Fairy Rings and Dragon Kings (Book 7 in the Twilight Court Series)

by Amy Sumida

  “What is it, Seren?” Killian asked. “We have the information we need; that's good, right.”

  “Go ahead and call it in. Let's get those people rescued as soon as possible,” I said to the lead extinguisher. “We'll meet you outside. I just want to take one more look around.”

  The extinguisher nodded to me and headed out. The rest of his team followed, leaving Killian alone with me.

  “Tell me,” Killian said.

  “Why leave that folder here?” I asked him. “Shane may have been in a hurry, but he obviously did some packing. So, why leave the most important information behind?”

  “Maybe he forgot it.”

  I gave Killian a look.

  “Goddess-damn him; he wanted us to find it,” Killian growled. “Do you think it's a trap?”

  “No.” I considered Shane and his character. “Shane is self-serving. If he thought we were onto him, he'd do everything in his power to throw us off his trail.”

  “Even giving up his new business associates,” Killian whispered.

  “There wasn't a lot of names on that list,” I said. “Shane didn't give us everyone. And what does he care if those humans are rescued? He's already been paid.”

  “True.”

  “Shane knew we wouldn't stop until we found those missing people,” I murmured. “So he gave them to us.”

  “But what's he gonna do for cash now?” Killian asked.

  “Well, he is a fairy mobster.” I grimaced.

  “Just like your boyfriend,” Killian teased.

  “No, Dax isn't a mobster,” I protested without thinking.

  Killian gave me a look.

  “I know how that sounds, but he's not,” I swore. “Do you think Danu would have brought us together if he was?”

  “You thought it.”

  “At first,” I admitted. “But then I saw what Daxon's doing for fairies here. No, he may be an underworld king, but he's not a crime boss.” I stopped, blinking in revelation. “And there's a big difference between the two.”

  “What are you going on about now?”

  “If we want to catch Shane, we have to think like a criminal, not a businessman.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “We're trying to think of how Shane would earn money, but that's what a businessman would do; secure his income,” I said. “Shane is trying to create a new kingdom. He wants to rule here, and he's decided that the easiest way to establish himself is through intimidation and magic.”

  “So, WWJHD?”

  I stared at Killian blankly.

  “What would Jimmy Hoffa do?” Killian smirked.

  “Jimmy Hoffa would disappear,” I said. “And Shane's already done that.”

  “No, Hoffa got disappeared,” Killian corrected me. “Other mobsters killed him.”

  “Other mobsters,” I murmured, an idea just starting to form.

  Then my scry phone rang. I answered it with a swipe of my finger, and Tiernan's face filled the screen. He looked anxious.

  “Hey, Tiernan.” I cast Killian a heavy look, and he shook his head at me.

  “Seren, I need you here,” Tiernan said urgently. “There's war on our shores.”

  “What?” I gaped at him. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “The dragons are rising from the sea,” Tiernan intoned dramatically.

  I would have laughed if I hadn't known how serious it was.

  “Fuck!” Killian swore.

  I glanced at my watch.

  “I've got about forty-five minutes till twilight,” I said to Tiernan. “Where do you want me to go?”

  “Southern Seelie,” Tiernan said, “the same beach the Dragon King's met you at.”

  “Got it,” I nodded. “Are you on your way?”

  “Yes,” he said, and I noticed the rocking wall of a coach behind his head, “but it will take me far longer to get there than it will you.”

  “Okay.” I sighed. “What do you think I should do?”

  “The dragons can fight each other all they want,” Tiernan snarled, “but when they threaten our people, it becomes our battle. Keep our people safe, Seren, no matter who you have to kill. I will not lose our fairies to this madness!”

  “You've got it, babe.” I snapped the phone shut.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  “It's like the fucking shores of Normandy,” Killian growled as we stood on the cliff overlooking the beach in Southern Seelie.

  I couldn't even form words. I'd seen a dragon fight another dragon before, one-on-one, and I'd seen the Court of the Nine Sons in battle. But I'd never seen two dragon courts tearing each other apart.

  The sand was turning to crimson mud, bodies strewn along the shoreline, and more sea fairies from the Court of the Dragon Kings were rising from the rolling surf as we watched. The sapphire waters of the Seudachan—the Jewel Box Ocean—were bubbling with the surfacing army. Snarling soldiers waded through the waves, some of them parting the waters with air magic to stride arrogantly over the wet sand as they pulled deadly-looking weapons free of their sheaths. The dragons—being faster swimmers than the rest of their court—had arrived first and were holding off the entire army of the Court of the Nine Sons alone, as they waited for reinforcements. But now, everyone was there, and the tide was turning.

  The sound of roars, growls, and snarls melded with screams, whimpers, and moans of pain. The vibrant colors of the sea folk were dazzling in the sunlight, but the dragons had the look of poisonous snakes to them; a fatal attraction. Claws flashed, teeth glistened, and long tails flowed around them like ribbons. War had never been so terrifyingly beautiful.

