Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
MERI
L eandra and Denir vanquished. Cormal’s sister saved. Power removed. We’re alive. All wins. Yet Madoc faces another trial, and according to him, only one other Fae has ever survived it. Biting my lip, I try to squelch the fear rising in me. At least we get to come with him.
Alia. Leandra’s revenge for her daughter’s death may end up costing thousands of Fae their lives. Tensions are high among the light Fae. Many are picking to fight with the Fire Fae instead of holding out hope for the rights the treaty promises. Dark Fae, especially the Lesser Fae, were already leaving to join the revolution, and the death of King Denir will only increase their numbers by the thousands.
The light Elven land is still in chaos, according to Fallon. His mad father the king rules a small portion of the kingdom, but the rest are trying to understand the benefits of freedom. He’s helping them establish a coalition to continue their commerce with other realms and lands. It’s slow going. Most Elven are used to the land and king providing for their needs, but he says they’re finally starting to understand that establishing a strong economy is necessary for their future.
The dark Elves are flourishing under Arden’s father’s rule. All the years he spent as one of the people helped him gain valuable insights into the challenges they face in their daily lives. He’s been working to establish rights for all his people. Arden said he’s using the treaty we drew up with Fisk as a guideline.
If Madoc doesn’t get the crown, what will become of the Fae? If he does get the crown, he’ll have to go to war.
The Water Fae were content with the treaty to establish their rights. They dreamed of owning land in the Light Fae Kingdom and passing down those rights of equality to their children.
The Fire Fae sneer at the same rights, demanding their freedom. But I see the feverish light burning in their eyes. The repression they’ve endured for years. They want war.
The three of them find me on the roof, staring out at the massive city surrounding The Abbey. A mix of supernaturals and humans, it accepts everyone. Is this the future? Will the individual lands and realms eventually wither or implode until all that’s left is this one?
“Mm, we thought we’d find you here,” Rivan remarks, jumping up on the ledge to peer at the people on the streets. “It’s hard to think of living in a place like this with no space to breathe. Everyone scurries from one place to another. Pockets of community but no tribes.”
Cormal lifts a shoulder. “I quite like the teeming masses of sin and corruption. Maybe I should open up a casino here. The profit margins would be astronomical and the seedy underbelly a bottomless source for The Underworld’s eclectic tastes.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You mean the demons who would pay you to point out a greedy customer or one willing to sell their soul.”
Cormal’s grin is sin itself. “Exactly.”
Madoc stares up at the sky. “I want to go home. Where the constellations differ, and the land is as familiar as the lines on my hand. You can’t even wear a damn sword here.”
Sensing his turmoil, I wrap my arms around him. “What you have survived, no other Fae can claim. Not even your precious Konnyr. Monsters so dark and depraved they can only live in The Below.” He drops his head to look at me. “How long were you there again? Ten years? A hundred? Nope. You’re badass. Spending three thousand years in the blackest of holes. The gauntlet should be a piece of cake.”
He snorts, but I can see his mind restructuring itself.
I trace a few of his worst scars. “Maybe you’ll even get some new souvenirs.”
Shockingly, he winks. “Only for you.”
Rivan jumps down and picks up his backpack. “I’ve picked out a few runes I think will work for what you’ve described. Still within the rules. None of them will dull the pain as they strike you, but once you’re through, the numbness and healing will kick in.”
Madoc stares at him in surprise.
Rivan tilts his head. “We’re in this together. The four of us. Forever, right? I’m sure as hell not leaving Meri, even if I have to put up with the two of you. I know Cormal’s never going away. What about you?”
Madoc walks over to the nearby table and chairs. “I’m in. For all of it.” His steel-grey eyes soften when they turn toward me. “Where should I put this new ink?”
My gaze drops to his cock, but his fierce expression makes me burst out laughing. “I’m kidding. A piercing, maybe, but not a rune.”
“Why don’t we create a design on your bicep? An intricate link of the runes interlaced with geometric shapes. Very few will be able to see the difference,” Rivan suggests, sketching a quick design to show Madoc.
Madoc grumbles but agrees.
Cormal keeps staring at his phone.
“She may not even understand the whole phone thing,” I remind him. “Once we get back, call Oryn. See if you can have coffee or tea with her. And him, of course. I doubt she’s ready to do things on her own.”
He puts his phone in his pocket and wraps his arms around me. “I still can’t believe we found her. Alive. I’m incredibly grateful.”
“But you wanted your sister Ri′ back, not Riona, who has lived under Denir’s thumb for such a long time,” I remark. “It’s too early to know what she’ll remember. Stop being impatient.”
He chuckles and places his chin on my head. “Mm, bossy. Maybe I should put you in charge of my new casino.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Not on your life. Although once this is over, I want to find something to do. Maybe help the Fae get their rights.”
All three of them nod. “Maybe there’s something we can all do.”
Rivan finishes tattooing the design onto Madoc’s arm. “Done.” He glances around. “Anyone else want one?”
I prop my arm on the table. “I do. Something pretty and useful. You pick.”
Rivan takes my hand and turns it over until the underside of my arm is facing up. “It’s something I drew up the other day. Three images in a line.” He pulls out the paper from his box of inks, and I smile when I see it.
“Perfect,” I tell him. “And I want my clarity tattoo back, please.”
For the next hour, we all ignore the ticking of the clock as we spend the time relaxing in the afternoon sun, basking in its warmth, and joking with each other. Madoc slips up and smiles twice, which thrills me but earns him harsh taunts from the other two.
Rivan puts away his tools and peers down at my inner arm in satisfaction. “I’ll have to finish your palm another day.
