Pixie-Led (Book 2 in the Twilight Court Series)

by Amy Sumida

  Cat looked up at me and gave a canine huff, ruffling her long, dove gray fur. Her chocolate brown eyes stared up at me as if she'd completely understood everything I'd said. Which of course she had. All fairies had the ability to speak to animals. Even us half-fairies. Not just speak to them but be understood by them.

  I was heading for the royal reception room. Unlike the Twilight Fairy Council, we liked to receive our guests in a more comfortable and companionable fashion. Unfortunately, my current guest was my evil Uncle Uisdean and the only way I wanted to receive him was at the end of my sword... my iron sword.

  Oh, yeah, just a quick note; the fey are totally vulnerable to iron. It poisons their blood, causing a chemical reaction that will turn fatal if not treated promptly. I, being only half fey, am immune to iron. So I had no problem wielding an iron weapon. I wouldn't have a problem using it to kill my uncle either... if only that wouldn't bring the Sluagh down on my head.

  I don't scare easily but the Sluagh terrify me. I've had the extreme misfortune of meeting them twice and both times ended with me running for my life. You didn't stand your ground against the Sluagh and win, it was impossible. In fact, fairies were usually damn impressed to find out that I'd simply managed to escape the Sluagh. They shouldn't be though, it was Tiernan who saved me both times. And guess who sent them after me. Yep, I don't call him my evil Uncle Uisdean for nothing. Oh, and did I mention he was the one who killed my mother? He didn't even have the balls to do it himself. Just like with me, he sent others to do his dirty work. In the case of my mother, it was a pack of pukas.

  I looked down at the puka at my side and sighed. Cat (ironically named after my mother) was a twilight puka. They're a bit different than the unseelie pukas who killed Mom. Though I don't blame them for her death anymore. Mainly because they were just following their master's order. And their master had been Uisdean.

  “Gods, I wish I could kill him,” I growled as I shoved the elaborately carved door open to find the man himself sitting as comfy as you please in the most ornate chair in the royal reception room.

  Evil Uncle Uisdean had agreed to come to Twilight to see me. Not because of any familial loyalty but because my status as Ambassador demanded that he make an effort. I was reluctant to go into the Dark Court after he tried to have me imprisoned there... and wed to my cousin, Bress. Eew. Despite being psychotic, Bress was actually quite attractive but I wasn't into the whole Backwoods Barbie thing and had no intentions of marrying my cousin. Not to mention the fact that he was majorly into S&M. Like majorly. No safe words involved.

  Uisdean looked right at home in the garish chair. His crazy-long jet black hair draped over the blood colored cushions and gilded wood like it was formed just for him. His booted feet were crossed at the ankles, resting on a little padded stool, and his hands were set calmly in his lap, long elegant fingers twining together. His eyes, black as an abyss from rim to rim, rested on me with mocking earnestness. I looked away before I lost my cool and attacked him with my bare hands.

  The rest of the room was just as ornate as his chair, with thick rugs patterned in wine red and antique gold, purple damask curtains swagging over the long windows, and massive oil paintings adorning the walls. There was an elaborately mantled fireplace and before it was set a tea service on one of those rolling silver carts. From the looks of the empty cup set on a side table near Uisdean's elbow, he'd already helped himself to the tea or rather, he'd already been served. I looked from the teacup to Uisdean and stared at him like he was a cockroach on a silk pillow. A bug I'd like to smash until he was just a stain. I'd have to throw the pillow away but I was okay with that, we had plenty of pillows.

  “Greetings, Daughter of my Brother,” Uisdean actually did me the courtesy of standing and giving me a vague nod. Wonders never cease.

  “Greetings, Crazy Motherfucker,” I nodded back (it's kind of our thing).

  “Now, Seren,” he chuckled as he sat. “You know you should start practicing your etiquette. Especially now that you're an ambassador. And well done, by the way. What an ingenious means of protecting yourself from me.”

  “Pardon?” I sat on the settee opposite him and Cat climbed up beside me, taking up the rest of the space and dangling over the edge a bit. The couch was pale pink striped damask and I hated it but it was as far away as I could get from him without standing.

