“So, let’s start from the beginning. You were out there in the woods?” I paused, then made a connection. “Did you send the stag to me?”
“Guess again,” he said, as he poured himself another. He held up the glass, staring at the brandy. As I gazed into his eyes, I caught a silver tinge that looked familiar.
“You are the stag,” I whispered.
He just arched his eyebrows and winked, then drained the snifter again. “As I said when I was standing outside of your door, I took care of the bodies for you. They’ll never be found. But that doesn’t solve the problem of the fact that there was a third participant.”
“We were worried about Morte Seers. You didn’t happen to pick up DJ’s wallet and ID while you were there, did you?”
“Morte Seers are a deadly possibility. And no, I didn’t notice it. I was too busy trying to keep you both from being killed.” He turned to Angel. “Your brother is in danger. And you, too.”
“What am I going to do?” Her eyes were wide, and I could feel the fear rising. Angel was brave enough for herself, but if something threatened her brother, it triggered her fears.
Herne stared at the table for a moment before answering. “Your best bet is to send him away.”
Angel let out a faint cry. “I’m the only family he has.”
“That’s why you need to keep him safe. I know a family who will keep him safe and sound and cared for. You do not want to underestimate the treachery of the Fae—either side. They would kill him for spite, as quickly as they’d stomp on a bug.” He glanced at me. “No offense intended.”
I wasn’t sure what to think. He was right about them, and yet he was including me by default. “No offense taken. At least, I don’t think so. You said that Angel and I should join the Wild Hunt? What the hell is that?”
“I’ll explain in a moment. But in order to do so, first, I must explain the nature of the Fae.”
“I know their nature. I was born with it and stay as far away from my kin as possible.”
Herne ignored me. “From the beginning of time, the Dark and Light courts have fought. It is the nature of the balance. As the world grew smaller—and the populations of all beings increased—their battles went underground, and a squad of bounty hunters were formed to keep that war from spilling out into full-scale conflicts that would affect everyone else. We’re stationed around the world. My agency is called the Wild Hunt.”
“So, you’re peacekeepers?”
“In a way,” he said. “Cernunnos and Morgana spearhead the efforts. Basically, we clean up the mess that the Fae make, and when situations arise that could endanger the rest of the world, we put a stop to them.”
“How does this relate to DJ and Angel? Or me?” I was trying to follow the flow of information.
“It wouldn’t, normally. But given the way things played out, they’ll spin it so that DJ will be considered the main instigator—regardless of the way it happened.”
He yawned, stretching. His muscles rippled beneath the form-fitting muscle shirt. I found myself musing as I watched him. He was extraordinarily handsome, in so many ways that I found attractive. He was fascinating. Probably too fascinating for my own good.
He’s the son of a god, after all, I thought. Of course I’m going to find him attractive.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” Angel said, startling me out of my reverie. “All I know is that my brother’s in danger and you’re telling me I have to send him away? And then I have to help you stop the Fae from murdering each other? I think you’re barking up the wrong tree, dude. I’m human.”
Herne gave her a dry look. “If I have to, I will take you back to my father and let him explain things. But I guarantee, he’s a lot more intimidating than me. Or I can just let you go on your merry way, until they find you and kill you and your brother.”
“Fucking hell, you’re just full of good news, aren’t you?” Angel let out an exasperated sigh. “Why should we trust you? And what good would it do for us to work for you?”
“You should trust me because without my help, your brother and Ember would be dead by now.” His words stopped us both cold. Arrogant he might be, but he was also correct on that score.
I took a long breath and counted to three before releasing it slowly. “We need a moment to clear our heads. You’re dropping a lot of information on us right now.”
“I realize that,” Herne said. “It’s a lot to take in.” He glanced at the kitchen. “How about some tea to go with the booze?”
