“But tell me it didn’t make you feel good!” she squealed and the two headed for the exit giggling like little girls.
The precession was less magnificent than Inda expected considering it was the arrival of a royal family. There were just a few trucks that drove down the city streets. Six in all, black SUVs that reminded her of a scene from a movie she once saw. Inside there were only a few guards and a king. When they filed out of their vehicles, Inda had to hold back the gasp. No one had prepared her for what she saw.
In front of Vilar, Briar and her guards greeted the King of the Slithers. The slithers were reptilian shifters, the product of magical experiments gone wrong. They were cast to the outskirts and made to dwell in uninhabitable lands after they failed to take a side and stick to it during the war. Playing both sides of the fence was a risky thing, and it didn’t play out in their favor. Mike, the leader of his people, was the one who fought for the improvement of their standard of life. If it weren’t for his deal with Briar, the slithers would still be a group not accepted in civilization. Inda had never actually seen a slither up close and personal. She looked at them with the same wonderment that she received. While a few could pass for human, others had scales on their skin and features that were permanently reptilian.
“Mike, it’s good to see you again,” Briar greeted the man who had his own guards by his side. She held out her gloved hand to him and he kissed the back of it. They were good at keeping up the formalities. “I’m so glad you could come on such short notice.”
“Well, of course, it’s not often you ask anything of me. I figure it must be important. Besides,” he looked over his shoulder to the woman holding an infant in her arms, and signaled for her to approach, “you still haven’t met my daughter.”
“Oh, I had no idea she had been born!” Briar looked over her should to Mysti who shrugged. They’d received no news of the birth. “Did you not make an announcement?”
“I did, but a small one. The missus wanted to keep it to herself for a bit. Enjoy the bond before the world dug its claws in.” Mike took the bundle of joy from her mother and handed her over to Briar. “She’s just a few weeks old now, but she’s growing so fast.”
“I completely understand the desire to keep your child to yourself. We wait months before introducing new life to the rest of our people. It allows them time to bond with the mother.” Briar comfortably cradled the baby in her arms as if it were second nature. Wide, slit eyes looked up at her before the baby cooed and smiled. She shut her eyes and opened them again to reveal a normal pair of green irises. “She is absolutely stunning, Mike. What’s her name?”
“Tilia. She’s named after the lime trees that are now growing outside of our home thanks to you.” The man couldn’t contain his pride as he looked on at his daughter. She would know a better life than he did, and it was because of him. What more could a father hope for?
“That’s a beautiful name.” Briar returned her focus to the girl who gripped her finger. “Hello, Tilia. It’s so good to meet you.”
“Yes, it matches her. She stares out of the window at the trees.” Feeling the heated glare of his wife burning into his neck, Mike retrieved the child from Briar and returned her to her mother. “So, why are we here?”
“Perhaps this is the time we move this conversation to a venue that allows for more privacy?” Briar nodded, and her eyes swept across the mixed crowd surrounding them.
“Ah, a call for concealment! That means trouble,” Mike joked.
“I didn’t know you were one to be afraid of a little trouble,” Briar teased as she turned away from him to lead the way.
“Oh, I’m not. Bring it on!” Mike laughed and followed her lead.
“Well, now that we’re all settled in, let’s get down to business.” Briar gestured to the woman who had not yet been introduced. “Mike, I would like you to meet a very close friend of mine, Inda.”
“Inda, why does that name sound so familiar?” He scratched his chin and squinted as if that would make the face of the woman he’d never seen before more familiar.
“Perhaps you know my ex, the dragon, Prince Jax?” Inda rolled her eyes. Of course, that was the connection he was struggling to make. It was the only reason anyone ever seemed to recognize her name.
“Ah, yes. You’re the spitfire giving him the eternal slip!” Mike couldn’t help himself. He laughed as he recalled the puppy dog look that Jax got whenever Inda’s name was mentioned. “He’s got it real bad for you!”
“Yes, that would be me.” She ignored his comment about Jax’s lingering emotions. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You as well. Now, tell me, why are we here? I gotta tell ya, the wife wasn’t all that thrilled to make the trip.” Kristen had been taken to a nursery with their daughter where she could have privacy for her and the child. She didn’t want to be there, but Mike convinced her to tag along. He didn’t think it would look right. They were newly reestablished as acceptable members of society. He wanted nothing to jeopardize that. If he’d known about how the fairies felt about concealing children after childbirth, he wouldn’t have pressed the issue. It would have definitely saved him a headache.
“I’m sure in time, she and the others will grow more comfortable with things.” Briar smiled but she was unsure. He wasn’t the only one getting resistance from his people. Though some fairies were open, and most couldn’t care one way or another, there were a few who rebelled against the idea of the slithers being forgiven.
“Yes, I sure hope so. I got a real earful the entire trip.” He wished he was joking but Kristen didn’t trust Briar or her people despite all that they had done to help them rebuild and repair their homes.
“Well, prepare for more. What I brought you here for looks to be a star to another one of the mission impossible journeys.” Briar could give up on the idea of becoming friends with the Slither Queen any time soon.
“Okay,” he leaned back in his chair, “lay it on me.”
