by Amy Sumida
“Elaria!” Torin called as they all rushed out of the temple. “Are you all right?”
Then they stopped and stared at the devastation around them.
“Holy fucking hellfire!” Cerberus exclaimed. “What in all the realms did you do this time, El?”
“No one messes with my mate.” Gage chuckled as he strode over to me. “I hope you died screaming,” he growled at the mushy corpses of the Trinity as he passed them.
That's when I realized that we were one corpse short.
“Fuck!” I hissed as I searched the clearing. “Where is that bastard? Everyone look for another bloody pile of evil scum.”
“What bastard are we looking for?” Declan started searching with me.
“Mimir,” I said. “He was helping the Trinity.”
“Mimir?” Cerberus gaped at me. “The Norse God?”
“Yeah.” I grimaced. “The Trinity went to the Witches for help against the sidhe. The Witches refused, but Mimir offered to teach them how to turn fairies into trees.”
“The new trees?” Torin whispered. “They were fairies?”
I nodded.
“Sweet stones,” Torin murmured in horror. “And that was what poisoned the earth.”
“Exactly,” I said. “But Mimir's gone. He was standing right beside them, but I don't see his corpse.”
“Mimir is pretty strong,” Cerberus muttered uneasily. “Maybe it's a good thing that he left.”
“You're afraid of this guy?” I asked my best friend in shock.
“Not afraid,” Cer huffed. “Just wary. He's a God who practices magic. Odin himself taught him.”
“Odin,” I murmured. “Mimir. That sounds familiar.”
“Maybe because Mimir's the guy who took Odin's eye in the human myth?” Cerberus asked with a smirk.
“Shit,” I whispered. “Odin said it was an accident; something went wrong with a spell. Do you think there's any truth to the human stories?”
“Only one way to find out,” Cerberus said.
“Ask Odin,” I concluded.
“Can we just—”
Whatever Torin was about to say was cut off by the roar of thousands of fairy voices. We whipped around to see an army of Lesser Fey come pouring into the clearing; led by Reyne. They made it halfway across the meadow—weapons lifted defiantly—before they realized that the war had already been won. They slowed into a walk, lowered their swords, and then started to cheer. I beamed at Reyne as he ran forward and swept me into his arms.
“I was so worried,” Reyne said as he set me down. “As soon as the children were safe, I gathered the tribes, and we rushed back to help you.”
“But it seems as if you didn't need our help,” a redcap noted.
“No; but I appreciate the support,” I said softly.
“What happened here?” A dryad woman asked in a hushed tone.
“Primeval defended itself,” I said with a grin. “I gave the trees a little freedom, and they took justice into their own hands... or roots, rather.”
Everyone—including my men—stared around at the ring of the forest with a new perspective. They took in the torn up soil and the fallen leaves then turned back to me in awe.
“Elaria,” Declan whispered, “you called the trees?”
“And they answered,” I said reverently as I lifted my stare to the ancient forest.
“They did this?” Torin waved toward the bodies of the Trinity of Strengths.
I nodded. “They had their vengeance; all I did was give them the opportunity to take it.” I smiled at the silent assemblage. “They told me to sing, and they would they would take back their kingdom. And they did; the Kings of Primeval have reclaimed their thrones.”
“The Kings of Primeval,” Reyne whispered joyfully. “I like that.”
“They actually spoke to you?” Declan asked with wide eyes.
“The trees speak all the time,” Reyne said softly; his eyes wandering over to them. “You just need to know how to listen and interpret.”
“No, Reyne.” I laughed. “Kyanite translated for me. I heard actual words.”
“Words?” Reyne's jaw fell open.
“Words,” I confirmed.
“What else did they say?” Reyne asked, and the dryads gathered closer to hear my answer.
“They said they would purify their blood with that of their enemies,” I recalled the ancient power thrumming through their words and shivered. “And when it was over, they said; 'Thank you.' That was all. It was more than I needed, though. Just to hear them speak was a priceless gift.”