Angel nodded, mutely rising to fix a pot of tea. I kept a variety of flavors around, along with a teapot, just for her. I crossed into the living room, trying to collect my thoughts. I had no clue what was happening. Everything from this afternoon on felt like chaos had descended. It had been this way when I came home to find my parents murdered, too. Sudden confusion and the feeling as though my world had turned on end.
A few moments later, we gathered at the table again. Angel brought a pot of peppermint tea over, along with three mugs.
I was trying to sort out things. “So we’re all in danger, especially Angel and DJ? Will the Light Fae ever stop looking for them?”
Herne leaned his elbows on the table. “The truth is, all three of you are in jeopardy from both sides, for differing reasons. The moment you get mixed up in the machinations of Fae politics, you’re fair game. But we can help.”
“And the answer to that is to join your agency?” It didn’t make sense to me. “I mean, thank you—I suppose I should say that because thanks to you, DJ and I are alive.”
“You would never have managed both those assassins.” Herne’s voice was grave. “They’re highly trained.”
“Be that as it may, the fact remains that Angel and I know very little about what you’re referring to. Why should Angel have to give up her brother to strangers? And what good will joining the Wild Hunt do?”
“I can protect Angel—and you—to a degree by taking you into the agency. But as long as DJ is visible, the Fae will have the chance to blackmail Angel. They aren’t above using children as pawns.”
My headache was steadily growing. I realized that I was both exhausted from my encounters out in the woods as well as from the fact that I had only had about six hours of sleep after a busy night of goblin bashing. “I need some aspirin.”
Angel refilled my mug. “Peppermint’s good for a headache.” She turned to Herne. “Please, explain so we understand.”
“All right. I’ll start from the beginning.” Herne leaned forward. “The Fae have been at war since the beginning of time. I don’t know if you know that or not, given your heritage.”
“Mostly, yes. If you want me to be a liaison, it won’t work. Neither side wants anything to do with me.”
“No worries on that. The Light and Dark courts hate each other. It’s a wonder they didn’t kill your parents earlier.” He paused as I winced. “I’m sorry, that was insensitive of me. You’ll find that I tend to be direct. At times, blunt to the point of offensive. It’s because of who I am and what I am here to do. I mean no harm.”
I nodded, accepting his apology. “Go on.”
“As I said, the Fae have been at war with each other since the beginning of time. They were in danger of devastating the world, so my father and Morgana stepped in. She is the goddess of the Fae, both Light and Dark. Before you say anything, I know there are other goddesses who exist within that realm, but Morgana connects with the Fae more than any of the others.”
“My mother worked with her. She was pledged in her service,” I said quietly.
“Yes, and that is a plus for you. The Fae truly believe they will always be at war, and it’s lodged in the bones of their very nature. Very few exist who are like you, Ember. You contain both bloodlines, and you’re a rare specimen among your people. You are a threat—an example that the blood of either line will not poison the other side.”
“I never thought of
it that way. If I can exist, then peace might actually be achieved. I’m not trying to kill myself out of self-loathing, that’s for sure.”
“Right. Morgana favors neither side and helps keep a balance of power between the two. She also happens to be my mother.”
I blinked. So he was part Fae—divine Fae, at that.
“When I grew to an age where I could be on my own, Cernunnos sent me into this world to keep watch. There are others like me around the planet, but this area is my territory. We keep a close watch over the battles, and step in when necessary. We enforce the necessary balance. One of my duties is to ensure that as little collateral damage happens as possible. Especially to those not of Fae blood, like your brother, Angel.”
All this was a great deal to take in. I found myself desperately wanting fresh air, and held up my hand for him to pause as I opened the door leading up to my balcony.
Fresh air swept in on the night breeze as the sounds of the city filtered in, ambulances and sirens wailing, traffic grinding its way through the night. I stepped out on the balcony, leaning against the metal railing. I had never given much thought to my heritage or the people who made up my bloodlines. They had no love lost for me and I had no love lost for them. But now it occurred to me that I should at least know the history of my ancestors, whether or not I ever was welcome there. There was so much about my parents that I would never know.
