"No," said Irulan, "I'm not turning against my family. I'm protecting one member of it from another."
"What in the goddess are you talking about?” Fazion asked as he picked himself up off the floor.
Irulan answered his question by reaching down and threading her fingers through mine. When she held our hands up, the blowing ribbons of the bonding were dancing around our hands.
"What have you done?" Fazion whispered as he backed away from us.
"What does it look like? Aren't you going to congratulate me, cousin? I'm married now.” Irulan took a small step in Fazion’s direction and pulled me with her.
Fazion looked completely mortified. "You can't, this is not possible. You're next in line for the throne."
"I can and I did, Fazion."
"Well, bonds were made to be broken," he countered. "You live in Tir Nam Beo, aren't they quite fond of divorce there? You have to fix this before your mother finds out."
Irulan scowled. "One, I couldn't care less what my mother thinks. Two, you can't undo a Vampire mating."
She drew her lips back and showed Fazion her small fangs. His face became blank and unreadable as he stared at her.
"I should have done this from the start, but I was too much of a coward.” She turned to me and cupped my chin in her hand. "Please forgive me, Valeria. I am sorry, very sorry. It's as if my brain froze for a minute."
"It did more than freeze," I said. "I understand your fear of losing your family, but you can't shut down on me like that again. Not here, when so much is at stake."
Kether flitted over, waving his hand and pointing behind us. "The King's guards are almost here. You can't be seen, Princess."
Irulan walked over to Fazion and took his hand. "I know how you were raised to feel about the Dark Court, but Uncle Kent was wrong. Valeria is my wife, and nothing you can do will change that. An attack against her will bring war to the courts. I'm asking you, as your cousin, as your sister. Please call off the Manticores."
Fazion looked at me with disgust in his eyes.
"You know what, Irulan, fuck him. Let his guards come, and I'll destroy them just like I did my grandfather's Chimeras."
Fazion looked back and forth between Irulan, Kether, and me before the color drained from his face. "Wait a minute," he said, as his brain scrambled to put two and two together.
"Fourth and Fifth Vampire houses...Princess...grandfather’s guards...Chimera's...war to the courts.” He looked at Irulan with pure, undiluted terror plastered across his face. "Please tell me she isn't the granddaughter of Mikilos and FaeVar."
"Are you being obtuse intentionally? That's exactly what she's saying!" I looked at Irulan and smirked. "He's not too bright, is he?"
Irulan shrugged her shoulders and looked at Fazion. He rubbed a hand down his face and I swear it looked like the weight of the world came crashing down on him.
"You're here for Tristan Meriwether, aren't you? Of course you are.” He looked past us before motioning for Kether.
"Here, Pixie," he said as he pointed to me. "Hide my cousin's wife and I'll get rid of my guards."
Kether nodded and motioned towards the wall. "Up against the wall, stand as still as possible, and don't make a sound."
I did as he asked and he flew over and stood on my head. I saw the shower of Pixie dust as it covered me but I didn't feel one bit different. I was beginning to doubt Pixie dust's effectiveness when it came to Vampires, but just as I opened my mouth to speak, the hall began to shake with the steady cadence of heavy footsteps.
A group of eight armed guards came marching up the hall and walked up to Fazion. The leader stepped forward and bowed at the waist before dropping to one knee.
"Forgive the intrusion, Highness. We felt a breach of the mound and began searching for intruders. We had no idea Princess Irulan had returned."
Fazion frowned and looked to where I was standing before addressing his soldier. "No need for apologies, Stryfe. You were only doing your duty."
He clasped the guard on the shoulder, turned him away from me, and began leading him back in the direction from which he came. "As you can see, my sister is home earlier than usual. I have much to discuss with Princess Irulan. Please see to it that our guest does not disturb us for the next hour."
The guard nodded and bowed before motioning to his troops to follow him. Once they were a safe distance away, Kether doused me in another cloud of Pixie dust.
Fazion motioned for us to follow him as he turned down a narrower passageway.
"Come with me, we don't have that much time."
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
We followed Fazion to a small room, situated on what looked to be a rarely used hallway. Once we were safely inside, he spelled the door and leaned against it as if the act drained him of any energy he had left.
"I can’t be too sure in these times. Tristan has won the loyalty of many members of my court, and there's little I can do about it."
Irulan frowned and stepped farther into the room. "What is he doing here Fazion? Why in the world would you grant him asylum?"
Fazion laughed weakly as he walked over to a chair to sit down. He motioned for us to do the same as he began talking.
"Do you think I had a choice in the matter, Irulan? My father damned me when he began dealings with that accursed Djin."
More Djin, or I should say the same one. I'd stake my life that Descantes was the Djin behind everything that was going on. "Why does that not surprise me?"
Fazion looked between us with a slight frown. "What are you talking about?"
