Iron Bones

by Yasmine Galenorn

  “As always, Lord of the Wood and Water.” Kipa gave him a stately bow that verged on the edge of mockery, but after that, everybody seemed to relax. Although I wondered if things could ever truly be relaxed in the company of the gods.

  There was a noise from behind the throne and Ferosyn entered the room. Herne strode over to hand him the bag of bones.

  The healer grimaced. “This is all you were able to find? Where are the others?”

  “Buried under tons of rock, now. Kipa and I brought the mountain down to cover them since we couldn’t gather all of them. But I hope these are enough for you to make an antidote for the Fae.” Herne sounded uncharacteristically nervous.

  Ferosyn frowned, but nodded. “These will do, with some left to spare, but I really don’t like to think that the rest of that skeleton is out there and that Elatha knows it’s there.”

  “Speaking of Elatha…we had visitors while we were on the mountain that prove we’re facing the Fomorian King.” Herne told them about the Bocanach and the Fachan, including how I had managed to kill the sorcerer. “They have to know we’ll have the antidote. They won’t know how many of the bones we found, however. Perhaps they’ll think we found the whole skeleton. And it will take them some time to sort through matters, because we killed the entire party and buried them under the rockslide.”

  “There’s no question, then.” Morgana cleared her throat. “Matters are clear. We must inform TirNaNog and Navane about the Fomorians. And yes, Herne, in answer to your questions, Elatha was ejected from Annwn some time ago, and they do believe he sailed back over the Great Sea.”

  “Do we have to tell them? Won’t that just stir things up even more?” I asked.

  Morgana gave me a long look, then said, “They deserve to know. They’re my people—and yours. And they have to prepare in case Elatha strikes again.”

  A silence fell through the room then.

  Ferosyn guided me back to his office, where he examined my legs and gave me a salve for them. “While we’re alone, I think we should talk about something. It might be embarrassing, but it’s something you need to think about.” He paused, staring at his medical chart.

  “What?” I wasn’t ready for any more unpleasant surprises.

  He cleared his throat. “I’ll be direct. If you don’t want a child, you’re going to need to think about birth control.”

  I blinked. “Holy crap, I hadn’t even thought of that. Herne’s a god. A demigod, but still…I thought he could just…” I stammered.

  “Just magically tell his penis not to shoot out some very potent sperm?” Ferosyn laughed. “It doesn’t work that way, not even for the gods. No, you’ve been lucky until now. But if you don’t want a child, you’re going to have to take action. I can tell by the way he acts that Lord Herne is…” He paused.

  “He’s in love with me,” I whispered. “And I love him. But I’m not ready for a child. I don’t know if I’ll ever be, but I know right now, definitely not. Especially since we have no idea where the relationship is going.”

  Ferosyn nodded. “I thought as much. But you see, the lords of the forest…part of their power lies in their virility, and that includes fertility. If you don’t want to end up pregnant, you need to start using birth control and I’m not talking about condoms. I wouldn’t trust them to last through…” Again, he paused, tugging on his collar.

  “Herne’s very…active.”

  “Right. So you see what I’m getting at.” He walked over to one of his cupboards, rummaging through it. “Here. This is an herbal mix that works for the Fae, and it’s very strong. It will suppress your ovulation until you’re ready. Then, you just have to stop using it for three months and your fertility should return. It will take one cycle to take effect.”

  I peeked in at the powder. “How do I use it?”

  “Once a month, you take two teaspoons’ worth in a cup of hot water. Drink it all down. That’s it.”

  I nodded. “What should I do until then? I don’t think Herne will want to wait a month and…” Again, I blushed. “I don’t know if I can, either. Being around him drives me crazy.”

  “Again, for those who are touched by the energy of the Hunt, the gods of the wild play havoc with your senses. It’s like the perfect storm of passion and lust. And you, my dear, have the blood of hunters in your veins. Morgana told me what you found out about your heritage.”

  I let out a long breath. “Yeah. It’s like my life decided to just turn on end and shake me around. I feel like I’m in a snow globe. I don’t know where this will take me, but I guess I don’t have a choice except to follow the path that destiny has set out for me.”

