Feddrah-Dahns was the Crown Prince to the throne of the Dahns Unicorns, and he’d been the one to bring me the horn of the Black Unicorn. I liked him. A lot. But the thought of facing his father was daunting. Cryptos could be dangerous, and if Feddrah-Dahns’s father had a yearbook from his younger days, he’d probably be the one voted most likely to impale. I’d heard he was stern. Fair, but stern.
Queen Asteria let out a little snort, then covered her mouth as if she’d been caught belching, but her eyes twinkled above those aged fingers. “Oh, Camille. Don’t worry. You are—and always will be—a woman who plays by her own rules. My dear, you did just fine with Feddrah-Dahns. What makes you think his father won’t be just as charmed?”
I grimaced, thinking of Smoky and Hyto. “I haven’t had much luck lately charming fathers. And not every son is a chip off the old block.” I tried to force a smile into my words, but given I was still a long way from sure that we’d be okay in that little corner of the mess that was my life, it must have come out strained, for the Queen’s smile faded into concern.
“What’s wrong, Camille? Has something happened? Is your father angry with you for some reason?”
I shrugged, still both embarrassed and angry by the whole affair. “No, not my father. Smoky’s father. We met. He didn’t care for his son’s choice in brides. He’s not happy. And that’s not the end of the story.”
Queen Asteria sat down, staring at me hard. “Be cautious, young one. Dragons can be treacherous, especially white wings and redbacks. Don’t anger him if you can help it. Smoky is a fine young beast, but as you say, sons don’t always take after their fathers, and if his father is truly full-blood white dragon—”
“He is,” I said flatly.
“Then do not trust him. Keep an eye on your back, my dear. And Morio, keep an eye on her as well.”
Great. That was the second time today Morio had been warned to play bodyguard. I was beginning to feel like I had a big red bull’s-eye painted on my back and I didn’t like it. Not one bit.
Morio nodded. “I plan on it, Your Majesty.”
She gave him a silent smile of approval. “Good. Back to the subject at hand. Camille, King Upala-Dahns will be offering you an opportunity, and some information. You must accept it. I promised I would say no more for now, but please—do not shirk the offer he extends to you, even though it may lead you into some danger. The potential reward is far too great.”
Oh great, more riddles. I was used to it with Grandmother Coyote, but now Queen Asteria was playing the game, too? And “danger”—when applied to me—was code for: You are going to get your ass hurt during this fiasco, and hurt bad.
But I did what was expected of me. I smiled and said, “Thank you.”
Morio grunted, but kept his peace. Iris just gave me one of those you’re so fucked looks she was especially good at.
But Queen Asteria wasn’t done with me yet. “I see through you, Camille. I see that partially horrified, partially skeptical look in your eyes.” She leaned close. “Believe me when I tell you that you need to go through with this. Will you trust me?”
Something about her manner scared me. She meant business but I just didn’t feel all that confident. Although come to think of it, Grandmother Coyote had echoed the sentiment. “I don’t mean to offend you. I’m just tired of riddles and bumping around in the dark.”
As she stood, we jumped to our feet. She nodded as Morio bowed and Iris and I curtsied. “My dear, sometimes the darkness is our friend. If Shadow Wing breaks through, trust me: The fires will rage so bright that you’ll beg for the velvet womb of the night.” And with that, she swept out of the room.
Trenyth motioned for us to follow him back out through the Great Hall. Along the way, I filled him in on what we’d found out—as little as it was—about Stacia Bonecrusher. He jotted down the information.
“Thank you,” he said. “I’m sorry, Camille. I know it feels like you are being kept out of the loop at times, but trust me, the Queen has her reasons for it and more will be made clear in the near future.”
“It’s not your fault,” I said, shrugging. “Sometimes I guess we’re all pawns in the hands of the gods.”
“And some of us just try to keep the pawns out of trouble,” he retorted, an impish grin on his face. “Go and be at peace, and may your journey be smooth.” He escorted us back to the portals and paid our fee to jump through to Y’Elestrial. As we entered the portal, hand-in-hand, the only thing I could think about was that I was going to see my home again, for the first time in a couple of years. I just hoped there was a home to go home to.
