“The Dark King’s consort—darn, I didn’t get to see her.” Jazz’s reaction to this was disappointment. The thing she kept telling herself was that she felt great. It was difficult to be upset when one felt fantastic.
He chuckled. “Indeed, she is quite stunning.” He sighed then and said, “You are still human as far as your mindset, but you are no longer really human, not your organs, not your blood—only the human traits that were learned over your lifetime. You will have to cope with that during your training, as they will get in the way. You will have to overcome them,” he said and stroked her long blonde hair. “Your human will interfere with who you must be.”
“I kinda like my human traits and don’t mean to give them up.” Jazz cocked a brow at him and tried to assimilate everything he had told her and put it in context with the fact that she had been dead and now was not. “Does this make me a zombie?” she teased to lighten the moment because he looked sick with concern.
He laughed. “No, you are not the walking dead. Zombies are not really the ‘living dead’ as you humans like to call them. They are dead and without any directive of their own. They walk, they eat, but they are still dead.”
“Are you telling me that zombies exist?” She was temporarily diverted.
“Never mind them. What you are is quite vibrantly alive. You are … changed and have skills and magic, and you must be trained to use those things.” He eyed her tentatively and said, “Let me show you, so that you may fully understand.” With a flick of the wrist, the mirror that hung over one of the wall tables was in his hands, and he held it up for her.
Jazz leaned forward. Remembering she was naked under the covers, she hurriedly held the satiny quilt up to her neck and gazed into the mirror.
Her blonde hair seemed thicker, sexy and full around her creamy skin, whose texture was unexplainably different. However, it was her eyes that held her in place. Blazing royal blue eyes sparkling with a myriad of stars stared back at her. Her eyes, though not alien, not Fae,
were definitely not human
.
She scooted backwards from the image of herself and hugged the covers tightly around her body as though to ward off what she had seen. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “
No
—that wasn’t me.”
“
Yes,
it is, it is you, but, Jazmine Decker, you are and will always be the person you have always been. Nothing can change that unless you allow it, but now, you are also
immortal
.”
~ Fourteen ~
BRESLYN, PRINCE OF Dagda, stood in the Council chambers, his massive arms folded across his tattooed and muscular chest. His dark blonde hair was tightly braided and tied with leather at the nape of his neck. He looked prepared for battle.
His mate, Princess Ete, the queen’s Daoine cousin, stood at his side, clothed in warrior leathers, an indication of what they expected.
Beside them were Danté, eldest Prince of the House of Lugh, and his half-human, half-Daoine Fae mate, Radzia, at his side, also clothed in warrior leathers. Breslyn looked them over and smiled. He could see that Z was in full temper.
Radzia, known by all as Z, was ever impulsive, and she was at that moment furious as well. She threw her dark hair over her shoulder, stepped forward, raised a wagging finger at the Council, who had called this meeting, and rebuked them. “How dare you! All of you who sat back and watched while our queen,
your queen,
worked and fought to aid us in the war against the traitor Gaiscioch.” She shook her head. “I don’t get it. I don’t get any of you who have called this meeting. It is a total waste of time. Your warriors—
us
in fact—have been working to rid Tir and the Human Realm of the threat from the Dark Prince, his brothers, Morrigu, and his monster army. Just what is wrong with you?” She clucked her tongue. “You are so quick to forget. Our Queen Aaibhe is beauty and wisdom and power, and she has taken you to a time of peace out of the ashes of war. You destroyed Danu with just this sort of temperamental bulldookie. Your Seelie nation was floundering through the most horrendous times, and she stepped up, ignored her personal needs, and put the needs of her nation ahead of her own. She helped you create a world of music and art, harmony and peace. She kept you safe in times of war and showed you how to maintain the peace most of you have always wanted. Some of you here—
some of you
—call yourselves her friend. So I ask you,
how dare you!
”
Breslyn’s eyes were alive with amusement as he watched the Council members’ reactions.
A lovely Fae, not a Royal but gentle of demeanor, cast a thoughtful glance over Z and said softly, “Respectfully, as I know how much you worked and fought with all our warriors against the Dark Ones, but I still must tell you that you are not part of this Council and have no business here. However, I will address your statement.
We dare,
because it
is our right
. Having said that, I must make a note to my fellow members that I am in agreement with everything you have pointed out and against this meeting, and I find the matter being addressed here today, at best, repulsive and, at worst, very near traitorous. I should like my objection to be noted for the record.”
Breslyn inclined his head. “Thank you, Council Member Ruthla. It has been so recorded.”
