Chapter 29
ARSE
Bidelia was crying again, like she had every night since Hekla had run away from the castle. She didn’t cry for as long as she used to, but when she did, she heaved gut-wrenching sobs that pulled at my heartstrings. Not only did we miss Hekla’s comforting, protective presence, but the queen was also exhausting the servants with unreasonable demands for Belenus’s approaching wedding. It was nearly enough to make a mac-talla laugh. How Eislyn was getting married without Belenus was certainly a mystery to me.
His sister had been gone for a while too, and I wasn’t sure if she was coming back either. After she overheard her father’s name, she fled to find Belenus. I didn’t know her well, but she’d healed Hekla, and that was enough for me to worry for her well-being. I heaved a sigh from my spot next to Bidelia. This mac-talla’s cranky heart was getting soft.
Dinna cry, I said through our almost week-old bond. Save yer strength .
“It hurts,” she complained as she wept. “I miss her. I hate the queen. I hate her! It’s not fair!”
Nae, it isnae, int it? I agreed darkly. But ye cannae let the hoor kill yer spirit.
“I’m so tired of them always getting what they want! They drove her away, Arse! The rules never apply to them! They took her from us!” she yelled, crying harder and slamming a small fist down onto her pillow. “When will it end?”
I didn’t have an answer for her. I’d do anything to make her smile, but the future looked dour. No one in the castle had felt safe since Hekla’s torture, and preparing the castle for a new queen—one just as bad, if not worse, as the current queen—put morale at an all-time low. None of the servants knew whether they wanted Belenus to break the contract and risk whatever retaliation there would be or marry her and live but suffer hundreds of years under Eislyn’s rule. The fact that they even had to think about that made all the servants sick to their stomachs. Belenus was well liked. I hadn’t shared much of what I’d overheard with Bidelia. The poor thing was overwhelmed as it was.
Hush, hush. Keep they heid, pup. Whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye. Sleep now, Bidelia, I urged, trying not to sound as anxious as I felt. It might be time to find Hekla’s human. Maybe we could go back with him to his realm. It might be safer there. I didn’t see good things happening here anytime soon, especially for Bidelia. I closed my eyes and decided to find the human tomorrow. Hopefully he was still here.
A quiet knock at the door startled both of us.
“Who could that be at this hour?” Bidelia asked, rubbing her eyes to hide her tears.
Careful, Bidelia, I warned, narrowing my eyes at the door.
The teenage fae gasped when she opened the door and gestured in a familiar face.
Oscar! I shouted. Whit in the blazes are ye doin’ here?
“Everything alright, Oscar?” Bidelia asked him in fae.
“Bidelia… Arse…” Oscar said, shooting me an amused look that was quickly replaced with a serious expression. “I’ve been sent to pick you up and take you to Hekla. They’re camped outside the city, a bit northeast from here.”
“Hekla! They?” Bidelia inquired with wide eyes.
“Belenus and… his army. Emer’s there as well,” the wulver informed, scratching nervously at his shoulder. “It’s not going to be safe here in a couple of days. I have to escort you out tonight.”
Bidelia gasped, and I was pretty certain all my pearly whites were on display in a dumbstruck expression.
Nae… I gasped.
“Is Belenus seizing power?”
“Yes, we must go now. I don’t want to wait a minute more,” Oscar replied. “Prince Belenus is meeting with his soldiers this very minute.”
Bidelia reached for the doorknob, and I hollered, Haud on, Bidelia, yer in yer goonie!
She looked down at her nightgown and frowned. “My clothes don’t have wing holes in them… and I need help to bind myself.”
“I could rip holes, I guess,” Oscar suggested hesitantly, turning Bidelia around to see how long the slits needed to be.
She worried at her hands and sighed. “Alright, I guess I can maybe sew the seams later.” She handed Oscar her dress and twisted her lips into an unhappy pout as he ripped long slits in the back with a knife he kept on his person.
At least it’s just yer maid gown, Bidelia, I comforted. She didn’t reply; she just took the dress and went into the bathroom to change.
