Elf-Shot Book 6 in The Twilight Court Series

by Amy Sumida

  “Anytime you want to let me know why you're betraying us, I'm listening,” I muttered to the empty air.

  I'd been muttering like that, off and on, the entire day. I was riding Cat, in her horse form of course, through the Twilight Forest, heading home. I could have scried my father, and Raza for that matter, before I left HR, but I didn't feel right about it. I wanted to speak to them in person. Especially Raza, but that was for an entirely different reason. A reason that had my stomach in knots, and my stare seeking out Tiernan constantly. He met my eyes every time, as if he could feel my attention. By the time we stopped for the night, the tension between us was at a breaking point. I had barely made Cat comfortable before Tiernan was at my side.

  “Can we speak privately?” Tiernan asked.

  “Um, sure,” I waved Cat off when she shifted into canine form and started to follow us. “We'll be back soon, Cat.”

  She huffed and went to find Conri.

  The Star's Guard gave us knowing looks as we headed away from the camp, into the thicker part of the woods. We didn't go too far, just enough to have some privacy. Tiernan found a mossy boulder and gestured for me to have a seat. I shook my head, preferring to stand. I'd been on my butt for hours. He blinked, realized my issue, and then chuckled.

  “I want to talk to you about Killian,” he started.

  “No,” I held up my hand and tried to walk past him. “I'm not talking to you about Killian. You don't have the right to ask.”

  “Seren,” he grabbed my hand, “I approve.”

  I froze.

  “What did you just say?” I looked at him in horror.

  “He's a strong match for you,” Tiernan sighed. “He would cement an alliance with the witches, and he's a new breed of twilight fey, so he'll be accepted in any fairy court. He'd be a solid consort.”

  “What the hell is this?” I laid a hand on his forehead. “Are you ill?”

  “Funny,” Tiernan took my hand from his head so he was holding both of mine. “But I'm serious, Seren. If you can convince Raza to do what he originally intended, and allow you to have consorts, then Killian would be a good addition.”

  “A good addition?” I gaped at him. “Exactly how many consorts does a queen usually have?”

  “As many as she wants,” Tiernan shrugged. “As many as her king permits. It's not a 'usual' thing. It's a very personal thing.”

  “Yes, I get that,” I sighed. “You'd really be okay with me sleeping with Killian?”

  “Do I like the thought?” Tiernan grimaced. “Absolutely not. The man is tedious and annoying. Just seeing his face makes me want to break it with my fist. But he's also capable and smart when he isn't being foolish. If that makes any sense.”

  “Tiernan, you're making me crazy here,” I pulled my hands away from him. “You tell me you love me more than our goddess, but then you want to give me to another man?”

  “Not give,” Tiernan laid his palm to my face. “Can't you see? It's because I love you so much that I'm willing to compromise. I want you to have what you need. As a princess of Fairy and as a woman. You are my priority. I've thought a lot about you, and what would make you happy. I believe Killian could contribute to your happiness.”

  “Seriously?” I whispered.

  “He can give you something neither Raza or I can,” Tiernan swallowed hard, and I saw how painful it was for him to admit it. “Humanity.”

  “He's not all human anymore,” I was clutching at Tiernan's hand, automatically trying to comfort him.

  “He's human enough,” Tiernan smiled sadly. “You know he is. His very nature appeals to you. Even if his blood changed completely, Killian would still be human. Here,” Tiernan tapped his temple. “He's a link to your mother's people, a way to keep yourself from becoming completely fey. I understand that now, and I see the importance of it.”

  “I thought you wanted me to be fey.”

  “I did,” he said. “And I was wrong. You are what Fairy needs. You, all of you, including your human nature. Your humanity makes you the most unique fairy royal there has ever been. It gives you a perspective that no other monarch has. And that perspective is what will unite Fairy as well as keep the peace between the realms.”

  I stared at him as shivers coasted over my skin. His words had the ring of fate to them.

  “Ironic, isn't it?” Tiernan asked with a lopsided smile. “That it takes a princess with human blood to unite the fey?”

