Pixie-Led (Book 2 in the Twilight Court Series)

by Amy Sumida

  “No, I have caller ID,” he said gruffly. “Ambassador Seren, your father, King Keir, has contacted us through the crystal. He's received word from your source within the Wild Hunt. It appears that the fey have issued an execution warrant for James Penderson.”

  “Why does everyone want to kill this guy?” I whined.

  “I don't want to kill this guy,” Murdock replied evenly.

  “Thank you, Sir,” I said sincerely. “Wait a second. How did they even know his name?”

  “They found him,” Murdock said like it was obvious. “I'm told they were at a rally you also attended and the fey are a bit annoyed with your... excuse the word, I'm merely repeating... your ineptitude.”

  “Fantastic,” I rolled my eyes. “Conri thought he could just run up and grab the staff. He was mistaken.”

  Conri grimaced at me. They were all huddled around me like I was a TV and the Superbowl was on. Tiernan shook his head like a bad play had been made.

  “The Fairy Council wants you to stay out of their way,” Murdock sighed. “They want Penderson dealt with efficiently.”

  “I can't condone that, Councilman,” I growled.

  “Neither can I,” he said with resolve. “Which is why I told them they could shove their efficiency up their fairy butts. We have jurisdiction here and we will handle this our way.”

  “You did?” I gaped at the phone.

  “I did,” he cleared his throat. “And now I'm asking you, Ambassador Seren, to handle this as quietly and as humanely as possible. Don't kill Penderson unless you have no other choice left to you.”

  “Thank you, Sir,” I started to smile. “That's exactly how I intended to deal with this.”

  “Wonderful,” Murdock agreed. “Now, what's your plan?”

  “Well, about that,” I chewed my lip. “I don't really have one as yet.”

  “Well, you'd best come up with one fast,” Murdock huffed. “The High Fairy Council is even now convening with the High Human Council in Ireland.”

  “They're going above your head?” I gasped.

  “Yes and it's really pissed me off,” Murdock growled. “I'm counting on you to finish this before they can convince the High Human Council to side with them.”

  “I'll do my best, Sir,” I told him goodbye and hung up before looking at the circle of men. “We need to figure this out fast. The fey are trying to convince the High Council to kill Penderson.”

  “Politicians get shot all the time,” Teagan huffed and went to take a seat in the living room.

  “There are different kinds of bullets,” Randy lifted a blonde brow at me. “We don't have to kill him to incapacitate him.”

  “A tranquilizer,” I nodded. “Brilliant. But then what? He'll be surrounded by security.”

  “I don't know,” Randy huffed. “Do some kind of fairy mojo on them?”

  “We can do that,” Tiernan began to smile. “Once Penderson is down, we can go invisible and no one will even see us coming.”

  “Tricksy hobbits,” Jake laughed.

  “Has anyone ever told you that fairies hate Lord of the Rings references?” Tiernan grumbled.

  “Whatever you do, don't call him Legolas,” I whispered dramatically to Jake. “He really hates that.”

  “I am not an elf!” Tiernan shouted.

  “Alright, man, take it easy,” Jake patted Tiernan's shoulder. “I didn't call you an elf, I called you a hobbit.”

  Tiernan's eyes flashed and he turned slowly to stare at Jake. Jake's eyes went wide and he dropped his hand as he began to back away.

  “Run!” I shouted to Jake and he did.

  We could hear his heavy boots pounding all the way up the stairs and then down a hallway. The slam of a door echoed through the house and we all began to laugh.

  “Well played,” Conri punched Tiernan lightly in the shoulder.

  “What do you mean?” Tiernan gave Conri a blank look and Conri's expression fell. Then a smile broke free of Tiernan's lips and I just shook my head.

  “Jake!” I called out. “You can come down now. The hobbit has been appeased.”

  “Seren, remember what I told you about name calling,” Tiernan narrowed his eyes on me.

  “That thing about rubber and glue?” I asked innocently.

  “What?” His face went all squished up and confused.

  “T-man, you're out of your league,” Randy chuckled as he walked by.