  A massive dragon, maybe forty feet in length and striped like a rainbow, slashed at a turquoise dragon with long whiskers swishing through the air as if they were in water. The turquoise beast opened his mouth and blew a wind tunnel at the rainbow-colored one, tossing the multi-colored monster head over tail like a tumbleweed.

  King Baxia, recognizable by his enormous tortoise body, had been rolled onto his back by a crimson dragon only a little longer than I was tall. Those brilliant red scales flashed like fire as the miniature dragon used his advantage to go for Baxia's throat. Size didn't seem to matter when you were a dragon.

  Nearby, a magnificent gold dragon leapt into the air and came down in a sinuous arch, right on the back of King Chaofeng's lion body. Chaofeng thrashed his head backward, impaling the golden dragon with the horns that crested his head. Then a pearly white dragon kicked a large piece of coral through the air; it surged like an arrow and struck Chaofeng in his left eye. Chaofeng howled and lurched away from the gold dragon.

  “Lucky hit,” I murmured.

  Trees cracked like thunder as they broke under the weight of massive bodies that were tossed into them. The earth trembled under the thrashing of monsters better suited to the sea; rocks and dirt crumbling away from the cliff I stood on. The animals of the region had already fled, but the plant life was at the mercy of the dragon courts. To the Fey, all living things were important, and the damage to the flora of the shoreline was nearly as traumatic as the loss of fairy lives.

  The Fey didn't cut down trees or mine jewels from stone. They used magic to coerce the earth to give up her treasures gently and only took wood from trees that had naturally died. When food was harvested, it was done so at the peak of ripeness, when a plant wants to give up its burden. As far as hunting, they behaved more like predator beasts than humans, taking the sick and injured from the herd, or culling a population that had grown too large. Everything was done in harmony with nature. For the first time since I'd come to Fairy, I not only understood why, I felt it.

  I could feel the land weeping, crying out for mercy and help. It rumbled through my bones with the strength of mountains, but that strength was hobbled. As mighty as stone is, it cannot move to protect itself. As solid as a tree grows, it cannot shift out of a dragon's path. I was its guardian, as was every other fairy in the realm. We protected the land, and the land gav
e its offerings to us in exchange. Even in war, the Fey did not abuse the flora and fauna. Except the sea dragons seemed to have missed the memo.

  And the land wasn't the only thing at risk; there was a seelie village just a few hundred yards away.

  I strode down the cliff, feeling the earth urge me on, and headed toward a meadow; the only open patch of land between the dragon war and the seelie village. I could see the seelie fleeing their town already. No one wanted to get in the way of a dragon war, no matter how much they loved their home. I was relieved that they were smart enough to run, but I'd need to buy them some time if they were to escape unscathed. Their king was too far away to protect them, but their queen was here, and I intended to do my duty.

  I saw several of the seelie pause and point toward me. Hope filled a few faces, but I couldn't have them dallying.

  “Run!” I shouted as I pointed into the distance.

  The fairies dropped their burdens and fled while I turned resolutely toward the sound of battle.

  “Now, can I shift?” Killian asked me.

  I clutched him tight to my chest and kissed him, knowing it may be our last. “Yes, now you can shift.”

  I stood back as Killian stripped, and just as the dragon war rumbled through the treeline, Killian transformed into a giant snake. He was just as big as the dragons, and even more menacing, but they didn't even pause to take note of him. The dragon courts were too consumed with rage. I don't think they even knew we were there.

  “Sometimes you gotta fight fire with fire,” I whispered. “Or water with water.” I wrapped my hand around the dragon tear and asked it to, “Help me stop them.”

  My water magic was only a beag—just the minor elemental power that every fairy had—but it surged forth with the help of that tear. A cracking sound rent the air as the heavens opened, and a wall of water fell from the sky, creating a liquid barrier between the dragons and the village.

  That got their attention.

  The fighting slowed, and the sea courts looked toward Killian and me at last. But they didn't stop fighting until they rolled up against my barrier and found it to be solid. Still, that pause lasted only a moment, and then they simply angled the battle into another direction.

  I growled and shot my hand out again. Another wall of water appeared, but my arms were starting to tremble. This type of magic had to be sustained. It wasn't like my mór, that could be released and still function on its own for awhile. I moaned as the sea fey hit my new barrier; a tremor racing down the line of energy to me like a struck nerve.

  “Stand down, Queen Seren!” A massive, black dragon called out to me in King Ryujin's voice. “You have no right to interfere.”

  “You are threatening my people with your war, and leveling my kingdom, King Ryujin!” I shouted back. “Take your battle back to the sea, or you'll face my wrath!”

  “We are only defending ourselves!” King Sui Ryu's thunder-tinged voice came from the mouth of a giant, indigo dragon. Storm clouds gathered above him as he shouted,“They brought the war to your shore!”

  Before I could respond, another dragon launched into Sui Ryu, and they rolled violently across the land, flattening foliage and spraying blood.

  “Danu,” I prayed. “I could use some help here.”

  All you had to do was ask. She sounded amused.