  “I'm glad you have faith in me,” I sighed as I leaned back against a tree. “I was beginning to lose it.”

  “You are not to blame for Bress' abduction.”

  There it was again, Tiernan knowing me, knowing exactly what was bothering me. It was so easy to slip back into our old relationship, that comfortable closeness we'd shared. But that comfort could lead to other things. I was already itching to throw myself into his arms, to hold him tight again, and breathe him in. Amber and sandalwood. A rich, slightly sweet scent that was still so masculine. So Tiernan.

  “She's going to hurt him, Tiernan,” I whispered, forcing my thoughts back to Bress. “And he was doing so well.”

  “I know,” his hands went to my face, and he leaned his forehead to mine, then his whole body eased forward.

  It wasn't sexual, just his way of being there with me, sharing the weight of my worry. And the fact that it wasn't a seduction made it even more alluring. Am I making any sense, or has my reasoning fallen prey to my hormones? Whatever it was, I felt at ease there, with Tiernan. My anxiety over Bress slipped away, and I began to breathe deeply. As soon as Tiernan felt my calm, he pulled away and kissed my forehead. Then he looked at me steadily, his silver eyes liquid with yearning. His hands slipped away from my face and went down to mine. Tiernan lifted my hands, like we stood in the middle of a fairy court, and kissed each one tenderly.

  “We will win this war, my love,” Tiernan vowed. “We will get Bress back, we will kill Moire, and then we will settle things between all of us. Leave the dragon be for now. I have faith that he will come to accept our destiny on his own.”

  Beautiful words, just what I wanted to hear. But I'd seen Raza destroy an entire fey village once because they had dared to threaten his son. That was not a man who accepted anything he didn't want to accept. Not on his own at least. No, the dragon would need to be led. I just wasn't sure if I was strong enough to do the leading.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  My father didn't take the news of Bress' disappearance well. He called his sister several unkind names and some things which weren't names at all, but which were both shocking and appropriate. Then I told Keir where we were when Bress had disappeared, and about the invoice we'd found for the iron weapons. He lost his fairy mind.

  Things were thrown. A few of them were quite large. Bigger than Cat even.

  After his fit, I told Keir about our conversation with the elves... and Danu's involvement. I prepared for more violence, but he only deflated, landing in a chair like an empty balloon.

  “Danu is siding with Moire?”

  “According to the elves,” I shrugged. “She hasn't spoken to me since I've returned to Fairy, so I'm inclined to believe them.”

  “That's insane,” he whispered. “Why? She supported Raza. Why change her mind now?”

  “I don't know, Dad,” I glanced out his bedroom window. “And twilight's coming so I need to cut this short.”

  “You're going to Raza?” Keir asked.

  “I need to tell him about all of this, and see if he's gathered suvanis flowers for the Extinguishers yet.”

  “I'll have some collected here as well,” Keir offered. “One of the knights can take them over to San Francisco.”

  “That would be appreciated,” I nodded. “I hadn't even thought to have them gathered here. I don't know why.”

  “You have a lot to deal with right now,” he said gently. “Go to Raza, I'm sure he'll help ground you.”

  “Kind of ironic since he's a dragon,” I teased, and was rewarded wit
h a smile.

  “Perhaps it's the opposite,” he shrugged. “You ground him, and by doing so, you are steadied as well.”

  “I think you're right. We're good for each other,” I kissed his cheek. “I love you, Dad.”

  The stars over Keir's amethyst eyes sparkled, “I love you too. Be careful, Seren. Just because you have a dragon at your back, it doesn't make you invulnerable.”

  “Don't I know it,” I murmured as I left.

  I went out into the hall, intending to twilight over to Craos-Teine from my bedroom, but a chiming caught my attention. I rushed straight through my bedroom, and into my library to answer the scry. It was Killian of course. I'd nearly forgot.

  “Where you at, Twilight?”

  “I'm here, at home, but I'm leaving for Unseelie soon,” I said as Cat came in and leaned against my leg.

  She huffed at Killian through the crystal ball. It seemed as if Cat and Raza were the only two left who weren't climbing aboard the Killian train.

