by Unknown
So they barely batted an eye when I walked in the door, just paused long enough to nod in my direction. That was odd, my arrival usually warranted at least a smile, usually a kiss or two. The topic must be serious indeed. When I heard the name Aradia, I knew what had them so unsettled.
“Are you going to let me join the discussion or just continue to make a decision without me?” I asked as I climbed up the steps to our giant platform bed. I plopped down on the firm mattress and bounced a little.
“I don't trust her,” Kirill stomped over to me and glowered, crossing his arms over his chest.
Previously, I would have thought this to be odd behavior as well, stomping and glowering was more a Trevor trait, but Kirill had been changing lately and although I sometimes missed his sweet, subdued nature, I was happy for the changes. It meant he was finally healing and I kind of liked the new aggressive Kirill. It fit the accent better.
“Noted,” I nodded to him. “I'll be careful.”
“I don't zink you should take her to Faerie Realm,” he continued. “Too dangerous, for you and fey.”
“I and the fey can both take care of ourselves,” I tried to say it gently. “I think we can manage one goddess.”
“That's what I've been saying,” Trevor joined us.
“You don't know her,” Kirill spared an irritated glance for Trevor. “She could have tremendous power.”
“We know the basics of her magic,” I shrugged. “She can't have more power than the human myths allow her.”
“Vhat about Acan?” Kirill brought up the Mayan drug god we'd killed awhile back. “He had great power no one knew about.”
“I don't think Aradia is secretly supplying humans with drugs and then sucking up the energy of their deaths,” Trevor huffed.
“And Andrasta?” Kirill silenced Trevor with those two words.
Andrasta, Goddess and holder of the Darkness before Faerie and I pulled it from her and made it into a new type of fey. She'd been pretty damn powerful but then that had been the Darkness, not her. Once it had been taken from her, she'd been pathetically easy to kill. Still, it had been a scary time for all of us. We'd learned to fear the dark again and it was a fear that was hard to conquer, even after the Darkness had been given a new life.
“Kirill,” I sighed and stood up. The step I was on made me the same height as him. “We can't live our lives in fear because of the past. All we can do is be wary and hope for the best.”
“I von't risk you on hope,” Kirill growled but he uncrossed his arms and slid them around my waist.
“And I won't risk you either,” I turned and looked at Trevor. “Either of you. And I know that means being careful with myself as well. I promise I'll be careful. If she is anything other than she appears to be, I will kill her without hesitation. If I don't, you can be sure Arach will.”
“See?” Trevor clapped Kirill on the shoulder and kissed my cheek before jumping into bed. “I told you she'd say that.”
“Da, you're very smart for volf,” Kirill rolled his eyes and I laughed.
“And you're pretty hot for a lion,” I nipped his nose.
“Hey, volf,” Kirill said to Trevor but he kept his eyes on me.
“Yeah?”
“Catch,” he picked me up and threw me over to Trevor, who caught me easily and settled me into bed beside him.
I laughed delightedly as Kirill quickly followed, practically pouncing on me. The sound of growling gave way to the sounds of pleasure and I forgot all about being careful as I lost myself to the savage abandon of loving shapeshifters.
Chapter Eight
I spent a lazy morning in bed with Kirill and Trevor before heading out to meet Aradia. I may be returning to the same moment I left but that only meant they wouldn't miss much time with me not vice versa. I had no idea how long this trip would take and since I didn't have time to see Az and Odin, I needed to at least stock up on some time with my two live-in loves.
Aradia had been let into Moonshine by one of the bouncers and was waiting anxiously for me when I traced in. She gave a little start when I walked out of the door on the top floor. She'd been sitting facing downstairs, expecting me to walk in the front door I guess.
“Vervain,” she stood and came to meet me. “Thank you again for doing this.”
“My pleasure,” I held the door open for her. “After you.”
“Where are we going?” She stepped through.