Two male Council members stood up at that point and displayed they were in accord with her by reservedly clapping their hands and added their own objections as well.
Breslyn studied the remaining four members that Banzar had swayed to his side, as he had needed five members to call a meeting. Breslyn noted to himself that he could see one of these Council members was obviously uncomfortable and ready to cast his vote against Banzar.
Today, he knew the vote would
not
go against Aaibhe, but matters were now dire. He had not expected Banzar to gain so many to his side so quickly.
Banzar stood up and said grimly, “I would also like it noted for our records that the queen has taken in a Fios child and has been seeing to her training!”
Ruthla’s lovely brow went up as she cast him a withering glance. “It is the right of the Seelie Queen to hold, as our guest, any and all Fios in Tir that she finds and deems necessary to detain here. No rule, ethical or otherwise, has been broken, Banzar. It does not need to go into the record.”
“Indeed, but since when do we train them to use their skills?” Banzar pursued.
“The child is being taught and trained to fight with us against the threat of the Dark Princes.” Z once again took a step forward, her lovely face a mask of fury. “And besides, she is just a kid. You seem to be looking for a fight, mister, and if you want a really good one, I am happy to oblige …”
Danté pulled his impulsive mate back to his side and eyed her, but she shrugged and said on not such a whisper, “He is a jerk.”
Breslyn chuckled but stepped in front of her and said, “Let’s get this over with.” He, Danté, and Ete were Royal members, and though they could only cast one vote each,
what they said
and did would most definitely sway the others.
“The first thing I request is a secret ballot.” Banzar stood and addressed the seated members, ignoring Breslyn and the other Royals.
“
No
. You wanted this meeting,
so be it
,”
Breslyn pronounced. “First, for the record, Banzar has called this meeting in order to start a movement to overthrow the queen.” He glared at Banzar, and his lip curled. He spoke to all the members, though he looked only at Banzar. “You cannot wish to overthrow our queen and remain anonymous. That would appear cowardly and, as Ruthla mentioned, on the verge of traitorous.
We will have a show of hands
. Let us be open about this. What is the nature of your objection to our queen—why have you instituted this meeting?”
“Our queen cavorts with the Milesian leader and for such traitorous behavior should be deposed,” Banzar said with contempt.
“Where is the crime?” Breslyn said quietly, but a threat seemed to linger in the air, and behind his words. No one in the room could doubt that he wanted to step forward and land a blow to Banzar’s face.
“I have it on good authority that she wishes a legal union with Morgan LeBlanc! It was not enough that she condoned the union of Chancemont LeBlanc and Princess Royce—apparently, that was not enough. She wishes to unite our two worlds by taking Morgan LeBlanc as her consort.”
“Again, I ask you, where is the crime?” Breslyn found he could no longer contain himself and took a threatening step towards Banzar.
“It is written that our queen may not take as consort an enemy leader.”
“The Milesians and the Seelie Fae have been at peace since the signing of the Treaty!” Danté said calmly. “Where is your enemy leader? Your point does not apply.”
“We Seelie Fae do not wish such a union with the Milesians whom we have held in contempt for centuries. It is our belief that the queen has lost her sense of direction and should be deposed before she leads us down the wrong path,” Banzar growled, evidently not willing to back down.
Breslyn strode hard and looked Banzar up and down before walking to each seated member and staring at them. “
Despicable
—all of you who stand with Banzar, who is a Council member by the good graces of our queen!
Mark me
on this, all of you—when this absurdity is at an end,
I shall have your seats
. If you stand with Banzar on this today—you will lose, and in the end you will lose
everything!
”
“There ya go!” Z said with approval. She turned to Danté. “
Right
—I am a Daoine Royal. I think you should replace one of them with
me
.”
Danté pinched her cheek. “We have four Royals already as members.” He looked at the opposing members. “Princess Royce is with her Milesian as we speak, working to shut down yet another portal the Dark Ones have attempted to open. However, you may rest assured she has authorized Breslyn to cast her vote.”
“Yes, but I think you should appoint me to the Council …” Z again suggested.
“My love, as it happens we have a rule that allows only four Royals to serve as senior members, and only senior members may vote.” He eyed the assembled Council members and said darkly, “But perhaps it is time to change all the rules?”
Breslyn grinned, but absolutely no warmth was in it, only a threat as he said, “Right you are, my friend. Fact is, I think we need now to know where everyone stands, right now, before we proceed any further.” His sneer returned to Banzar before he added, “Plain speaking so that no one can misinterpret. Who stands with Banzar in this and is looking to depose the queen?” He knew that they could not deny him a show of hands. It was his right as a Royal to request it. He also knew that those willing to plot in secret were seldom willing to do so in the open.
