The Phantom Queen (The Guardians of Tara Book 3)

by S. M. Schmitz

  “What?” he snapped.

  “Cameron, you’re…”

  “I’m what?” he demanded. From behind him, he heard Selena get out of bed, too. He sighed again and gestured toward his pregnant girlfriend. “You happy? Do you have any idea how exhausted she is?”

  “Cameron,” Selena cautioned. “I’m all right, and so are you.”

  He shook his head and ran his fingers through his messy hair. “You’d better have a good reason for waking us up.”

  “I…” Macha stammered, but he didn’t let her finish.

  “Don’t ever knock on my door again!” he yelled, slamming the door on her. He spun around and noticed Selena was no longer alone with them in their room.

  “What the hell are you doing here, Badb?” he asked.

  “First of all,” Badb answered, “open the door and apologize to my sister.”

  Cameron snorted and stormed past her. “You can get out of my room, too.”

  “And secondly, after you apologize and find out why she needed you, I’m bringing you to see Lugh.”

  “Right,” he retorted. “First of all, you can’t make me do either of those things. And secondly, your dead boyfriend is an impotent has-been. He has no power anymore, remember? I have it.”

  Badb grabbed Selena’s hand and told him, “We’ll be waiting for you in Findias.”

  “No, you…” But Selena left with Badb anyway. He folded his arms and glared at the empty spot where the goddesses had stood only moments before, his anger roiling inside him until it burst forth, sending flames across the floor and up the walls. The door rocked on its hinges and swung open, revealing the Phantom Queen still waiting for him outside in the hallway.

  “Go see Lugh,” she ordered. “And then come back to Murias and find me. Jasper needs our help.”

  Macha turned on her heels and walked away before he could tell her he didn’t give a shit if Jasper needed his help or not. In fact, it was Jasper. The Greeks could deal with it.

  But since Selena had gone to Findias, he had no choice but to follow her there. Perhaps he could still convince her to run away with him. He’d had enough of these gods and their games.

  The red palace shimmered in the early morning light of the Otherworld, but he didn’t slow down to admire its beauty this time. He grabbed the door handle and pulled the door from its hinges, throwing it onto the soft green grass of Findias. “Selena!” he yelled.

  “She’s fine,” a man’s voice responded.

  Cameron’s jaw clenched and he spun around to face the god whose power he’d inherited, whose power had transformed him into a god, the god who had ruined his life.

  “Hm,” Lugh said. “Badb was right to insist you needed to see me.”

  “Do you really want to find out if I can destroy a spirit?” Cameron hissed.

  “Not really,” Lugh admitted. “If you were anyone else, I’d say it was impossible anyway. But quite honestly, I wouldn’t put anything past you.”

  “Then if I were you, I’d get out of my sight.”

  Lugh tilted his head at him, those brilliant blue eyes still studying him, and Cameron balled his hands into fists.

  “Do you know what a geis is?” Lugh finally asked. “Midir knew, of course, but right now, I’m not really sure who you are. But I don’t recognize Cameron or Midir.”

  “Lugh,” Cameron warned. “I’m only telling you one more time: Get away from me and leave me alone.”

  Lugh continued to ignore him. “A geis is a spell but it’s a complicated one. The punishment only springs forth when the man or god breaks his vow not to do something, and the penalty is almost always death. But in your case, not even this geis could kill you…and yet, it is killing you in a way.”

  Cameron snorted and shook his head. “Some ‘master of all things.’ I’ve never made any pledges.”

  “Cameron may not have,” Lugh agreed. “But what about Midir? You are the same god. The vows he made you must uphold.”

  That anger threatened to erupt from within him again, but Lugh didn’t leave. And Cameron didn’t set the red palace on fire because he heard her voice, and even in this Hell he couldn’t recognize, her voice held so much power over him.

  “But I don’t remember Midir making any promise,” Selena said.

  Lugh shrugged and glanced behind Cameron where Selena had appeared. “Perhaps it happened before he met you. Or maybe he never told you.”

  “Midir would have told me,” she insisted. “Whether that vow was made before or after we met, I know he would have told me.”