“Inda is here from Reverie, with a message for our good friend, Jinn. It’s regarding the recently departed Nitara.” Cut to the chase. Briar had a distinct talent for relaying information in a way that felt like a gut punch.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Mike laughed. “How are we here again?” Mike turned his attention to Inda who shrugged.
“I’m just the messenger. Unfortunately, I gave my word that I would do whatever it took to bring the man back to vamp land to help out. Of course, I had no idea it would take this much effort after all of the stories of their last adventure together. I figured he would be happy for the chance to save the woman again.”
“Yes, unfortunately, Jinn risked everything for Nitara, and she dropped him like yesterday’s news. Hell, she barely thanked him for what he did for her.” Mike straightened. “I’m not sure I care to help the woman after all that.”
“Well, it would seem she had no choice in the matter.” Inda was skeptical about saying what she needed to, but if they were anything like Jinn in his resistance, she wouldn’t have a choice. Ardyn told her to only reveal the information if necessary and it was definitely necessary. Mike wasn’t going to budge on the topic without more convincing.
“How so?” He raised a brow as his gaze shifted between the two women.
“Nitara is bonded to a vampire. He is her vessel now, a lovely little trick of whoever the asshole was who made her a djinn. When he died, the hold that Tyrellis, the now vampire leader thanks to Nitara’s help, went back into effect. She couldn’t have stayed here even if she wanted to.”
“Well, fuck.” Mike had no desire to be involved with the affairs of djinns again, but if what Inda said was true, he had to at least try. Jinn had done so much for them; he’d helped them all find a happier time. Hell, the man helped the entire world. It didn’t seem right that he was the only one living in misery.
“You think that will be enough to convince him?” Briar was skeptical and for good reason. It might get Jinn to listen, but it wouldn’t be enough
. Not without evidence.
“I doubt it. We’ll need a lot more than her word to do the trick.”
“What are you thinking?” The queen was open to suggestions. She, too, felt the same about the man who’d aided them in saving her race. He was alone and unhappy, and it didn’t seem right.
“I’m thinking about a little witch lady who sees the future.” Mike tapped his finger on the table. “If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have convinced him the first time around.”
“You mean Sybella?” Briar paused and thought about the eccentric Seer who’d suffered greatly with the attack on Alesea, the former queen and her close friend. “I’m not sure she would be up to it after everything that happened. She’s still in recovery. As it is, we haven’t asked much of her since the incident.”
“Well, without her showing him that it is the truth, how do you suppose we get the message across?”
Briar pressed the button on the arm of her chair to alert the guard that stood outside of the doors. Boxi, the large wall of a woman who guarded Briar at all times, stepped into the room.
“Yes, Your Majesty. How can I assist you?”
“Get Mysti, have her go to Sybella’s quarters to assess her conditions. I will require her to take a trip, and it may be strenuous.”
“Yes, right away.” Boxi turned to leave, but paused, lifting her finger to her ear. “I’m sorry, it seems your presence is needed. We have an unexpected guest.”
“Is that so?” Briar stood from the table. “You two continue without me, duties call.”
“Mike, I hope you don't mind my asking, but how is it that you are so close with Briar now? I thought the slithers had an aversion to the fairies, and everyone else for that matter.” Inda figured she could dig in and find out a bit more about their supposed ally. She hadn’t bothered with the details of what happened once she found out Briar gave up her secret, but Mike was someone who’d been mentioned as a key figure in all that took place.
“It turns out, not all of us are like our predecessors.” He shrugged; it was something he was used to. Slithers were made out to be horrible people who did shitty things to get what they wanted. The sins of a few disgraced them all. “Same thing goes for Briar.”
“Is that so?”
“She was able to see outside of what was told of us and to recognize that not all of us are monsters deserving of a life in the swallows. We worked together, once we got over our aversion to one another, as you put it.”
“And now you're friends.” The concept was one that shocked her. Had she been away that long? Briar wasn’t one who easily adapted to change. It was so out of character for her, but she had to admit, when she left Briar had just joined the guard when Alesea begged her to. Hell, the woman barely spoke to most of the fairies. Now she was their leader. They had so much to catch up on, but she doubted the queen would ever have that kind of free time on her hands again.
“Something like that, yes.” It wasn’t as if they were braiding each other’s hair and singing songs. The two had a shared respect and their values and goals aligned. The world needed the peace it was promised when humans were put out of command. Mike, more than anyone, wanted to achieve that. In his short time working alongside Briar, they’d made great strides in that direction.
“What about everyone else?” Inda walked to the side bar and grabbed a drink. “It doesn’t seem like the rest of your people are on board. Hell, even some of the fairies are adverse to the chance.”
“They will get there, in time.” Mike indicated that he’d would like a drink as well and Inda poured him one. “No one likes change, not at first. It’s scary, it shakes the faith. Change means pushing someone out of their comfort zone. In this case, it’s a good push for my people and even still, they are skeptical. A lot of them are highly reluctant. In time, they will see that it’s all for the better, there isn’t a trick to it.”
