by CJ England
"We have vissssitorssss. They try to attack thisss placcce."
The Emperor waved his hand again and Tamblith dropped to the floor.
Kira rushed to his side. “I know a healing spell. Please allow me to help you. You were injured trying to help me."
Tamblith panted up at her. “I ... will ... heal, my Lady. I am immortal."
"Yes,” Kira agreed, “but it will take some time. I can speed up the healing.” Without allowing him to answer, she moved her hands over his chest. A rib had broken, puncturing a lung. She spoke the incantation over him, kissing her fingers and then touching the injury.
Tamblith gasped as the unfamiliar magick shot through him. The rib knit instantly.
"That is the magick you championed,” Kira whispered, as he stared up at her in awe. “That is the lesser magick your Emperor refuses."
"Do you know these creatures?” The Emperor's harsh voice interrupted them.
Kira turned and saw that the Elf Emperor had magicked up a large viewing screen on one of the walls. On it were her five Chosen, trying to get into the mound. She saw Danolas point his staff at the mound, and noticed little tremors shaking the floor.
"Are these the allies you would have me join with?” The Emperor was livid. “They seek to destroy this place."
"Only because you refused them entrance.” Kira sensed Danolas had started out by asking nicely. She helped Tamblith to his feet and smiled when he stood straight and tall.
"What have you done? Do you seek to destroy me from within?"
Kira turned back to the Emperor and saw him staring at Tamblith. His eyes carried a trace of fear.
Her eyes snapped at him. “I have come here in peace to speak with you. I have offered myself to you for the good of your people. In return, you have insulted me, hurt one of your own who tried to help me, and now you deny my men entrance.” Kira let gold flame into her eyes.
"I grow tired of your games, Emperor. Let my people in, and then perhaps I will find it in my heart to forgive you and start over."
Tamblith held his breath. So did Kira. It wasn't really a bluff. She could fight him if she needed to, but it would be so much better if they could come to an agreement freely. She waited.
The Emperor stared at her, both fear and arrogance in his gaze. He waited so long Kira thought he had called her bluff, and she tensed, preparing for the worst. But then his eyes turned cunning, and he leaned back against the couch.
He smiled, and that smile sent chills down Kira's back. He looked down at the goblin still huddled at his feet. “Allow them entrance. Bring them to their Lady."
Kira relaxed, and felt Tamblith beside her do the same. The goblin skittered away.
The Emperor motioned to Kira. She and Tamblith walked to stand in front of him. “What did you do to this one?” He pointed to Tamblith.
"She healed me, my Emperor."
"You know our healing magick?"
"No, Emperor. I used another type of magick on him. One I learned from a witch.” Kira's voice was filled with pride.
But the Emperor sneered at her again. “That magick is useless to us."
Kira cocked her head at him. “I am confused then, Faerie Emperor. He is healed ... is he not? How can magick such as that be useless?"
His eyes filled with rage. “It is useless because we don't need it. We have our own healing spells that work better than yours.” He looked at Tamblith. “Isn't that right, Lord Tamblith?"
Tamblith was silent and he looked down at the floor.
"I said...” The Emperor's voice was angry. “Isn't that right, Tamblith?"
"Our magick works well for us, my Emperor.” Tamblith was noncommittal. An elf cannot tell an outright lie.
Kira jumped in, hoping to change the subject. “Where are my men? Are they being led a merry chase around the mound as I was?"
Both Tamblith and the Emperor looked at her in surprise.
Kira shrugged her shoulders. “The mound accommodates itself to the faerie who live here. I sensed if Tamblith had wanted to take me straight to your chamber, the mound would have been arranged so it was a short walk. I didn't mind then, I enjoyed the tour, but now...” Kira's eyes hardened to a cold gold. “I want my Chosen ones with me."
A heartbeat later, Lucas walked in the door followed by Benjamin, Danolas, and Patrick ... Gallegar trailing them further back. When she saw them, Kira gave a little cry and went to Lucas. She sniffled a little as he took her in his arms.
