He was mad at Sheridan, mad as hell at Danu and furious that these men he’d fought side by side with for hundreds of years didn’t have his back when he needed them most.
“I agree.” Hawk patted his brother’s back, moving to stand between him and Finn. “Let’s discuss the spear. She said the inheritor would receive it when there is accord on all sides and the circle is complete. Does that mean anything to anyone?”
“It means something to me.”
Finn knew Nyctimus had been listening at the door, waiting for the right opportunity to make his entrance. Damon sighed and crossed his arms across his wide chest. “Now is not the time for games, Nyc.”
Nyctimus glared. “I’m not playing games, Damon. I just wasn’t sure I’d be welcome in the Fianna huddle. Kyle wanted to come over and play too, but he was sidelined on account of his humanity. Bad luck for him. Especially considering the topic.”
He knew something. Finn could smell it. “Damon Arkadios, if you do not let your little godlet of a brother in our fun boys’ club I will challenge you for leadership.” His smile was menacing. “And the way I feel tonight? I’d win. Say the damn words and he’ll tell us what he knows.”
Damon’s lip curled, a glint of fang appearing before he regained control and ran his hands through his hair. “Fuck. Jesus, Finn. Fine. Fine, you’re in. Welcome to the Fianna, Nyc.” He sent an aggravated look in Finn’s direction. “Happy now?”
“That’s it?” Nyc’s expression would have been comical if Finn weren’t holding onto his control by a thread. “I thought there was a secret handshake. A blood oath or something.” He sighed. “That’s disappointing as hell.”
“I can give you a blood oath if you’d like.” Finn’s voice was soft. Deceptively so. “Or you can tell us what you know about Danu’s words.”
Val shook his head. “I would tell him, Nyc. I feel like we’re watching a horror movie. Any minute now he’ll turn Horde and we’ll have to kill him. Then none of our wives will ever speak to us or bed us again.”
Nyc studied Finn for a moment before nodding. “Right. Big bad Fae is scaring the Vikings. The accord. I’ve done a little reading about the time period Lugh ruled in. The Dark weren’t the main enemy, right? Enlil had just recently been imprisoned and his followers were in disarray, but so was everybody else. There were factions fighting factions. Archon against Archon. Archon against Human and Druid. Archon against Fae.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure other people were fighting other people…and somebody had to be fighting the shifters, but I am seeing a pattern. Archons are the jackasses of the universe. You know who my father is…I speak from experience.” He shrugged. “Anyway, if Lugh had placed the spear somewhere instead of physically taking it with him, as this vague bit of trivia from Danu seems to imply, and an accord must be reached, I’m thinking we should think like him. We already have all the pieces.”
When the other men in the room stared at him in silence, he frowned. “Come on, did nobody follow that? Human, Archon, Druid, Fae…. we could complete the circle with our party alone, I think. Luckily, we like variety in our crowd.”
He was right. They had all the pieces, all gathered together here and now. In fact, Sheridan had insisted on the presence of most of them. Finn should have seen it earlier. “But how? And where? We’ve all been together, and nothing has appeared.”
He slammed his fist into the palm of his hand as it came to him. “We need a focal point. If Lugh placed it out of sync with us, and that is something he would do, the exact location doesn’t matter as much as the intent. We could use the replica.”
“Good luck.” Val chuckled morosely, holding up his hands when Finn looked his way. “Don’t kill the messenger, guy, but we’ve gotten to know the queen. That chick has a dark side, no offense or double entendre meant. She really doesn’t like it when you touch her stuff. And don’t even get me started on her court of creepy ladies. Those Fae are everywhere and we don’t like little Crystal hanging out with them.”
It was true. Queen Morrigan was kind and wise in all things but, Finn acknowledged with a sigh, she had a tendency to be possessive. Of things and the people around her. There was a time when Finn had been her favorite. She hadn’t thanked him when he left her side. “She would give it to me.”
“No,” a serene voice interrupted from the doorway. Dian. “She won’t. But she offers a boon to her champion if they win in staff or steel competitions. She would allow Sheridan to have it for the day to celebrate her victory.”
