by Amy Sumida
“I'm glad you did as well.” He agreed. “I can see how you might think us guilty of such a crime, but I assure you, we have not traveled to the surface in the Human Realm for over a century.”
“Well, I didn't know that, but Danu did tell me that the humans aren't here,” I confessed. “So, I know you're innocent.”
“And now you're down to one dragon court,” he noted.
“Yes. I'm just confused as to how they could snatch a human from a beach when they'd have to lay a breathing spell upon them first.”
King Ryujin stared blankly at me, like perhaps I was joking with him. When I just stared back, he said, “Princess, you traveled here in an air-warded conveyance, and you are walking through air currently. Why would you think the Sons incapable of taking humans?”
“I... uh, I'm an idiot,” I growled, and Torquil made a choking sound. “I guess I thought your courts were divided by magic use too. It never occurred to me that the Sons could employ an air-ward.”
“The magic is not that difficult, as long as you have an air-wielder.” Ryujin shrugged. “And the Sons have quite a few air dragons.”
“Air dragons?” I lifted my brows. “I thought you were all sea dragons?”
King Ryujin stopped to laugh, and then recovered when he saw my expression.
“I'm sorry”—he waved his hand apologetically—“I suppose I expected you to know more about us. But that's unfair of me.”
“So, you have air dragons?” I prompted.
“We have all elements, just as the land fey do.”
“Of course, you do.” I rolled my eyes at my own stupidity. “Damn, that was rather racist of me to think that you didn't.”
“Not at all.” King Ryujin patted my shoulder and then opened my bedroom door for me. “The sea is distracting; it's so massive and magnificent, you can't help but think that it's all there is to us. How could fire, earth, and air exist beneath all of this water?”
Torquil took up position outside my door as Ryujin, Cat and I went inside.
“Yes, but I'm standing amid proof that all of those elements can exist here.” I waved a hand to the fire crackling in the fireplace. “I should have thought it through.”
“Well, now you know.” He shrugged and took a seat before the hearth. “Perhaps some tea?”
Cat joined him, walking in a circle three times before she was content enough to lay on the carpet.
“Of course.” I looked around for stuff to make tea.
“Sit, Princess,” Ryujin said as he waved a hand. “It was an offer, not a request.”
A golden cart, set to the side of the dressing table, rolled up to his chair. I sat across from him as he opened the teapot on top of the cart. Another elegant hand wave and a metal pot hanging over the fire came bobbing over to Ryujin and tilted itself. Boiling water poured into the porcelain pot, and then the dragon king guided the metal pot back to its original location. Ryujin scooped some tea leaves out of a silver canister with graceful movements, turning each silver spoonful precisely over the teapot. He laid the spoon down; bowled end first, then a slow drop of the handle. With one hand he held back his long sleeves as he replaced the lid of the teapot with no sound at all. It was a beautiful process that almost felt like a ritual.
“Will you be using the twilight magic to travel home?” King Ryujin asked as we waited for our tea to steep.
“Yes, that will be easiest, I think. Then you won't have to bother with a carriage for us.”
“Now that you've been here, you can travel back in the same manner, correct?” He asked with a twinkle in his eye.
“Yes, but I wouldn't just pop in unannounced,” I hurried to say.
“No, I'm sure you wouldn't,” his tone gentled. “I just wanted you to know that you will be welcome to do so. We'd be happy to host you again.”
“Thank you,” I said in surprise. “That's very generous. Still, I promise to scry first. Unless I'm on the run or something,” I joked, but my laughter faded when Ryujin's expression went sober. “I wouldn't bring trouble here,” I went on. “I was only teasing.”
“I am not concerned about any trouble you might bring to us,” he said gallantly. “You are welcome to seek sanctuary in our court at any time. My worry was for you, Princess, and for our world. You have united the land, something that has never been done, and that peace is bound to benefit my court. But if you were to die, it could be catastrophic.”
I thought about it. Raza had hinted at the very same thing. Would he and Tiernan return their kingdoms to the way they were before? Would my death tear Fairy apart? I'd like to think my husbands were beyond their separatist ways now; that our experiences together had made it impossible for Seelie to war with Unseelie ever again. But I wasn't certain. Both men had displayed a volatile nature. Without me holding them together, those natures could destroy each other.
“Then I must not die,” I finally said.
Chapter Twenty-One
I traced home to Twilight with Cat and my Star's Guard at dawn. It may have been dawn at the tip of Seelie, but it was just after 10 PM in the Twilight Kingdom. My father had just retired for the night, but I was excited to show him the necklace King Ryujin had given me. I went to his room and knocked, waiting anxiously at the door with Cat, who seemed just as excited; staring back and forth between me and Keir's door. I wanted to know exactly what this piece of dragon magic was, and I was pretty sure my dad could tell me.
“Come on, Dad, wake up!” I knocked again. “I need to show you something.”
I heard movement and then murmuring. Dad could get grumpy if he were woken unnaturally; he was probably grumbling about me to himself. I had a smile plastered on my face when he finally opened the door, but my expression froze. Dad was wearing a robe, barely belted, and behind him, Eibhleann was hurrying into the bathroom.
