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“He indicated we’d better get out of the house if we didn’t want to be . . . how did he put it? Cannon fodder. He told us to bring you a message, Lord Smoky.”
Smoky looked seconds away from losing his cool. I took his hand in mine and held it tightly. He glanced down at me and I stepped closer to him, the barrow suddenly feeling all too exposed.
“He said to tell you that your sire is coming, and if you don’t want to see the surrounding area razed, you are to meet him in the clearing yonder—with Camille—tomorrow morning at dawn. If you don’t show up, then Hyto will begin to systematically destroy all the houses and humans around the area. And then he vanished.”
My breath caught in my chest, and the collar around my neck began to pulse. I reached for it, trying to yank it off, but it just throbbed, slow and steady, and I couldn’t breathe. I fell to my knees, gasping for air, the room spinning.
“Move, move and give her space,” someone said.
“Get out of the way!”
“Let me in there.”
The words became a whirl as I fought for control, fought for consciousness. Hands lifted me and I wasn’t sure where they were taking me, but I found myself in a dark hall, staring down a long corridor. Behind me, Smoky and Trillian begged me to open my eyes, but something from the darkness beckoned and I felt that I had to go ahead, follow the trail of twinkling lights that spread out in front of me.
I teetered on the edge of a black, vast abyss, and then went spiraling into it, head first, swan-diving into dark sparkling night.
The sparkles floated, dancing through the darkness, whispering my name. They dove and whirled, spun in a vortex of delight, shivered around me and through me as they swept me into their midst.
Come, come . . . follow our trail . . . follow us into the grove . . .
I hesitated, then—feeling no sense of Hyto nearby—decided to do as they asked. I’d reached the point where I had to run on instinct because I was certainly not in control of my life anymore. Everyone else was taking a bite out of me; maybe if I just gave in and did what they wanted, everything would be okay. Hell, the damned collar around my neck was proof that I no longer could count my life my own—not until it was off.
Allowing the sparkles to drag me along, I found myself almost giddy. I finally wasn’t fighting. I was giving in—letting the universe do what it would. Even though I was afraid, whatever happened would happen and I could only react. There was no control here to fight for.
The sparkles led me through the dark until I could see a ring of trees ahead. Were we outside? Inside? I didn’t know, but I followed the lights and suddenly found myself outside under the night sky.
The moon was still waning, a shadow in the night. She turned her face to me and smiled down onto the snow, through the icy chill. The sparkling mantle of white stretched through the silhouette of a woodland, mirroring the glittering stars that shone overhead. I could hear the beat of the land, the pulse of the magic that filled the area, and a whisper of elements swirled around me, a cacophony on the wind, weaving a dance as I approached the center of this mysterious glade.
I caught up my breath, squinting, curious as to where I’d been led. But then my questions were answered, for out of the towering trees stepped a figure tall as the sky, tall as a building. He stood astride two cloven hooves, his cock and balls enormous pendulums between his furry legs. His torso, gleaming under what light there was, led to a high and noble bearded chin, and atop a head of cascading locks, two spiraling horns rose high into the night.
“Herne,” I whispered, going down on one knee. When in the presence of a god—kneel.
His son, Tra, danced around him, piping a melody that ricocheted through my core, hitting my blood like silver wine, and I longed to follow it into the forest. I laughed, feeling awash in sight and sound and the touch of velvet magic on my skin.
“My daughter.” Out from behind one of the trees stepped my Lady, clad in a white gown that barely covered her thighs. Her breasts were full and ripe, heavy under her gown, her nipples raised with arousal. Herne held out his arm and she slid into his embrace. I caught my breath, the scent of their desire making me ache to join them.
“My Lady . . .” What could I say? What was I supposed to say? I greedily soaked in the energy, basking in their presence. I could become a living statue, stay here forever, root deep into the forest and let the ivy grow wild over me.
“You need our strength, my child.” The Moon Mother stepped over to me and gazed down, her eyes filled with sorrow. “I did what I could to help while you were in the dragon’s grasp. He is crafty, that one, and old, and treacherous.”
I nodded, tugging at my collar. “Can you release this for me?”
She pressed her lips together, shaking her head. “I would, but I cannot. Freeing yourself from his slavery is woven in the hands of your personal destiny, and not even the gods can challenge the Hags of Fate. There is a reason this has all happened to you, my dear, even if you do not see it now. Walk through the fire, and you will be far stronger than those who have tried to subjugate you.”
Nodding, I let her words ripple through me. No one—not the gods, not mighty heroes, and certainly not mortals—could win against the Hags of Fate. And the Hags of Fate worked within the balance of the realms, of the worlds.
They were the law of the universe, bringing chaos when order reigned too strong, enforcing law when chaos reigned supreme. I accepted the natural balance of life. Shadow and light, both had their place. Even when it hurt.
“What can you do for me, if anything?” I did my best not to sound expectant. Unlike many, I didn’t expect the gods to help me out of rough situations. That wasn’t their job. But I would happily accept all the help they could give if it meant getting even with the Big Bads. Especially Hyto.
The Moon Mother reached down and stroked my face, and the welts on my cheek vanished. She motioned for me to disrobe, and I did. A stroke from her hands and—though the bruises remained—they weren’t nearly so painful. A gentle palm between my legs, fingers rippling over the raw skin and abrasions Hyto had left me with, and their pain, too, faded, and I began to breathe easier. She then kissed my forehead and a river of silver began to run through me, filling me like summer rain. I reveled in the healing waters of her magic, soaking it in, bathing in the glimmering mist that foamed up around me.
“My daughter, listen to me. Sometimes when you give up control, you actually take control. Sometimes letting go means taking the lead. And sometimes fear is the only control someone has over us. Whatever happens, you are my child, and I am deep in your heart. You are my priestess. Kneeling in body can be a shallow gesture—kneel in your heart before those who deserve it. The Hytos of this world don’t need to know the difference—let them be damned.”
As she turned me toward the path, she leaned down and whispered, “Sex is my passion. Herne is one of my mates. Never let anybody take that passion away from you. They may abuse your body, but they cannot own your soul. Because I have first claim on it. And I yield my priestesses to no one.”
I found myself, cleansed and recharged, back on the path, following the trail of sparkles, down the tunnel.
