by Amy Sumida
Chapter Four
“How I wish I could simply take you to the end of this journey, and bypass all the pain,” Danu sighed as she stroked the hair from my face.
“Danu?” I sat up and looked around.
I was in her orchard. Crimson apples hung heavy on the branches of her sacred trees. The scent of ripening fruit clung to my nose. Grass was soft beneath me, but a little too vivid for my eyes. Everything was. A technicolor world turned up a few notches on the bright scale.
“Relax, you're safe here,” Danu said.
“As opposed to somewhere else?” I frowned, trying to remember how I'd gotten there.
“You're being taken care of,” Danu assured me. “If you'd just trust in me more, this would be so much easier, Seren.”
“Danu, what do you want?”
“For you to be happy,” Danu smiled serenely.
“No, I mean, what do you want right now? Why am I here?”
“You're here so that your mind doesn't slip into a coma while your body is saved,” she said. “I was afraid there wouldn't be enough time.”
“Coma?” I frowned, and then remembered. “I was shot.”
“Elf-shot,” Danu nodded sadly. “So much anger among my children. Would that I could find a better way.”
“Better way to do what?” I narrowed my eyes on her. “What are you up to now?”
“This is precisely what I mean,” she waved a hazy hand at my suspicious face.
Danu's body tended to shift through the races of her children when she appeared on her own. Her eyes were the only feature to remain stationary, and even then, you didn't get a glimpse of the Goddess' true face. Because the eyes you saw were always your own.
“I must guide you without making you feel like you're being led,” Danu rolled her eyes... er, my eyes.
“Tell me your end game,” I growled. “Then I'll trust you.”
“I cannot,” she shrugged. “You would dig your heels in and refuse to allow it. All I ask, is that you think about what you want, Seren. Every time you believe I'm forcing your hand, ask yourself if my goal coincides with yours. And be truthful with yourself. Don't let any preconceived notions sway you. Don't let my wishes sway you. Simply listen to your own heart. I have no sway over hearts.”
“What about the Call of Danu?”
“That has nothing to do with love,” Danu sighed. “Though sometimes it results in it. You know yourself enough to sense when you're being manipulated. You must concede that I may be able to lead you towards love, but I cannot make you feel it.”
“Fair enough,” I agreed. “I will try to be as honest with myself as possible.”
“I'm going to hold you to that,” Danu smirked. “Remember my words when the hard decisions come. When your human side says one thing, but your fey nature demands another. I will help you as best I can, with other wild natures which need taming.”
“I hate it when you get cryptic,” I huffed.
“You used to be in awe of me,” she shook her head sadly. “You liked the way I spoke.”
“That was before I got to know you better,” I smirked. My smile faded as I saw the real hurt in her eyes. “I didn't mean that,” I laid my hand on her blurry knee. “I know you care for all of your children, and you try to do your best by them. And I also know that you've especially tried to do your best by me.”
“Thank you, Seren,” she smiled, and even through the mist of shifting features, it radiated clearly. “I'm glad my brother didn't turn you completely against me.”
“Anu saved me too,” I said. “I still need to work this all out. But I know that in your own ways, the both of you love me.”
“We do,” she nodded. “I can concede that about him. Unfortunately, he is unable to see what is best for you in my world.”
“Your world...” I blinked. “Wait a minute, I was in Anu's domain when I was shot. How are you here?”
“Ah,” Danu lifted her head as if she were watching something over my shoulder. “They're waiting for you. Give my love to Raza, Tiernan, and Killian.”
Danu faded, her Sacred Grove fading with her, but I felt her touch on my cheek long after she'd gone.
Chapter Five
“Tiernan, let go of her,” Raza's voice lured me from unconsciousness. “You need to be tended yourself.”
“I'm fine,” Tiernan said in that stubborn tone I hated.
“Lord Tiernan, you're still bleeding,” a third voice, unknown to me, calmly noted. “At least allow me to take out the arrowhead.”
“Do what you will,” Tiernan growled. “But I'm not letting her go.”