“Primeval is grateful, and so are we, Your Majesty,” Reyne whispered. Then his voice lifted, “Hail, Queen Elaria; Savior of Primeval!”
“Hail, Queen Elaria; Savior of Primeval!” The rest of the Lesser Fey shouted.
“Okay, easy now.” I held up my hands. “I gave them the ability to act; that's all. If you want to give credit, give it where it's due; to the trees. Primeval stepped in when your guardians failed you. The forest does not forgive, nor does it forget.”
“The forest does not forget,” Reyne repeated and then smiled. “Yes; you're right. Primeval will remember this day, and so shall we. We will never forget what you've done for us, Queen Elaria. Whether or not you killed the Trinity, it was you who saved our children. Thank you for my daughter's life.”
Reyne took my hand and kissed it.
“And my son's,” a barghest woman came over and hugged me.
“And mine,” a redcap man took me from the barghest and hugged me to the point where I couldn't breathe.
It went on for hours; each parent expressing their gratitude. I was exhausted but also exhilarated, and their joy was infectious. I celebrated with them as night crept over Primeval. The moon shone across the sea, and fires were lit to warm the chilly air. Then the soldiers of the Trinity Army began to make their way back to the temple, and once they saw the results of the battle, they surrendered. But the Lesser Fey didn't take them into custody, and I didn't call for their punishment. After speaking with them, it became clear that they had no idea what the Trinity was doing.
A red-haired leanan-sidhe came forward and confessed to posing as Eileen after some of the redcaps kidnapped Banning's Blooders. She begged for our forgiveness and swore that the Trinity had made it seem as if I were the threat. Everything they did, they did believing that it was what was best for Primeval. I accepted that and left it to the Lesser Fey to decide the fate of their fellow fairies.
“We shall have to establish a new way of doing things,” Reyne declared. “We need new guardians to monitor Primeval, but perhaps we should not give them so much power. For now; I think we can disband the Trinity Army, and send them back to their families.”
The other Lesser Fey agreed, and the Trinity Army was disbanded. It wasn't until I was watching them leave that I remembered Mimir. I stood up and made my goodbyes, then spoke privately to Reyne and warned him about the Norse God.
“If you see him, call me,” I told Reyne. “Do you have a contact charm?”
“Those aren't widely used in Primeval,” he said with a frown. “I have a traveling stone, but not a charm.”
“Here; take mine,” Torin gave Reyne his charm. “I can get a new one.”
“Thank you, Onyx King.” Reyne took the charm reverently and bowed to Torin. “And thank you for coming to assist.”
“We live in this world together,” Torin said sincerely. “Do not hesitate to contact any of us in the future. We must support each other, or things like this will happen again.”
“I agree.” Reyne shook Torin's hand. “And you have my word; should any other issues arise, I will contact you.”
“Goodbye, Reyne.” I hugged him once more.
“Goodbye, Queen Spellsinger.” Reyne bowed deeply.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
I rushed through the halls of Coven Cay, heading to Odin's suite.
“Elaria?” Vivian, Witch elder and friend, stopped me. “I heard ab
out the situation. Did you save the children?”
“We did,” I assured her. “But now, I need to find Odin. I have to speak to him about Mimir.”
“Mimir?” Vivian asked in surprise. “Why?”
“He was helping the Trinity,” I said hurriedly. “He taught them to turn fairies into trees, and the taint of that magic poisoned the soil.”
“That incompetent bastard!” She hissed. “Why was he even associating with fairies?”
“The Trinity said they came to the Coven for help and were turned away,” I explained. “Mimir stepped in.”
“They did come to ask us to help them—to kill an entire race!” Vivian huffed. “We turned them away, of course. Why would we promote genocide after saving the sidhe?” She trailed off as her eyes widened. “Sweet spellcraft,” she whispered. “I should have told you about them approaching us. It didn't even occur to me. What a stupid mistake!”
“It's okay, Vivian,” I said gently. “You couldn't have known that they would have turned to black magic. And you certainly wouldn't have thought to connect them to Eileen.”