“You dog!” I whispered.
Cat huffed.
“Seren,” Dad growled and pushed me out into the hall as he shut the door behind him. “Don't you dare embarrass her.”
“I wouldn't dream of embarrassing her.” I gave him a mischievous grin.
“It's just sex.” Keir sighed and was about to launch into a lecture when he spotted my necklace. “Dear Danu!” He snatched it up and peered at it in wonder. “It's a dragon's tear! Where did you get...” Keir's eyes went wide as he looked up at me. “The Dragon Kings gave you a tear? After one night with them?”
“King Ryujin said it was to let everyone know that I was a treasured friend of the Dragon Kings,” I said with just a hint of smugness. “He called it a bit of dragon magic. But he didn't say anything about crying.”
“Seren.” Dad groaned and herded me into the family suite. He sat me down on one of the couches. “That 'bit of dragon magic' as King Ryujin called it, is one of the most precious gifts a sea dragon could give anyone. What did you do to inspire such a lavish gift?” His eyes narrowed on me. “You didn't ...?”
“What?” I chuckled. “I believe you said, and I quote, 'It's just sex,' end quote.”
“Except you're married now,” Keir growled, “and you're a queen. You must choose your consorts more carefully. They must be without flaw and approved by both of your kings—”
“Ease up, playboy.” I held up my hands to stop his tirade. “I didn't sleep with any of them. I gave them Danu; that's what I did to inspire this.”
“The dragons listened to Danu?”
“They were overjoyed to hear her again,” I said softly. “The dragon courts are so different, Dad. I had no idea.”
“I've heard it rumored.” Keir blinked in surprise. “It's just surprising to see the truth of it.”
“So, what exactly is this thing?” I removed the necklace and handed it over for his inspection.
Keir took it reverently and stroked the tear a child's cheek. “It's a drop of dragon essence. I'm shocked that King Ryujin didn't explain it to you.”
“He probably knew that you would.” I smirked. “He must be having himself a l
augh, right about now.”
“They laugh?” Keir lifted his brows.
“They're very entertaining,” I insisted. “Tell me more about my new jewelry.”
“Seren! There you are.” Killian came rushing into the room.
“Killian, I have a dragon's tear.” I took the tear back and held it up proudly, like a trophy I'd won for good behavior.
“Yes, that's pretty,” he said distractedly.
“What's happened?” My father stood.
“I just spoke with an extinguisher team in Oregon,” Killian said urgently. “They've been guarding the coast, watching for any activity.”
“They witnessed a kidnapping?” I stood as well, refastening my necklace distractedly.
Cat looked at all of us standing there and decided to join us, bouncing while making a happy yip.
“They did.” Killian gave me a vicious grin. “They didn't even try to stop them. Instead, they followed.”
“Excellent,” my father said.
“Underwater?” I asked.
“No, not underwater.” Killian grimaced. “We were wrong; the damn sea dragons are innocent. The humans were transported by boat. A little motorboat came and picked them up on the shore and then took them out to a larger vessel.”
“Were the extinguishers able to follow the ship?” I asked.
“They tracked it via satellite.” Killian chuckled. “Fairies always think magic is superior; they never consider the advances humans have made.”
“Fairies from this realm don't,” Keir murmured. “Usually, those who reside in HR are more aware.”
“Where did they take them, Killian?” I growled, ignoring my father's musings. It didn't matter where the fairy was from; what mattered was where he was headed.
“To a little island off the coast of Washington,” Killian said. “Well, it's in Deer Harbor, so I don't know if that's considered to be off the coast of Washington or—”
“Killian!” I snarled. “Where are the humans?”
“The extinguishers think they're being kept on Fawn Island,” Killian huffed. “It's a private island that's fairly close to the mainland. They're assembling a team to raid the island, even as we speak.”
“Who's assembling a team?” I asked. “The Salem Council House?”
“Yeah, do you want to go with them, or not?” Killian asked. “They'll be leaving soon. They want to get there before dawn, which doesn't leave them a lot of time; the trip will take them roughly five and a half hours.”
I looked at my father. This was shaky ground. If I went with the extinguishers, my role as Ambassador would compel me to remain out of any fighting that may occur. However, if I went on my own, I could act in any capacity I chose; Ambassador, Princess, or Queen. Or I could simply be human. Now there's a thought.
“There's a rath outside of Everett,” Keir said. “Is that near the island?”
“They said it's this tiny, two-acre island off the Orcas, or something like that.” Killian frowned. “I don't know where the Orcas is.”
“Orcas Island.” Keir nodded. “It's part of that group of islands off Anacortes. The Rath Lord of Everett will lend you a vehicle, and you can take the ferry from Anacortes to Orcas. As far as getting to this private island; you'll either need a boat or you'll have to swim.”
Cat whined.
“Yeah, I think you need to sit this one out, Cat,” I said.
She whined more.
“You can stay with me,” Keir said on a sigh.
Cat perked up.
