by Patti Larsen
It will take some time to adjust, my vampire sent. But we will adjust.
She was right. And I didn't have time to stand around feeling sorry for myself. “We did our part,” I said, my own voice harsh in the quiet, serene setting. I'd missed it though, and took strength from the sound. “Hand over my friends.”
Aoilainn turned from her careful examination of Shaylee and shrugged. “Of course. Off with you, then.” The ground around me erupted, figures emerging to sprawl at my feet. Charlotte leaped to her four paws, shaking soil from her fur, snapping and snarling while Galleytrot lurched forward with a vicious howl. I helped Gram to her feet, Fergus beside her, my grandmother's eyes wide as they passed over me, understanding shining in her gaze while Quaid, now dressed as I was in his jeans and shirt, ran his hands through his hair to knock out the clumps of dirt, a deep scowl on his face.
“Hear me, Seelie Queen.” Galleytrot's rumbling voice shook the ground beneath me, bringing squeals of fear from the gathered Sidhe, as the sky overhead darkened and dimmed. “You have interfered with happenings beyond your control and will pay the price for your selfishness.” Clouds rushed forward, tearing open to send a downpour of rain over the gathered court, a tent of green magic just barely keeping the queen from the soaking she deserved. “When the day comes you need her help,” he didn't bother turning to me, his meaning obvious, “when the Brotherhood comes to strip you of your power and destroy your realm, I will not argue with her when she lets you fall.”
Aoilainn actually looked a little shaken, but it passed as Galleytrot's next snarl was accompanied by a flash of lightning so close I heard a tree crack and felt the pressure of it against my chest just as a giant crash of thunder broke over us.
I covered my ears with both hands, keeping my feet while many of the remaining Sidhe, soldiers and courtiers alike, fell to the ground, clutching at each other.
Aoilainn stood, pointing at Galleytrot with one shaking hand. “Hound,” she said, “your power is limited here. Bring Gwynn before me if you plan to threaten and perhaps I'll listen.”
“I have no doubt he and the Wild Hunt will come to you some day,” Galleytrot said. “And I will take great joy carrying you to the darkness in my jaws.”
She paled, spinning on Thalion. “Escort this rabble to the Gate,” she said, “and ensure they never again return to my realm.” Her eyes fixed on mine, though the seed of worry haunted the depths of her gaze. “Under penalty of death.”
With freaking pleasure.
I wanted to be strong as Thalion stepped forward, several soldiers hesitantly joining him, to escort us out. He bowed to me, offered his hand, but I ignored him. I turned my back on the queen, on the court, on everything. But no matter how strong I intended to be, I couldn't help myself.
As we crossed the small bridge over the stream, leaving the clearing and the pavilion behind, I cast one last look back.
And found Shaylee watching me go.
***
Chapter Twenty Eight
I stumbled a few times, trying my best to stay focused while my body fought to understand what had changed. No more the casual grace of Shaylee's form, or the speed, either. I struggled to keep up, forcing the others to slow. Only Quaid seemed to have the same issues.
“The armor must have added something extra,” he said as he walked beside me. “I feel like the whole world is sitting on me.”
Not to mention the fact I'd shrunk. Okay, not really. But everyone else seemed so tall, their Sidhe forms towering over me. Charlotte's wolf head was at level with mine and Galleytrot looked like an elephant. Amazing what an extra six inches could do, once they were taken away.
Gram paced along beside me on my left, Venner just ahead with Fergus. I kept an eye on Venner as best I could, but between the ache in my soul and the adaptation to this new reality, I could barely keep from collapsing in a sobbing heap for a few minutes.
Which would turn into a few hours, I had no doubt.
No crying. That was for later.
My alter egos were quiet, their sadness not really helping much, but I could hardly blame them. At least the family magic was content to wrap around and hold me tight, as though welcoming me back though I hadn't gone anywhere. And the earth magic I had access to kept me anchored. Unlike a normal human, I wouldn't be trapped here if I tried to leave. Without earth magic to help me find my way, even if the queen did fulfill her side of the bargain, I would end up wandering here forever looking for a way out.
