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“A kiss for love,” she whispered. “Now let’s go congratulate the grooms.”
CHAPTER 29
The next night was Litha, the summer solstice, and our attendance was required—as both emissaries for Otherworld and relatives of Morgaine.
We were in our best ritual wear. Camille’s tattoo on the back of her left shoulder that marked her as one of the Moon Mother’s daughters glowed with a silver light. She was wearing a long, strapless dress that swept out from her waist into a wash of sparkling gauze.
Delilah was dressed in her finest tunic and leggings, with Lysanthra strapped to her leg. The black scythe tattoo on her forehead glimmered with streaks of orange fire.
I’d opted for a long, crimson dress and for the first time in years, my hair shrouded me in a cascade of curls. I still wasn’t sure about the new me, but at least for tonight, I’d wear it down.
The gathering of Earthside and OW Fae was on a thousand-acre preserve that the Fae Queens had bought northeast of Seattle. The land was a haven of fir and cedar, oak and maple and huckleberry, and winding blackberry vines. Situated among the foothills of the Cascades, it was easy to find and yet out of the way enough to avoid being swallowed up by the cities.
I knew the Fae Queens were actively buying up as many smaller parcels of land around the central preserve as possible. Titania was in the process of moving her barrow to the land, and soon Smoky would be free from her meddling. He was so grateful he’d agreed to attend the gathering along with Camille and Morio.
While the werepumas had opted to stay home, Chase had accompanied Delilah, which I found slightly perturbing. The detective didn’t realize how dangerous it could be for a human to hang out in Fae central. Of course, a couple ambassadors from the mortal world were here, too—officials from several governments who had first been set up to deal with the incoming visitors from OW. Now they found themselves sharing their own world with Earthside Fae, and the balance was shifting again.
FBH pagans and witches had petitioned to join the gathering, and a select few had been allowed, but for the most part, those attending were Seelie and Unseelie blood, and the dryads, floraeds, sprites, and sylphs. Naiads and undines lounged in the lake along with the selkies of the Puget Sound Harbor Seal Pod.
The trees here had been woken up, I thought as I wandered around the perimeter of the vast lea in which we all stood. The trees, the land, the lake situated on the land—they were all sentient and aware. From every corner and niche the nature spirits were watching us, vibrant and joyful and feral and dark. The summer solstice was the shortest night of the year, and we were balancing on the cusp of a new era.
Tonight, the Fae Queens would officially ascend to the throne. I glanced over at the stage where the crowning would take place. Queen Asteria was there, and beside her stood our father, who had come over as an ambassador for Y’Elestrial. Feddrah-Dahns was there, an emissary from the Dahns Unicorn Herd, and several other regal presences were hanging out with them.
A loud trumpeting filled the air, and I wandered over to the court where Delilah and Camille were talking in low tones with Father. He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.
We’d had a little time to talk since he arrived, and for the first time, I suspected he meant what he said. He’d accepted me as I was, vampire and all. He was a handsome man, and part of me, remembering Jason and Tim’s wedding, wished that he’d look for love again. Mother’s death had hit him hard.
“Menolly, I’m glad you’re here. Before the crowning, Morgaine has something to say to you—to all you girls.” He stepped back, a frown on his face. I could sense that he wasn’t happy with whatever it was, but he remained silent.
Morgaine swept up, a cloud of lavender and silver, black and indigo. As Queen of Dusk, she’d be ruling over the time between daylight and night, and her court would run under the perpetual twilight.
“Good, you’re finally here,” she said, looking at all of us. “We have to talk before the coronation.” Her nephew Mordred joined her, scowling. He didn’t like us—any of us—that much was clear, but he inclined his head in a haughty, polite manner, and let out a little huff.
“Have they decided yet, Aunt?” he asked.
“Decided what?” Camille asked.
Morgaine ran her gaze over us. “You girls stand between worlds, as do I. Only you stand between three worlds—the world of mortals, the world of Y’Eírialiastar, and the world of the Earthside Fae.”
It had been some time since we’d heard the Sidhe name for Otherworld, and her use of it took me by surprise for a moment.
Morgaine noticed and smiled. “The humans’ word for your world cannot begin to encompass the beauty there. I give it due honor.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” I said. Relative or not, no matter how distant or close the connection, I didn’t trust her. I never had, and I never would.
She let out a small sigh. “You must make a choice tonight.”
“Choice? What are you talking about?” Camille asked.
Morgaine’s smile turned cunning, and I took a step back. She wasn’t on our side. She wasn’t on anybody’s side but her own.
“I offer to you seats in my court. You are my flesh and blood, no matter the centuries that passed between our births or the fact that you were born in Y’Eírialiastar and I was born Earthside. We are still kin, and I offer you the title of princesses in my court.”
She glanced up at Mordred. “Mordred is my heir apparent, but should he not produce a child of his own, you would be in line for the throne of Queen of Dusk. Camille first, and then Delilah.” She turned to me. “While I can offer you a seat in the Court of Dusk, I can never offer you the chance to rule, since you can no longer have children.”
Camille and Delilah gasped, but I just studied Morgaine, wondering what the catch was. “What do we have to do for this honor?”
Morgaine winked at me. “It’s very simple, my girls. You renounce Y’Eírialiastar and pledge yourself Earthside. You resign all your commissions over in Otherworld—except, of course, those that bind you to the gods—and you take up duties in my court.” She leaned in close. “You would still be fighting the demons, but for me. For us. For all the Earthside Fae.”
