by Amy Sumida
“Then bring him in as soon as you find him, Head Councilman, because we have enough evidence to convict Barra of crimes against his own people,” I said.
“I don't know if we are allowed to arrest a fairy for crimes against other fairies.” Teagan frowned. “But we can bring him in on suspicion for the attempted murder of extinguishers.”
“I know this is unusual,” I said. “But laws are laws; it doesn't matter who broke them, right?”
“Yes,” Teagan sounded confused.
“Barra has perpetrated the murder of fairies.” I held my hands out. “That's a crime fairy hunters usually prosecute, but there's no reason that a fairy can't be accused of the same thing.”
“A good point indeed, Ambassador.” Teagan smiled. “I like the way you think. But still, it's a matter for the Councils to decide.”
“Murder cannot go unavenged, Councilman Teagan,” I said, thinking of the conversation I had with my father.
“Give the go-ahead to pick up Barra,” Teagan said to a councilman on his right. “If nothing else, we can hold him till that decision is made.”
The councilman nodded and got up as he pulled out his cell phone. He went to stand in a corner to place the call.
“Now, tell me what happened down there,” Teagan prompted.
We did. All of us gave our reports to the Head Councilman, and then Ned was brought in, and he gave his testimony too. By the time we were done, the council members of the Boise Council House were grim-faced but determined. Not only were they going to arrest Barra, they were also contacting the Human High Council to get a warrant of execution for him. As far as they were concerned, they had heard enough. I'd like to think it was a spirit of solidarity between the races, but I knew what their motivation stemmed from: Barra had come after extinguishers. The Human Council did not permit their people to be attacked without swift retribution.
Except they weren't getting their vengeance today.
“He's gone,” the councilman with the phone declared angrily. “Barra's home is empty.”
“How the hell did he slip by our teams?” Teagan snarled.
“The Extinguishers found a suspicious aura in the house,” the councilman reported. “They believe it's a doorway to the Underground.”
“Of course it is,” I sighed.
“Then we go down there and grab him!” Teagan shouted. “We will not allow these fairies to run rampant over our world!”
The echoes of Teagan's outrage dwindled down until he noticed that we were all staring at him. He blinked, realized what he had said, and who he had said it to, and turned bright red.
“Ambassador, I...” Teagan stammered.
“I understand, Councilman,” I said calmly. “You forget—as many do these days—that I began as an extinguisher. I know the drive to protect this world, and I even agree with it.”
“You do?” He asked in surprise.
“This is not the Fey's home,” I said gently. “They are visitors here, and they have an entire world of their own. It's not right for them to come here and hurt what's yours.”
“No, it isn't,” Teagan said. “But we have let them in, and they are living beings who deserve our respect. I didn't mean to sound callous toward your people, Ambassador.”
“I know that too, Councilman.” I nodded. “Another thing people forget about extinguishers is that we are trained to protect and keep the peace; that goes for both races. We are not killers; we are peacekeepers.”
“Well said, Ambassador!” Tod Sullivan clapped. “Soldiers are not assassins.”
I smiled at Tod before looking back to Councilman Teagan. “No; we are not assassins. I have been trained to be an extinguisher, which means that, in a way, I have been trained to be an ambassador. My imperative is to bring peace to both realms, and I don't think that an army of extinguishers bulldozing their way through the Underground is going to achieve that.”
“Then what do you propose we do, Ambassador?” Teagan resumed his seat.
“Wait on the High Council,” I suggested. “Once we have a warrant of extinguishment for Barra, we don't have to worry about bringing him in alive. That will make things easier.”
“And then what?” He waved helplessly. “We'll still need to go in after him.”
“Perhaps by then we'll come up with another solution,” I said.
“Like what?” Teagan asked.
“Like drawing Barra out.”
Teagan smiled and sat back in his chair to ponder this.
“Head Councilman?” The man with the phone asked.
“Councilman Graves,” Teagan said to him. “Tell the aids to bring us the file we have on Barra.”
“Yes, Councilman.” Graves went to another phone; this one was placed on a tiny table in the corner. It was one of those internal, office phones with a row of buttons on its base in addition to a keypad.
“And, Graves?”
“Yes, Head Councilman?” Graves looked up, hand hovering over the phone.
“Tell them to order us dinner too,” Teagan said. “It's going to be a long night.”
Chapter Nineteen
After that predicted long night, it became evident that drawing Barra out of hiding was going to be next to impossible. We had nothing to lure him out with. We looked through every piece of information we had on the man, and he had no weak spots. His mistresses were all citizens of the underground, he had no children, and no businesses on the surface. There was nothing to use against him.
Before I called it a night, I headed down to interrogate the sorcerers. They had thawed and were conscious. Cyrus questioned them first but didn't get much out of them. So, I gave it a try. We weren't allowed to fairy-strike humans to get information from them. I'd done so before, but I wouldn't risk it in a council house. That meant, we had to stick to old-fashioned intimidation.
“Let me tell you what's going to happen to you if you don't start talking,” I said to the men. “Hunter Frost here will take you into his custody until the Fairy Council rules on your guilt—which they will. Then he will execute you.”