“We need to pick up a lycan named Doctor Egres too. That’s our last stop. Do you know how to find her?” Oscar asked Bidelia when she exited the bathroom, her poor crinkled wings poking out the back of her uniform.
“I know where her chamber is,” she said with a nod, hauling me into her arms and slipping into the hall. She walked quietly but purposefully, as though she was running a late-night errand. Oscar probably ruined the picture, but maybe we could say he was sick if anyone inquired.
Bidelia knocked on a chamber door but was met with silence. She knocked several more times, rapping louder with every attempt.
She’s nae there, I muttered.
“I do scent a female lycan’s trail. It’s about an hour old, but it’s there,” Oscar commented. “Let’s try tracking it.”
We followed Oscar for about five minutes until we came to a chamber near the castle’s hospital. “The trail ends here,” he announced, shoving his hands into his pockets and looking down at Bidelia, who was tilting her head in curiosity.
“This is Doctor Elisedd’s room!” she blurted, then slapped a hand over her mouth, blushing. “Oh Sun God! I’m afraid of knocking.”
“Cannot be helped, Bidelia,” Oscar sighed and rapped on the door. “I have a duty to fulfill.”
Fortunately, the fae doctor appeared quite sleepy when he answered the door, yawning broadly and scratching at his side. It didn’t look like we’d interrupted anything other than a good night’s rest.
“Bidelia?” he asked with a concerned frown. “What are you doing out and about at this hour? Is everything ok?” He yawned again and moved his scratching to a pajama-clad arm. “I’m even more surprised to see you, Oscar. It’s been a while…”
“I’m so very sorry to disturb you!” Bidelia squeaked, fidgeting uncomfortably. “Erm… we’re looking for Doctor Egres. It’s extremely important. Oscar seems to think she’s around here…” She grimaced, unable to hide her embarrassment.
He kept frowning, but as he woke up a bit more, his eyes popped open in surprise. “Oh! I’ll… get her right away.”
“Or perhaps she could meet us in a private hospital room? The query must be kept... confidential. Not for hallways,” Oscar whispered .
“Well, you might as well just come in then,” Doctor Elisedd murmured, looking around and gesturing us into his personal chambers. “Taisa? My female, we have company. Something urgent for you to address.”
“I heard what Bidelia said! I don’t know what… was it Oscar? I’m afraid I don’t know what he said,” Doctor Egres replied, tightening her robe and watching us enter the sitting room. “What happened?” We all hesitated, looking at Doctor Elisedd, but the lycan waved a dismissal. “You can say it in front of him. He’s a doctor. Confidentiality is half his job,” she said, chuckling lightly.
“Erm… this is a really, really, really big secret, though…” the younger fae holding me said, shifting her weight from foot to foot.
It was Doctor Egres’s turn to frown now. She opened her mouth to say something, but Doctor Elisedd held up his hand. “It’s ok, Taisa. I’ll retire with some cotton in my ears.” He kissed her on the cheek and strolled back to his bedroom.
“What in the Moon Goddess is happening, pup?” the doctor asked, crossing her arms. Bidelia relayed what Oscar had told her because Doctor Egres didn’t speak fae, at least not yet.
“So yer the last one we need to get before we leave,” Bidelia said, pleading with her entire being. “We don’t want to be caught up between two armies…”
Doctor Egres’s response was lightning quick. “No. I’m not leaving.”
“But D—”
“First of all, I’m a doctor. If there’s going to be fighting here, I want to make sure we’re prepared to treat the wounded. Secondly,” she said and held up two fingers, “I’m not leaving my mate’s side.”
“Congratulations on finding your mate,” Bidelia said first, then asked Oscar in the human language, “Perhaps Doctor Elisedd could come too?” Oscar looked like he was considering it as an option, but the lycan just shook her head.
“No. Doctor Elisedd would agree with me. We’re not going anywhere.”
Bidelia opened her mouth to protest one more time but merely received another adamant headshake.