  “You're completely off limits as an ambassador,” he frowned. “I thought you knew.”

  “I thought I was already off limits as a princess,” I frowned back. “Yet you still abducted me.”

  “Oh, royalty can be outmaneuvered but ambassador status is a bit more tricky,” he grimaced. “Mainly because it's so new, I haven't had time to figure out a way around it yet. I see now that I gave you intellectual credit when the reality is that you were just lucky.”

  “How is it tricky?” I leaned forward, over the crystal topped table between us and the tray of chocolate truffles set there. I gave the chocolate another glance and then snatched one up. Who can resist a tray of truffles?

  “As Princess Seren, you're important to the Twilight Kingdom,” he slid a hand beneath me to take a truffle too and then popped it into his mouth. See what I mean? Not even a king can resist a truffle tray. Chewing slowly, Uisdean considered me before continuing. “As Ambassador Seren, you're important to every kingdom, including mine. Fairy, as a whole, needs you and if I were to offer you injury, it would pose more trouble than it was worth. More trouble than you're worth.”

  “Sweet,” I smiled.

  “Yes, this is delicious,” he waved at the plate of chocolates. “But I think we should be done with the social customs and move on.”

  “No, I meant... never mind,” I sighed. “I'm actually grateful that you told me that. Which makes me suspicious. Why would you tell me that?”

  “I have no reason to lie to you,” he waved a hand airily. “I am many things,” he leaned towards me, stopping just an inch from my face, and grinned wickedly as he added, “many devilish things, but a liar is not one of them.”

  “Really?” I lifted my brows, determined to not show weakness by pulling away. “I don't think I know you well enough to believe or disbelieve that.”

  “And I don't think I like you well enough to care what you believe,” he smirked.

  “Fair enough,” I nodded and finally leaned back. “So let me get right to it, then. The Fairy Council-”

  “You mean the Twilight Fairy Council,” he corrected.

  “Does it make a difference?” I frowned.

  “Oh yes,” he crooned. “Each council house is more inclined toward the kingdom they're a part of. It's why the High Council is formed of all three types of fey.”

  “But the Hunt is a mix of all houses,” I argued.

  “Yes, yes,” he huffed. “But that makes little difference. The Council rules.”

  “But they work together,” I tried again, “all of the houses.”

  “So they do,” he huffed. “Fine, I'm tired of this banter, I'll concede if you will just stop your inane persistence. Now what is it that the Council wants of me?”

  “They've requested that I interview you regarding the Cailleach Bheur situation,” I eased back into my seat.

  “The Cailleach Bheur situation?” He laughed. “That's lovely. I'm sure she'd be thrilled to be labeled as a situation.”

  “Have you found her?” I asked.

  “Not as yet,” he looked a little peeved.

  “So she's not in the Dark Kingdom?” I pressed.

  “We've searched far and wide,” he made a moue of distaste. “And the hag is nowhere to be found. I believe she's gone to the Human Realm. On the sheep, as you humans call it.”

  “On the lam,” I corrected, then cleared my throat to keep myself from laughing.

  “Lamb, fox, goat,” he waved his hand in dismissal. “It's all the same; she has fled.”

  “Do you have any idea of where in the Human Realm she might have fled to?” I watched him carefull
y and saw just the tiniest glimmer of something in his eyes.

  “No, I don't,” he looked away.

  “You do!” I accused. “You are a liar.”

  “You little pathetic excuse for a princess!” He snarled and his sudden viciousness surprised me enough to send me shifting back further in my seat. “Do not call me liar again. Not ever. I don't know where she'd go. I may know of some hags who might know but now I'm rather disinclined to help you.”

  “Disinclined to help me or my father?” I narrowed my eyes on him. “How badly do you hate him? Would you really let Fairy be hurt just to see him flounder?”

  “I don't hate my brother,” Uisdean was calm again, taking a deep breath as he sat back and shifted his hair dramatically. “Impotent hatred is the most horrible emotion. You shouldn't hate those you can't destroy.”

