Demon Dark (17 page)

The air was scented with a fresh tang that made my lungs tingle pleasantly on each inhalation. Gusts of wind rustling the browning leaves and sweeping over the water sounded like crystals chiming and the deep thrumming of flutes. The colors were cool and crisp, light blues, washed out greens, and faded purples. Dawn broke. The soft radiance emitted by the flora dimmed, and the sun retreated behind low clouds, beginning winter s everlasting twilight until nightfall.

Breandan,

I called softly.

Come here.

I kept the tone gentle to coax him over. I disliked how he sat there staring at nothing, not seeing the beauty around him. His thoughts were dark, and he deserved them to be filled with light. I ran my hands over the surface of the water playfully to create ripples.

It ll make you feel better.

As I waved my fingers, I let stems of magic spread and warm the waters.

I hadn t had the control to do this before. As Conall and Breandan had promised, I was beginning to exert greater control over my magical abilities.

I smiled in victory when Breandan tugged off his boots. He stood to unbuckle the belt holding his dagger. A distressed squeal had him pausing and motioning a come hither gesture with his fingers, a kind expression on his face.

Grace all but danced closer she moved with such loveliness. She set down a large pile of clothes with a small vial on top, and put a basket of food beside it.

Lady Rae wished me to attend her?

she stuttered, her large red eyes fixed on Breandan. She tore them away and managed a deep if somewhat wobbly curtsey my way. The ends of her curly red hair trailed along the ground.

Breandan and I shared a grin over her bowed head. The brief respite from the heavy emotion and the lighthearted expression on his face was some solace to my own concerns. I could handle my grief over Maeve later when I was sure Breandan was dealing with it.

From my own experience, I knew fairies grieved intensely after the passing of a loved one then were able to move past it. Breandan s hurt at Maeve s pyre had been deep, but stubbornly controlled. Lochlann s outward display of grief had been expected and acknowledged for what it was. It didn t make the High Lord weak, it made him honorable, and I was certain the same would have been thought if Breandan allowed himself to feel so strongly, but he hadn t. He had resisted. I was worried he hadn t grieved completely for his sister, and that it would haunt him unless he embraced the pain.

Grace stood and clasped her hands together in front of her, eyes swiftly rolling around and making their way back to Breandan. Her small frame trembled, and her already large eyes widened. Another tremor racked her frame. I bit my lip, seeing it wasn t awe that made her this way, but fear. Breandan was unusually tense, as he sorted through the clothes she brought. He thanked her quietly for the food and kept a safe distance away. His movement was awkward and uncomfortable.

Breandan had once confessed that whilst I found his form enchanting, he wasn t considered attractive to other fairy females. At the time, I d dismissed these comments as modesty to make me feel better.

Watching how Grace s face bore an expression of mild distaste as her eyes tracked the tattoos across his chest made me aware he hadn t been exaggerating when he said the other females found him ugly.

Grace?

I said in a harsher tone than intended. I was perversely pleased when she jumped a good foot in the air and yanked her gaze away from Breandan to alight it on me. It offended me that she looked at him with such unkindness in her usually docile expression. It was difficult to keep the indignation from my voice.

Did Lily go to Daphne?

Oh yes. Why wouldn t she?

I was worried she wouldn t want to deal with a vampire.

I cringed at my lack of eloquence in explaining that the woman might resent having to tend to Daphne s needs.

No!

Grace s inflection was scandalized. She gripped the folds of her skirts in tiny fists.

That would disrespect Lady Daphne, something she would never do. What would the High Lord say? Do you need anything else? I wish to pay my respects to Lady Maeve.

The air of sadness around her intensified, and her lip quivered. She let go of her clothes, and clutched her green hands about her waist, holding back her pain. She lowered her lashes to obscure her eyes glittering with tears.

She was my friend.

When she was sure I needed nothing else, Grace bobbed two neat curtsies, and flitted away up the path. She hadn t taken more the three steps before she spun on her heel and flew back down the path. Stopping abruptly, Grace held my eye and blurted,

The Meet has begun again, Priestess. I don t know why Kian asked me to keep this from you, but you are my Lady, he is not my Lord.

Her vehement proclamation as to where her loyalties lay had her scurrying up the path nodding her head, her filmy skirts twitching with her rapid steps.

I could never wear something so sheer and feminine. I d rip holes in it and do gods knows what else to the fabric. Eyeing the garments she d left behind, I didn t see any sheer fabrics and relaxed.

Expression stony, Breandan reached for his boot.

No,

I said resolutely, halting him.

That can wait.

It is disrespectful. Your presence in the Wyld is known, yet they shun you. Lochlann knows Daphne cannot attend during the day, and whether he likes it or not, being the only vampire in attendance makes her the representative for their race.

I waved my hand dismissively.

That can all wait. They can t make too firm a decision until they hear from one of the goblin Hordes, correct?

Yes.

Then come here.

His displeasure plain by the aggravated noises he made, Breandan finished getting undressed, picked up the vial, and joined me. The dark slash of his eyebrow rose as he noted the temperature of the water. He reached me in a few strides and gathered me into his arms as he continued to slosh his way steadily into the centre.

I really can t swim,

I whispered, fingers digging into his shoulders in panic.

You re safe,

he replied, but stopped anyway.

Wanting to know how deep the water was, I wiggled, and he let me drop. The water covered me to the chin. It was very disconcerting. I kept a firm hold on Breandan s arms, and clambered back into them when I found splashing about in the water made it lap up to my cheekbones.

Holding myself rigid, I attempted a smile when I caught his stare.

Things are getting worse.

It will do,

he replied.

It was foolish not expecting an attack here, especially with so many powerful demons attending the Meet.

