Careless Wishes

by Amy Sumida

  “Even a wish that appears to be good can have negative consequences,” I added. “The Cintamani is going to try to restore the balance it was forced to disrupt.”

  “Fuck,” Killian growled. “This is so much worse than what we were expecting.”

  “I'm sorry.” Gareth scowled at us. “I can't see how this could be worse than a fairy trying to rule Earth.”

  “Buddy, it's that kind of thinking that would make you the worst wisher,” Killian patted the Hunter's shoulder.

  Gareth continued to frown.

  “A megalomaniac bent on world domination is easy to anticipate,” I explained. “We're soldiers at heart; we know how to fight another warrior. But this.” I waved my hand at the park. “We don't know what to do with this. We don't know how to anticipate a man like this. We have no idea where he'll strike next or what his goal is. His plan might be to move from city to city, changing lives like this until the entire world is beautiful for about three seconds before it implodes. Or he could have simply been passing through and thought he'd help these people out before he left... going Goddess knows where. Random acts of kindness can't be anticipated.”

  Gareth blinked in understanding. “I see.”

  “Regardless of whether his intentions are good or bad,” Killian added, “our goal remains the same: we need to stop him.”

  “But to do that we need to find him,” Tiernan added. “We should finish here, then split up and head for the other slums in Delhi.”

  We started searching paradise for an angel who had no idea that he was actually a devil.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  “Absolutely not,” Lorcan Timberstride, High Fairy Councilman, said again.

  We'd been going at it with him for half an hour already. We were still in Delhi, in Avi's office, using his crystal ball to speak to Councilman Timberstride, who was speaking to us on behalf of the entire High Fairy Council. We had searched the entire ex-slum, then every other slum in Delhi, just as Tiernan suggested. The other slums were as horrible as Lalbagh must have been. The pearl thief hadn't changed them. Which led us to the conclusion that he was no longer in Delhi. We hurried back to the rath, thinking that he might have gone there, but we found Avi at his post, unmolested by wishes or otherwise, and he reported that no one had attempted to walk the rath since we left, even the exodus of animals had stopped.

  At that point, Killian decided it was high time that we told the Human Council and the Witch Elders about what was happening on their planet. We'd contacted the High Fairy Council to get their approval but it wasn't going so well. All of my husbands and I had been urging the Councilman, over and over, to inform the Human Council of the Cintamani and its theft. He had refused, over and over, and his reasons remained the same.

  “We finally have peace between us,” Timberstride went on. “This could jeopardize that peace. It simply isn't worth it. We must handle this on our own.”

  “The peace will be destroyed completely if the humans discover that we've kept this from them,” I said with a clear note of frustration. “It directly affects them, Councilman.”

  “I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I refuse,” he said firmly.

  “High Councilman, I don't want to do this, but you're putting me in a bad position,” Killian said grimly. “I'm the Ambassador between the Councils and my loyalty is not yours alone. If you don't tell them, I will.”

  Timberstride's whole demeanor changed. He leaned aggressively toward the crystal and glared at Killian. “If you do this, Prince Killian, you will be betraying me personally as well as the Fairy Council. I asked you to undertake this mission on behalf of the Fey. Your ambassadorial duties were supposed to be separate from this. When acting under my orders, you are considered an agent of the Fairy Council and as such, you are bound to abide by our decrees.”

  I was about to jump in but it turned out that Kill didn't need me to defend him.

  “As you say, High Councilman,” Killian emphasized Timberstride's title too, “I am the Prince of Twilight and as such, my loyalty is my prerogative. If I deem it necessary to act against your wishes, it is not a betrayal. It is my right as a royal of Fairy to act as I see fit. You don't like it, take it up with Danu.”

  Timberstride's complexion—a rich, nut-brown—paled and his violet eyes began to twitch. His kingdom affiliation was Seelie so Killian couldn't claim his loyalty but—

  “And as the King of Seelie,” Tiernan jumped in, “you are my subject and owe me fealty.” He held up a hand when Timberstride started to speak. “I know your council status supersedes that but, High Councilman, I must remind you that usurpation relies on my approval. So, I warn you against a discussion on who is loyal to whom. It's a bad subject to broach with your king in the room.”

  Timberstride sighed. He liked Tiernan; he had once been Tiernan's father-in-law and had continued to like him even after their relationship changed. It was obvious that he didn't want to argue with Tiernan and it had nothing to do with his rank. But if Timberstride wanted to talk about betrayal, I'd be happy to bring up the way his daughter had abandoned Tiernan when he'd been cast out of the Seelie Court for defending his mother. I'd also bring up how well that had worked out for Cliona, considering her ex-husband now ruled the Kingdom he'd been banished from and she was still living in.

  But I didn't have to help Tiernan either.

  “The High Council is in agreement on this,” Timberstride said sternly. “We are the fairies who have been chosen to decide matters involving Earth and her residents. If you go against us, it will set a bad precedent, Your Majesty.”