“I appreciate that you've done your job well today, and possibly saved Seren's life,” Raza sounded like he was about to lose control. “But she is my consort if you'll recall. Now, let go of her.”
“I am her guard, and I will not let go,” Tiernan said. “Not ever. Get used to that, djinn.”
Cat whined.
“What the hell just happened?” I finally found my voice.
Everything went silent, and my world shifted as Tiernan jerked. I blinked my eyes open to find myself in familiar surroundings. The swaths of night-blooming jasmine, hanging to either side of the circular bed I was on, were unmistakable. The scent of the delicate blooms perfumed the air, along with an undertone of green tea. A little kitchen lay to my left, a dining set placed within its curve. To my right, a stairway swept up the wall, disappearing into the ceiling. Fairy lights bobbed around the polished ceiling, illuminating thousands of dark umber rings which ranged out from the center of it, proof of how old the massive tree really was.
What was I doing inside Aideen's tree?
Then I registered the worried faces leaning over me; Tiernan, Raza, my Star's Guard, Bress, Aideen, and some other woman I didn't know. A lot of faces. A lot of worry. I frowned at them as I tried to remember how I got there. Cat's weight was across my legs, and her furry face was edging up my thigh, to peer at me. There was an odd taste in my mouth. It reminded me of the violet candies my mother used to like. Then pain lanced through my chest and I gasped.
“Seren!” Tiernan and Raza exclaimed together.
Cat gave a happy huff.
“I'm okay,” I held a hand to my chest. There was a bandage near my collarbone.
“Your body is healing, Princess,” the unfamiliar woman said to me. She looked a little like Aideen actually. “We've given you a suvanis flower to combat the elf poison, and it has saved you. Now your fey blood can heal the wound.”
“Help me up,” I said to no one in particular.
Three pairs of hands did as I asked. I sat up, eased Cat aside, and went straight for Raza. I kissed him, smoothing the lines of worry from his forehead with my fingers. Then I looked behind me, to Tiernan. His tunic was soaked with blood, and there appeared to be more seeping out of a wound in his shoulder.
“Tiernan!” I laid my hand to the wound, an automatic reaction, and he hissed, causing me to jerk my hand away. “What happened?”
“If I may attend Lord Tiernan, Your Highness?” the unknown woman asked.
“Who are you?”
“I am Lady Eibhleann, Aideen's mother,” she bowed gracefully to me as Aideen grinned at me over her shoulder. “I was here, visiting my daughter. We were relaxing on the top balcony when we spotted your men bringing you through the rath. We went to help.”
“It was perfect timing, Princess,” Aideen added. “Mom happens to be a healer. She knew exactly what you needed, and we were able to find a suvanis flower nearby.”
“If we hadn't, you might not have survived,” Eibhleann nodded. “But now I need to heal Lord Tiernan. If I may?”
“Oh! Of course,” I tried to shift away, but I did it too quickly and ended up clutching at my chest again.
“Seren!” Raza growled. “Damn those elves! I'll burn them to cinders! There shall be nothing left of them, but smudges on the floor.”
Raza picked me up and carried me to Aideen's rocking chair. Cat followed
us and sat on the floor beside me. Raza knelt before me and started inspecting my wound. I allowed it, mainly because it's best not to argue with a dragon if you didn't have to. My eyes went back to Tiernan. Eibhleann had torn his tunic open and was pulling an elf arrowhead out of his chest. An arrowhead exactly like the one Murdock had shown us.
Tiernan's eyes met mine and I froze. There was so much emotion there, my throat constricted just to see it. He leaned back against the wall, allowing Eibhleann to fuss over him, but he continued to stare at me. Tiernan's silver stare gleamed in the shadows cast by the hanging jasmine. It intensified his already fervent stare. My gaze skittered away to his shoulder.
“Raza,” I looked back to my boyfriend, “tell me what happened. I remember being attacked, but that's all.”
“We were,” Raza confirmed. “With elf-shot. Several of my guards were hit, but their wounds were minor. Elf-shot doesn't affect fairies.”