“I love them. Thank you.” I raise my face to his for a sweet kiss, but Madoc pushes him away and claims it for himself.
The sun sets, and we all stand.
Madoc isn’t sure why they want us to come too, and it makes him uneasy. Aamon is already in their camp, but he feels we should bring Lux, too. Cormal thinks it will be a disaster, but he wants someone who will protect me, and Lux is the best option. The Wild Hunt won’t let anyone in, but Lux, like Aamon, is unique.
“It will take us a few hours to get to the clearing,” Madoc informs us. “We need to gather supplies and be ready to leave within the hour.” He shakes his head when Cormal opens his mouth. “We can only portal to the edge of the Wilds. We have to hike to get to the clearing.”
It doesn’t take long to pull together the necessities. Blankets, water, food, weapons, a massive first aid kit, and several lighters. When I question the number, Madoc gruffly informs me that cauterizing bleeding wounds works the best. Okay. Good to know.
Everyone is at the portal when we get there. Their faces are carefully blank, which is worse than sad or grim.
I shake my head. “When we return, we’re celebrating, got it? Callyx, Lucifer, Evren, Kavi, Oryn, Ri′, and everyone else in this big family of ours. Got it?”
Refusing to give anyone a hug, I enter the portal, after Madoc, and find Lux waiting for us on the other side.
“Meri!” he squeals in delight.
“Lux!” I squeal right back, making him dance around in happiness.
The other two men step through and join us.
Madoc takes the lead, Cormal the rear. Rivan, Lux, and me in the middle.
Wide-eyed, I step into the Wilds and find myself completely enchanted with the world around me.
Madoc gets in my face. “Don’t touch one fucking thing along the way. I mean it. The Wilds are a mixture of wonder and death. Pretty things are deceitful. Plants have a mind of their own. Everything will take a bite out of you. Some will devour you. Got it?”
I put my hands behind my back. “Got it.”
Lux nods his head. “Dangerous. Don’t touch.”
Well, damn, if Lux thinks it’s dangerous, that’s bad. “Thanks, friend.”
He grins up at me. “You can hold my hand.”
Probably for the best. Ignoring temptation was never my strong suit. “Thanks, I will.” Grasping his strong, leathery hand in mine, we swing our arms between us.
Cormal mutters curse words behind us.
Lux darts a glance at me, and I whisper, “He’s just upset he doesn’t have a friend to hold his hand.”
“Fucking hell, Meri,” Cormal bites out. “I’m fine, Lux…. Maybe a little bit grumpy.” His blue eyes flash a warning look at me.
It takes us three hours to get to the clearing, and I could have sworn we were going in circles, passing the same trees and flowers several times, but Madoc assures me that’s not the case.
Madoc walks up to the widest and tallest tree I’ve ever seen and knocks on it. He listens intently, then pricks his finger and smears it on the bark. A door opens in the trunk, and we walk through the tree into a small city.
“In the old days, it was a clearing with huts and campfires,” Rivan murmurs to me. “Over the years, they’ve picked up small modern conveniences.”
I swivel to look at him. “You didn’t tell me you’d been here before. Does Madoc know?”
He shakes his head. “As a daughter of Avalon, my mother was often called to obscure places. She came here to tattoo runes when requested. I usually went with her.”
“Every day, you surprise me,” I whisper back. “What an incredible story.”
As we near the main area, Odin appears with several large men and women. Muscular, fit, wearing a plethora of weapons. Warriors. Part of The Wild Hunt?
“Welcome,” he greets us. “Feel free to mingle, grab some food, or catch a nap. The gauntlet begins in an hour at the stroke of midnight.”
A gorgeous red-haired woman eyes me with curiosity.
“Hello, I’m Meri,” I say, introducing myself.
She tilts her head, studying me intently. “Brynhildr. You’re the queen who gave up her crown.”
“Good news travels fast,” I quip. “Can you point me to the restroom?”
She lifts a leather clad arm and points to a small building nearby. “Why?”
I pause and turn back toward her. “Family is everything. Blood or not, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep mine.”
Hmph. Maybe Leandra taught me something after all. By not seeing me as anything but a tool of revenge, she lost out on the daughter she could have had all those years. Smiling, I turn on my heel and head toward the building.
Expecting an outhouse situation, I’m pleasantly surprised to find real bathrooms. After finishing, I step outside and find Lux standing near Aamon.
“Aamon,” I say, smiling up at him. “We’ve missed you. Tell me how you like living here? It seems nice. Have you made any friends?”
He motions for us both to follow him. I glance around and find Madoc staring at us with a bemused expression on his face. Cormal, on the other hand, is scowling. I swear. It’s like they’ve switched places today. I motion walking with Aamon, and Madoc nods.
Aamon takes us to the training gym. The mess hall. And last, his house, which he shares with a few other equally terrifying creatures. He introduces each one, and I shake their hands.
One snarls at me, but Lux turns on him. “She’s my friend. Be nice.”
The beast’s dark eyes shift from Lux to Aamon to me, then slinks away.
“Friend?” another asks.
Lux explains to them what friend means with Aamon nodding in agreement, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.
My phone’s alarm goes off, causing everyone to scramble, but I quickly calm them down by showing them the phone. For a couple minutes, they all clamor to hear the different sounds it makes.
“We have to go,” I tell Aamon. “It’s almost time.”
I say goodbye to Aamon’s friends and follow him to the gauntlet.
He grabs my hand, and I squeeze it. “He’ll be fine. Madoc’s tough.”
I don’t know whether I’m reassuring him or myself.
Lux grabs my other hand, and I hold on to them both.