by Amy Sumida
“Maybe not in those words,” I suggested. “You might get their hopes up.”
“Another thing they don't have in Idaho,” Killian grumbled to Cat as they walked away, “hope.”
“It's not that bad,” I muttered to myself.
It may, in fact, be worse, Danu's voice whispered in my mind.
“Danu!” I sat up straight. “Oh damn, I forgot to talk to you.”
We're talking now, she sounded amused. What was it that you wanted to speak to me about?
“Probably the same thing you want to talk about now,” I muttered. “The Idaho Underground. Oh, and Daxon Tromlaighe.”
King Daxon has a destiny that you must support, Seren, Danu said. Have faith in him.
“I'll try.” I sighed.
And you have a destiny to save your people, she went on. Both my children and Anu's. You must go into the Idaho Underground. But I must warn you; I cannot guarantee that you will make it out.
“Did you just say that I might die down there?” I asked in shock.
I cannot help you there, and futures involving Earth are harder for me to see, she said sadly. But our people fled my world because I would not help them here. Now that I have brought about a change in Fairy, I want my children to come home. Bring them home to me, Daughter, or at least set them free.
“I'll try my best, Danu,” I said. “But can't you give me any clue as to what I'll be facing? Help me out here.”
I can't see what you'll face, just the uncertainty of it, she said softly. All I can offer is this; you have more power than your magic. When you start to fall, remember all that you are, and let it strengthen you.
“Nice and cryptic.” I grimaced.
If I lose you, Daughter, Fairy loses its hope for peace, Danu said firmly. I risk everything by sending you to Earth, and this is the worst time to gamble—right after I caused an imbalance.
I went silent for a minute, letting that sink in. Danu had interfered in a battle between the sea-based dragon courts that had flowed over onto land. Such interference was against the laws of the Universe, or something like that, and Danu had warned me that the imbalance it created would need to be righted. But what was done was done, and I couldn't fault her. Danu had interceded to save Seelie... and me. But I could also see how my death would even the scales.
“Then why not tell me to stay?” I finally asked her.
Because losing thousands of my children because of the possibility that I might lose one, is stupid.
“All right, Danu.” I chuckled. “I'll go in, and I'll try to remember that I'm more than my magic.”
May my brother's world be kind to you, Seren. And if it isn't, may you kick its ass.
Chapter Forty-Four
Cat whined.
“I know it's not fair,” I told her.
She whined and used her puppy dog eyes against me.
“Cat, I'm not taking you down there,” I said sternly. “I know you can handle yourself, but I just can't risk you in the Underground.”
She huffed and laid her face on her paws.
“Your Highness, twilight is coming,” Gradh warned me.
“I know, give me just a second,” I said before refocusing on Cat. “I'll have lots of people with me. Don't worry... and watch over my father.”
She perked up, yipped, and gave me a face nuzzle. I hugged Cat tightly before I stood, and then I started to levitate. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, picturing the room Councilman Teagan had set aside for our use in the Boise Council House. He assured me that it would be empty so that we could twilight in without worry. Then twilight came, rushing through my veins and empowering me as it sent me shooting into another realm. I gasped with the power rush and opened my eyes to a painting of the Twilight Forest; no doubt hung there in my honor. I smiled at it as I turned around.
“Everyone here?” I looked around, counting heads.
“Yes; everyone,” Daxon drawled.
My eyes shot over to Daxon's deep sapphire stare, and he smiled sardonically as he stood.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Killian asked as Daxon approached me.
“I was invited,” Daxon answered Killian but kept his stare on me.
“You invited him?” Killian asked me.
I groaned. “No; I didn't, but I should have. I'm sorry, Dax. I was just called in myself. I was in a rush to leave with twilight, and I didn't think about calling you.”
“And why should you have?” Killian asked petulantly.
“Because all of the other undergrounds monarchs are here.” I slanted a duh glance Killian's way. “It would have been rude not to invite Daxon to join us.”
“Well, at least you realize your mistake,” Daxon huffed. “No harm done; Lana invited me.”
“Lana?” I asked with narrowed eyes.
My Star's Guard took one look at my face and strode out of the room. Killian had the opposite reaction; crossing his arms and staring at Daxon as if daring the unseelie to try and make him move.
“Lana Clach, Queen of the Colorado Underground,” Daxon clarified with a grin. “She's an old lover of mine, and she's also the one who united the other monarchs against Barra. She, at least, believes that I would never collude with him.”
“Wow; you're just not going to let that go.” Killian shook his head.
“Not until I get my apology,” Daxon confirmed.
“You know what, Dax? Fuck you,” I growled.
“Excuse me?” Daxon lost his smug look.
“I played this right,” I snarled. “We're not lovers yet, and I don't know you well enough to be certain of your loyalty—I just don't. I feel a connection to you, and I think I know the kind of man you are, but that hasn't been proven yet. Questioning you was perfectly reasonable. I'd have been a fool not to. Despite all that, I have said that I would apologize—when your innocence is proven. You making a big stink about it until then is not acceptable.”
Daxon's expression turned sour, but he nodded. “Fair enough, Ambassador.”