  “Selena,” Cameron pleaded, “don’t let him convince you there’s some ridiculous curse on me. It’s just their games. I’ve warned you so many times…”

  “This isn’t a game, Cameron,” Selena interrupted. “You aren’t well, and I’ll move every realm that still exists in order to save you.”

  “Baby, I’m fine. I just…”

  “It’s possible he didn’t make the geis at all,” Lugh said.

  “Then how could he be punished for it?” Selena exclaimed.

  “And how can we get him back?” Badb added.

  Cameron exhaled heavily and gestured toward the Irish war goddess. “Great. Now you’re buying into this bullshit, too?”

  “It’s not bullshit, Cameron,” Badb argued. “You’re talking to one of the most powerful psychics you’ll ever meet. Trust me: Something is wrong, and you’re not yourself. You don’t treat people this way. Beneath your constant teasing and sarcasm, you’re a good person…one of the best I’ve ever met.”

  He pointed to Lugh now and hissed, “I was fine until I went after him!”

  “Cameron,” Selena said gently, “I don’t think you were. Remember those times I had to calm you down? The time you almost killed Badb? That wasn’t you. And now, whatever it is that’s caused you to do those things is taking over, and I won’t lose you.”

  Cameron looked down at their hands, their fingers woven together, and shook his head. “Like I said…I’ve always known I wasn’t the demigod or god everyone thinks I am.”

  “Yes, you are,” Selena insisted.

  “If I’m right,” Lugh added, “and these changes are the result of a geis, then the fact that you’ve managed to stay yourself for so long is a testament to the strength of your character.”

  Cameron glared at him, but he no longer wanted to smite the god whose power had transformed him. Selena sensed his thoughts morphing once again, clouding his anger with confusion, and she squeezed his fingers to reassure him. “See? You’ll always come back to me, love. Not even death could separate us.”

  “A geis can be put on someone without them making any sort of agreement…like a spell, a warning not to do something,” Lugh explained. “They were once used to ensure the kings of Tara ruled fairly, but there aren’t many gods who could have put one on Cameron.”

  Selena shook her head and sighed. “And I seriously doubt Cameron did anything wrong. How does he free himself? That’s all I care about right now.”

  “I don’t know,” Lugh admitted. “The penalty for breaking a geis has always been death, and no one can free himself from death.”

  “There has to be a way to undo this!” Selena cried.

  Lugh arched an eyebrow at her then slowly smiled at the young sun god. “I think,” he said, “that it’s time for you to meet my son.”

  Chapter Eight

  Cú Chulainn didn’t look happy to see the group of gods and goddesses on his doorstep in the early morning hours of the Otherworld. Cameron looked him over quickly, this greatest of warriors in Irish myth, and folded his arms over his chest. He wasn’t impressed.

  “All this time, I thought I was descended from some epic badass,” he said. “You’re no bigger than me.”

  Cú Chulainn grunted at him and pointed out, “You’re not exactly little. Besides, a man doesn’t need to be as large as Thor to be brilliant in battle.”

  Cameron shrugged and decided to see just how easily he could prov
oke the demigod who still considered himself the champion of Ireland. “Pretty sure your myths have been greatly exaggerated. I have to admit: I’m kinda disappointed.”

  “Cameron,” Badb groaned, “why are you trying to piss him off?”

  Lugh didn’t bother defending his son. He just watched the exchange between his descendants with an amused smile.

  “Disappointed?” Cú Chulainn repeated. “You’re one to talk.”

  “Watch it,” Selena warned. “I will smite you.”

  “You are so hot when you’re smiting,” Cameron told her.

  “Why are you here?” Cú Chulainn sighed.

  “Because you were forced to break your geis and it led to your death,” Lugh explained. “I think one has been placed on Cameron, and it may have something to do with you.”

  Cú Chulainn lifted his chin in the air and replied, “How could it possibly have anything to do with me? I died long before he was born.”

  “It’s how he’s being transformed,” Lugh answered. “Reminds me of you and your anger. Your temper is easily raised and can be difficult to assuage.”

