Witchbane (Book 5 in The Twilight Court Series)

by Amy Sumida

  “Seren,” Keir turned back to me after he'd gained control of himself. He held the letter out to me imploringly. “I did this for you. I wanted to bring Ewan back to you, even though it pained me to do so. I wasn't sure what his reaction would be, so I didn't tell you.”

  “You weren't sure?” I scoffed. “Not even after the tenth letter? Or the twentieth? How about when you started referring to me as 'our daughter'? Or when you started encouraging Ewan to investigate the witches? How about then?! Were you sure of his reaction then?”

  The color completely leeched out of Keir's face as it finally occurred to him what his letters had done.

  “I couldn't have known what would happen,” he whispered. “Surely you don't blame me for Ewan's death?”

  “He's not dead!” I screamed and Cat hid her face beneath her paws. “Your brother's wife turned him into a zombie. The same brother who once threatened to rape me, but then passed me off to my own cousin instead. My fucked-in-the-head, sexually violent, and deviant cousin! Your brother who killed my mother and who tried to kill me. Twice. The man who brought back his dead wife using the power he gathered from murdering our people! That's who you sent my father after.”

  “Seren, I am your father,” Keir said in a wounded tone.

  “By birth,” I agreed. I knew I was about to say something I'd regret, but I couldn't stop now. I was too angry, and I was on a roll. “But Ewan raised me. He was there for me when I needed him. He made me an extinguisher and taught me the difference between right and wrong. Something your own father obviously failed to do with you. But I'm not too surprised by that, he was the same man who raised Uisdean... and who killed Raza's family so he could steal the unseelie throne.”

  “That is enough!” Keir slashed his hand down, sparks flying off the edge of his palm. “You will not speak to me in this way!”

  “Oh? You gonna demand respect from me, Keir?” I sneered. “I'm not one of your twilight fairies, whom you can just order around. I am my own woman, thanks to Ewan Sloane. I'll form my own opinions and give respect to whomever I believe worthy of it. Right now, the only thing I believe you're worthy of is my scorn. Go back to Fairy and leave me the fuck alone!”

  “Seren,” Keir's voice shook as his whole demeanor shifted. “Forgive me, please. I know you love me as I love you. Don't do this to us. You are the whole of my life. I cannot leave you here like this, with such anger between us. Please,” he eased forward and put his hand to my cheek. “Look into your heart and see what you've learned of me. You know I would never do anything to hurt you. My every action is out of love for you. I beg you, do not take away the only thing that matters to me. My daughter.”

  Tears were streaming from his amazing, violet eyes. The silver spikes of the star which laid over them, glowed with emotion. Keir leaned his forehead to mine when I remained silent, and then slowly, very slowly, wrapped his arms around me. The tightness eased from my body and I shuddered. Regret surged through me. Seeing Keir cry, and knowing it was because of me, was a misery so gut-wrenching, I'd probably have nightmares about it for years.

  “I'm sorry, Dad,” I whispered.

  “Forgiven,” Keir's voice was tear soaked. “Now you must forgive me.” He pulled away and stared at me solemnly. “I wrote to Ewan for you, I swear it. When he began to respond positively, I decided to foster a relationship with him. I had to go slowly. Ewan Sloane is a hard man, and I was afraid any direct gestures to reunite the two of you would upset him. So I waited and continued to patiently build a friendship with him.”

  “Why did you tell him to investigate the witches?” I shook my head.

  “I thought they'd be a good distraction for him,” Keir hung his head a moment. “I thought perhaps it would help him to get over his hatred of the Fey. If I'd had any idea that it would lead to his death, I would have begged him to stay away from every situation involving them. I didn't know he would ask to be on the team the Council sent after Uisdean. I didn't even think about there being witches with them.”

  I considered it. Cat leaned into my leg supportively.

  “Ewan loved you very much, Seren,” Keir stroked my wet cheek gently.

  When had I started to cry? Ewan would be so disappointed in all my blubbering.

  “I know,” I took Keir's hand and slowly moved it away from me. “His last words were for me. Wesley Dearheart's soul stayed behind just to deliver Ewan's message.”

