Chapter 23 #3
“To what do I owe the pleasure, Nyria?”
“Did you take this land, too?”
I blinked in surprise. “No. Why would I do that?”
Synchronized howls rang in the distance. Shit. Someone had sounded the alarm. I’d have less than a minute before they reached us.
“You seem to be taking a lot of land these days,” Nyria said, those strange eyes taking my measure.
“Your source of info is flawed. Danu poisoned these lands in order to force me to take her place.”
Nyria blinked. “You lie.”
Dad stepped forward. “Your queen does not lie to you. Danu has threatened her multiple times and poisoned fae and human lands to force her hand.”
I glanced at Dad. Danu had poisoned the fae, too?
Nyria’s lips thinned. “You’d keep us from claiming our birthright?”
Dad snorted. “Human lands do not belong to us. Not completely, and not anymore after our bargain.”
“Then we have nothing,” Nyria said. “No property. No claim. No home.”
Dad frowned.
“Why do you say this?” I asked, that suspicion growing even deeper.
“We’ve been stuck in this place for months.” The surrounding fae murmured their assent. “Unable to return to our lands, and unable to purchase or claim property here, we’ve been close to being homeless! And our queen—” the word was a sneer, “has yet to answer any of our concerns!”
I had no idea anyone had concerns. “Who did you speak to about this?”
“Danu! Titania! We even tried to beseech one of the Lords, and he refused to speak to us.”
“Which Lord?” Dad demanded.
“The studious one,” Nyria said. “Not close to this place. He wouldn’t even come outside!”
I rubbed a hand over my face. This was not good. And I wasn’t surprised Thorvin had blown him off. He would have blown me off, too, if I hadn’t insisted.
Dad turned his attention to me. He stepped closer and bent to whisper in my ear. “They’re speaking of the tree.”
I nodded. “I’ve been remiss.”
“So have we all, it seems.” Dad paused. “Do you have a solution?”
I turned my head and covered the side of my mouth. “If I reveal myself to be the bridge, all hell could break loose.”
“Then we send them home together. They won’t question our magic.”
I nodded.
From behind, the howls grew closer. “I’ll field off the wolves. Give me a moment.”
Dad disappeared.
“I’m sorry your pleas went unanswered. Do you wish to return home?”
Nyria blinked in surprise. “What?”
The other fae shifted on their feet and looked around. “Do you want to go home?”
“Yes!” one of the fae shouted. The others murmured their assent.
Nyria’s brow furrowed. “You can do this?”
“With my father, yes, we can. In the future, if you have any grievances, I suggest you reach out directly to me, Cernunnos, or Cliona. Or, if you are on these lands and can’t reach me, please request an audience with my husband, Rowan.”
My father came over the rise with three silver wolves flanking him, one of them with glowing golden eyes. Hmm. I wonder why Soren wouldn’t ask whoever this was to take over his territory if I could get the transfer approved.
A flash of light and golden eyes stood before me. No matter how long I lived among shifters, I didn’t think I’d get used to one second seeing a wolf and the next seeing a giant buff nude guy.
Soren was gorgeous. This man was dangerous.
Like his Lord, this male was tall, maybe an inch or two shorter, and built like a swimmer.
His eyes were dark and his hair was a strange mix of ash blonde and light brown.
A scar bisected one of his eyes, cutting through the top of his brow to the bottom of his eyelid.
Whatever caused the injury must have been severe for his innate magic not to heal him.
He was lucky he still had use of his eye.
“You must be Evie,” the wolf drawled in a slow southern accent reminiscent of thick honey. He walked over to me, completely uncaring of his nudity.
I inclined my head. “And you are?”
“Seth.” His dark gaze flicked to the fae. “I’m Soren’s Second.”
“Pleasure. I’ll be out of your hair in just a minute.”
“Does Soren know you’re here?”
I winced. “Not quite. I was just with him a few minutes ago, but decided a detour was in order. These are my people after all.”
Seth grunted. “They’re unable to cross, thanks to you. Does it matter?”
“I think I can get them to vacate.” My gaze went to Nyria, who was watching us with interest. “But it’s not safe to drop my magic until everything is resolved. Not just this matter.”
“Are you planning on taking our land?”
I sighed. “Why does everyone keep asking me that? Have you ever seen me snooping around here?”
A slow smile curved Seth’s lips, turning him from dangerous to holy shit handsome. I blinked and looked away. Goodness. Maybe Moira should come here and do some hunting and pecking.
“I’d remember you,” Seth said, still holding onto that smile. “Maybe you should come around more often.”
“Wolf,” Dad snapped. “Tone down the wattage.”
Seth’s chest rumbled with a laugh.
“Anyway,” I drawled, sending Seth a dark look, “I think I have a solution.”
Seth cocked his head. “Will Soren be upset with you?”
“Uh. I don’t think so?”
“Mm. Pity. He’s a sight when he’s pissed off.”
I sighed. “You seem like a lot to handle.”
Seth grinned again. “Would you like to try?”
A bark of laughter escaped me. “I see Soren has taught his Pack well. And thank you, but no. You already know who my mate is. He would not take kindly to this nonsense.”
Seth swept his hand out like he was a game show host. “If you ever find yourself interested in a little nonsense, you know where to find me. In the meantime, please do carry on.”
“Nyria?” I asked.
The fae turned and looked at her companions. Not a single one said no. When she faced me once more, her eyes were suspiciously moist. “We would very much appreciate going home.”
I reached out for Dad’s hand. “Then let’s make it so.” Once our hands were clasped, I spoke. “Hold the image of your home in your mind and don’t let go.”
Dad didn’t do much at all, much of the magic he expended was just to make it look fancy. I was the bridge and the only one who could send everyone home.
Starting with the fae closest to the back, I concentrated, plucking the image from their mind.
The bridge power wasn’t something I could explain exactly.
I trapped Lugh in another realm and locked him in, but I could also travel back and forth to wherever I wanted—provided the realm existed in the tree’s purview.
A shimmering image appeared in my mind. I focused on it, opened up the bridge power living inside me and flicked my fingers. Several of the fae gasped, but I didn’t stop. I sent each and every fae to the place I plucked from their mind. When Nyria was the only one left standing, I opened my eyes.
“How do I know you haven’t sent them to their deaths?”
Dad snorted. “If you knew my daughter, you’d know she would never break her word.
Seth glanced at me, one eyebrow raised.
“Guess you’ll just have to trust us.”
Nyria didn’t like my answer, but if she wanted to go home, she had no other choice than to trust me. “Ready?” I asked.
She closed her eyes. A second later, she nodded.
When she was gone, I dropped Dad’s hand.
Seth was watching me a little too closely. “Your father had nothing to do with that show. Why are you hiding what you can do?”
My shoulders stiffened. How in the world could he know that? “No idea what you’re talking about.”
Seth tapped the side of his nose. “Shifters have sensitive noses. Some of us can sniff magic out like a bloodhound. Your dad barely used any power.” He took a step closer, intruding into my personal space. Dad flicked out a hand.
A shimmering barrier of light appeared between us. “Keep your distance,” Dad growled.
Seth’s eyes narrowed, not with anger. A more dangerous emotion. Curiosity. I was itching to leave this place. Soren, I could handle. We understood each other in a way. This curious wolf made me nervous.
Seth sensed my wariness and smiled. “Little fairy, you’re more interesting than you seem on the surface, aren’t you?”
I scoffed. “Hardly.”
Dad took a step closer. We joined hands once more.
“Please offer my apologies to your Lord. You should be able to leave your Keep now with no protests from the fae.”
Seth continued watching me even as I raised a hand in farewell and disappeared.