by Dianna Love
The same goddess who failed to support me even when I was doing her bidding. The same one who lifted not a finger to help me find Storm, then teleported him back to Atlanta, knowing VIPER was hunting him, even after he saved Brina’s life.
Evalle could spend hours listing all the things Macha had done to her, but she’d always assumed she was not worthy of Macha’s respect.
Now that she saw how Macha treated Tzader, Evalle had to accept a simple truth. None of them mattered to Macha beyond the service they provided. That left her with an empty feeling she hadn’t experienced since before she met Tzader and Quinn.
Looking physically drained and sounding emotionally bankrupt, Tzader said, “I just need a layout of Tŵr Medb and a way to teleport in.”
Evalle shook off her mangled thoughts to jump back in. “No, you need a tactical team that includes someone who knows the tower layout, plus someone who can teleport and someone who can break the curse on that throne.”
Storm leaned in on his elbows. “And since I know that means Evalle intends to be on that team, you’ll need me to cover everyone’s six.”
“Even better?” Evalle announced. “I have someone who can teleport us, plus Adrianna is the best chance we have at breaking a two-thousand-year-old curse.”
A new tension radiated from Storm. “Who can teleport a team between two realms?”
Quinn lifted his chin. “Yes, who is this person?”
Oh, crap. She’d stuck her foot ankle-deep in her mouth. “This is clearly a top-secret project, right?”
Tzader lifted both hands. “Everyone just hold it. You and Quinn haven’t realized something, Evalle. One of the conditions Ceartas laid out for me to gain the dragon’s help is that I can’t tell Macha about any of this. Entering Tŵr Medb and stealing the queen’s throne will come with repercussions. Going after that dragon without Macha’s consent will translate into me breaking my Belador vows in Macha’s eyes, because there’s every reason to believe the Medb will declare war. There is no way she’ll see my actions as anything except betraying the Beladors, and her.” He paused then added, “But she wouldn’t authorize my plan anyhow.”
He swept a tense gaze around the room before continuing. “I’m thinking that as long as I go alone, to avoid war, Macha will claim I was rogue, then point out that the Medb recently had a rogue warlock who wrongly accused Evalle of murder. She’ll call the incident a wash even if she can’t return the dragon. She might get away with diffusing a conflict if I’m the only one involved … and penalized.”
At one time, Evalle would have rushed into battle with no thought, because she’d support either Tzader or Quinn. No question.
Was she ready to break her vows?
Tzader was acting honorably, in Evalle’s opinion, but every Belador swore fealty to Macha and gave a vow of honor. The goddess had final say on guilt or innocence.
If Macha decided anyone had behaved dishonorably, she had the right to sanction that person with lethal force on the spot.
Judge, jury, and executioner.
Chapter 14
Evalle’s heart pumped so fast and loud it pounded in her ears. She couldn’t look at Tzader, Quinn, or Storm, who all sat quietly around the conference table, each probably lost in his own thoughts.
If she broke her vow to Macha, what would happen to Storm and Feenix? Macha could sanction family members as well, but Evalle and Storm were not married, and Feenix was not a blood relation.
Would Macha still go after them in a fit of vengeance? Would she blame Storm for Evalle’s rebellious attitude?
To be honest, that would be a fair accusation.
Until meeting Storm, Evalle had gone along with whatever was asked of her in order to keep peace and not rock the boat. But he’d shown Evalle her own worth, and that her needs were important. Now she wasn’t nearly as compliant as she had been.
And she was damned tired of being jerked around by one goddess or another. She felt Tristan’s words from earlier even more acutely now.
She’d told him she hated being treated like a second-class citizen, too. He’d scoffed at her, and thrown it back in her face that they weren’t even a recognized race.
Macha hadn’t lifted a finger to do a thing after a Tribunal, once again, manipulated Evalle into falling on the sword and accepting the position as gryphon liaison. If a Tribunal sent Evalle into Tŵr Medb to negotiate on behalf of the gryphons, Evalle would end up captured, and Macha would not lift a finger to save her. She knew this from experience.
