“The grimoire?” Conall asked. “Do they have the book?”
“Hidden,” she replied then tutted at their expectant stares. She flicked her hands at us all with blatant derision. “Not by me, fools.”
My fairy hissed. “Says one idiot enough to pass through a vampire city.”
“We had no choice we were trying to lose those who hunted us.” She glared at him pointedly. “The vampires ambushed us as we passed the inner city, and forced us into a corner.” Her handsome face creased with pain and her forest green skin paled. “I was separated from Devlin and the others were slaughtered. Only Loki and I made it out alive. Everyone else was drained dry. We went back during the day with the intention of freeing him but the Nest is … larger than we expected.”
I frowned and glanced at Breandan who did not react at Loki’s name. I thought he had killed the fairy warrior loyal to Devlin. I vaguely remembered his up-titled eyes and red Mohawk.
“How big?” Conall asked.
“Four hundred strong at least. That excludes those who went underground elsewhere in the city.”
“Lies,” Alec interjected and I started. I had forgotten he was there next to Byron who still had his beefy arms around his daughters. Maeve was tucked under Alec’s arm and smiled at me shyly before her gaze travelled up to the shifter again, not bothering to hide her adoration. Hell, when we fairies fell we fell hard. “No Nest is that big,” Alec finished.
Wasp turned to glare at him. With a few flicks of her ruby irises she had his measure and sneered, ivory fangs glinting in the failing daylight. “I am a warrior, kitty-cat. I can infiltrate a Nest and steal something from those dead things with my eyes closed. I know what I saw.” She turned her attention to Breandan and a cruel, seductive smile curled one side of her pouty lips. I resisted the urge to throw myself at her and gouge her eyes out. “You know I’m telling the truth. I swear it.” The air thickened with magics as she said the words.
Conall sighed heavily, his big chest puffing out and collapsing, slumping his shoulders. “This is not good. The humans will regroup and there is no doubt they will declare open war. Our race is fractured, and we have lost the grimoire.” Conall turned to Wasp and was sincerely apologetic. “There is no time for this. I would not wish Devlin’s predicament on any being, but we cannot–”
“But we have our weapon,” Wasp interjected irritably, and jerked her chin at me. “Useless as she seems she is all we need. We throw her power at them, scatter, and confuse them. They’ll be too busy fanging every shadow that moves and trying to work out how to get their lips on her pretty neck rather than worry about Devlin.”
“No,” Breandan said, eyes seemingly far away.
“Let me be plain.” Wasp took a step forward and stood in the centre of the group as if addressing an assembly of her followers. “I am here because I have no other choice. Clearly Rae is the next Priestess, may the gods spare us from another of Sorcha’s bloodline. As if they have not caused, and are not causing enough trouble, but this is not something you can say ‘no’ to. It is her purpose. The High Lord has been captured and she is the only one with enough power to get him out of there alive. Since you are no more than a mere rabble of children, it is not surprising you are reluctant to march yourselves in reach of those with common sense. No doubt you can tell I do not give a damn whether or not every single one of you dies if it means Devlin is returned to me and our people safely.” She looked us each in the face, silently marking us all as expendable. “We go in there and we get him out. That is the end of it. No discussion, no questions, and no fawning over a silly weakling who is too fearful to place the needs of others above her own and lead.” Her words were directed at me and I glowered at her. “The vampires cannot be allowed to keep our lord without swift and brutal retaliation.”
Breandan simply … shrugged, unaffected by her outburst. “I will not condone starting a war for your mate.”
