by Amy Sumida
“No.” I sighed deeply. “I'm not a fucking saint or a masochist. I won't mourn them as if we were friends. But I do care that they gave their lives in service of something they believed in. Now, where are the fairies who helped us?”
“The fairies?” Killian asked. “You mean the hunters?”
“No; although, I'll need to thank them too. I mean the fairies,” I said. “The ones the Star's Guard brought to us.”
“The citizens of the Underground,” Daxon said with a smile. “Yes; that was something to see. You've got some impressive people watching over you.”
“Yes; I do.” I laid my hand against Daxon's cheek and stretched up to kiss him. “That was a hell of a thing you did, Tromlaighe.”
Daxon stared at me as if he were seeing me for the first time. “Well, I couldn't let you burn out alone.”
“I've heard something like that before.” I glanced back at Killian. “You just couldn't listen, could you, Blair?”
“You die, I die,” Killian repeated his motto. “I don't know how many times I have to say it.”
“Fair enough,” I murmured.
“And it looks as if you've finally figured out what it means to be a part of Seren's life,” Killian said to Daxon.
“Death-defying feats of foolishness followed by ulcer-inducing frustration while you watch her continue to do stupid things, even after she's won?” Daxon asked.
“Exactly,” Killian agreed with a grin.
“You're both assholes,” I huffed. “Now, take me to those fairies.”
“They're over here, Your Highness,” Conri waved his hand behind him as he strode over to us. “I've been looking out for them.”
“Since you were the one who led them to us?” I asked.
“I helped.” He shrugged.
“Holy fuck,” Killian declared. “Did Conri just say something humble?”
“Enjoy it while you can.” Conri smirked. “The real Conri will return tomorrow.”
“You did good, Con. Real good. And at least you half-listened to me.” I ignored the banter and held out my hand to Conri.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Conri said sincerely as he shook my hand. “But really, we didn't have to say a lot to convince those people to help. Half of them were pushed to the point where suicide seemed a valid option. Fighting to reclaim their pride and their home was an easy choice to make.”
“But most of those people turned down my offer to see them back to Fairy,” I protested.
“People change their minds when war is on their doorstep,” Conri said. “Your words became real, and they saw their chance to stand up for themselves and help their queen in the process.”
“Still, it was brave... and I haven't been so happy to see a bunch of fairies since the time the Nine Sons showed up at the War for Unseelie.”
“Now, that was a war,” Conri said wistfully.
I shook my head. “Just take me to the fairies, Con.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Conri led us to the makeshift camp.
I checked out our location as we walked. We were in a large field. I could see the lights of a house in the distance. It wasn't night yet, but it was getting there, and the glimmer of electricity was enough to catch my eye. There were a whole lot of black SUVs in the field, and several campfires burning, with crowds of people surrounding them. Some people were lying on cots or blankets, being tended to by medics, but most were simply relaxing after the ordeal we'd been through.
“Where are we?” I asked as we walked.
“Head Councilman Teagan's farm,” Killian said. “He directed us here after we made it out of the Underground. He sent more SUVs to cart the fairies over, and a team of medics to see to the wounded.”
“Fuck!” I hissed as I stopped walking. “I didn't even ask about Lana and Sileas. Did we catch them?”
“Sileas is dead,” Daxon said crisply. “Lana used her as a shield and then ran.”
“What a despicable woman,” I growled.
“I know.” Daxon grimaced. “How I could have ever been intimate with her is beyond... no, I take that back; she's gorgeous.”
“You're such a jerk,” I said as I laughed. “Wait; Lana got away?”
“We'll find her,” Head Councilman Teagan said as he joined us. “Hello, Ambassador. You're looking better.”
“Feeling a little better too.” I nodded. “Especially now that I'm clothed. Thanks for sending those reinforcements. The timing couldn't have been more perfect.”
“Of course,” he said. “I saw you here, and I wanted to come over and tell you myself that the Extinguishers are clearing out the entire Idaho Underground as we speak. The citizens have come out to help, and we've set up relief posts where fairies can go for food, clothing, and medical help.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I plan on doing something similar for the other undergrounds.”
“About that,” Teagan looked at the men, and they shook their heads. “Ah, I see that you haven't been told.”
“Told what?” I asked.
“It wasn't just Lana,” Daxon said.
“The reason the other teams made it back, when you didn't, was that they were colluding with Lana Clach,” Teagan expounded. “They had two targets, Ambassador; you and Mr, Tromlaighe. We got the whole story from one of Lana's men. He gave her up in exchange for leniency.”
“What?” I blinked in surprise.
“Lana convinced the other rulers that I was setting a bad precedent.” Daxon grimaced. “They couldn't have their fairies thinking they could live free.”
“So, they did all of this to get rid of you?” I asked in surprise.
“To get rid of us,” Daxon corrected. “I wasn't the only threat to her power. She knew that once I became your consort, you would take an interest in all of the undergrounds. She had to get rid of us both. First, Lana collected her allies and hired the Maut. But Barra wouldn't go along with her plan.”
“So, Lana killed him and took his underground,” I concluded.
They all nodded.