Storm wrapped his fingers around her hand and leaned close, whispering, “Follow your heart, and I’ll follow you.”
Was he giving her his blessing for breaking her vows? Was she really going to do this?
Did she have a choice?
Not if she wanted to face herself in the mirror.
Hadn’t she said time and again that any or all of these three men would put their lives on the line for her? She would do no less for them. Storm knew she could never live with herself if she didn’t help Tzader now.
She told Storm, “I’m trying to figure out how to help Tzader and keep you and Feenix out of the backlash.”
“I can take care of myself, and I won’t allow anything to happen to you or Feenix. I know you have to do this. We’ll do it together.”
That was the man she loved.
Quinn stepped in. “I have information that may also influence your decision, Evalle.”
She shot Quinn an incredulous look. “That’s not necessary. I’m not allowing Tzader to go alone any more than I would allow you to do something like this alone. The three of us have always watched each other’s backs. We’ve held each other’s secrets since we met that night we were captured by the Medb. Of the three of us, I’m the only one who’s been inside Tŵr Medb. My hesitation has been from concern about Macha lashing out at everyone close to all of us. But I have full trust in Storm.”
Storm gave her hand another squeeze, letting her feel his pride over her belief in him.
Tzader wiped a hand over his face. “I don’t want any of you in this mess.”
“I understand,” Quinn replied. “But you and Evalle still don’t know—”
“It doesn’t matter, Quinn,” she said, getting ready to start planning. “I’ve made my decision. After hearing what Macha is doing to Tzader, I can only wonder where the rest of us stand with her. I’m certainly at the bottom of that list.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you,” Quinn said sharply, and with a hint of censure after being interrupted twice.
Cranky much? Evalle’s empathic senses picked up worry from Quinn, mixed in with his irritation. “Sorry. What did you have to say?”
Quinn clarified, “There is something else you have to know about, but I had intended to discuss it after this meeting. I found out just before I picked up Tzader and Lanna.”
“What the hell?” Tzader groused.
Quinn lifted a shoulder in his friend’s direction. “When I drove up, you looked as if you’d been run over a few times by a Mack truck. Telling you then wasn’t going to change anything. We needed the time while driving and eating for you and Lanna to catch me up to speed. I figured you could wait to hear yet another bit of disturbing news.”
Evalle drummed her fingers in a silent pattern on the table. “What news?”
Not happy spread across Quinn’s handsome face. “Trey contacted me. Macha sent word for him to have me arrange for Sen to teleport Evalle to Treoir immediately.”
Tzader and Evalle shouted, “What?”
Anger joined tension barreling off of Storm. “Why?”
Evalle leaned forward, hands curled into fists. “For how long?”
Quinn’s jaw quirked with an angry muscle twitch. “Macha has decided that since Evalle is a gryphon and their leader, she should reside permanently with the pack, not here in Atlanta dealing with human issues.”
Storm snapped, “Hell, no.”
Tzader looked stunned. “Was that a
ll?”
Quinn’s throat bobbed with a hard swallow. “Actually, no. Trey is no happier about this than I am. I told him I would come by to see Evalle myself, since this was not news to receive over the phone or via telepathy. He said Macha made the comment that she’d never approved for one of her gryphons to mate with any being, especially not a Skinwalker. Trey did his best to convince the goddess you were needed here, Evalle, and Macha took his head off. She told him you have until Sunday to present yourself to her at Treoir or suffer her wrath.”
Evalle’s world shifted. Macha thought she could snap her fingers and demand that Evalle walk away from Storm, Feenix, and everything that mattered to her?
Maybe at one time, when Evalle had been all alone.
Not anymore.
Storm was on his feet. He seared the air with curses in two languages and snarled, “She can’t have Evalle.”
Tzader stood and slammed his hand on the table. “This is my fault. Damn her goddess hide. It would be just like Macha to screw with Evalle and claim she’ll allow her occasional visits home if I give up all claim to Brina.”