“Oh, now it's 'ambassador?'” I lifted a brow at him.
“You may have been in the right, but it doesn't change how you made me feel,” he said. “So, I'm going to need some time to process your attitude.”
Daxon started for the door. I rolled my eyes at Killian, mouthed the words “my attitude,” and then followed Dax out. Killian gave me a wink and took my hand. The show of solidarity made me feel a little better, and when Daxon headed down the long hallway, I let him walk ahead without us.
“Okay,” I turned to my Guard—who had been waiting right outside the door, “there will be a lot of fairies from the assorted underworlds here. I need you to look them over and make a mental note if you recognize any of them. I'll want your opinions on who we can trust.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” they said to me.
“And I know that I don't have to say this, but keep an eye out for any monkey business,” I added.
“Monkey business?” Ennis asked with a confused look at the rest of the Guard.
“Any subterfuge or deceit,” Gradh explained.
“Any fairy business,” Conri added with a chuckle.
“Yes, that.” I grimaced. “Maybe it's true that they don't approve of Barra. Or maybe they'll all just as bad as he is, and they're simply using this as an opportunity to get rid of a rival. Either way, I need to know the truth.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” they repeated.
“All right.” I started walking, then stopped and glanced at them over my shoulder. “And don't let your guard down around Daxon either.”
The Star's Guard looked surprised, but they nodded. Killian and I started heading down the hallway, still holding hands.
“You know, I was thinking,” Killian said casually. “It would be really shitty of Daxon to betray you; not only because he's trying to get into your panties, but also because you saved his ass once.”
“I forgot about that,” I whispered. “Marcan.”
“Wh
at is it?” Killian scowled. “I didn't expect to get that kind of reaction.”
“It's just that we never found all of Marcan's cohorts,” I murmured.
“And you think they could be here today?” Killian asked in surprise.
“I don't know about that.” I shrugged. “But it wouldn't be surprising if Marcan's people were members of an underground.”
“Yeah; there's a lot of fairies gone bad down there,” Killian said. “We'll deal with them if we get the chance. If not, I don't think we should worry about them.”
“You're right,” I said, and I even meant it, but something was bothering me.
Perhaps it was just the fact that I knew I might be a tool for the Universe to right Danu's imbalance.
“Ambassadors, thank you for coming,” Councilman Teagan stood as Killian and I entered the meeting room. He came over to shake our hands and leaned forward as he smiled, to whisper into my ear, “I don't know whether to trust them or not, so I'm going to follow your lead on this.”
“Let's tread slowly and carefully. But either way, do not trust them,” I whispered back as I matched his grin. Then I said louder, “I'm happy to help, Head Councilman.”
“Please, join us,” Teagan led Killian and I back to the table while the Star's Guard took up a position against a nearby wall.
They weren't the only guards there; every underground royal had a few fairies to watch their backs. This was a careful and cunning group of people—Daxon included. He caught my stare as I took my seat and nodded to me politely.
Great; now he was being polite. That was almost worse than the “ambassador” thing.
Teagan had saved us seats to the right of his. On his left were his in-house council members. Then the underground leaders spread out from there.
“We were just discussing the option of going in after Barra,” Teagan said. “The rest of the underground rulers have offered their soldiers to help with the search. Then we wouldn't have to wait for an extinguishment order. We already have the approval of both Councils to go ahead if we so choose.”
“How many soldiers are each of you supplying?” I asked the crowded table.
In addition to myself, Killian, Daxon, and Teagan, there were the council members of the Boise House, Cyrus, and then the underground rulers. Nearly every state was represented, though I had a feeling that Hawaii didn't have an underground, despite what Killian had said about every state having one. Magic or not, there wouldn't be much underground to use unless they went lower than the seabed. I'd have to ask Daxon about it later. I frowned, looking at Daxon again. I'd ask him if we still had a relationship after this was over.
“Each underground will contribute an army of a thousand soldiers,” a woman sitting beside Daxon said.
She was very pretty, as most sidhe are; with light brown hair and soft gray eyes. She held her slim body rigidly straight and met my stare with the ease of an honest person... or a sociopath. Whatever the case, she was speaking for the group, so she must have been an influential woman.
“Fifty thousand total?” I asked in surprise.
“Forty-nine,” she corrected me. “Hawaii doesn't have an underground.”
“Ah.” I nodded, my suspicions confirmed, and then cast a look at Killian.
“They told me it was every state,” Killian muttered.
“That's a large force,” I said to the woman.
“We'll go in at different access points,” she went on. “The underground has a lot of terrain to cover, and we'll need those numbers just to search it.”
“But we'll also need them for safety,” a man further down the table added.
“You said the Councils have given their approval,” I said to Teagan. “Did they also mention if they'll send reinforcements?”
“They approved of our Idaho Extinguishers going in.” Teagan gave me an uncomfortable look. “And they seemed open to sending reinforcements, but it would take days for them to reach us.”
“And Barra could be gone by then,” the woman said. “We need to go in now.”
“Why do you think Barra will be gone by then, Queen... ?”
“Lana,” she supplied her name.
