Something about his look, his voice, frightened me more than anything he’d done or said before. “What is it?” I stumbled back as he stepped toward me.
“Cicely, take Myst’s place. Fulfill her original plans. Let me turn you, and become my partner. You will be part Indigo Court, but more. You are half magic-born, and that will help you to control the ravaging nature. If you embrace the power, together we can destroy Myst, and together we can take this land by storm. I know you are not cut out for ruthless rule, but you don’t have to be that way—you can rule with a just hand. And you can still have your Fae Prince for a lover. I would not object.”
I stared at him. The light in his eyes told me the warlord was still lurking beneath the surface, that you could take the warmonger out of the Dark Ages but you couldn’t take the Dark Ages out of the warmonger.
“I can’t believe you just asked me to do that.”
“You were Myst’s daughter. To see you go up against her, a queen in your own right, would be a blow hard for her to ignore. It would unsettle her and she’d make mistakes.”
“You want to use me for psychological warfare, you want to turn me into what she is, only you hope to control me because I’m only half-Fae. What would Lainule say if she knew?” I stumbled back toward the door, half-afraid he was going to grab me and drink me down.
But at that moment, Lainule and Anadey appeared from behind a screen in the back of the room. Lainule looked pained. Anadey looked sullen.
“I told you not to approach her until we were here and could explain matters to her.” Lainule shook her head. “You’d better hurry. Regina was just down the hall and may come in here. You don’t want her finding out what you’re up to before we’ve had time to prepare.”
I stared at Lainule, as it dawned on me that she’d known all along what Geoffrey was up to. But had she also been behind Anadey’s little stunt?
“Lainule, you know what Geoffrey asks? You can’t approve! I’m Cambyra Fae—I am not Unseelie! How can you even dream I’d agree to this? And where’s Grieve? Were you the one who tried to force Anadey to strip away my feelings for him?”
“Your lover is with us, young daughter. Do not push your luck. You may not be Unseelie in your own heart, but many of the Uwilahsidhe are on the darker side of the Court. I am the Queen of Rivers and Rushes, and I am the heart of Summer’s realm, but not all of my people are bright and beautiful of spirit. The world is made of shades of gray, young Cambyra.”
“Did you know what Geoffrey wanted of me? Did you help Anadey?”
Lainule looked pained. She shook her head. “No, I did not help her. It would have killed you, and she will be taken to task for her actions.”
Anadey shifted, looking at me through shaded lids.
Lainule ignored her. “As for Geoffrey, yes, long ago he convinced me of the wisdom of his plan. You can still have your lover, Grieve, and do as Geoffrey asks.”
Her gaze was cool, and I remembered how ruthless she could be. She would sacrifice anyone in her court to destroy Myst—and that included Grieve. And it included me. If she thought this alliance with the vampires would work best, then she’d back it all the way.
“Do I have a choice?” I asked, my voice flat. If they decided they wanted Geoffrey to turn me, I wasn’t likely to get out of here alive.
But she surprised me. “Yes, you do. But think long and hard before you decide whose side you wish to stand on.”
Geoffrey let out a hiss, but Lainule shushed him. “I told you—I will agree to this only as long as it is voluntary. But if the child refuses, I turn my back on her. Cicely, you have the chance to sacrifice yourself to rid the world of Myst. If you choose your life over this . . . we have little to say.”
“This is why you insisted Wrath impregnate my mother. You foresaw this coming. All along, you planned this with Geoffrey.” I stared at her, certain I was right. And she gazed back at me, unmoved, unmoving.
“Some wars are fought in minutes, others are in the planning for generations. We knew Myst would resurface. We knew that you would return to be with Grieve. What better way to defeat Myst than to create a force who could equal her power and yet retain control over her desires? You are the perfect choice. You were her daughter—and you have her soul-mark in your own soul. Yet you do not seek the power she craves. Your potential is vast and untapped.”
At that moment, Wrath strode into the room, slamming the door open against the wall. “Stop! You will not do this—you will not force her to make this move.” Grieve and Lannan were behind him. Grieve looked ragged and worn, but alive. Lannan looked dark, hostile, and angry.