  “Tell Herne why you need to wait. There are other methods of pleasuring, and I’m sure you both have good-enough imaginations to figure them out.” He grinned. “Take heart, Ember. Too many people lead lives of boredom or pain. You have a hard road ahead of you, but it’s definitely not boring, and the journey is what counts. Make the most of it. Explore the unknown. Security offers safety, but true joy lies in freedom. And sometimes, freedom comes at a hefty cost.”

  With that bit of wisdom, he began to work on the antidote, sending me back to the throne room, where we finished up our talk and then, went home.

  TWO WEEKS LATER…

  Kamaria was still in the hospital, though on the mend, so Kipa had cleared the house from any remaining spirits. We had then thrown one massive painting party that lasted three days. Herne had closed the agency for the week to give us all a break and Viktor, Yutani, Talia, and Kipa had joined us to finish pulling our house together.

  Now, bringing in the last of our boxes and furniture, and bringing Mr. Rumblebutt over, Angel and I were in our new home, lock, stock, and barrel.

  She and I walked out into the tangled yard, finding a neglected bench to sit on.

  “I’m so glad that the Fae are beginning to respond to the antidote. So, there’s enough to go around?”

  “Ferosyn said yeah, there will be plenty with some left over. But he’s still worried about the bones buried out there. Morgana has informed Saílle and Névé about Elatha. I’m afraid that we’re going to be caught smack in the middle of the war between the Fae and the Fomorians. You know my people aren’t subtle.”

  “What about your grandfather?” Angel asked, picking a wild rose from one of the sprawling bushes that wound its way through the yard.

  “I have no idea. But Morgana also informed the United Coalition about the existence of that ritual and they’re debating whether or not to ban its use. The magical guilds will be against the ban, of course. They hate regulation, but…I hope they do illegalize it.” I caught a deep breath, holding it for a moment before slowly letting it out. “What do you want to do tomorrow?”

  Angel leaned back, staring up at the cloudless sky. “Do you want to go down to the docks and ride the Ferris wheel?”

  The Seattle Amusement Park was located by the docks and included a variety of rides and booths. It was usually jammed but given tomorrow was a Friday, most people would still be at work during the middle of the day.

  I nodded. “Let’s spend the day shopping. We can stop at the fish market and bring home a feast to thank everybody for their help.”

  As we sat in silence, a flutter of wings filled the air and I opened my eyes to see a murder of crows landing in the trees of our yard. There was something about them that I couldn’t pinpoint, but they made me nervous, and as I listened to their raucous cawing, the breeze wafted by, and I could feel the first tang of autumn on it, filtering in to surround us.

  Something inside me flared, and I wanted to run off to the woods again, to go on a hunting spree. The colors of the yard grew more intense, and I stood, holding my arms out to the crows. They flew up from their trees, circling overhead, and then began to land on the ground, surrounding us in a circle.

  Angel stiffened. “The crows know something. Can you feel it? Thunder echoing?”

  “The s
ky’s clear,” I said, but even as I spoke, the clouds gathered in the distance, rushing in on a sudden gust of wind. I turned to the birds and they fell silent, staring at me.

  “They’re here to gather the harvest,” Angel said softly.

  I nodded. I wasn’t sure what they wanted, but they were here, and they spoke to my blood. They spoke the autumn, and all things that walked its leaf-strewn paths. They spoke of bonfires flaring in the nights, of hay and apples and cinnamon. They spoke to the harvest of meat, and the sacrifice of the grain god.

  A bright flash lit up the sky, and as it ripped through the air, I caught a flash of a massive bronze cauldron. Behind it stood a woman dressed in black, and her eyes were the color of stars. She stirred the cauldron, and as I watched, a crow landed on her shoulder. She gestured toward the vessel.

  “Are you ready?” she asked. “Rebirth awaits.”

  And then, the clouds broke open and the rain started to pour. The crows went winging off, and Angel and I sat there in the drizzle, feeling the turn of the wheel as the season began to shift around us, sweeping us along on the journey that never ends.

  “I don’t know where I’m headed, Angel,” I whispered. “But my blood is stirring, and I can only answer its call.”

  She wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “I’ll be by your side, girlfriend. I feel change coming too. A storm is rising, but we’ll meet it together.”

  And, hand in hand, we headed back to the house, drenched, but ready to face the future.

