by Dianna Love
Storm watched with a grin that said, my woman.
“You’ve made a valid point,” Daegan admitted. “I don’t wish to speak of this further outside of Treoir, but I’ll admit it’s the truth that I’m at greater risk from a god or goddess if I’m in a realm other than Treoir or my mother’s.”
Before Quinn could ask just who his mother was, power flooded the area and Sen appeared between their group and the tomb.
The liaison took one look around and asked, “What happened here?”
“It does not involve you,” Daegan answered.
Sen arched an arrogant eyebrow at Daegan. “Who are you?”
“I might ask the same of you.”
Tension crept higher. Any minute now the air would combust from it.
Since there was no way to hide their new leader, Quinn nodded at Daegan and said, “This is Daegan Treoir, the new ruler of the Beladors.” He didn’t want to share the part about Daegan being a dragon since less was always better in these situations. “And this is Sen, the VIPER liaison I told you about.”
Both of Sen’s eyebrows lifted. “What happened to Macha?”
Tristan replied, “She didn’t work out. We had to let her go.”
Daegan found that amusing.
Quinn gave up all hope of saving their dragon king.
“How long has she been gone?” Sen asked, now sounding like he was the goddess police.
That was a question Quinn might have to answer in the Tribunal, which meant he couldn’t lie or he’d light up like a red beacon. “Five days.”
“And VIPER is just now being informed?”
“No,” Daegan said. “You’re being informed. Anyone else will be informed as I get around to it. If you have an issue with a Belador, you bring it to me.”
Sen’s chuckle had an evil kick. “No. If I have an issue with anyone, I take it to the Tribunal. I don’t answer to anyone else. I’ve heard nothing about you taking over the Beladors, which means you’ve failed to inform VIPER and the Tribunal. They aren’t going to be happy to find out the Beladors aren’t under a pantheon.”
Shrugging, Daegan said, “I don’t care what they think.”
Quinn silently groaned.
Evalle chewed on her lip and Storm now stood with his hand on her shoulder.
Tristan frowned, flipping his gaze from Daegan to Sen and back.
Sen laughed out loud. “You aren’t going to be around for long.” Then Sen addressed Quinn, “Time for you to open that tomb and pull out Kizira’s body.” He’d pointed his thumb over his shoulder.
When Evalle sucked in a breath, Quinn leaned over to look at what caused her reaction.
Sen finally turned. “What happened to the tomb?”
Quinn told him, “I have no idea.” But if Tristan or Daegan had teleported it away, Kizira was still not safe from Queen Maeve.
Angry now, Sen said, “Let’s go.”
Daegan said, “I believe I’ll join you.”
Quinn sent Daegan a telepathic message. You can’t go there, Daegan. Those three entities in the Tribunal can do whatever they want. You’d be facing triple a god’s power.
Daegan replied in the same silent way. I will not have my people standing alone to face any threat.
Quinn had to tell Evalle how to open the tomb and what to do with Kizira’s body. He said to Sen for everyone’s benefit, “I have two minutes before I’m due at the meeting. I’d like to talk with my team—”
The bastard smiled and waved his hands, sending them teleporting.
Chapter 40
Tuatha Dé Danann
Dakkar found Macha stretched out on a lounger covered in white and gold fur. She stared out into an endless dimension that appeared to be an infinite sky.
In reality, the view was whatever she dreamed up in her home realm of Tuatha Dé Danann.
He’d spent years running a bounty operation, even cutting a deal with VIPER to allow him space to function in North America of the human world as long as his people performed the occasional operation for the coalition. He’d built quite an empire and most of the preternaturals had no idea just how large it was or how far his reach extended.
But Macha knew.
She and Dakkar went back, way back.
One day, he would have almost as much power as she did. Almost.
He couldn’t travel here unless she teleported him.
For now.
She’d been sullen since leaving Treoir Island. Let’s not sugarcoat it. She was tossed out.
