by Amy Sumida
But I was grateful—in an eye-rolling way—that this situation fit the bill.
The Nine Great Magics—Love, Hate, Domination, Protection, Health, Abundance, Transmutation, Beauty, and Acceptance—reached for me through the Trinity Star. Their power filled me and ran through me, out into Faerie. Protection took charge, and I watched as the magic arced out and formed a dome over the realm. This was rare indeed; the Star liked to do its thing without being watched, seldom pulling back the curtain to allow me to witness what happened backstage. But this time, I saw the power at work. I saw the ward cover the land and surge beneath it. I saw an orb of light gleam before winking out. I saw the chaotic cloud dissipate into faerie dust. And then, when Faerie was secure again, darkness took me and I saw nothing.
Chapter Thirteen
Wake up already, an irritated female voice said in my head.
I scowled as sounds started to penetrate the fog in my brain—the rustle of leaves, a light chirping of birds, and the heavy breaths of a worried Dragon-Sidhe. My eyes fluttered open and focused on a face above me. Exotically and ferociously handsome, with sharp bones and even sharper teeth. Glossy, blood-red scales patterned the heights of those knife-edge cheekbones and predator lips parted on hot breaths, but those dragon eyes glowed with an adoring fire and the hand that came to my cheek was gentle.
“A Thaisce,” Arach whispered in relief.
“Hey, you,” my voice was rough.
I cleared my throat as I sat up. Arach helped me and kept his hand on my back—my bare back—to support me. I had shifted back to human but, for once, my nudity didn't bother me. It didn't seem to matter in this place. In fact, it felt rather appropriate. Plus, there was no one but Arach there to see me. I looked around myself urgently.
The Imleag didn't glow anymore—the chaos cloud was completely gone—but there was a reverence in the air as if the elements themselves bowed to the presence there. It wasn't a sentient presence—the realm had Faerie for that—but it was powerful. Thrumming. A pulse. This was the Faerie Realm's Eden and I felt like Eve, sitting in the garden with her Adam.
Yeah, yeah, pick an apple why don't ya? Faerie muttered.
“You're welcome,” I muttered back to her.
Thank you, she said grudgingly. Then she added, You did well. I was not myself and unable to assist. I'm sorry about that.
“Thank you and don't worry about it.” I pulled my knees up to my chest and leaned into Arach's embrace. “Has the magic stopped leaking into the Human Realm?”
Yes. You've fixed the imbalance and warded our realm, her tone was back to being annoyed.
“Oh, I get it.” I chuckled. “You're mad at yourself for not realizing what you'd done, or not done, sooner.”
I should have rewarded the realm immediately, Faerie grumbled. But the Darkness had caused such problems that I just...
“Forgot,” I finished for her. “It happens to the best of us.”
I'm pure consciousness, Vervain. It shouldn't happen to me. I'm literally thought. How can thought forget anything?
“Well, you were in my body at the time.”
That's it! Faerie jumped on the excuse. It was your frailty that made me forget. Your paltry brain confined my consciousness!
I grimaced. “Sure, we'll go with that.”
Arach chuckled and stroked my arm. It finally occurred to me that he was back in his human form as well. We really were like the Fey version of Adam and Eve.
“What about the magic that has seeped into the Human Realm?” I asked Faerie.
I have no idea how to pull it back. It's beyond my reach.
I sat up straight. “What?”
However, she went on, it is adrift. Alone. It shouldn't survive for long.
“Shouldn't?”
There is no precedent for this, Vervain, Faerie huffed. And the future of the Human Realm has become uncertain ever since you went dark. I don't know what will happen.
“Well, that's not at all worrying,” I muttered.
“I'm going with you, A Thaisce,” Arach said as he got to his feet.
Arach shifted into his full dragon form—his body thickening and lengthening under a shimmer of magic. Crimson scales caught the fading light of the setting sun and massive wings spread to fill the clearing. The Dragon King lifted his magnificent head, crowned by ebony horns, and roared. The sound held triumph but also a warning. The warning wasn't for anyone in particular but fate perhaps. We would return to the Human Realm together and fix or fight this until the danger had passed.
So sayeth—or roareth—the Dragon King.
Chapter Fourteen
Arach and I flew back to Castle Aithinne, where faeries were emerging from their chambers looking a little dazed while the children were heading inside, finally worn out from all of their play (though not as worn out as the adults). The Red Caps and wayfarer ended their kingdom inspection once they felt the shift in the realm. The wayfarer was certain the raths were all closed. It wasn't a complete win but I'd take it.
While our sons went to their beds for a nap, Arach and I mirrored the High King and reported the events of the last few days.
“But Faerie believes the magic will fade eventually?” King Cian asked after we filled him in.
“She does but she's not certain,” I said.
