“The Child of Dunne was to be secured as well, but Titannia’s agents got there before we could. Gloriana felt that to act after that would draw far too much attention upon her, so the Dunne was deemed expendable.” She was calming, her hands far less shaky, her tone becoming more and more steady as she described the plot to essentially overthrow the Gray and plunge the world into war. “Then her idiot nephew was kidnapped.”
“The first salvo in the war.” Robin was careful to hold still, but his words seemed to remind the ex-princess of his presence.
“Yes.” She nodded toward Robin. “Or so we believed.”
“And what was to happen to me when this glorious war was won?” Oberon’s grip tightened on Cassie, who gripped him equally tightly.
She had the gall to look startled. “You were to be Lord of the Gray, of course. We never intended to dethrone you.”
“Merely to set me aside while the White Queen went about her business.” Oberon carefully placed his bondmate on one of the moss-covered stools. He glanced at Robin, who nodded once before both of them focused on Demetria. This sentence would come from both of them, for it was Robin’s Blades whose reputation had been blackened by Gloriana’s maneuvering, and Cassie’s life that had been put in danger. His power rolled through Atlantis, his voice heard by all who dwelt within its walls. “I, High King Oberon, Lord of the Gray, sovereign over the White and the Black by holy decree, hereby end the line of the family Nerice and all of their descendants, and declare their rule of the Atlantean people to be at an end. Their treason against the high crown has been marked and judged, their actions deemed abhorrent to the peace and prosperity of their kingdom.”
He felt the shock roll through Atlantis. Only twice before had Oberon disbanded an entire court, and for similar reasons. The people would know what their rulers had been up to. Nowhere would the Nerice family be safe.
But there were two members who did not deserve punishment, and he would see to it that they did not suffer. “Cassandra Nerice, Lady of the Gray, Queen of the Gray Court, and her brother, Prince Dayton Nerice, betrothed to the Pacifica court, shall remain the only true members of the Nerice royal family.”
Cassie shook her head. “Neither Dayton nor I wish to rule.”
He nodded. “Queen Cassandra will take the name of the Lord of the Gray, and Prince Dayton the name of his betrothed, thus truly ending the name Nerice. Those who bear that surname who are not of the royal line may choose another name rather than share in the shame of Nerice.”
Cassie smiled, accepting his compromise.
“A governor shall be appointed to rule over Atlantis until such time as a King or Queen worthy of the name shall present themselves before us.” He kept his power flowing, for there was one more task he needed to perform. “And for kidnapping the High Queen, Queen Cassandra, drawing her blood and threatening her existence, I hereby sentence Demetria Nerice…to life.”
Demetria shrieked as his and Robin’s powers blended, converging on her in a swirl of silver and green light. Her body twisted, bent in impossible ways as together Robin and Oberon forced her to change. Every bone in her body shattered, her blood filling the green and silver swirls around her with bright red.
It was almost pretty.
Her skin expanded and contracted, her hair receding into her skull, her eyes bulging out as her form shrank. Her eyes slid around the side of her head, her nose shrinking, sinking into her face. Her forehead sloped back, her lips stretching, disappearing as her chin sank into her neck and her neck into her chest. Her arms receded, turned in on themselves, the bones protruding from the skin as they turned into dorsal fins, her tail shrinking in size until it matched the rest of her small body. Her blue scales now covered her entire form.
Oberon smiled as he released his power. Robin’s gift had given the princess some beauty, where Oberon would have been content with a simple transformation. “Robin?”
Robin swam forward and scooped up the damsel fish, placing it in a clear pouch he pulled from thin air. “Who’s a pretty fishy? You are, yes, you are.”
The damsel fish swam slowly, exploring its new surroundings. How much the ex-princess understood of her new life Oberon did not know, nor did he care. He’d kept his promise. She was alive, and they had not fought. And all would know the price they would pay for harming his bondmate.
Now he had far more important things to worry about. His mate was against the wall, her hand covering her mouth. She looked utterly horrified as she stared at the bag Robin so carefully held. “Cassie?”
