by Amy Sumida
“I'm proud of you.” Keir smiled as his image faded away.
I swallowed convulsively; the moment when I thought I was going to die returned to haunt me. I hadn't realized how much I'd wanted to hear those words from Keir... from my father. Not until I had faced death. But he had known, and he had also known the perfect time to say them.
Chapter Fifty-Five
“What the hell was that thing you did down there, anyway?” Killian asked Daxon.
“That thing was exactly what Seren was doing with her magic; a concentrated blast. I just amped mine up with the emergency energy I have stored in my tattoos instead of powering it with my life-force,” Daxon said. “Normally, it takes centuries for a fairy to manage such a maneuver, but our lady here is not your average fairy.”
“You got that straight.” Killian shot me a smile.
Killian was driving again, and I was in the passenger seat. Daxon and Desmond sat behind us, with half of my Guard behind them. The rest of my Star's Guard and Daxon's Elite were in the other SUVs in our cavalcade, along with the extinguishers Teagan had sent to assist us. Cyrus had stayed behind to see to his hunters; they had all survived, but the strain on their magic had left them dangerously weakened.
“Centuries?” I asked, looking back at Daxon in shock.
“Centuries,” he confirmed. “It shouldn't have been possible for you to access so much power. And then to use all of it at once—to coerce the magic to give of itself until it consumed itself? That is impossible.”
“What do you mean 'coerce?'” I asked.
“Seren, the magic inside you is a living entity,” Daxon said. “It wants to survive. It will bend to your will only to the point where that survival is challenged, and then it will shut down. At least, that's what it does with the rest of us. Your magic sacrificed itself for you.”
“So, even her magic is honorable,” Killian muttered. “Why couldn't I get one of those crying women who hide from danger?”
“Because that kind of woman would drive you even crazier than I do,” I said dryly.
“Valid.” Killian nodded. “By the way, babe; you may think that those fairies joining together to kumbaya their way to better magic was beautiful, but I have to disagree.”
I frowned at Killian, wondering where he was going with this. “Yeah?”
“Watching you cut down those motherfuckers while you set them on fire with your own burning body was the most amazing and terrifying thing I've ever seen,” Killian said with soft intensity. “I can appreciate it now that I know you survived.”
“It was the stuff of legends,” Torquil whispered from the back of the SUV. “The burning warrior queen.”
“Please do not let them make a song about me fighting naked,” I teased them, just to lighten the mood.
“And please, don't ever do that again, Seren,” Daxon said. “You are far too important to sacrifice yourself for anyone... any amount of anyones.”
“I'm not that—”
“You are!” Daxon shouted and silenced the whole vehicle. “And you fucking know it. Don't sit there and act like you're the same as everyone else, because you aren't. You are integral to the peace of two realms, Seren Firethorn. Risking yourself is childish, and selfish, and just plain stupid.”
“Selfish?” I gaped at him. “I was trying to be the opposite of that.”
“I know,” Daxon gentled his tone. “But I think that deep down, you know that I'm right. You don't get to play the hero and sacrifice yourself. Too much depends on your survival. Remember that the next time you think about burning yourself alive.”
“Okay.”
“What?” Daxon lifted a brow.
“I said 'okay,'” I repeated angrily.
“Holy shit, Tromlaighe!” Killian exclaimed. “You need to teach me that trick.”
“Shut up,” I growled at Kill.
“See what I have to put up with?” Killian sighed dramatically.
“I hate you all,” I muttered.
“We hate you too,” Daxon said in a tone that clearly said the opposite.
I turned and looked at Daxon once more. His eyes were glowing softly; blue light shining across his cheekbones, and his lips slowly turned up into a smile. My heart jumped ahead of schedule and declared in no uncertain terms that it had made a decision.
I was in love with another king.
I didn't have time to think it through or reason myself out of it, because as the revelation rung through me, we pulled into a parking lot, and the other SUVs pulled in beside us.
“We're here,” Killian announced.
