Traitor (19 page)

He frowned. “Bow out?”

“I don’t want to fight anymore. I’m sick of washing other people’s blood off my hands, and yesterday could have been a massive mistake. Me being caught, me needing to be rescued. They should have left me there. So many lives for one. We were lucky you picked our side.”

“I learned a lot about my mother. That dagger, the one the little boy had when he came out of the slave market, it had an engraving I recognised as belonging to Elaria’s family.”

“Seriously?”

He nodded. “Perhaps somebody wanted a path traced back to her.”

“Your mother?”

He rubbed his jaw. “It’s possible. Maybe she laid plans in case she needed to get rid of Elaria. It’s obviously her style. The engraving was subtle. At first, I wasn’t sure it was really Elaria’s, so I went looking for proof. I found more than enough. After seeing Leah’s reaction to the power at the children’s home and learning what my mother planned on using them for, I couldn’t stand by any longer.”

“What are you going to do about the werewolves?”

“I don’t know yet. Try to figure out some way of making life easier for them.”

Feeling slightly more relaxed, I got up to finish making coffee. “If the werewolves were free, would they attack people randomly? I mean, during the full moon.”

“Probably. The ideal situation would be a place for them to roam free, as long as they agree to go back underground during the full moon. There would always be a chance that not all of them comply, but it’s a better solution than them being permanently underground.”

“There’s plenty of land,” I said. “Maybe if they had some space of their own, they wouldn’t even want to attack.”

“You’ve met Icarus, right?”

I grinned at his playful tone and handed him a cup of coffee.

“It’s not up to me,” he said. “Gabe is in charge right now, in lieu of whatever happens next. Perhaps he has some ideas. I could step up and claim my seat, but I think we need something a little more democratic.”

“I just want things to be fairer. And less secretive. All these secrets just enable corruption.”

“I don’t disagree. How is your wound?”

“Hurting. I messed it up when I fought with you and the werewolves against the beasts. It kind of got infected, but Anka and Margie have been taking care of me.”

“You had the same injury all this time?”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t as bad then. It just didn’t heal properly. It’ll be fine.”

“I
am
sorry about the whip.” He hesitated. “I know that probably means nothing now, but—”

“I get it. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the greater good.” Faces flashed before my eyes: Folsom, Mrs. Yaga, Ry.

“They tell me drinking blood would heal you,”
Phoenix
said without inflection.

“They tell me that, too, but I’d like to forget my past mistakes, not repeat them.”

“I understand that. But you drank Elaria’s blood.”

My heart raced at the memory. “Different kind of blood. It was more like a temporary hit than something healing.”

“Healing happens when you drink human blood?”

I thought about it. “It’s more like it speeds up the process of healing. Gives me a lot of energy, but it lasts. With Elaria, it was like I could feel her power, but I didn’t know what to do with it. Kind of overwhelming.”

“So if you bit me…?”

I leaned back. “I wouldn’t bite you.”

“But if you did?”

I stared at my cup, disliking the direction the conversation had taken. “I imagine it would be the same—boundless power that couldn’t be wielded. The high would leave quickly, and I’d be left exhausted.” I looked at him. “I didn’t want to drink her blood. I just didn’t have anything else.”

“I find it fascinating,” he said. “Do you think the same would happen if you drank from my son or daughter?”

I shifted in my seat. “That would
never
happen,
Phoenix
.”

“I’m interested. That’s all. There are things we’ll need to figure out if we want to help people like those children from the slave market. The more information we have, the better.”

I supposed that made sense. “So what happens now?”

“We bury the dead and go to the Council’s Headquarters to try to make sense of what’s left. Most of Fionnuala’s followers are either missing or dead, but there are others who will be against anything we try to do. The truth is spreading around the fae, and I assume through the other races. We can only wait and see what happens.”

“Reuben’s still out there. Maybe he’ll leave the country now.”

“He will be punished,” he said, pushing the cup away from him. “Whether he runs or stays. Prepare to harden your heart, Ava. There will be no mercy shown to those against us.”

“That doesn’t make us the best option.”

He laughed softly. “There is no best option. But there are worse ones. Our biggest problem will be convincing the majority of that.”

“I suppose so.” After a couple of minutes, I offered, “You can have a shower or whatever. It’s upstairs.”