“And I will not allow our race to dwindle and die as you foolishly try to shield yours. This is inevitable. The vampires are moving against us and you’re too lust blinded to see it.” Wasp shook her head, lips twisted in dislike. “I can’t believe I have to be the one to point this out to you, but have you not considered Devlin does not want to mate Rae? You two could be together, accepted as you are and have a place in the tribe if he remains High Lord.” She motioned to me. “Try to tell a lie and say that is not what you want.” She eyed us both speculatively then understanding dawned and her face smoothed out. She was beautiful when her face was not scowling. Her skin was darker than Maeve’s, more like the leaves of the Fir tree and her hair was richer and thicker. She was tall, nearly as tall as Breandan and her muscles were defined hinting at speed and strength. “I can tell you no longer carry the word of your brother. You are outcast.” She smiled, her green lips pulling back. “You did this for the Priestess, yes? Because by law she would have to be Lochlann’s and if you’d remained oath-sworn you would have to stand aside and watch him claim her.” Breandan said nothing but flicked a troubled glance my way. Wasp laughed, a screeching warble that made more than once person wince. “I’ll admit I am surprised Lochlann allowed this to go so far. He could have been powerful with her at his side.” Her laugh puttered out to a chuckle. “Then I suppose he had no choice. We are all fools in love.”
“No. Lochlann will never back down it is not his way. They only way would be for him to…. I will not allow any harm to come to my family.” Breandan’s jaw clenched. “Lochlann will let us–” With a gasp he cut off. He took a few bracing breathes. Whatever he was going to say he did not believe it and that made it a lie.
I moved closer to him, worried. “What do we do?” I asked in the tense silence.
“By the gods, is she always this needy?” Wasp asked, incredulous. “How do you stand it?”
Breandan placed both his hands on the side of my neck and let his hands flow down, soothing. “We return to face my brother. In time we will get the grimoire back, and in the meantime we prepare for war.” I jerked, stared at him anxiously. “The humans will not stop nor will they show mercy. It is us or them.” His hands briefly brushed over the scars on my shoulders and arms. “And I chose us.”
My brow crumpled, I was upset. “This can’t be. You won’t erase one species but two. The vampires will die out because … they need human blood don’t they? I remember reading that human blood is their natural food source. So if the human population becomes extinct….”
The collective silence told me all I needed to know about what they thought of that potential risk.
“Many are in danger,” Conall said to cover the awkwardness. “Lochlann needs to know about this. With Devlin gone he is High Lord.”
“He is not gone,” Wasp said angrily. “He is captured and all we must do is save him. Your under lord does not hold the throne yet.”
Wasp walked over to me, a steely glint in her eye. I kept my back straight and showed no fear though my heart was pounding. I knew she could hear it, they could all hear it but I locked my joints and stiffened to stop myself trembling.
Her eyes flicked over me curiously. “Nice scars. Almost puts my work to shame. Who knew humans could be so skilled and inventive.”
I wrapped my arms around my torso, holding myself together. There was a low rumble from Breandan, but he did not move. I knew he was giving me space to stand my own ground, but right then I wouldn’t mind him smashing her face in, because from the churning and lurching in my stomach I was not going to be fit for much more than bending over in a corner somewhere.
“So,” Wasp continued casually, “did they use pincers on your wings or a branding iron?”
My stomach clenched painfully. Spinning around, I fell to my knees and retched.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically.
There was a small hand at my head, running a soothing hand down my back. Peering at me in concern, Maeve stroked my back. I looked away, nodded that I was okay.
A wave of embarrassment
had me ducking down and tears stinging my eyes. So not only was I clueless, a misfit, and scarred. I was weak bellied and considered a coward for wanting us to find a non-violent way to end the feud between human and demon. I scrunched my fingers together in the hard packed dirt. I did not feel strong anymore. Everything was so screwed up. I was looked to for guidance and strength and I could barely keep myself from jumping at my own shadow.
But no matter how bad I felt, or how ashamed or self-conscious I was, I had a job to do. One I had to be successful at. I would be brave until I felt brave. At the least, I could show courage even if I felt hideous inside.
“Quiet,” I said aloud.
The snarling ruckus behind me stopped dead. Heaving myself up I brushed dirt off my knees and hands.
“Ah, the delicate one speaks,” Wasp spat.
“Hag,” Lex shrieked and swiped at her with clawed fingers but Ro quickly grabbed her wrist and yanked her back.
Amelia snarled and got in Wasps face. Most surprising was Nimah was there too – in-between her twin and Ana – looking the fiercest of the three.
