by Amy Sumida
“Princess Seren?” A man with a British accent asked me.
He was dressed in a perfect, tailored slate-gray suit with a cardinal tie and a matching pocket square. I could tell by his lean neck that he was bit on the wiry side but the cut of the suit made him look thicker. He was what the Brits would call a ginger; with citrine hair and fair, freckled skin. Despite this anemic appearance, he exuded power and his crocodile-green eyes were sharply focused on me.
“Yes, and you are?”
“I am Crispin Arterbury, Prime Elder of Bite,” he bowed as perfectly as any fairy knight. “These are the other high elders,” he waved expansively to the rest of the people in the crystal room (none of whom looked old enough to be called an elder), and then gestured to a very angry and very familiar looking Native American woman. “Jennifer Wasutke, Prime Elder of Flight,” he leaned in and whispered, “She's a bit peeved with you, my dear.”
“Prime Elder Wasutke and I have already met,” I nodded to her. “In a way.”
“We've had a brief conversation,” intense walnut-colored eyes narrowed on me. They were so dark, I could barely see her irises. It kind of felt like I was staring into the plastic eyes of a stuffed animal. But I'd had lots of practice staring into strange eyes and hers didn't bother me in the least.
“More of an accusation,” I noted. “I believe the word you used was; traitor.”
“That may have been inaccurate,” she amended. “I should have recognized you for what you really are; doomed.”
She launched herself at me but a man slid between us, laughing.
“Ve spoke on zis already, Jennifer,” he put an almond-colored hand on her shoulder and gave her a pat. “No violence today, da?”
“Fine,” Wasutke grunted and turned away to sulk in a faceted corner.
“This is Illarion Maksimov, Chief Elder of Storm,” Crispin gestured to the man before me.
“Princess Seren,” Illarion turned towards me with a smile that went all the way up to his slightly slanted hazel eyes. A swath of sable hair fell over his long forehead as he bowed over my hand. “It's highest pleasure to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you as well,” I cleared my throat as he stepped back and gave me a wink.
“And here is Jarne Vinter, Prime Elder of Pack,” Crispin indicated a Nordic giant with chalky skin that looked like it would burn with the slightest hint of sun. It paired well with the deep acorn color of his hair though, and his deep indigo eyes.
“Call me Jarne,” he spoke with a Scandinavian accent, lifting his words like he did his lips, with pure joy. “We have heard great things about you.”
“You have?” I sent a skeptical look in Elder Wasutke's direction and Jarne laughed boisterously.
“Not from her. Our Missouri alpha has caught your scent,” he nudged my shoulder with his fist, causing me to stumble.
“My what?” I gaped at him.
“It's Pack speak for; he likes you,” a woman dressed in a sangria sari walked up to me with a hickory-colored hand extended. I shook it as she continued, “I'm Akhila Trivedi, Prime Elder of Flame.”
“Thanks for the translation, Prime Elder,” I admired her amazing periwinkle eyes, so startling in her dark face.
“An you be a lucky girl to be catchin' Aidan,” another woman sidled up to me, speaking with a Jamaican accent. She had deep bourbon colored skin and a voice to match. Her tortoiseshell dreadlocks were twisted into a crown around her head, her sticky toffee eyes were set on me sweetly, and her curvy body was draped in seafoam silk. “He be a grindman from what I heard tell.”
“A grindman?” I asked, unsure whether I wanted to know what she meant by that.
Akhila laughed politely behind her hand but the men looked a little uncomfortable.
“Grindman, you know,” the woman undulated her pelvis. “He be good in da bedroom.”
“Oh, um,” I cleared my throat. “I already have one of those.”
“Never can have nuff of those, nuh true?” She smiled wide.
“You can when the grindman you got is the jealous type,” I couldn't help laughing.
“Getcha new man, lilly girl,” her full lips pursed sensually. “Ya nuh see it?”
“Oh I see a lot of it,” I shook my head, “but I don't touch.”
