Night's End (14 page)

Chapter 7

The kiss went on and on, drawing me in. Lannan's hands slid around my waist. I should have pulled away right there, but I couldn't. He was comforting in his strength. I didn't have to worry about hurting him—about loving him. He pulled me closer, his hair draping down to tickle my cheek. A slow heat began to rise, from my belly, snaking up through my breasts so that I could barely catch my breath. I throbbed, wanting him. Slick now, wet and moist, I shifted, spreading my legs slightly. My jeans chafed against me, suddenly feeling too tight.

“We could sneak away to my room.” His words were gravelly, low in my ear.

“I can't. I can't do this, Lannan.” I tried to pull myself out of the mesmerizing hold he had on me, but his grip grew more insistent and he slid one leg between my thighs, prying them open. As I rode his knee, rubbing my crotch against his pants, hearing the faint squeak of denim on leather, I prayed Grieve wouldn't come out here. He had to feel what was going on—we were too bound for him not to. How could he not know I was ready to spread my legs, to fuck Lannan again?

Lannan tried to slide his hands under my corset but it was laced too tight. He tugged at the strings. “Take this off. I want to feel your breasts. I want to—”

“Kaylin is done.” Regina's voice cut through the haze that had risen between us.

Glassy-eyed, feeling wanton and slutty, I gazed over Lannan's shoulder, into her eyes. She moved forward, circling around behind me, and slid her hands around my back to reach around and cup my breasts. Beneath the leather of my corset, my nipples stiffened and I let out a gasp.

“If you still feel up to playing later, I would happily join you.” Regina's voice tickled my ear, and I let out a soft moan as she snaked one hand down to grab my crotch, holding it tight, her fingers pressing through the denim against my clit.

Lannan laughed, then. “We could have ourselves quite the party, couldn't we?”

“Is it a private party, or can anyone join?” Grieve strode up, pulling Lannan off me. He glared at the vampire, then stared at me. The stars glistening in the depths of his eyes glittered harsh and cold.

Stammering, I disentangled myself from both vampires. “Grieve—I . . . I . . .” What could I say?
This isn't what it looks like
wasn't going to cut it.

“Never mind. Kaylin is done. The others are returning.” Grieve turned to go. I shrugged away from Regina and Lannan, hurrying to catch up with him. Behind us, the vampires laughed, and once again, I felt dirty and tainted. I tugged on Grieve's arm, and he gave me a cursory glance. “You weren't in the throes of Blood Fever this time, and you're no longer under contract to the bloodsucker.”

“No . . . no . . .” I didn't know what else to say. There was no real way to defend myself. The Fae weren't normally monogamous, but Grieve had a special hatred for Lannan.

“We'll discuss it later. You are the Queen. You are free to do as you choose, even though I am your consort.” And with that Grieve slammed through the French doors.

I wanted to grab him, make him stop and talk to me, but I could see Kaylin and the others through the window. It would be bad enough facing them, let alone Grieve.

“Cicely—he will come around.” Regina had caught up to me, and now she leisurely draped an arm around my shoulders. “And if not, you always have a place here. Right between Lannan and me.” And with that she entered the office, and I followed.

As I tentatively entered the room, I didn't know what to expect. I knew they wouldn't be happy with me, but had I just lost every friend I had?

There was an uncomfortable silence, and then Luna stood. Flushed, her lip trembled as she held on to the back of the chair for support. I waited, not wanting to defend myself. What I'd had Kaylin do was both necessary and yet—indefensible. I wouldn't apologize, but I wouldn't try to force them to understand why I'd done what I'd done. I'd explain what was going on, but if they couldn't see where I was coming from, that was the best I could do.

“Myst has planted a spy in my Court—somewhere among those closest to me. We have no idea who it is . . . yet.” I glanced at Kaylin, who shook his head, giving me the all-clear sign.

Peyton let out a long sigh and crossed her right leg over her left. “In other words, you need to know if anybody close is betraying you.”

“Essentially.” I tried to stand tall—which wasn't easy at five four. After a moment, I gave up, dropping into a nearby chair. “Don't you see how dangerous it could be if—”

“If one of us had turned on you.” Luna's words were soft.

Ysandra dusted her hands, sitting as prim as a librarian on Saturday afternoon around a bunch of screaming kids. Looks were deceiving, though. She was actually a powerful witch, one of the magic-born, and a prime member of the Consortium. “You did what was necessary, but you have so much to learn about how to approach matters like this. Cicely, you might have lost us all.”

“She might still have. At least me.” Luna glared. It was hard to meet her accusatory stare. I was as guilty as she thought I was. “I can't believe you . . .” And then her voice dropped away. “If you would have told us, and one of us was the spy, we would have alerted Myst.”