“They were after you, Seren,” Tiernan grunted as Eibhleann bandaged him.
“Tiernan, are you alright?” I asked.
Raza's hand clenched around my arm.
“I'm fine,” Tiernan said. “Now that I know you'll live.”
“He took an arrow for you,” Raza's jaw clenched. “My Guard prevented me from going to your aid or I would have been there.”
“It's alright, Raza,” I laid my hand over his. “I remember now. I saw you trying to get back to me.” Then I looked to Tiernan. “But I didn't see you take an arrow. Thank you.”
“It's my job,” Tiernan looked away uncomfortably.
“Well, you did it better than the rest of us,” Conri growled. “Half of us couldn't get through that door in time to be of any use. I'm sorry, Princess, we failed you.”
“No, you didn't,” I said firmly. “You work as a team, and Tiernan is part of that team. He saved me, so you all saved me.”
“Princess Seren is right,” Tiernan agreed. “Any of you would have done the same.”
“But it wasn't any of them,” Raza sighed. “It was you. Thank you for saving the woman we love.”
Raza's words hung in the air between them, some kind of strange flag of truce. Maybe even more than that. I didn't know exactly what it was, but it held everyone in the room enthralled. We just froze, staring at the men as they stared at each other.
“You're welcome,” Tiernan finally broke the tension.
“Anyone else deeply uncomfortable?” Conri asked.
“Shut up, you ass,” Gradh punched Conri in the shoulder. “We're all relieved you're recovering, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Gradh,” I frowned as the obvious occurred to me. “So, Moire wants me dead.”
“It's not that surprising,” Bress huffed. “I just wish I knew what her plans were. Why bother killing you? I know she hates you, but my mother never wastes resources on something so base as hatred. To send the elves out to attack you and their king isn't an action she'd take lightly.”
“Seriously?” I lifted a brow at him. “I don't think it would bother her so much.”
“No, I mean that she wouldn't want to strain her relationship with the dark elves by making them side so openly with her, so soon, just to kill you out of spite. She would need a reason to take such a risk.”
“She's clever,” Raza agreed. “And it does seem like a bad move on her part. She's shown her hand and risked mutiny with her new army. I'll be heading back to Unseelie to confront the dark elves, something I may not have done so urgently if she had not acted.”
“If any elves remain there,” Bress grimaced.
“You think all of the dark elves have abandoned Raza?” I asked.
“Probably,” Bress said. “They're a close group. They don't separate often. A war would be the worst time to do so. They'd want to remain together.”
“This is true,” Raza shook his head angrily, growled with frustration, and stood.
“Where are your guards?” I asked him.
“Outside,” Raza nodded to a window, “guarding. They set up camp with the men we left here to look after the horses.”
“You're mad at them,” I noted in surprise.
“Livid,” he growled. “They kept me from you. No one does that!”
“To save your life, Raza,” I said gently.
“I'm their king, they should obey me,” Raza snapped.
“And protect you, even against yourself,” I added. “Since it's the job you gave them.”
“I wasn't in danger,” Raza laid a clawed hand to my cheek. “You were, and they dared to stand between us. I nearly shifted on the streets of San Francisco and killed them all. My own people included.”
“I'm glad you didn't,” I said dryly. “The clean up would have been astronomical.”
“Seren,” Raza crouched before me and pulled me carefully into a hug. “I saw you fall, and I knew we'd never get you a suvanis flower in time. I thought I'd have to face forever without you.”
“I know, honey,” I hugged him back. My chest was already feeling much better. “It's okay now. I'm okay, and I love you.”
“I love you, mo shíorghrá,” he spoke into my ear, his cheek pressed to mine. “And I'm going to take my time killing that pallid freak who tried to take you from me.”