He seemed relieved for a chance to escape. As he headed into the hall, Carl arrived, and they passed each other, nodding politely.

“How are you feeling?” Carl asked me, helping himself to a search for anything edible in my fridge.

“Sore. Tired. You?”

“Better than yesterday.”

“Were you hurt?” My voice rose. I might have been a little overprotective over my remaining friends.

“Nah. Some bruises to be proud of is all. Want to see?”

I glared at him, unimpressed.

He pretended to shiver. “Forgot you lost your sense of humour. Honestly, I was pretty lucky. Great thing about being a human is the people who want us dead leave me until last because I’m not a threat.”

“Yay for you.”

“We’re all upset about Ry, but he asked to come with us. And he was useful. He—”

“I
know
.”

He rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry about the houseguest. Didn’t know where else to put him.”

“It’s fine.”

“He freaks me out, and I knew you’d sleep it off, so I thought this was the best option. He might look like Lorcan, but he just sits there staring at you for ages like he’s reading your mind. Can he do that?”

“Doubt it. Besides, he’s not as creepy as you make him sound. Any info yet?”

He shrugged. “I’m keeping in touch and making sure the right information is getting around. The groups in hiding around the country are keen to take back their freedom now that Fionnuala’s gone. And pretty much everyone who was at the Headquarters yesterday is hurt or dead. Gabe’s trying to put out fires, but he’ll be over this morning. Shay and Moses are doing their thing, ready to keep people calm.”

“Oh, crap! I forgot about the people in the cells.”

“Gabe’s dealing with the overflow in the cells. Should work out. Esther’s Circle are helping him, and Aiden’s trying to round up loyal shifters. No word from Eddie.”

“Shit. What’s he up to?”

“Dunno. He’ll probably show up tonight.”

I frowned. “I wonder if the vampires will be around.”

“Daimhín, maybe. Be ready for anything.” He let out a sigh and stretched. “I didn’t think we were getting out of there, Ava.”

“Me, either. It was kind of a let-down though. All of those questions… the answers just weren’t satisfying. I thought there would be some kind of compelling reasoning behind her actions, but she was just greedy for power.”

“I don’t think it was just that. From the whispers going around, she wasn’t in a good position as leader of the fae. It must have been a lot of pressure. She had to marry someone she thought was beneath her just to please her people and keep her position. And then her son broke all of her rules. I think she just got bitter and crazy with the need to control everything.” He shook his head. “At least we know the worst of it is over. Fionnuala was behind it all, and she had help. We still need to root out everyone who helped her, but the biggest problems are over.”

Except for Eddie.

“I hope you’re right. I’ll probably run over to check on the kids before the meeting. Make sure they’re okay and that they know to protect themselves.”

“Think they can?”

“They definitely can. But they’re looking for a side. We might never be able to really help them the way we planned.”

“We’ll do what we can.”

I nodded. I just hoped that would be enough.

***

The atmosphere in the cul-de-sac was strange that day. We had won and lost at the same time. Ry’s body was returned to us, and we mourned our friend while rejoicing the fact we had finally defeated one of our biggest threats.

I sat on the wall outside Margie’s home, unable to face going inside to view Ry’s body.
Phoenix
approached me cautiously. My friends were afraid of him, the twins needed time to adjust, and I was the only one left.

“He died saving Lucia,” I told him. “He was brave.”

“I wish I could thank him.”

“Best way to thank him is to keep her safe. He was scared, and that’s what made him so brave.” I gazed around me. “I just hope he’s the last we lose.”

“She was fierce,” he said. “She seems so childlike, but when she thought her brother had died, she could have passed for pure fae.”

“He’s everything to her. They’ve only had each other for so long. They have friends here, but he’s her family.”

He looked down. “I hope she thinks of me that way some day.”

“You brought Lorcan back to life. You’re a trio now.”

He grinned, and it felt so good to see some happiness in the midst of all the sorrow.

“Think the British fae will forgive us for Elaria?” I asked.

“I’ll explain what happened, but there could be repercussions. It might not mean as much if there’s no Council seat for me.”

“The Irish fae will still follow you. I mean, you’re all they have.”

He shrugged. “Not all. I haven’t been around. They may turn on me. Everyone may turn against us. Could you… will you come with me to see my children? It might be easier if you’re there.”

