by L. A. Banks
“I don’t understand this thing that has happened,” Queen Cerridwen said quickly. “Lady Jung Suk was a demon—she made a pact with that traitor from my court, Kiagehul, to become invisible and to be able to possess that poor girl. Therefore, when she was summarily executed, everything of her should have gone away.” Queen Cerridwen stood and paced and then set her cold blue gaze on Garth. “If you cannot redress that butchered spell, then I will have my top advisors leave the safety of their haven to come help our strong allies.”
“Now milady is usurping your advisors with her own?” Garth said, narrowing his gaze. “ ’Tis a dangerous thing indeed, milord.”
“ ’Tis a dangerous thing to speak so rashly before my queen, Garth. Do not forget your place.” Sir Rodney took a slow sip of his ale and stared at Garth over the lip of his stein.
Garth simply nodded and stood back from the table. But the brief volley of angry words gave Sasha the in to the conversation she’d dreaded.
“If there was a breach in loyalty. treason, then could it be possible that someone in your court who has not been routed out yet might be interested in your demise?” Sasha leaned forward, studying the queen’s intense composure. “No blame against you, but they did plot an overthrow before. The last time it was Sir Rodney’s. Could it be that someone from the Unseelie Court is trying to implicate you in Vampire attacks to cause a costly war. then they could double back and strike their own deal with the Vampires—selling you and Sir Rodney out, now that you’re allies?”
“Completely Machiavellian and completely possible, were it not for the fact that Rodney and I have swept our courts with the most insidious round of spells we could muster. Truth spells and oath sealers that would wither a liar right before our very eyes. All of our most trusted advisors were subjected to this. Our inner circles are squeaky clean.” Queen Cerridwen lifted her porcelain chin and drew up her fragile features. “That is the first thing I thought, too. I like how you think.”
Sasha released a quiet breath of relief. The last thing she wanted to do at the moment was offend Sir Rodney’s latest lady love. This day and night had already been eventful enough.
“Even Kiagehul’s kith and kin have been interrogated and bewitched,” Sir Rodney said, lifting his stein. “The Fae are ruthless when betrayed, as well ye know. This time we left no stone unturned.”
“No offense, but the Vampires are equally ruthless when violated,” Hunter said evenly. “I hope that you have barricaded your establishments for the onslaught due tomorrow night.”
A sly half smile appeared on Sir Rodney’s face and he shared a glance with Queen Cerridwen. “On the morrow, my wolf friend, the Vampires will wish they had never beheaded a single Fae. Our establishments are bespelled, readied for the attacks. We have imported the best magick slingers from the old country—London, the Bonnie Isles, Wales, and my beloved Scotland. They have sent their executioners from Romania and Transylvania and the old Czech Republic, and so forth. They tipped their hand with the gargoyle onslaught. Our advisors have scryed into the cauldron pools to learn of this, using the skin of one of their captured beasts. They will rue the day they have come to tangle with the House of Shannon of Inverness!”
“Okay. ” Sasha said carefully. “But there’s also a human population in the center of New Orleans where the French Quarter is—where a lot of your establishments are and where the Vampire blood clubs are located.”
“We are aware of this problem, but sometimes in war there are sacrifices,” Queen Cerridwen said. “We have done our best to use methods that will minimize human casualties.. Our forces are poised to strike and then draw the fight into the bayou, but we cannot guarantee that there will be no loss of human life.”
Sasha rubbed her palms down her face and leaned on the round table on her elbows. “I understand, and given the circumstances, if it were the wolf federations under attack, we would have to employ the same methods. But this thing with the Erinyes is sticking in my craw.”
“And mine,” Hunter said, suddenly standing and beginning to pace. “What was it that came to spy on me, Sasha, Shogun, and Amy, but didn’t attack?” He turned suddenly, searching all the faces in the room. “The Erinyes are demons, yes? They are Furies; rage is what propels them. So why would they just come as invisible beings and stare at us?”
“That’s what we can’t figure out,” Sasha added. “It’s as though whoever raised these things said, ‘Go check on the wolves in the area, but don’t attack yet.’ We’re being monitored in a very weird way.”