  “A bad precedent?” Tiernan laughed derisively. “Yes, you'd far rather have me standing before your table, asking for permission than giving you orders. But you've forgotten that I was once a hunter, and I know the Council laws better than those who ruled before me. I don't have to ask you for anything.” Tiernan leaned forward, his eyes flashing like a blade, and snarled, “I'm the fucking King of Seelie!”

  I shivered... in a good way. Was it wrong that Tiernan berating another man had turned me on? Tiernan had been a hesitant king at first. He'd had to navigate a court full of people who had once ostracized him and looked down their noses at him. He didn't want to begin his reign with violence. But he'd demonstrably gotten over that and had become the king he was meant to be. No one crossed my husband now. Well, except for me.

  “Yes, Your Majesty.” Timberstride bent his head respectfully. “I will inform the Human Council as soon as possible. If I could ask one favor?”

  “Yes?” Tiernan settled back into his seat.

  “Your presence here. The Human Council and the Witches of the Coven and Casters will want to get involved in this mission. I'd like you to be here to help coordinate their efforts.”

  “You mean: to run interference,” I said.

  Timberstride grimaced. “As you like, Your Majesty.”

  “A trip to Ireland will take too much time—precious time,” Tiernan refused. “Scry us when the council members and witches arrive and I will do what I can for you.” Then he swiped a hand over the crystal ball and ended the scry.

  “Holy fuckballs!” Killian exclaimed as he jumped to his feet. “That was awesome, King T-Rex! I think I have wood, man. Double wood.”

  “Please, do not ever associate my name, or any version of it, with your genitals,” Tiernan said dryly.

  “It's just an expression,” Killian huffed as he strode out of the room. “Sheesh. Fucking Fairies.”

  “Find another way to express yourself,” Tiernan called after him but as soon as Kill left the room, he chuckled.

  “I was totally turned on by that,” I whispered to Tiernan. “And that is not simply an expression.”

  “Now, your expressions, I encourage,” Tiernan drawled as he drew me closer.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “What you said about loyalty isn't completely true,” Raza said to Tiernan.

  We had gathered in Avi's living room, which had a picture window facin
g the side yard. Anyone wanting to get to the rath—be they animal or Fey—would have to pass by it. Avi was too distracted by the events of the day to be overly concerned by the fact that most of the royalty of Fairy was currently in his home. He just made us tea and laid out a tray of Indian sweets, then went to stand near the window. Killian ate a third of the sweets.

  “It was absolutely true,” Tiernan argued. “The only situation in which the power of the Council surpasses that of a fairy monarch is when that monarch has committed a crime on Earth. In all other situations, royalty rules. Only Danu's word is greater than ours.”

  “That would have been nice to know when I was the Ambassador,” I muttered.

  “The Councils never obstructed you like they just tried to do to us,” Tiernan reminded me. “And as Ambassador, your role was a little different than mine as King. If it had been otherwise, I would have informed you.”

  “Fair enough,” I gave in. “It just would have been nice to know that I outranked them.”

  “Seren, you always knew that.” Tiernan lifted his brows at me pointedly. “It just took you awhile to accept it, then even longer to accept that it was okay for you to wield that power.”

  “Right back atcha, Seelie King.”

  “Yes, as humans say: it takes one to know one.” Tiernan smirked.

  “Tiernan has no problem with human-speak,” Killian said to Raza.

  “Tiernan served as a Lord of the Wild Hunt on Earth for many years,” Raza reminded Kill. “I did not.”

  “You lived here,” Kill countered.

  “With a Native American tribe. That is hardly the same thing.”

  “Oh, come on! You weren't with them the whole time.”

  A chime interrupted their budding argument.

  Tiernan stood first and led our parade back to Avi's office. We got settled into chairs around the crystal ball while Tiernan tapped it to activate it. Gray mist filled the ball, then Councilman Timberstride came into focus and, to either side of him, there were other council members. One of them was Councilman Reginald Murdock of the High Human Council, not to be confused with Councilman Murdock of the San Francisco House, who was Reginald's nephew. This Murdock was significantly older and significantly grumpier, but he'd been kind to me in his own way and I was glad to see him.

  “Your Majesties,” Timberstride greeted us. “I've assembled the Councils, Coven, and Caster leaders; the Witches are joining us via teleconference. I've informed everyone of the situation as you've... requested. I've also reported on your discovery in Delhi. They would like to speak with you. The Human Council will address you first.”

  Tiernan nodded regally.

  The view in our crystal shifted as their crystal ball was slid down the table to be positioned before a few members of the High Human Council.

  “Well, this is a right fucked mess,” Councilman Murdock declared as his greeting. “What do you intend to do about it?”

  “Hello, High Councilman Murdock,” I said brightly.

