by Conn, Claudy
She returned her attention to the Dark Fae and studied him. He wore simple, aged brown leather pants and sandals—nothing else. He was as tall as any of the Royal Fae and muscular. He was handsome, but he looked as though he never smiled. His black hair was slicked back, braided, and tied in a knot at the nape of his neck. His tats were intricate. He wore a band around his biceps and a large Celtic cross at his left shoulder that tipped onto his chest. He wasn’t covered in them like Hordly and Pestale.
He stood quietly watching and waiting. When he brought his coal black eyes up and met Jazz’s gaze, she felt a wave of sympathy for him.
Jazz wondered what it was about this Dark Prince that was so very different than his brothers. She was certain he was different. She couldn’t forget that he had jumped in and saved that mother and child from one of the Unseelie monsters. He saved them when she would have been too late. Surely his brothers would have been upset had they known.
“Maxine—Julian, I am sorry, but you two are mortal and we don’t want you at risk,” Trevor said as she turned back to him. “Will you return to the safety of your castle while we deal with this Dark One?”
“No,” Max said staunchly. “We have been a part of this from the beginning and we mean to see it through…right, Julian?”
“If I could, love, I would send you back to the house and remain here, but I know you too well,” Julian said. Jazz liked him at once. There was something deadly serious and honest about him and yet she sensed he was gentle and caring.
“Maxine, you don’t know me well just yet, but one of these days you will. In the meantime, I think if you and Julian would wait for us up at the castle it would be a good thing. By staying here, Julian also stays and both of you are in mortal danger,” Trevor persisted.
Max frowned as she thought this over and lifted something she had tucked into the waist of her jeans. “I have this. Aaibhe’s Rowan wand and it has seen me through a time or two.”
Deimne chuckled, “I can attest to it.”
“Still it would be better if you were out of harms way,” Trevor insisted.
Maxine shrugged and said with a frown, “Maybe, but I don’t think, that one…,” she turned to Graely, “…means us much harm. As long as you promise to come on up afterward and tell us everything.”
“I promise,” Jazz said with a reassuring smile. She liked Maxine, a whole lot already.
Jazz turned and saw Trevor step up to the invisible wall and go face to face with the Dark Prince and her heart trembled. In spite of the fact that she agreed with Maxine, she did not think Graely meant them harm.
Jazz watched Maxine and Julian walk off towards their castle and turned to jog over to Trevor’s side and then it hit her in waves of warm air. She was sure she was getting a vibe off the Dark Prince!
He was attempting to make her see past who he was. He was trying to get her attention. She saw a soft aura around him and felt its warmth deep inside her mind. But apparently, Trevor did not. He was scowling at the Dark Prince.
“Graely, why did you have Maxine summon us?” Trevor asked getting right to the point. He glanced at Deimne who had his arms folded and his wings drawn completely in.
“My brother Pestale wishes me to deliver a message.” He shook his head. “But before I do I need to tell you that you shouldn’t trust anything he says. In spite of the fact that I am here giving you his message, I do not believe you should comply with his wishes.”
“Really?” Trev said sarcastically.
Jazz turned her head as she heard Deimne scoff and say, “I don’t think you need to tell us that.”
Trevor shook his head. “I don’t have the patience to play your games. Don’t try to fool us by making yourself appear sympathetic to our side.”
“All I am trying to tell you is that you should disregard his message,” Graely said softly.
“Then why bother to come here to give it?” Jazz asked.
“If not I, Hordly would have been sent. I thought it would be safer for the mortal Druids if I came.”
Trevor thought this over. “So you have warned us not to trust Pestale. Fine, but we don’t trust you either.” Trev eyed him up and down and added roughly, “Just tell us what is the message.”
Jazz stood apart and watched, taking everything in and filing it away for later examination.
She could see that Graely considered Trevor, quietly. The Dark Prince stood eyeing him grimly. They were much the same height and she was struck by the vibrations in the atmosphere by the testosterone being emitted.