The men flinched but remained silent.
“Are these other sorcerers and Barra so important to you that you'd give your lives for them?” I asked.
“You'll kill us either way,” the shopkeeper sneered.
“You know about our world,” I said to them. “So, you must know that we have laws. We do not kill indiscriminately, and we can offer leniency when warranted.”
“So, if we talk, we won't die?” The sorcerer customer asked.
“Shut up,” the shopkeeper hissed. “She's lying.”
“I'm not lying,” I said. “But even if you think I am, what other options do you have?”
“We die with some honor,” the shopkeeper said.
“Honor?” I asked in surprise. “Where's the honor in feeding off the desperate and turning them into killers just so that you can squeeze a few drops of magic out of a corpse?”
“I don't force anyone to do anything,” the shopkeeper growled.
“Cyrus,” I called through the iron bars to the hunter. Cells were always iron in human council houses—the better to hold the fairies with. “I'm done with this one.”
“Excellent.” Cyrus smiled maliciously as he came into the cell. “I was hoping he wouldn't talk.”
Cyrus grabbed the shopkeeper by the back of his shirt and hauled him to his feet. He shoved the sorcerer out of the cell and then out of the room entirely. This was premeditated; we knew we had to separate them, and we wanted to do so in as dramatic a way possible. The customer watched the shop owner be manhandled; then he swallowed convulsively and looked at me.
“I don't know a lot; I'm only a buyer,” he said.
“How did you hear about the shop?” I countered.
“They've been advertising them in the sorcerer groups online,” he stammered.
“Sorcerer online groups?” I growled. “Write them down; I want the addresses of all the ones you know of, and any othe
r information you have.” I handed a notepad and a pen to him.
“And you swear that I won't be executed?”
“If your information checks out, you will be released,” I said. “You have my word.”
“Okay,” he whispered and started writing.
Cyrus didn't like the possibility of releasing one of his prisoners, but he had agreed that the information was worth losing one buyer for. For us, the sellers were more important, and this online community could lead us to more sellers. But I had meant what I said about the sorcerers being Cyrus' responsibility, and after I snapped a picture of the information we got, I told Cyrus he could take both prisoners with him.
“You're still handing them over?” Cyrus asked in surprise.
“I trust you to keep my word for me,” I said. “If the story pans out, please release that man. But they're your prisoners, and you only have to answer to the Fairy Council on their treatment. I won't hold anything you decide to do against you, Hunter Frost.”
“I appreciate that, Ambassador,” Cyrus said. “And I will keep your word for you.”
So, the sorcerers went with Cyrus, and I headed to my bedroom feeling helpless and so very angry, despite the minor accomplishment with the sorcerer customer. Killian was waiting for me, but before I got wrapped up in him, I scried my husbands and gave them an update. Both of them asked me to come home, but only one of them had an ace up his sleeve.
“We have our trip scheduled for the day after tomorrow, Seren,” Tiernan reminded me. “If there's nothing more for you to do there, I'd really like for you to come home.”
“Taigh na a'Grian,” I whispered.
“Yes.” He smiled softly. “I think we could both use some time in the House of the Sun. Please don't blow this off.”
“Okay, honey,” I gave in. “You're right; I need to come home. I'll leave in the morning.”
“Thank you,” Tiernan said with relief.
“You didn't think that I would,” I noted in surprise.
“I had my doubts,” he confessed.
“Then I really do need to come home,” I said with a frown. “I don't want you doubting me.”
“You know it's not like that,” Tiernan chided. “I did not enter our marriage with blinders on, Seren. I knew there would be time spent without you, and sacrifices made on both our parts; for Seelie, Fairy, the Human Realm, and our goddess.”
“I love you.” I drew a finger over his image.
“I love you too,” he said. “And I will look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Goodnight, Seren.”
“Goodnight, Tiernan.”
I was looking forward to our trip as well; I had been since Tiernan had told me of his plans on my birthday. But there was another birthday I had to celebrate before I could leave the Human Realm. I went through my duffel bag and found the present I'd had gift wrapped at the mall. Then I went out to the little living room of the suite I was sharing with Killian. He was spread out on the couch, his head laid back and a tumbler of golden liquid in one hand as he absently watched TV.
“Hey,” I said softly.
Killian's head jerked up, and he smiled. Then he saw the gift.
“You remembered,” he said with surprise.
“Of course I remembered.” I went to sit beside him. “I'm sorry we haven't had time to celebrate properly.”
“It's fine.” He sat up and turned off the television.
“No; it's not,” I said firmly. “And when we have some time to take a breath, we'll do this right. But for now; happy birthday, Killian.”
I handed him the box, and he set aside his drink before he took it. With another smile in my direction, he tore the paper. I started feeling nervous. Killian had given me a raven-headed dagger for my birthday. It was something he'd had commissioned, and it referenced the day we had met. But my gift was purchased, and something that most people liked to choose for themselves.
“What the fuck is this?” He asked, and my heart dropped. “It says 'Kilian!'”
“Yeah; it's short an L, but it was so close, and then there was the box,” I stammered. “And it smells amazing.”