  Keir's eyes went wide.

  “And Ewan left me all he owned,” I sighed and headed for the couch. Keir followed more slowly. “It's not a lot, but it means a lot to me. I went to have a look around our old house, and that's when I found the letters.”

  “I'm so sorry,” Keir said again as he sat across from me. “I wanted you to have him back. Ewan was a good man.”

  “I know,” I swallowed hard. “And he deserves to be at peace. I'm not going back to Fairy without giving him that. I feel like it's my duty.”

  “I understand,” Keir sighed. “Seren, you know Tiernan-”

  “No,” I held my hand up. “I can't talk about him right now. It's too much.”

  “But he loves you-”

  “I said no, Dad,” I ground out.

  Keir nodded crisply, “Very well. It is your relationship.”

  “Or lack of one,” I sighed.

  “We both know you won't be lonely for long,” he offered gently.

  “I can't do that either, Dad,” I shook my head. “Even if Tiernan and I are truly over, and I'm not saying we are,” I held up a hand to stop Keir from saying anything. “But even if we are, I can't just move on to another man right away. It would hurt me if Tiernan moved on so quickly, and I won't do it to him. No matter what he said. I need some time to figure this out.”

  “What exactly did Tiernan say to you?”

  “Recently?” I huffed and Keir scowled. “He said I was acting like a human. That I was a traitor, among other things,” I shook my head. “Never mind, it was bad, but we all say awful things when we're hurt.”

  We looked at each other, the pain of our argument still so fresh, and Keir nodded.

  “We do,” Keir agreed. “And if we love each other, we must forgive those awful things. We must understand that they are only words, weapons used to hurt those we love because we can't hurt them physically.”

  “Maybe you can't,” I muttered.

  “What?” Keir went still.

  “No, nothing,” I couldn't tell Keir about the slap. First of all, I wasn't even that upset about it anymore. And second, Keir might strike out against Tiernan in anger. And it wouldn't be verbally.

  “Let's call everyone back inside,” I pushed to my feet like an old woman. “And then you can tell us what you think Uisdean and Rue are really up to.”

  Keir's gaze followed me with concern, but he nodded, and I hurried to the door before he could question me further on Tiernan.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Everyone was standing in the hallway. And the “everyone” included Keir's Guard, who had apparently been standing outside, waiting for their king to grab his wayward daughter, and force her to return to Twilight with them. When I opened the door, all of the hallway's inhabitants immediately tried to look as if they'd been casually lounging there and not eavesdropping at all. I shook my head at them, rolled my eyes, and waved them in. Killian came through the door last.

  “Damn, Twilight,” Killian whistled. “You don't pull any punches.”

  “Not when I'm that angry,” I agreed.

  “Well hold onto that anger for when we find your uncle.”

  “No kidding,” I huffed and closed the door behind us.

  My father was sitting where I'd left him, but now he was surrounded by his King's Guard, and my Star's Guard was ranged out around them. Killian had taken a seat on the couch across from Keir, where I'd been sitting. Daniel was beside him. So I went to sit beside Keir instead of resuming my old seat.

  “Perhaps you'd like to formerly introduce me to your new frien
ds,” Keir suggested.

  “Dad, this is Elder Daniel Claybourn,” I introduced Daniel first. “He was originally from the Bite tribe, but now he's the Elder of a different sort of tribe, called Casters.”

  “Your Majesty,” Daniel held out his hand and Keir shook it.

  “Nice to meet you, Elder Claybourn,” Keir said politely, then he looked to me. “Casters?”

  “This is Killian Blair,” I went on without answering his question, because I was getting to it. “He's a new type of witch, a tribe the Coven didn't tell us about. Killian is a child born of parents from two types of witch tribes. The Coven outlawed such interbreeding, so Killian's parents left the Coven to be together. They formed a new tribe with other like-minded couples, and built themselves a community in which to raise their children. They called themselves-”

  “Casters, instead of outcasts. Subtle but effective,” Keir nodded. “Are they similar to twilight fey?”

  “Yes, very,” I smiled at him for picking up on it right away.