  Cú Chulainn waved off his father and insisted, “He’s descended from me. Perhaps it’s just genetics.”

  “That was like three thousand generations ago,” Cameron argued.

  “I’m not even three thousand years old,” Cú Chulainn snapped. “How could it possibly be that many generations ago?”

  “So I was off by a few years,” Cameron joked.

  Cú Chulainn rolled his eyes and shot his father a look that Cameron interpreted as, “How could Fate have chosen this obnoxious asshole to be our heir?”

  He thought it was an entirely fair question.

  Lugh pushed his son back into his house and motioned for the others to follow him. Cameron and Selena glanced at each other then entered Cú Chulainn’s home.

  Cameron wasn’t overly surprised to find oil paintings of some of Cú Chulainn’s most famous exploits adorning his walls. He pointed to the only painting where the legendary Irish hero was absent and asked, “So…they ran out of paint?”

  “That’s my wife, Emer,” Cú Chulainn said, sounding both bored and aggravated at the same time.

  Cameron thought that was a feat worth commemorating on canvas.

  Selena heard that thought, of course, and pressed her lips together so she wouldn’t laugh.

  “Sétanta,” Lugh started, but his son interrupted him.

  “How many times do I have to ask you to stop calling me that?”

  “It’s your name,” Lugh reminded him.

  “Not anymore,” Cú Chulainn argued.

  “Bigger problems,” Cameron reminded them both.

  “Right,” Lugh relented. He glanced back at his son and asked, “Could Cameron’s transformation have anything to do with Fand?”

  “You know I hardly remember her,” Cú Chulainn responded.

  “Fand is still alive,” Badb pointed out. “We can talk to her…but I can’t imagine she would punish Cú Chulainn or his descendants. She’s remarkably forgiving and compassionate, second only to Selena.”

  “Yeah,” Lugh sighed. “Admittedly, I’m grasping at straws here.”

  Cú Chulainn tilted his head at Cameron, his blue eyes, so much like his father’s, studying him. Cameron squirmed a bit under so much scrutiny but tried to pretend like it didn’t bother him. Only Selena seemed to notice, but then again, how could she not? Their thoughts were permanently interwoven: She would always be a part of him just as he would always be a part of her.

  “Maybe it’s my geis,” Cú Chulainn murmured. “For generations now, our descendants have been demigods. Cameron is the first of us to become a god.”

  “Um…” Selena interrupted. “I’m pretty sure he hasn’t eaten any dog meat.”

  “Ew,” Cameron exclaimed. “Dude, no wonder you were cursed.”

  Cú Chulainn sighed heavily and shot his father the same, “Seriously: How did this obnoxious asshole become our heir?” look.

  “My geis had nothing to do with eating dog meat,” Cú Chulainn explained. “That was added in by storytellers long after my death. The hospitality part though…the geis against refusing the kindness of others…that was a common geis among demigods intended to keep our egos in check, and I’m afraid I failed at that.”

  Cameron looked around the Irish hero’s home again, at the numerous paintings celebrating his exploits, and said, “Can’t see it. Must be something else.”

  Selena snickered and added, “Besides, that’s your failure, not Cameron’s.”

  “Is it?” Cú Chulainn asked. “Tell me, Cameron. Have you found yourself coveting more power? Of taking from others without gratitude?”

  Cameron threw his hands up and cried, “All gods do that! They don’t end up cursed because of it.”

  “But you’re not just any god, Cameron,” Cú Chulainn argued. “You’re Irish and subject to our laws. And perhaps this geis is meant to teach you a lesson rather than to punish you.”

  “Teach me how to kill people I care about?” Cameron snapped. “Some lesson.”

  “No,” Lugh interjected. “I think Cú Chulainn might be on to something though. He was feared all over Ireland because of his battle frenzy. You are feared by gods everywhere because of your power—you can’t be defeated by anyone except yourself. This geis may be a blessing in disguise, perhaps a gift from Fate itself.”

  “A gift?” Selena scoffed. “What kind of gift could turn him into the monster he’s always feared?”