Finn clenched his teeth. “Dian, you are definitely not Fianna. What you are is someone who knows I am not willing to bend on this. Who knows what I’m capable of.”
Dian smiled placidly, but there was understanding in his eyes. “You will have to be capable of more today, Prince of Aisling. And I am not here for the meeting, I’m sent to deliver a message to Damon Arkadios.” He caught the Lycan’s attention. “One of your number is most qualified to be the queen’s champion, having the blood of Fae, as well as Archon and Druid running through her veins. Royal blood. One of the last descendants of Lugh, who ruled as king. Royal blood for the royal champion. Sheridan Kelly has stepped forward and been accepted on those grounds.”
“No.” This was a nightmare. “No, she would have told me. If she knew—”
“She suspected,” Dian interrupted him, compassion in his eyes. “Only recently she suspected. It was confirmed moments ago by Myrddin himself, I’m told. The entire Realm is already buzzing with the news.
He bet they were. “She’ll be in more danger now. If she had been merely a Druid, they would have hurt her a little out of pride. Now? She’ll be—”
“Bait,” Dian cut him off again. “Her words, not mine. She’s using herself as bait. Something about it being the only way to provoke them out of hiding. She’s very clever, isn’t she? I suggest your protectors of the North Portal remain vigilant tonight. Remain calm. That is how you can help her. And being of Lugh and Áine’s lines? I believe she will be able to hold her own in the games.”
Finn felt his world tilt. A child of Lugh? Sheridan? He’d searched for traces of Fae inside her and found nothing. Could he have been so wrong? “If she had any Fae blood in her, why didn’t I sense it?”
Nyc leaned over so he could look up into Finn’s eyes. “None of us did, buddy. I didn’t sense any Archon in her either. Maybe the Druid genes covered the other bits up. Good thing too. Not knowing probably saved her life. Especially when you think about the Horde situation. Don’t beat yourself up about it.”
Damon pinched the bridge of his nose. “Nyc? Stop helping. Now, before I rethink your status in the fun boys’ club.”
He did blame himself. And Sheridan—his Sheridan—was in danger. Not just from the sect, but possibly even from those loyal to Queen Morrigan, who would now see her as a threat. A child of Lugh’s line could claim the throne.
She was using herself as bait. Lighting herself up like a beacon to attract those who would wish to harm her. Was that why she’d stopped him from finally joining with her? So he wouldn’t guess her plans and stop her before something or someone she couldn’t handle went after her?
He didn’t have to like that she was right. He would have tried to stop her.
Maybe he would get to kill someone tonight after all.
* * * * *
Kyle whistled. “Look out, warrior woman coming through.”
He nudged the smirking Nyctimus as Sheridan entered the preparation area, where she could watch the fighting and get last-minute instructions from her gaggle of overprotective coaches.
And teasing from Kyle.
An arena. There was an actual arena for these games. Like that gladiator movie. This realm might not have much in the way of roads and shopping malls, but it more than made up for it with extravagant old-world movie sets and clichés.
She stuck out her tongue in her partner’s general direction. “You’re just jealous that you couldn’t pull this off.” She struck a pose w
ith her staff, all bravado as she allowed everyone to see the fighting uniform they’d put her in.
It kind of looked like the leather dominatrix bikini from her Finn dream. Only this one had a skirt. And though it felt buttery smooth, she’d been told it was the finest in Fae armor. Nothing could pierce it. So at least the small sections of her body that were covered would be safe, she thought with a grimace.
“I’m jealous.” Meru pulled herself up from her chair with difficulty, her smile worried but real. “I couldn’t pull that off before I was pregnant.” Her nose wrinkled with her playful grin. “But then, I’m not a genetic milkshake of awesome like my cousin.”
“Nice visual, Meru.” Nyc shuddered. “I may never drink a milkshake again, but I like the colorful choice of words.” He studied Sheridan. “You should take a look at what you’ll be doing, Sheridan. The Fae style of fighting may be different than what you’re used to.”