“Thank you, Elaria but...” Vivian's face fell into pensive lines. “Mimir... yes; we need to speak to Odin immediately. I think there's something else that we're missing.”
Vivian started speed-walking down the hallway, and the rest of us chased after her.
“Dang it; that woman's fast,” Cerberus muttered as he sped up. “You want me to carry you on my shoulders, shorty?”
“Shut it, mutant,” I grumbled as I went into double time.
We were at Odin's door in just a few minutes. He opened it to Vivian's insistent pounding and then took in her expression.
“What the fuck has happened now?” Odin bellowed.
“Mimir,” Vivian said. “He taught blood transformation magic to the Lesser Fey.”
“What?” Odin roared; his single eye widening till it was completely round.
“Those new trees outside of Primeval,” I explained, “they were once fairies.”
“Fucking idiot!” Odin snarled. “That reckless moron!” He stopped and glared at me. “What the hell was Mimir doing in Primeval?”
A messenger from Trinity came to Coven Cay the same day that Mimir was here,” Vivian said.
“What messenger from Trinity?” Odin narrowed his eye at Vivian.
She flushed. “I didn't connect it; I'm sorry. I take full responsibility.”
“For what, Vivian?” Odin asked in a deadly tone. “What did you do?”
“The Trinity of Strengths asked for the Coven's help in eradicating the sidhe threat—as they called it. They wanted us to help them kill the sidhe so that they would never threaten the Veil again. I told them no and sent them on their way. But Mimir was visiting you that day. That's why you didn't receive the messenger with the other elders. We didn't think we needed to include you; the response was obvious and unanimous. So, we didn't interrupt your visit. But Mimir must have spoken to the fairy messenger on his way out and offered his help.”
“So, Mimir taught the Trinity black magic?” Odin snarled. “But he failed to teach them how to contain the negative emissions it creates.”
“It seems so,” Vivian said softly.
“Their magic poisoned the trees,” I said. “You saw the effects yourself.”
Odin sighed, and his shoulders dropped. “I did, and I should have recognized the spell.” He looked at Vivian. “We are both guilty of negligence.”
“No one is guilty except for the Trinity and Mimir,” I said firmly. “There's just one problem; the Trinity is dead, but I think Mimir escaped.”
“What?” Odin roared again. “No; this time he's not getting away with magical incompetence.”
“This time?” I asked.
“The last time Mimir cut corners with spellcraft, I paid the price.” Odin pointed to his eye patch. “It was the day I stopped teaching him spellcraft and separated myself from the Viking Gods.”
“Shit, man.” Cerberus shook his head. “I would have killed that motherfucker.”
“A mistake I intend to rectify as soon as possible,” Odin snarled.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
We all needed some rest before we started hunting Mimir. Odin had been to Mimir's home many times before, so he started drafting some maps and plans for infiltrating the residence. The rest of us were given some guest rooms for the night. After dining with Vivian (Odin was too busy plotting our mission), we went straight to bed. As tired as I was, that still didn't mean I went immediately to sleep.
I had a hungry Blooder to feed.
Banning had been growing stronger with each drink he took from me, and we needed him in top shape to face the giant, magic-wielding God. So, Banning was the one who joined me for the night. I kissed my other consorts goodnight and retired with Ban to our bedroom. We took a hot shower together; loosening all the knotted muscles the trauma of the last few weeks had created. Then we toweled off and got into bed naked.
The slide of Banning's warm skin against mine revived me better than the shower. He pulled the covers over us as he settled me into his side, and I sighed deeply against his skin. The scent of soap and man filled my nose; relaxing me further. I ran my fingers lightly over the tattoos going down his arms. They represented his rank in Blooder society, but there was also a portrait of me in another life. I stroked a fingertip over my face; it was me, but it also wasn't. That me had been called Fortune, and she had been a Blooder—Banning's blood-daughter. We had shared a profound love back then, and it had been strong enough to survive my death and rebirth.
Banning's hand slid over mine. “You're the same soul, Elaria,” he said. “You've just matured—grown as a child does into an adult. You've evolved into something stronger, but you are still the same woman I fell in love with centuries ago.”