She tore her gaze away from the bag and met his. “I never want to see something like that again.”
“Pray you never have to.” Oberon would make no promises. He couldn’t, and he refused to lie to her. “Come to me.”
He held his breath as Cassie hesitated, but within seconds his bondmate swam to him. She trembled against him, her face buried against his chest. “I want to go home.”
“Your wish is also mine.” He closed his eyes, grateful beyond belief that she’d come to no other harm than some cuts on her neck that would quickly heal. “I won’t ever let you be taken from me again.”
“You can’t promise that.” Cassie shivered.
Oberon smiled as the remnants of his power scented the water around them. “Oh yes I can.”
“Sire?” The caution in Robin’s voice amused him.
“It’s been a while since I visited a forge.”
“Forge?” Cassie lifted her head as he swirled them away from the Palace.
“Oh, dear.” Robin began to laugh, well aware of what Oberon had in mind. “I look forward to seeing what you create.”
He shot his Hob an amused glance. “Shall I make a matching set for you and your truebond?”
Robin tilted his head. “You know, considering the trouble my bondmate tends to find, that might not be a bad idea.”
Cassie tucked her head against his neck and held on as Oberon and Robin brought her home.
“What will happen now?” Cassie paced in front of Oberon’s desk, still too tense from everything that had occurred to relax. Oberon had tried to talk her into going to bed, but she was jittery with leftover nerves. She couldn’t settle down, even when Oberon had pulled her into his lap and tried to soothe her with soft words and gentle touches.
No. There was more going on than just Cassie’s kidnapping, and she needed to have a hand in what came next.
Robin, who’d made himself at home on Oberon’s couch, waved a languid hand. “Demetria will make a lovely addition to my bondmate’s new aquarium.”
Oberon’s little half-smile was typical. If she ever saw him give a full belly laugh she’d probably die of shock. “And Gloriana? What of her?”
Oberon drummed his fingers on his chair. “This isn’t the first time one or the other of the queens has tried something like this.”
“Oberon was appointed High King in order to prevent situations that could plunge us all into war.” Robin yawned. “Of course, that’s never stopped the ladies from trying to scratch each other’s eyes out from time to time.”
“Why do they hate each other so much?” Cassie had always wondered, and now she was in a position to ask the one person who most likely knew the answer. “I get why you hate the Black Queen, but why does Gloriana?”
Oberon and Robin exchanged a look. The silent communication between them would have once made her jealous, but now she could hear the hum of their joined song. Each viewed the other as a cherished brother.
It was Oberon who broke the silence. “When my bond with Titannia was strained to the breaking point and war was inevitable, she chose to strike first. She set out, making secret alliances among the fae with the darker appetites, no matter their aspect.”
“She bullied, bribed, blackmailed and seduced her way through half the court before she was stopped.” Robin grimaced. “It’s said
no bond, however true, was safe from her.”
“So she seduced Gloriana’s bondmate.” So that was one rumor that had proven true.
Robin chuckled darkly. “So they say.”
Oberon’s half-smile became a full one. “Ever hear the phrase ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’?”
Cassie stopped dead, her thoughts tumbling all over each other like a stampede of puppies. “Wha…?”
Robin winked. “We never once said she stuck to only the male half of the courtiers, did we?”
Oberon nodded. “Indeed. And Gloriana’s…proclivities were well known back then.”
She was still trying to wrap her mind around that. “Gloriana is a vagitarian?”
Robin burst into laughter.
Oberon’s brows slowly rose. “What did you call her?”
Cassie blushed bright red. She cleared her throat, embarrassed she’d burst out that way. “I’m sorry. Did you say Queen Gloriana is of the lesbian persuasion?”
Robin laughed so hard he fell off the sofa.
Oberon shook his head, obviously amused at either her outburst or Robin’s antics. Probably both, if she was hearing the hum of her mate’s song correctly. “Yes, she is. Titannia seduced her, aware of how powerful the queen of the fairies was. Having her as one of her lovers gave Titannia tremendous influence over the so-called lesser fae.”