I nodded and followed him to Anka’s home. Anka, Lucia, and Val were in the kitchen. As soon as Lucia saw
Phoenix
, she smiled. He went to her side, standing as close as possible without touching her.

“Where’s Lorcan?” I asked.

Anka made a face. “In the living room, corrupting my daughter.”

I found Lorcan on the sofa, playing a video game with Dita.

“Slacker,” I said, sitting next to him. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I died,” he said, grinning at me. “You? Your hair is a little… out there.”

I smoothed the frizz. “That was your fault. Looks like I’m going to have a bad hair day for the rest of my life.”

Lorcan threw down the controller. “Beaten again. Are you sure this isn’t your superpower, Dita?”

I sensed Lorcan’s father hesitating by the door. I glanced at
Phoenix
and stood. “Dita, let’s go. I need me some girl talk.”

Despite Lorcan’s pleading stare, I left them alone, and Dita and I joined the others back in the kitchen.

“Male bonding,” I explained. I sat next to Lucia and wrapped my arm around her. Taking a life hadn’t sat well with her, but watching her brother’s heart stop had really shaken her. “You did good,” I whispered. “You saved his life.”

She looked at me for the first time, her eyes wide with sorrow.

“It gets easier,” I said. She leaned against me, and I realised I had known to comfort her without even thinking about it. I could be a friend, not just a warrior. “Val, how’s your leg?”

“It’s nothing,” she said. “We were lucky.”

“In more ways than one,” I said. “If only we had time to sleep it off.”

“You’re still going to the meeting this evening?” Anka asked, sounding concerned.

“No choice. We have to see this through,” I said. “I have a bad feeling about so many supernaturals in the one spot.”

“Life is going to be difficult,” Anka said. “But the worst is over.”

People kept saying that. It wasn’t convincing.

Carl woke me from a nap. “Get up, lazy. You really need to see this.”

Feeling like a zombie, I got up and followed him outside to see Gabe and Elathan leading carloads of people into the cul-de-sac. I watched warily as Guardians directed people into groups. All of them carried bags on their shoulders that made me think it wasn’t a passing visit.

“What the hell is this?” I asked when Gabe approached.

“It’s temporary,” Gabe assured me. “Occupants of the cells. We can’t let them run around defenceless, not after what they’ve seen. They could be witnesses.”

“So you brought them here?”

He shrugged. “Some of them were yours in the first place. It’s not safe elsewhere. People know
Phoenix
is here. They believe the werewolves are with him. It’s the safest option right now.”

“That says really bad things about the rest of the country.” I shook my head. “Fine. They can stay.” I called Carl over. “Want to deal with this mess?” I asked him.

“Why me?”

“You’re good with numbers and stuff. Logistics.”

He glared at me before viewing the mass of people disturbing our peace. “Whatever. I’ll try to work something out. The residents are going to hate me.”

I grinned. “They love you. Get Margie to help if anyone puts up a fuss.”

He headed straight into the crowd, leaving me grateful.

I turned back to Gabe as Elathan came over. “We need to talk about the meeting. More specifically, who is going and if you’ll come with me to see the children first.”

“There are Guardians watching over the children,” Elathan said.

“Do we really need to go over why I don’t trust most of the Guardians?” I said.

He smiled. “You might have a point. But what do you think will happen?”

“I just need to see for myself that they’re okay,” I said. “That’s all.”

“I’ll go with you,” Gabe said. “Have you heard from Brogan yet?”

I shook my head, a chill spreading over me.

“He isn’t at the bookshop,” he said, frowning. “I need to find him.”

“Why?” I asked. “Know something I don’t?”

“One thing at a time, Ava. How are the injured?”

“They’ll survive. Casualties at the Headquarters?”

He sighed. “Too many. The word has spread. People know there’s a meeting tonight. Expect quarrels that won’t be solved in one evening.”

“Think any vampires will show?”

“Yes. Are you well enough to attend? Given that there may be violence.”

“Pfft. I’m fine.”

He considered me for a few seconds. “Very well. Warn your new fae friend that people believe he has the werewolves close at hand. For now, they’re safer in the Headquarters. If things get out of hand, make sure he can free them and hope they don’t turn on us all.”

“Try not to be too optimistic there, Gabe,” I teased.