“Och… we tried,” Bidelia mumbled, turning to Oscar in defeat.
The doctor gasped upon seeing her back. “Bidelia, what happened to your wings?” she asked. Bidelia tried to turn to face the lycan, but I looked up to see that a hand on her shoulder had stopped her. “They’re all battered, and the skin is inflamed…”
“I’ve had to bind them for… maybe almost four years now, doctor. The queen doesn’t like to see them.”
“Unbelievable,” the lycan growled in fury, and I heard her stomp off to open a cabinet in another room. When she returned, she handed a small jar to Bidelia. “This balm will help with the inflammation. If you keep binding… well, you may already have permanently damaged the surrounding tissue. Come back and see me when it’s safe again, and we’ll take a better look. Now run along. Give my best to Hekla.” She heaved a weary sigh and looked away for a moment. “Tell her not to get hurt. I’d rather not report bad news to Queen Ragna.”
“I will,” Bidelia said quietly and adjusted her hold on me before leaving with Oscar.
“It was her choice, Bidelia. She’s an adult and knows what she’s in for,” Oscar comforted and tenderly squeezed her shoulder. Bidelia didn’t say anything, but her posture drooped into a mope. She probably hadn’t wanted to let Hekla down by failing this task.
Failing means yer playin, I said wisely, patting her on the arm.
We left as casually as possible, trying not to arouse suspicion whenever someone could see us. Oscar led us into the chirping wilds, and we eventually crossed a threshold that spooked the fur right off of my head. The surroundings went from a quiet tree line to a crowded forest.
Whit the joukery-pawkery! I exclaimed, fearing my eyes were about to pop right out of my skull. I clutched Bidelia’s arm, willing myself not to shake. She needed a brave male to protect her!
I really needed to find one .
Also, whaur is Hekla? I asked Oscar, hoping he could scent her through all these people.
Before Oscar could discern a direction to head in, two individuals approached us, not looking too surprised to have visitors. Oscar didn’t submit like usual, probably not finding reason to bow to a fae from another court and… whatever that woman was. The man had a bearing of regal authority, but the women held herself with a casual confidence, striking me as a different kind of leader.
Oscar stepped forward, standing a little in front of Bidelia in a protective manner. “My name is Oscar. Belenus ordered delivery of three. I’ve brought two as the third declined the invitation,” Oscar reported in a formal tone.
“Who may I ask decli—” The tall winter fae in ornate black armor interrupted his own inquiry when his eyes fell on Bidelia. I would have said someone was lying if they told me a winter fae could pale, but this one certainly did! I wasn’t even sure if he still drew breath! Maybe if his jaw wasn’t clenched so tight, he’d get his blood flowing again…
“King Nechtan?” the woman next to him asked, leaning forward to see what had caught his attention. This was a king? He seemed a bit slow to me.
Oscar assumed the rest of the question, so he simply replied after a moment of awkward staring. “Doctor Egres declined… she said she wanted to remain to treat those who may get injured.”
“That’s noble… of… her,” King Nechtan said absently, his green gaze flickering to look at Oscar for just a second before going back to Bidelia. “I assume this is Bidelia? How old is she?”
Oscar turned to look at her, shrugging.
“Fourteen, Yer Majesty…” she answered, and she clutched me tighter to perform a little curtsey.
“A child,” he observed tersely.
“I wish to deliver her to Hekla. They are close. Where is she?” Oscar inquired. The king spun on a heel and gestured for us to follow him.
Dunderheid. Standin around like a stookie… I mumbled to Bidelia. Whit’s they aboot?
“Guess they don’t want me here?” she whispered back to me.
Dinna fash, I said simply, patting her arm again and looking around for any signs of Hekla or Emer. The king led us around another clump of shrubbery, but it seemed like Hekla scented us first because she came jumping out of nowhere to throw her arms around Bidelia and me.
“Bidelia! Arse!” she exclaimed, then dragged the wulver into our awkward hug circle. “Oscar!”