CHAPTER 10
Y’Elestrial was like no other city in Otherworld.
Located on the southern shores of Lake Y’Leveshan, the city was the last stop before the long trek south to Terial, the eastern port, and southwest to Aladril, the City of Seers.
Caravans left daily, boarded by the majority who couldn’t afford to use the portals. Great lumbering wagon trains, they were pulled by teams of the nobla stedas, horses that had been forgotten among the mists of legend over Earthside. But in OW the breed had been cultivated for strength and skill until, over the eons, they came to outclass any other equine. Menolly, Delilah, and I’d been required to take riding lessons when we entered the OIA, and I always felt like royalty when I was astride one.
As we emerged from the portal, which rested between two great oaks next to the city gates, I took a deep breath and gazed up at the towering walls surrounding Y’Elestrial. Lethesanar had spared no expense on upkeep. The gates were forged of bronze and they had been polished to a mirrored surface. Guards lined the walls, watching the flow of traffic in and out of the city.
Unlike Aladril, Y’Elestrial wasn’t closed to strangers, but it was obvious we’d been expected. One of the guards stepped out, his hand up to halt our approach. Dressed in the royal blue with gold epaulets, his blond hair waved gently in the wind. Though it was hard to tell the age of any of the Fae, except for the very old or the very young, there was a raw feeling to this man. Probably a new recruit.
I handed him my OIA badge. He glanced at it, then held it over one of the scanners the techno-mages had rigged up. A pale blue light flashed and he handed it back.
“Advisor Sephreh ob Tanu is waiting for you at the palace. Let me call a guard to escort you.” He started to turn but I reached out and gently laid my hand on his arm.
“That’s all right. I know the way.”
He glanced at my fingers and a warm flush raced up his face. “I’m sorry, Mish’ya, but I have strict orders to give you a full escort. I can’t allow you to enter the city without one.”
I blinked. Mish’ya was a royal title for women of nobility. But then it hit me—Father was an advisor to the Crown. We were nobility now.
“We’ll be fine,” I started to say.
He held up one hand and shook his head, looking alarmed. “Please, don’t argue. There are factions about that would still have your head. We’re routing them out, but it’s impossible to trace all of them at this time. The city is a dangerous place for agents who stood against Lethesanar.”
And then I understood. The Opium Eater had nearly destroyed Y’Elestrial in the battle to keep the throne before she fled to the Southern Wastes. Apparently she still had bounties out on the heads of my family with her sympathizers.
“Fuck. That sucks rocks.” I let out a loud sigh and the guard broke into a snicker, sobering quickly when he saw my smile.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh,” he said, his eyes wide.
Even though I knew his worry was only because my father was the advisor to the throne now, it still felt good to wield a little clout. My sisters and I hadn’t been accorded much respect when we served in the OIA over here.
“Don’t sweat it. Call our escort. And don’t worry, I won’t report you for laughing at me. Not my style,” I said, giving him a warm smile. “Just watch yourself among the commanding officers. My father being one of them.”
Relief flooded across his face and he hurried off to one side, cautioning us to stay where we were.
I glanced at Morio and Iris. “You guys are in danger because you’re with me. You do realize that, don’t you?”
Iris cocked her head, staring at me like I’d lost my mind. “Oh, really now? And since when has anything about that little fact changed? Camille, we’ve been in danger every moment of every day ever since you and your sisters stumbled on Bad Ass Luke. Whether we’re in Otherworld or over Earthside, it makes no difference. We’re used to the thought.”
“Iris is right.” Morio grinned. “Get a grip, babe. You and your sisters are trouble magnets and we’re all along for the ride. We’re not going anywhere.”
Feeling like an idiot, I shrugged. “Hey, it’s late, I’m tired, and portal lag is getting to me.” I’d barely finished speaking when the nice young guard returned, an official OIA carriage behind him.
“Wow, we rate the royal treatment,” I whispered to Iris. “I guess my sisters and I really aren’t considered expendable anymore.”