  “Okay, I'll meet you there,” he waved the connection away before I could say anything more.”

  “I guess that settles it,” I looked to Cat. “You ready?”

  She whined and looked pointedly at the door.

  “I'm not going to bother the Star's Guard,” I huffed. “They need a rest. Besides, I'll be with Raza. If something can kick Raza's ass, my Guard wouldn't stand much of a chance against it.”

  She sighed and settled against me again.

  “Thank you. Now come on,” I held my arms out to her. “Twilight is nearly over. I can feel it draining away.”

  It was too difficult for me to carry her, so we'd practiced a maneuver where she placed her back paws on my feet and her forelegs over my shoulders. Then I could levitate us both, and access the In-Between. She jumped up, bracing herself, and the twilight magic intensified as I lifted us just above the ground. In between earth and sky. I mentally reached for the Between and guided us through it. We rushed through the dark, safe space, and then reformed in Raza's bedroom.

  “May I cut in?” Raza asked smoothly.

  “Of course,” I chuckled as Cat jumped down. “Hey there, tall, dark, and dragon. How's the flower picking going?”

  “It has gone well,” he slid his hands around my hips, his claws just lightly grazing me. “The kuperi have helped in the harvest.”

  “Really?” I had a sudden image of the little, glowing, floating puffballs slowly bringing in the flowers, and laying them at Raza's feet, like an offering to their dragon god.

  Cat's head jerked up. She hurried over to the bedroom door and growled at it a second before a knock came.

  “Raza?” A feminine voice carried through the wood.

  My eyes went wide as I stared at Raza. He groaned.

  “Is that Daiyu?” I asked.

  “I was going to tell you,” he rolled his metallic, gold eyes. “She came for another diplomatic visit.”

  “Oh really?” I eased away from him. “Has she been hitting on you again?”

  “Hitting me?” Raza was aghast. “As if I would put up with such behavior.”

  “Making sexual advances,” I explained as I headed for the door.

  “Oh. Well then, of course she has,” he said as if it was a given. Which, it kinda was.

  “Let me handle this,” I went to the door and swung it open.

  “Princess Seren,” Queen Daiyu's face registered surprise briefly, before settling into its usual, sassy and cynical lines. “I didn't know you were in attendance.”

  “Just arrived,” I smirked. “You needed something from Raza? Cause we were just about to have sex.”

  “Really?” Daiyu wasn't at all deterred by my directness. “How lovely for you. Enjoy him while you can because I was just-”

  “Leaving,” Raza declared, startling her. “Were you not coming to tell me you were leaving, Queen Daiyu? Going back to the sea where you belong?”

  “Are you certain you want me to leave?” Daiyu recovered gracefully. “I was told your kingdom is facing war. My kingdom may be willing to offer you aid.”

  “For what price?” I asked.

  “Friendship,” Daiyu looked shocked that I would think otherwise. “We wish to cement our alliance with the Unseelie King.”

  “Uh huh,” I narrowed my eyes on her. “That's why you're at his bedroom door, right? To cement your alliance. With the King, not necessarily his kingdom.”

  “Something like that,” she smiled wickedly, her luscious lips stretching wide in a greedy smile.

  “Who told you my kingdom is facing war?” Raza stepped forward, looking from me to Daiyu.

  “Right, I was getting to that,” I looked to Daiyu. “We'll meet you downstairs, Your Majesty. Goodbye,” I shut the door in Daiyu's face and then turned to Raza. “It looks as if the elves have turned against you, and Moire is coming to claim the Unseelie crown. Possibly even attempt to put Bress on the throne.”

  “What the fuck did you just say to me?” Raza growled.

  “And Danu is supporting her.”

  “What?!” Raza roared, sending Cat running into the bathroom. He leaned into my face, “Say that again if you please, my dearest.”

  “I haven't spoken to Danu yet, so it isn't confirmed,” I sighed. “But it seems to be true. She's ignored me completely since I've returned.”

  “Why would the goddess who put me on my throne try to take it from me so soon?” Raza's eyes were going lava hot.

