“Did Oak give you any idea about why Batshit is so eager to go to that world? I mean, I’d expect her to attack us here first.”
“I could read some of Oak’s emotions as I asked her questions about your Neferet, and I got residual feelings of jealousy, greed, and madness. Your nickname for her is accurate. Personally, I believe a creature with her power and her incessant need to be worshipped can never be happy, let alone content, but as with almost all living creatures, she will continually quest for those things. I’ve watched it happen to human rulers for centuries. They have no true reason for conquering country after country except to stroke their egos and try to assuage the emptiness inside themselves.”
“So basically, Batshit is a spoiled child with the power of a goddess.”
“Who desires to conquer worlds to fill the void within herself. Yes.”
“Ah, hell,” I said. “Any clue how to stop her?”
Sgiach steepled her fingers. “I can tell you what won’t kill her—Old Magick. Do not count on it. Do not invoke it. Something has altered Oak’s allegiance, and you can no longer depend upon her neutrality.”
“And the sprites all follow her?”
“If not all, I would say most.”
“Okay, so, we need an immortal to fight an immortal.”
Sgiach nodded. “And one not tainted by Old Magick.”
“My grandma thinks that’s Other Kalona,” I said.
“Your grandmother is a Wise Woman—in all aspects of the title. I would take her sage advice.”
“If I mix her advice and yours together, I’ll be on the right track. Oh, and I think I figured out how to open the portal between worlds without using Old Magick.”
She leaned forward. “How will you do it, High Priestess?”
I grinned at her use of my title. “With the elements. Any advice about that?”
“Yes. Remember that the only earthly power stronger than elemental power is love. Use those two mighty things together, and I do not believe you can fail.”
I snorted. “Well, I’m sure I could figure out a way to mess it up, but that’s why I have the Nerd Herd. They’ll help keep me straight.” Across the desk from me, Stevie Rae nodded so hard her blond curls looked like they were springs.
“I wish you well, my friend. And when you return to this world victorious, I would like you to visit me. I find that I grow weary of being alone. Perhaps it is time I reopened my isle to Warriors once more.”
I felt a thrill of excitement. “That would be amazing! Yes, for sure I’ll come see you.”
“Bring your Guardian. I miss young Stark.”
“I will. How about Aphrodite and Darius?” I asked.
Sgiach pursed her lips and then allowed them to lift in a smile. “The prophetess’s candor is welcome on my isle—as is her courageous Warrior. Any of your friends will be allowed entrance.”
Stevie Rae gasped in pleasure. “I can speak for the Nerd Herd. They’ll all want to come.”
“And that is?” Queen Sgiach asked as her smile widened.
“I’m Stevie Rae,” she stood and poked her head around the side of the computer. “Real nice to meet you, Your Majesty.”
“You are the one bonded to earth, are you not?”
“I am!”
“Zoey has spoken highly of you. I shall look forward to our future visit. Blessed be, my friend.”
“Blessed be, Your Majesty,” Stevie Rae and I said together.
The connection ended, and the screen went dark.
“Ohmygoodness, Rephaim is gonna be happier than a buzzard on a meat wagon when I tell him about this!”
“Girlfriend, that is a very gross analogy—and especially disturbing when I think about Rephaim in raven form.”
“Point taken,” she said. “But still—ohmygoodness, the Isle of Skye! The Great Taker of Heads! I cannot wait.”
“Me either. So, let’s hurry up and get the Neferets taken care of so that we can go to Skye. We’ll be due a vacay.”
“Serious understatement,” she said.
And I agreed.
The Warriors returned from patrolling with the TPD not long before dawn. It was still raining heavily with thunder calling and lightning answering across the gray sky. Stark and I were just heading to bed when Darius knocked on our door.
He looked completely waterlogged. I was brewing some bedtime tea and offered him a warm mug, which he accepted gratefully and stood sipping in front of our fireplace.
“The news is not good. The rain has washed away everything. There isn’t even enough blood trail left for us to scent. Then, around the intersection of Cherry Street and Peoria, Odin, one of our Warriors, was snatched from a whole group that were searching Grumpy’s Garden.”
“Wait, what?” I said. “Snatched? You mean like kidnapped? By Batshit?”
Darius ran a hand across his face. He looked unusually haggard, like he hadn’t slept in weeks. “Yes, and he’s dead now. He Imprinted with another Warrior. You know his mate, Stephan, don’t you?”
Stark had stood and joined Darius at the fireplace. “I do! Very well. He’s a promising bowman. And Odin was a fine Warrior.”
I shuffled numbly to the nearest chair. I had to sit down. “He’s dead? For sure?”
Darius nodded. “No doubt about it. Stephan felt it.” Darius shook his head sadly. “Odin was brave to the end, which Stephan said was quick.”
I felt super sick. When I first came to the House of Night, I’d Imprinted with Loren Blake, a predatory professor who had taken advantage of my idiotic naivete and also taken my virginity. In return, we’d Imprinted, so when Neferet cut his head off, I’d felt every bit of it.
“What does Stephan need? How can we help him?” I asked.
“You can figure out a way to do away with Neferet—both of them—for good. She did this. Stephan was bonded so intimately with Odin that he is certain our Neferet did it. His throat was slit, and his blood was drained.”
“Did Stephan get any images of where Odin was killed?” Stark asked.
“He said Odin was outside. That’s