"I missed you,” she whispered
"Damn it, honey, I'm gonna spank your butt for pulling a stunt like that.” Lucas’ arms were tight around her.
Kira looked up at him. “I am sorry. I followed the Power. I let it entrance me."
"Danolas thought it was something like that.” Benjamin's deep voice was a little rough. She traded Lucas’ arms for his, and he gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “Just don't do it again, all right? I've almost died twice tonight. I don't want to try for a third time."
"Twice?"
"Well,” Benjamin smiled, looking at Lucas, who frowned at him. “Getting in a car with four angry guys is a death wish where I come from."
"I am sorry."
"Hey, what about me?” Danolas used his staff to capture her. He tugged her under one arm and tweaked her on the nose. “Did you miss me too?"
"Yes, I missed you, but I think I missed something else as well.” Kira's eyebrows raised.
Danolas grinned. “Male bonding, my Lady. Simple male bonding. Nothing more.” His voice was deliberately innocent.
Kira turned to Patrick, who snatched her against his chest in a strong hug. “You scared us."
She bowed her head. “I know, I just wasn't thinking."
Patrick took a finger and raised her chin. “I know you weren't.” He sighed and whispered in her ear. “He's hurting as bad as you are, sugar."
Kira looked behind Patrick and saw Gallegar standing just inside the door. His head was held proudly, but Kira could see the uncertainty in him as she met his eyes. Suddenly nothing else mattered but touching him.
With a little sob, she ran toward him and threw herself in his arms. They wound around her tightly as his head bent, touching his lips to hers.
"I am so sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me.” The words tumbled from her mouth into his.
Gallegar crushed her against him. His lips moved over hers in a lover's kiss. He couldn't help himself. There would be time later for being circumspect, now he just wanted to touch her.
"A Ghra ... It was my fault. Please forgive me. I love you. I cannot forgive myself for causing you to run away."
He released her so he could take her face between his strong hands. Tenderly, he wiped away the tears that streamed down her face. “I wish I could show you right now how sorry I am for the way I treated you. We have much to say to each other."
Kira looked into his glowing green eyes. They were filled with tears of regret. She watched as one escaped and trailed down his cheek. Reaching up, she kissed the tear away.
"You did not drive me away, Mo Chridhe ... I allowed myself to be entranced. It is not your fault I left."
Gallegar swallowed the knot that had formed in his throat at her Gaelic love words. “I don't think you would have been so easily entranced if we hadn't ... hurt each other."
"We hurt much ... because we love much. Our words have more power than—” She was interrupted by the sound of hands clapping slowly together. They both turned to look at the Emperor, who was sitting negligently on the couch, clapping his hands.
"It's not that I am unimpressed by this little reunion, but we do have business to discuss.” He looked down his nose at the men standing near Kira. “Perhaps we should start by you introducing these ... important allies.” The Emperor's tone was close to a jeer.
Kira pulled Gallegar forward, her voice haughty as she introduced him and the others. She used their full titles and their places in the joining. Pride filled her voice as she brought each one before h
im.
Afterwards, the Emperor looked at each one. “A vampire who calls himself king, a witch who uses lesser magick to lead his society, a human who claims to be some type of mutant, a spirit with no retinue, and a shapeshifter who has been neutered by his leader."
He watched, amused, as Lucas struggled to control himself.
"Be careful, Faerie.” Gallegar didn't use his title as a deliberate slur. “You insult one of us, you insult us all."
The Emperor's eyes were cold. “I do not see anything here that tempts me to ally with you. I sense you do have some power, but none to make it worth my while. You on the other hand...” He looked down at Kira, lasciviously. “You I could use."
Kira's men, as one, moved around her protectively.
"You insult our Lady.” Danolas’ tone would have terrified a lesser being. “Do you not have any manners?"
"I am Emperor. What do I need with manners?"
"This is who you are to join with?" Danolas’ mind-voice was incredulous. "You want us to link with him?" Gallegar leaned over and shared the mind-speech with Patrick and Benjamin.