Overwhelmed, I suddenly felt dizzy. I grabbed hold of the railing, inhaling deeply, then let out a slow breath and returned to the table, making sure to close to the door so the cat wouldn’t get out there.
“So basically, the Fae are always at war, and you keep things from getting out of hand?”
He nodded. “That sums it up. Yes. I, and others like me. During the down times, the Wild Hunt Agency hires itself out for SubCult investigations.”
“And the Fae don’t try to kill you?”
He shook his head. “They are forbidden. Anybody who works for me, or anyone of my kind, is under what you might call divine immunity, which is why it would benefit the two of you to come work for me.”
“You can’t be killed?” Angel asked, her voice hopeful.
“Oh, we can—at least those who work for me can, given they aren’t of divine birth. But both sides—Light and Dark—agreed to abide by the rules Cernunnos and Morgana set forth. If we find out they’re breaking those rules, they are subject to dangerous punishment. That doesn’t mean some haven’t tried, and if they hire someone from the sub-Fae or one of the other Crypto races, those outlier agents are not bound to the agreement.”
I was beginning to get a picture of how this worked, although it was still confusing. Angel crossed to my cupboard and pulled out a box of cookies. She brought them back and tore open the package. It was covered with dust, and was probably stale, but in a pinch, anything would do.
“I don’t know about you, but I need chocolate and I need it now,” she said. “It’s past the expiration date, but I’m willing to take a chance, if you are.”
Herne laughed. “Mind if I join you?” He accepted a cookie. “It will fall into place eventually. But to cut to the chase: since you and Angel have ended up embroiled in this mess, I’m bringing you into my agency. You’ll have diplomatic immunity. Nothing else I can do stands as good a chance of keeping you both alive. Given they know DJ’s name and address, do you really want to take the chance? Are you willing to risk your brother’s life? Or your own lives? Ask yourself that before you answer me.”
Angel slowly raised her hand. “May I ask a question?”
“Of course. I will answer as thoroughly as I can.”
“Why are the Fae courts allowed in the United Coalition, if they are at war with each other?”
The United Coalition was the governmental structure in place that was composed of the Shifter Alliance, the Vampire Nation, the Human League, and the Fae courts. Most of the nations had adopted something similar—at least those that espoused democracy of any sort—once the human world realized it was not the primary inhabitant on the planet.
“Because it’s recognized that the Fae are like this. The other groups know, but they also know we do our best to keep the balance. If they tried to kick the Fae out, then Light and Dark would launch all-out open war on each other, and the rest of the world be damned. This way, it’s a delicate balance that’s kept and no one group can try to push out the others.”
He paused, then added, “I would have come to see Ember even if today hadn’t happened.”
I blinked. “Why?”
“As I said, you’re a rare specimen—half Light Fae, half Dark Fae. There are qualities about yourself that you haven’t yet realized because of your breeding. Both sides know this, and for that reason, if you had been at home the day your parents were killed, they would have killed you as well. When Morgana found out about your parents’ deaths, she visited Névé and Saílle and forbade them to touch you as you were growing up. Over time, we believe they forgot about you. And you’ve never done anything to bring yourself to their attention until now.”
“And now, if this Sasha is able to identify me, it will mean that I’m on their radar again. Just what kind of qualities are you talking about?”
He shook his head. “That, I cannot tell you. I don’t know and my mother has not seen fit to tell me. But if you join my agency, you’ll have some semblance of safety.” He paused, then added, “Did you know that your father was pledged to Cernunnos? You have a birthmark on your lower back—the right side—don’t you?”
I stirred, uncomfortable. “How did you know about that?”
“It’s the head and antlers of the stag, isn’t it?”
I nodded, not sure of what to say. He was correct. I had a jet-black birthmark at the base of my lower right side, right above my butt cheek. It was the head and antlers of a stag, all right. My mother never told me why I was born with it, only that I would learn when I was older. But they were killed before I did.
