“It means the Tuatha Dé Danann were never our gods,” she explained. “The Fae have no gods. We do not worship, or revere. We simply are. We do not crave subjugation the way Manlings do.”
“That’s not exactly true, though. What about King Oberon? And the Queens?”
Petal waved that away. “They are not monarchs, and they do not rule us. They are more like...symbols. They embody what it means to be Fae, and the realm itself makes them what they are.”
“That sounds a little too convenient, if ye ask me,” I noted, reflecting on my largely unpleasant interactions with the Faeling royals. “The Winter Queen definitely has her own agenda. And the same goes for Oberon.”
“You think like that because you were raised here. But tell me, have you ever seen either of them do anything that was not ultimately in the best interests of our people?”
I thought about that for a moment. “They’ve done a lot of harm. To your people, and to mine.”
“I said they are the embodiment of Fae. That does not make them infallible. It does not even make them right. But our kind doesn’t care about what’s right or what’s wrong. We care about what is and what isn’t.”
Like animals, I thought but didn’t say.
“Alright, fine,” I said, instead. “But don’t expect me to be okay with that.”
“That is exactly what I expect.”
“Come again?”
“You need to understand us, Lady Quinn. And no one but an exile who has spent centuries among the Manlings could help you do that as you are, now. In fact, it is possible that is why you were raised here.”
“Pardon?”
“Did it never occur to you that Boston was an odd choice on your mother’s part? If she wanted you hidden, she could have chosen some small, magicless town. On the other hand, had she wanted you to take her place, she could have stayed in Ireland, or sent you to Fae.”
“No, she left Ireland because it was dangerous…” But even as I said it, I knew how ridiculous that sounded. My mother wouldn’t have fled her home out of fear. “Wait, she came with Aunt Dez. They wanted to get away from their old lives, that’s all.”
“Perhaps. But it is curious that she came here, of all places. And that then she struck a deal with the Huntress to keep you safe, even while stripping you of your power.”
“What’s your point?”
“I do not have one. I was simply thinking out loud.” Petal shrugged. “The Tuatha Dé Danann always were an indecipherable race.”
Another thought occurred to me, suddenly. “Wait, if the Fae don’t have rulers, why d’ye give the Tuatha Dé titles? Why call me Lady Quinn?”
“Because you earned it, as they earned theirs.”
“Aye, but how, exactly?”
“If you want to know that, you will have to ask one of them.”
“Any chance ye know where I can find one?”
Petal opened her mouth to reply, then shut it with a grimace.
“Petal?”
The pixie shook her head, clearly frustrated. “I never met any of the Tuatha Dé, personally. It is said they retreated into their mounds not long before the Old Ones vanished, and departed soon after. Most of what I’ve told you is known to all of us, but rarely spoken of.”
“That didn’t exactly answer me question.”
“I know.”
“So, what you’re sayin’ is you’ve told me everythin’ ye can tell me.”
“Yes, though I could help you find your answers...provided you agree to stay and help us.”
“Help me, how?”
“The Otherworld,” Petal supplied. “It borders this realm as well as Fae. There are passages, long forgotten passages, should you wish to return and seek your answers among those who might know more. And, if you agree to stay until this is over, I can show you where they are.”
“I’m sorry, Petal. I can’t. Not now, anyway.”
“Why not? Have we done something to upset you? Name the offense, and I will see it dealt with.”
“It’s not like that.” I shot a glance at Camila, who at least had the grace to look away. “I made a promise when I was in the Underworld in exchange for something I needed at the time. A promise to find someone and escort that person back home. If I fail, I’ll end up a servant. Forever.”
“You should have said so in the first place!” Petal admonished, her skin strobing with light. “You made a deal. Of course you must honor it.”
“I didn’t know what I’d be comin’ back to when I made it,” I explained, guiltily. “I didn’t know so much time would have passed, or that Robin would be in trouble, or that anyone would need me. If I had, I might have done things differently. I really am sorry.”