Conall and Breandan seemed about to come to blows, as usual. My brother made calming gestures, cautioning Breandan to use restraint as he eyeballed Wasp balefully.
Alec looked pretty mad too, but was held back by Maeve, her slender green hand clasping his tightly. I had less than a moment to recognize the surprise in his expression and the longing in hers.
Runt was positively animated – darting around between their legs – not sure who to scratch or bite, but the way his eyes kept landing on Wasp told me he had a good idea of where to start.
These demons stood for me, were ready to fight for me. Rae the oddball, who was indecisive, scared of making the wrong move or saying the wrong thing. None of them looked at me any differently when they had seen my scars, the mutilation to my skin.
Breandan called me beautiful.
Yeah, I got picked on big time when I made a mistake, but they were always there to help pick me back up. To help save me so I could save others. And I couldn’t grow up and suck up my insecurities?
“I know at times I seem, weak, or afraid. And you’re right. I’m scared nearly all the time and I know I make mistakes.” I cringed and rubbed my nose. “Lots of mistakes … but I promise I am trying, and I’ll get better.” Gathering confidence, I blew out a breath. “What’s happening here isn’t all about me, so let’s not make it all about me. There is something huge and world changing about to go off. What we decide here will shape our future, and that of all species, human and demon. Both are important.” The entire group seemed stumped. Eyes got wide; breaths came harder as they widened their perspectives. They were listening to me. With all the attention, I blushed, and wound my hands into my tunic. “So, uh, we’d better … um … I mean….” I straightened and lifted my chin. “We need to make the right damn decisions the first time round.” Silence. “Don’t you agree?” I finished in a small voice.
“I could go get Kalcifer,” Nimah offered. “We could use some muscle if we’re seriously going to consider meeting up with the vampires.”
Grateful for some of the attention to be shifted off me, I nodded enthusiastically then asked curiously, “Kalcifer is who?”
“A were-wolf,” she clarified. “Though they’ll only be useful for a couple of days. The moon cycle does mess them up big time. Damn witches and their curses. Just imagine it, being tied to the lunar cycle, unable to control your shift.” Her head shook in sympathy. “Kal’s pack is a two day run to the South. They hibernate at the tip of the region before the sea. Apparently there are fairies up there too that his Pack has been having troubles with. He’ll be grumpy, but he’ll forgive us.”
Ro made a sound of confusion. “Wolves are solitary.”
“Full wolf’s maybe, but for shifters the motto is safety in numbers. I know if we tell them of the human threat they’ll help us.”
“Kalcifer is temperamental,” Byron advised, rubbing his beard. “Alec will go instead.”
The shifter-boy stiffened, his gaze cutting from his Alpha to Maeve then to the floor. His lips twisted with the unsaid. He would not want to send Maeve back to Lochlann on her own. Not when humans were roaming around looking for vengeance, but he could not openly disobey his Alpha without making his reasons for wanting to go with her plain.
“I’m thinking....” I cleared my throat as Byron’s stone like stare turned on me. “Maeve shouldn’t go on her own to get Lochlann.” I lifted my chin. Any higher and I wouldn’t be able to see past my own nose. “In fact, I say she is not.”
“It’s okay, Rae.” Maeve gave me a small smile. “I am not afraid.” I might have believed her if her voice didn’t wobble.
“No. You need an escort and I’m sorry but your brother stays with me.” I slid a look Breandan’s way and flushed at the look of pleasure that flashed across his expression. “And I’m not ready to go back to either of the Wylds yet. I need to go get Devlin.”
This was met with silence. Then Wasp said, “Finally, some loyalty.”
Ana, eyes fixed on Wasp distrustfully said, “Devlin’s future is no longer tied to yours, Rae. I cannot see him at all anymore, and I am pretty sure that means he’s–” She cut a look at Wasp who stood rigid at her words. “Well, I don’t think you should go. The vampire city will take you too close to my father’s Coven.”