Trevor had his fists clenched at his side. Graely however, did not look angry. Jazz thought he looked sad and something else she could not name. She was all too aware that only an invisible wall kept them apart, she didn’t feel threatened, which was odd to her.
Graely sighed and looked away, but when he brought his dark thoughtful eyes back to Trevor’s face he said quietly, “Pestale wants what he says humans call a conference. He wants to discuss other options than war. He says he has no empathy for the Unseelie castes he has brought over to the Human Realm and will gladly eliminate them if you agree to all of his terms.”
“Why should I believe this is anything but stall tactics for some other operation he has in mind,” Trevor said with obvious disgust.
“You shouldn’t believe him. You should never believe my brother.” Graely looked away again and then looked across and directly at Jazz. Trevor followed the Dark One’s line of vision and snapped.
“Don’t look at her! Don’t ever look at her! You speak to just me!” Trevor was in a rage.
“Listen,” Graely said. “They don’t confide in me and they don’t trust me. I am not privy to their plans, but I know one thing they want, you and yours dead” Graely once again looked at Jazz as though imploring her to believe him.
“Look at her again and I’ll shift over to your side and you will be the one that is dead!”
“That would be a mistake,” Graely said.
Jazz moved closer to Trevor, he turned and frowned at her. He tried to step in front of her and block Graely from looking at her.
She peeked around Trev and said, “You saved that mother and child, and I thank you for that, but have to wonder, was it to gain my trust for this moment?”
“What mother and child?” Trevor frowned at her.
“Look into me, is that what you sense?” Graely answered her.
“Jazmine Decker, what mother and child?” Trevor asked again.
“I will tell you later,” she said and turned back to Graely. “I haven’t seen you in the battles.”
“No, I do not want this war. I only want freedom,” Graely murmured hopelessly.
“Do your brothers know?”
“Why are you speaking to him? Do not, Jazmine Decker.”
She stroked Trevor’s arm to calm him and repeated the question as Graely had not answered.
Finally, he said, “No, they do not know or care what I want. They did not see me spare the mother and child. They don’t trust me because they know I don’t have the same interests as they do.”
Trevor’s golden eyes narrowed, Jazz could see he did not quite believe Graely, but oddly enough she did.
Trev said, “Where does Pestale want to conduct this so called conference?”
“Out in the open at the Lower Lake, the humans call their National Park at Killarney. There you may see everything for miles and shift off if you feel so inclined,” Graely said and shrugged. “I don’t see any immediate danger, but be forewarned, I know Pestale and he will be planning something.”
“I don’t like it,” Deimne said with a shake of his head. He ran a hand through his white gold hair and his glittering eyes surveyed Graely. “If Pestale truly wants peace then let him deliver his terms in a document. We will read them over and allow our Queens to decide if they are workable terms. That is how it should be done.”
“He will not do that. He wants the respect he thinks is due to him. He knows the Queen will never mee
t with him, but he is willing to conduct a meeting with Prince Trevor and you. Only you two.” Graely stared hard at both of them. “It is my belief that he means to kill you both, but why you two in particular escapes me.”
Jazz beat down the gasp that came to her throat. She tugged at Trevor’s hand, “Don’t do it. Don’t you expect to meet with him?”
Trevor chewed his bottom lip and said, “Tell him, we will think about it.”
“Only you and the Sluagh,” Graely said. “Think about why Pestale would choose just the two of you?”
“And how does he want us to contact him?” Trevor asked as a sneer came over his face.
“When you have an answer, send it with the wind and I shall hear it.” He saw their look of surprise and said, “Father, the Dark King, known to you as Daoine gave me some abilities linked with the earth, wind and fire.” So saying, he was gone.
Chapter Nineteen
WHEN DEIMNE, TREVOR and Jazz returned to Queen Aaibhe’s palace, everyone began speaking at the same time.
The Queen’s chamber was alive with individuals who, although had strong beliefs, were at odds with each other.