I broke my staring contest with Daxon and slid out of the car. First things first; I wanted to get into the gear Teagan had sent for me along with the extinguishers. There was a shirt included in the bag of items; one I should have put it on before I got in the car. Oh, well; hindsight and all that. But now I needed it. I wasn't about to storm another underground looking like a pin-up girl.
Killian held the space blanket for me while I shrugged out of the Kevlar and into a man's button-up shirt. I rolled up the cuffs and then grabbed my iron dagger. The sheath had disintegrated, along with my belt, but a new belt had been provided for me along with a pair of boots. I put all of the accessories on, sliding the dagger between the belt and my hip. It hung on by its cross-guard and wasn't the most secure way to carry it, but it was better than slicing my ankles by trying to carry it in my boot.
“Here.” Killian pulled a lacing off an extra vest and looped it around the dagger. It made it more secure, while still allowing me the ability to pull it free. “That's better.”
“Thanks,” I whispered.
“It looks good on you.” Killian leaned in to kiss me, and then said, “But I'll never forget the image of you fighting with it naked.”
“You're just not going to let that go are you?” I asked him.
“Nope.” He grinned unabashedly. “Those memories are going in the bank.”
“The bank?” I asked.
“You know which one.” He waggled his brows at me, and I groaned. “Hey, I need something to get me off when you're not around.”
Torquil cleared his throat and looked pointedly at the approaching team of extinguishers.
“Any reports from the other teams?” I asked the extinguishers.
“We checked in with the Council House, and they say there are twelve units down there already,” one of the extinguishers said. “They've made numerous arrests, but none have been of Lana Clach.”
“Okay, good,” I said. “That means we can grab her ourselves. I think we deserve the satisfaction.”
The extinguishers nodded. They were a fresh group—they hadn't been in the Idaho Underground fighting—but they were soldiers and they knew how important it would be for me to catch Lana myself.
“Has everyone been briefed on Lana Clach?” I asked.
“Known to be dangerous and merciless,” one of the extinguishers intoned. “Her main magic is the Clach—power over stone.”
Killian chuckled, and we all scowled at him. “Sorry”—he held up an apologetic hand—“it was just the way he said it; it sounded like her magic is the Clap.”
A couple of chuckles and repressed snickers spread through the group before we got back to business.
“Okay, so you're all familiar with Lana's type of magic. Watch your backs... and your head, if you happen to be in a stone building. She could bring it down on you in a heartbeat.”
“She's also desperate,” Daxon added. “Lana thought she was going to end up ruling America, and now she's on the run. She'll be bitter, furious, and looking for victims to take out her frustration on. She will not hesitate to kill you, so if you cannot apprehend her, kill her.”
“Daxon,” I growled.
“I'm sorry, Seren, but Lana isn't going to wait for us to try out different ways to catch her, and she isn't going to surrender,” Daxon said. “She will go for a kill shot every time.”
“We are not murderers,” I said
to the team. “That being said; we aren't idiots either. I'll leave it to everyone's best judgment.”
“Seren, come on,” Killian said. “You know they need a direct order. Give them that protection.”
“Gods-damn it!” I growled and ran my fingers angrily through my hair.
“I know it's ingrained in you to follow the laws,” Daxon said to me. “You were the one who executed the orders. But now you are the one giving the orders, Seren. So, make a decision that will benefit your troops, even if it hurts your honor.”
I took a deep breath and nodded. This woman had taken advantage of her own people, instigated a plot against a man I now knew that I loved, and tried to murder us when it didn't work out the way she'd planned.
“As Ambassador, I'm the lead on this mission. I will take full responsibility for the order I'm about to give you,” I said in a low but clear voice. “Extinguish Lana Clach with extreme prejudice.”
“Yes, Ambassador!” The extinguishers shouted and then smiled.
We headed toward an entrance to the Denver Underground, and I reminded our team of one more thing.
“We're not just here for Lana; we're looking for a redcap hostage as well. Her name is Talie. I need you all to be on the lookout for her. Do not hurt her, if you find her.”
