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Camille jerked her head up. Smoky stared at Queen Asteria as if she’d just grown a second head. And I…I did a spit-take, cake crumbs spewing out of my mouth.
Chase grabbed my hand and squeezed it so hard I almost flinched. “Can…is it possible?”
Queen Asteria glanced at Trenyth. “While I talk to Delilah and her sister, please escort Chase to meet the elf who fathered his bloodline?” And before we could say a word, Trenyth had swept Chase away, through one of the doors, to meet his past.
While Chase was off learning about his distant past, we filled Queen Asteria in on what had been happening in the recent present, with Van, Jaycee, and the Tregarts. I reluctantly revealed the fact that Wilbur had been spying on us, keeping a journal, and that—although he wasn’t a traitor—our info, including the fact that Queen Asteria had the spirit seals, may have found its way to Shadow Wing.
The Queen sighed. “This is sorry news. If Shadow Wing breaks through to Otherworld, we’ll be the first stop on his journey. And even if he does not, surely he’ll enlist the goblins or the ogres or perhaps the sorcerers down in the Southern Wastes to do his dirty work for him.”
“That was our fear. Jaycee is dead. We’re going after Van and Newkirk tonight. If we win, we’ll have another spirit seal to bring to you. If not…then who knows what the hell will happen to it?” I kicked the floor. “What about the Keraastar Knights? You said they were going to be able to help us repair the portals?”
“Not until we have all seven knights. Nine—with nine seals—would be best. But for now, we have only five. I found a match for one of the spirit seals not possessed by Ben, Venus, and Amber. In fact, Amber’s brother Luke possesses the spark…so he has become one of our knights along with his sister. But the fifth seal, it is waiting for the right person—for the right knight to come along. By the way—Amber had her baby and she has a healthy, happy little girl. As to whether the spirit seal’s powers may have altered her in the womb, we aren’t sure. We won’t know what to expect until she grows up and has her first moon-time transformation to werewolf.”
The Keraastar Knights were a society that Queen Asteria had formed, composed of some of those who had possessed the spirit seals. She’d summoned them to Elqaneve and taken them in to train with her mages. For what purpose, we weren’t clear, and she wasn’t taking questions. My sisters and I didn’t think it was such a good idea, but till now, we hadn’t questioned her plan.
“Do you really think this is wise?” Even though it was a serious breach of protocol to express doubt, I couldn’t help it. “Queen Asteria, we’re worried. The spirit seals corrupt—they aren’t evil, but they corrupt and twist the mortals who try to wield them.”
Camille gave me a frantic look but then came to my defense before the Queen could speak. “Please, don’t be angry. But Delilah’s right. We are worried. You, yourself, told us that the spirit seals aren’t trifles or baubles, and they should be hidden away. We’ve seen what they can do—”
“Stop.” Asteria held up her hand. “No more doubt. Trust me, my girls. Trust me and have faith. And…for what it’s worth, rest easy. The true nature of my plan…that is hidden from everyone, regardless of what you think you know. There is no one to betray me because no one except the Hags of Fate knows the truth of the matter.”
That meant that King Uppala-Dahns and Queen Tanaquar didn’t know as much as they thought they knew.
Camille gently shook her head at me. We’d expressed our concerns. And that was all we could do.
“We have to leave soon. We just needed to warn you. Keep watch to the Goblin lands, and to the other Cryptos. Who knows what the Tregarts have been up to?” I stood, looking for Chase.
“Your detective will be out shortly. Fear not. We will keep the watchtowers lit and active. And the grapevine runs in my favor. Now go home and do your best to corral this new threat. I will send more guards to watch over your house.”
As Chase reappeared, a bemused and easy look on his face, we stood. After we made polite leave, Trenyth escorted us out and back to the portals. But I couldn’t help but feel that giving the spirit seals to the knights instead of locking them away was a huge mistake, and I knew Camille thought it so.
As we hugged Trenyth good-bye and stepped through the portal, I hoped to hell that the Queen wasn’t making a mistake that could bring down both of our worlds.
Chapter 21
Chase wasn’t talking about his experience yet. I was curious, but Camille and I’d agreed we wouldn’t push him. There was so much for him to accept. First with the Nectar of Life, and now this. He’d never met his birth father, but now he’d met the father of his family line, the line through which his mother was born. And that had to be huge.
By the time we got home—Chase accompanying us—it was nearing sundown. We had time to eat and rest for an hour or so before heading out.
Hanna was cooking dinner and Marion was helping her. Marion confirmed that all her kids were fine, which was a relief, and that she and Douglas had talked it over and decided to rebuild after all the mess was cleaned up. She glanced at me, and I saw in her eyes that all thought of divorce was gone. Somehow, the threat to their lives had rekindled whatever it was they thought was lost.
“We’re not letting the Koyanni push us out.” She gave me a cold smile, and her teeth suddenly looked sharp and vicious. “I’m not a pushover. They killed Trixie, they took my house, they burned my café. It ends here.”
I patted her arm. “I understand. Hopefully, it will end tonight. Meanwhile you are welcome to stay here as long as you need to.”
“I’ve got all your gear ready. Go take showers and get dressed.” Roz had laid out all our weapons in the living room.
After we showered, Hanna put dinner on the table. Her cooking wasn’t as good as Iris’s, but she made a mean pea soup—thick and hearty—with smoked sausage that had been fried up with onions and garlic.
We gathered around the table. Morio started to set up the computer, but Hanna shook her head. “Food first. You have time after you sup to go over your plans. Now—sit. Eat.”
I snickered. Hanna was getting more comfortable in her place with the family, and now that Iris was on her honeymoon, she seemed to be blossoming out. When Iris was around, Hanna was careful never to step on toes—she respected Iris’s place in the hierarchy. But now, she seemed to be growing into her place in our home.
Trillian laughed. “The cook makes the rules.” He winked at Hanna and she blushed. Her hair was the color of spun wheat, pulled back in a braid that reached her shoulders. Though she showed her age—and maybe a little more—from the years serving Hyto, she was still an attractive woman. She would have been close to forty if she’d been human, and her eyes were a warm hazel.
Hanna reached for the breadbasket, but Roz jumped up and took it from her. “Let me help you.” He touched her arm, lightly, as he took the breadbasket from her and set it down on the table. She gave him a shy smile, and he returned it. It was almost as if…no…they couldn’t be sleeping together. Could they?
Roz was an incubus; he wasn’t capable of sticking to one woman. But then again, Hanna didn’t seem interested in settling down, either. In fact, she was learning new traditions, trying to adapt to a world unlike any she’d ever seen before.