“Erinyes redress the fury of the dead. If you are not being attacked, then whoever raised those entities must not have seen the wolves as culpable of whatever crime or offense they feel had been committed.” Garth looked at Sir Rodney. “Which would certainly rule out the theory we’d been working on that Kiagehul somehow left a backdoor spell that would avenge him upon his death, so that those that had wronged him would be beset by Erinyes. The wolves were the ones that hunted him down and dragged him to court. The wolves helped us collect the implements to break his nasty spells on the House of Shannon.”
“Right. That’s why none of this makes sense.” Sasha sat back in her chair and took a sip of her ale. “We’ve been wracking our brains on this, trying to figure it out from every possible angle. The Vampires have any number of groups that could be pissed off at them. But there’s only a few that can actually raise demons, have a human soul, and deal with the element of cold like the Fae.. I mean, no dark coven is a match for your Fae sweeps, and I doubt one would try to go against them, no matter what the Vampires promised.”
Hunter looked up at the moon. “My grandfather should be near by now, and Doc should have an answer.” He glanced back at Sasha. “Perhaps once he has communed with my brother, we can go into the shadow lands with him and walk near the demon doors for answers?”
Both Shogun and Amy looked up in unison as the dungeon doors opened. This time no guards came in with Hunter and Sasha, only Silver Hawk wearing his ceremonial garb.
“What is the meaning of this?” Shogun said in a quiet, lethal tone, standing slowly, his eyes filled with rage. “You have come to murder us in our cells with a shaman as witness! Will that make you both sleep better at night?”
“You promised!” Amy shouted, and then rushed the bars, forgetting about the silver and burning her hands. “At least open the cells and let us die together!”
“No one will die,” Hunter said, presenting the keys. “We came to beg your pardon and ask your forgiveness that precautions had to be met. My grandfather came in ceremonial robes to marry you here and now if you want, so that, Shogun, your one request—to not dishonor Amy—could be met. We owed you that. and if you would still like, we will also stand with you at your more formal ceremony.”
Amy held out her hands, trembling as Silver Hawk first opened her door and then placed a balm from his medicine bag on her palms.
“Child,” he said in his ancient, wise voice. “A beautiful bride in a gossamer gown must be able to touch the face of her beloved without pain. Trust me and allow me to heal you.”
Hunter opened Shogun’s door and was met with a warm hug.
“Thank you, Brother.. Forgive my harsh words.”
“No apology required. If I thought you were going to kill my mate, my reaction would have been no less.”
“You know the Fae,” Sasha said with a warm smile. “They have wronged you with an errant arrow and have rolled out the red carpet to try to make things right. There’s a suite for you upstairs filled with the best of everything. Be happy.”
Shogun left Hunter’s side and went to Sasha but looked over his shoulder. “May I?”
Hunter nodded. “Yes. because you are settled.”
“I am settled,” Shogun said, and then drew Sasha into an embrace. “Thank you, sister.”
She nodded and released him, glad that the butterflies had gone, glad that there was no twinge of what-if in his eyes or her gut, even under the full moon. Thei
r eyes met and he gave her a brief nod that contained a wistful sadness merged with understanding as he left her side and found Amy in her cell. Patiently waiting until Silver Hawk had removed his hands from Amy’s injured palms Shogun went to her and then drew her into his arms.
Their kiss was slow and questioning, building in ardor as Shogun’s fingers threaded through Amy’s silken river of onyx hair. Silver Hawk lowered his gaze and stepped away. Two Fae guards opened the dungeon door as Hunter, Sasha, and his grandfather moved toward it, blocking the eager guards from entering.
“They are prepared for the ceremony upstairs,” a guard said brightly. “Glad that all is well. So, we stand at the ready to escort the bride and groom to a much cozier stay. Our Fae hospitality is legendary.”
“That it is,” Sasha said with a smile, walking past the guards without looking back.
“But what of the ceremony and the feast?” The second guard glanced back at the slowly closing door.