I let out a little cry and ran over toward my father, wanting to go to Grieve but sensing now was not the best time. “They want me to let Geoffrey turn me—to set me up against Myst by his side.”
“You are one of the Uwilahsidhe. The Owl People abjure the Queen of Spiders. You will not let them do this to you. I will not allow it.” Wrath turned an angry face on Lainule. “My beloved, what can you be thinking? This is madness. You listen to the bloodsuckers too readily.”
“This is why I did not tell you the plan—you are too softhearted, my husband. We will not force her, but if she turns aside, then she is no use to us. We must defeat the Winter. Cicely and Geoffrey can do so, together. Cicely is only now coming into her powers. Think of what she could do if she combined her magic, her strength as one of the Uwilahsidhe, and the power of the vampires.” Lainule reached toward Wrath, but he shook off her touch.
“That was attempted once and look at what it engendered—Myst, herself. No, this will not happen. And perhaps, if we have to go to this length, then Summer is not meant to stand against Winter. There are other ways, other avenues to defeating an enemy.” He stared at Lainule for a long time. “My love, you are courting danger. You risk becoming as dark as the Mistress of Mayhem. I fear for you.”
“She stole my kingdom. She killed my people. Your people. You are Uwilahsidhe. You court the path of the Unseelie all too often, and you would dare to lecture me? Be gone—King of mine. Out of my sight. I cannot bear to look upon you.” Lainule turned her back on Wrath, who looked as though she had struck him.
He turned away, then to Lannan. “You were correct. I had no clue this is what they planned.”
Geoffrey slowly swung toward Lannan, who glanced in my direction, then stood definitely, facing them. “Lannan . . . you told Wrath our plans? I thought we agreed there was no need.” He raised one hand. “You haven’t, by chance, been speaking to your sister, have you?”
Lannan snorted. “I care nothing for the Crimson Queen nor her court . . . but my sister cares about her position. I’m sure she would love to hear your plans to usurp the Crimson Queen’s position.”
“You’d damned well better keep your mouth shut. If you don’t, I will remove your head. I’ve warned you before. Your stable, everything you own is in danger. You know I won’t hesitate to destroy you and your sister in the process. Keep quiet, both of you live. Speak, and both of you die. Again and this time, for good.” He turned to me. “I know how you feel about Lannan. Would you now align yourself with him, hating him as much as you do?”
I stepped back, looking at all of them. “I choose for myself—and as much as I hate what Lannan has done to me, at least he is honest about what he wants. He sees reason. I will not allow you to turn me. Not for all the summer nights in the world.”“Then leave and be damned. Take your lover with you, and Lannan, as well. Altos, you are outcast—pariah in my lands. I strip you of your job and your place in our society. I’m going to tell Regina you’ve gone on a trip for me. Keep quiet, and she will live.”
Lannan wandered over to stand beside Wrath, Grieve, and me. He gave Grieve a contemptuous look. “I have made my choice. Myst can only be stopped by an alliance of forces, not by the rise of a long-forgotten warlord. Geoffrey, you only seek to use Cicely for your own ends. You would never share your power with her once the dust settled. You would destroy her, as you plan to destroy Myst. The world is large; I happen to believe that the Fae and the vampires can coexist, but I don’t believe for an instant that you agree. But know this: If you touch one golden hair of my sister’s head, I will raise an army and obliterate you and your world.”
“We seem to be at a standstill. I will not harm your sister if you keep quiet, and you stay away in return for her continued well-being.”
I turned toward Lannan, wondering. Could he really believe what Geoffrey said? As much as I wanted to stake him, Lannan was taking my side. I sidled over to Grieve and quietly took his hand. I wanted to kiss him, to hold him and ask how he was, but we both knew better. This was not the time for a reunion.
“Lannan, leave my house. Cicely, you, too. I wish you luck in keeping alive without our protection. Tell Leo he must choose—either work with me, or align himself to you and your cousin, but he cannot do both. If he does not report for work tomorrow, tomorrow night he will be taken off the rolls. Just pray you do not meet me on the opposite side of the battleground. Lainule, attend me.”
