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"My victor!" she cried, her voice all lightness and cheer. "At last. I've been positivelydesperateto see you."
On Hywel's other side, Nimue's sister stood in brilliant shadow, smiling wryly at me and holding the hand of the third woman, a feline beauty with vast wings, her sphinx mate, Khepri. I decided then that of the two sisters, I preferred Morgana, or Magdalena, or whatever she wanted to be called. Nimue floated toward us, silver-blue gown billowing and fanning around her lithe frame with every step. She and Magdalena did have similar features aside from their coloring, but there was a kind of hunger in this fae that set me on edge, or perhaps I couldn't shake the gory vision of her in the cavern, clawing strength from me against my will.
I stepped forward, tugging Laszlo by the hand to stand behind me, and Nimue slowed, canny gaze narrowing.
I would've saved them, you know, a hiss in my head offered. Out loud, Nimue said to me, "You're quite unlike my other victors."
"I only meant to help the centicore," I said, frowning and remembering the way Excalibur had been pierced into the poor creature's side.
Nimue's smile flashed, bright and garish. "Small choices make grand changes in fate's wheel."
"Sister," Magdalena called, drawing the fae's attention away. "I leave for Star Manor. Why don't you join me? We're overdue a reunion."
Nimue laughed, and the sound was made of brittle bells. "Oh! What a clever thought. Why don't you let me play the part of one of your little human entertainments? I make a lovely whore!"
Magdalena winked at me briefly, and Khepri, the sphinx, gave her a nervous glance. "I'll consult the cards," Magdalena said smoothly.
"The cards," Nimue giggled. "How droll."
The room took a collective sigh as the fae left out the broad front door of the castle.
"I feel as though someone should send along a warning to the girls in the manor," Esther murmured, frowning.
* * *
It took days,but slowly the castle settled. Visitors came and went, bringing news of Birsha's allies who'd been lost or caught, the refugees of his houses and where they now rested, and recovered allies who were now safely free. Gradually, more left than arrived. Some, like Marius, never even appeared. He'd sent word instead from London, already reunited with Lillian and assuring Asterion that Grace House was safe and continued in good keeping.
"Will you sell Grace House or keep it?" I asked Asterion. I was learning to appreciate the ragged ends of his horns. They were especially sensitive, and the more I touched them, the more at ease he seemed to be with the loss.
He smiled and tightened his arm around my waist. I'd interrupted his latest meeting and locked the door behind me, and he hadn't even protested or claimed there was more to do.
Someone else can manage the trouble for a few hours, he'd said, and then pulled me onto his lap.
"I may gift it. Isabel's not done with it, and there's another…interested party who'd like to make it their home, I think," Asterion said with a sly smile. He bent his head to mine for a kiss and huffed as a knock on the door interrupted us. "Who is it?"
"Me," Conall called. "Hazel and Hunter and the others are readying to leave."
"Oh!" I climbed off Asterion's lap, flushing and accepting his help in cleaning me up enough to say our farewells.
Esther and her family had left two days prior, with a shocking number of hugs and a promise to host us all in Egypt as soon as we wanted. Amon had placed himself in my debt, and I'd whispered my request in his ear before saying goodbye. I didn't know if it was possible, but he'd looked thoughtful and nodded, and I could be patient enough to see how it played out.
I hurried directly to Hazel when we reached the great hall, a strange thrill in my heart as our arms wrapped around one another in a fierce hug. My friends before Birsha had mostly been human, and all of them were gone now. But Hazel was barely aging, and Esther had mentioned she was considering becoming a vampire, and I'd be very much surprised if Marius hadn't already determined several methods of making sure his wife lived a longer than human life span.
I had mates I could live my years out with, and now friends too. I released Hazel slowly, blushing when I realized how tightly I'd held her.
"I've kept in touch with the yew trees. All's well. They're eating away at the corruption faster than I expected," she said softly.
"There's nothing to worry about?" I whispered back.
She shook her head, smiling. "Magda—Mor—" She rolled her eyes and waved her hand. "Magdalena says there was nothing there to resurrect him with, just a bit of nasty residue, and that's fading quickly."
I sighed and nodded. "Good."
"Verygood. I…I hope you'll come to London soon. Come to the theater," she added, grinning. "You'll love that. A proper feast for you by the end of the first act."
Promises of visits were exchanged, more hugs—dozens of hugs, it seemed—and then Hazel and her men slowly peeled away, waving goodbye as we remained at the castle doors, watching them climb into their carriage.
I held my breath as they bumped along the road, under the cover of the woods. Warm shadows and gentle hands surrounded my back, that first real taste of the peace we'd been promising ourselves settling in the air.