“No,” she laughed. “I mean, don't you understand? We magic women must be free to love.”
“I do love,” I shrugged. “That's why I don't touch anyone but Tiernan.” Oh okay and Raza that once. Give me a damn break. I'm going to tell Tiernan. I am.
“Ah sey one,” the Jamaican nodded. “I understand. I am Chantelle Robinson, Prime Elder of Tide.”
“Seren Firethorn, Princess of Twilight,” I introduced myself.
“Firethorn, yes,” Akhila observed. “Aidan mentioned this name. Do you have an affinity for fire?”
“You could say so,” I shrugged. “I have pyrokinesis and my personal fey magic is the firethorn; a thick, thorny vine that I can set aflame.”
“It sounds lovely,” Akhila sighed.
“Akhila, stop monopolizing,” a blonde man stepped forward. He sounded American and looked it too. His athletic build was shown off in a pair of tailored pants and a button down shirt with the cuffs rolled up. He held out a manicured, sand-colored hand to me. “I'm Jared Turner, Prime Elder of Quake.”
“Nice to meet you,” I shook his hand.
“And this is Gabriel Alegre,” Jared indicated a swarthy man on his left. “He's the Prime Elder of Beckoning.”
“Princess,” Gabriel took my hand in both of his and brought it to his full lips.
He had those smoldering Spanish looks that had made Antonio Banderas a fortune. Hair like a mink, cut in careless layers, maple syrup eyes too sweet to look at for long, and those almost feminine full lips. He was stunning, except he made my skin crawl. I had to fight the urge to yank my hand away from him.
“Prime Elder,” I took my hand back as soon as politely possible.
“We've asked you here because Aidan has informed us that you seek to establish a truce between us and the fey,” Crispin took over again.
“And the Human Council,” I nodded. “I think that would be to all of our best interests.”
“You don't know my interests,” Flight Elder sneered.
“Hey, I get it, you have a problem with me because my people killed several of yours and now I'm holding even more of Flight hostage,” I nodded. “But try to see it from my perspective; your people have been killing humans under the guise of raven mockers for centuries. How many deaths would that be, do you think? How many years have you yourself added to your lifespan by eating human hearts? Because I don't believe for a second that you're under the age of thirty.”
“It's so easy for you to sneer at me and my kind while you have immortality,” she snarled.
“I only recently acquired immortality,” I shrugged. “Before that, I was just human.”
“With psychic gifts,” she huffed.
“That granted me the ability to police the fey, not stay young forever,” I shook my head. “And had you offered me such magic as yours, I would have refused to use it. But this is besides the point. Your kind have killed many humans. In the eyes of the Human and Fairy Councils, you have broken the truce and should all be extinguished.”
Everyone tensed.
“But we are willing to overlook those murders,” I went on. “As well as any the rest of the clans have committed. A clean slate so that we can move forward.”
“We are not comfortable with the thought of signing a document we had no part in creating,” Crispin said.
“All humans have to abide by the truce,” I shrugged. “And most don't even know it exists. But in this as well, we're willing to compromise. A new truce can be made, one that you will help to write. If you're willing to work towards peace.”
“And if we're not?” Jennifer Wasutke sneered.
“Then it will be war,” I said simply. “I don't want to sound arrogant or spitef
ul here. I've heard of your abilities and I'm certain you could hold your own against either the Extinguishers or the Wild Hunt but against them both? I honestly don't think so.”
“I don't think you fully comprehend how many of us there are,” Gabriel said quietly.
“I don't think you fully comprehend the source of your magic,” I said gently. “The power you possess is a mutation of fairy magic. I could hazard a guess as to all of your ancestors and I could also tell you that your magic is only a portion of what they possess.”
The elders began muttering angrily.
“I'm not trying to be insulting,” I held up my hands. “I admit that some of the magic has revealed interesting and powerful aspects in your kind but I want you to be aware of exactly what you're dealing with and what a good option peace would be for all of us. You say that I have no idea of your numbers. Well, let me remind you that the fey fill an entire planet, just as humans do Earth. We are not a portion of the population, we are all of it. If we needed numbers, we would have them but truly, I don't believe we'd have to resort to that.”