A few steps from the far end of the room brought Morgan LeBlanc to his lady’s side where she had quietly retreated to the balcony. She felt his arms go around her and she sighed as she gazed up at his face, “I came out here to think. Graely’s words must not be taken lightly. I do believe his warning and find that to be the only thing that was not meant to manipulate.”
Queen Mab stepped up to the balcony looked at Aaibhe and raised her brow, then advised her that she and Deimne would be returning to her castle in Daoine.
“Now?” Aaibhe was surprised.
“Yes, I recalled a personal artifact that was given to me when I had just become Queen. It is stored somewhere in my weapons room and I believe it will be of great use to us. Deimne is very good at finding these things. We shouldn’t be too long.”
A soft smile passed between them and Aaibhe returned her attention to Morgan who had taken a seat on the garden bench overlooking the Queen’s roses.
He patted a place beside him and spoke softly, “Sound it off me, lass. Say it out loud and I won’t have at ye. Sometimes ye need to hear yerself think. Come now, sit beside me and hear yerself think.”
He was good for her. She went to him and squeezed the hand he put over hers, “I am worried. Whatever I decide will be pivotal. If I am wrong then the consequences of my decisions will be felt around the world. I can’t help but feel that I am not wrong.”
“And what is not wrong, m’darlin’?”
“Something other than our approaching battle with Pestale has me out of sync. I am surprised that Mab does not feel it. She is always in tune with changes in nature.” She clicked her tongue, “Morgan, something has entered the atmosphere we share with the Human Realm. I feel it, I almost hear it and yet… I can’t put my finger on what it.”
“You will,” he said as she pressed up close to him.
“Will I? I hope so before it is too late.” She shook her head. “And this proposed meeting with Pestale is something I do not like at all. It is a trap.”
“I quite agree m’darlin’. What do you propose to do about it?”
“I have to find a way of stopping both Trevor and Deimne from meeting with the scoundrel, for if I know my prince and I do, I think he has already made up his mind and Deimne will accompany him if only to give him some protection. There will be no protection. Pestale has set this up and it is a trap.”
“They wilna go without your approval,” Morgan replied. “I canna believe they would do such a thing.”
“Will they not?” she looked at him with great concern. “You can’t believe that?”
He sighed heavily, “Aye then, I raised a son and I am a male m’self, so then, what do I believe? I do believe you are right in this.”
“Even so, I shall order them to stand down.”
“You can, and as your loyal prince he will agree. In the end, the male in him will do what he has to do. He will see this through if only to test Pestale’s limits.”
“Why can’t he see that it is a trap?” Aaibhe was deeply concerned.
“He does see it, but he thinks he can turn the table on Pestale. I doona think so, but we must arm Prince Trevor accordingly.”
“Yes, Morgan,” she said pyramiding her hands even as he bent to kiss her lips. She looked up into his loving eyes. She was stymied. Pestale kept managing to come back stronger than before. Softly she murmured, “But how dearest?”
~*~
At the long table, his fists hammering on its polished oak, Breslyn shouted, “Enough!” He eyed the gathered group standing around the table and shook his handsome head and Jazz smiled to herself. He had such presence.
“From what I can make out over the din, we seem to be in agreement everyone believes that this is being set up as a trap. I vote we do not allow this meeting to go forward,” Breslyn said with authority.
Most of the gathered Royals all nodded, though each appeared to Jazz as being deep in thought. She looked at Z, who was frowning darkly as she chewed her bottom lip. She saw Z lean into Danté and whisper something she couldn’t make out.
She looked around. No one had anything to say. She looked at Trevor’s face and saw at once that his jaw-line was rigidly set and he was gritting his teeth. He had made up his mind. He wasn’t paying any attention to Breslyn and her heart trembled.
She cleared her throat and offered, “We need to consider that Pestale wants something that must be meaningful to him. He isn’t setting a trap just to kill two powerful Seelie Fae. No, it has to go beyond that. So we have to ask ourselves what that could be. What does Pestale hope to achieve by this so called meeting? We also have to find the answer to why he chose Trevor and Deimne. That just doesn’t make any sense. Pestale killed Lana LeBlanc. Why would he want to negotiate with Trevor when he knows how much Trevor wants him dead? Why Deimne? This meeting he has proposed is most definitely a trap”.
