by Sumida, Amy
I yanked my fist forward and out of Andrasta's screaming mouth poured the Darkness. I pulled and pulled until it was completely removed from its host and stood before me in a vaguely human shape. Andrasta crumpled away into a faint.
“Here before you stands the Darkness,” I said to the fey. “That which you were made to battle. Your ancestors failed me once and the Darkness escaped. It grew smarter and stronger, and then it came for you. Now you must finish what they could not and do the deed you were created for. Stand together and defeat the Darkness.”
King Cian held out his hand for his wife and she came to stand beside him. The other royals joined them, encircling the Darkness with grim but determined expressions. Arach came to stand beside me in his human form, dressed in a black robe, and took my hand. I looked at him and he searched my face with a wary awe.
“Don't worry, Dragon King,” I smiled at him, “I'm still your wife, I'm just Faerie too.”
Then the Darkness screamed, a sound of pure pain, of emptiness and loneliness. A sound that struck a chord within my heart. I knew that sound, my throat had formed it, my mind was still filled with it. It paralyzed me for a second but then I reminded myself that this wasn't a grieving spouse, this was a murderer.
“Proceed,” I said to the royalty of Faerie.
King Cahal and Queen Aalish went first, calling up great slabs of earth to surround the Darkness. The soil clung to the black shape, layering upon itself until it was a pillar sparking with green energy. King Guirmean sent out a wave then, it swirled around the pillar and sank into it, turning the soil to mud while adding sparks of blue magic to the green. King Fionn and Queen Breana were next and a mini tornado began to swirl around the pillar. It condensed the mud and added its strength in the form of yellow glimmers.
Then it was time for Arach. I nodded to him, unable to help him while I was filled with Faerie. He didn't hesitate, simply sent out a stream of flame to roast the pillar. It cooked the condensed, wet earth and hardened it, the resulting shape becoming smooth and shiny with shimmers of green, blue, yellow, and red inside it.
Finally, King Cian held up his hand and sent a blast of purple light into the column. It swirled around it and then shot into it from above, spearing into the heart of the thing. Purple glimmers added to the mix of colors.
Then the colors blurred together, brightening and pulsing until they became one entity. They burned with every color and then coalesced into a shape. A nine-pointed star. It sparkled like a true star plucked from the sky and then it burst into thousands of glittering lights. When the lights faded, there was nothing left.
The Darkness was gone.
Faerie left me in the same moment that the Darkness was destroyed, sending me to my knees, naked and shaking. My long hair fell forward around me and I held it against myself like a cloak until Arach laid a robe over my shoulders.
“Here, A Thaisce,” he wrapped me in it and helped me to my feet.
“Thank you,” I smiled at him, remembering the way Faerie had seen him, as a dynamic, exciting, dangerous, and alluring dragon-sidhe with a heart full of love for me and his people. She really liked Arach and so did I.
Then a gasping sound reminded me that there was still one more detail to handle and Faerie clearly wanted me to handle it on my own.
I've interfered enough, you must finish this.
“Equilibrium must be maintained, right?”
You're finally getting it. Took you long enough.
I just chuckled and kissed Arach on the cheek before striding forward to face Andrasta. I shifted my hand into my dragon talons as I went, clicking them together ominously. Her eyes fixed on the shiny black claws, her chest heaving with her breaths, and she got to her feet unsteadily.
“The Darkness has paid for its crime,” I said grimly to her. “It murdered the fey in the hopes of taking their elements and becoming whole again. You however, murdered my family without cause, just on a whim. The Darkness couldn't use their magic, so there was no point in killing the wolves or my lion. You did it simply for the joy of killing and for that, I find you guilty and I will exact punishment.”
Without the Darkness filling her, Andrasta was smaller, fragile looking. She knew she had no chance against me, I could see it in her eyes, but I also saw something that surprised me. Regret. She inhaled deep and stepped forward. Then she met my gaze bravely and gave me a nod.