“He will remain on our side, right?” Elathan asked. “We need that fae. He stands for something amongst the most old-fashioned of our races. If he and I are seen to co-exist peacefully, it could end the tensions between our bloodlines.”

“How did Finn take the news?” I asked Gabe.

“Finn? Why?”

I shrugged. “He seems like a normal fae. His opinions probably reflect the majority. He told me a few things about
Phoenix
’s family that make me think
our
new fae friend will be accepted without too much fuss.”

He considered this. “I’ll speak to him. Perhaps you’re right.”

“Who else should go tonight?” I asked. “I’m thinking Shay should be there to speak for the humans. They’ve seen him around, and they know he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.”

“Bring as few as possible,” Gabe said.

“Esther can speak for the shifters, but I’m not comfortable with too many others going. Val’s injured, and she might be needed here. I’m not sure it’s time to spring the twins on people.”

“The fae will never accept the twins,” Elathan said. “
Phoenix
will be forced to choose.”

“The fae need to get out of the past and realise that this is the way things are now,” I said sharply. “The twins are proof that human blood doesn’t dilute fae magic. If anything, the twins are better than most fae because they have none of the prejudices or darkness.”

“We all watched the female murder an important British royal fae,” Elathan said.

“That important British royal took the twins from their mother and helped Fionnuala remove
Phoenix
’s memories!”

“Believe it or not, I’m on your side,” Elathan said. “But this is what people will hear.”

“Well, we just have to make sure they hear other things, too.”

“The world will never be ready for all of the truth that exists,” Gabe scoffed.

“None of us are ever ready for anything,” I said, thinking of Moses’s words to me. “We deal with what comes. I’m going to let the others know what we’re doing. Take over from Carl for a few minutes, you two. Be ready to leave soon.”

I headed over and patted Carl on the back to get his attention. We herded the people we trusted most into my living room.

“I’m going to visit the children with Gabe and Elathan, then we’re heading straight to this meeting,” I said. “
Phoenix
needs to be there. I’m going to ask Shay to go, and I think Esther should come with me.”

“Surely it would be safer for all of us to go,” Lorcan said.

“You died yesterday,” I said. “And even if you didn’t, I still don’t think it’s a good idea. The fae need time to accept what’s happened. You and Lucia are a reminder of what Fionnuala feared. Besides, there’s something else that makes me want you all to stay here.”

“Brogan,” Aiden said, limping into my living room.

I still wanted to kill him, so I took a deep breath and thought of Esther.

“You don’t think he’ll try something, do you?” Carl asked.

“Those children,” I said. “He wants them as badly as Fionnuala did. He has plans. Almost everyone had plans. Except for us, really. I haven’t seen him. He isn’t at the bookshop, and I’m afraid of what he might want, what he might try while everyone else is busy with change. We need to minimize the damage from losing the Council, but we don’t know who has sided with whom or what the fallout will be. There are going to be Guardians who refuse to believe in
Phoenix
or the rest of us, those who still believe Aiden murdered Koda. Some people will never accept working with humans.”

“We need to be careful,” Esther said, “but we still need to be there.”

I would go because I had little choice, because only I really understood what Eddie was capable of. I needed to see for myself what would happen.

“We still have other problems,” Carl said. “What side are the Guardians on? Where are the rest of Fionnuala’s assassins?”

“Maybe they all were killed,” Aiden said in a low voice.

“You know, don’t you?” I said. “You know who the assassins are.”

He shrugged. “It was meant to be a special unit, a privilege to be chosen by Fionnuala.”

“Where’s your tattoo?” Val asked coldly.

Aiden made a face and looked away.

“Aiden?” Esther asked. “You’re one of them?”

He was on his back in two seconds, despite my wound, despite the way I kept being told I needed to let it heal, despite the promises I kept making to myself to keep him alive for Esther’s sake.

“Did you kill him?” I hissed.

“Who?” he asked, eyeballing me angrily but not fighting back because I was surrounded by friends, including the sister he wanted to impress—or fool.

“Folsom. A goblin who never harmed anyone. Who only helped people survive. Did you do it? Torture him? Murder him? String him up on his gates to send me a message?”

“I don’t know him. I didn’t kill any goblin. Esther, tell her.”

“I have no idea if you’re telling the truth or not,” she said sadly. “That’s the problem.”