  “I don't know, honey,” I laid my hand to his cheek, and he stilled. “But we'll deal with it. You swore once that you would defy Danu herself to be with me. Now I'm swearing to you, that I will defy her to keep you on the Unseelie throne. Nobody's taking your kingdom away from you.”

  Raza stared at me, his eyes widening, and his lips parting. Then he pulled me violently against his chest and kissed me. Hard. Passionately. Wickedly. His claws tore my clothing from me as I ripped his away. Growls surrounded us, and I wasn't sure whose throat they emerged from. This was what I had expected from him our first time together, but Raza was rarely this wild. At least in the bedroom. He liked tenderness, a slow sizzle till we burned together. Tonight, however, the dragon was loosed.

  “I love you more than my kingdom,” Raza held my face between his dangerous hands. “You know that, right?”

  “You are my kingdom, Raza,” I pressed his palms tighter to me. “You are my whole world.”

  “Mo shíorghrá,” he whispered the Gaelic endearment only he used with me- my eternal love. “If we are damned for disobeying Danu, then let us be damned together. Hell shall be a paradise with you beside me.”

  Raza lifted me, and laid me on his bed, across the silken, midnight sheets and sable furs. I pulled him closer, but I needn't have bothered. He was already there, his hips pushing mine apart, his claws magicked away so he could clutch at my breast without hurting me, his wings spread wide behind him. He was darker than the shadows which crept in from his bedroom window. Night was falling quickly, crawling across the floor like a thief, coming to claim him. But Raza was mine, and I wouldn't let him go. Not to the light or the dark.

  “Inside me,” I whispered into his ear. “Now!”

  Raza's hips thrust forward. We gasped together, then groaned. He slammed into me, the tempo rising with our passion until we were screaming together, clawing our way to the apex of ecstasy. The night echoed with our cries, and I didn't care who heard. Let them all know how much I loved the Dragon King of Unseelie. Even if Danu no longer did.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Raza and I must have looked well sated when we made our way down to the dining hall. The room was full to bursting with unseelie fey having their evening meal. Most of them smiled at us, finding our passion for each other to be charming and romantic. Daiyu looked annoyed by our entrance, but not as much as Killian did. His ire had nothing to do with my love for Raza though. Killian was seated beside the Dragon Queen, and he didn't look happy about it. In fact, he was leaning uncomfortably away from
her when we walked in, and he leapt to his feet as soon as he saw us.

  “Seren,” Killian cried, relief obvious in his tone. “We've been waiting for you.”

  “I see that,” I tried to hide my smirk.

  “Enjoying yourself?” Raza didn't bother hiding his.

  “I was unaware of the new twilight race,” Daiyu smiled slowly, looking Killian up and down. “I find it intriguing. Lord Killian's eyes are especially beautiful. So close to being dragon, yet not.”

  “Um,” Killian cleared his throat, “thank you, Your Majesty.”

  “Has Queen Daiyu mentioned that she's here to cement her alliance with King Raza?” I asked Killian. “Oh, I mean with the Unseelie Kingdom.”

  After our glorious romp, Raza and I had laid in bed together, and I'd used the opportunity to inform him about everything I'd learned recently, so he wouldn't be blindsided by Daiyu again. This had taken longer than I'd anticipated since Raza had to stop me to ask questions, and then stop me again to roar a few times. I was grateful he'd put away his claws to make love to me. Otherwise, he might have ruined the bed linens.

  “King Raza is dragon-djinn,” Daiyu declared as if no one else was aware. “This appeals to us.”

  “I thought you didn't like land dragons?” I took a seat in the Queen's chair, right next to Raza's throne.

  Daiyu frowned at me, looking pointedly at the chair she probably thought I didn't deserve to sit in.

  “We generally don't like any land fey, but at least King Raza is a type of dragon. He understands us better than other fey,” Daiyu explained. “We'd rather he be on the throne than Moire.”

  “How did you hear about the war?” Killian asked. “We've only just learned of it ourselves.”

  “We are very good listeners,” Daiyu smirked.

  “They have spies everywhere,” I translated.