  If you enjoyed this book and haven’t read the first two, check out THE SILVER STAG and OAK & THORNS. Book 4—A SHADOW OF CROWS—will be out later this year. And more to come after that.

  Meanwhile, I invite you to visit Fury’s world. Bound to Hecate, Fury is a minor goddess, taking care of the Abominations who come off the World Tree. The first story arc of the Fury Unbound Series is complete with: FURY RISING, FURY’S MAGIC, FURY AWAKENED, and FURY CALLING. The second story arc will begin later this year with FURY’S MANTLE.

  For a dark, gritty, steamy series, try my world of the Indigo Court, where the long winter has come, and the Vampiric Fae are on the rise. NIGHT MYST, NIGHT VEIL, NIGHT SEEKER, NIGHT VISION, NIGHT’S END, and NIGHT SHIVERS are all available now.

  If you prefer a lighter-hearted but still steamy paranormal romance, meet the wild and magical residents of Bedlam in my Bewitching Bedlam Series. Fun-loving witch Maddy Gallowglass, her smoking-hot vampire lover Aegis, and their crazed cjinn Bubba (part djinn, all cat) rock it out in Bedlam, a magical town on a magical island. BLOOD MUSIC, BEWITCHING BEDLAM, MAUDLIN’S MAYHEM, SIREN’S SONG, WITCHES WILD, BLOOD VENGEANCE and TIGER TAILS are available. Look for CASTING CURSES in September!

  If you like cozies with teeth, try my Chintz ‘n China paranormal mysteries. The series is complete with: GHOST OF A CHANCE, LEGEND OF THE JADE DRAGON, MURDER UNDER A MYSTIC MOON, A HARVEST OF BONES, ONE HEX OF A WEDDING, and a wrap-up novella: HOLIDAY SPIRITS.

  The newest Otherworld book—HARVEST SONG—is available now, and the next, BLOOD BONDS, will be available in May 2019.

  For all of my work, both published and upcoming releases, see the Bibliography at the end of this book, or check out my website at Galenorn.com and be sure and sign up for my newsletter to receive news about all my new releases.

  Cast of Characters

  THE WILD HUNT

  Ember Kearney: Caught between the world of Light and Dark Fae, and pledged to Morgana, Goddess of the Fae and the Sea, Ember Kearney was born with the mark of the Silver Stag. Rejected by both her bloodlines, she now works for the Wild Hunt as an investigator.

  Herne the Hunter: Herne is the son of the Lord of the Hunt, Cernunnos, and Morgana, Goddess of the Fae and the Sea. A demigod—given his mother’s mortal beginnings—he’s a lusty, protective god and one hell of a good boss. Owner of the Wild Hunt Agency, he helps keep the squabbles between the world of Light and Dark Fae from spilling over into the mortal realms.

  Angel Jackson: Ember’s best friend, a human empath, Angel is the newest member of the Wild Hunt. A whiz in both the office and the kitchen, and loyal to the core, Angel is an integral part of Ember’s life, and a vital member of the team.

  Viktor: Viktor is half-ogre, half-human. Rejected by his father’s people (the ogres), he came to work for Herne some decades back.

  Yutani: A coyote shifter who is dogged by the Great Coyote, Yutani was driven out of his village over two hundred years before. He walks in the shadow of the trickster, and is the IT specialist for the company.

  Talia: A harpy who long ago lost her powers, Talia is a top-notch researcher for the agency, and a longtime friend of Herne’s.

  DJ Jackson: Angel’s little stepbrother, DJ is half Wulfine—wolf shifter. He now lives with a foster family for his own protection.

  THE GODS, THE ELEMENTAL SPIRITS, & THEIR COURTS

  Cerridwen: Goddess of the Cauldron of Rebirth. Dark harvest mother goddess.

  Cernunnos: Lord of the Hunt, god of the Forest and King Stag of the Woods. Together with Morgana, Cernunnos originated the Wild Hunt and negotiated the covenant treaty with both the Light and the Dark Fae. Herne’s father.

  Coyote, (also: Great Coyote): Native American trickster spirit/god.

  Danu: Mother of the Pantheon. Leader of the Tuatha de Danaan.