That didn't mean I could waste time, though. “Thalion.” He turned to look back at me. “We still need to find Ameline.” No way she'd left yet. Or had she? I had no idea, really. Maybe she'd found what she searched for and was long gone.
That would be just my luck. Go through all of this for nothing. I was starting to wish I'd just set up camp outside the Gate and waited for her to come back through. And the Sidhe realm be damned if she did any damage.
One look to my left showed the advancing cloudbank had grown in size, a black line of churning storm fury. Galleytrot raised some weather, but this resembled the full brunt of the Wild Hunt. Which made me gasp and clutch at my chest.
She wouldn't. “Galleytrot.” I breathed his name.
He towered over me as he turned his great head and met my eyes. “What's wrong?”
I pointed at the approaching storm. “Could Ameline have raised the Wild while we were fighting the Queen?”
He stopped, spinning to watch the rippling mass of clouds. “No,” he said. “This isn't my lord's work. It's something else, something older, Syd. Tied to the Creators.”
The maji. “So she's figuring it out,” I said, heavy and dull.
“Perhaps,” he said. “Though I doubt it. The maji would not destroy. Whatever she's stirring, it goes against the power of the Creators.”
“Which means, she still hasn't found what she needs.” Gram's hand took mine, squeezing gently, her flawless face frowning. How had I thought we looked alike? Her Sidhe form was so stunningly gorgeous, my normal body a bit of a wreck. “So stop being an idiot, girl, and focus.”
“We must speak to my king.” Venner stopped too, turning to Galleytrot, ignoring the flash of worry on Thalion's face.
“You just want to go home.” I aimed a bitter mental curse his way. “You're welcome, jerktard.”
After all this, he was the only one getting what he wanted, wasn't he?
I was actually surprised to see the concern on his face. “You may think little of me, Sydlynn,” he said. “But I am aware of how dangerous Ameline is.” He shook his head, silver hair rippling in its silver cuffs. “When I think how she manipulated me, I'm still amazed.” Arrogant ass. Still. “And if she is loose in our realm,” his eyes drifted to the storm gathering, closer now than when we'd first arrived, “my King must be warned. Especially if the Seelie Queen won't listen to reason.”
That was a clear shot at Thalion, though the prince didn't argue or defend his ruler.
“I have been a fool,” Venner said, holding out his hands toward me. “My only wish has been to return home. And I have done things I'm not proud of to make that heart's longing come to pass.” He bowed his head to Fergus. “But believe me, now that I'm home again, making sure this place is safe has to be my priority.”
Part of me softened. Understood. When I'd been trapped on Demonicon, thanks to my demon grandmother's need to manipulate Dad, I vowed to do anything and everything I could to get home. And while I'd chosen not to betray or manipulate people to get the job done, I'd only had a few day's worth of trying.
What would I have finally sunk to, what depths, to go home?
And was I really any different than Venner?
Sigh. I hated it when the bad guys crossed the line. It made my job all that much harder.
“Okay,” I said, while Gram nodded. “We'll go talk to the King.”
Thalion swayed before speaking. “Her Majesty ordered me to escort you to the Gate.”
I was on him in a flash, in h
is beautiful face towering over me. Thalion didn't move or flinch as I jabbed him in the chest with one index finger.
“If you really love Shaylee,” I snarled, “you'll make sure her crazy ass mother doesn't end up killing everyone from pure selfishness.”
Thalion's hands settled on my shoulders, gently, as he bowed his head. “The Shaylee I love doesn't exist anymore,” he whispered. “You've changed her. Though I don't mind the changes.” His lips lifted to a little smile. “But her heart was never mine, I know that now. And my queen's duplicity puts us all at risk.” Thalion released me, squaring his shoulders. “I will lead you to the Unseelie border.”
Talk about shock me down to the ground. “Thank you.” Maybe he wasn't such a bad guy after all. And worthy of Shaylee, in the end.
I turned to Venner, eyes narrowed, still not trusting him. Not completely. “You betray me, tall and shiny, and I'll kick your Unseelie ass. Hear me?”