“She had the perfect scapegoat in Barra, and her plan started to take shape,” Daxon went on. “She welcomed in the sorcerers—in Barra's name—and made sure that the Boise Council House knew about it. Meanwhile, her accomplice started selling magic to humans—distracting me in LA.”
“Sileas,” I whispered. “That was a part of Lana's plan too?”
“Devious, eh?” Killian huffed.
“Next, she had to break us apart,” Daxon said softly. “So, Lana sent Fell to cast suspicion on me. It was never about abducting your friend; Lana needed Fell to be caught so that he could point the finger at me.”
“But that didn't work,” Killian added. “So, they lured us here. Everything was bait, Twilight. The black-market magic, Harsha, the sorcerers, Fell; even Aideen's branches in that shop. That bitch planned out every step.”
“Everything was meant to lure us here.” Daxon nodded. “Lana intended to kill the both of us and as many extinguishers and hunters as she could. She wanted to cripple the Councils and increase the power of the undergrounds.”
“Fuck.” I shook my head. “Oh, no... Fell's sister.”
“She wasn't in Barra's palace. They searched the whole thing,” Daxon said. “She's probably being held in Colorado; if she's still alive.”
“Which is convenient,” I noted.
“Why's that?” Teagan asked.
“Because we're going to Colorado to get Lana anyway.” I stared hard at the men. “Right?”
“Seren, you need to recover before you go riding back into battle,” Daxon said gently.
“All I need is... wait for it... wait for it...” I closed my eyes and sighed as twilight hit, and the magic rushed through me.
Relieved sighs from every twilight fairy there drifted over to meld with mine. The power of twilight was always condensed. We didn't have the whole day or night as the seelie and unseelie do. So, the magic boost that would have been stretched out over hours was compacte
d into a few minutes for us. And it brought not only power but also renewal. I felt like myself again; refreshed as if I'd had a full night's sleep. I opened my eyes and smiled at Daxon and Teagan. Killian and I were recharged and ready to go.
“I think we're good, Dax the Blue,” Killian said.
“Damn twilight fairies,” Daxon huffed, but he did so with a little smile... because night was falling next. He may not get as much of a boost as we had, but the unseelie magic would consistently bolster him until sunrise.
“The Denver Council House is already sending a team of extinguishers and hunters into their underground to apprehend Ms. Clach,” Teagan said. “You're needed more here, Ambassador.”
“I made a promise to a redcap, Councilman,” I said firmly. “I'm going to find Talie and bring her home to her brother, even if it's just her body for burial.”
“I understand.” Teagan nodded. “In that case, God—”
“Speed,” I finished for him and chuckled. “Yes, Councilman, I think Anu is with us, even if he doesn't like to make a big deal about it.”
“Someone is surely watching over you, Ambassador,” Teagan noted. “And I'm not about to drop the ball if it was Anu who handed it to me. I'm sending a group of extinguishers with you to Colorado.”
“Thank you, Councilman,” I said. “I appreciate the support. Now, if you'll excuse me; there are some fairies I need to speak to.”
“I'll go make the preparations.” Teagan turned and headed back the way he'd come.
“Colorado, eh?” Conri asked as we continued over to our original destination. “Maybe we could do some skiing after we kill this bitch.”
“We are not killing her, Sir Conri,” I chided him.
“Why the fuck not?” Conri huffed as he glared at me. Then he saw the looks Daxon and Killian were giving him, and added, “Your Highness.”
“Because we are not the bad guys,” I reminded him. “Unless Lana attacks us, we will only seek to arrest her. It's for the Councils to decide her fate.”
“Oh!” Conri winked at me. “Got it.”
“What's with the wink?” I scowled at him.
“Unless she attacks us,” Conri quoted me and winked again.
“I wasn't giving you a loophole, Conri!” I snapped. “That was me telling you that if Lana attacks, you're allowed to defend yourself.”
“Got it,” he repeated and gave me another wink.
I rolled my eyes as Con walked away.
“Everyone!” Conri said to the motley gathering of fairies. “Princess Seren—Queen to all of you—would like to speak to you.”
I stepped into the light of their line of campfires—they were a large group and needed several fires—and walked to the center so they could all hear me. Couples were wrapped in extinguisher-issue blankets—just as I was—but the rest of them huddled together nearly as close. Some wore rags, some had slightly nicer clothing, but all of them bore the signs of abuse as well as the resolve it took to overcome that abuse. They sat together like family because the hardship and battle had forged them into one.
“You saved my life,” I said simply. “All of you.”
The fairies blinked and looked at each other in surprise. I guess that wasn't what they expected a fairy royal to say.
“I am responsible for your pain,” I went on, “whether or not I was the one to drive you from your homes and into this world. I am your queen now, and I take responsibility. I should have known to look for you. I should have made it my duty to find you. But I didn't. I learned of your mistreatment far too late. You have suffered, and the blame is on my shoulders. Despite that, you came to my assistance tonight.” I had to stop and swallow past the constriction in my throat. “I am both ashamed of my failure as your queen and proud to call you my people. The sight of all of you, standing together, your magic joining you beyond the boundaries of race or kingdom, was one of the most profoundly beautiful things I've ever seen, and I was honored to be a part of it. You have accomplished here in the Human Realm, what I have been trying to bring about in Fairy. You stood together as one people, and you made that stand beside me. Thank you for finding the courage to fight despite the likelihood of defeat. I will not fail you again.”
