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No, but I am here.
Who did I hear?
The wind spirits. Sylphan ones. They are playing in the currents and they dance now around you. They want to play.
How do they play?
With their biting winds and whirling leaves.
And then I felt them. I could feel the swirl of their bodies, the tailwinds in their wake. I spun and flew, diving into the center of their circle and through to the other side. They wheeled around me, laughing. I rode the currents, soared upward, screeching loud as the freedom of being on the wing overtook me. All I wanted to do was fly, soar, hunt, ignore everything else. I rode the winds, feeling free again for the first time in a while.
As I swooped down to speed past Rhia and Grieve and Chatter, I heard their laughter as they watched me, Rhiannon pointing with wonder in her eyes. And then, as I circled, I saw the great horned owl—my father—waiting in the tree for me. I soared up, losing my playful spirit, intent. As I settled on the branch near him, I could feel his desire to hunt.
Come with me. We will hunt. You need the practice.
And so I followed him, wings outspread, into the wide field, as we went to catch our prey. Hunters, we were, and usually cloaked in shadows. Maybe there was a little bit of Myst in us both.
Chapter 14
We’d circled the meadow twice when I caught sight of a mouse and gave chase. I was winging in hard, fast, talons down and ready to snatch up my dinner when Wrath suddenly landed and turned back into himself. Worried, I gave the mouse a pass to freedom and made a sharp turn, gliding back to him. With a soft landing, I touched the ground and willed myself back to form.
It was becoming easier to change each time. My father had told me that eventually I wouldn’t need the necklace. It really was just a booster and had triggered my latent abilities at first, but now that I was aware of that side of myself, the inner knowledge of what to do was coming to the surface.
Whenever I shifted back, I ended up in a crouching position, and this time was no exception. I fell forward, catching myself with my hands, then slowly rose, stretching into my full form. I stood naked, unabashed as various Fae walking by glanced at me. Grieve handed me my clothes and I quickly dressed.
“What’s going on? Is Lainule all right?” I asked, worried that maybe she’d had a relapse. I pulled on my jeans and fastened my bra, then pulled my turtleneck over my head. It was too warm for the realm of Summer, but once we left we’d be right back in the middle of a snowstorm.
“She’s fine now, thanks to you.” My father gave me a long look, almost a sad one, but then shook his head. “You and Rhiannon saved her life. We’ve been summoned back to her chambers. She has rallied help for the meeting tonight with Altos.”
I nodded, not wanting to think of the potential carnage that lay ahead. “I’m ready. Let’s go.” I reached for Grieve’s hand as Chatter reached for Rhiannon’s, and we followed Wrath back to the barrow.
Lainule was waiting for us, looking fresh and vibrant, like she’d never been sick. But when Wrath kissed her hand, a tear rolled down her cheek, dropping to his fingers. He pressed it to his lips, gently sucking it up. Something was definitely afoot, and I intended to find out what, but right now was not the time. Especially since she was surrounded by a dozen burly warriors.
The men were hardened—even I could tell that—and while they were full Cambyra Fae, they looked as deadly, if not more so, than any Were or yummanii. They were decked out in armor the color of the sun, and they carried dark blades—obsidian daggers like mine. The presence of so much of the stone sang to me, and I licked my lips as I eyed the serrated edges, wanting to reach out and touch one of them. Wrath looked at me, then at the blades, and slowly shook his head.
But Lainule ignored my reaction. “These men will fight for you. They will protect Lannan, and they will protect you. They will offer up their lives if need be, and should any of Myst’s unholy Shadow Hunters arrive, they will battle to the death.”
I focused my attention on them again, tearing my gaze away from their daggers. “We thank you. In this battle no one can stand alone against Myst and the Indigo Court. Have any of you encountered the Vampiric Fae before?”
Even as I said it, I wanted to sink into the ground. I was an idiot—a total fucking jerk. “I’m so sorry,” I said, biting my tongue. “I did not mean to…” I stopped, just stopped. Anything I said would make it worse, I decided.
Their gazes did not flicker, but a ripple ran through the group. Lainule smiled at me softly when she saw my discomfort.
“Yes, you remember now. All of these men lost loved ones. They watched Myst’s horde tear them to bits, eat their hearts out alive. The floors of my barrow ran red with blood the day the Indigo Court lay siege. They did not stop for children or women or the old and infirm. All who could not run were devoured or enslaved. Some—like Grieve—were turned to be their allies and servants. A few—like Chatter—were saved by the grace of those who could keep their sanity after the change. So, yes, Cicely, all of these men have met Myst in battle, and all would give their lives for revenge. However, they’ve been ordered to act only when you and your friends give orders. They will come to you later this day, at Lannan’s mansion, and they will journey with you through the night. I will not be far from hand, either.”
As Wrath led us back through the portal, Rhia turned to me.
“What do we do if Myst doesn’t show?” She kept her voice low. But I could tell everyone else had heard her.
“She will be there—or her allies. There will be blood tonight.”
We headed back to Lannan’s mansion, grim. Along the way, I could only wonder what waited in store for us this evening—and just how bad the carnage would be.
The first thing that happened when we walked through the door to what had been Geoffrey’s manor was that Kaylin hurried toward us, looking haggard but relieved. He motioned for us to follow him into one of the side rooms, where we found a luxurious lunch set out.
Lannan’s touch was obvious—exotic meats and cheeses lined the table, along with fresh bread hot from the oven and sliced fruit with whipped cream. And wine. Enough wine to drown an elephant.
I glanced at the woman who was acting as hostess. She was obviously from Lannan’s stable—she had long dark hair to her butt and was curvy, buxom, and pale. A bandage covered her neck—discreet but placed right where I knew his fangs had been. She wore a low-cut vest held closed only by a thin leather lace, and a pair of skintight jeans. Another bandage covered a spot right above her left breast.