  Ferosyn: Chief healer in Cernunnos’s Court

  Kuippana (also: Kipa): Lord of the Wolves. Elemental forest spirit; Herne’s distant cousin. Trickster.

  Morgana: Goddess of the Fae and the Sea, she was originally human but Cernunnos lifted her to deityhood. She agreed to watch over the Fae who did not return across the Great Sea. Torn by her loyalty to her people, and her loyalty to Cernunnos, she at times finds herself conflicted about the Wild Hunt. Herne’s mother.

  THE FAE COURTS

  Navane: The court of the Light Fae, both across the Great Sea and on the east side of Seattle, the latter ruled by Névé.

  TirNaNog: The court of the Dark Fae, both across the Great Sea and on the east side of Seattle, the latter ruled by Saílle.

  THE ANTE-FAE

  Creatures predating the Fae. The wellspring from which all Fae descended. Unique beings who rule their own realms. All Ante-Fae are dangerous, but some are more deadly than others.

  Blackthorn, the King of Thorns: Ruler of the blackthorn trees and all thorn-bearing plants. Cunning and wily, he feeds on pain and desire.

  Straff: Blackthorn’s son, who suffers from a wasting disease requiring him to feed off others’ life energies and blood.

  THE FORCE MAJEURE

  A group of legendary magicians, sorcerers, and witches. They are not human, but magic-born. There are twenty-one at any given time and the only way into the group is to be hand chosen, and the only exit from the group is death.

  Merlin: Morgana’s father. Magician of ancient Celtic fame.

  Taliesin: The first Celtic bard. Son of Cerridwen, originally a servant who underwent magical transformation and finally, was reborn through Cerridwen as the first bard.

  Ranna: Powerful sorceress. Elatha’s mistress.

  Väinämöinen: The most famous Finnish bard.

  FRIENDS & ENEMIES

  Aoife: A priestess of Morgana who guards the Seattle portal to the goddess’s realm.

  Charlie Darren: Vampire who has latched on to Viktor. Emo-boy.

  Elatha: Fomorian King; enemy of the Fae race.

  Marilee: A priestess of Morgana, Ember’s mentor. Possibly human—unknown.

  Playlist

  I often write to music, and IRON BONES was no exception. Here’s the playlist I used for this book. I consider three songs to be “theme songs” for Iron Bones: We Travel (Marconi Union), The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (Traffic), And the Rain (Shriekback).

  AC/DC: Back in Black

  AJ Roach: Devil May Dance

  Alice Cooper: Go To Hell; Welcome to My Nightmare

  Alice in Chains: Man in the Box; Sunshine


  Android Lust: Here and Now; Dragonfly; Stained; Saint Over

  Arch Leaves: Nowhere to Go

  AWOLnation: Sail

  Band of Skulls: I Know What I Am

  The Black Angels: You on the Run; Never/Ever; Indigo Meadow; Don’t Play With Guns; Holland; Black isn’t Black; Young Men Dead; Phosphene Dream

  Black Mountain: Queens Will Play; Roller Coaster

  Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Feel It Now; Fault Line

  Black Sabbath: Lady Evil; Paranoid

  Blue Oyster Cult: Godzilla; Don’t Fear the Reaper

  Bon Jovi: Wanted Dead or Alive

  Broken Bells: The Ghost Inside

  Camouflage Nights: (It Could Be) Love

  Clannad: Newgrange

  Cobra Verde: Play with Fire

  Colin Foulke: Emergence, Caravella

  Crazy Town: Butterfly

  Creedence Clearwater Revival: Green River; Run Through the Jungle

  Damh the Bard: The January Man; Spirit of Albion; Land, Sky and Sea; The Cauldron Born; Obsession; The Wicker Man; Spirit of Albion; Iron From Stone

  Dizzi: Dizzi Jig; Dance of the Unicorns

  Eastern Sun: Beautiful Being (Original Edit)

  Eivør: Trøllbundin

  Faun: Hymn to Pan

  FC Kahuna: Hayling

  Gabrielle Roth: The Calling; Raven; Mother Night; Rest Your Tears Here

  Gary Numan: Ghost Nation; My Name is Ruin; The Angel Wars; Hybrid; Petals; I Am Dust; Everything Comes Down To This; When the Sky Bleeds, He Will Come