"The Power hasn't told me who I am to join with. All I know is that this is where I was sent."
Lucas was hopeful. "Maybe there will be no joining."
"There has always been a joining in the past. I find it difficult to believe we would come all this way and go through this nonsense and not join with these people." Gallegar mind-spoke firmly.
The Emperor was watching closely. “You use mind-speech with each other.” It wasn't a question.
Kira nodded.
"It is rude to do in the presence of someone who cannot share your minds.” His criticism was mild.
"Tough!” Lucas crossed his arms and glared at the monarch.
"And if I were to order you not to...” His question trailed off.
"Emperor of the Faeries, you cannot order other leaders to do anything. You do not understand. We do not acknowledge you as having power over us.” Kira finished and waited for the explosion, but none came. It was though the Emperor was reading a prepared script, and her comments hadn't been on it, so he was ignoring them. She had angered him. That much she could see. He just hadn't chosen to respond.
"I thought you wished an alliance between us.” The Emperor disregarded the men and looked just at Kira.
"I wish to join with your kind,” Kira corrected. “Once the joining is complete, the alliance between your people and mine can be formed."
"I am not interested in an alliance,” he stated. “I have something else in mind."
"Careful, A Ghra...” Kira didn't need the warning. She saw the calculation in the Emperor's eyes. Her eyes went to Tamblith, who had been silent since her joined ones had entered.
He raised his eyebrows in confusion. He didn't know what the game was either.
"Tell me what you have in mind,” she said slowly.
The Emperor smiled another cold smile.
It made the hairs rise on Kira's neck. Gallegar came forward and stroked her back soothingly. Lucas took her hand in his.
"It is simple really.” He purred the words at her. “Tamblith told you we need new blood."
Kira felt all the men tense. She nodded, remembering.
"It is true. My kind do need new blood to continue. We are a long-lived people, but as we get older, our blood begins to thin. Procreation is difficult."
"Shit ... I knew I wasn't gonna like this!" Lucas mind-spoke for them all.
"You wish my ... blood?"
"In a manner of speaking.” The Emperor's smile changed. It wasn't just calculating, but gloating as well.
"I want your new blood in my bloodline. To seal our alliance, I want you to mate with my son."
Chapter 15
After a moment of shock, all hell broke loose around her. Gallegar and Danolas pulled Lucas away from the couch where the Emperor was sitting. Benjamin had switched his enhancements and grown huge and muscular, ready for the order to knock some sense into the guy. Patrick moved in front of Kira to protect her.
Finally Lucas was brought under control, but his silver eyes glistened with rage. He glared at the Faerie. “He ... will ... not ... touch ... her!"
The Emperor smirked at them. “Why do you find it so distasteful? What is one more male in your bed?” He leered at Kira.
Benjamin took a step forward.
"I saw you greet them,” the faerie sneered. “Especially the vampire and the shapeshifter. You can't be picky if you like fucking dogs and dead men."
This time it was Kira who reacted. A slur on herself she could tolerate, but not on the men she loved. Her power swelled out of her, forcing her men back away from the Emperor. She used it to press down on the Emperor's chest like a flattened hand.
He gasped, his eyes going blank. Kira kept pushing, until the Emperor was writhing on the couch, his mouth wide open as he fought for breath. Tamblith stood to the side helpless, his face worried.
"You were told earlier, to insult one of us is to insult us all. You have crossed the line, faerie. No one speaks such things about those I call mine. I could kill you right now. Where is the magick that could prevent me?"
She got her answer when she felt new magick enter the room. It didn't come from the Emperor. But its flavor was very like his. The power surrounded hers and worked to pry her psychic hand off the Emperor's chest. This new magick was very strong.
"Do you feel it?" she mind-whispered to her men.
"Yes," answered Danolas for them all. “It is a powerful magick, my Lady. Have care."