  “He’s not confronting his own demons alone,” Lugh told her. “He has help: his friends, and more importantly, you.”

  “It was never my father,” Cameron murmured. He looked down at Selena and caressed her cheek gently. “I blamed him for my insistence I would never become a god, but it was me. It was always me…I must have known what could happen if I took the Spear. How I could lose myself forever.”

  Selena shook her head and insisted, “You won’t.”

  “What do you mean you blamed your father?” Lugh asked.

  Cameron lifted a shoulder. “He’s always hated the gods. Raised my brother and me not to trust them either. He’s practically disowned me now.”

  Lugh inhaled sharply and said, “You need to talk to your father.”

  “Did you miss the part where I said he’s practically disowned me?”

  “All sorts of things can be passed down to demigods, Cameron,” Lugh responded. “Our genetics are different than humans. It’s possible your father doesn’t hate us because he believes we’re untrustworthy. He resents us because he knows what we’ve passed on to him…and to his sons.”

  Cameron raked his fingers through his hair and shot a questioning glance in Badb’s direction. With her powerful psychic gift, why had she never mentioned his father’s motives? Lugh had to be wrong.

  Badb never gave him the chance to ask though. “When we first went to your parents’ house, I was more concerned about you. I wasn’t worried about what your father thought. If he’s distanced himself from you now, maybe it’s because he does know something we don’t. And maybe he believes it’s permanent.”

  “If you won’t confront him, then I will,” Selena announced. “And he’s giving me answers whether he wants to or not.”

  “Selena,” Cameron begged, but for the second time that morning, she disappeared before he could finish his plea.

  Lugh gestured toward the empty spot where Selena had stood and advised, “I’d go after her. Just a little advice from a really old god: Always go after them, even if you’re not the one who pissed them off.”

  “Let me guess,” Cameron said to Badb, “you’re not coming to help.”

  “Hey,” she shot back. “I already got out of bed to help Selena when her boyfriend went all Jack Torrance on us again.”

  “I hate you,” Cameron reminded her.

  “No, you don’t,” Badb reminded him back.

  “You’re stalling,” Lugh pointed out. “An
d given Selena’s current mood, that encounter may not end well for your father.”

  “Given her current mood, it may not end well for any of us,” Cameron mumbled. But he took Lugh’s advice and found Selena in the Dagda’s palace, just inside the doorway to his parents’ room. With her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed in Brent’s direction, who stood by the foot of the bed in his pajamas, she looked like she might actually smite him, although he wasn’t quite sure how a goddess of healing would smite people.

  Hearing his thoughts, she told him, “I’m telekinetic, remember? Fairly easy to smite a demigod, actually.”

  Brent waved a hand irritably in her direction and snapped, “See? They’re all the same.”

  “Brent,” Alison cautioned.

  “She’s supposed to be different and even she can’t help but threaten and harass to get her way,” he persisted.

  Alison’s eyes kept falling beneath Selena’s stomach, but as soon as she realized Cameron was watching her, she looked away. Selena wouldn’t have told her without him, and he had been pretty busy traveling to Hel and back then waiting for asshole gods in Austin, but his mom had obviously noticed Selena’s changing body.

  “Dad,” Cameron tried, “if you know anything about a geis or a spell or this anger we’ve inherited…”

  “How many times did I tell you to avoid the gods?” Brent interrupted. “Don’t you see what they’ve done to you?”

  “They haven’t done anything to me, Dad,” Cameron countered. “I think it’s us.”

  “And somehow, the consequences of your decisions are my fault,” Brent interrupted again. “I didn’t even know we were Irish!”

  “But someone did, and he passed those warnings along to his son, which have reached us.”

  “His son,” Selena repeated breathlessly. “Oh my God.”

  Cameron blinked at her then offered her his mischievous grin she so often found sexy, assuming he wasn’t pissing her off. “I give up. Which god?”

  Selena shook her head. “No god this time. Lugh suspected his son was connected to your geis somehow, but he couldn’t quite put the pieces together. But what was Cú Chulainn’s greatest tragedy?”