“Tell UnnúlfR that I'm sorry,” she said in a strong voice. “Tell him, please, that I tried to love him. I wanted to love him. I just couldn't. I sacrificed too much to become what I was and there was no love in me to give. I'm sorry I killed the Froekn and Intare, I'm sorry for your pain.”
“I'll tell him,” I promised and stared into those dark eyes, accepting the repentance I saw in them. “And I forgive you.” Her eyes widened in shock and then settled into gratitude. Her face was peaceful when I struck out, slicing her head from her shoulders with one swift move.
Chapter Thirty-Two
In a way, the aftermath of the battle with the Darkness was more chaotic than the battle itself. The fey armies started shouting, cheering, and doing the equivalent of a fey fist-pump, while I just stood and stared down at Andrasta's corpse. Tell UnnúlfR that I'm sorry. Should I have shown mercy? Let her live because she was different without the Darkness inside her? Was offering her my forgiveness enough?
I looked around at all the celebrating fey and thought that letting Andrasta live probably would have started a riot. No, she had to die. She had made her own choices and went to meet death with her eyes wide open. So why did I feel so horrible about it? Why did I feel like I'd done the wrong thing?
“A Thaisce?” Arach slid his hand around the back of my neck and rubbed lightly. “Are you unhappy?”
“I don't know,” I whispered and looked away from Andrasta to focus on Arach. “She was truly sorry for what had happened. I think her evil stemmed purely from the Darkness and if that was the case, I may have just killed an innocent woman.”
“Andrasta was not innocent,” he pulled me against his chest. “You overwhelm me sometimes,” he swallowed hard. “That you can find compassion for that woman after all she's done to you and yours, is both baffling to me and enthralling. Your capacity for kindness must be a human thing because it's a foreign concept to us fey.”
“No it's not,” I stepped back and smiled gently. “You all have it, you've just forgotten how to use it. Just as you've forgotten how to speak to Faerie.”
“Then maybe that's why you're here,” King Cian had walked up and we hadn't heard his approach. Probably because the fey were still celebrating. “To teach us things we've forgotten. Queen Vervain, I don't know how you did it and I'm not sure I want to know, but I'm grateful that you were able to host Faerie. To have her here, physically among us, was a gift none of us ever expected to receive.”
The fey had begun to quiet, word had spread that the High King was speaking to me, and a crowd started to gather around us. I glanced over my shoulder and saw the fire fey standing proud, wide smiles on their faces. That worried me a little, I didn't want too much recognition or the High King might think I was after his throne again.
“I still have no interest in your throne,” I looked at him earnestly.
“Fire Queen,” he laughed and it was a tension relieving laugh. “I think there can be no doubt about your good intentions to both myself and the entire fey race. You have more than proven yourself. Even if I did have concerns over you wanting my throne, I would never plot against a woman Faerie herself has chosen to join with. You are safe in my presence forever and are ever welcome at my court.”
Then he hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. The fey around us cheered again and I breathed a sigh of relief. I'd been though enough lately, both here and in the God Realm, the last I needed was another person after my blood.
“Thank you,” I nodded to the King, “you're safe with me too.” That brought on another round of laughter. “I think it's time to go home though. All I want right
now is a hot meal and a warm bed.”
“Of course,” the High King nodded. “Go home, Queen Vervain, you've earned that at least.”
“Maybe I'll finally be able to get a good night's rest, now that the Darkness is dead,” I smiled over to Arach as we headed back to the High King's carriage. We still had to go back to the Castle of Eight and pack before we could head home but at least the fighting was finished.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The ride home was a victory march, the fire fey shouting and singing the whole way. I was happy for them, happy that Roarke was among their ranks, and overjoyed that the Darkness was finally defeated. I could go back to the God Realm and tell Fenrir that Andrasta was dead, he had vengeance for the Froekn and I had vengeance for my lion. I could tell everyone how we'd made it through another nightmare, everyone but Odin.