“Does it now?” Killian smirked as he opened the protective, outer box and removed a black lacquer one with a 3-D skull emerging from it. “Oh, this is awesome!” He ran a finger over the skull.”
“It reminded me of your baklava,” I teased him.
“Balaclava,” he corrected me automatically as he flipped open the lid and took out a large bottle of cologne. “Damn, that's a lot of smelly stuff.”
“I hope you like the scent.”
“What's important is that you like the scent.” Killian smiled wickedly as he pulled off the cap. “I don't care what it—fuck me, this smells amazing!” He cut himself off. “Good job, baby.”
Killian spritzed some cologne over his chest, and I rolled my eyes. Such a man; they know nothing about perfume placement.
“The brand is 'Kilian,' but the scent is called 'Black Phantom,'” I tapped the bottle. “One whiff and I knew that even without the perfect package, I needed to get it for you.”
“Well, I already have a perfect package.” He smirked.
“You're an ass.” I took the bottle from him. “Give me your wrist.”
“What? Why?” He scowled at me.
“Because you need to put cologne on your pulse points,” I explained. “The heat from your blood releases the scent.”
“No shit?” Killian made a face as he held out his wrists.
“No shit.” I spritzed them and then took a deep breath. “Dear gods; I love that smell.”
“And I love you,” Killian said as he pulled me into his side. “Thank you for remembering my birthday, Twilight.”
“I'm sorry we didn't have a party as we did for Raza.”
“I only need you.” He kissed me. “And my mommy.”
“What?” I laughed.
“My mom called earlier.” Kill stood up and offered me a hand. “As long as my mother doesn't forget my birthday, I know all is right in the world.”
“You're such a cheeseball,” I teased him.
“But am I a delicious cheeseball?” He waggled his brows at me.
“I think we should find out,” I purred.
It took two hours of grinding hips and teasing tongues to determine that Killian was indeed delicious.
Chapter Twenty
I got up way before dawn and woke the Head Councilman. I needed to speak to him before I left. Teagan was very professional and didn't show any irritation, though I'm sure he felt it. When I explained that I had to leave when twilight arrived, he looked even more agreeable. The warrant hadn't come in yet, and he promised to scry me as soon as it did. At this point, our next steps were a bit uncertain anyway. So, he didn't mind me taking off mid-mission. Plus, I was leaving Killian behind to handle things in my stead.
That left only one more issue for me to see to; Ned. Killian promised to look after the informant and his clan while I was away. Ned could take the time to think about where he wanted to go after he testified, and Killian could take the time to nudge Ned in the direction of Fairy. I wanted our people to come home, or at least feel safe enough to see it as an option. In order to do that, I needed fairies like Ned to take the first leap of faith and prove to everyone else that Fairy had changed for the better. At the same time, there were always those who opposed any leadership, even a just rule, and I couldn't guarantee that Fairy would never see war again. I'd hate to bring fairies home, only to have them drafted into an army.
But those were worries for another day. I let them go, knowing that Killian would take care of everything until I returned. Then I woke up my Star's Guard. We gathered in my suite, but we didn't need to hold hands this time. We all knew the way to Seelie. As twilight crept over Idaho, the Star's Guard and I lifted off the floor a few inches and touched the In-Between. We shot through space and came out in the courtyard of Castle Seelie.
It was a little after 1 in the afternoon in Seelie, the
sun high overhead, though the air was shivering with Winter's kiss. I squinted in the cool light and saw the form of a man come striding down the main steps of the castle. Tiernan emerged from the shadows, and his hair caught the sunlight; shiny blond—nearly white—at the roots, it darkened down to nearly black at the tips. It hung in a straight curtain down his back, combed away from his regal face. Tiernan had royalty written all over him. Even dressed in an understated, brown, leather tunic and a sable cloak, he looked every inch the king. Tiernan had been born to fill this role, and I had a moment of unabashed pride as I watched him approach me. Not only was I proud to call him my husband, but I was proud to have chosen to be with him when he was still an outcast and to have helped put that banished count on the Seelie throne.
“Seren,” Tiernan's deep voice made something shiver in my chest, and his silver eyes turned that shivering into a full-body tremble. “Goddess; I've missed you.”
Neither of us cared that we stood in the middle of a busy courtyard with an avid audience. All that mattered was reconnecting with each other. Tiernan lifted me off my feet as my arms slid around his neck, and kissed me. It was sweet for a moment, and then the need rose, and all the time we had spent apart hit us. Tiernan clutched me tighter, and my legs wrapped around his waist. It would have gone even further if not for a loud throat-clearing.
Tiernan and I broke apart to look over at Torquil, who then looked pointedly at the crowd of onlookers we'd collected.
“We leave in an hour; prepare yourselves,” Tiernan announced as he headed up the castle steps—with me still wrapped around him. His hands started to wander, and he stopped suddenly. “Make that two hours,” he called back.
Tiernan shifted me so that he carried me in a more traditional manner and then hurried up the stairs. I giggled and held on tightly. Courtiers drew out of our path as we rushed by. They gave us amused and adoring smiles, and I wondered how long it had been since they'd seen romance between their king and queen. How long had it been since they could even smile at their monarchs without risking censure?