  Then she was inside me, and I could feel that she was far from entertained. She was furious. Danu took us forward, dropping the walls of water as we went, and power filled my body to overflowing. I could see the glow of my skin, even through my clothing, and my hair whipped around me as if I stood in the middle of a hurricane.

  “Cease!” She shouted through me.

  The sound of the Goddess' voice reverberated through the air and then into the land. The ground trembled, throwing the combatants to their knees, and all eyes turned to me—to Danu.

  The Court of the Dragon Kings stayed on their knees and bowed their heads reverently as soon as it became clear who addressed them, but the Sons got to their feet defiantly.

  “You dare to stand before my fury?” Danu shouted at the Sons.

  “We are not your children anymore!” King Yazi called out bravely—or stupidly.

  Danu lifted my hand, and Yazi was knocked unconscious. The other sea fey from the Court of the Dragon Sons eased away from Yazi's body warily.

  “Violence will not win us over,” Queen Daiyu sneered. “You only push us further away.”

  “Do you think that I care anymore?” Danu asked scathingly. “I can only take so much rejection before I cease trying, Daiyu. Your people have denied me over and over again, despite my gentle efforts. I sent my champion into your court, and you tried to murder her! Still, I forgave you. Still, I hoped that you would come back to me.”

  “You abandoned us!” King Bixi snarled.

  “I never abandoned you, but I'm done arguing with you about it.” My hand slashed down, and all of the Court of the Nine Sons went to their knees. “The time for gentle coercion is over; now you will pay the price of defying your goddess.”

  Danu lifted my hands, and magic thrummed through me. It shot out of my fingers in a thick, blindingly bright column of energy. The light flowed out over the Court of the Nine Sons and sunk into the bodies of the sea fairies, knocking them off their feet. Scales trembled and teeth gnashed as tails beat the earth impotently. Then they settled, and everything went quiet.

  Slowly, the Court of the Nine Sons got to their feet and walked back to the sea. Danu turned us to face the Court of the Dragon Kings, completely disregarding the other. The Kings stared at us with wide eyes. They had transformed back into their human forms and came forward to kneel before Danu as people instead of dragons.

  “Your cousins have defied me, and now they will obey blindly,” Danu said. “Your responsibilities are too great to risk your lives in war, and the seelie have done nothing to deserve such foul treatment. I will not have it.”

  The Court of the Dragon Kings bowed their heads.

  “But you have shown me loyalty,” Danu went on. “You even provided Seren with the means to help protect the seelie, and for that, you will be rewarded.”

  The dead bodies belonging to the Court of the Dragons Kings shimmered and then stood, alive once more. The Kings murmured their awed gratitude to Danu, and she waved a hand over their bent heads.

  “Thank you, my children, for your service in the sea, and your bravery this day,” Danu intoned. “It will not be forgotten. I promise that you will never have to fight your cousins again. The oceans of Fairy will know peace, as the land does.”

  “Thank you, Danu,” King Ryujin said reverently.

  “Ryujin,” Danu smiled through me. “You, especially, have proven yourself to be honorable. You did well when you gave Seren your tear. Not only has it protected my champion, but by giving it to her, you have saved your entire court. They chose wisely when they decided to follow you.”

  Ryujin smiled and bent over in a deep bow.

  “Now, return to the sea, my children. Go with my blessing, and know that I am never far from your side.”

  The Court of the Nine Sons got to their feet and went back to their undersea palace.

  Danu withdrew as well, but not entirely.

  I gasped as she left me, then smiled. “Nicely done.”

  Thank you, Daughter.

  “But, I thought you couldn't interfere with free will?” I asked her.

  There was a pregnant pause before she spoke. I have broken a universal law by taking away their will, but the sea raths must be protected and so must the seelie fey. I decided that the safety of our planet was worth the price.

  “Even the gods are capable of sacrifice,” I whispered reverently.

  When we love greatly, we are. She said gently. I have sat and watched for too long, Daughter. I had to take action.

  “What will happen to you?”

  That, I don't know. Breaking a universal law isn't like breaking Council Law. There is no standard pun
ishment. In fact, there is no punishment at all, not in the way you think of such things. The natural order has been altered, and it will have to right itself. Balance will be restored, and because I was the one to push the pendulum, it will inevitably swing back to hit me.

  “Balance.” I nodded. “I think I understand.”

  Good, amusement returned to her voice, perhaps you'll be able to help me lessen the blow when it comes.

  “I got you, Danu.” I smirked. “You know that.”

  I do know that, Daughter. Thank you.

  “Hey”—I blinked as a thought occurred to me—“you can raise the dead?”

  What; you thought that my brother could do it, but I couldn't?

  “I hadn't thought about it at all.” I shrugged.

  “You still talking to her?” Killian asked. He had shifted back to human and got dressed while I was distracted with Danu... damn it.

  “Yeah.”

  “Ask her about Tromlaighe,” Killian reminded me.

  Tromlaighe? Danu's voice trembled with feigned innocence.

  “Don't pretend that you didn't call us together.” I grimaced. “I just want to know; why him? Why now? I've only just united the kingdoms; I really don't need this.”