“You speak the word we in reference to the fey but you are clearly one of us,” Jared said in confusion.
“I may be what your ancestors were,” I offered. “A turning point; the person whose choice of mate would determine whether her descendants became fairy or witch. But I'm not a witch. I hold both human psychic talent and fairy magic, so I am something different than you. Your fey blood has been diluted so much that all that remains of it is a trace of magic. I can't sense any fey blood in you. That being said, I view you as a new race of human and as such, you're entitled to my protection as an extinguisher and my mediation on your behalf as an ambassador.”
They all shared intense looks with each other.
“We accept your offer to become our Ambassador. You may help mediate the truce when we meet with your elders,” Crispin finally answered. “Whether peace will be achieved or not is yet to be seen but I think we are interested in working towards that goal and I believe that you are genuine in your desire to help us get there.”
“Excellent,” I wondered briefly if I had the authority to set up that meeting and then I decided to just go with it. Peace wasn't something that should be put off. “Our High Council House is located in Ireland. It's in the countryside, a nice neutral location where we can work out the details of a truce without being bothered by prying human eyes. I'll give Aidan the directions on how to reach it. Shall we set the meeting for a week from today?”
“That's acceptable,” Gabriel nodded.
“Then I'll see all of you there,” I started to pull the crystal off my neck when Crispin stopped me.
“One last thing, Princess,” he held his hand out towards me.
“Yes?” I dropped the crystal back into place.
“The prisoners you're holding,” Crispin glanced at Jennifer, who was still scowling. “I believe it would go far to swaying the clans towards peace if you released them.”
“Do I have your word that Flight will not harm anymore humans, Prime Elder Wasutke?” I countered.
“They will not use their magic to take life,” Wasutke grimaced. “But this promise lasts only until we establish whether there will be peace or war.”
“Sounds fair to me,” I shrugged. “I'll release your people.”
“Thank you, Princess,” Crispin smiled, revealing a set of small but sharp-looking fangs.
I blinked in surprise. I'd completely forgotten that he was the elder of Bite; the vampire witch clan. Vampires. The word conjured images at odds with Crispin's appearance. But then fairies weren't exactly a bunch of Tinkerbells either.
“Thank you for being open to a truce,” I said to all of them and then removed my necklace.
Chapter Thirty-Four
I was once again standing on the lawn before the Tulsa Council House, staring into Aidan's face. Grindman; the word snuck into my mind and I nearly blushed. I'm sure he was good in bed, he had the look of a man who wouldn't be satisfied until his partner was. But I wasn't interested in the alpha wolf. I already had a Lord of the Wild Hunt... and a very determined dragon to deal with.
“They'll be meeting with our high councils in a week,” I said to Aidan. “I'll get you the coordinates and directions to the Fairy High Council House in Ireland and then you can pass them on to your elders.”
“Alright,” he nodded as he took the cluster crystal back. “All went well, then?”
“Not as well as I would have liked but at least they're willing to try for peace,” I shrugged. “And Flight Elder Watsuke gave me her word that her members wouldn't harm any humans until we got this sorted out.”
“So you'll release the ones you've taken?” Aidan lifted a brow.
“I'll release them,” I confirmed. “Wait here.”
“Hold on,” he handed me a little card. “My information, so you have a contact to call if something should happen.”
“Thanks,” I tucked his card into the inner pocket of my leather jacket.
“You're doing the right thing, Princess Kick-Ass,” Aidan smirked.
“I hope I don't end up regretting it, Pack-Man,” I shot back.
“What did you call me?” He started to smile.
“You heard what I said,” I began walking to the house. “Now just accept what a brilliant play on words it is and let it go.”
“I guess I do chomp on things,” he chuckled.
“And grind them,” I muttered.