Anger swept off of Storm in massive waves. “I’m done with Evalle dancing on Macha’s strings and for every other person’s demands.”
“We can’t allow Macha to do this to Evalle,” Quinn scowled, rising gracefully to stand.
This wasn’t the first time Evalle had been expected to sacrifice what mattered to her just to appease Macha.
She cared for every man in this room raving about the injustice to her, but she was no longer an abused teen trying to find her way in life.
Pushing up, Evalle shoved the chair back. She crossed her arms. “Anyone interested in my opinion?”
They quieted at once and turned to her, sitting again.
Taking a breath, she said, “I’ve been persecuted the entire time I’ve upheld my vows to Macha. That wasn’t good enough for her. When I was imprisoned beneath VIPER headquarters, she didn’t come to me to offer her support, as Tzader did. No, Macha came with an offer for my release if I did her bidding, which I did and, as usual, put my head on a chopping block with VIPER by doing so.”
Not pausing for commentary, she continued, “The only reason Macha put in the original petition for Alterants to be recognized as a race earlier last year was because she wanted control of them. Of us. She made it clear her offer was good only for those who swore fealty to her. The gryphons currently patrol Treoir Island, and yet she’s done nothing to push for the vote to recognize us as a race, because that means we could make our own decisions. She leaves all of our Beladors to fight her battles as the Medb infiltrate our world. We’re expected to put our lives on the line, even with our hands constantly tied by VIPER.”
Her gaze swept to Tzader. “And now Macha is willing to compel Brina to marry another man and not even allow Brina to realize she’s having your child. That’s abominable.” Evalle would never stand down if she were in Tzader’s shoes, and she would not step back while he went into battle alone. That’s what it meant to care deeply for another person. “I appreciate that you’re all willing to stand up for me, but I’m taking my own stand. I gave a vow of honor. I expect the same in return from the goddess and, in my way of thinking, Tzader’s proposal is based on honor.”
Evalle didn’t have to look at Storm.
All at once, she felt his burst of pride and love roll over her.
This was a scary step, but she’d been down similar paths with Macha, and had barely escaped with her skin more than once. If they could return Brina’s memories, Evalle believed Brina would stand firm about her relationship with Tzader, and would support her Beladors. Brina had asked for Evalle’s trust in the past and, unlike Macha, Brina had earned that trust more than once.
Now it was time for the Beladors to support their warrior queen, because Evalle saw no hope for any of them to have a life without Brina in power.
Returning to the topic, she settled in her chair again and nodded at Tzader. “You said Ceartas made the point that this war has gone on for thousands of years. From all I’ve heard since joining the Beladors, he’s right. The way I see it, we’re just the current pawns in a game between those two goddesses. I will not be sent back to Treoir as a prisoner, and no other gryphon should be forced to stay against his or her will. Once this is done, I’ll find a way to free them, too.”
Storm reached over and took her hand.
Evalle left no question about what she was saying. “Storm and I will go with Tzader to rescue that dragon to cure Brina, and to find out what he knows that we don’t about Queen Maeve’s plans ... and about Macha.”
Tzader said, “I believe this Ceartas. I think this dragon may be our only hope once Macha finds out what’s going on. He’s keen on Brina being protected at all costs. I don’t know why, but I’m banking on whatever he has up his sleeve to protect her ... and any of you who go with me. But that doesn’t change the fact that if Macha doesn’t see it the way we do, she has the right to take our lives and that of everyone in our families. I don’t have any more family, except Brina, but the rest of you do.”
Evalle said, “Understood.” She put a fist against her chest. “But we are the Beladors. Based on what you’ve said, the dragon is agreeing to support us for helping him and Brina. Who will support us once Macha takes full control of Brina? We have a choice and we have duties, but we have never agreed to blindly follow anyone. I’m willing to put my faith in Tzader and the dragon.”