“What is it?” Arach was staring at me with concern. “This is more than the Darkness. Tell me.”
“Odin's dead,” I let out a shaky breath. Even after healing myself with my love magic, it was still hard to say it but after seeing my true self with the goggles, I now at least knew why.
“What?” His slanted eyes got round. “No, I would have felt it. I would have known. The magic of the Hunt would have told me.”
“Arach,” I huffed a slightly hysterical laugh. “Technically, it hasn't happened yet.”
“Oh, the ring,” he whispered. “Of course. You came back here to an earlier time.”
“It's why we were able to defeat the Darkness,” I nodded. “Andrasta thought she was leading me back here when she would be at her most powerful. She had no idea I'd be returning to a time before she'd taken all of her sacrifices.”
“I'm so sorry, Vervain,” he took my hand. “I know you loved him. How did it happen?”
“Demeter,” I shook my head. “I'm not ready to say more than that. I just thought I should tell you, so you know why I'm not myself.”
“You should have told me as soon as you returned.”
“We had important things I needed to focus on,” I shrugged. “Sadness can always wait.”
“Sadness never waits,” he pulled me into his side. “You merely experienced it alone when you could have had me to share the burden with. Don't hold back from me again, Vervain. I'm your husband, I'm supposed to comfort you.”
“Right,” I swallowed hard. Odin had been my husband too. “Okay.”
“Thank you for telling me,” he continued. “At least now I can prepare myself for the magical shock.”
“I didn't realize you were so connected.”
“It's a sympathetic binding,” Arach shrugged. “When we withdrew from the Human Realm, the humans kept believing in the Wild Hunt but we weren't there to fulfill those beliefs. So they found a god to project the myth upon.”
“But god magic is different than fey.”
“Oh yes, absolutely,” he looked very superior, leaving no doubt as to which he thought to be the better magic. “But a strange overlap occurred with the Wild Hunt. Human belief powered Odin's Hunt and that belief stemmed from our Fey Hunt. The residual energy merged with Odin and formed a connection. It's very light. We weren't hindered by it in any way but there was an awareness of each other. We knew when the other was hunting.”
“Yes, it's why Odin was able to rescue me that day you hunted me.”
“Rescue is hardly the appropriate word, A Thaisce,” he admonished. “I wouldn't have hurt you.”
“You fully intended to hurt me,” I scoffed.
“That was before I discovered who you were. Then I simply wanted to claim you as mate, hardly a fear inducing proposition.”
“Back then it was,” I laughed at his horrified expression. “Don't act, you know you're scary and you like it.”
“Maybe a little,” he grinned and squeezed me closer. “You know, you've become a little scary yourself.”
“Yeah okay,” I laughed.
“Vervain,” his face went slack. “Do you really not know how powerful you've become?”
“Arach, if there's one thing I've learned through my interactions with the gods, it's that there's always someone bigger and badder than you are. I've got enough juice to hold my own now and I'm thankful that I don't have to constantly fear for my life, but scary? I don't think so.”
His response was to burst into laughter.
“Shut up, you retarded reptile,” I glared at him.
“I'm sorry, I... did you just call me retarded? What does that even mean? I'm a fully grown fey. Nothing about me has been retarded.”
“Wow, it really sucks when I have to explain my insults to you,” I sighed dramatically. “Retarded as in mentally retarded, it's when someone has a mental issue that prevents them from thinking as a normal person does.”
“So you just called me an idiot?”
“No, I just called you a mentally challenged reptile,” I rolled my eyes. “There's a huge difference. Huge.”
“I've got a your huge difference right here,” he growled sexily.
“You don't understand retarded but you know the I got your -whatever- right here line. You're unbelievable.”
“And incorrigible,” he grinned widely. “But you're welcome to try and whip me into shape.”
“Why do I have a feeling that you mean that literally?”