Nodding, I gave a helpless shrug. “I was between a rock and a hard place. I had to do what I felt best. For the Barrow. For me. For this war. My people are being tested as well. My guards, the Court advisors, everybody. Rhiannon's, too. Myst is dangerous, and she's on the way back in with fresh Shadow Hunters.”

I didn't want to ask their forgiveness, but I did need to know one thing. “Are you still with me? I'm not going to ask you to like me or like what I did. But are you still with us?”

Peyton scuffed her boot on the floor. “Yeah, I'm in. But I'm pissed, Cicely, and it will take me some time to get over it.”

Ysandra shrugged. “As what you need—I'm here. And I'll do what I can to make certain the Consortium stands with us.”

I turned to Luna. She blushed again, glancing at Kaylin, who studiously ignored her. Something had gone down between them, but I knew better than to ask in public.

After a moment, she gave me a “whatever” shrug. “Yeah, I'm in. But don't think we're friends. Allies, yes. But friends? If you can do that to me, then we never were.”

I wanted to yell at her, to tell her to stop being so stubborn, but the truth was, she had every right to feel the way she did, and I wouldn't take that away from her. I did what I had to, but I couldn't allow myself to invalidate her feelings about it.

“I just hope you can someday understand my position. I'll settle for allies, right now. But I still consider you a friend, and I've hurt you.” That was as far as I could go, at least in public.

At that moment, a servant entered and handed a message to Regina. She read it, her lips pursed, then she motioned for the maid to leave. As the door closed behind the girl, she turned to me. “The Shadow Hunters have swarmed the police station. Two or three officers escaped, but except for those who were out patrolling the streets, Myst's people have turned the law enforcement of New Forest into supper. We have to get in there, and rout them.”

I slammed my hand on the table. If we alerted the guards at home, then the spy would know we were onto them. But then the absurdity of that statement hit me. “It doesn't matter now if the spy is among my guards. We're going out after them. Check, how do we get word back to the Barrows without going there ourselves? We need everyone who's been tested on board, and we don't have the time it would take to get back there.”

He looked at me. “Your Wind Elemental can take word to the shamans who can contact Strict. They can also contact the shamans at the Marburry Barrow. But Your Majesty, we can't make it common knowledge. Dispatching the unit? Will have to be done privately.”

Ulean could go. That meant I had to leave the confines of the estate to contact her. I whirled to face Regina. “You hate Elementals, but surely you can make an exception and lower your defenses this time?”

She shook her head. “No, I can't. The barrier is built into the estate. She couldn't make it through even if we gave her leave. I will drive you to the gates, and from there you can contact her.”

“Let's go.” I motioned for the others to stay and begin discussing strategies, while following Regina on a dead run to the front door. Check came running behind me. “We're going in the car—you can't ride in it or you'll feel sick. Wrath did once, and he swore he never again would voluntarily enter one.”

“I will deal with the consequences, Your Highness. I would not allow you to go alone—even with a vampire.” He cast a dark eye at Regina, who ignored the slight.

“I'll go with her.” Kaylin motioned him aside. “I'll protect her, and you know I'm safe.”

Check glanced at me, and I nodded, so he gave way. Kaylin followed Regina and me, and we climbed in her limousine. Moments later, we were at the front gate, and the car eased out, guarded by the patrols watching over the estate. I didn't have to get out. Once we were beyond the barrier, I was able to focus on Ulean and call to her.

Ulean, I need you now. Are you here?

Yes, I'm here. What do you need, Cicely? The slipstream is rocky with energy and emotion. There is danger on the wind, and violence and bloodshed from so many quarters.
She came rushing in, swirling the snowflakes in her wake.

I need you to go back to the Eldburry Barrow and talk to the shamans. They can hear you. Tell them we have to marshal our efforts and send troops into town—the Shadow Hunters are feeding. They've taken over the police station, and any officer not out on patrol has either been turned or killed by now. My guess is killed. Yummanii aren't as much use to the Vampiric Fae as are magic-born.

I can do that, Cicely. Anything else? It will take me only minutes to reach the Barrow.

Yes, you must instruct the shamans to contact their counterparts in the Court of Rivers and Rushes and tell them the same. This must be done secretly—with only the guards who are tested through for loyalty being dispatched, and they must tell no one where they are going. We need all the help we can get. Tell them where we are at, but that we don't have an estimate for when we're coming back, nor are we sure of our plans at this point. And even if we were, we still can't take chances that spies wouldn't report back to Myst. It's one thing for the Shadow Hunters to know that we are striking back. Quite another for them to know where the Fae Queens are.
I paused, then hung my head.

Do you want them to report to you at Lannan's estate?

I suppose they'd better, though check with me first. We may be back at the Veil House by then. Send one of the shamans with the guards so that you can talk to him—at least if they're on their way before things are settled. And tell them to hurry.
I paused for a moment, the sobering reality of the situation hitting home.
Ulean, it's begun, hasn't it? Myst has come, and only one of us will walk out alive.