“Nonsense. You did what you thought best, and now you must do as you swore you would,” Petal replied, vehemently. “To be forsworn is a fate worse than death, trust me.”
“You could have led with the apology,” Camila muttered from the other side of the room, her voice just loud enough to be overheard.
“I shouldn’t have had to,” I snapped. “What’s your problem, anyway? I backed ye up because ye had a plan, and I didn’t. It had nothin’ to do with pity. Ye were the one who let your ego get in the way and made it personal.”
“You are damn right, I made it personal.” Camila strode into the room, seemingly oblivious to my glare. “And yes, my ego was bruised. Did you know that after Robin was taken, the Fae here panicked? A few even began to fade, while the rest talked about surrendering. They had all but given up.”
“Is that true?” Petal asked, sounding startled.
“Wait, weren’t ye here?” I asked.
“I hadn’t left the court, yet,” the pixie explained. “It wasn’t until after Robin was taken that I realized what was really going on. You have to understand, almost none of us ever actually saw Catha. At first, we were sure the Huntress would return with reinforcements and chase her off. But when no one came for Robin, I knew that would not happen.”
“They were scared,” Camila continued. “Robin was taken. My brother was not himself. There was no one for them to turn to, no one to protect them…”
“So ye stepped in. And did a good job of it, from what I can tell.” I shot Petal a look. “The Fae here respect ye, and now I know why. Ye put yourself between ‘em and Catha.”
“They do look to you for guidance,” Petal acknowledged, taking my cue. “I admit I was wrong to dismiss you as I did. All I can say in my defense is you seem very reluctant to lead.”
“I am.” Camila faced us both. “This responsibility is a huge burden. But it was Robin’s burden, and I love him. His people are my people. The thought that they did not feel the same...”
“Hurt,” I finished for her.
Camila crossed both arms over her stomach and nodded.
“We are not used to Manlings caring for us so selflessly,” Petal said, dipping her chin. “Please, forgive my earlier assumption.”
“Consider it water under the bridge,” Camila replied. “And Quinn...I apologize for what I said earlier. It was unfair and untrue. You are anything but a coward. And the rest of what I said—”
“Already forgiven. And ye should know I’m sorry for what happened with Max. I swear I didn’t know we were linked when I left, or I’d have returned a lot sooner.”
“I realize that, now. I blamed you, at first. But I know better than most that magic is like that, sometimes. That it often forges bonds none of us can explain. I only wish I better understood what it is that links you two. I worry it may happen again.”
“It will not.”
Both of us turned to look at Petal.
“What was that?” I asked.
“I suppose I meant it should not,” the pixie clarified. “Unless Lady Quinn hops from one realm to another, again.”
“How can ye be so sure?”
“The link between Max and Lady Quinn...it’s as plain as the second sun which overlooks King Oberon’s forest.”
/> “Go on,” I urged.
“He has been possessed.”
“He what?!” Camila exclaimed.
“Possessed by what, exactly?” I asked, waving off the bruja before she got too hysterical.
“By a Salamander.”
“And what’s a Salamander?”
“They are what you might call an elemental. They are not indigenous to this world. Max has one, here.” Petal tapped her chest. “It is curled around his heart, keeping him warm. Keeping him alive.”
“And how the hell did it get there?” I asked, perturbed by the revelation. A glance in Camila’s direction showed a similar reaction splashed across her face.
“You put it there,” Petal replied as though that were obvious. “You obviously called the spirit and...oh, you did not mean to, did you?”
I shook my head, my mouth uncommonly dry.
“That is...unfortunate.”
“Why? Is it hurting him?” Camila asked. “And why can we not see it?”
“Salamanders live between realms. They are from a different age. But no, the Salamander would never harm him so long as its master does not will it.”
“Its master? Do you mean Quinn?”
“Yes.”