He reached out, shared a scrap of his power, the Sidhe magic taking some of the weight from my body. “I do,” he said, eyes twinkling, but not with humor. “Have no fear. For as long as Ameline is our common enemy, I am your ally.” Venner's jaw clenched. “No one betrays me.”
That was honest for someone like him. Truce, until we found and defeated Ameline.
And then all bets were off.
***
Chapter Twenty Nine
Like most of the Sidhe realm, what seemed like an impossibly long journey from one place to the next took almost no time at all. I just considered asking Thalion how long it would take to reach the border after setting out again, heading toward the storm—of course we were—when the air itself seemed to sigh and shift, the sky dulling. A thin, wavering line of green fire appeared in the grass, separating where we stood from the continued expanse of ground. I almost asked why it hadn't looked like this before and rolled my eyes instead.
More glamour. I was getting very sick of my eyes lying to me.
At least the other side of the magical barrier looked more ordinary. Made me wonder if the Unseelie King was less into the fake presentation or if he'd grunge things up just to push the limits. I'd heard only bad things about the dark court. While the Seelie were tricksy and more than a little arrogant, all tales I'd heard of the Unseelie made me wince. Monsters welcome. Though, from my experience with Venner and my encounter with Aoilainn, I was beginning to wonder who were the real monsters here.
The Unseelie lordling stepped forward, face eager, his magic sliding around him as he reached out to the line of fire. Thalion stared over the flickering line of flames as two stone posts rose from the ground, pushing their way to the surface in answer to Venner's rising hands. The columns continued to grow, slender, carved rock finally forming an archway that sealed together at the top with the sound of grinding gravel.
More magic flared along the seal, running down the columns, lighting the carvings until it dove down into the ground. The fire parted, leaving a doorway through the barrier between one kingdom and the next.
Venner turned and saluted Thalion and, to my surprise, the prince saluted back. “Be well, Your Highness,” Venner said. “I've never wished you malice.”
Thalion's smile was thin. “Just my queen. I understand.” His eyes dropped to me. “More now than ever.”
I wondered how painful his education was. How many years had Thalion believed in his queen? Only to have that loyalty shattered thanks to the princess he loved.
Yeah, I could still feel sympathy. Shocking.
A touch of his power straightened my shoulders as Thalion echoed Venner's offering, his magic meshing with my earth ability.
“Thanks,” I said, really meaning it. “We could really use your help, you know.”
Thalion nodded, but the slumped set of his shoulders told me what he was going to say before he said it. “I cannot.” He touched my hair with his fingertips, drawing a low growl from Charlotte and a protective sway from Quaid. “I must obey my queen, even now.”
He turned, eyes landing on Fergus. “You will join them, old friend?”
I never considered the fact Liam's grandfather was Thalion's buddy. Or that the prince had any kind of friends, for that matter. I hated underestimating people.
Hated it.
Fergus smiled and bowed to the prince. “My grandson, your Gatekeeper, needs my help. And I can't let him down.”
Thalion reached out and took Fergus's hand. “Take good care,” he said before turning and leaving us there, his long legs covering a large amount of ground quickly. I knew he was aided by magic because, within half a dozen strides, he disappeared from view.
Time to face the music. I spun back, eyes running over the low line of black clouds on the other side of the barrier. Maybe it was a sign Ameline was in the Unseelie court?
“She acts against my king.” Venner's melodic voice came out as a growl. “She must have some influence with Aoilainn and fears Odhran. Why else would she focus the storm in the Unseelie kingdom?”
I figured there was a flaw in his logic, but let him have his belief. “Let's just go talk to your king,” I said. “Maybe he'll be more helpful in tracking Ameline.” I reached out for the witch even as Venner turned and strode through the archway, knowing it wasn't likely I'd feel her even if she was here. Especially now that I didn't have access to Shaylee's soul. If Ameline was still hiding behind a Sidhe reincarnation, even Liam's, without Shaylee to track her I was out of luck.
Or was I? I turned to Galleytrot as Quaid and Gram, Fergus behind them, followed Venner through the arching stone.