“What was that, Princess?” He called out.
“Nothing,” I sighed. “Damn wolf hearing.”
“What happened?” Tiernan asked as soon as I stepped inside.
“I've set up a meeting in a week's time,” I looked to Lord Eadan and then Councilman Teagan. “We'll need to contact the High Councils and let them know that the witches will be descending upon the Fairy High Council House in Ireland, expecting to have a truce summit.”
“I'll go call them now,” Teagan hurried off.
“I'll scry for Councilman Greer,” Eadan added.
“And I'll go release the prisoners,” I watched them stop in their tracks.
“Why would you give up your advantage?” Raza cocked his head at me curiously.
“Because it helped to get the Coven to agree to the summit,” I explained. “And because the Prime Flight Elder gave me her word that her people wouldn't kill any humans until then.”
“Until then?” Tiernan lifted a brow.
“Well I couldn't get a promise of forever from her when she didn't know if we'd end up signing a truce or not,” I grimaced. “Besides, if they do step out of line, they won't be able to plead ignorance any more and we can hunt them with a clear conscious.”
“That's a good point,” Conri grinned. “I do love to hunt.”
“I'm going to go get them,” I rolled my eyes and headed to the basement.
“I don't think this is entirely your decision,” Murdock grumbled. “It should be put to a vote.”
“They're under my control, Councilman,” I pointed out. “And as Ambassador, I don't think I need your permission. But I will ask for your support,” I looked to Ted Teagan.
“Release them,” Teagan sighed. “I don't feel comfortable with a basement full of witches anyway.”
“Who would?” Torquil muttered.
“Witches,” I said as I passed by him.
Chapter Thirty-Five
I released the witches and earned several disapproving stares from council members as I did so. I in turn felt a little disappointed in the behavior of my fellow humans. It felt morally wrong to keep the prisoners while we sought truce with their people. So I wasn't cowed at all by their criticism. I was doing my job as an Ambassador and they could kiss my half-fey fanny.
Turns out, I didn't have to deal with them for long anyway. Eadan called me in on his conversation with Councilman Greer and Greer asked me to report to the Fairy High Council House in Ireland immediately. The high council members wanted me the
re to handle any problems that might arise between now and the summit. A week wasn't a lot of time to prepare for such an important event and I think they were a little annoyed with me for setting such a horrible deadline. So I got to share their misery.
All of us fey packed our bags and bid adieu to the Tulsa Council House. My Star's Guard was in an exceptional mood, laughing and teasing each other as we headed for the SUVs. For most of them, this was their first trip into HR and now they were going to see the most famous fairy site outside of the Fairy Realm. It was like telling a bunch of children that you were taking them to Disneyland. I wanted to join in their cheer but I found my stomach clenching nervously as we rode to the airport. Not because of witches or the truce. My nerves were purely dragon related.
Raza was coming with us.
Things were getting tense between Tiernan, Raza, and I. Raza hadn't approached me in anything but polite interest since our searing kiss but he didn't have to; his looks said it all. He looked at me like we'd already slept together and it was ruffling my feathers a bit. The more he looked at me, the less interested in him I became... and the more furious Tiernan turned.
It was a vicious cycle that I had no idea how to break and the plane ride didn't seem the appropriate time for an intervention. So I retreated into the private cabin with Tiernan and stayed there until we landed in Ireland. Those hours of peace were just what I needed and I luxuriated in the private time it gave me with my man. Miles up in the air, encased in metal and enveloped in Tiernan, I was able to let go of my anxieties and just be Seren. Not Ambassador Seren, not Princess Seren, not even Extinguisher Seren. Just Seren in love with Tiernan.
Once we landed in Ireland, the ride up to the Fairy High Council House was much more tense but at least we were all facing forward, so I could ignore the hot looks Raza was directing at the back of my head. After the intimate time I'd spent with Tiernan on the plane, he was even able to ignore them. So we miraculously made it all the way up into the Irish countryside without a single incident.