Bidelia just giggled, and by the Sun God, it was nice to hear that sound again!
The wolf-shifter tightened her grip for a second. “I’m so happy you made it! Oh, I missed you so much!” She let everyone go but peppered the top of Bidelia’s head with loud, playful kisses. Her giggles turned into squeals of laughter as she fought to escape Hekla’s smothering.
There was an unhappy growl from the king who snapped, “What happened to your wings, Bidelia?”
She placed me down on the ground, and I backed up to sit next to Hekla.
Hekla answered for her. “The queen doesn’t like to see folk fae wings. She makes the servants bind them.” She grinned down at Bidelia and squeezed her arms. “Looks like you gave that up, huh? I’m so glad, pup!”
“The queen forces this on her people? On children?” the king asked, quickly losing his temper. He didn’t seem as foggy as he did minutes ago. “Her wings are ruined!”
“I didn’t like it either,” Hekla replied shortly. “I would have loved to have prevented it. I can promise you that will change if we… when we take the throne.”
Bidelia worried at her hands, but then perked up and drew the jar from a pocket. “Hekla, can you help? Doctor Egres gave this balm for the base of my win—”
“I’ll do it,” the king interrupted with a scowl, taking the jar from Bidelia. Hekla placed a fist under her chin and watched the king kneel behind the young fae. He moved the fabric by her shoulder blades where her wings poked out and delicately applied the cream, muttering angrily under his breath.
Bidelia was frozen with wide eyes, probably wondering why a king was getting his hands dirty applying medicine. That was what I was wondering at the very least. Glancing at the suspicious look on Hekla’s face, maybe my mission was a success after all.
I was really quite good at this.
HEKLA
I idly petted Arse while I watched the serious winter king dote upon the young castle servant. I didn’t have any questions; I knew exactly what had happened, especially after Oscar had quietly described their first encounter not ten minutes ago. I did have some questions about it though. The wulver left promptly, anxious to return to his daughter, and he’d been given strict orders from me to deliver a hug to Oisin. When all this was over, I’d like to see her again. I couldn’t wait to tell all my friends about the half-wolves who lived in this realm.
I smiled, thinking that explaining the wulver’s ability to speak would probably incite my sub-pack into trying to talk while in their wolf forms again. Except for Ragna’s first shift—for obvious reasons—we’d all tried to do it, which had always resulted in horrible but hilarious attempts. It was obviously just for fun. We all knew it was impossible. I closed my eyes for a moment, fixated on a memory from Soley’s first shift. Her insistent cacophony had us all in stitches when she’d tried talking with Noon’s mouth. That’d been a good night…
I missed them .
“Oh, ye have a mac-talla too!” Bidelia exclaimed when she noticed the bag at the king’s side wriggle.
Uh-oh! Guess who’s about to replace us as Bidelia’s favorite? Eventide said, laughing in delight at the fae teenager. We both dearly loved that pup.
The king’s serious fa?ade faded as he crouched by her side. His angry eyes slid from her crinkled wings to her excited face and softened. I could just barely make out a small smile as he pulled Skye from the bag, setting her down on the grass to stretch and yawn.
“This is Skye. Careful, though, she’s pregnant. She has some young in her pouch.”
I looked down at Arse as the king spoke. “You should go say hi,” I encouraged, nudging his little mac-talla bottom.
Arse made his laughing noise, rocking slightly and digging his feet into the dirt. An’ get told ah’m hackit? Ah’ll nae do it, he replied stubbornly.
“Great goddess, it’s just a hello,” I mumbled at him. “You were wrong about me, you know.”
He let out an aggrieved sigh. Ah ken.
“Can’t be ‘afeart’ your whole life,” I said wryly, twirling a blade of grass around a finger. Bidelia looked over at us and held out her arms, communicating that she wanted Arse to come over to her. Arse released another sigh and withered. He finally caved, unable to resist Bidelia’s cute demands. I grinned and leaned back on my arms, glad to see those two had grown closer in my absence.