Storm spoke up. “If this goes badly, I have a backup plan, and anyone involved in this will be welcome. I agree with Evalle, and am willing to join you for the chance that Brina can be restored to power so we can stay here. I don’t care where we live, but given a choice I know Evalle would rather stay here. That won’t happen if Macha is left unchecked.”
She squeezed his fingers.
Quinn had listened quietly. “I second everything Evalle and Storm have said. I, also, have had concerns about Macha for a long time, but I never wanted to create problems for the Beladors. I will not stand by while she hands Brina and your baby to another man, Tzader. I know you wouldn’t if our places were reversed. If Macha finds out that I have Kizira’s body in a mausoleum here in Oakland Cemetery, she’ll very likely consider that a broken vow as well, so I’m taking no new risk by joining you. My only concern would be leaving our Belador warriors without a Maistir while I’m gone. I can’t deal with Lanna right now, but neither do I want to send her home with her at risk from Grendal.”
Storm said, “Lanna will be safe here. The building is warded. Anyone can leave if there’s an emergency, but no one can scry inside or enter with malicious intent. But you still need to be the Maistir while we’re gone, Quinn. We’ll need the ground support back here at home. Someone who can cover for us.”
Quinn started to argue.
Tzader stood up, and everyone fell quiet. “As I said, I don’t want any of you going with me—”
“Can’t stop us,” Evalle pointed out.
Tzader gave her a stern look and added, “I know. I’m saying if you’re determined to be a part of this, then we need a plan. I will not do this half-assed and put you at risk any more than you obviously have to be.” He sent his next words in Quinn’s direction. “Storm’s right. We’ll need Queen Maeve and Cathbad drawn away from Tŵr Medb when we’re ready to teleport in. You’re the only person who has a chance of getting them out of that tower when it’s time.”
Pondering that a moment, Quinn said, “Yes, that would be key to a successful insertion. Dragging them into a Tribunal meeting should do it.”
Before they got strategizing further, Evalle said, “We have one more issue. That little critter in the corner is called Oskar. He’s a witch’s familiar. Lucien, Casper, and I found him with a bunch of kidnapped dogs tonight.”
They all took in the black-and-gray pile of shaggy hair for a moment before she continued. “I went to see Rowan. Oskar belongs to Mother Mattie, one of the white witch council members. Ro
wan thinks the Medb may be behind three missing white witches, and that they now have Mother Mattie. Rowan went to VIPER when the first one disappeared, and Sen said the Tribunal would not listen to her accusations unless the new witch council wanted to join the coalition.”
“That bugger Sen,” Quinn grumbled, echoing Evalle’s thoughts. “The whole point of creating the witch council was to keep them from having to join the coalition. VIPER makes exceptions for trolls, for crying out loud, but not witches who will support us?”
“Exactly,” Evalle said. “I need Storm to go with me to track a Noirre residue at Mattie’s house before we leave to free the dragon. Hopefully, we’ll find something that might give us a lead on where they’re holding Mattie, if the kidnapped witches are still in the human world.”
Tzader said, “Noirre residue is enough evidence to authorize a VIPER investigation.”
“Rowan doesn’t want to call them at this point,” Evalle explained. “She thinks it’s odd for the Noirre residue to be so obvious when the Medb clearly shielded their scent when they created demons. Even the creature we killed tonight had no Medb scent or any evidence of Noirre. She thinks the blatant Noirre clue is a trap, and the minute she shows that to VIPER the white witches will be accused of trying to frame the Medb.”
Storm murmured, “Could be. Keep in mind there could be another player. There’s always been a black market for that kind of majik, plus a lot of Noirre was traded during the beast championship on Cumberland Island.”
Now for the punch line. Evalle said, “We have a time issue. Mattie’s sister is a powerful Fae who is coming to see Mattie Saturday morning. At this point, the sister doesn’t know Mattie is missing. If we don’t find Mattie before this Caron visits, Caron will flatten the city.”
“Caron as in Caron of Sídhe Orlaith? That Fae is her sister?” Quinn asked, appalled.