"My great-grandfather Kemet Trumaine also made a deal with a Djin over a thousand years ago."
"Of course he did. That's why you're here. You've been manipulated your entire life, and now that the wool has been removed from your eyes, you're out for vengeance."
"It's not that cut and dry. Tristan has committed horrible crimes back home. It's my job to see that he's brought to justice."
Fazion leaned back in his chair and clasped his fingers in front of his face. "How much do you know about Tristan and his plans?"
Irulan leaned forward and rested her elbows against her knees. "We know he's trying to become the Vessel of the Founders’ powers and he has almost everything he needs."
Fazion looked surprised. "Very well, cousin. Do you know why he wants to become the Vessel?"
"He wants me," I said.
"Well, in a way yes," said Fazion. "Now, can you tell me why he wants you?"
"Because of my bloodlines."
"Yes," Fazion answered. "That's a part of the reason, but not the whole story."
I shot Irulan a quick glance before looking back to Fazion. "Can you please stop answering our questions with more questions?"
He looked at Irulan. "Impatient one, your mate."
"Just cut the crap, Fazion, and answer her," Irulan countered.
"Alright then. You know the Djin is a dying race. They have been for thousands of years because they refused to take companions outside of their species. No other species was worthy of their power."
"Almost no others," said Irulan, cutting him off. "We've found one race that is directly descended from the Djin."
Fazion looked surprised. "Interesting, I didn't know that.” He waved his hand and continued.
"What was I saying...Yes, one Djin who had been given his freedom, took it upon himself to solve the problem of extinction for his people.” Fazion looked at me and laughed as he talked. “He’s growing his own companion. One he feels will be powerful enough to be the mother of a new race of Djin. A race of Djin free from the bonds of servitude, able to exist with total free will."
I felt as if I were going to be sick as Fazion kept explaining.
"You are the result of his picking and pairing, Valeria. And Tristan, once he becomes the Vessel, will be strong enough to claim you. The Djin wants the first female child from your union as his bride. A child born of the new species of Vampire and the Vessel of the Founders' powe
rs."
Mikilos was right. My world shifted on its axis. I didn't know how I was supposed to feel. Scared, angry, hurt, I just didn't know. Right now, all I felt was numb.
Irulan began asking the questions I was too shocked to voice.
"Why Tristan? There's nothing special about him."
"Because, only a vampire can acquire powers from blood. Tristan was not only a spoiled brat, but he was also already half mad. Loosing Valeria was the last blow for his father. He planned to disinherit the lad, and Tristan knew it. He had to get her back at any cost. Even make a deal with a devil."
Irulan laughed. "Get her back? That's not going to happen anytime soon. Why did he come here, Fazion? What deal did Kent make with him?"
"I'm surprised you haven’t already figured that out? It was what cost you your father."
I heard Irulan’s heart skip a beat. "What are you talking about? Demons killed my father. He was protecting Uncle Kent when he foolishly tried a spell from an ancient tome."
"I'm sure it would look like that to a child, but believe me, it was a Djin that took Uncle Jesob."
Irulan didn't know what to say. Fazion sighed and took Irulan’s hand.
"My father was fooling with powers that were beyond him. When the Djin appeared, he was going to take father as punishment and destroy the Tuatha for the arrogance of their prince, but Uncle Jesob petitioned to go in his place. He was always protecting his brother."
Tears began sliding down Irulan’s face as Fazion continued talking. "But Jesob's sacrifice wasn't enough. As thanks for sparing the Tuatha, the Djin required a child from the royal line as a mate for another Vessel of his choosing."
Fazion looked broken as he talked. "Your father saved you that day, Irulan. His only requirement was that you were not part of the deal. You're free. Francesca and I, on the other hand, are bound to perform, as he demands. Our children and their children's children are bound to him until he gets what he wants."
He stood up and walked over to the door. "That is why Tristan came to me. I had no choice, just as I don't have a choice now."
Fazion grabbed both sides of his head and squeezed it as if he were in terrible pain. When he looked at us, his eyes were completely bloodshot.
Irulan gasped and hurried to his side. "Fight it Fazion, you're stronger than that."
"I'm so sorry," he moaned. "I'm surprised I lasted this long. “ I don't have a choice," he groaned as he jerked the door open and ran into the hall. "I'm vowed to protect him," he said. "I pray you destroy him," he whispered before powering up.
That’s when it hit me. Irulan had said she got headaches when she tried to go against Mikilos' vow.
Just as I realized he was about to rat us out, Fazion began shouting…
."Manticores! To me, my Manticores! I have found the intruder you seek!"
Well, I'll be damned, so much for the element of surprise!
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I didn't bother putting up a fight. Fazion and his guards weren't my enemies. He honestly didn't have any other option. With Irulan hot on their tails making sure they didn’t rough me up, the Manticores seized me and dragged me, bound and gagged, through the hallways of the mound until we reached Fazion's throne room.
