Chapter Sixteen #3
Evie didn’t believe her. “You say that, but what about the other six? What about the Seelie and Unseelie?” Too much had happened for her to trust any of them. “You just said you didn’t agree with the ways of the Fae. What makes you so sure you can control them?”
“Evie—m’love. Ye must stop.” Drummond floundered in the bed, trying to push himself upright among the pillows.
She shook her finger at him again. “You be still. You’re too weak to get into this, and it’s their fault. I’ll handle it.”
Danu’s laughter echoed through the room, repeating over and over as if the place had the acoustics of a cathedral. “What a fine mother ye will be. Such a strong woman to improve this century.”
The goddess’s orb floated toward her, but Evie held her ground.
Danu wasn’t getting to Drummond through her.
Then twin sparks shot out of it. One caught her in the neck, just below her right ear, with a searing pain that made her cry out and slap her hand over it, but she didn’t drop her weapon.
Behind her, Drummond cursed under his breath and rolled to his side, holding his hand to his neck as well.
“You liar!” Evie swung at the orb, her rage for Drummond obliterating any possible fear. “You said we’d be left alone, and you just attacked us?”
“I nay attacked ye,” Danu said, sounding slightly peeved.
“I marked ye with my triskele. Both of ye. All who see the spiral of the triple goddess will know ye are under my personal protection. Yer children will be born with my mark as well. It is my oath to ye and yer descendants, because ye have proven yerself worthy of my lineage. The Fae will not dare touch ye. They know my wrath and are loath to experience it again.”
Gripping the metal poker even tighter, Evie backed up against the bed and stole a glance at Drummond. “Are you all right?”
“I am fine, my own. Please, for my sake, accept the goddess’s words.”
A relieved sob escaped her, almost making her choke.
It was so good to have him back. She’d so needed to look into those dark eyes of his and see the other half of her soul.
She faced the orb and allowed the iron poker to clatter to the floor.
“Thank you, but don’t be insulted when I say I hope I never see you again. ”
“Blessings upon ye both, my children. Live, love, and thrive.” The blazing orb disappeared, leaving the room feeling emptier than before.
Her strength gone, Evie stumbled and sagged down onto the bed.
Drummond struggled to roll her into his arms and helped her stretch out beside him. “My beloved warrioress,” he said in a weary whisper, “fearless and ready to fight the mother goddess herself.”
“I’d fight anyone for you.” She held fast to him and nestled closer, burying her face in his chest. “I hope what she said is true. That everyone will leave us alone now.” She closed her eyes and smiled.
His heart beat stronger now, thumping against her as if eager to get on with life.
“But at least you’re back. If anyone comes for us, we’ll fight them together. ”
“Aye, m’love. We shall face everything together from this day forward.”
*
Callum stumbled out from behind the pub’s bar, throwing himself into the backroom before any of the mortal patrons noticed his blood shimmered with a golden glow. With a hand clapped to his nose, he grabbed a bar towel from the stack on the shelf and fought to stanch the flow.
“Morganna!” Dropping to his knees, he cried out for his beloved.
Only one thing caused a Seelie or an Unseelie to bleed like this so spontaneously.
The Goddess Danu, matriarch of the mighty Tuatha de Danann, was displeased with the Fae races and was making a point as only she could.
“Morganna,” he sobbed again, reaching across time for his precious mate, fearing she no longer lived.
Dinna fash yerself, m’love. I bleed too, but all is well. Soon I shall return to yer arms. A gentle wind that could have no source in the pub’s storeroom brushed against his cheek, lingering with the softness of a lover’s touch. All is well echoed over and over, calming his pounding heart.
Forestor lumbered into the room and, with a great deal of grunting, lowered his massive form to the floor beside Callum. “What is it, Callum?” He dipped his head with a hard, gulping swallow. “Have we lost another?”
“No.” Still stanching the blood from his nose and ears, Callum rolled from his knees to his arse and leaned back against the barrels of ale.
“Morganna said all is well and that she will return soon.” Then he clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
“The counter. Did the numbers decrease again? Or has the MacMuirrow bond held?” More importantly, had Chief MacMuirrow survived the attack?
Forestor gave him a toothy smile. “The bond holds. I’ve never seen the numbers on the counter glow so brightly.”
“Thanks be to the powers of darkness and light.” Callum let out a relieved sigh. A wee bit of the tension he always carried like a burdensome weight seemed to leave him. “Morganna and Jadrack should be home soon.”
Forestor nodded, then heaved out his own heavy sigh. “And then we start again.”
Callum understood completely. “Aye, old friend. Then we start again.”