Hunter and Silver Hawk shared a look as the outer dungeon door slammed shut. He landed a thick hand on the confused man’s shoulder. “Maybe in the morning. I’m sure Sir Rodney will definitely understand.”
CHAPTER 13
“If World War Three wasn’t about to go down tomorrow night, I’d say all’s well that ends well. True love abounds in the sidhe and several very evil Vampire viceroys had a date with the sun that they probably deserved anyway. hey.” Sasha kept walking up the steep, winding staircase that led to the main castle hall. Why couldn’t life just be uncomplicated for once?
Hunter gave Sasha a sidelong glance as they reached a landing. “Were it only that easy.”
“Yeah, I know. Who am I fooling?” Sasha released a hard sigh and kept pushing forward. Her body was exhausted, but she knew sleep would be impossible with all of the issues racing through her mind. “It would have been great to see if maybe Amy could go into trance and give us any insight as a supernatural seer, but fat chance of that happening tonight. I can’t blame her, but damn. We’ve gotta find a way to figure out what opened Pandora’s box with the Erinyes and how to send them back before this Vamp war really gets further out of hand.”
“Sometimes just being still, daughter, is the hardest thing to do. But the answer is within the stillness. We sometimes learn that in the shadows.”
Sasha looked over her shoulder at Silver Hawk and gave him a smile, even though what he’d said made her want to scream. Right now her nerves couldn’t take an ancient parable. Right now her brain could not begin to process cryptic statements. But she loved the old man way too much and respected him far too much to respond with more than a simple nod. Still, she was sure he knew what she’d been thinking by the sly half smile he’d unsuccessfully tried to swallow.
“Don’t worry, Sasha,” Hunter said as they reached the guarded door. “Grandfather makes me insane, too, when he starts talking in old Ute riddles.”
“I will leave you,” Silver Hawk replied, unfazed. “Get some rest. Tomorrow will be eventful. I feel it in my bones.”
Two guards at the top of the stairs banged on the heavy oak door to have it unlocked from the outside and then moved to let them pass. Another castle guard stepped forward with a huge key ring in his hand and a question in his eyes.
“Milord. where are the betrothed?” The guard looked first to Silver Hawk, who was the eldest in the small retinue of three.
Silver Hawk chuckled softly. “They have married wolf-style in your dungeon, and should be allowed their privacy.”
The Fae guard frowned, clearly not understanding. “Ah, you are a cleric amongst the wolves. A leader of your kind, then so be it. I shall inform Sir Rodney. but he will be wondering about all the food and drink.”
“I think Sir Rodney will be okay with just allowing the party to go on regardless,” Sasha said with a smile. “Maybe in an hour or two you guys can send down some grub. but I’d sorta wait until the couple asked for it before just barging in on them, you know what I mean?”
“Indeed!” the guard replied with a bow. “We Fae do love a festive event, and if our guests are happy we are happier.”
“I assure you,” Hunter said, giving Sasha a wink, “my brother and his new wife are very happy.”
“Then it is settled,” the guard said, striding away. “Fare thee well. I shall inform Sir Rodney.”
“The food and drink will not go to waste,” Sir Garth said, coming out of nowhere and startling Sasha, Hunter, and Silver Hawk. “Please follow me. We don’t have much time.”
Shogun’s kiss began with a gentle tasting of her mouth, the delicate probing of his tongue. Amy could almost feel Shogun breathe her in and allow her scent to flow over his palate before he’d swallowed it. She’d been the one to deepen the exchange, hungrily suckling his tongue and giving in to the insane warmth of his embrace.
His wide, hot palms splayed across her back as she arched against him, needing every inch of her skin to come in contact with his. Clothes were in the way. Fabric taunted her raw nerve endings; she wanted it off of her, off of him. Yet he was still handling her as though she were a fragile object made of glass. She could feel him holding back, keeping the wolf within him at bay, even after knowing what she had within her.