I suppose. It s scary to think nowhere is safe.

I took his head between my hands. For a long time, I searched for the right words. The words that would make him all right, but I decided there weren t any.

Maeve was

Rae, I m fine. I hid the burden of my grief from you because you have your own to deal with. My family and I know the risks of what we do. You cannot expect to fight a war, and there not be people you love taken from you, especially when we have been raised to protect the Tribe at the cost of our own lives. We were born for this, and always are we at the heart of conflict to protect what we believe in. Lochlann and I coddled Maeve for too long in fear we would lose her.

He squared his shoulders.

But she was a Warrior, something we take great pride in, and we were embarrassing her. We had to let her fight.

I pressed my forehead to his, amazed at how he could rationalize something so dreadful. I hoped one day I would learn the trick of it to lessen my own pain.

I was quiet, enjoying this seclusion with him.

We should go, incase someone else wants to come here.

This copse is yours, Rae. No one will come here unless you wish them to.

Mine?

It belongs to the High Priestess. That is you, isn t it?

He was bemused at my astonishment.

This is mine?

I whispered.

I was worried about &.

Remembering whom I was with, I trailed off, and instead took in all the things I loved about this place.

Is the Grove as lovely as this?

Grove Wyld is beautiful though it only has one ClanTree. It was empty until Lochlann took the rebels there. The people there are family of the Knights who followed my brother.

Well, everything aside this is nice,

I said, and sighed sadly.

It s nice to pretend everything is okay & even if it s just for a while.

It soon will be. I promise.

We readied ourselves to go back to the Meet. I wished I were more heartless, so I could sneak off to avoid the sympathy and pity people would send my way, but I was dying to see that Lex was okay, and I wanted to see Ana.

I had suggested we simply find them and free them, but Breandan s hasty argument that Lochlann would see that as an act of sedition slowed me down some.

The vial Grace had left turned out to be oil soap that smelt like lemons. The bubbles it made were lovely, and I delighted in the prism of colour on the reflective surfaces.

After we had finished washing, Breandan and I ate the food Grace had left on the bank. To my joy there honey-nectar cakes.

Breandan handed me a bundle of clothes, and I made a face when I realized there would be a skirt involved. I tugged the tunic over my head. It was tightly fitted until my hips then flared out like an upside-down tulip. The skirt was split at the front to my waist and reached my ankles. Standing still, it looking like I wore a black dress. When I walked my legs covered in soft black leggings pushed through allowing my normal range of movement. To be honest, that was the only reason I didn t tear it to shreds and demand a normal tunic. There was even specially made holes at the back for my tail and wings. I had long sleeves that ended at the juncture of my thumb and forefinger half my palm covered. A standing collar was split down the middle so it wasn t too claustrophobic though I did wiggle a finger down one side and yank a bit. I stomped into black boots that laced up to my knees. The workmanship was fine the material smooth against my skin. Slung low on my hips was a blackened leather belt with loops and sheathe for various weapons, and small pouches. Breandan knelt down and latched thin lacquered armored plates to my thighs. He laced sturdy leather cuffs to the lengths of my forearms, and I stared down at the engravings of leaves and flowers on the matte surfaces.

I d never owned anything so fine before. Then again, I d never owned land before, or been respected and deferred to like I had since I had become Priestess.

Breandan tugged a hooded cloak onto me, and I scowled at the added weight.

It ll keep you warm,

he explained.

The weather grows colder.

My wings.

I started to protest, but that argument proved pointless, as when I flexed my pinions, I became aware the cloak had slits down its length to accommodate my wingspan.

Breandan stepped back and the corner of his mouth turned up.

Beautiful.

I blushed, thinking he looked fine as usual.

He d changed into darker trousers with plain black amour plates. The belt with his dagger hung low on his hip and he wore brown boots.

Ready?

he asked.

Ugh. Don t ask.

I grabbed hold of his hand and ignored his laughter.

The last place I wanted to go was back to the Meet, but I needed to make sure my friends and Ana were safe.

The demons were debating amongst themselves when we arrived. My presence caused silence. The atmosphere wasn t hostile, but it wasn t welcoming either.

Conall started towards me and I shook my head, avoiding his touch.

I fidgeted, uncomfortable at the blatant stares of some.

I m not here to make a scene. I just want to talk to you about Ana, Roland and Lex.

Lochlann cocked his head. His blonde hair had been scraped back making the angles of his face sharper.

I can guess what you re going to ask.

I struggled to keep my exasperation under control. Upsetting Lochlann wasn t the way to get what I wanted.

Release them. They ve done nothing but help us. Lex was a victim of Devlin s cruelty, and Roland helped me escape Temple. Ana is kin, and I m disappointed it s taken this long for that to be acknowledged.

My voice was hard, and I speared Conall with a look. When it came to Lochlann, he had no backbone. Ana should never have been confined in the first place.

I m leaving,

I said in a quieter tone.

I want to make sure they re okay. Please.

Lochlann gestured to Kian, and the Knight strode off to do his biding.

Thank you,

I said with genuine gratitude. Maybe we were getting somewhere.

Now, the Clerics you ve taken prisoner need to be taken back to the Sect.

Ah, by his stony expression I d pushed it too far too soon.

No. Their fates are set, and you cannot interfere.

We stared each other down. I was afraid to ask, but I had to know.

Imprisonment?

His eye twitched, and that was his only outward show of emotion.

Execution.

I pushed the hair back from my face and breathed out slowly.

Lochlann, they were under Cael s influence. You can t kill them for that. You can t just start executing people when things get rough. That s just stupid! You ll end up ruining any chance we d ever have for peace with the Sect.