She nodded. Badger and Ceri had been explaining it to her for the last few hours. She now knew that in the games, Fae were forbidden from using their magical abilities on each other. Instead, to honor the Druids and humans whose space they shared, they used weapons and physical strength. Staffs, swords and maces, as well as a style of fighting akin to Raj’s martial arts, but more flamboyant. More…Fae.
She noticed Finn leaning against the far corner wall with his arms crossed. He looked tired. Haggard. Beautiful. He wasn’t happy and she wasn’t surprised.
She lifted her chin. “Any advice?”
He stared at her for long moments before he spoke. “Show the queen special deference when you are announced. Bow to her. Don’t be proud. Some will see you as a threat to the throne. Show them you’re not.”
Sheridan laughed. “And with that moment of hilarity, we’ll be moving on. As if I’d want to rule over the land-of-the-perpetually-horny. No thanks.”
He strode across the floor, eating up the space between them, and cupped her shoulders in a firm grip. “I trust you, Sheridan Kelly. Do you hear me? I don’t trust them. I don’t trust much of anything. But I do trust you. So do as I say.”
“Okay.” She was breathless, knowing he was trying to tell her more than he could in front of the others. “I’ll bow. I promise.”
“When you win, you’ll receive your boon and we can retrieve the true spear. And if your ploy works and you provoke them with your presence,” he shuddered, his grip tightening on her flesh, “we’ll be here.”
She knew how hard it would be for her to let go. To let someone she cared about take chances she felt she should be taking instead. And some part of her knew it was harder for him. Because he believed they were… What was that word? She couldn’t remember, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was this. His trust. He was stepping back. Allowing her to fight. “Thank you, Finn.”
Her squeak of surprise was loud to her own ears as he slid his hands into her hair and pulled her close, lowering his mouth to hers. Now? In front of everyone? Kyle and Meru? Now he was kissing her? So much for not telling anyone. Then again, that ship had long since sailed.
Her body trembled and she melted against him. His taste. He was kissing her again. She wasn’t sure he would. How could she care who was watching? How could she ever ask him to stop again?
He lifted his mouth, his voice raspy with desire and restraint. “And if you lose concentration, allow yourself to be injured in any fashion? I’ll tie you to the nearest bed until you make me believe you’ll never put yourself in harm’s way again.”
Kyle sighed loudly. “And he was doing so well.”
Meru snorted behind her. “He’ll learn.”
Ceri, who as an exile was not allowed to enter the royal area, spoke from the doorway. “Maybe. Finn has always been stubborn.”
Sheridan didn’t respond to any of them. She didn’t look away from Finn. Her smile, when it came, was meant as a challenge. “I’d like to see you try.”
A horn blew, drawing everyone’s attention. Damon, his hands on Meru’s shoulders, inhaled sharply. “Something’s not right. I can smell it.”
“Join the club,” Sheridan muttered, taking a conscious step away from Finn, needing all her senses for this.
Raj walked up, her training staff in his hands. “They approved it. You can use your own weapon for this. It’s single combat, with points for—”
“I know the rules. I think. I trained with this for months. I still like my gun better, but this will work. I’ll just give them all a great show and win this.” She nudged him with her elbow. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell everyone I owe it all to my own personal dragon.”
The dark voice in her head was gone. There was nothing to distract her. She knew what she had to do. She knew herself.
Take that, Danu.
Kyle tapped her on the shoulder and hugged her when she turned around. “Personally, I’m just excited to be here. I feel like I have ringside seats to that episode where Spock fights Kirk.”
She laughed. She couldn’t help it. Kyle could always defuse a tense situation. It was one of the reasons they’d been friends for so long. One of the thousand reasons. “Thank you, Captain Geek.”
He shrugged and stepped back to stand beside Nyc, who winked at her before agreeing with Kyle. “Totally. Let’s hope she’s Spock.”
Sheridan closed her eyes for a moment, refusing to look at Meru. She’d be worried. She might be crying. Instead, she glanced at Finn one last time. He nodded, his expression intense. That flawless face she’d been struck by when she first saw him seemed so familiar now. Frowning and fierce and loving.
Loving. And loved.