“Hold on, I still don’t understand,” I admitted. “Max went into a coma when I got pulled into the Otherworld. Wouldn’t that be considered harm?”
Petal shrugged. “The Salamander likely tried to follow you. Your touch feeds and comforts it, and its power calls to yours. I am no expert, but I believe if you were a witch, the Salamander would be very much like a familiar.”
“Dios mío,” Camila groaned, her face going pale.
I, meanwhile, settled back into my seat and began massaging my temples; the notion that Max was tied to me through an elemental spirit named after a lizard was mere seconds away from giving me a migraine. Still, at least it explained what was going on between us—though not what we could do about it.
“D’ye know how we remove it?” I asked.
“Remove it?” Petal echoed.
“Aye. Or exorcise it. Ye know, draw the Salamander out of Max so he won’t be bound to me anymore.”
“You cannot do that!” Camila shrieked. “Promise me you will not do that.”
“Alright, I promise. But can someone tell me why not?”
“Because Max would die.” Petal hesitated for a moment before realizing Camila was in no condition to elaborate. “The Salamander is all that keeps his heart beating. Max should be dead. At one point, he was dead. When you called the Salamander, Lady Quinn, you didn’t so much save his life as take possession of it.”
Suddenly, I felt like I was going to be sick.
“I have to find my brother,” Camila said, heading for the door. “I have to tell him.”
“Wait,” I called, fighting against a cresting wave of panic. Camila was wrong; deep down, I was a coward. Sure, I could storm a burning building or leap off a freaking cliff, but courage wasn’t about doing things that scared everyone else. It was about doing the things that scared you. And, in my case, that meant acknowledging I’d condemned a man I liked but didn’t love to stay by my side in perpetuity.
“What is it?” Camila hesitated.
“I know ye have to tell him, and that Max has every right to know. But please, don’t let him t’ink I did this on purpose.”
Camila’s face softened. “Very well.”
“Oh, and before ye go,” I added, “could ye check your phone and see if Maria texted?”
“Maria?” Camila fetched her phone from her back pocket. “Why do I have a text that says Branson, Missouri? What’s in Missouri?”
For a long moment, all I could do was gape at her in disbelief. Frankly, I had no idea where Branson was in relation to St. Louis or Kansas City, but the sheer coincidence was crazy; the Sickos were holed up in the one state I’d sworn to avoid for ages. Distantly, I wondered whether Callie Penrose or Nate Temple had anything to do with what the Sickos were investigating. Part of me hoped not.
I doubted either of them would forgive me for popping by without calling, first.
And I was definitely popping by.
“Quinn, what’s in Missouri?”
“The person I have to find,” I explained, thinking furiously. “Can ye tell me what the plan is to save Robin really quick? Just the broad strokes.”
“Later,” Camila insisted. “I want to talk to Max.”
“All I need to know is if it’s happenin’ soon. I have to start makin’ plans of me own, but I want to help however I can.”
“And don’t forget Lady Quinn has Albi’s allegiance,” Petal added, helpfully.
“Bueno.” Camila sighed, but her hand fell away from the doorknob. “I cannot get into the details right now, but we will not be doing anything until the night of the Hex Moon.”
“When is that?”
“Nine days from now.”
Nine days. When weighed against the eight-week deadline Freya had given me, it seemed right around the corner. The trouble was I knew deep down that there would always be something—maybe not a freaking coup, but something—to preoccupy me. That I’d be tempted to solve every emerging crisis whether I was needed or not until, eventually, it was Freya’s deal that was right around the corner. And that, unfortunately, was not a risk I was willing to take.
“And what’s a Hex Moon, exactly?”
“It is what we witches call a supermoon. You may or may not know this, but a great many spells are tied to the position of celestial bodies. The closer the moon is, for example, the greater our power. Witches will often use this to practice spells that they would never have attempted, otherwise.”
“The consequences of which are sometimes disastrous,” Petal noted, eyeing the bruja. “Earthquakes being the most common.”