Herne cleared his throat. “You were born with the mark of the silver stag. It marks you as one of my father’s chosen hunters. Your father served Cernunnos, just as your mother served Morgana. So you see, you were already on my father’s radar.”
I caught my breath. I worked with Morgana with my water magic, because my mother had been pledged to her. But I had no clue my father had dedicated himself to Cernunnos. The Lord of the Forest was a primal hunter, and more often than not, it was humans who gravitated to him.
“You’re for real, aren’t you?” For months now, I had felt like something was about to happen. I hadn’t known what, but the anticipation, almost an anxiety, had been nagging at the back of my mind.
He nodded, looking solemn. “You will always have a choice, but if you choose to walk away from this, you’re fair game for both Fae courts. And there are rumors they’ve begun a purge of all those who are of mixed Fae blood. Not half-human, half-Fae, although they don’t care for them either, but of Light and Dark blend. There aren’t a lot of you out there. By joining the Wild Hunt, you’ll be protected as much as we can protect you.”
Stunned, I slumped back in my chair. “Why not leave us be?”
Herne cupped his brandy snifter in his hands. “I don’t know. Something has escalated, but we don’t know what. Maybe it’s as simple as what we were talking about—that you and those like you represent a threat. A potential for co-existence.”
I hated being funneled into anything. I hated authority in general, but it was obvious that I didn’t have much of a choice. I was a walking target. And with Angel and DJ now involved, I wasn’t about to hedge my bets with their lives on the line.
The truth was, I had been drifting through the days, not quite certain how I wanted to spend my life. Hiring myself out as a freelance hunter was what I knew best, but it hadn’t been a conscious choice. I hadn’t woken up one day and decided, Gee, I want to go hunt goblins. I hated feeling like I didn’t have a purpose. On that level alone,
Herne’s invitation appealed to me.
“And me? What about me and DJ?” Angel looked like she was about to cry.
“I can guarantee both of you safety—as much as anybody can guarantee anything—if you come work for me as well. But we should send DJ away. This is dangerous work, Angel, and it’s better if your loved ones aren’t in the immediate vicinity. Especially someone as young and vulnerable as your brother.”
“Where would you send him?”
“We can place him with a foster family where he can learn more about his Wulfine heritage. I can arrange for you to visit him several times a year. No one need know that he doesn’t belong to that family.” Herne cleared his throat. He poured another round of brandy. It was almost empty. “As I said, I know this is a great deal to take in, but I need your decisions tonight. We need to declare you as part of the agency tonight just in case they’re searching for you. The two of you are at a crossroads, and the rest of your life depends on what you choose to do. I’ll excuse myself and visit the restroom while you talk it over.”
ANGEL AND I sat there staring at each other after he walked away. As the bathroom door closed behind him, I slumped back, shaking my head.
“What the hell?” I looked over at Angel. “I had no clue. I had no fucking clue.”
She looked on the verge of tears. “I wish DJ had never stayed overnight at Sarah’s last night. But if wishes were pennies, I’d be rich. What’s done is done, and now we have to make a decision.”
“I think we can trust him. I don’t know why, but there’s something about him that tells me he’s straight up.”
She nodded, her shoulders sagging. “Oh, we can trust him. I can sense when people are lying—and even though he’s a god, he’s telling us the truth.”
Pausing, she trailed her finger along the rim of her teacup. “I have to say yes, Ember. I don’t want to give DJ up, but I can’t put him in danger.” Then the tears began to trickle down her cheeks. “I hate myself for saying this, but I’m almost relieved. I don’t make much money. I’m doing my best to give him the life he deserves, but I don’t think I can help him grow into an adult and learn how to handle his wolf. I have no clue what it means to be a shifter, and most of his own kind won’t give him a second glance. If Herne can find a family to willingly and lovingly take him in, and show him what it means to be Wulfine, then I can’t stand in his way.”