And then we headed underground again. I was beginning to hate the smell of dirt.
Chapter Fifty-Six
The Colorado Underground was slightly better than Idaho's, but not by much. There was no one on the streets except for the teams of extinguishers and hunters. Everyone else was hiding, albeit for different reasons. My team walked the uneven streets warily, ready for anything. We had learned our lesson and kept a tight group. No one would separate us again.
But we didn't see any soldiers, and I realized that Lana had probably taken most of her troops with her to Idaho, leaving a skeleton crew here. Which meant that the bulk of her soldiers were now either dead or imprisoned. And the ones she had left at home were either hiding like the residents of her underground or making a last stand with their mistress.
“This way,” Daxon led us down a side street.
“Been here before?” I asked casually.
“You know that I have,” he said over his shoulder. “And you should be thankful for it because I can take us straight to Lana's real residence, instead of the one everyone believes to be her home.”
“She has two homes in one city?” Killian asked. “That's either pretentious or paranoid.”
“A little of both.” Daxon chuckled. “Lana has all of her meetings at one location, and makes it appear as if she lives there when she really lives... here.”
We stopped in front of a modern home with medieval accents. It had stone walls and wooden balconies but was set with plate glass windows and a sloping, tile roof. The porch was poured concrete, but the front door was very castle-esque; wood with iron accents. I lifted my brows at the iron. Most fairies didn't want the stuff anywhere near them; seeing as how it can be fatal if they get cut by it and will burn them on contact. I'd only seen a few fairies brave enough to use the metal for their benefit; like guarding their door with it. Even the lock was iron. Picking it would be a dangerous endeavor for a fairy. But it turned out to be a moot point; the door was unlocked.
I opened the door, and we all strode into a spartan living room with sleek furniture and a fireplace that soared up one wall to the vaulted ceiling. The fireplace was cold, and so was the room. The place seemed deserted, but that didn't mean anything. I searched the room with all of my senses and found no surprises waiting for us. So, I sent the team further in; some to search the bottom floor while the rest of us went upstairs.
We found nothing; just room after empty room. I was about to suggest that we give up and go check out Lana's other residence—perhaps she had more defenses there and had decided to hole up in the obvious place, after all—when we heard a woman shouting.
“Anyone there?” The voice called. “Come on; you can't just leave me down here!”
We all froze for a moment and then went running downstairs toward the commotion. The team that had been searching the first floor was gone; heading down even further to the basement. We pounded down the cement stairs after them and came out into a nicely finished basement with a pool table, a kitchenette, a sitting area, and a cell.
There was a redcap woman behind the iron bars.
I searched the room and quickly located a set of keys hanging on the wall near the door. Fairies love taunting their prisoners by putting their freedom just out of reach. I grabbed the keys and eased to the front of our group. The redcap eyed me warily. Her shouting had ceased, but she obviously wasn't certain if her situation had improved.
“Talie?” I asked.
Her black eyes widened, and she pushed back a bloody lock of hair absently. She wasn't hurt, not that I could see; the blood was from her cap, which her captors had generously allowed her to keep.
“Yes, that's me,” her voice was soft, but it still rumbled. “Do I know you?”
“No, but you know me,” Daxon came up beside me and took the keys from me. “We've been looking for you, sweetheart. We know about Lana.”
Daxon opened the door carefully, pulling it out by its steel handle. Talie burst into tears and rushed into Daxon's arms. It was odd to see a sidhe man holding a redcap woman; the size difference alone was strange. But despite her girth, Talie looked fragile as Daxon held her, and he looked somehow larger. He stroked her hair and comforted her for a moment before he firmly set her back.
“Your brother is safe as well,” Daxon assured her.
“Oh, thank Danu,” Talie whispered. “That fucking bitch has been torturing me with stories of Fell in Council custody and how they're going to kill him.”
“I have him,” I said. “He's safe.”