  “What is it with you humans and your inability to call a person by their full name?” Tiernan huffed and stomped into the kitchen.

  “You can call me whatever you want,” Conri winked at me.

  “Oooh,” Randy looked over his shoulder at Conri and batted his eyes. “Can I call you whatever I want?”

  “No,” Conri said simply.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  “Alright, we have one shot at this,” I was sitting in the center of our band of un-merry men, in the modernly spartan living room.

  “So I guess I'm just supposed to sit this out?” Ed Teagan huffed.

  “Alright, Ed,” I set a grim stare on him. “I'll give you one more chance. You can come along and if you handle yourself well, I won't mention the earlier incident to Councilman Murdock. Deal?”

  “Really?” He blinked at me.

  “One demeaning comment about anyone, and I'll kick your ass myself,” I stared hard at him.

  “Yeah, okay, deal,” he agreed.

  “Great, then here's what we're going to do,” I tapped the diagram of the hotel Randy had printed up. “Tiernan and I will go in through the window and-”

  “Are you repelling from the roof?” Jake interrupted. “Because I can help you with that.”

  “They're fairies,” Randy smacked Jake in the arm.

  “Oh right,” Jake chuckled. “You're gonna fly.”

  “It's not really flying,” Tiernan explained. “It's air magic, manipulating currents, that sort of thing.”

  “And I'm not as good at it as Tiernan is,” I admitted. “I can only get about four feet off the ground.”

  “Me too,” Conri grumbled.

  “Which is why Seren and I are the only ones who will go in through the window,” Tiernan added. “The rest of you will infiltrate the hotel and make sure no one interrupts us while we attempt to steal the slachdan.”

  “That didn't go so well earlier,” Ed frowned and Conri started to growl. Ed held up a placating hand, “No offense, man. It's just the truth.”

  “Will you chill out?” I gave Conri an irritated look. “I need all of you to work as a team here. I know it rubs your fur in the wrong way but come on, thousands, maybe millions, of lives are at stake. Can all of you please act like adults?”

  A chorus of muttered Yes, ma'am's was heard.

  “Thank you,” I gave a deep sigh. “Now, Tiernan and I will go in through the window while the rest of you secure the area. We'll obviously wait till Penderson is asleep before we slip in. If all goes according to plan, we'll be able to grab the staff and sneak out without him ever knowing we were there.”

  “And everyone will be wearing these,” Jake distributed our communication devices. “Just in case it doesn't go according to plan.”

  “Now I'm going to ask you to do something that I have no right to ask,” I looked around at the Extinguishers. “I need you to ignore any call you receive on your cellphones except those from the members of this team, until our mission is done.”

  “Why?” Ed narrowed his eyes on me.

  “Haven't you been paying attention?” Randy gave Ed an exasperated look. “The Fairy Council is trying to manipulate our council into killing Penderson. If they succeed, the Human Council is going to order us to kill Penderson. We can't take that call or we'll be forced to either disobey a direct order or screw up the Ambassador's plan.”

  “Won't they just send in another team, if they can't reach us?” Teagan frowned.

  “Yes,” I nodded. “But hopefully that will give us enough time to grab the staff and save Pend
erson's life, as well as everyone else's.”

  “Alright,” Teagan agreed. “As much as I hate politicians, I'd rather not have to kill one.”

  “I don't have a problem with it,” Conri muttered.

  “Conri,” I growled. “I swear, if you mention killing him one more time, I will send you back to Fairy with your tail between your legs.”

  “What?” Conri huffed, “I'm just saying.”

  “Try not to speak,” Tiernan gave Conri's shoulder a friendly pat.

  Chapter Forty

  We waited until 3AM to make our move. Penderson's bedroom lights had gone out long before but we wanted to be sure he was deep in dreamland before we attempted anything.

  I held tight to Tiernan as he expertly maneuvered the air to lift us silently from the sidewalk, all the way up to Penderson's window. A thrill went through me as I watched the earth fall away beneath us and I took a moment to look out over Seattle and enjoy the view. The city was semi-quiet at this hour, only a light murmur of activity in the background. The lights of multiple skyscrapers were a golden twinkle behind the glaring, almost alien, light of the Space Needle. It was a different beauty than Fairy but still, it was magical in its own way.