Chapter Six
Raza had to head back to Unseelie to check on the dark elf situation as soon as possible. I wanted to go with him, but everyone thought this was a bad idea. Everyone including Raza. I needed to stay at Aideen's until I healed, along with Tiernan and some of Raza's Guard, who had also been injured in the attack. They were recuperating in guest rooms, higher up in the tree. So I stayed, and Raza flew home in dragon form, leaving the rest of his Guard to follow on foot. He was still a little angry with them. I hoped the flight would help clear his head, and allow him to see their loyalty for what it was.
Night fell, on the heels of the power rush which came for us twilight fey at dusk. The twilight magic sped my recovery along, and I was feeling much better by the time it faded into full night. Unseelie time. Tiernan, however, looked paler than usual, and very grim. I went over and took a seat on Aideen's bed beside him. His throat worked convulsively as he shifted to see me better. I watched his anxiety grow along with my own concern.
Most of my Guard was outside, doing their job. Gradh was the only one inside the tree with us, but she was at the little kitchen table with Aideen, Eibhleann, and Bress, having some tea. Cat was asleep, taking up most of the lower half of the bed. With the drape of night-blooming jasmine between us and those in the kitchen, it felt like Tiernan and I had some privacy. Still, I found myself whispering to him.
“I spoke with Danu while I was unconscious.”
“You what?” Tiernan's silver eyes flashed.
“Danu was with me,” I settled back into the pillows. “She said she was preventing me from slipping into a coma.”
“Then it seems you have Danu to thank for your life, not I,” he said.
“Tiernan,” I took his hand. “It was everything, together, that saved me. You took an arrow for me. That's not something I'm going to forget.”
“Seren,” Tiernan hung his head, and a tear splashed onto my hand. “I've been a fool.”
“What?” I lifted my free hand to his face and turned him towards me. “Why?”
“Nothing makes you see things clearer than the brush of death,” he took a shaky breath. “I love you. I love you more than anything, and I threw it away for pride and jealousy.”
“Tiernan,” I leaned my forehead against his. “You love the Goddess. I understand that. It's not a bad thing to respect and love your deity.”
“When I saw you lying there, with that arrowhead in your chest,” Tiernan pushed back and took my hands, “I couldn't breathe. I knew if you died, my life would be over too. I was wrong to say those things to you. I was wrong to place my love for Danu above my love for you. Danu is our Goddess, but you are the woman I can't live without. If that is blasphemy, so be it. You are my world, Seren. The reas
on I draw breath. Will you forgive me once again? Forgive me for not forgiving you?”
“Of course.”
I wasn't thinking. I had been with Tiernan for so long that some things were just automatic. Like touching his cheek. I leaned forward and did just that, only realizing my mistake when he pulled me in tighter and tried to kiss me. I jerked away, just a few inches, and stared at him in shock.
“You know I can't,” I protested, but I didn't pull away. Gods, my heart was screaming. It hurt more than that arrow had. I had loved Tiernan so much. Still loved him. “Raza and I-”
“Raza will understand,” Tiernan interrupted. “He said he would allow me to be your consort. I want that now. Come back to me.”
“That was before,” I shook my head. “He's had a change of heart.”
“A change of heart?” Tiernan frowned.
“He doesn't want to share anymore.”
“Ah, now that he has the upper hand, he's unwilling to compromise,” Tiernan laughed mirthlessly. “Why had I expected any different?”
“Tiernan, can you blame him? You felt the same.”
“I know,” he sighed. “And now I am in his position, begging for scraps.”
“You're not begging,” I shifted further away.
“Hold on,” his intense stare pierced me. “You haven't said a word against having two lovers. Every other time we've talked about it, you've immediately protested.”
“What?” I looked away as heat rushed to my cheeks. “So? Of course I don't want two lovers.”
I didn't, did I? Something twisted in my gut, and I remembered my promise to Danu. Alright, let's be fair then. How did I feel about the thought of having both Tiernan and Raza? A shiver coasted through me, and desire pooled low in my belly. Oh damn me, I liked the idea. I did want them both. Maybe I was becoming more fey. Whatever it was, it had weakened my resistance to the idea of multiple consorts.
“You do want it,” Tiernan whispered in shock. “Seren, we must speak to Raza.”