“I’m not lying.” He looked back at me, his eyes widening. “I’m not who you think I am. I didn’t do anything you wouldn’t do.”

I let go of him in disgust. “I wouldn’t take children from families who love them. I wouldn’t kill a young mother to prove a point. We are nothing alike.”

He laughed, rubbing his throat. “You’re a murderer, just like me. We do what we have to do.”

I bit down on my anger and moved away. I wanted to rip off his head. I breathed deeply, trying to control my urges, but his presence was enough to send me into a rage.

He got to his feet. “Yeah, I have tattoos. They made me stronger, helped me become alpha. When my father found out I was this… this
monster
, he tolerated me because of Esther. But when she turned out just like me, he sent us away. It was tough. I suddenly had all of these responsibilities and questions. I wanted to know if there were others like us, and there were.” He shrugged. “But the shifter world can be dangerous. Fionnuala found me, told me she could make me strong enough to protect me and Esther forever. The tattoos helped me beat the alpha into submission. In exchange, Fionnuala had my loyalty.”

“You cheated,” Esther said in disgust. “You cheated your way to the top.”

He didn’t look as though he particularly cared. “Call it what you want. I did what was necessary for survival. Our mother wasn’t from here. We’re a different kind of shifter. It was harder for us to be accepted, and yeah, I did what I could to grab any advantage possible. So I know some of the others. Pretty certain I know who would be part of her little army, and I’ll be able to point out a lot of them if they survived.”

“She didn’t trust you to all know each other?” Carl asked. “Sounds like a sucky job.”

Aiden smirked. “Being a human sidekick sounds worse to me.”

“Look at yourself,” Carl said scornfully. “You have
nothing
. Everyone deserted you except for us. Think on that before you mouth off.”

All of the fight flooded out of Aiden. “You’re right. I’m sorry. This is a big adjustment. Everything I’ve known has been turned upside down. And Coyle…” He hunched over with sadness. “Thank you all for getting me out of there. Really. Thank you. And if I figure out who the rest of the assassins are, you’ll be the first to know.”

“If you ever lie to me again, I’ll end you,” Esther said. “I’m not the person you knew, Aiden. Blood only counts for so much. Remember our father if you doubt me. These people have taken us in when they would have been better off fighting against us. My own Circle cared more for me than you did. You drugged me, took away my choices, and picked the worst person on the planet to fight for. I think Coyle is the perfect example of your instincts being off.”

He walked outside, and Esther followed him, but her chin was held high and stubbornly.

“This is going to get awkward fast,” Val said. “I don’t trust him.”

“Neither do I,” I said. “But we might be able to get information out of him. He’s a symbol, too: shifter alpha, head Guardian, consultant to the Council. We may need him to get more of the shifters on board. The ones left who trust him, that is.”

“What’s the deal with him and Coyle?” Carl asked.

“He cared about him. Loved him, even. And he killed him for what was right. He’s probably going through something huge right now. That’s the only reason I’ll cut him any slack. We’ll see how that goes later on.”

I left to find Esther. She was still arguing with her brother.

“You ready to go?” I asked her.

Aiden glared at me, but I ignored him.

“Yeah, I’m done here,” she said.

We slowly walked over to where
Phoenix
stood speaking with Elathan and Gabe.

“You okay?” I murmured.

She stopped chewing her thumbnail. “How is it possible that the one person I’ve relied on my entire life is a complete stranger now?”

“You’ll work it out when all of this is over. And if you don’t, you’ll move on from him.”

She hesitated. “I’ve always had somebody telling me what to do. My father before he turned on us, Aiden, the Council. What if I make mistakes or—”

“You think your brother hasn’t made mistakes? He’s set a pretty high bar for failure.”

“That’s true.” She stretched. “I suppose we should get on with this. I’m really stiff. Let’s hope we don’t have to fight. I could do with a bath and a week-long sleep.”

“Yeah, you’ve missed hibernation and everything.”

She thumped my arm and jogged ahead. Rubbing what would likely become a bruise, I followed. When I reached the group, Gabe’s strain was obvious.

“We should go,” I said. “Get this over and done with.”

“Good,” Gabe said. “There’s a car out front.” He gestured at
Phoenix
, Esther, and Elathan. “You three go on ahead. I want to speak to Ava.”

We watched the three of them walk out of the cul-de-sac.

“Everything okay?” I asked.