  “Fascinating,” Keir looked at Killian like he was a science experiment. “Do you have any unique abilities? Things different from the tribes you are descended from?”

  “Yep,” Killian smirked. “Would you care to see them?”

  “Yes-”

  “No,” I cut my father off. “It's not an indoor kind of magic,” I shook my head at Killian. “Come on, Blair, please behave yourself.”

  “Only because you asked nicely,” Killian grinned at me. “Now, you gonna introduce me back, or what?”

  “Killian, this is my father,” I rolled my eyes, “King Keir of Twilight.”

  “Nice to meet you, Sir,” Killian stuck his hand out to my dad.

  Keir stared thoughtfully at Killian a moment before he took the hand. “You have a romantic interest in my daughter,” he stated it like a fact.

  “Dad,” I groaned.

  “I do,” Killian said blandly. “She's an amazing woman, as I'm sure you know.”

  “I do,” Keir repeated Killian's words. “But she's not for you.”

  “Why is that?” Killian ground out, his expression changing instantly from friendly to furious.

  “Dad,” my tone also shifted into anger.

  “You cannot enter Fairy, correct?” Keir asked with a lifted brow. He continued before Killian could answer, because Keir already knew the answer. “If you can't enter Fairy, you can't be a part of Seren's life. Not fully. You will have only half of her. As a man speaking from experience, I can assure you that a half-life with the woman you love is not enough.”

  Killian frowned, then looked to me for help. But I was still processing the truth of Keir's words. Not that I was giving any serious thought to a relationship with Killian, but the most important reason I shouldn't get involved with him hadn't even occurred to me. Killian couldn't step a foot in Fairy. Not even to visit. And Fairy was where I lived. If I dated Killian, I'd have to do it purely in HR (the Human Realm).

  Before I said anything to Killian, I laid a hand on Keir's clenched fist. The fist opened and twisted to hold my hand. I squeezed gently, supportively, because I knew what Keir had given up for my safety. He didn't want that half existence for me. My mother may have lived a fulfilling life, with both of the men she loved, but Keir had suffered. All he had were stolen moments with Catriona, and nearly nothing with me. It was a different situation, but the result would be similar. Between my work as an ambassador and my duties as the Princess of Twilight, I'd have little time to spend traveling to HR to visit a lover.

  “He's right,” I cleared my throat and looked back to Killian. “It's another reason we shouldn't get together.

  “Another reason?” Killian huffed. “You think there are other reasons?”

  “Soooo many,” Conri chuckled.

  “Can we just calm down?” Daniel asked gently, and was ignored. “I hardly think this is an appropriate conversation-”

  “Stay out of this,” Killian growled at Conri, over his shoulder.

  “She's my princess,” Conri growled back, though he did it better. Bargest and all. “I will not stay out of it. I'm going to get all up in it. So think about that too, witchling. Chase after a princess, and you get the hounds set on you.”

  “Everyone, please,” I started politely, “shut the fuck up!”

  “Yes, Princess,” Conri said immediately, easing into a guard's stance. Hands clasped loosely before him and shoulders back.

  I leveled my stare on Killian. He sighed, but nodded. So I transferred my gaze to my father.

  “I as well?” Keir looked shocked. “I was merely-”

  “Interfering in my love life,” I finished for him, giving his hand a final squeeze before letting it go. “This is not the time to get distracted by my possible boyfriends.”

  “Boyfriends?” Keir smiled. “Plural? Does this mean you're considering the tradition of consorts?”

  “Is he talking about what I think he's talking about?” Killian asked me.

  I just nodded.

  “And you're cool with that?” Killian turned his horrified stare to Keir.

  “I told you that fairies are different,” I said to Killian.

  “I admit, I didn't actually believe your father would encourage you to sleep with two men,” Killian grimaced.

  “Not just any two men,” Keir corrected. “A Lord of the Wild Hunt, who also happens to be like a son to me, and the King of Unseelie.” He turned to me, “I'd be thrilled-”

  “Stop it,” I huffed. “Has everyone gone insane?” I looked around the room and found several nodding heads. Good, I wasn't the only one who thought it was ridiculous to sit there arguing over my next lover when my father was out there zombie-ing about. “We need to discuss Uisdean and Rue.”

