Authors: Penelope Fletcher
“
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.”