn't breathe. How was he going to keep Kizira's body out of Queen Maeve's hands?
Lanna's warning echoed in his mind. She'd told him it was dangerous to leave Kizira's body for those who wanted to access the power, but he'd been arrogant in thinking he had it handled. He knew what Queen Maeve wanted with Kizira's body.
Necromancy.
Sen appeared next to Quinn. "Time to go."
That's when he realized everyone had left except Macha. She floated over to him. "You didn't burn the body. She will call up Kizira's soul and the enemy you protected will suffer a thousand times more in TAmr Medb than what I would have done to her. I may send them a thank-you note. I am done with you."
Macha whipped her arms up and vanished.
Quinn didn't have it in him to care what she thought.
The minute Queen Maeve got her hands on Kizira's body, she would discover the secret Kizira had spent her adult life fighting to protect. The gift she'd trusted Quinn to find and shield with his own life.
Their daughter, Phoedra.
Chapter 37
Treoir Island in a hidden realm above the Irish Sea
Tzader had been teleported many times, but not this fast and in a way that felt as if they were flying.
The Fae evidently enjoyed hyperspeed. His feet touched the ground, and all sensation of the teleporting disappeared just as quickly.
Swinging around, he caught himself before he thanked Caron.
Fae rules were strange.
Evalle sent him a quick telepathic message, which he shared with Caron. "Mattie needs to know that Oskar is safe at Evalle and Storm's home. Rowan can reach Evalle when Mattie is ready to have him returned." Or Trey could get to Oskar if Tzader, Evalle, and Storm didn't survive this, but he was past the point of worst-case scenarios.
Before Caron could respond, Tzader quickly added, "Trey will take care of anything Mattie needs." He held up his hand when Caron started to argue, no d
oubt ready to read him the riot act over how she needed no help from those who ranked below her on the power scale. "The white witches are friends of ours and Trey is married to one. He'll have Beladors running security so that you and Mattie can take care of those ladies without dealing with any issues."
Caron's bottom lip pushed up against her top one in a thoughtful expression. "I accept the security. Good luck."
She winked out of view.
Tzader turned to take in his location. They'd landed within a sparsely wooded area just in sight of the castle. He thought he'd chosen the cleared lawn beyond the trees that ran the length of a football field to the castle.
For all her abrupt personality, Caron had clearly guided them to what she must have deemed a superior location where they wouldn't immediately be seen.
But Macha would know the minute they came into this realm.
In fact, Tzader was surprised she hadn't appeared next to him yet.
It was too much to wish that Quinn could have dragged Macha into the Tribunal, too, but Quinn had amazed Tzader with his impressive litigation skills many times in the past. Drawing Macha away from Treoir at this moment would top all his other feats combined.
Evalle asked Tzader, "Can Adrianna use her majik here? Storm was warned not to shift here without Macha's approval or he'd burst into flames."
"Ah, shit." Tzader turned to Adrianna and Daegan as she started to lift her hands. "Wait."
Daegan shouted, "What?"
Tzader repeated Evalle's question.
Daegan said, "Adrianna and I are safe from any backlash in this realm."
I hope that damn dragon is as good as his boasting. Tzader said, "Then get to it."
A circle of fire burst up from the ground, surrounding Adrianna and the dragon throne.
Evalle, Storm, and Tristan spread apart to take protective stances at the outer edges of the ten-foot-wide, blazing circle. The narrow flames rose two feet, as though they were shooting up from individual wicks stuck in the ground.
Adrianna raised her hands just as she had before and her lips moved, but Tzader couldn't hear a word she was saying.
She lowered her hands with one palm facing up. The glowing Witchlock orb started the size of a marble this time, constantly rolling in place as it grew as big as a grapefruit. Adrianna seemed to talk faster and faster and with more intensity now. Her neck muscles strained and her face showed the effort of whatever she was attempting.