Robin wiped tears from the corners of his eyes and picked himself off the floor. “Between Michaela and Cassie I will never be bored again.”
“Where is Michaela?” Oberon glanced toward the door as if expecting the woman to walk through it any second.
“She’s showing Snod around the palace.” Robin settled himself back on the sofa, straightening out his jade brocade jacket with a twitch. “The gods only know what trouble the two of them will find.”
Oberon muttered something under his breath that caused Robin to chuckle again. “Snod is Michaela’s bodyguard, a redcap she accidentally bonded with when she met Robin.”
“I remember him.” A huge, ugly human when he wore his Seeming, Snod was devoted to his mistress, following her like a faithful dog. He had even stepped between Robin and Michaela at one point when he’d been afraid Robin was going to hurt Michaela. He couldn’t have been more wrong, but it ended up proving to Robin that Snod would throw himself on a grenade to keep Lady Goodfellow safe. Robin had declared Snod to be one of his people, under his protection. “I’m glad he’s settling in nicely.”
“And keeping my bondmate out of trouble, a task I envy no man for.” Robin smiled, his bondmate’s supposed antics far from bothering him. “Now, we need only discuss punishment.”
Cassie blinked. “I didn’t think Michaela was that much trouble.”
Robin shot her a wicked glance. “My dear, you have no idea.”
“He meant for Gloriana.” Oberon stood and tugged Cassie toward his desk. He settled back down in his chair with a sigh, pulling her into his lap and settling her down to his satisfaction. “There must be a consequence for her actions.”
“You can’t take her from the throne.” To do so would throw the balance of the courts out of whack for centuries to come.
“No, I cannot. Not unless she goes directly against the edict of the gods.”
“And technically, she hasn’t.” Robin grunted in surprise as the door to Oberon’s office was thrown open. “Snod?”
The redcap stood there, heaving, sweating and looking terrified. “The vampire woke up.”
Robin was on his feet in a flash, disappearing in a cloud of swear words that would have made a whore blush.
“I gather Michaela is with the vampire?” Cassie waved when Snod bowed to her.
“Hello, Gray Lady. Hello, Gray Lord.” Snod bowed again. “My lady is with the vampire.”
“Etienne?” Oberon caressed Cassie’s hip. “Do you know when he woke?”
“About five minutes ago, sire.” Snod bit his lip. “I ran for Robin as fast as I could when it wouldn’t let go of my lady.”
Now Oberon swore, shifting them both until they were standing in the room Etienne Valois had been resting in.
Cassie watched as Robin tried to talk to the newly created vampire in a soft, crooning tone that belied the rage she could sense dancing along his melody. She had to do something before Robin lost it and destroyed the man holding his bondmate. “You don’t want to hurt her, Etienne. Let the pretty lady go.”
Etienne shook, his eyes blood red, his nails black and sharp. He’d successfully completed the transition from Sidhe to vampire, and now the hunger was riding him hard. “It hurts.”
“I know.” Cassie took a step forward, brushing off Oberon’s attempt to stop her. She could sense Etienne’s terror and knew she could help him. “I can help you. Let me hear your song.”
“Make it stop.”
She waved her hand behind her back, hoping Oberon would get the hint. “You need blood, Etienne.”
“What did they do to me?” Red-stained tears filled his eyes. “What is happening?”
Michaela, held tight in Etienne’s arms, whimpered.
Robin’s sapphire blue eyes flashed to glowing green. “Let her go, Etienne.”
“Why does she smell like food?” Etienne shoved Michaela at Robin, who whisked his bondmate out of the room. “What have they done to me!” Etienne shrieked so loud Cassie covered her ears.
“Calm yourself, Etienne.” Oberon had apparently had enough. Cassie found herself thrust behind him, his broad back protecting her from the sight of the rampaging newborn vamp. “If you don’t I will be forced to destroy you.”