Decorated with stunning coats of arms and huge tapestries that hung from rafters at least 50 feet in the air and obviously meant to impress, the immense space easily held hundreds of people. The most dazzling parts of the throne room were the mosaics. Laid into the walls were stunning pictures, some three stories high, some scenes depicted battles while others seemed to be portraits of Tuatha heroes.
I took it all in before looking towards the dais, set at the far end of the space. Sitting there on Fazion's right side was Tristan.
I hissed and moved towards him, but the guards that were holding me held firm and refused to let me go. Fazion rose from his throne and came forward to whisper in Irulan's ear. "While you are free from the bond of the Djin, you are bound by the oath of your King as a member of the royal family to protect our visitor. Take your throne, Irulan."
When she refused to move, Fazion took a deep breath and shook his head. "Very well then.” He looked back at Tristan before taking a few steps backwards. When he spoke, it was loud enough for the entire audience to hear. "Princess Irulan returns to us a bonded woman. Her wife is the granddaughter of the Dark King FaeVar, a Princess of the Fomori!"
There was a collective gasp among the crowd, but Fazion ignored them and turned to face Tristan as he spoke. "My cousin has accomplished a joining of the courts by taking Mikilos' offspring as her mate. As a Princess of the Light Court, my vow to protect you binds her, and she cannot harm you. However, I will not require her to take up arms against her beloved for your sake, monster."
“She is to be revered for her feat by all who witness this today,” Fazion sneered. “Furthermore, I change the nature of our commitment due to these unforeseen circumstances. No member of this court will move against Irulan’s mate. To do harm to her beloved is to do harm to her. We will not move against one of our own."
He turned back to Irulan with a sad smile on his face. "You cannot interfere, Irulan. This is the best I can do. Now, take your place at my side."
Irulan removed my chains and gag. Then she took my hand and refused to let it go saying. "My place is with Valeria."
"Don't be foolish, Irulan. To go against him is banishment. You'll die. Take your place on the dais, now!"
Irulan turned to look at me. "It's OK, baby," I said, "We knew how this would have to be. Go."
Irulan reluctantly let me go, and together they walked back to the dais. The moment she sat down on her throne the crown on top of her head became solid.
Tristan leaned forward and smiled at her. "Nice to see you again."
"You won’t have long to gloat, Tristan. My wife is going to kick your ass."
Tristan snarled, and his face shifted when Irulan called me her wife. Irulan took the opportunity to goad him even farther.
"What, does it bother you to hear me call her my wife?" She smiled and drew her lips back, so Tristan could see her fangs. "My mate. Does it pain you to know you lost her to a woman? What kind of man are you?"
Tristan hissed and gripped the sides of the throne he was sitting in. "Shut your mouth, dyke, before I shut it for you."
Fazion turned to face him. "You may be important to the Djin for the moment, but he has a contingency plan. I don't care what she says. Be assured, if you lay a finger on my cousin the vow is null. Every Sidhe in the room will attack you as one."
Irulan laughed and kept throwing barbs. "How does it make you feel to know that it's my bed she'll sleep in every night…my waist her legs will be wrapped around as we make love?"
Irulan leaned back in her throne as Tristan jumped up and began pacing back and forth between us, cussing bloody murder.
"You bitch!" He yelled as he closed the spaced between us. "You'd choose a god-damned dyke over me? You actually mated with her?!! She's not even a Vampire. Do you know what my father is going to say? What my grandfather will think about me?"
He pointed a shaky finger at me as he talked. "You don't mean it. You can't. She’s just got you confused with her Faerie glamour."
I laughed. "I'm part Sidhe. She can’t glamour me, Tristan. I-LOVE-HER," I said slowly putting emphasis on each word. "God, you're pathetic. Face it, you aren't good enough for me. You never were."
Tristan dropped his head. "No," he countered. "You were never good enough for me.” He flashed forward and pulled me free of the Manticores that were holding me. With no more than a flick of his wrist, he sent me sailing across the room to land in a heavy suit of armor.
The metal caved as the force of my body slammed into it. It hurt like hell, but at least I was away from the guards. I was working on freeing myself from the twisted sheets of metal, when Tristan was there hauling me onto my feet.
"Your family thinks it's so much better than the Meriwethers. My father was so happy wh
en Hadrian agreed to our dating. If only he could see you now, he'd see how wrong he was."
Another flick of his wrist sent me sailing back in the direction I came from. This time I barreled into the floor, sliding across it, until the lowest step of the dais stopped me. Irulan hurried to help me up. "Please tell me this is part of your strategy," she said.
"Actually no, the fucker is that strong." Obviously, I wasn't going to win this fight on sheer strength alone. I didn’t need to throw a single punch to know that. I had to draw him into a power struggle and just pray that I stronger than he was.
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