“Evolved,” I whispered. “Yeah; that feels like the right word for it.”
“And now, instead of me giving you life, you give yours to me,” Banning murmured as he slid a lock of my hair back from my shoulder. “We've come full circle.”
I eased my arms around Banning's neck as he pulled me onto his lap. His erection pushed up against my thighs insistently, but Banning didn't let his desires rush him. He settled me back against the crook of his arm so that I was laying in his embrace. Then he gently ran a hand down the column of my throat. I shivered as Banning continued the fluttering touch across my chest, over my stomach, and then into the curls between my thighs. One fingertip grazed me gently before beginning a soft, yet insistent, stroking.
I moaned and laid my head back. Instead of going for my throat, Banning lowered his mouth to the crest of my breast and licked me. His tongue laved at me before he sucked my nipple tightly into his hot mouth. I grabbed the back of his head and pulled him closer as I writhed on his expert hand below. One long finger slipped inside me, and my whole body shivered. Banning lifted his head and looked over my body slowly.
“You are even more beautiful in this life than you were in your last,” Banning said softly. “Which makes me the fortunate one. I'm sorry you have to make do with me in this old body.”
“Are you fishing for compliments?” I teased as my hand went to his cheek. “You know that you're far from being a doddering old man. This body is as perfect as it was the day you became a Blooder.”
“It's nice to hear that.” He smirked as his thumb began to work the sweet spot at the top of my sex. “But I'd rather hear you screaming my name.”
“First things first,” I chided him.
Then I eased back again, keeping our stares locked. But Banning had other plans; he laid me down on the bed and shifted above me. He smiled wickedly as he eased down my body and between my legs. Banning's hands went to my thighs to push them apart, and I let them fall open for him.
As Banning lowered his mouth to me, he said,” I want to taste your sex along with your blood.”
His tongue split me and then delved deep. As I tossed my head through the ecstasy
of his talented tongue, Banning bit into my flesh and began to suck. The rapture of his bite blended with that of his tongue, and I came immediately; screaming his name as I did. The sounds of his sucking and licking were tempered by a satisfied groan; he had gotten precisely what he wanted. Which was normal for Banning. He may have had a hard life, but when Banning wanted something, he pursued it until he made it his. He had done so with me in both of my lives. The man was as tenacious as a pit bull.
Banning's hands curled around my thighs, and he pulled me closer to him; his tongue working me frantically as he continued to suck in the life I offered him. My legs were trembling in his grip as I headed up that mountain of pleasure again; striving toward the pinnacle so I could go sliding down the other side.
Banning's feeding started to grow savage. He worried at my flesh; pushing my legs wider apart with his shoulders as his arms slid beneath my back. I was sliding slowly across the bed until my neck draped over the edge and my head fell back. I had my eyes shut—lost to the pleasure Banning was giving me—when I felt a pair of hands frame my face. I jerked my eyes open and stared up at Torin.
Torin stood before me naked; his cock reaching for my mouth. He looked at me with a question in his eyes, and I gave him a sexy smile before easing my lips around him. Torin groaned as he slid himself deeper inside me; filling my mouth and rubbing across my tongue. Then he started a steady tempo, and I tightened my lips around him. Banning growled as if he could feel Torin's pleasure, and his licking became more insistent. He drew back from his bite; sucking up the last drops of my blood before laying his lips over that pleasurable place. Banning sucked hard, and I screamed around Torin's manhood; the vibration making Torin shiver.
Torin's hands went to my breasts; kneading them as he bucked into my mouth. Banning gave me one last lick and then got to his knees to shove himself inside me with one vicious thrust. I moaned and lifted my hips to him as he began to match Torin's rhythm. The sound of slapping skin filled my head; a drumbeat to our groaning vocals. What sublime pleasure it was to be filled by both of them while our connection burned between us. The feeling of flesh filling my mouth and my sex at once, the taste of Torin on my tongue, and the scent of aroused men surrounding me was heaven.