“Neither am I,” Cian said with a grimace. “The magic jumped from several raths; that shouldn't have happened. It shouldn't be able to survive on its own.”
“Mallien said it was powerful,” Arach noted. “I assume that the magical explosion gave it a charge.”
“Explosion... like the big bang,” I said in revelation.
“The big bang?” Cian asked.
“My wife is referring to a human theory that their universe was formed after an explosion and that the reason the planets move through space as they do is that they are expanding from that initial release. In other words, it is a creation myth.”
“There are a lot of facts to support it,” I argued. “I don't think it's fair to call it a myth.”
“Myth or theory, they're the same.” Arach shrugged. “It doesn't matter how the galaxies were born or why the planets move, only that they were and they do.”
“It does matter in this case,” I insisted. “Because if it's true that the Human Realm was born of an explosion, then doesn't it stand to reason that it could be reborn in another explosion? Or that another realm's explosion could alter it?”
“Reborn?” Arach asked with a scowl.
“Well, this isn't physical matter or even dark matter that we're dealing with,” I pointed out. “It's magic. I would imagine that a magical explosion would have more options than one that sends rocks barreling through space.”
“Instead, it sent magic barreling through the Aether,” Cian mused. “But it stands to reason that such momentum—magical or otherwise—will eventually cease.”
“Not necessarily,” I said. “Human scientists have been studying the galaxies and they've noticed that they've gotten further away.”
“What does that mean?” Arach asked.
“It means that instead of slowing down, as one might expect, given gravity and all that, the universe is accelerating.”
“Why?” Cian asked.
“No one knows. They're not sure if it's always been accelerating or if it's a recent phenomenon,” I said. “But that just goes to show that even non-magical things can behave in unexpected ways. Life takes leaps and speeds up when it shouldn't. It rebels.”
“And fey magic has just anchored itself to your rebellious, misbehaving planet,” Cian mused. “That doesn't bode well.”
“I'll be returning with Vervain to Earth,” Arach announced. “We'll work with the Gods and see if there's a way to destroy the magic.”
“Magic cannot be destroyed, only redirected,” Cian argued.
“That's not true.” I started to grin as a plan formed in my head. “I know a god who can destroy magic.”
Arach blinked, then said, “Torrent.”
“No, I'm going,” Arach insisted. “I want to be there in case anything goes wrong.”
“I think that's wise,” Cian agreed. “Take my son with you as well. You said he'll be returning right when you're planning to leave, correct?”
“Yes,” Arach confirmed. “We'll meet the High Prince and his escorts at the Great Tree and take them with us.”
“Good.” Cian let out a long sigh. “I have to admit that I'm unsettled. Now that the chaotic magic has been diffused, I can see my past behavior clearly and I'm shocked by it.”
“You still did right by the realm, High King,” I reminded him. “Your sense of responsibility must be too ingrained for you to ignore.”
“Thank you for saying so, Queen Vervain.” Cian inclined his head to me. “But I hope I shall never have to prove myself in such a manner again. If it weren't for my son and you, things may have gone horribly wrong.”
“It's not over yet, King Cian,” I warned him. “Don't go tempting fate like that.”
Cian laughed. “Faeries make their own fate, Queen Vervain.”
A chill ran down my spine at his words. I'd scoffed and railed at fate often enough to know what a mistake it was to anger it. Destiny was fickle, mischievous, and easily offended. I just hoped she didn't make all of us pay for what King Cian had said.
Chapter Fifteen
We bid our sons farewell again and took a carriage to the Great Tree. Along the way there, I decided to use my ring to return instead of going with Arach. I realized that I hadn't noted the exact time I'd left the God Realm. I was fairly certain that we'd be arriving after it but that wasn't something I wanted to risk nor did I want to leave Odin sitting in my dressing room waiting on me and worrying. Arach agreed with me. He'd meet me at Pride Palace with Lugh and the others.
I asked my ring to take me back to a minute after I'd left the God Realm, in the same spot that I'd left it from. It didn't matter that I was currently in a moving carriage, the magic pulled me through time and space, back to where I'd started. I reformed in front of Odin with a shivering rush.
“Did you take care of it?” He immediately asked, not at all startled.
“Partially.” I made a wincing expression at his muttered curse. “We discovered why it happened. Back when Faerie and I formed the Dark Kingdom, we lowered the ward around Faerie—the one placed there by Faerie herself. But she forgot to reform it around the ring of the new kingdom. The ward, among other things, protected the realm from magical build-up. Without it, severe changes in the realm produced sparks that eventually became a chaotic cloud that exploded.”
“Great Scott,” Odin whispered.
“Yeah but guess what? The Trinity Star came through for us.”
“It did?” Odin asked in shock.
“I know, right?” I laughed. “I almost think it did it just to spite me because I was so convinced it wouldn't help.”
