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Iwas apprehensive about the fight, despite verbal bravado, so when Iggy raised a hand to stop us, I tensed. “What?”
He read the paper silently, glanced at Beatrice, and scowled again. “You won’t like it.”
“Howmuchwon’t I like it?” I looked around at the apprehension on everyone’s face.
“No steel, silver, brass, bronze, or gold in the casting zone,” Iggy announced, holding the paper out as if the words on it were still visible. “No magic allowed other than the spell itself.”
“The fuck . . . Seriously?” I reached for the paper, as Beatriceflowedforward to do the same.
“We’ll die,” Marcus said, staring at Eli, and clutching the sword in his hand already. “One of us ought to stay back, Eli. If we both perish . . .”
Eli shook his head. “We fight. Together we are strong. . . or have you forgotten?”
I knew better than to believe that this was simply about the throne. Marcus loved a good fight. He’d merrily charged into violence at my side last summer, but it was different to fight unarmed. It was harder to fight when there was a chance of love waiting at home. And I knew that Marcus thought what he could have with Allie was the sort of love that bards spoke of and poets dreamed of.
“I get it,” I said, deciding honesty was worth the fact that it looked like I was agreeing with the knob who had left me to drown and be electrocuted at Chester’s word. “I feel naked without my swords or necromancy. I was submerged, electrocuted, and certain of death a few days ago. I was again faced with a certainty of death when Chester found us in Scotland. I literally had to walk under the frigid waves and ignore the memory of near downing . . . I understand your fear.”
Marcus looked at me. “I do not wish you death. I cannot sacrificeElphame, though. If we both go there, if we both fail . . . my people.Ephame. What will happen?”
“Another will rise and take the throne, Marcus. But bowing to a bully once means they know you’ll bow next time, too.” I shrugged. “Rather dead than subservient is pretty much my stance.”
“Agreed.” Beatrice preened. “That’s mydescendent.Murder us? Fine. Break us? Never.”
As far as family mottos went, it could use some work. I wasn’t keen on being murdered as a matter of fact, but I understood the sentiment.
I deposited my weapons on the sofa, and then I turned to the hillbilly crew. “You’re coming. I need you to keep the nuns at bay and out of the spell zone.”
“Night vision goggles!” a cousin called. “We have extras if you—”
“Most of us see in the dark,” I interrupted.
“Predator,” Beatrice said with a shrug.
I glanced at Iggy, who accepted a pair of goggles. Eli and Marcus had no need. And while I couldn’t use necromancy, I was still a mix of things. I had speed, strength, and I had a living and a dead army at my back, especially since Marcus would bring fae fighters and Beatrice had sent summons to thedraugr.
“Onlyusin the spell zone,” Iggy reiterated. “No one else enters there. Weapon check. Even a tiny knife is not allowed.” He nodded at the cousins. “You may arm yourself to the teeth, but do not approach any of us even if we are dying.”
Ike and Harlow exchanged a look. Then they looked at the rest of their family. Finally, Harlow says, “Cousin Al won’t like it if the boss lady dies.”
“I dare say she wouldn’t want any of us to die,” Marcus grumbled.
One of the quieter cousins scoffed. “Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure about that. She ranted about you for hours. We took shifts listening.”
“Weapon check,” Iggy said again.
It was the opposite of the sort of weapon check I liked, most everyone stripping off assorted guns, daggers, and swords. I preferred gearing up to gearing down, but I had to trust the spell. Nothing else stopped Chester, so we were gambling on ancient magic.
“This better work,” I muttered.
“He’s killed two of us, tortured more, and no other weapon has stopped him.” Iggy stared at me. “I have taught you so you could run, hide, escape, somynewfound desire to confront him nowwithout these metal things should comfort you.”
Marcus cleared his throat and offered, “We can pass throughElphameto reach the battleground.” He caught Beatrice’s eye and added, “All of us.”
It was an olive branch, one that was unheard of. He hadn’t even allowed her into the land of the fae for my wedding. I watched my great-times-great grandmother to gauge her reaction.
Ever the imperious one, she merely made a “commence” gesture. Apparently, it would take more than a heretofore unheard-of offer to appease her level of anger. I guessed that the fae weren’t the only species capable of long grudge-holding.
Marcus opened a slice in the air, and once we were inElphame,he did the same again. One-by-one our group entered the conflict. Beatrice led, with Eli behind her, Marcus next, the fae who were fighting, then the cousins and Iggy, and lastly, I stepped forward.