She continued to hold the Emperor to the couch, but opened herself up so she could taste the new magick. It was interesting. It didn't have the cruelty the Emperor's did, but the arrogance was there, coupled with humor and intelligence. It wasn't fighting her to release the Emperor, but the magick used its strength to prevent her from doing him any more harm. It seemed ... familiar.
Kira smiled. She knew now who owned the power. It was to him she had been sent. "Everything will be all right now," she mind-spoke to her men. "I know what we must do here. Follow my lead."
She released the Emperor so quickly, he fell from the couch. Tamblith moved hurriedly to help him back up. The Emperor looked at her with triumph in his eyes.
"I told you our powers are stronger.” His voice was hoarse and his chest was sore, but he sat back up on the couch arrogantly. “You will ally with us. You will mate with my son. Now that you have felt his magick, I suppose you want to meet him."
Kira spoke demurely, since much was riding on her deceiving this man. “Please, Emperor, I would very much like to know the one who you believed turned back my powers."
"Oh, for God's sake ... “ mind-groaned Lucas. "Now you're gonna make me sick."
"Koran,” called the Emperor. “Come meet your bride."
A door on the side of the room opened and the Emperor's son entered the room. All knew who he was, because he was as golden as his father.
An elven male in his prime, Koran looked in his early thirties in human years. The Faerie matured quickly to a specific age, and then stayed there for centuries. Most aged so slowly, it was unnoticeable.
"Come to me, my son."
The Emperor's son walked over and stood next to his father. For the Emperor, it was a tactical error, because seeing them side by side only heightened Koran's good looks. His hair, face, and body were also golden ... but it was the gold of a glistening new coin. Standing next to him, his father looked tarnished and old.
The only thing different about Koran were his eyes. Instead of the golden color of his father's, his were soft amber, strewn with bits of gold. He bent his head to acknowledge his father then turned to face Kira.
Kira looked at him, her power humming in her head. "He is the one I am to join with." The mind-speech was joyful.
Hearing her, Lucas sighed and cursed under his breath.
Koran stepped forward and held his hand out to Kira. “I am Koran, son of Caliph the Emperor of the F
aerie. I bid you welcome.” When Kira took his hand, he raised hers to his lips. When he touched her, her power tickled his mouth.
"I am Kira. I am Peacekeeper. I have been sent to join with you, Koran, heir to the throne of Faerie. I am for you. You are for me."
Koran stood, removing his lips from Kira's hand. He looked at the woman standing before him. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her golden eyes told him she had faerie blood in her. When he had kissed her, the shock of her power had startled him.
Koran knew he hadn't forced her to stop holding his father. Her power was too strong for that. He had felt her withdrawal.
He knew somehow she had recognized him through his magick. He could have sworn at the time she had been pleased. Now hearing her say he was the one she wanted to join with, he knew that was why she had backed off. He was important to her in some way, one he didn't understand yet.
"Well, my son ... Have I not found some lovely new blood for you?” Caliph, the Emperor, rubbed his hands together in glee.
"Indeed, Father,” Koran agreed politely. “She is very beautiful. My heart beats strong at her presence."
Gallegar came forward, putting his hand possessively on Kira's arm. “Our Lady is not a mare to be looked over by a breeder wanting to service his favorite stallion. She is Peacekeeper. Her powers are more astonishing than you know."
Caliph laughed. “We have seen her powers. We are stronger."
Kira ignored the Emperor. She looked right at Koran. “Do you wish to join with me, son of Caliph?"
Koran coughed discretely. “Perhaps this should be discussed in a more private place. My chambers are right next door."
Lucas growled.
Benjamin, who was still giant sized, snarled at Koran. “You go too far, princeling."
Kira turned and gave her men a speaking glance. "Trust me..."
She faced Koran. “Prince Koran, we can go into your chamber if you wish to join with me, but joining is not mating. Joining is something that happens on the psychic plain.” Kira's face shone with remembrance. “A merging of minds and powers. It is a wondrous experience. But I warn you now, there is no sex involved."