  “You quote humans a lot for a guy who thinks so little of them,” I observed.

  “Know thy enemy,” he shrugged.

  “Another human quote,” I shook my head. “How badly do you hate us?”

  “Which us, little niece?” He smiled like a snake. “The twilight fey, the fairy royals, your branch of my family in particular, or the humans. Which of those do you think I hate?”

  “Humans obviously,” I ground out.

  “Oh, is it obvious?” He cocked his head and seemed to consider. “Perhaps because I can destroy humans and I have so much fun doing so.”

  “Are you admitting to being part of a plot to destroy the Human Realm?” I asked immediately. “Are you scheming with Cailleach Bheur?”

  “No, not this time,” he sighed and sat back.

  “You're annoyed that she didn't let you in on it, aren't you?” I chuckled.

  “I can't conceive of any reason why she wouldn't,” Uisdean pouted. “I would be the strongest ally she could have.”

  “Except you wouldn't agree with completely destroying the Human Realm, would you?” I lifted a brow. “You agree that anything so devastating would leak into Fairy.”

  “I am brilliant enough to find ways around that,” he gave me a look which clearly said he thought I should have known that already.

  “Why is it that you hate humans so much?” I pondered him. “Is it just simple racism or is it something more?”

  “I fought in the last war, you silly child,” he growled. “You think I'm cruel? You think I'm crazy and wicked? You should have seen your humans then. They far exceeded me in all of those areas. I've never seen such evil as I have in the eyes and hearts of humans.”

  Cat whimpered and I stroked her head absently as a shiver coasted through me.

  “Nothing to say to that?” Uisdean lifted his chin haughtily.

  “What can I say besides; you're right?” I shrugged and his eyes widened.

  “You admit that humans are evil?” His voice was filled with disbelief.

  “Some of them are, yes,” I nodded. “There is greatness in mankind, just as in fairykind. Great good and great evil. You have judged an entire race by the warriors they sent in their defense. As a warrior yourself, you should know better. You should know, as do I, that we soldiers are not the best examples of our races. We are the most physically and psychically capable but that can also make us the most vicious and the most coldly calculating. Especially in war.”

  “That is a fair point,” Uisdean conceded. “But one that's hard to swallow after all I've seen.”

  “Well then, chew on this, Evil Uncle,” I offered. “If I had been as you are and judged all the fey by your actions, I wouldn't be sitting here today. I'd be in the Human Realm, extinguishing fairies.”

  “Oh, don't tease me,” he sighed dramatically.

  Chapter Six

  “Aideen!” On the way back to my suite, I ran into the statuesque dryad.

  She'd been in the middle of speaking to my father, standing between the silver star inlay in the center of the lavender floor and the soaring statues of my grandparents which bracketed the main staircase. Aideen's pastel peppermint hair was swept up onto her head and the slim branches of night blooming jasmine which were normally hidden away inside her tresses, were woven around her temples like a circlet. The delicate, tiny, trumpet-like flowers laid against her temples, highlighting her fragile beauty. She wore a long, blush pink silk gown that went well with both her hair and her lightly tanned skin, and she looked fantastic in it, like a fairy supermodel. Her huge ivy eyes widened even further when she spotted me.

  “Princess Seren!” She rushed forward with effortless grace and swept me into a hug. “I've missed you terribly.”

  “I've missed you too,” I grinned. “How's your tree doing?”

  “Well,” she nodded. “Very healthy. Though I spend most of my day in the Human Realm.”

  “The Human Realm, why?” I asked as my father joined us.

  “That's where I work, remember?” She reminded me.

  “Oh,” I glanced at my father. “I guess I assumed that was all a part of Dad's plan to get me here. I didn't realize you actually worked at Gentry.”

  “Indeed,” she smiled serenely. “I love my research. I do a lot of work with plant growth formulas and disease control. My tree has even benefited from it on occasion.”

  “I would have thought you could accomplish all of that with magic,” I mused.

  “Oh, you can,” she nodded, “but magic fused with science is ten times stronger. Less prone to backfiring.”