“Do it.” Etienne’s tone was savage. “Kill me. I won’t be this…this thing they made me.”
“You have no choice.” The high king’s tone was uncompromising. “This is your fate. Choose what you will do with it.”
Etienne shrieked again, the sound so lost, so forlorn Cassie tried once more to go to him. Oberon wouldn’t let her, forcing her to remain behind him.
Cassie couldn’t stand it. The pain Etienne was in was too strong, too fierce. He would be lost in it if she didn’t act.
She began to hum, ignoring the way Oberon went still in front of her. She had to help the man who was vibrating with pain, had to find a way to ease his suffering without ending his life.
She sang, soothing the jagged edges of Etienne’s disrupted harmonies. The attack that turned him had been violent, scarring not only his body but his soul. His loathing of vampires came from…
Oh. Oh, dear. This could be a problem.
Cassie did what she could to smooth over the old wound, to dull the pain of loss Etienne had suffered through. It wouldn’t take away all of his hatred, but she could keep him from self-destructing over his own situation. She sang away some of the ravaging hunger a newborn vampire always felt, dulled the pain of transformation in his bones.
She could hear Oberon talking to someone, but her focus remained on Etienne and getting him through this first trying hour. If she could get him through the shock he stood a chance of surviving, but he would have to relearn everything he’d once known. He would no longer be able to shape dreams the way he had as a Sidhe. Instead, he would have the speed, reflexes and mind control abilities inherent in all vampires. He would be starting over, but he would still have his Blade training and his years as a Sidhe to help him. And if they could find someone willing to act as his sire and guide him it would be even better.
She watched as Harold came dashing into the room holding several plastic pouches. It seemed Oberon kept the palace well supplied.
Etienne grabbed for the pouch Harold held out, sucking down the blood within like a greedy child before dropping the empty bag with a whine.
Harold held out bag after bag, his hand steady as the starving vampire finally got to sate his hunger in a safe way. When she was certain
he finally had himself under control Cassie stopped singing.
She sighed, sagging a bit against Oberon, who hadn’t once moved away from in front of her. She’d been forced to step a little to the side just to see Etienne, but that was as far as Oberon had allowed her to go. “Are you all right now?”
Etienne looked down at the bag in his hand and dropped it with a grimace. “No.” His eyes, when he looked at her, were no longer the red of a hungry, hunting vampire, but a warm golden brown. “No, I am most certainly not all right.”
“We’ll find someone to act as your sire, Etienne. You won’t be abandoned.” Oberon held out his hand. “Far too many young vampires are left to fend for themselves or dragged into Black Court covens. This…you are the reason I created the Blackthorn clan, to give vampires a safe place to go when they’ve been changed without having to go it alone, or worse, choose the Black because they feel they have no other options.”
Etienne scowled. “There needs to be a third option. Not all of us would choose to live like this.”
Oberon sighed. “I can’t stop you from walking into the sun, but I won’t be the instrument of your destruction because you think this is too hard on you.”
“Hard?” Etienne snarled. “They butchered my entire family and you think this might be a little hard on me?”
Cassie stepped around Oberon. “It will be a lot hard, but not impossible.” Cassie moved toward Etienne, stopping only when she was toe to toe with him. “You are a Blade, a Knight of Oberon. You can do this.”
He glared at her, but something he saw in her gaze forced him to look away. He seemed ashamed somehow, angry and hurting and unwilling to take the next steps he needed to. “I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”
She smiled and held out her hand. “Then let’s find out.”
When Etienne took it, however reluctantly, she wanted to sing in triumph. He could be saved, given enough time and a hell of a lot of guidance. “We need to discuss who might be a good sire for you.” She began to cautiously lead him from the room, keeping her gaze on him the entire time. It meant she was forced to walk backward, but she trusted Oberon to catch her if she began to fall. “Do you have anyone in mind who you might like to work with?”
Siren's Song: The Gray Court, Book 5 Page 20