Hands went up to depose the queen, and Breslyn was pleased to see Banzar had already lost one of his followers. That was something, but Bres knew it was just a matter of time. He took a count. “Banzar, Bathwin, Trula,” Breslyn said out loud. “Your votes are recorded in the ledger for all to see.” He eyed the remaining members. “Now, those against?”
Four hands went up, and he counted them out loud: “Ruthla, Alana, Darkam, Tandwith, and thank you, yes, I see you are outraged at these proceedings, Tandwith, and it shall be duly noted.” He turned to Makwith, who had arrived with Banzar but had not yet voted. “And you, Makwith?”
“I abstain,” said Makwith, looking away.
Breslyn pulled a face at him but refrained from comment as he looked each member in the eye and said, “I am calling this meeting to an end, but I feel it is my duty to inform those of you who have voted against my queen that this will not be tolerated. We Royals—
all of us
, including Prince Trevor, fighting even as we speak, in the Dark Realm for the welfare of Tir, my sister Aida and her mate, Princess Royce, a senior Council member, and her brothers, all of those who could not be here today—have taken an oath to support and defend our queen. What you are proposing will surely send us into a civil war, something that destroyed our world, Danu. Think long and hard about what you do.” So saying, he and the others shifted out.
They came together in the courtyard, and Breslyn said quietly, “You know what to do now?”
“Yes, but will it work?” Z asked on a frown. “I don’t like that guy, Banzar. I think we need to take him out.”
“Your mate is bloodthirsty,” Breslyn said to Danté with a laugh.
Ete put her arm around Z and said, “We need to end this. If we murdered Banzar, another would take his place one day. We can’t go about murdering every time someone does what they shouldn’t. We need a better solution.”
Z pulled a face and shrugged. “Still—don’t like him … I think he needs dying.”
Danté laughed and turned to Breslyn. “We need to attend to this diplomatically.”
“Aye, we need public opinion on our queen’s side. She will not like it, but we need to get the word out there. Remind our brethren about all she has sacrificed. Most of them still don’t know about Conall and how Gais murdered him. We need to tell them. We need to start working opinion on the side of the Milesians, pointing out that they stand with us against the threat of the Dark Fae or any other force that might try and challenge our authority. Play it thick and liberally. Most of our Seelie adore Aaibhe and will stand with her, but …
some will not
.” Breslyn sighed. “After today, we will know what the numbers are, because Banzar won’t be stopped by today’s vote.”
Danté put a large hand on Breslyn’s shoulder. “Perhaps it is time to stage a coup in the Council and appoint members better equipped for the job, such as Trevor and one of Royce’s brothers?”
“It won’t work. They will say the membership is over-laden with Royals and needs to be more of representative Seelie. The only coup
I
would like to stage is an assassination. I tend to agree with your little Z.
Banzar needs killing
, but it is against our most sacred Fae law and one that I don’t mean to break,
just yet
. Thus far, he has not, like Gais, become a traitor. He has taken the proper steps, gone through the proper channels.” Breslyn’s words were spat out with frustration.
Ete moved over to Breslyn, stroked his arm, and said, “My love, let us not dwell on him but on swaying public opinion. He won’t get the Council votes if they see that it will cost them prestige.”
He played with a long strand of her lovely auburn hair and dropped a lingering kiss on her lips.
Z rolled her eyes and turned to look up at Danté. “
They
never stop.” She used her eyes and flirted with her mate playfully, and Danté broke his rule that dictated no display of affection in public. He pulled her hard against his body and lowered his head to growl in her ear, “You are ever the naughtiest Daoine …”
Ete laughed at them, broke away from Bres, and took Z’s hand. “Come, we will work the lovely Fae at the Fashion Pantheon …” She winked at Breslyn, and then she and Z were gone.
Danté sighed heavily. “The problem, Bres, is that we both know that many of our Seelie believe the Treaty cheated us out of Ireland. Banzar means to dwell on that fact and turn opinion against Aaibhe.”
“He will have a difficult time of it, since he was on the Council when the Treaty was enacted and it was unanimous but for Gaiscioch’s vote.”
“Still, I don’t like this … we need to do something more viable than talk,” Danté said practically.
“Aye, so we do, but first we have to get through to our queen. She will not agree to force unless we can show her we have tried everything else.” He sighed heavily and said, “Danté, Ete had a vision last night. She saw Tir, our beautiful Tir, laden with bodies and covered with blood.” He shook his head. “
I am worried …
”