  “Mainly Rue,” Killian muttered.

  “What does that mean?” Keir asked him.

  “Well, I've yet to hear about, or see, Uisdean do anything,” Killian shrugged. “When we infiltrated their last hide out, it was Rue who looked as if she were in charge.”

  “I'm not completely surprised,” Keir sighed. “Uisdean must be swaying between love and disgust for his returned bride. I don't think he fully understood what he was doing when he brought her back.”

  “Good for him,” I growled. “Uisdean killed my men to resurrect her. I hope Rue gives him hell.”

  There were several mutters of agreement circling the room.

  “Unfortunately, that hell will not be reserved for Uisdean,” Keir grimaced, “and could possibly be literal.”

  “You said they weren't trying to raise an army of dead fairies,” Killian pointed out. “What do you think they're doing?”

  All eyes turned to Keir.

  “I think they're trying to take over the Earth,” Keir said grimly. “Worldwide dominion.”

  “Well, that's a little overdone,” Killian rolled his eyes.

  “Yes, the Fey have tried before,” Keir nodded.

  “Yeah, so has Magneto, Dr. Doom, Dr. Evil, Dr. Octopus, Dr. Destiny, and the Brain... from Pinky and the Brain,” Killian muttered, and then frowned. “Why do so many super villains call themselves Dr.? I'm pretty sure they don't all have doctorates.”

  “Sounds like someone has way too much time on his hands,” Conri smirked.

  “And way too many comic books for a grown man,” Gradh added.

  “I like to read,” Killian shrugged. “What can I say? I'm an intellectual.”

  “The Fey failed,” Keir went on smoothly, completely disregarding the banter. “Because even in war, we had honor. Rue is not constricted by any of the softer emotions.”

  “Why would Rue want to rule the world?” I shook my head.

  “Why not?” Killian gave me a duh face and quoted, “Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?”

  “Killian,” Daniel shook his head and groaned.

  “Rue wants Earth because she can't rule Fairy,” Keir declared. “She's had to retreat here, chased off by the Goddess herself. There's no going
home for her. If she wants to be a queen again, Rue must make her own kingdom among the humans.”

  “That's not too difficult,” Conri shrugged and got smacked by Gradh. “What?”

  “You're right, Sir Conri,” Keir nodded. “It's not that difficult... with pure humans. But with witches, the issue changes.”

  “But witches aren't the only ones who can oppose her here,” I argued. “The Extinguishers were created specifically to police the Fey. And they're good at it.”

  “But look what she's already done to them,” Keir spread his hands like it was so obvious. “I heard your news report. It seems to me that Rue has decided to use the humans to rid herself of the greatest threat to her rule on Earth: witches. After the witches are exterminated, it would be an easy thing to target the extinguishers next. And Rue probably assumes that once we see her victories, the Fey will pull back into Fairy. She'll have the Earth all to herself.”

  “It doesn't explain why she killed the witches and turned the others into zombies,” Killian narrowed his eyes in thought. “I hear where you're coming from, but I don't think that's entirely accurate. There's too many questions left unanswered.”

  “There's most likely an issue with killing the witches,” Keir shrugged. “Perhaps her magic won't work on them. Perhaps they are immune to both her ability to fairy-strike and her freezing mór. Perhaps she simply thinks they are abominations.”

  “Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps,” Killian sung. “Sorry, pops, but I don't think you've got the winning answer. I'm still going with the army of the dead thing. If for no other reason than it sounds cool.”

  “Yes, that's how you should make all of your decisions,” I rolled my eyes, “based on how cool it sounds.”

  “Tell me 'The Army of the Evil Dead' does not sound cool,” Killian dared me.

  I shook my head and chuckled, “That name's already taken.”

  “No,” Killian insisted. “It's The Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, and Army of Darkness. Not the Army of the Evil Dead.”

  “It's not going to be 'cool' when you're actually faced with the undead army,” Torquil noted stiffly.

  “Valid,” I grimaced.