“Who is this handsome one?” the king asked Bidelia as Arse meandered reluctantly to her side.
“This is my pally! His name is Ar—” Bidelia started saying but was interrupted before she could finish her introduction.
Archibald! Erm… Archibald Mac An Tsamhraidh… Esquire… the third! Arse nearly shouted and Bidelia blinked sharply at his outburst. I placed a hand over my mouth and squeezed my cheeks, partially to keep my jaw from dropping but also to keep from bursting into nervous laughter. Oh what a bold lie that was.
“Erm… sorry. Bit of dust in my throat,” Bidelia lied to cover up the interruption that the king hadn’t heard. “His name is Archibald Mac An Tsamhraidh, Esquire the third,” she babbled it out quickly and immediately clamped her lips between her teeth.
Moon Goddess, bless her for keeping it together. I don’t know how she did it, I said in awe to Eventide.
Arse, you’re an absolute terror, Eventide barked out, cackling like an idiot since she was the only one who could.
“Archibald, son of summer, you’ve a most important surname. You must be quite an important mac-talla,” the king said to my pet.
“He is very important!” Bidelia announced proudly, putting her fists on her hips as she sat on the forest floor. “He serves the future queen, ye know! He practically saved her during many a banquet!”
Let’s give him that one. It’s kinda true, Eventide said, and I was unable to hide my smile this time.
He did bravely sneeze away an overeager fae man, I replied with mixed feelings. That’d been a horrid day…
We won’t go into details. She snorted.
Y-yes. I am. Well, it’s a pleasure to meet ye-oo , ‘Archibald’ said to Skye, and I gasped.
Arse! I yelled in a private link. You’ve been capable of speaking more coherently to me this entire time?
His head turned slowly, and his little black eyes glittered in fear. Aye?
Oh! You are so lucky we’re not alone right now! I have half a mind to let Eventide finally eat you! I snarled angrily.
Bidelia looked just as startled.
“Everything ok? They’re not fighting, are they? I haven’t encouraged Skye to bond with me.” The king looked down at the two mac-tallas, then over at Bidelia, his face alight with curiosity.
“I can only hear half of it, but it seems polite…” she answered, tapping her fingers together nervously .
“Oh, I’m glad,” the king replied, and I could see his eyes searching for the next thing to say. He obviously wanted to keep the conversation going. “I used to breed mac-tallas, you know.”
“Really?” Bidelia squeaked happily, turning to face him, all drama regarding Arse completely forgotten. King Nechtan smiled broadly—looking much younger in that moment—and I marveled at the pair of them. The bond truly was a force to be reckoned with, something Bidelia would realize when she came of age. Though, how had he recognized the young fae before her turning eighteen?
“Yes, there’s actually a lot of subspecies of mac-tallas. I have a small section of my library dedicated to them.”
“I wanna see!” she exclaimed. “I was trying to be the royal pet assistant. Prince Belenus said we’d talk about it some other time…” She muttered that last part out, sounding so butthurt that I couldn’t contain my snort of laughter. Fortunately, I didn’t think she noticed.
Pup’s too precious for her own good, Eventide remarked fondly.
“Well, perhaps you can visit my castle when you’re much older. You’ll be my most honored guest.” He was looking more taken with Bidelia by the minute. A corner of his lip curled into a smile, and he raised his dark brows, nodding over to Arse. “In the meantime, you should take care of this fierce Archibald. I noticed his sgèile glands are blocked. See how his wings are stunted and a little more transparent than Skye’s?”
“Oh! Is that what happened to him?” she exclaimed excitedly, leaning over to see where King Nechtan was pointing.
“It’s more common in his subspecies. See the swelling just over the wings? The glands just need to be drained of excess fluid, then the wings will develop. The scales may take longer to come in, so they’ll be transparent until the glands fill correctly.”
This seems like very personal and confidential infor— Arse protested, glancing over at Skye’s calm face. Bidelia just picked him up and squeezed him senseless .