  “Seren,” Tiernan whispered and brought me back to the task at hand.

  I nodded and pulled what we needed out of my backpack as Tiernan held me steady. We had to use some serious burgling tools to get through the glass since every other option, including magic, would have caused too much noise. So suction cups and glass cutters it was.

  I cut the glass quickly, with just the barest scrape of sound. B&E had been a part of my Extinguisher training (when hunting fairies, it was generally best to be as stealthy as possible). I held one of the suction cup handles while Tiernan held the other, and we shifted the glass out. Then Tiernan took the entire weight of it, one handed, while I climbed into the room. After I got in, he very carefully slipped the piece through to me. This was trickier than you might think since he had to fit it back into precisely the same position it was in originally to get it to slide through.

  As Tiernan floated into the room and I angled the glass against a wall, Conri's voice came through my earpiece, reporting that there were two guards standing outside Penderson's room and should he deal with them? I whispered back that he should just observe for now but if they made any moves to enter the room, he had my approval to incapacitate them quietly. He made a happy sound at that and I rolled my eyes.

  Tiernan motioned to the bed, where two people-shaped lumps lay in slumber. On the floor beside the bed, the slachdan rested on a fluffy pillow like a royal scepter. I headed for it but before I made it two steps, a hand snaked out from beneath the covers and snatched it up. On the other side of the bed, another hand shot out and turned on the bedside lamp. Two people sprung from the blankets, obviously prepared and lying in wait for us; Penderson and Cailleach Bheur.

  “Cailleach?” I narrowed my eyes on her, there was a shimmer of magic around her that I immediately recognized as glamour. It wasn't strong enough to work on me but it must have worked quite nicely on Penderson because he shot her a confused look.

  “You know them?” Penderson asked Cailleach.

  “The question is,” I took a cautious step towards him. “Do you know her?” I pointed at the hag. “Do you know who you're in bed with?”

  “Literally and figuratively,” Tiernan added with a smirk.

  “Of course I know her,” Penderson growled. “She's my wife.”

  “You're married to Cailleach Bheur?” I gave a start and looked at her. “You married a human?”

  Cailleach gave me a smug smile, the hollow of her empty eye socket crinkling into a mass of folds. The burnt orange of her pajamas brought out the icy blue tint in her skin, shifting it from a wintry tribute into the pallor of death. Her skeletal frame added to the effect and she appeared to be a withered corpse, so frail that an angry word could knock her over. But that was just an illusion, I knew there was significant strength within the fairy and I'd do best not to underestimate her.

  “She's tricked him,” Tiernan said to me and then turned his eyes to Cailleach. “What did you do to his wife?”

  “What the hell are you two talking about?” Penderson snapped. “My wife is standing right there.”

  “That's not your wife,” I looked from Cailleach to him. “That's a fairy masquerading as your wife.”

  “Don't be absurd,” he scoffed.

  “I know it sounds crazy but I assure you, fairies do exist,” Tiernan offered. “I myself am one.”

  “I know fairies exist,” Penderson huffed. “I was told all about the fey when I became Governor.”

  “Then you know what that staff is?” I pointed to the slachdan in his hand.

  “I'm not an idiot,” he grimaced.

  “How exactly did you come across the staff, Mr. Penderson?” I tried to be calm and reasonable. Maybe we could just talk him out of it.

  “I was walking with Claire and she pointed it out,” he started to frown and glanced at Cailleach. “She told me to pick it up, that it looked like it might be important. When I did, I felt this rush of energy. I felt...”

  “Powerful?” I asked.

  “He's been feeling fantastic; inspired and determined to win the election,” Cailleach glared at Penderson and he suddenly went as blank as the people at the rally had been.

  “How did you do that?” Tiernan's eyes were wide. “He's holding the slachdan, it should make him impervious to fey charms.”

  “It's my slachdan,” she smirked. “He's not impervious to me.”