Geoffrey turned away and stormed out the door.
Lannan let out a sigh. “Geoffrey has always been—and will always be—a warlord. He misses the battle, he misses the conquest. He may be Regent, but once the Crimson Queen understands how deep his ambitions lie, I can only hope she’s not too late in putting a stop to them. Because the day he can, he will topple her from the throne and take control. And my sister will be next in line to die.”
At the door, Lainule turned back to us, her gaze fastened on Wrath. “Be cautious—you have no allies. Return to the fold; accept that only through solidarity can we defeat the Winter.”
“Not at the sacrifice of my daughter,” Wrath said.
“Then prepare to meet your doom—but never at my hands.” She motioned to Anadey and they slowly followed Geoffrey out of the room.
I turned to Wrath, Lannan, and Grieve. “What the fuck are we supposed to do now? I couldn’t do it . . . I couldn’t let Geoffrey turn me.”
Wrath shook his head. “I have been the King of Summer for eons, but my Lady doesn’t always tell me her plans. And she is terrified—her heartstone still lies within the boundaries of the Golden Wood. If Myst finds it . . .”
“She’ll destroy Lainule.” And there it was—the fear within Lainule was born of self-preservation.
“What if we get it back?” Grieve turned to me. “Cicely, my love . . . I am cured of the light-rage, but I am still part of Myst’s people. I will do my best to control my impulses. And if I can’t . . .”
“Then we will have to destroy you,” Lannan said. “I must figure out a way to warn my sister so she can get out before Geoffrey does something to her, but we can’t tarry here. Geoffrey will return and he will kill us if we’re still around. Of that much, I guarantee.”
Grieve slowly turned. “You. You’re the one I smelled on her—you filthy bloodsucker! What have you been doing to my Cicely?” He shoved Lannan back and took a step toward him.
Lannan laughed. “Not as much as I want to.” He made an obscene gesture with his hands.
“Stop it, both of you.” Wrath lashed out and within seconds had separated both men. “We cannot afford to be divided. Leave it for now. We’ll sort everything out once we’re away from here. Come, let us leave.”
“What about Lainule?” I glanced at the door. “Are you just going to leave her?”
“I’m afraid we don’t have much of a choice. We’re running on borrowed time, whether it be from Geoffrey or from Myst.” Wrath led us out. The butler gazed at us, unreadable, but he did nothing to prevent us from leaving.
“I didn’t bring my car,” I said, pausing. “I came in Geoffrey’s limo.”
“I’ve got my BMW here.” Lannan motioned us toward it. He flipped open his phone, trying to contact Regina, but after a moment, hung up. “She’s not answering. I don’t like this.”
Grieve hung back. “I won’t get in the car with him. Cicely, how can you?”
In tears, frustrated and confused, I swung on him. “You’ll get in the fucking car. Do you know how much we risked for you? And now we’re on our own. We no longer have the backing of the vampires, and trust me, to defeat Myst, we need as many allies as we can gather. So shut up—both you and Lannan—and just get in the damned thing. Lannan—we’ll keep calling Regina, trying to warn her.”
Lannan rolled his eyes but said nothing. Grieve stared at me, his lips full, and I wanted again to rush into his arms, to feel his heart beating against mine. After a moment, he inclined his head.
“Very well. I will obey.”
“The machine will be painful, but I can withstand it for a short time,” Wrath said. “We have a long night ahead of us.”
But before I could climb into the car, my cell phone rang. Exasperated, I flipped it open. “Hello?”
“Cicely, can you get home, now? And bring help.” Rhia sounded frantic.
“What’s wrong?”
“The Shadow Hunters have broken through the wards and they’re on the way toward the house. We can’t fight them alone.”
Crap! “We’re on our way. I’m bringing Wrath, Grieve, and Lannan with me. Get whatever weapons you can together.”
“Lannan?”
“Yes, Lannan. We’ll tell you all about it when we have the time. Now just get off the phone and be fucking careful.”