Before she could stop herself her nails scored his back, shredding the silk shirt the Fae had given him, drawing blood—she didn’t have to see it; she could smell it. The pungent scent hung in the air as she pulled back from their kiss and stared at him.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice now thick and weighted with desire as her fingers gently played over his wounds. “I didn’t know my hands would do that.. I. ”
Amy’s words trailed off as she stared into Shogun’s dark brown eyes, watching them slowly become lit from within. Anticipation swept through her, stoking her need. A split second gave way to a lightning-fast response and her windpipe was being gently held by sharp upper and lower canines. All she could do was breathe. The threat was implicit. The threat was exhilarating.
Searing palms lifted her, separating the flesh of her buttocks, straining the thin gauze gown, straining her patience, while his powerful jaws remained locked over her trachea. Arms around the crown of his head and the nape of his neck, she kept her eyes closed as he moved her across the floor, still holding her tightly in an act of pure wolf possession. He had her by the throat, had claimed her body as his territory. Short panting bursts of breath were her agreement to submit. It all happened in the jag of fractured seconds that awakened Were instinct within her core.
Species didn’t matter. He was male; she was female. Her body spilled its need for him, wetting her thighs, wetting his belly as he carried her, the scent straining his reason as he put her down hard on the small bed and blanketed her. Trembling, she couldn’t speak as he pulled back and stared at her, crouching above her. She studied the question in his eyes, then answered it, tearing away the remnants of his shirt, and then traced the ridges of his chest and his nipples, finally reaching around to gently touch where she had raked him, only to feel the wounds already beginning to heal.
A gentle nudge with the side of his jaw pushed her to lie back. Capturing her hands within his, he swept her knuckles with a passionate kiss and then stared at her hands in awe.
“So delicate and yet so dangerous,” he murmured, turning her palms over and kissing the centers of them.
She withdrew her hands from his, ashamed at how she’d accidentally hurt him, but her protest died under the press of his lips. Colors swirled behind her eyelids. His warmth erased all doubt as his fingers threaded through her hair and then found the edge of her dress. But pure shock made her eyes fly open the instant the fabric ripped.
His kiss deepened as her dress tore away from her body in a steady drone until it was halved. She watched him as he stared down at her, first drinking in her soul from her eyes and then giving himself permission to take in her nudity as though devouring her.
Yearning for his touch, she arched her body up to meet his but was
rebuffed by a forceful kiss against her abdomen as he drew away.
“I’ll hurt you like this,” he murmured, and then shook his head.
Her palm cradled his cheek. “And I will heal.. Do what you must, but never let there be others.”
“How did. ”
Amy placed a finger to Shogun’s lips. “I can see with my third eye. I may be a virgin, but I am not blind. and whatever Lady Jung Suk left me when her spirit fled my body, it was not naïveté.” She allowed her gaze to linger on Shogun’s handsome face and then slowly rove down his sinewy physique. “And I should thank her for that,” Amy whispered.
Taking Shogun’s hands within hers, Amy placed them against her breasts and then dropped her head back with a breathy moan. The long-awaited sensation pebbled her arms with gooseflesh and made her reach for him, pulling at him, not sure how to stop the ache of passion within her.
An assault of textures set her skin on fire and she cried out as his full, smooth lips brushed over her tight nipples, then torso, followed by the trembling touch of his calloused hands. Everything he did deepened the ache and deepened the arch in her back. The dry heat of his touch gave way to the wet heat of his tongue as he laved her nipples, trailing kisses beneath the petite swell of her breasts, and across her belly. New beard shadowed his jaw and prickled her inner thighs, making her crave his mouth even more.
Her breaths had become ragged and her hands had become fists as his tongue sent spirals of pleasure through her until she dug the crown of her head into the pillows. Her voice was now a cross between female and feline, zigzagging between shrill cries of ecstasy and low, mewling purrs of profound release. No man had ever had access to her body like this, and certainly none of her self-pleasuring had produced climaxes as soul wrenching.
He’d opened her with his tongue, suckling her bud, French-kissing her swollen lips, now his finger played at the sensitive opening of her flower. It was too much to bear. She had to get away from him just to catch her breath.