“All the way down and the last door on the left,” I instructed. “That's our tracing chamber. We can trace to Faerie from there.”
“Wow, this is really happening,” she gave an anxious little laugh.
That's when I stopped worrying about her. If she was feigning this, she was a damn good actress. I could see the gooseflesh on her skin, no one could fake anxiety like that. I truly believed she was just a woman wanting to know her father and frankly, I could sympathize with that.
We went into the tracing chamber and I took her hands. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “Let's do this.”
“Alright,” I nodded.
One step and we were in the Aether, zipping through the in-between realm in seconds, our bodies becoming nothing but thoughts, until we manifested in Faerie.
I took a breath of the sweet fey air as my lungs reformed, then looked around. Arach was waiting with a carriage for us, as promised. I smiled at him and started forward but Aradia was standing frozen before the massive tree at the End of the Road, the only tracing point in and out of Faerie.
“Aradia?” I went back for her. “Are you alright?”
“It's...” she blinked and looked around at the gargantuan trees, the alien flowers, and the odd insects, until her eyes settled on Arach and the phookas in their fiery steed forms. “Who's that?”
“That's Arach, King of Fire,” I grinned at her, anticipating her reaction, “and my husband.”
Sure enough, that did the trick. She snapped right out of her wonderment.
“What?” She gaped at me. “Damn, woman, you're like a sailor. One in every port.”
“Only one in this realm. In the other realms I have more,” I laughed.
“And you say you're married to this one?” She lowered her voice. Like that mattered, Arach could still hear us. “He's hot.”
“Literally,” I nodded. “I don't know if anyone told you but we're dragon-sidhe.”
“Oh, ri-i-i-ight,” she grinned. “I did hear that... and I said he's hot,” she laughed. “I'm such a dufus.”
“Then I'm sure we'll be the best of friends,” I laughed with her. “Come on, time to meet the King.”
I led her over to Arach and introduced them. He helped us into the carriage and then went to work charming Aradia. He was good at being charming when he tried. I was pretty entertained by his efforts until I noticed the direction we were heading. I sat upright and looked out the window.
“Why are we heading toward the Castle of Eight?” I asked.
“I've taken the liberty of requesting a meeting with Craigor at the High Court,” Arach explained. “I thought it best that we be on neutral ground when you launch this missile.”
“You mean drop this bomb,” I corrected.
“Isn't that what I said?” He looked to a giggling Aradia for support.
“Nope but it was cute,” she giggled more. “Real cute.”
“Hey,” I pointed a finger at her. “I can burn you. You'd best watch yourself around my husband.”
“I'm not doing anything,” she held her hands up and laughed harder.
“Alright,” I chuckled. “Just know that I'm watching you.”
“It's to be expected, A Thaisce,” Arach's lips twisted into a smirk. “I'm hot, as you know.”
“You eavesdropped on us,” Aradia pointed an accusatory finger at him.
“Of course I did,” he looked at her in surprise and waved a hand at himself. “Dra-a-agon,” he said in duh tone.
“Oh,” she nodded, “right. Pretty go
od hearing, huh?”
“You have no idea,” he said dryly and then winked at her. The cheeky bastard.
Then Aradia's attention was caught by the fey creatures outside her window. She spent most of the journey with her head hanging out of the carriage like a pretty puppy dog. I enjoyed her wonder, it was like experiencing Faerie for the first time all over again. I remembered having those same reactions to the residents of Faerie, though my first journey through the realm had been in the air.
I peered outside with her, smiling at her reactions to the brightly colored fur of some of the more frightening creatures, and giggling at her delight in the little winged ones that darted in and out of the window. I listened with her to the strange whoops and cacaws of the inhabitants of the Forgetful Forest and admired the flower she plucked from a passing bush. It was so much fun I found myself easing toward the other side of the carriage so I could share the window with her.
