“Are you safe? Maeve told me you were, but I didn’t believe her,” Fiona said, tears streaming down her face. “She—I can’t ever trust her again. They wouldn’t let me see you and I was so afraid.”
“I’m fine, Fee,” Declan said, blushing. “Tip-top. Let’s go, already. I marked the way out.”
“What a good idea,” a new voice said.
“Maeve. Where is Denal? Are you okay?” Fiona hesitated, but then started to go to her friend. Christophe held her back. Here, in this place, Maeve was not the woman Fiona had loved.
And yet the Fae princess’s face softened and she smiled. Maybe Christophe was wrong, but he still wasn’t taking the chance. Not with Fiona, not ever again.
“Only you would worry over my well-being, Fiona,” Maeve said. “So I will grant you another boon, neither repayment nor debt owed.”
With that, she waved a hand and Justice’s sword flew through the air and neatly beheaded Gideon. Fiona buried her face in Christophe’s shoulder in horror, but he inclined his head toward Maeve. “My thanks, my lady. That boon is one I happily accept, although I would have enjoyed doing it myself. Both for Fiona and for my parents.”
“Perhaps, for once, you do not have to be the dealer of death,” Maeve said. “Had you not rescued Fiona, he never would have given her up, and she is my friend, not a whore to be held captive as a sex slave,” she said, and the ice and thunder in her voice made him glad that he had not made her an enemy. On the floor, Gideon’s body and head dissolved into a fine sparkling dust and then vanished.
“He was rogue, my wicked, scheming brother,” she continued. “Running rampant, working out of the hierarchy in the Unseelie Court. A mere upstart trying to take over my line and curry favor with our queen, my lady mother.”
“So this is a family squabble,” Fiona said, raising her head. “All of this for that? I don’t believe it.”
“The world is in a state of unbalance since Anubisa, the vampire goddess, has been missing,” Maeve said. “The vampires are working on their own agendas. The gods are unhappy.
Christophe took a deep breath. “I hear the truth in your words. I may even agree with you in some part. But I have sworn an oath, and I must honor it. The Siren must be returned to Atlantis.”
“We of the Unseelie Court are not in opposition to your plans, Atlantean. We are fine allies to have, you will learn—or dangerous enemies. The Seelie Court will soon learn this, we hope, and our alliance will be completed. Now that Gideon is dead, that time may come sooner.”
“
Fiona shuddered. “I am so sorry, Maeve. I know your people are different, but to have to kill your own brother . . . I am so sorry.”
Maeve’s eyes glistened with something as she regarded her friend. Christophe would almost have sworn they were unshed tears. But she didn’t respond.
“Now what?” Christophe asked.
“I will study you and your methods through your warrior representative Denal for some while. Then we shall meet and determine what to do next. Strategy is like breath to the Fae, and we are more well-versed in . . .
Christophe bowed deeply. He could hear between her words to the truth beneath. Maeve would almost certainly be the next queen of the Unseelie Court. Now would be as good a time as any to begin an ambassadorial relationship.
Fiona took a few steps toward her old friend. “I don’t even know what to call you anymore, Your Highness.”
Maeve’s face lit up. “Call me your friend. That’s all I have ever asked.”
“I’m your friend, too. Always,” Fiona promised.
“And possibly a distant cousin,” Christophe murmured. “Seelie Court Fae. I wonder what Rhys na Garanwyn will have to say about that.”
“If he says anything unpleasant, please leave him to me,” Maeve said, her smile turning to something glittering and fearful.
“I will clear the Scarlet Ninja’s name,” Maeve continued. “Perhaps even make an extra donation to a few of your causes. Before the week is done, all shall know that the Scarlet Ninja saved England from a war.”
“Thank you, but I could only do that with a lot of help from Atlantis and from a Fae princess who used to borrow my lipstick,” Fiona said, smiling, but then she turned solemn. “The shifters he enthralled?”
“Already released. Please extend my apologies to the families of the ones he killed. We will extend monetary reparation, for what little that does to help. Lucinda, the alpha you rescued with your sacrifice, will heal.”
“How do you know—”
“I have my ways.” Maeve said. “How do you think I always knew where to find the hot guys in school?”
“The hot guys found you,” Fiona said, smiling a little. “Thank you for what you said about the shifters. I’ll tell Lucinda.”
Maeve laughed. “Never thank a Fae, or you will become beholden. You can send me more Chanel for a solstice gift to pay this small debt.”
With that, Maeve led them to the way out of the Summer Lands. In a short time, Fiona, Christophe, and Declan were standing on the steps outside of Fairsby Manor, dazed, as Hopkins and the Atlanteans rushed toward them. The sun shone brightly overhead. Christophe gave Justice his sword and the two exchanged nods.
“What in the name of all the gods happened to you?” Bastien demanded. “You were in there for more than two weeks.”
Declan blushed a fiery red. “Um—”
The Atlanteans stared at him, fascinated.
“Nymphs,” Christophe said dryly.
“Ohhhh. Nymphs,” Brennan said. “So will we be going back in around nine months from now on another rescue mission?”
“What?” Fiona rounded on her brother, but then her cheeks flamed red as she realized. “Oh. Ohhhhh.”
Declan hung his head, his cheeks as hot as his sister’s. “Trust me, sis. You don’t want to know the details.”
Justice bowed to Fiona. “My sword, my lady? Did it help?”
“Yes, Just holding it made me braver.”
“I doubt that’s even possible,” Christophe said.
“Can we go home now?” Declan asked. “I really need to go home now.”
“How about we go home now?” Christophe opened a portal, and this time it flared to brilliant life as soon as he called. Interesting, that.
“And never say the word nymph again?” Declan pleaded.
Christophe always claimed, later, that it was one of the others who started laughing first.
Chapter 40
Campbell Manor
When all the tales had been told, the experiences recounted, and the promises made to Declan that he would never, ever, tell anybody else, especially Hopkins or Fiona, the exact details about finding Declan with the nymphs, Christophe knew it was time to go. His friends had gone through a portal hours earlier, but he had been content to sit, holding Fiona as dusk’s shadows claimed the corners of the room.
“I need to return to Atlantis and report in,” he finally said, unable to put it off any longer. He opened his hand and they both looked at the Siren, so innocent and quiet in his hand. “This must be restored to the Trident immediately.”
“You didn’t give it to the others to return,” Fiona said softly. “Why?”
“It’s something I need to do. This mission, from beginning to end. Does that make any sense?”