Without moving a muscle to face him, she asked, “Do you bring good news, Dakkar?”
“Yes, and no.”
She moved a muscle this time and changed locations faster than he could blink. She had him up in the air with his throat gripped so tightly in one hand, he gasped for air. The goddess could not be harmed here.
He wouldn’t dare use power against her in this realm, not if he wanted to live another day.
Energy flashed around her in golden sparks.
He stroked her arm with his hand, trying to calm her.
After several long seconds of watching stars fly through his gaze, she released him. His feet hit the ground, but he had preternatural agility that he’d been born with, just another perk for a mage of his power.
He straightened his suit jacket and smoothed back his hair. Macha had once enjoyed running her hands through his black hair. He’d have her back in his bed again, but not until she saw him as an equal. His muscular body had served him well under the rule of Genghis Khan, but the majik he’d been born with and a keen intelligence had made the difference between dying in that era or becoming immortal.
All he had to do was hand Macha what she wanted and she would give him what he wanted, with a smile. He cleared his throat and explained, “I was successful in my campaign with Lorwerth.”
“Oh?”
Now he had her attention. “Yes, the Laochra Fola performed as expected. We even had Kizira’s body in hand at one time.”
“At one time is the same as saying you failed to gain possession of it. I had a purpose for that body.” She floated away, ignoring him.
Actually, he wanted to thrash Lorwerth for costing him Kizira’s body and the gryphons, but all of them were expendable in view of the greater goal. “I understand my dove, but that body has too many people vying for it. Besides, that’s hardly the good news.”
Turning on a loud sigh, she said, “Then enlighten me.”
“We had Evalle and Tristan captive along with the tomb.”
She flew back to him. “And?”
“Daegan came for them himself.”
Now he had her attention. Her eyes glowed with excitement. “Did you kill that dragon?”
“Not yet.”
She flew away, screaming in rage.
Gorgeous female minions came running in. “What do you require of us, goddess?”
“Nothing. Go away.”
They were gone just as quickly.
Macha swept around in a flurry of sparkling gold and red. Her entire gown moved as a light display. “How is any of this good news?”
“Because now I know for sure I can bring Daegan out of Treoir. He’s arrogant in thinking he’s safe.”
She didn’t praise him, but neither did she blast him. “How many of my Beladors did you kill?”
“None actually. When you take control of Treoir again, you’ll still have an army.”
“If I take control again,” she said, floating down to settle on the lounger again with an exquisite but glum face.
Now that the atmosphere had improved, Dakkar strolled over. “Not if, but when. I told you. We both have goals. I’m here to help with yours, then you can help with mine.”
“I want that dragon dead. The minute he’s dead that island is mine again.”
“Soon, but not yet. You need the Beladors to want to follow you again. That isn’t going to happen right now and definitely
not if you are blamed for killing their new pet dragon. Everything will happen in its own time. At the right time. I would have preferred to deliver the body and gryphons to you as well as kill Daegan. Were that within my power, it would have happened,” he pointed out to remind her she could have given him additional juice for facing Daegan. “I was not in a position to kill the dragon, but the additional good news is that he now thinks Maeve was behind all of this.”
The energy that had been firing around her calmed.
She smiled, which was the same as high praise from this goddess.
Finally, the time Dakkar had spent dealing with that miserable Lorwerth and his heinous Laochra Fola was going to pay dividends.
He eased down next to her, taking Macha’s slender hand in his. He kissed the soft skin, looking forward to gaining more than her good graces. “You are too beautiful to be kept tucked away in this realm. You are too powerful to be denied. You are too intelligent to allow anyone to outplay you. I am your servant in all things.”
“Very well. What do you have in mind, Dakkar?”
Here was the woman he could play like a finely-tuned instrument.
Chapter 41
Tribunal meeting, Nether Realm
Quinn blinked his eyes as the teleporting ended. He checked the raised dais first to see if there was any chance Loki had passed on this meeting.