  “Hello, Your Majesty,” if possible, he got gruffer.

  “We don't have a plan yet, Councilman,” I went on. “By all appearances, we're chasing a do-gooder.”

  “If he were a good man, he wouldn't have stolen a Fey relic,” Murdock growled.

  An echo of agreement came from a little black box before him—one of two such boxes.

  Murdock glanced at the box, then back at me. “The Witches,” he said in explanation. “They couldn't get here as fast as us.”

  “So I gathered.” I smirked.

  “No, he wouldn't have stolen anything if he were completely good,” Tiernan addressed the subject. “But that's the point. This man, although acting in apparent compassion so far, cannot possibly be good enough to use the Cintamani responsibly. The problem we have, beyond the obvious, is a difficulty in tracking the thief.”

  “We need everyone on high alert,” Killian added. “Every hunter and extinguisher and vex in every city. Inform them all and make sure you explain the gravity of the situation. If it were possible, I'd ask that every fairy, council member, and witch on Earth be warned as well.”

  I don't believe I've covered Vexes yet so just a quick note here: they're basically the Witch equivalent of Hunters and Extinguishers. They're Coven Police. Casters don't have a police force, they have people like Killian who train to protect the Hallow—the Caster community in Alaska. And that's their only community. Their numbers are small in comparison to the other groups but in situations like this, that can be a benefit. It was likely that the Caster Elders would inform all of their people about the Cintamani. Which is why Killian didn't feel the need to add them to his list.

  “That would not only be impossible but also dangerous,” Timberstride's voice carried over. “Fairies are both bad and good, like any other race, and there would doubtless be those who would hunt down this thief for the sole purpose of taking the Cintamani for themselves.”

  “Whatever,” Killian growled. “I said that I knew it wasn't possible. You don't have to get stuffy about it.”

  Oh, how I wished I could have seen Timberstride's face when he heard that. As it was, his silence was very telling. As was Murdock's grin.

  “We will put the Council Houses on high alert,” Murdock declared. “What say you, Witches?”

  “We will alert the Hollow,” someone said through the second black box.

  “And we will call upon our vexes,” a man's voice with a British accent came through the first. I recognized it as belonging to Crispin Arterbury, Elder of the Bite Clan. “But what do I advise them to look for, beyond a blond Sidhe?”

  “We have a possible suspect,” Killian reported. “His name is Stanen Burns and he is Unseelie Sidhe. If you come across this man, detain him for questioning. In addition to that, be on guard for magical surges; one occurred when the thief used the Cintamani in Delhi. It was significant.”

  “And be aware that the animals will likely sense the magic first and attempt to flee into Fairy,” I added. “Have your people assist them if possible.”

  “What's this about animals?” Murdock growled.

  “There was an exodus of animals from Delhi to Twilight,” I explained. “It occurred just as we arrived, and we believe it was triggered by the Cintamani. Danu herself welcomed the refugees so please don't try to stop the animals from leaving Earth.”

  “We can't have all of our wildlife running off to another planet,” one of the other human councilmen said from beyond our view.

  “They can return when its safe,” Raza assured the man. “But wouldn't you rather have them somewhere this won't affect them?”

  “I'd rather all of the humans be safe,” the same voice shot back. “Will you give all of Earth sanctuary, King Raza?”

  “Either you are trying to be insulting or you're a fool,” Raza said imperiously. “Insulting me is foolish in the extreme so I suppose the question isn't whether you're foolish but rather if you're also an ass. In any case, you have offended me so you will now cease speaking or suffer the consequences.”

  I widened my eyes at Raza, but he didn't even glance at me.

  Murdock, however, shot the unfortunate councilman a glare before saying, “My apologies for my fellow councilman, Your Majesty. We are overjoyed that your goddess is providing our animals with sanctuary during this troubling time and look forward to welcoming them home when this is over.”

  “You do realize, Councilman, that if we don't find this man and recover the Cintamani, there may not be a world for them to return to,” Raza announced.

  That silenced everyone.

  Murdock was the first to recover. “Then we must make this our number one priority until we do recover the Cintamani. Your team will be supplemented by an extinguisher team. I'll send you our best people immediately.”

  “And I'll send a vex team,” Crispin added.

  “And, of course, a hunter team,” Timberstride hurried to add.

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Keep your sol
diers,” Killian said. “They'll better serve us where they are. This is not an enemy that requires an army to defeat but rather a network to find. Network, people! Get eyes out there and help us hunt down this thief. We will scry for help if we need it. Until then, we will apprise you of any information we acquire and expect you to do the same for us.”

  Murdock nodded. “Godspeed, Ambassador.”

  “And Goddess,” Raza added before he swiped a hand over the crystal ball dismissively.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  “That went well,” I said sarcastically. “So, what now?”

  “The raths are all closed and the Rath Lords have activated emergency measures,” Killian noted.