“It's a part of you, Vervain,” Odin said with a wry twist of his lips. “If it is as you say, you did to yourself.”
“Yes, I get the concept, though I don't entirely agree with it.” I rolled my eyes. “Look, I don't want to have to go everything twice and I don't know when Arach will arrive with the rest of the team so let's take this conversation outside.”
“Arach's coming? With a team?”
“As I said, the situation's only partially handled.” I grabbed my purse and fished out my cellphone as I left the dressing room.
My family was as I'd left them, except that now, they had blueberry muffins on their plates.
“Ah, finally,” Re said even though it had been mere minutes. “I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever come out of the closet.” He frowned. “That came out wrong.”
“Mommy, why did you change your clothes?” Lesya asked.
I looked down at myself. I was wearing human clothing but it wasn't the same outfit I had on when I left. “Oh, the uh, jeans were too tight.”
“Do you have another baby in your belly?” Lesya asked innocently.
Every man there swiveled a hopeful stare my way. I froze under their attention. Not again. First, Arach and now them? Had the fertile magic of Faerie left a scent on me or something?
“No, Lesya, I'm just bloated,” I said.
Lesya giggled, Vero made a face, and my men looked away in disappointment. Damn men. It's so easy for them. They get to have fun impregnating us and then strut about, so damn pleased with themselves for their minor role, until we women have to push seven pounds of screaming infant out of our most sensitive place. Where's the justice in that? And since it's so damn easy for them, they want us to do it again and again. Maybe I should craft a spell so one of them could carry the baby instead of me. Now, that would be justice.
“Finish your breakfast,” I said to the children as I composed a mass text to the members of the God Squad. “You're going to spend the day with Zariel and Aunty Sam.”
“Yay!” The kids cried together.
“You don't have to sound so excited about it,” Trevor grumbled to our son.
“You can come too, Daddy,” Vero said solemnly.
Trevor glanced at me before answering, “I don't think so, Son. I think Mommy needs my help with something.”
“I'm sorry,” Vero said gravely.
“It's okay,” Trevor said with a grin. “I like playing with Mommy too.”
“Don't we all,” Re drawled.
I gave Re a warning look and he gave me an innocent one, or rather, one that was trying to be innocent. Re couldn't manage innocence even if his life depended on it.
“Okay, I'll see you later.” I kissed Lesya and then Vero on the cheek and headed toward the door. “Uncle Arach is on his way here with some friends and I'm not sure when he'll arrive.”
“Uncle Arach is coming?” Vero asked excitedly.
“Are Brevyn and Rian coming too?” Lesya asked the question that her brother actually wanted answered.
“No, honey, they have to stay home this time. Uncle Arach is coming to help me with something in the Human Realm.”
“Aw,” the children whined together.
“Maybe we can have them over for Halloween,” I offered. “Start thinking about your costumes.”
“Yay!” They shouted again.
Kirill and Trevor went back to helping our children eat their breakfast but the other men got up, grabbed their mugs and muffins, and followed me out of the room. Once the bedroom door was closed and we were piling into the gilded, cage elevator, the questions started coming.
“Why is Arach coming?”
“What friends?”
“What's going on, La-La?”
I held up my hands to stop the tide. “I'll explain when we're all together. I texted the Squad and they should be arriving soon.”
“Faerie flowers have been popping up on Earth,” Odin informed them.
“Odin,” I huffed.
“Well, you can't just leave them hanging like that.”
“Fine.” I sighed. He was right. I wouldn't want to wait either. So, I told them everything that had happened, including what I'd learned through warding the Faerie Realm and what Faerie said about the magic that remained on Earth. “I called in the entire Squad mainly to let them know what was happening. Hopefully, we'll only need Torrent.”
“Can you remember all of the places you visited?” Viper asked me, his vivid, green, snake eyes wide with worry. He had seen firsthand what unchecked magic could do to Earth.
“I think so but if not, Al can remind me.” I stepped out of the elevator.
“Remind you of what?” Horus asked as he opened the door of the tracing room.
Horus and Hekate stepped out, Hekate's belly rounded below her bulging breasts. She was into her second trimester already but god pregnancies could be unpredictable, especially when shapeshifters were involved and Horus was a shapeshifter. So, I wasn
't surprised that Katie looked bigger than she should. Nor was I surprised that her face was slathered in dark makeup and the babydoll dress she wore was black with purple lace. Impending motherhood hadn't changed her yet. It did in the future I'd been to but I'd warned her about it so that might change. Despite the Goth get-up, Hekate was radiant and smiled at us just as brightly.
“Katie!” I went forward to hug her. “Look at your belly!”
“Look at my boobs!” She waved her hands at her impressive cleavage. “Horus is in heaven.”