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My sisters and I let out a cheer, but Queen Asteria held up her hand. “Lethesanar is on the run, but she and her armies are murdering everyone in her path as she attempts her escape. The city is burning. She decided to raze it rather than hand it over to her sister.”
My stomach lurched, and Camille blanched. Menolly stared at the Elfin Queen, her eyes dripping bloody tears. Our home, our beautiful home. Our family was missing, and now the city of our youth lay in ruins.
Camille let out a long breath. “At least Tanaquar has taken the city. If she can destroy Lethesanar, then perhaps Y’Elestrial can be rebuilt.”
Queen Asteria nodded. “Yes, it’s very good news indeed. Though there has been so much destruction that it will take a long time before Y’Elestrial returns to its former glory.”
“Will Tanaquar help us out, when she gets the city back to order?” Menolly leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Or are we still on our own?”
Queen Asteria let out a long sigh. “The death threat on your head has been rescinded, but the OIA will be a long time in reforming. Tanaquar made it quite clear she intends to overhaul the entire structure of the government. I’ve tried to impress upon her the gravity of the situation, but she is as strong-willed as her sister. And . . . there’s something else. Something that may present a problem in the future.”
She paused and looked over at Camille. “My dear, I know you did as the Hags of Fate required, but the fact that you broke the spell holding Aeval in stasis is causing quite the concern, as is the fact that you now bear the horn of the Black Unicorn. I’ve kept both bits of news quiet, but somehow, rumors have filtered back to Otherworld. You and your sisters—but especially you—are fueling debates all through the cities there.”
Camille flushed, looking so downcast that I wanted to wrap my arms around her and hug away the pain.
“Wonderful,” I said. “We’re over here busting our asses to protect our home, and we’re being singled out for controversy? Let them put their pussies on the line and see how quickly they talk.”
Queen Asteria smiled at me. “Easy, child. While only the Elemental Lords and the great Sidhe lords who commenced the Great Divide can punish Camille for breaking their spell, there are magicians aplenty who wonder how to claim her powers for themselves. You must all be careful. The enemy is no longer just the foe you see in front of you. It might just be the friend you thought was backing you up.”
“You see?” Aeval said, shaking her head. “This is the thanks you get from those who ran away. Stay here, you are part of our world, too.”
“Hush!” Queen Asteria rose and glared at the Queen of Darkness. “Be silent. Quit making things worse. These are but tidings I bring. My main reason for coming is to discuss how we can make a concerted effort to help these girls in their fight against the demons. They seem destined to lead the army against the damned, so we must back them up.”
Aeval let out a long sigh. “Oh very well. We’ll put aside petty grievances for now. I will speak for the Triple Threat.” Here she gave us all a dark smile. It was my turn to blush.
“Come the summer solstice, we play host to the first gathering of Earthside Fae this world has seen in thousands of years. At that time, we will coronate the new Courts and establish our sovereign state. We will align ourselves with no one nation but will fight against any foe who might seek to harm this world.”
Titania smoothed her hair and flashed a gracious smile around the room. “In return, we’ve claimed autonomy. We’ve purchased a parcel of land on which to establish our palace within this dimension, and it will host our sovereign state. While most of our work is done between the worlds, our land will be considered sanctuary for the Fae, and we will be choosing an ambassador to represent us to the world.”
Everybody broke into conversation at once.
Titania rose, holding up her hand. “Our Fae militia will also be at your service, should you need it. We intend to host both magical and military brigades. Think of us as a Special Forces unit. The warriors will be connected to the FH-CSI, by the way. So, Detective Johnson, you may have reserves at hand sooner than you think.”
The room grew silent as we digested all of this. My heart began to soar. Good news at last. One month, and we’d have allies. One month, and we’d have help to fall back on.
Queen Asteria broke into a smile then. “I have another tiding to add. As soon I can make arrangements, we will be sending over more of our people from Elqaneve to work in the medical unit here. I’ll also be assigning an ambassador to Earthside on a permanent basis. And so will Tanaquar. Meanwhile, she bade me to introduce you to her new chief advisor.”
Why would Tanaquar want us to meet her advisor? Unless we were going to be reporting to him.
Trenyth glanced at the Queen. “May I have the honor, Your Majesty?”
“Of course,” she said, gracefully resuming her seat.
Trenyth turned to Camille, Menolly, and me, beaming. “After all the bad news I’ve brought you, it gives me the greatest pleasure to introduce you to the man who will be working alongside the new Court and Crown of Y’Elestrial.”
Smoky silently walked over and opened the door.
A man stepped through, clad in the rich blue and gold of Y’Elestrial. As he pulled back the hood of his cape, Camille gave a little scream, and Menolly’s eyes widened. I rose, unable to believe what I was seeing. As my gaze fastened on the face of my father, I trembled and started to cry.
“Delilah—what is it—” Chase started to say as I broke away and raced across the room. All three of us converged on him, though Menolly hung back, waiting. He caught Camille and me in his arms, looking weary and tired but alive. His hair was tied back in the raven-blue braid he always wore it in, and his smooth cheeks gleamed with tears.
“My girls. My girls. Oh how I’ve worried . . .”
I buried my face on his shoulder, never wanting to let go. Father was here. Father was alive and safe, and everything was going to be all right.
After a moment, he let go and stepped forward, staring at Menolly. Bloody tears stained her face as they trickled from her eyes. Our father—Sephreh ob Tanu—had always hated vampires. In fact, he despised them. When we parted, his relationship with Menolly had been strained. He wanted to love her, but we’d all seen the struggle in his face.
But now he hung his head and held out his arms.