There was no escaping it. He’d said so himself. And if she were truly being honest, truly “knowing” herself, she didn’t want to. This might just be her path after all.
She turned and started to head toward the center of the arena. “Watch my back, Tinker Stud.”
“Try to make me look away,” he murmured, only loud enough for her to hear.
Game on, she thought, squaring her shoulders as she reached the center of the dirt-covered fighting area. But where was her sparring partner?
The horn blew again and Sheridan glanced up at the hovering balcony where the queen stood, once more with Hawk, Val and Linnea behind her.
“My champion has arrived at last. Welcome, Sheridan Kelly.” The queen’s lavender gaze was penetrating and curious. Or was that suspicion?
Sheridan lowered her head and bowed as respectfully as she could with her staff in hand. “Your Majesty,” she raised her voice to be heard over the murmurs in the stands. “I humbly thank you for allowing me to fight as your champion.” She remembered what Ceri had told her and added hastily, “Together we will not fail.”
“Indeed.” The queen’s smile was tense, but not cruel. “How can we fail with a child who shares the lines of both Áine and Lugh? You might be hindered by your human upbringing, but you more than make up for it with your pedigree.”
There were pockets of gasps in the crowd around her and Sheridan glanced up sharply to see that Linnea was looking at her daughter’s grandmother askance. She had heard it too. The trace of scorn about how she was raised.
Show respect. Deference, she reminded herself. Now was not the time to challenge royalty. “Thank you for overlooking my deficiencies, Your Highness.”
And thank me for not mentioning that your granddaughter was also raised by a human. Wouldn’t want to point that out to the gawkers, would we? She wouldn’t say that out loud. She’d promised Finn. She also wouldn’t challenge the woman to a duel for insulting her mother. She was the queen’s champion. She was better than that.
The queen pursed her lips. “Who will come forward to fight my champion with staff and wits alone? Who will dare to seek my boon over my chosen and the most unique among us?”
Wow. Apparently the news about her genetics really had ticked off the queen.
A woman’s voice, strident and strong, broke the silence. “I will come forward. Willingly and eagerly, Yo
ur Majesty.”
Sheridan nearly bit her tongue in shock. It was the woman from the other night. Finn’s fellow tracker, Meara. Whip girl. Sheridan had the strangest desire to grin. Wishes really did come true.
The queen clapped her hands together to silence the roar of the crowd. “Meara of Aisling, formerly of the house Aereon. You have challenged my champion, and on her behalf, I accept. Let the battle begin.”
It was surreal, Sheridan thought, as she held her staff in both hands, studying her challenger. A year ago, her life had seemed so full. So normal. Something like this? This straight-out-of-fiction scenario? It wasn’t even a glint in her eye.
Neither was finding out her drive-by sperm bank of a father came from a line of Fae/Archon stock…or acknowledging that she was in love with a ginger who was several thousands of years her senior.
Life was strange.
“Should I go easy on you, Druid?” Meara tossed her long braid over her shoulder and smirked. “I’ve fought your kind before. I know all about your slow reflexes and intolerance for pain.” Her staff rushed out to hit Sheridan’s hip. She deflected it just in time, but the power of the blow jolted up her arms.
“Really getting into this, aren’t you, Meara?” Sheridan huffed, swinging her own staff low, looking for the extra kneecap point. She missed. “I’ve heard you like causing pain. But I thought cat-o-nine’s were your preferred method.”
Meara’s expression was one of surprise. “Finn told you? I suppose there’s no reason he wouldn’t, apart from shame. I refused him to marry his brother. Not because he martyred himself over his poor, dead sister, though that was rather pathetic.” She licked her lips and circled Sheridan, alert for an opening. “Fortunately his brother truly enjoys my special brand of affection.”
The Fae had gotten a point. Sheridan fell to her knees with the blow Meara delivered to her rib cage. She’d been taken off guard. Finn said he’d never slept with Meara. Had that been a lie?
Trust him.
She shifted her stance and sent Meara a mocking grin. “You’re better off, regardless. He would have never been happy with you, since I’m his síorghrá.”
Behind the Veil: 3 (Temptation Unveiled) Page 18