My lips twitched; I'd had a feeling this was Daxon's ex. He had chosen to sit beside her, after all. Daxon saw my reaction and smirked, which kind of made me want to punch him. In his gorgeous face. Over and over. How many of his exes was I going to meet before we were done?
“We have intel on Barra making a move to leave the state tomorrow morning,” Lana went on.
“Then we could post guards outside of every entrance and simply wait for him to emerge,” I pointed out.
“I don't know where all the access points to the Idaho Underground are,” Queen Lana said. “Do you, Hunter Cyrus?”
“I do not,” Cyrus said stiffly and then cast me a heavy look. “I also cannot verify this information, Ambassador. We'd be acting on the word of an underground crime boss.”
“Fuck you, Cyrus,” Lana said sweetly.
“Fuck you back, Lana,” Cyrus growled. “There is only one fairy at this table I respect enough to offer the title of underground monarch to, and even then, I don't fully agree with it. All of you saw a chance to gain power over your equals, and you took it. You are not true royals; you have never been crowned and do not rule real kingdoms. There is only one fairy queen at this table, and it is not you, Lana Clach.”
A stunned silence reigned as Lana glared at Cyrus. She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off.
“All right,” I said gently. “Tempers are on edge, and no one knows who to trust.”
“Even when it's obvious,” Daxon muttered.
I rolled my eyes, and my gaze happened on Daxon's Elite. Ro smiled encouragingly at me, and I winked at him. His smile brightened.
“Regardless of royalty or lack thereof,” I went on, “we share a common enemy. Now, I don't know if I can trust your grievances with Barra, but I know that I want him arrested, and those reprehensible shops shut down. Are we all in agreement on that, at least?”
A few of the underground monarchs pounded the table and nodded emphatically.
“So, this is what I propose we do,” I said with a look to Teagan. “Every underground ruler will go into a separate entrance—as was suggested.” I nodded to Lana. “The last team will be composed of King Daxon's soldiers, my Guard, and the Extinguishers.”
“We don't get any human back-up?” One of the other queens asked.
“No, because the Extinguishers won't trust you,” I said simply. “At least in our individual teams, we must have trust.”
“And they trust you?” Another king asked. “You're a fairy queen.”
“And an ex-extinguisher,” I added. “I know you think you're being polite when you ignore my human blood, but I assure you that I am proud of my humanity, and Danu herself has noted that my mixed heritage is key to my being a good ambassador and queen. So, let's call a spade a spade, and a half-human a halfling, shall we? You won't offend me with the truth.”
The fairies chuckled and nodded their heads in grudging admiration. I'd just claimed their insult for me as a compliment. I suppose that was bold enough to garner some respect. Either way, they knew they couldn't piss me off by bringing up my blood.
“I am in support of this plan,” Teagan said.
“King Daxon?” I asked him. “Are you okay with accompanying us?”
“Yes.” Daxon's lips twisted into a grin. “I would be honored to join forces with you, Ambassador.”
Still 'ambassador.' Oh well; baby steps.
“Then we'd best get to this,” I said. “If that information is correct, we need every minute we can get to move our teams into place.”
“They're already in place, Ambassador,” Lana said with a smirk.
“You were going in with or without us, weren't you?” I asked her.
She nodded, and I smiled. If they were prepared to enter the Underground without us, that told me that our presence wasn't their
top priority. Which lessened the likelihood of this being a trap for the Extinguishers or myself.
“In that case,” I said as I stood, “those of you who don't have to head out to join your teams, are welcome to join us for dinner. Invading an underground should never be done on an empty belly.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Dinner became a game of diplomacy and intellect which continued into after-dinner drinks. Most of the undergrounders—as I had taken to calling them—had left for their posts, but those who didn't have far to travel—like my team—lingered. I felt like I was playing poker for the first time with a bunch of card sharks for opponents. I knew how to be diplomatic, and I knew how to read people, but these underground leaders took artifice to a whole new level. I had been naive to think that calling myself a halfling would stop them from insulting me. Most of these fairies had been raised in court and then became refugees in America, where they had to use their skills to claw their way to the top. Not only were their tongues razor sharp, but so were their wits. I lost count of the number of times I was insulted to my face, in a way that I couldn't rebuke.
Then there was the flirting.
I don't know what was worse; the insults or the come-ons. With each one, though, Killian grew more and more furious, until he finally punched the King of Nebraska in his nose.
“What is wrong with you?” The Nebraskan king cried out as he held a hand to his bloody nose. “You're supposed to be an ambassador!”
“And you're supposed to be a king, but how noble is it to speak filth to a queen—a real queen—who you're supposed to be allying with?” Killian growled. “I swear to Danu, if any of you give my fiance another backhanded compliment—and you know who you are”—Killian waved his finger around the room—“I will personally remove whatever sexual parts protrude from your person; be you man or woman. Do I make myself clear?”
I blinked at Killian's fury and then smiled. Perhaps he was right; I'd been trying to behave myself around fairies who weren't really monarchs and had no inclination to behave themselves. They were just crime bosses who called themselves queens and kings. Real royals would have had the balls to insult me openly; only courtiers hid their insults behind compliments.