  It all suddenly became clear.

  “You're going to be president, not him,” I accused her. “He'll simply be your puppet.”

  “Yes, of course,” she huffed. “Like I'd give all that power to a human and just set him loose.”

  “I thought that was exactly what you were intending,” I mused. “You spoke of the fate of this realm being truly in the hands of the humans. But that was meant to mislead me, wasn't it? You never intended to let go of the reins. You couldn't leave anything to chance.”

  “I thought I was quite clear with you,” Cailleach shrugged. “I said I would lead them.”

  “The world reborn,” I whispered.

  “Yes,” she laughed. “I vowed to fight beside them. There will be war between the human nations and I will stand victorious in the end. The ruler of the human world shall be a fairy hag, what irony.”

  “The ruler of a wasteland,” I hissed. “Don't do this, Cailleach. Please, let him go.”

  “Where is my wife?” Penderson shocked us all by asking. His voice sounded jagged and forced, pushed out of his chest by sheer will, but the words were very clear.

  “I am your wife,” Cailleach rushed over and laid a hand on his shoulder.

  I watched Penderson shudder, trying to fight the magic she used to hold him in thrall, and then his jaw clenched and sweat broke out on his brow.

  “How can he even fight that?” I whispered to Tiernan.

  “Love,” Tiernan whispered back in awe. “He must really love his wife. It's the only thing that can break an enchantment.”

  “Like a fairy tale? True love's kiss?” I blinked, still staring at the battle between Penderson and Cailleach.

  “The kiss is irrelevant,” Tiernan shook his head. “It's the emotion that matters. If it's strong enough, love can overpower any spell.”

  “Love,” I exhaled the word as I looked over Tiernan's face; a face that had become so precious to me. Was what we had strong enough to break a magic spell? I believed it was and I also believed that this kind of love deserved to be defended. It was so rare, it deserved a chance to bloom and thrive. I gave Tiernan a soft smile and spared just a moment to appreciate the warmth that filled his silver eyes in response, before I launched myself forward at Cailleach.

  We went straight into the bedside table, the lamp shattering as we crashed into the wall. Immediately, sounds of a scuffle filtered in from
outside the bedroom door and Conri's snarl rumbled through my earpiece. But I couldn't pay any attention to the battle in the hall. I was too busy with the Blue Hag, who was very strong indeed. Cailleach fought viciously, like a wounded cat; all nails and teeth. I winced as I shoved her off me. She rolled across the bed and got to her feet, hair and eyes wild.

  I watched her carefully as power started to condense in my hands. I could use my new magic but it might kill her and we needed her alive to tell us who was helping her. I almost groaned, realizing that I'd got exactly what I'd wanted; a powerful magic to defend myself with. Except now, without proper control over it, it was too powerful and too unpredictable. Then I remembered my dream-dusting. I could just put her to sleep. Perfect!

  “Where is she?!” Penderson ran at Cailleach before I could even lift my fingertips to my lips.

  The hag had a split second to stare at Penderson in shock before the carved crow atop the slachdan hit her smack dab in the forehead. She shrieked as he hit her again and again with her own staff. The attack was too fast, she couldn't counter it, only cower and try to shield herself with her arms.

  “Stop! Enough, please!” Cailleach screamed as Conri and the Extinguishers slid into the room, carrying two unconscious, human security guards.

  “Where is my wife?” Penderson stood over the crumpled hag with both hands on the staff, lifting it above his head for one more blow.

  “Governor!” I cried out and rushed over to him. “Kill her and we'll never find Claire.”

  “Claire,” he whispered and looked over to me with glistening eyes. “She's my wife. The fairies took my wife.”

  “I know,” I laid a hand gently on his shoulder and out of the corner of my eye, I saw my team tense. I ignored them and continued in a calm tone. “My name is Ambassador Seren Firethorn. I'm half human and half fairy. My job is to keep the peace between the two races. So please know that I am on your side and have your best interests at heart. I will help you get your wife back, I promise you that. But we need Cailleach alive to do so. Do you understand? Only the hag knows where Claire is.”