Together we stared up the lengths of the tree trunks, which towered higher than any I'd seen in the Human Realm, and searched the undergrowth for new discoveries. I pointed things out to her, like the dangerous fronds of a palm-like plant which wrapped around anything that got too close, and the little blue-furred primate who searched the forest for orphaned creatures and then cared for them along with its own children. Faerie could be both cruel and compassionate and I wanted to show her both of those things. I wanted her to know that although she should be wary, she shouldn't be afraid to love the realm or her father.
A few hours later, Aradia was given her first glimpse of the Castle of Eight. Her eyes went round as she took in the seven trees that formed a circle around the main tree. The trunks of all seven spread out at their bases and melded together, forming walls topped with natural crenelations which were manned by fey guards from all elements. Well, except the dark, which were still getting adjusted to being fey. I briefly wondered if the High King would require a tribute of soldiers from the dark fey once their numbers increased.
Then we were passing through the tunnel which served as the main entrance to the inner courtyard and Aradia was staring at the walls. I don't think she truly understood that the whole of the castle was formed of living trees. Not carved but formed. The fey prided themselves on reforming nature.
There were fey everywhere; walking through the elemental gardens, flying in the air, and peering out of numerous windows in all of the tree trunks. The trees were all mostly hollow, allowing for an amazing amount of fey to be housed with the High Court. I knew it was done on purpose. Should any House try to rise up against the House of Spirit, they'd have to face a huge army made up partially of their own fey. It was brilliant but a little unnecessary in my opinion. There was no reason to attack Spirit, it would be like attacking yourself. Then again, fey could be rather unreasonable sometimes.
We clattered to a stop just as King Guirmean was coming down the main steps of the central tree, muttering to himself angrily. I frowned and focused in on what he was saying but I couldn't make any sense of it. Our carriage was stopped behind the Water Kingdom's carriage and directly in front of where Guirmean stood. He looked up in surprise, blinking rapidly.
“Queen Vervain,” Guirmean said as he helped me out of the carriage. “What are you doing here?”
“I've brought a visitor,” I waved a hand toward Aradia as Arach helped her out. “This is Aradia, Goddess of Witches.”
“Goddess of Witches?” His brows rose. “I didn't know there was such a one. It's a pleasure to meet you,” he nodded to her and she smiled back.
“This is King Guirmean of the Water Kingdom,” I told her and then returned my attention to him. “Why do you look ready to murder someone?”
“I've just been to see the High King,” he sighed.
“Well yes, I've often fantasized about choking him,” I mused, “but murder? No, not really.”
“And?” Arach prompted, ignoring my musings.
“Well,” Guirmean shook his head. “I proposed to Nora and she accepted.”
“That's wonderful!” I declared but his expression stayed blank. “Isn't it wonderful?”
“It would be, yes,” Guirmean nodded. “If the High King would give his blessing.”
“King Cian didn't approve,” Arach observed grimly.
“No,” Guirmean confirmed, “he didn't. I came to ask him to officiate and not only did he say no but he forbade the marriage from taking place.”
“What?” I was starting to get angry. Maybe I would progress from thoughts of mere strangling to thoughts of murder after all.
“Vervain,” Arach shook his head at me.
“Don't Vervain me with that tone,” I growled. “This is ridiculous. Why does King Guirmean even need the High King's approval?”
Both Arach and Guirmean stared at me with shocked expressions.
“I, uh,” Guirmean sputtered.
“Because he doesn't want to start a war,” Arach finally said.
“You're telling me King Cian would wage war on Water because King Guirmean chose a bride he didn't approve of?” I scoffed.
“If King Cian refused, he must have felt he had a good reason for it,” Arach was trying to be patient, I could tell. Which annoyed me even more, for some reason. I glared at him as he continued, “He does everything with the whole of the realm in mind. What did he say to you, King Guirmean?”
“He said it would tear Water apart,” Guirmean answered softly. “That there has never been a fey of one element sitting on the throne of another and that could only bring chaos.”