Camila waved that away. “The work of amateurs. The spell I intend to cast is much more elegant, and the preparations are all but complete.”
“Wait, so you’re goin’ to cast a spell to save Robin?”
“More than that,” Camila said, grinning like a madwoman all of a sudden. “I am going to cast a spell to save the entire city.”
Chapter 14
Over the course of the next ten minutes, I learned that the particular spell Camila had in mind was designed to lure every Faeling in the city to a single, predetermined location. It had seemed implausible at first, but Camila had assured me the spell was actually rather fundamental provided you had the right bait and enough juice to broadcast across miles and miles of terrain. It was only when I asked where she’d be broadcasting from, however, that the bruja clammed up; that bit was apparently need to know. Still, I knew enough about spell work to know what Camila was proposing would require tons of preparation and channel enormous power, which meant it was dangerous—especially for the caster.
“Muy dangerous,” Max explained, his expression clouded. The brujo paced the room, his long legs making it difficult to get more than a few steps in before having to turn around again. He’d shown up unannounced after speaking to his sister, interrupting the call I’d been about to make on a borrowed cell phone. Which was frustrating, considering I’d waited until I was alone to bother.
“What sort of bait is she usin’, exactly? And where is she lurin’ ‘em? Camila wouldn’t say.”
“She will not tell me, either,” Max confessed. “She walked me through her entire plan, once, but it sounded like gibberish to me at the time. It was shortly thereafter that they determined I could no longer use magic.”
“Were ye upset?”
“Frustrated, not upset.” Max ran a calloused hand over the fine hairs on his scalp. “I was not a particularly gifted practitioner, so it never became my identity. Camila was always the better, more clever bruja. It came naturally to her in ways it never did to me. But, after Salem, that began to change. I came to see how elementary my understanding was. Not long after, I could make spells work that I had never even dreamed of trying. Eventually, I coul
d take one look at any spell and see how to improve it. Even Camila’s.”
“I take it she wasn’t happy for ye?”
“It is hard to think yourself the best at something your whole life, only to wake up one day and find that belief shattered. It created resentment between us. And when I woke from my coma without magic, I believe a part of her was relieved. Now that my magic has returned, however, I can tell she does not wish to include me in her plans. She is worried I will point out its flaws, or perhaps even take over.”
“And would ye?”
Max grunted. “I do not know. She loves the Redcap, and I do not begrudge her that. He is not even so bad for one of the el hada. When I fell into the coma, I remember being glad Camila had someone to support her. I knew Robin would protect her with his life. It was comforting, then.”
“Because ye didn’t t’ink she’d end up doin’ the same for him,” I suggested, empathizing. “Bit unfair of ye, though.”
“She is family. He is not.”
“Somehow I doubt Camila sees it that way.”
“I am not sure Camila knows what she does or does not see, right now.” Max stopped pacing and faced me with his arms folded across his densely muscled chest. “Love blinds us all.”
I shifted beneath the sudden intensity in Max’s eyes, aware of how it lingered on my face before trailing down the rest of my body. It wasn’t a polite look. And yet, it wasn’t suggestive, either. More...appreciative, than anything. All in all, it was a good look.
“So, I take it Camila told ye? About the whole Salamander t’ing?”
Max simply nodded.
“I feel like I should apologize,” I admitted.
“Camila says you did not do it on purpose. Is that true?”
“It is. I had no idea what I was doin’ at the time. All I knew was that I didn’t want ye to die. What happened after that was sort of...instinctive.”
“Then there is nothing to forgive. With magic, even wild magic, intention matters. I expect the Salamander would not have heeded your call, otherwise. Besides, it has not turned out so badly. We are both alive. Quite possibly immortal.”
“Immortal?”
“Goddess.” Max pointed to me, then to himself. “Latest Dragonheart protagonist.”
Moonshine: Phantom Queen Book 11—A Temple Verse Series (The Phantom Queen Diaries) Page 10