Can you track Ameline here? Why hadn't I thought to ask him originally? Probably because the idea was to talk to the queen then go find the evil little witch. I realized now I should have reversed the order of my priorities.
Galleytrot chuffed softly, Charlotte closing in on my right side, him on my left as the three of us approached the crossing. The others stood on the other side, waiting, watching us. So far, so safe. A moment of nerves gripped me as I considered this could be a trap. Venner could still be working with Ameline.
Galleytrot's answer to my question told me we were out of options. I've been trying, he sent. As has Charlotte. The big wolf tossed her head in agreement. But the glamour and the pull of Sidhe magic mask everything.
So we go to the Unseelie, I said. And see if the king is a smarter cookie than his counterpart. Fingers crossed. Toes. Every part of me I could manage.
Galleytrot grunted. I hold out hope, he sent. But it's slim.
Well, I'd take it.
I felt her power before I could take the step that would carry me from one realm to the next and paused, turning back as Bronagh raced over the hill and to my side, her flowing green gown a rippling wave around her.
“Sydlynn,” she said as she came to a halt beside me, eyes huge as she looked over the barrier. “What are you doing?”
“Looking for help,” I said.
“The queen will find out.” She clutched her hands to her chest. “She will punish Shaylee for your duplicity.”
I hadn’t considered that. “I can’t just leave without trying to stop Ameline,” I said. “I just can’t.”
Bronagh nodded at last, a heavy sigh slumping her graceful form. “I understand,” she said. “I will do what I can to hold off Aoilainn’s wrath.”
I had to go back for Shaylee. This was ridiculous. Maybe now that my friends were safe on the Unseelie side…
Bronagh must have sensed what I was thinking because she straightened. “Go,” she said. “I will care for Shaylee.”
“This could work,” I said. “We could free her now while the others are safe.”
“And then what?” Bronagh’s long, dark hair whispered as she shook her head. “The Gate is on the Seelie side.”
Right. “So I send the others home.” Why hadn’t I thought of that? “Get Shaylee then talk to the king of the Unseelie.”
Bronagh grasped my shoulders in her long-fingered hands, the buzz of her magic blo
cked from me now that I wasn’t Sidhe anymore. “You must trust me,” she said. “Taking care of Shaylee is my responsibility now. And I won’t fail her.”
Something stirred in me. A memory. I’d heard those words before. Desperate need made me crumble a little.
“You promise you’ll bring her to the Gate?” There was still that hope, though it sounded like Shaylee was done with me, no matter if her mother relented or not.
Bronagh smiled and nodded. “I can absolutely guarantee I will bring her to the Gate,” she said, “and she will cross over again to your plane. Take heart in that fact.”
It was all I had to cling to. “Thank you.”
She laughed. “No,” she said. “Thank you. Now go. And do what you can to stir the king to action.”
Why was she thanking me? The Sidhe were weird.
A deep breath and a whispered plea to the powers that be and I left Bronagh there, turning to step through the archway into the Unseelie kingdom.
***
Chapter Thirty
I'm not sure what I was expecting. Thunderclaps and lightning and doom coming down on me, maybe. Instead, I rubbed my arms against the subtle chill in the air, feet sliding over dry grass and onto a graveled path. I turned to look back, over the shining land the queen maintained as her reality, Bronagh already gone from view, before spinning back to compare.
Not dismal, not really. Just duller, unglamoured. Ordinary. Trees dotted the distance, a riverbank not far away, likely the same one running past the queen's palace. Its banks looked rocky, not the shining white stone I was used to now, but gray and laced with darkness and light. A real river.
So the king did like things based in reality. This could work to my advantage after all.
“What did she want?” Quaid fell in beside me.
“Nothing.” I sighed and shrugged. “Let’s just keep moving.”
Venner's beaming smile almost made me laugh, would have if I wasn’t in such a horrible state of mind. He looked like a kid who'd just been granted his fondest wish. And while he didn't seem so shining, so polished, he still appeared unearthly, smooth skin now showing pores, imperfections. He looked like he had back on my plane.