As the guard helped me in, his fingers lingered on my arm and I gave him a long smile. As cute as he was, he seemed so young and so vulnerable. My guess was that he’d never seen battle.
And right then, I realized that I’d never be young again. Perhaps I’d never been. Not since the first time a schoolmate had shoved me in the mud because I was half-human. Not since I’d rescued Delilah from boys trying to tease her into her tabby form. Not since Mother died and I took over running the household. And not since the night Menolly broke into the house, fresh from Dredge’s torture. Over the last year I’d lost my belief that everything would be okay. But in that void, I’d gained strength, resilience, and a resignation that Fate had unswerving, undeniable plans for me.
The palace seemed gaudy compared to Queen Asteria’s citadel. Almost a little tawdry. I remembered the maze of outer and inner courts, and statues that stood two and three stories tall. But there had been a subtle change. As I stepped out of the carriage, I noticed that Tanaquar was renovating parts of the palace that had been destroyed during the siege. And they weren’t being rebuilt the same as before. No, there were more gardens, more walkways and fountains . . . more natural elements being added. The shattered gilded columns were being replaced with subtle marble and elegant, hand-carved wood.
Our escorts guided us up the steps. Shining light from eye-catchers sparkled along the path. As a child, I’d chased the glistening orbs, trying to catch them as they zipped just out of range. But now they were a comfort, with their soft pulsating glow in shades of pink and green and blue.
As we entered the great archway that led into the main hall of the palace, someone yelled, “Camille!”
As I swung around, my father stood there, his arms open wide.
“Father!” I raced over to him and he enfolded me in his embrace, kissing my forehead. He was handsome, and I mirrored his looks. Delilah took after Mother, and nobody knew where Menolly had gotten her copper hair. But father and I were two of a kind. His hair was caught back in a braid plaited with gold and blue ribbons, and his pale skin and violet eyes were stark and silken. He held me tight, rocking gently.
After a moment, he pushed me back, holding me by the shoulders. As he looked me up and down, his voice was firm. “You’re looking well. Your sisters, I trust they’re in good health?”
I nodded. “They’re both fine. You remember my husband Morio? And Iris?” They’d met, but I didn’t know how much he’d remember of them considering the meeting had been brief and in a crowded room.
Sephreh nodded to Morio and bowed to Iris. “Lady Iris, Master Morio, good meet and welcome to Y’Elestrial. We’ll be traveling to Dahnsburg tomorrow morning. Tonight, you will stay with us as our guests in our home.” He stopped for a moment and turned to Morio. “And you, sir, I trust my daughter will have no complaints about the way you and the dragon are treating her?” Though he was smiling, there was an undertone of threat there, and I flushed. Fathers would be fathers, even among the Fae.
Morio cleared his throat. “If she had a complaint, she’d bring it to us. Sir,” he said, his eyes flashing topaz. Oops, the question had pissed him off.
Time to step in. With haste.
“Smoky and Morio are wonderful, Father. I have no complaints.” Other than that Smoky was off with some bitch who claimed to be his fiancée, I thought, but I decided to keep that under wraps. Not unless I wanted Father to rush off on a fool’s mission.
“And yet you go in search of Trillian.” Sephreh’s eyes flashed dangerously and I realized what he was so on edge about. Even with all Trillian had done for us and for the war, Father still didn’t like him.
I let out a long sigh. “You know that Trillian will always be a part of my life. We forged—”
“A bond. Yes, I know. The two of you performed the Eleshinar ritual and you foolishly bound yourself to him for life. The fact that it happened doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Father had never liked Trillian. In fact, when he found out that I’d given myself over to a Svartan, he’d practically thrown me out on my ass. Delilah convinced him to relent, but he’d always begrudged the relationship. Some prejudices were hard to shake. And harder still when he didn’t want to let go of the grudge.
“Trillian helped in the war more than most. The least you can do is offer him some respect. Now, can we just go home and have a nice dinner and catch up?” As much as I loved my father, I was beginning to remember why I’d decided going Earthside might not be such a bad idea. Though I didn’t want to admit it, the truth was we were too much alike. We butted heads over just about everything.