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And when Menolly had come home, blood-crazed and ripped to shreds, I'd held my wits together long enough to fetch help. And then I'd cushioned the pain for my father and Delilah, keeping my own fears and horrors at bay because that was what I was expected to do. I was the rock. I was the anchor.
And now. Trillian was as good as dead, and our father was missing in action. And we had a mission to accomplish. Once more, I was called on to push aside my feelings. To let go of my own needs in order to tend the greater good. Maybe that's why I never wanted children. I'd already given everything I had to give.
"I will tell you what you can do," Smoky said. "Perform a binding ritual with Morio and with me. Accept us as your husbands. Then can we protect you like we need to—and then can we unleash all our powers to help you find Trillian." His look was so intense that it frightened me.
I searched his face, searched Morio's expression, looking for something to verify that Smoky was telling the truth. Morio nodded, his lips pressed together.
"Are you serious? Marry the two of you? For one thing, this world has rules about that—or at least, this country—"
"Fuck the rules and regulations. We aren't talking about legal documents here," Morio said. "And we aren't talking a simple wedding ceremony or valiant words. No, I know what Smoky's talking about. He's talking about performing the Soul Symbiont ritual."
I shook my head. "What the hell is that? I've never heard of it. Is it an Earthside custom?"
Smoky let out a little huff. "Not exactly. It's a ritual that's kept secret within several of the Supe lineages." He shot a warning glance at Morio. "Don't even ask how I came to know of it; you won't get an answer."
Morio glanced at the car, waving as Delilah stuck her head out. "We'll be right there." He turned back to me. "The ritual binds souls in a magical union. That union brings with it certain powers. For one thing, soul-bound members can always track down the other members of the union. Now, while Trillian won't technically be bound to us, the fact that you and he are yoked so strongly via magical rites, well—that might be just what we need. You can draw on our power. With the three of us searching for him magically, we might be able to find him.">"Morio, let's take your SUV. It will hold all of us," I said, but a noise interrupted me, and I whirled around, sucking in energy as I prepared to blast whoever it was to kingdom come.
"Hold your fire," a familiar voice rang out.
I slowly lowered my hands. As we clattered down the porch steps, Trenyth and Grandmother Coyote stepped out of the shadows. Neither looked like they were the bearers of good news.
Chapter Twenty-four
"Trenyth! Grandmother Coyote?" I skidded to a halt on the bottom step, and Delilah tripped against me. We both went tumbling to the mud-soaked ground below. I winced as the sharp tip of the unicorn horn jabbed me in the hip. While I wasn't worried about it breaking—it could probably withstand being run over by a truck—I was concerned about accidentally setting off its powers. I still didn't know how the damned thing worked, for the most part.
"Youch! Watch where you're going!" Delilah said, rubbing her butt. She pushed herself off the ground and helped me up.
Menolly was standing behind us. I expected her to be snickering, but her expression was dead serious as she stared at our visitors with a veiled gaze. Morio and Smoky swung in behind us.
"The fact that both of you are here at the same time doesn't give me any fuzzy feelings," I said, gingerly rubbing the sore spot on my hip. "What's up?"
"We have to talk," Grandmother Coyote said, her steel teeth gleaming in the dim light. We were a few days past the new moon, and I could still feel the energy from the Dark Mother rumbling in the air.
"Do you want to go inside?" I asked, gesturing to the house.
She shook her head. "No. We have no time for niceties. You must make haste. The scales will tip tonight. Tomorrow is the equinox, and the balance must shift. What has long been set askew can be righted this night. The powers that once reigned will rise again. You must be present to bear witness, and you must do what you can to help the shift occur."
Riddles. It was always riddles with Grandmother Coyote. I didn't even bother to ask what she was talking about. I knew better. We'd find out the hard way. We always did.
I turned to Trenyth. "And what bad news are you bringing to the table? It's got to be bad in order for Queen Asteria to send you through the portal after she said she didn't want to risk your neck."
He sucked in a deep breath. "It is bad news. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but there's been a slipup. It's about Trillian…"
I began to breathe hard. "No… no…"
"Camille, listen to me—"
"Don't you dare…" A rush of energy raced through my body. My heart was beating so loud I could barely hear myself think. I began to shake.
"Trillian's—"
"No! He can't be dead!" I bit my lip, and blood poured into my mouth. This couldn't be happening—it was too much. It was all too much.
Delilah jumped behind me, shoring me up. Smoky was down the steps instantly, and I leaned against him.
Trenyth rushed to say, "He's not dead. His soul statue its unbroken." He shook his head, and my lungs gave a jump start, and I let out a ragged breath. "At least, he's not dead… yet."
I let out a strangled cough, and Smoky held me tighter. "What the fuck do you mean? Not dead yet? Was he wounded? Hurt? Just tell me what's wrong!"