“Well as to his choice of Fae, he knows we would never allow our Queen to be exposed. He has seen that both Danté and Breslyn have years of experience and can’t be fooled,” Z answered and looked at Trevor. “No offense Trev. He knows you would take him apart and put him in the earth to suffer eternity in agony. He also knows if your Queen sends you to hear his offer you will do so and respect the moment without violence. As to why Deimne, I haven’t a clue.”
“How can it be a trap when I can shift in and out at will. I have a Death Sword with one of its crowning properties being that it can’t miss its target when thrown,” Trevor said and shook his head. “He may be planning a trap of some sort, but he hasn’t a chance in hell of accomplishing it with Deimne at my side. A Sluagh? He can’t beat a Sluagh!”
Morgan, who had come back into the chamber with the Queen said, “Pestale killed my baby girl! I shall forever ache for her and doona think anyone wants him dead more than I. However, there are larger matters than revenge at stake here. There are countless humans that will die if we doona contain the Unseelie. If there is a chance of negotiating we must do so. But here is the rub. He isn’t calling for this meeting to negotiate.”
Aaibhe regarded him quietly and said, “I quite agree.”
“Trevor and Chance bested Pestale not so long ago,” Z said thoughtfully. He was sent to the Dark Realm. “Maybe he chose Trevor because of that?”
“Deimne is his wild card,” Jazz said. “He means to lull us perhaps by choosing an all powerful Daoine to watch Trevor’s back.”
“A point,” Danté said and nodded.
Jazz eyed him. “Point or no.” She stepped up to her mate and looked right into his golden eyes. “Where Trev goes, I go.”
“Maybe that is it. Maybe you are who he wants. You have been pretty up front and personal, taking down Unseelie twenty at a time,” Z answered. “Maybe he is trying to draw you out.”
“No, you are not going to this meeting. Not this time, Jazmin
e Decker. But don’t you worry, I am bloody well ready for the devil,” Trev said with a sneer.
“You are ready?” Jazz stomped her foot and glared at him. “No one can be ready for him. You don’t think like him and you won’t react the way he would react. I have one thing up on you, my human gut! It is telling me that you will need me on the scene. He is plotting something and you are a means to it. The best thing we can do is keep you far away from him.” She looked at the Queen. “With all due respect, Queen Aaibhe I am not meaning to tell you what to do, but I do wish you would order Trevor to stand down. If you wish to negotiate with the devil, do it on paper and not in person.”
Danté said, “It is clear that he won’t negotiate with anyone but a Royal. I shall go because I think that Jazmine Decker is correct and this has something to do with Trevor.”
“You will do no such thing, not without me anyway,” Z said angrily.
“Indeed,” Queen Aaibhe said softly as she gazed at them. “I understand everything you all have said and I quite agree. Trevor you will stand down. There shall not be any meeting with any of us, at least not until Pestale withdraws his monsters and keeps them in check. He must first show good faith.”
Jazz sighed, but looking at Trevor she knew this command would only serve to delay the inevitable. Trevor seemed bent on meeting with Pestale, no doubt to kill him.
“The answer we need lies with Twalla,” Jazz stuck in taking a step forward. The answer has been there ever since Trevor told us what Crystal told him. What we need to do is wait until we have it in our possession before we negotiate with Pestale. We are all agreed that Pestale is planning something, so why don’t we gather our forces and do the same?”
“Knowing that Twalla is the solution to many problems, is not quite the same as having the Magical Thread, my sweet Jazmine Decker,” Trevor said on a low note. Looking at him she knew he had not been convinced.
~*~
Frankie hugged her knees as she rocked back and forth on her butt. She had shifted to Killarney Upper Lake in Ireland and sat high on the foothill overlooking the glistening water.