Chapter Thirty-Four
There was a party roaring downstairs but I was happy to have a quiet dinner alone with Arach in our bedroom. He intimated that we should make an appearance down in the dining hall, that our fey would be happier with us there, but I felt that I'd done enough to make others happy. I deserved to do something for myself. He agreed, which was very smart of him, maybe the reptile wasn't so retarded after all.
There was a beautiful table laid out. A red tablecloth covered the silver table near our bedroom window. There were gold plates, flatware, and serving dishes, with cut crystal wineglasses. Fire roses were set in a crystal vase in the center, their glowing petals occasionally bursting into flames as they fell off the flower. The smell of my favorite fey dishes teased my nose and I almost served myself, which would have upset Arach to no end.
I controlled myself by admiring the view out the window while he went through the motions of picking the best bits of food for me. It was sweet but sometimes annoying, like when I was really hungry. The view was fantastic though, Faerie was dark and content under a full moon which sent light sparkling through my wineglass. The trees had stopped shivering and the fey creatures had come out of hiding, making the Forgetful Forest a lively place once more. Across the forest from us, I could see the reflection of the moon upon the Water Kingdom and it reminded me of home. But then, I guess I was home.
We ate slowly, savoring both the food and the quiet moment together. Arach talked about trivial things; the success Guirmean's cook had with the pizza recipe, the new pieces of jewelry the earth pixies had made, and the possibility of redecorating our bedroom. It felt so normal, so mundane, that I wanted to cry with relief.
After the meal, Arach carried me into the bathroom where he drew a hot bath in the black basalt tub, and laced it with scented oil. He placed me in and then climbed in himself, sitting across from me. The tub was big enough for us both to stretch out, our legs touching but still having enough room to be comfortable. He closed the stained glass panel and the light filtering in made it seem magical. I sighed and sank into the hot water, letting it soak away the tension I'd been carrying.
Arach looked sexy and completely unattainable through the steam, like a man I used to dream of having. There were times that I had wished I'd never killed Ku, never started hunting gods, that my life was safe and normal. Staring across the steamy water at my dragon-sidhe husband made me think that every obstacle, every heartache, wound, and trauma had been worth it. Yes, I'd lost a lot and my life was often in danger but what a life it was.
Odin was gone but my life was so much more than him. It felt traitorous to think that but actually it would have been a betrayal
of my other men to not think it. I think Odin would even agree with me, in fact I was sure of it. He would never have left me to suffer as he did, alone and broken. He knew I had others to love, more to live for than just him. Funny that it was there, in a bath with Arach, that I finally forgave Odin for saving my life.
I took a deep breath of the warm wet air and released it. Arach smiled gently at me and stroked my leg under the water. I knew he could sense it, that I'd let go of something I'd been holding on to. He started rubbing my foot and I laid back against the slick stone to enjoy it.
“He saved your life, didn't he?” Arach whispered, his eyes glowing through the steam.
“Yes,” I wasn't surprised that he figured it out.
“And you were angry with him,” it was a statement, not a question.
“Yes.”
“Everyone thinks that love is such a generous thing,” he glanced away, giving me a reprieve from his intense stare as he started to rub my other foot. “That it's pure and beautiful, and it is but it's also selfish, greedy, and sometimes very ugly.”
“Yes,” I gave a little laugh. “You know, you're the first man to say that to me.”
“We fey like to see things as they are, no delusions, and in that acceptance we find that all things are as they should be. Love causes us to behave in ways that are selfish or ugly sometimes but at its core, love will always be love and every action taken on its behalf cannot help but be honorable.”
“Wow,” I laughed.
“What?”
“I just never pegged you for a romantic.”
“What do you mean?” He looked wounded. “I'm very romantic.”
“Uh huh.”
“I flew you out to the hot springs.”
“Wasn't that when you had me under that amnesia spell?”
“I fail to see how that changes the romance,” he scoffed.
“Just taking me to sit in a pool of hot water is not romantic,” I laughed at him. “It's what you do once you get there.”