Nope. There stood the trickster god who created turmoil just to be entertained. Today he had brilliant blue eyes, black hair slicked back, and was wearing a suit Armani would be proud to sell.
To the side of that annoying god stood another one.
Hermes always appeared as bored. He played a happy little tune on his tortoiseshell lyre, which was basically a U-shaped harp the size of a ukulele. The chap was into wings. He had them on his skull-shaped hat and his funky leather boots. He had the usual beyond-perfect face of a deity, but with a long narrow nose and thin eyes. His scraggly golden brown curls poking out from his hat needed a trim, as did his beard.
Daegan leaned over. “Anything I need to know?”
Quinn was glad his dragon king hadn’t used telepathy here since nothing was private in this place. “No matter which three gods and/or goddesses rule a Tribunal, their word is final. All deities with VIPER take a turn, but Loki must enjoy other people’s misery. He’s here often. Lying will make your body glow red and the Tribunal is judge, jury and executioner. Actually, Sen is their executioner and enforcer. We’re waiting for the Medb contingent to show up.”
“I know who Loki and Hermes are, but not the woman.”
Quinn eyed her golden hair, shapely body and creamy skin. He shuddered. “Based on the white dress and black lips, I’m thinking that must be Laima, one of the Baltic goddesses of destiny. It’s said that if she kisses you, that’s your last one ever. She’s like a black widow spider, but with more of a punch.”
Daegan drew back in disgust.
Cathbad appeared to the side of the dais where the accusers generally stood. Little had changed with him from the last time Quinn had been forced to look at his cocky expression.
Loki nodded to each of his partners in judgment, then made a show of looking around as though there were more than seven beings present. He asked, “Where is Macha?”
Quinn whispered, “He knows the answer. Sen would have informed him while we teleported.”
The subtle movement of Quinn’s head indicated the dragon king should speak now. Quinn hoped his leader understood the dynamics.
Daegan replied, “Macha is gone. I am the rightful ruler of Treoir.”
Loki’s eyebrows lifted. “How do you intend to rule a force as large as the Beladors, plus the Alterant-gryphons, without a pantheon to back you up?”
Cathbad interrupted. “Pardon me, Loki, but we’ve made it clear that at least half of that herd of Alterant-gryphons belongs to the Medb. If Macha is gone, who’s going to give us our part of the stock?”
Waiting for silence, Daegan said, “I have no need for a pantheon to aid me in ruling Treoir and leading the Beladors. As for Alterants, gryphons or anyone else beneath my rule, they are my loyal followers, and therefore, protected from scavengers like the Medb. I will hand over none.”
Cathbad looked like he was going to blow a gasket.
Quinn could do nothing to help Daegan with this, but he was fist pumping the guy for the way he stood strong for his people.
Loki moved a hand, requesting silence and told Cathbad, “The Tribunal must settle the Blood Law issue first.” Then he told Daegan, “Since you claim responsibility for the Beladors, the Maistir on your right has been found guilty of withholding a possession of Queen Maeve’s. Where is Kizira’s body?”
The goddess Laima asked, “Is it time for sentencing? I’d like to kiss someone and return to my realm.”
Loki gave her a look reserved for idiots. “Not yet.”
“Very well. Carry on,” she said, lifting a mirror to study her mouth full of pointed teeth.
Sen got them back on track when he called out to Loki, “The tomb holding the body was at the site where I went to retrieve the Belador, but it vanished. Someone teleported it away.” Sen finished that statement by glaring at Daegan.
Quinn started to explain that the missing tomb was his fault, but Daegan softly ordered, “Let me handle this.”
Then the dragon king asked, “Who requests the body?”
Loki didn’t like that one bit. “We covered all of that when Quinn was last here. I have no intention of spending time repeating our past meeting.”
“If that’s the case, the Medb messenger will leave here empty-handed.”