“How can you be so confident about that?” She didn’t think her friend would do anything backhanded. Briar had always been an honest person, but a lot of things had changed about the woman. She couldn’t be sure that her values hadn’t transformed as well. Power had a way of going to a person’s head, she’d seen it before.
“I have to be. Hell, if I didn't have confidence in the impossible, we wouldn’t be here today.” Mike had put so much on the line, and at a sensitive time for his growing family. It was part of the reason his wife gave him so much shit. He’d nearly missed the birth of his own daughter because he was out trying to save the world.
“I suppose you're right.”
The door opened to a flustered Briar who looked like, for a moment, her world had imploded and perhaps it had, but neither asked about it. “I’m so sorry about that, just had to deal with a little bug.” She eyed the drinks the two were sharing and poured herself a glass. It seemed fitting for the occasion.
A moment later, the door opened again and Mysti, her second in command and the seer who’d they hoped would be able to convince Jinn to help, entered the room.
“Sybella, it’s so good to see you again.” Mike stood from his seat and approached the small woman. “How are you?”
“I’m well enough to help try to knock some sense into my stubborn old friend.” Always the one to keep with traditions, she bowed to both Mike and Briar. “Inda, it’s nice to see you here.” Of course, no introductions were necessary, she’d known the bird would be flying in long before her hot feet touched the ground.
“Thank you again for doing this.” Briar sat her drink down. “I know this is not easy for you.”
“Yes, well life still must go on.” She still mourned the loss of her friend, but her physical wounds had healed with the help of both witch and fairy magic. Her body was whole, even if her heart was not.
“That it must.” She nodded. “Still, thank you for this. We all realize that dealing with Jinn is particularly difficult, but you seemed to have mastered the navigations.”
“We’ll see about that.” She chuckled. “Do you all have a strategy in mind, or will you just be dropping me off at the front door and hoping for a good outcome?”
“That sounds like a plan.” Mike clapped his hands. “I’m sure you can take anything that the old fool has to dish out.”
Sybella looked at Mike and rolled her eyes. “I vote we drop you off there. You’ve already taken a blow or two from the man.”
Mike laughed. “Hey, I’m resilient. I can take a little heat!”
“Good, because you may have to,” Briar interjected.
“Oh?” Mike turned to her. His joke wasn’t meant to be taken seriously.
“I think it would be best if you went in first.” Briar sipped from her drink.
“Right.” He chewed his bottom lip as he thought it over. “Why is that?”
“You have a way of getting through to him. If you can convince him to listen, then we can bring in Sybella. Her going in there won’t do much good if she can’t get close to him. You have a way of making Jinn do things he wouldn’t. Convince him that this is something worth his while, and then Sybella will provide the proof of that.”
“What you’re telling me is that I get to be the sacrificial lamb, huh?”
“It would appear so.” Inda laughed and polished off her drink. “Hey, you’re a king. That will count for something.”
“It never did before.” Mike shook his head. “Technically speaking, I’ve been a king for as long as I’ve known Jinn. You think that ever stopped him from ripping me a new one?”
“Judging from how he treated me, I’m gonna make the assumption that the answer is no.” Inda had experienced her own run-in with the man who was the topic and was glad that she wasn’t being put in place to take the lead.
“Yeah well, I’ll need a hell of a large drink for this.” Mike frowned at the half empty glass in front of him. “When do we do this?”
“How about now? The sooner the better. I need to get back to my life,” Inda stated. Truth was she wanted to get away
from Vilar just in case Jax showed up. Even if Briar didn’t say anything, she couldn’t be sure word of her arrival hadn’t already been transmitted back to the Cascades. If it had, he’d be on his way there.
“I better go ahead and let Kristen know.” Mike exited the room and prepared himself for another tongue lashing from the wife. Being king had its perks, but it did nothing to stop normal marital issues.
“We better prepare as well.” Briar turned to Mysti as they were left alone “Get the guards together, tell them to prepare for a trip. Get Sybella whatever she needs as well.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Mysti ushered Sybella out of the room, leaving Inda along with the queen.
“Does that get weird?” Inda frowned at the woman walking out of the room.
“What?” Briar paused to look at her friend.
“Everyone calling you, ‘your majesty’.”
“It was at first, but now it’s not so bad.” She shrugged. It wasn’t immediately that she was called by the proper terms and that was by her request. Things had to return to normal and that meant being called by her title. She wasn’t a fan of it, but she didn’t hate it either. “It’s really no different than being the head of the guard, everyone held me in a similar regard as they do now.”
“Should I be calling you that?” Inda blushed. Not once since she had arrived had she considered just how much things had changed between her and her friend. Yeah, there were little details like her attire and her fancy new office, but Briar was a queen, the head of her people, and that put her on another level entirely.
“No, please don’t.” Briar laughed. “That would be weird. You’re my friend and people may not like it, but hell, I’m the queen!” She straightened her shoulders and puffed out her chest and they both giggled.
“Okay, great. So, what should I be doing?” Inda didn’t want to be on the front line, but she still wanted to be useful.
“You should be trying not to kill your best friend.” Briar had an awkward expression on her face. The same expression she wore whenever she did something she knew Inda would want to flame up about.
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