  “Right,” I frowned, remembering the threat of a fey-engineered bio-weapon which was supposed to kill all of humanity. It was a fabrication to get me into Fairy but still, if it could be imagined, it could be made.

  “We aren't creating bio-weapons,” my father said as if he could read my mind.

  “Excuse me?” I gaped at him.

  “The look on your face said it all,” he explained. “Seren, our company would never develop such things. It would be blasphemy, an insult to the Goddess.”

  “But we have the capabilities,” I insisted.

  “Just because you're able to destroy something, doesn't mean you should,” Keir said reasonably.

  “Oh but what fun it would be,” Uisdean came up behind us. He had been on his way out of the castle.

  “Hello, Brother,” Keir said crisply.

  “Greetings, Brother,” Uisdean considered Keir. “So your bloodburn magic wasn't the only talent you've been hiding. I didn't know you could harness the power of human science and combine it with magic.”

  “Science is a lot like magic,” the silver stars surrounding Keir's pupils flashed against the deep purple backdrop of his irises. Aideen and I moved slightly away from the Unseelie King like he was a man about to be struck by lightning. Knowing my father, anything was possible.

  “How so?” Uisdean cocked his head, not in the least concerned. Or at least, not showing it.

  “It's delicate,” Keir continued. “You disrespect its laws at your own peril.”

  “Basically, you mix the wrong things together and you could blow yourself to bits,” I explained.

  “Oh now,” Uisdean's thin lips stretched into a razor-sharp smile. “I don't think your magic could ever blow anything to bits, my sweet Seren.”

  It was a well placed barb. As I may have mentioned, my fairy magic, so far, had revealed itself to be more subtle in nature. Star-crossing, although intimidating, was not lethal, at least not immediately, and the dream-dusting just made me a sort of Sandman. Neither of them were as fatal as say my father's bloodburning ability or Uisdean's thorn magic, which could turn a person into a porcupine.

  “Perhaps it's not as savage as some,” my father slid a proud look my way, “but Seren's magic is quite powerful. Our nephew can attest to that.”

  “Oh, snaps,” I whispered under my breath.

  “Speaking of our beloved Bress,” Uisdean paid no attention to my father's boast. “His mother would like to visit and discuss terms for his release.”

  “I'll scry Moire later,” Keir said reluctantly.

&nb
sp; “Really?” I asked Keir.

  “I would never prevent a mother from seeing her son,” Keir gave me a weighted look.

  “As if they would have allowed you to see me,” I huffed.

  “They would have released you or they would have been destroyed,” Keir said simply and I had the satisfaction of watching Uisdean's expression explode... in ways my magic never could.

  King Uisdean didn't even say anything, just turned sharply on his heel, causing his cloak to swing out behind him dramatically. He motioned to his guards, who were waiting near the door, and they rushed forward; two of them opening the double doors for him. Then he swept through them like a disappointed diva exiting the stage. It was all I could do not to laugh.

  “Nicely played,” I said to my father.

  “My brother puts on a strong front but inside, he is insecure,” Keir shrugged. “Any threat to his masculinity or power will make him act rashly.”

  “And yet he moves like a gay thespian,” I observed.

  “He does enjoy his theatrics,” Keir chuckled. “But I think that's a trait of most fairies.”

  “Well I'm glad his drama has left the building,” Aideen fastened her gaze on me. “Now we can get on to the matter of what you'll be wearing to the Seelie Ball.”

  “To the what-what?” I lifted my brows.

  “I haven't told her yet, Aideen,” Keir chided.

  “We're going to a Ball in Seelie?” I asked him.

  “Yes, we've been requested to attend by my mother,” Keir's face looked pretty grim for a party invite.

  “And this is worrisome to you?” I glanced up at the statue of his mother, looming behind me like an avenging angel, I mean; avenging fairy.

  “A bit,” he admitted. “Mother can be a little...”

  “Homicidal?” I offered.

  “Temperamental,” he corrected with a reproachful look.

  “How do you think she'll feel about Tiernan being my date?” I giggled as my father's face turned red and Aideen took a step away from me.