“Nonsense,” I huffed.
“Vervain, enough!” Arach scowled at me. “You've made a great many changes and I've supported you through all of them but I value Guirmean too highly to let you throw him into this meat grinder of politics.”
“What?” I gaped at him.
“You want change for the fey and that's wonderful,” Arach shook his head, “but this change is asking too much. King Cian is right, it will tear apart the Water Kingdom and that would mean war for King Guirmean, civil war. Do you understand what that would be like?”
“Oh,” I frowned as I thought about America's civil war. Brother against brother and all that. A shiver raced over my skin. “But surely we can speak to the water fey, get them to see reason?”
“Who's reason?” Arach asked grimly. “Yours? Because let me tell you something, my dear wife, your way is not always the right way.”
“Hey,” I protested, a little hurt by his comment. “I know that.”
“Do you?” He cocked his head at me. “Because sometimes the way you push your ideals on the fey, it doesn't seem like it.”
“I'm only trying to help,” I said quietly.
“I know, love,” he softened, his bright eyes losing their harsh edge. “I know you have their best interests at heart but you need to realize that we're not complete idiots here. We've survived thousands of years because of our traditions. We have reasons for the way we do things and there is a very good reason to not allow a fire fey to sit on the water throne.”
“What then?” I huffed, still a little hurt. “Give me one good reason.”
“Besides war?” Arach lifted a brow at me. “I'm not sure. It's never been done before but I am sure that King Cian can supply you with one.” Then he turned to face Guirmean. “We'll speak to the High King on your behalf, King Guirmean. That's all I can offer you.”
“Thank you but you don't have to do that,” Guirmean sighed.
“Yes, we do,” I kissed his cheek. “I'm part of the reason you pursued Nora in the first place. I'll talk to King Cian. There must be some kind of arrangement that can be made.”
“Thank you both,” he nodded. “Please mirror me if you make any headway with him.”
“We will,” Arach assured him and we watched Guirmean climb into his waiting coach.
We headed into the castle silently, each lost to our own thoughts. I tried to smile at Aradia, this was supposed to be a happy day for her and here we were ra
ining on it, but I think my smile must have come across more like a grimace because she just shook her head at me sympathetically.
When we finally came to the throne room, Aradia's eyes started to sparkle again. She stared up at the ceiling that soared above us, made up only of the branches of the great tree. You could just glimpse some of the bright sky beyond and the filtered sunlight trickled in to pattern the wood floor we walked across. While she was distracted I addressed King Cian.
“High King,” I nodded to him and then to his Queen, “High Queen.”
“Queen Vervain, King Arach, what a pleasure to see you,” Cian's face shifted. “Isn't it? Oh, what's wrong now?”
“King Guirmean,” I started immediately. “We saw him on our way in. Why are you denying him the right to marry Nora?”
“Queen Vervain,” Cian sighed, “surely you know I have no wish to command him either way but I've had word of a growing unrest in the Kingdom of Water already and I'm afraid if he goes through with the marriage, the kingdom will erupt into war. There is a High King of Faerie because sometimes even a king cannot see what is best for his kingdom. Someone must manage the royalty and make sure that they have their people's best interest at heart and not just their own. This is my position and often it's an unfavorable one.”
“War can be averted,” I shook my head. “With the proper preparation, the water fey could be made to accept Nora.”
“Possibly,” Cian acceded, “but what of the element itself?”
“What do you mean?” I narrowed my eyes as Arach made a sighing groan.
“Your king understands,” Cian waved a hand towards Arach. “And this is the problem with your mixed heritage, not to disparage it,” he held up a warding hand. “But you simply don't understand the reasons behind many of our laws. As High King, the intricacies of the fey and our elements were drilled into me from birth and though many of our people have forgotten, I remember. I will always remember. The reason there shouldn't be a fire fey on the water throne is simple. Elemental. What does fire do to water?”