Breandan drew me into him and rubbed his cheek on the top of my head, sighing. “You cannot go into a vampire city and crash about looking for a fairy High Lord who wants your power. It is little more than suicide. And Ana is right. I am not letting you out of my sight and I am going nowhere near that city.” His high handedness annoyed me, but I let him keep up this rare public display of affection and possession. It felt good, and this was not the time or the place to argue with him.
Ignoring both him and the witch I said, “Alec will escort Maeve.” I leaned around Breandan to pin Byron with my glare, showing him how serious I was. “After all I’ve done for you I insist on it.”
Byron went red, puffed out his ruddy cheeks and broad chest. “I don’t have to do anything for you fairy.”
“And what of the bargain?” Amelia asked. She went toe to toe with her father. “I thought the deal was Rae save us and then you would help her track this fairy lord.” She crossed her hands over her chest. “The fairy was found without Pack help. The debt we have incurred from this bargain has not been paid. The least we can do is give the young fairy-girl an escort home.”
“Rae saved me,” Alec added softly. “It would have been me the Clerics caught had she not….” He did not look at me, embarrassed. “Her scars are my fault and I … she has suffered … I owe her.”
Byron leveled a quelling look at his second-in-command then turned his big head to regard his eldest daughter, His expression shifted into admiration. “You’ve spoken wisely, younglings, I am in agreement.”
Alec breathed out and the radiant smile he and Maeve shared had my heart rolling over in my chest.
Nimah looked satisfied too. “I’m going to go get Kalicfer.” Her eyes cut to Alec and Maeve briefly. “I’m not needed here. You can’t leave the Pride Dad, and Amelia has business elsewhere.”
Her twin blinked rapidly. “I do?”
Nimah smirked and bobbed her head in Runt’s direction. “Second to Rae, you’re the only one who can control the pest. We need to at least try to ask goblinkind for their help.”
Amelia pursed her lips. “I see your point. They are strong.” She cleared her throat and blushed. “I too would like an escort.” Her eyes darted to Ana who now had pink in her waxy cheeks and was smiling at her shyly.
“I suppose,” the witch began, her tiny hands twisting in front of her in agitation, “that I could go too. I know some magic and my Sight would keep us well out of harm’s way.”
“A good idea,” Breandan said and shot a glance at me, his eyebrow quirked.
“What will you do?” Byron asked me curiously. “I do
ubt you will go to the vampire city. Your mate seems resolute.”
I made a rude noise, but didn’t disagree. I had no doubt that Breandan would rather die than let me go into the vampire city. “I know. I suppose I’m going to make myself useful by training. I need to get my magics under control to have any chance at defeating the he-witch I faced today.”
I scrunched up my nose. The idea of facing Cael again did not appeal to me at all. The shield from Papa Obe had worked wonders on his black magics, but I doubted it would hold for long, and a witch of his power would find a way around it. I needed to learn more about the Coven Father. Where did he fit into all of this? I had many questions to ask Breandan and Conall, but now was not the time or the place. I could confidently guess that since the grimoire was a book of witchcraft, that Cael wanted it for some evil end or other. It explained why he was so drawn to my amulets. Even though the book was almost in his grasp, he still needed the key, which hung around my neck. It was only a matter of time before I had to face him again … or was there more too it than that? Unlike the fairies whose magic was structured around rules of engagement, I was certain a witch would have no problem simply taking the amulets from me. Cleric Tu had proved that. So why did the he-witch focus his mind on the Temple, announcing himself and his intentions when he had the perfect element of surprise. He could have taken the amulets from me before I knew what was happening. More than this, why did I feel like I knew him? I still did not have the full story and it was beginning to bug me. There was the huge piece of the puzzle I was missing. I was so close, yet so far.
“I need to somehow figure out how to fight the effects of iron, or how to store magics within me,” I said out loud. “Is that possible without an amulet or charm?” I had intended the question to be answered by Conall, but I realized he was not next to me. I scanned the rubble for my brother, my teacher, wondering why he had been so quiet for so long.
Alec whistled to catch my attention and threw a thumb over his shoulder.
Conall was asleep standing up. Head bowed, and leaned slightly to the side, his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. A snore rumbled from his throat.