“Queen Seren, this is Talie,” Daxon introduced us.
“Nice to meet you, Talie.” I shook her hand. “I'm relieved that you're all right. I promised Fell that I'd find you.”
“But Lana said she made Fell attack one of your friends,” Talie said. “Why would you help him?”
“Fell told me he was coerced,” I explained as I cast a look at Daxon. “He just lied about who had coerced him.”
“Never mind all of that,” Daxon said. “Talie, we're trying to find Lana. When's the last time you saw her?”
“Days ago.” Talie shrugged. “I've only seen her guards since then, but earlier today they got some news that sent them running. There”—she pointed to a discarded note on a nearby table—“that's it. As soon as they read that, they ran out of here and left me; the bastards!”
Cyrus grabbed the note and read aloud, “Failure. Evacuate immediately and meet at Location Two.”
“Location Two?” I asked as I looked at Talie.
Talie shrugged. “I never overheard anything about it.”
“They had an exit strategy,” Daxon hissed. “Of course Lana would be prepared. That woman always gives herself a way out.”
“We won't find anything here, Your Majesty,” Desmond concluded. “Lana has fled with what little men she has left. She's abandoned her underground.”
“Fuck,” I growled.
“Obviously she wouldn't come back here.” Daxon shook his head. “Why did I let us waste our time?”
“We had to check it out anyway,” I said to Dax. “And we found Talie. So, it wasn't a waste of time.”
Talie stared at me with wide eyes and then burst into tears.
“Talie, it's okay,” Daxon said gently. “You're safe now.”
“She's really like this?” Talie asked him. “Queen Seren thinks that I was worth searching an entire underground for?”
“She does, and so do I,” Daxon said. “I'm sorry if I made it sound otherwise.”
“I'm sorry I was used against you, Your Majesty,” Talie said to him before turning to me. “And I'm sorry I never gave your rule a chance, Queen Seren. I should have stayed in Unseelie and supported
you and King Raza. But it was so scary after King Uisdean's fall. First Queen Rue was torturing us, and then you came with the dragons. It's been centuries since I've seen dragons over Unseelie; to have them flying above while the sea dragons roamed over the land... it was terrifying, even to us redcaps. I left Court, and then finally, I decided to follow my brother here. Fell said he was doing well in the Human Realm. But I should have stayed. Redcaps don't run.”
“Unseelie is not a prison,” I said. “It was your right to leave. I'd rather have you follow your heart than feel unhappy or scared. But if you'd like to return, we'll welcome you home.”
Talie burst into tears again. “I'm sorry,” she sobbed. “I'm just tired. I'm really not a crier.”
“It's okay, Talie,” I said. “Believe me, I understand.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Not only was the Colorado Underground abandoned, but all of the others as well. The monarchs of the undergrounds had given up their hard-won kingdoms and gone on the lam. They knew we had discovered their treachery and that the full force of both the Wild Hunt and the Extinguishers would be sent their way, just as it had been sent after Lana. The irony was that they were probably hiding above ground.
But that didn't stop the Councils.
Teams of hunters and extinguishers were sent to locate the missing rulers, and those teams wouldn't stop until they succeeded. Not only that; the Casters and Coven put every tribe on high alert for the fairies, with orders to kill on sight. The witches don't mess around. If the hunters and extinguishers didn't find the renegades, the witches would. It was just a matter of time, but I knew that time could stretch out. These were fairies who were adept at hiding, and who knew the human world almost as well as their own. They would not be easy to track.
I was upset that we didn't have our closure, but there were more important issues to deal with than a bunch of criminals on the run. The High Councils, the Coven, and the Casters summoned Daxon, Killian, and me to Ireland. So, we left the underground clean-up to others and headed to San Francisco, where we had Fell released and reunited with his sister before we got on a plane to Ireland. Daxon brought his Elite, and I brought my Star's Guard, but the Human Council's private jet still had room to spare. It was a long trip, but a comfortable one, and I was able to get some much-needed sleep in the private bedroom.