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Now, to figure out how the hell to get out of the woods. I was getting tired—oh, so tired—and though I was still worried about Morio, I was also worried about myself. While I doubted there would be anything terribly dangerous in terms of magical beings or traps in these woods, there might be mountain lions or a bear, and they did not enjoy having their space invaded.
Thoroughly exhausted, chilled, and quickly losing patience, I limped around a stand of fir and suddenly found myself on a path.
“Oh thank the gods…this has to take me somewhere.” Breathing a little easier, I headed in the direction I thought would most likely take me back to the palace and the heart of Talamh Lonrach Oll.
All the while, I kept calling for Morio, but my throat was raw and my words sounded more like a croak. The farther I went down the path, the lighter the sky was getting. Was it almost morning? I was so tired that I couldn’t tell how long had passed, but the warm, delicious afterglow from the sex had long faded, and even my thoughts and irritations at Bran had diminished. I just wanted to go home to my own bed and sleep for a dozen hours.
Hobbling unsteadily on my feet, I finally listed to the side one too many times and went crashing down in a pile of ivy. As I sat there, brushing off the pinky-nail-sized jumping spiders that came running out to see who had just destroyed their hiding places, I thought that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad just to sit down here, rest for a while. Not in spider-patch central, of course, but up against the nice trunk of a tree or maybe a boulder.
Forcing myself back to my feet, I brushed off the last of the startled arachnids and looked around for a likely bunk buddy. There—up ahead, a flat stone on the side of the road, big enough to sit on. Hell, it was big enough to lie on, if I curled up. That was invitation enough. Morio was a demon—a youkai-kitsune. He could take care of himself. And Aeval, well, if she’d wanted me to wait in the glade, she should have told me.
Exhausted, I hobbled over to the boulder and slipped up on top of it, leaning back with a long sigh. It felt so good to sit down, and not in the middle of a briar patch. I folded my feet in a cross-legged position and lay back, hands under my head, staring at the sky. The stars were still glowing, but the sky was growing lighter, and with a deep breath, I closed my eyes.
I was almost asleep when I noticed a noise. Forcing myself to a sitting position, I yawned and looked around. The woods were just full of visitors tonight, I thought. For, out from behind a giant fir tree, stepped a woman.
Tall and imposing, she had the palest skin, blue-black hair, and the reddest lips I’d ever seen. Her breasts crested abundantly over the top of her corset dress, and she circled me, smiling coyly.
“Well met, again, Camille. I’m sure you’ve met my son by now?”
At that moment, I realized that I had to have strayed out of Talamh Lonrach Oll, because even though Aeval had invited Bran, I knew she would never invite this woman to touch the soil of the Sovereign Nation.
Cautiously, I eased myself into full sitting position, wondering what the hell was going to happen next. I’d never been alone with her, and I didn’t want to. Because, inadvertent ally or not, Raven Mother scared the hell out of me.
Chapter 10
Raven Mother stood there, left arm crossed across her chest to hold her right elbow as she cupped her chin. She eyed me, waiting.
Unsure of how to proceed, I slid to the edge of the boulder and hung my feet over. I was too tired for games, but I had to be cautious. Raven Mother was one of the great Tricksters. And she was one of the Immortals. She was also the consort of the Black Unicorn, so I had to show her respect, but I also had to make certain I didn’t say or do anything that might suggest that she had a hold on me later. Raven Mother had expressed an interest in my coming to live with her in Darkynwyrd and joining her court, and that was the last thing I wanted.
When in doubt, say nothing. I yawned, covering my mouth.
“Tired, are we, young Moon Witch? Tired and weary, perhaps? Oh, pardon me,” she added, a feral smile on her lips. “I mean Priestess Camille.”
I could see Bran in her features—he was his mother’s son, all right. A thought ran through my head as I tried to picture just how the Black Unicorn and Raven Mother had managed to reproduce, but some of the possibilities were too scary to consider. Seeing that they were both Immortals, I decided that whatever the truth, I probably didn’t want to know.
I nodded. “Yes, I am tired. I am trying to find my way back to the palace.” I didn’t like admitting I was lost, but it was obvious that I was exhausted, and attempting to lie my way out of why I was sitting here on a big rock, in the middle of the woods, attempting to take a nap, wasn’t going to fly.
Raven Mother shifted, and she slipped her hands into hidden pockets on her flowing skirt. She sauntered up to me. I continued to sit on the boulder, too tired to stand and show the proper respect. Usually, I was the first to curtsey or bow or whatever the situation required, but right now? Not so much.
“So, the little priestess lost her way in the woods? A red cloak, yes, you should be wearing. And a red hood, should you not?” And she laughed then, rich and throaty, and I found myself fixating on her gorgeous lips. They were full and pouty, and mesmerizing.
She reached my side and looked down at me—Raven Mother was incredibly tall and bigger than life. She was vivid in an almost unnatural way. As she stared into my face, I forced myself to sit still.
“Oh, my lovely. My lovely Camille, the Moon Mother does choose the most delicious for her Order. You have met my son. My offer still stands. Come away, my lovely, and join me, and my son would be happy to attend you. Dragons and foxes are fine, but they are not of our woodland magic. You may bring your Charming one, of course. Svartans thrive in Darkynwyrd.”
I sighed. Would she try to woo me away every time we met? And the thought of Bran attending me gave me the creeps. But…not a good idea to tell her that I found her boy less than appealing. Still, my irritation spilled over.
“You know my pledge is to the Moon Mother. Would you have me break one oath to form a new one? I am no warlock. I am no oath-breaker.”
Her eyes narrowed, staring at me with beady focus. Oh fuck. What the hell did I just do? She let out a slow breath, and I smelled worms and soil and early autumn’s touch. I blinked, trying to focus on my feet as the morning light began to shimmer brighter. But I couldn’t keep my gaze off her face.
“Morning light, it attends us soon,” Raven Mother said, her voice shrill and curt.
“Um, yeah. Looks that way.” I had no clue what to say, except for the fact that she was right—it was almost morning. Menolly would be going to sleep soon. And if Morio didn’t show up soon, I was really going to freak. That was, if Raven Mother decided not to peck out my eyes for my insolence.
But after a moment of staring me down, she looked up at the sky and let out a long laugh. “Oh, my lovely, you are a conundrum. Well, then. Since you still refuse to join me, I suppose I will muffle my disappointment and show you the way back to your precious Aeval. Someday, though, young witch, you will realize your destiny lies with me, and you will come join me in the delights of the dark forest, and dance your nights away under the sparkling stars.”
She backed up. “I will lead you. Follow, as the raven flies.”