Cathbad turned a deep red, struggling to keep from spewing his thoughts.
Quinn wondered how the Beladors would move forward once the Tribunal killed Daegan. This was turning out worse than even Quinn had imagined.
Sen offered to Loki, “Would you like this imposter placed in lockup where he can’t continue to interfere?”
Quinn glanced at Daegan, who seemed unperturbed by the threat.
“Yes, Sen. That would simplify this meeting.”
Sen made a tiny move toward Daegan.
Without even looking at Sen, Daegan swung a hand out and made a slight pushing motion.
Sen slid backwards thirty feet, hunched over as if a massive fist had shoved him. He hugged his middle, trying to breathe.
Quinn’s eyes practically jumped out of his head. Are you kidding me?
Sen’s shocked face was worth gold.
Quinn couldn’t form a word. Everyone suspected Sen of being a demigod based on his powers and attitude, but that dis would make Evalle’s day if Quinn survived to tell her about it. Sen had treated her badly for years whenever Tzader or Quinn weren’t around to call him on it.
Then again, Evalle hadn’t backed away from Sen in Blairsville today.
Sen lifted his hands, clearly intending to teleport.
Daegan spared him a brief look. “I’m not ready to go anywhere. You might as well put your arms down. No point in continuing to look a fool.”
That earned him a death glare, which drew a chuckle from the dragon king.
Quinn stifled the urge to warn Daegan that while he clearly had an upper hand with Sen, the three deities were not only powerful alone, they could combine their powers to act as one. If Quinn survived this, and that was a big if, he would corner Daegan for answers.
Every moment around this man opened up new questions.
Returning to face forward, Daegan folded his arms again, completely relaxed. He continued talking to Loki as if nothing significant had happened. “We were discussing the body. Who wants it?”
Jaw dropped in shock, Cathbad gaped, then he snapped his mouth closed and replied in a sharp voice, “’Tis very simple. Queen Maeve demands the return of Kizira’s body, a former Medb priestess. It’s all in the rules of Dlí Fola, the Blood Law.”
Angling his head toward Quinn, Daegan asked in a
firm voice, “What exactly did you tell me about Blood Law?”
Daegan could not have forgotten what Quinn had just spelled out for everyone at the campsite. That meant he wanted the details of the Blood Law spoken for everyone present.
More than happy to do anything to help Daegan, Quinn repeated the terms clearly for everyone to hear. He summed it up as, “Evidently after a battle, the bodies of significant members of either leader’s family can be claimed and the opposing group is to return those remains.”
Daegan crossed his arms and took his time responding. “I think I understand now, but where is the queen? Doesn’t she have to claim the body herself?”
Cathbad argued, “I am her emissary.”
Daegan told him, “I don’t care who you are, you’re not her. According to the rules, Queen Maeve must make the claim herself.”
“She did the first time, damn you,” Cathbad shouted.
“I was not present when that happened.”
“Macha was, and agreed the body belonged to Maeve.”
Quinn kept track of everyone’s reactions to Daegan. Laima ignored the entire proceeding. As Hermes gently strummed his lyre, his gaze flicked from person to person, but he showed no sign of anger. So far.
Loki seemed intrigued by the volley of discussion between Daegan and Cathbad. That could be a good or a bad sign.
More often than not, it was a bad sign.
Daegan lifted his shoulders. “I cannot be held responsible for what Macha did prior to my taking over.”
“Are you crazy?” Cathbad shouted. Recovering his composure, he asked Loki, “Are you going to let him challenge what was already decided?”
Daegan quickly countered with, “I’d like to remind everyone of a precedent Cathbad the Druid and Queen Maeve set upon waking from their long slumber. As I understand it, those two argued successfully in a Tribunal meeting that they should not be held responsible for any action taken by the Medb, which occurred prior to their reincarnating to take over the coven. If that ruling no longer holds true, then those two should be held responsible for every wrong committed by the Medb at any time in history.”