Nearly two-thousand fairies got to their feet, staring at me somberly, and then knelt in the winter grass and bowed their heads.
“Get up!” I shouted. “Didn't you hear me? I failed you. Don't kneel to me.”
“Your Majesty,” a man got to his feet and approached me. “You haven't failed. You were led to us, and you walked through our hell to save us. We helped you only at the end, when you stood against overwhelming odds, all for us. Please do not shame us further by calling us heroes. We fought for our lives, and there is nothing courageous in that. If anything, it is us who should ask for your forgiveness for not helping you sooner.”
“You didn't have to fight. You could have hidden or run, but instead, you came to my aid. It may seem like a small courage to you, but it is valiant in my eyes,” I said. “Please, everyone, get up off that cold ground. I'd rather have you stand beside me than kneel before me. We are stronger together—on our feet.”
The fairies stood, and a soft peace fell over the group. Smiles began to replace their hardened expressions, and hope filled their eyes.
“I have made this offer to every fairy I met in the Underground, but I will make it again,” I said. “You have a choice. I will help you to start over again; either here or in Fairy. You will not be forgotten again.”
“I want to go home,” a man said as tears filled his eyes. “I want to feel the Seelie sun on my face again.”
“Me too,” a woman cried. “I want to see the valley where I grew up.”
“I want to smell the apple blossoms on the breeze.”
“And taste the summer pies.”
On and on it went; the fairies sharing their fondest memories of home, and how much they wanted to return to Fairy.
“I think it's unanimous, Your Majesty,” the man before me said with a smile. “Will you help us get home?”
“It would be my honor.”
Chapter Fifty-Four
On the way to Colorado, I made a few long-distance phone calls—scries, actually. I glossed over the worst parts of my adventure, and my husbands accepted it. They didn't like the idea of me heading into yet another underground, but I made it sound as if Lana was likely to be caught by the time I arrived. They accepted that too.
My father, however, was another story. Keir may not have raised me, but perhaps because of that, he was doubly interested in everything Seren. We lived together now, and we had come to know each other pretty well. Which was something that occasionally bit me in the ass.
“If you think for one second that I'm buying this bullshit about you having no problem with the mission, you're dumber than you think I am,” Keir growled.
“Dad!” I gaped at him.
“You want me to believe that you cleared the Idaho Underground when all the other underground leaders were plotting against you? And now you're chasing one that got away?” Keir narrowed his amethyst-star eyes. “I don't think so, Daughter.”
“How the hell...?”
“First of all, that is not your standard covering.” He pointed to my Kevlar vest.
I sighed. I'd forgotten all about the Kevlar. Without a shirt beneath, I looked like a Playboy model posing for the military edition of the magazine. My boobs were lifted and squished into a ridiculous display that I'd been trying to ignore. I'd been trying to ignore it so hard, that I'd forgotten about it entirely. Tiernan and Raza had probably noticed it as well, but they had seen it as husbands, not as a father.
“That explains why Raza's eyes were glowing,” I murmured to myself.
“Seren!” My father snapped. “What happened down there?”
“I nearly died, Dad,” I whispered.
He deflated. “What?”
“You heard me,” I said. “I drove my magic so hard that it nearly burned me to
death. I was lucky to have stubborn and strong people with me. They made sure that I lived long enough for reinforcements to arrive.”
“Dear Danu,” my father whispered. “Who do I owe your life to this time?”
“So many people,” I laughed. “As much as there were against us, there was a surprising number with us.”
“The inhabitants of the Underground?” Keir asked.
“Among others.” I nodded. “Your future son-in-law was especially relentless, and Count Tromlaighe proved that I was right in naming him a king.”
“You named him king?” My father asked. “You know that you can't crown people, right?”
“I know.” I chuckled. “I'll explain it later. Just know that he's a man of worth. Danu—as usual—knew what she was doing. I didn't have to save him, Dad; he saved me.”
“I never doubted Danu,” my father huffed indignantly. “She's a goddess, after all.”
“Well, tell her that I made it out of the Underground alive,” I said. “And that it appears to be at least partially her brother's doing.”
“I don't know if I wish to impart that news.” Keir grimaced. “I'll tell her that you live, but the rest I'll leave to you.”
“Chicken,” I teased him.
“The rivalry of siblings is renowned in Fairy,” he reminded me. “And these are divine siblings.”
“True.”
“I'm glad you're all right, Seren,” Keir whispered.
“Me too, Dad.”
A whine interrupted us.
“Oh, all right,” Keir huffed as he moved aside.
Cat's face filled the crystal, and I laughed.
“Hey, Cat,” I said as I stroked the surface of my scry phone. “I'm all right, just like I said I'd be. I gotta do one more thing, and then I'm coming home.”
Cat yipped and disappeared; she'd heard what she needed to hear.
“Hurry home, Daughter,” my father said.
“Okay, Dad.”
“And one more thing.”
“Yeah?”