“That’s amazing! Did ye hear that, Ar-Archibald? Ye’ll get yer wings!” She whooped joyfully next to a grinning King Nechtan.
I don’t need wings! he argued grumpily. I’m fine the way I am!
“He says he’ll think about it!” Bidelia beamed happily through her bold-faced lie.
“I’ve really never seen such a muscular mac-talla,” the king murmured to himself as he watched the fae teenager hug the life out of my pet.
I’d seen enough. He had no signs of arousal, and I was certain that Bidelia, summer’s brightest ray of sunshine, was safe in his company. He clearly had no intention of inviting her to the Winter Court until she was of age to recognize him. I stood up and went searching for Luzia.
“Do you think we can assign several shifters to act as Bidelia’s bodyguards? Can you recommend anyone?” I asked her while she was snacking on a squirrel. She pinched where she’d been drinking from to look around the various campsites.
“Hmm, let’s get two females. I’d trust Olalla and Ines. They have decent appetite mastery,” she said and marched through the relaxing bat-shifters to find them.
Oh, you know, just… gotta consider appetite mastery. No big deal, Eventide remarked with a laugh. What has our life become? Gotta make sure her bodyguards aren’t tempted to eat her.
I’d laugh if it wasn’t an actual concern, but our alpha command should ensure her safety. Luzia grabbed Ines, who followed silently until we found Olalla. I instructed the two females to watch over Bidelia, and to defer to King Nechtan if I wasn’t around for any emergencies.
An hour later, a familiar scent hit my nose, and I ran toward the barrier to throw my arms around Koray, utterly ecstatic. Emer and a handful of other fae walked into our hidden site, and it wasn’t long before King Nechtan joined us with a babbling Bidelia at his heels. I was satisfied to spy Olalla and Ines watching her from a short distance .
“Oh, it’s good to see you’re alright!” Koray exclaimed, stepping away to make sure I had all my limbs. “I sent word to Soley, and she’s been beside herself! They all have!”
I opened my mouth to apologize, but he immediately shushed me. “Nope. You went through a nightmare. We’re all just glad you’re safe now,” he insisted, shaking his head and drawing in a steadying breath. “I’m guessing we beat Belenus here?” he asked anxiously, scratching the back of his head and moving to a tree to drop his bag.
“Yes. I expect he’ll be gone til dawn. There’s probably too much to discuss with his soldiers already. I hope he finishes what he needs to tonight so he doesn’t have to go back until the contract is… sorted… somehow,” I said, biting my lower lip and worrying at my hands.
On my last words, excitement lit up his eyes. “Hekla! We’re so close! My letter made it to the Lunar Coven, and they sent back some ideas they had! I actually ended up pulling my magic instructor, Dumnorix, into it to discuss my theories!” He pointed over to a folk fae, a thin man with subtle reptilian features. “There’s only one or two things I’m hung up on, but I can almost see the solution!”
“No shit!” I gasped, putting my hands to my mouth. “I can’t wait until Belenus returns! What did the Lunar Coven have to say about it?”
Koray opened his mouth to reply, but his eyes shifted to the imposing king next to me. “I’m Koray! My mate’s friends with this one,” he said, holding his hand out and jerking his head in my direction. I laughed, his down-to-earth nature a refreshing change of pace. He was so perfect for Soley.
King Nechtan gripped forearms with him. “A pleasure. I’m King Nechtan of the Winter Court.”
Korey then turned to look down at Bidelia. “Glad to see you safe and sound! Where’s ol’ A—” he began asking but was violently interrupted by two voices .
“Archibald!” Bidelia and I shouted at the same time, startling him. “Archibald, yes! My mac-talla named Archibald, he’s around…” I said in a calmer tone but laced every word with meaning.
“Bidelia said he went to forage some grub for Skye, a pregnant mac-talla,” the king informed him, returning to his serious demeanor but still raising a brow at our weird outburst. “Apparently, she had a craving.”
“I’m really going to need to hear the whole story of your travels,” Koray drawled at me, smirking.
“You won’t believe half of it!” I grinned.