“But make yourself scarce when the lights go out,” I told her.
“What's this now?” Killian asked.
“Nothing.” I waved Killian out of the room. “Let's get going. We can get there hours before the extinguishers and scout the island for them.”
“Oh, okay.” Killian cast a confused look at Keir, whose face was turning red.
“Dad, can you contact my husbands and let them know to call off the searches?” I asked.
“Of course.”
“And tell Raza to have King Chiwen call off the grindylows too.”
“The grindylows?” My father's eyes went wide.
“I'll explain later.” I shook my head as I left the room. To Killian, I said, “I just need to change my clothes and grab my sword.”
“You're taking your sword?” Killian lifted his brows at me.
“I may have to fight a faerie.” I shrugged. “Why wouldn't I use every advantage I have available to me?”
“Valid.” Kill smirked. “I like the way you think, Twilight.”
“Killian, what are you going to call me after we're married?”
“What?” He stopped and stared at me in confusion.
“You'll be the Prince of Twilight,” I reminded him. “So, you can't call me 'Twilight' anymore.”
“You were Twilight first.” He shrugged. “Deal with it.”
“It's too much of a habit now, isn't it?” I rolled my eyes at him. “You couldn't stop if you tried.”
“Let's get that sword of yours,” he said evasively.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The ride to Orcas Island took longer than we thought. The Rath Lord, Timmy, was a fuilròn; a type of twilight fairy who was a mix of selkie and baobhan sith. Basically; a vampire who could shift into a seal. Timmy offered to give us a ride to the island so that we wouldn't have to worry about getting the car back to him. We took him up on his offer, and he drove us out to Anacortes, then we had to wait for the first ferry, which wasn't until 4:15 AM. I'd never been on a ferry before, and I enjoyed the ride, even if it was in the dark. There was just something cool about taking a car on a boat. It was like a piggyback ride for my car.
I went to stand near a railing to enjoy the trip. The air was frigid, especially with the wind our passage created. The sharp scent of saltwater was tainted slightly by the tang of decay ocean water sometimes had near a human shore, but I breathed deeply anyway. The sting of the cold and the nose-wrinkling scent helped to clear my head and focus my thoughts. I looked from the shadowy shapes of several islands down to the dark water beneath me. It all seemed menacing in the cruel hours before dawn. It drove home the severity of our task, and how important it was for us to succeed.
After we drove off the ferry and onto to Orcas Island, I decided to brighten my dark thoughts and spent the remainder of the drive pestering Timmy about his race. I'd been studying fairies ever since I was a child; it was part of my extinguisher training. But the Extinguishers don't have information on every fairy. In fact, they hadn't even known the Twilight Kingdom existed until I became its princess. I knew that twilight races were created when seelie and unseelie fairies bred, but I was only familiar with a few of them. The interbreeding produced a lot of blended sidhe; sidhe being the race. But with the lesser fey (not my term for them—basically it was all the fairies who weren't sidhe), the children of mixed unions could produce brand new races. They were my people, but I was still learning about them.
Timmy was happy to tell me all about being a fuilròn. His large, dark eyes were earnest and his pale skin flushed with pleasure as he spoke about being raised by his father in a small selkie village near the Seudachan Sea.
“Did you ever meet your mother?” I asked him, surprised that his father had raised him.
“She visited often.” Timmy nodded. “I love my mom, but it was assumed that I would favor my father since I had been born a boy and a seal.”
“You were born a seal?” Killian gaped at Timmy. “That's fucking awesome, dude!”
“Thanks.” Timmy chuckled. “I've always thought so. Mom didn't know how to raise a selkie, though. So, my dad took me to live with his family. I didn't know I was different until I was about five. Then I had my first craving.”
“For fish?” Killian asked. “Did you eat it raw? I mean, that's cool, man; sushi is in.”
“It's called sashimi,” I corrected Kill.
“What?”
“Raw fish,” I said, “it's n
ot sushi. Sushi is the stuff with rice; raw fish is called sashimi.”
“Whatever,” Killian huffed and then grimaced at Timmy. “She thinks she's fancy because she lived in Hawaii.”
“It doesn't even matter,” I growled. “He wasn't talking about fish.”
“You two sound like you're already married,” Timmy noted gleefully.
“Yeah, she loves me,” Killian drawled. “Wait. You weren't talking about fish?”
“No.” Timmy glanced at me, and we shared an amused look. “I'm half baobhan sith, remember?”
Killian stared at Timmy blankly.
“The white women,” I explained.
Kill transferred his blank stare to me.
“Vampires,” I huffed.
“Oh, those white women,” Killian said sagely.
I rolled my eyes.
“Oh, shit,” Killian whispered as it finally occurred to him what Timmy had craved. “Did you kill someone?”
“What?” Timmy looked at Killian through the rearview mirror in horror. “No, of course not.”
“Baobhan sith can feed from another fairy without harming them,” I told Killian.
“My father fed me,” Timmy confirmed. “I only needed a little drink to sustain me. Being half selkie dampened the blood urge.”