“As this happened within your territory, and just outside your protection spell, we recognize that you must be made aware of it.”
Ah. There was the crux of it. Sam should definitely be out here for this.
“You have fought the two Turned witches in the territory to the north and won. You were recently attacked by a large force of magick users and won. Our people know of what you did for the pixies, so she knows your heart is good and you will be willing to help us find our children.”
Briefly, I wondered why he’d used the term magick users instead of witches. The bodies had been disposed of and I wasn’t sure if there was a way to verify anything once they were dead anyway, but Danai had bound the magick of the one we’d left alive. Before I could dwell further on that, he began speaking again.
“We will, of course, assist you in any and every way we can.” Arella’s flashing eyes and determined head nod accompanied Dorn’s words.
It was all I could do to tamp my relief down when Sam and Tess strode out through the dining room door, likely notified by either Gloria or Zara. I saw both Arella and Dorn stiffen.
“Arella, these are my friends, Sam and Tess,” I said quickly. “You’ll remember them from this morning, Dorn.” When he relaxed slightly, I introduced Arella as Sam and Tess pulled chairs up beside me. “Would you mind if I bring them up to speed with what’s happening in your colony?”
Arella studied the two women before turning back to me. “They are human.” She said this as though the idea of including them was ludicrous.
“Sam is human, yes, but she’s also a lawyer and works closely with witches and shifters. Tess is a healing witch. Or she will be soon, anyway. She just hasn’t fully come into her magick yet. Both helped me to, er, fight the Curtens. And everything else since then. Without them, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Visibly surprised, the queen looked at them with consideration that held a little more respect before finally nodding her assent. I told them what Dorn and Arella had shared with me in as few words as possible. When I was done, I glanced over at the two water fae to make sure I hadn’t left anything out. Arella’s eyes were tearing up again, but Dorn inclined his head to me.
“Who would want to take the children and why?” Sam asked gently. I hadn’t noticed the pen and pad of paper she’d brought with her until now. She had taken notes on everything I’d recounted.
Arella gave a shake of her head. “No one. Our people are very careful to hide our existence. We have several small glamours to help with this. Few besides our own know of us and we restrict our contact with others to only those who are necessary.”
Remembering something Finn had mentioned once, I asked, “Some of your people have contact with the shifters in the marina at Jeremy’s, don’t they? Is it possible they could have been seen during any of those interactions?”
Arella looked up at Dorn inquiringly. Sighing, he said, “There are . . . some . . . who have discovered modern conveniences and use them, yes. But they assure me they take precautions to ensure they are not seen by humans.” The widening of the young queen’s eyes told me she knew nothing of this.
“Okay,” Sam mused. “Maybe the kidnappers aren’t humans. They could be other paras or . . . witches with an agenda. What value would these children have to them?”
Indignation flared in Arella’s eyes as she leaned forward. Before she could answer, Dorn quieted her with a firm hand on her shoulder. “As far as magick goes, our young do not come into their full magickal abilities until they reach puberty. This occurs between the ages of twelve and sixteen for most. Before that, they have only the most basic magickal abilities needed for survival. The strength of that magick varies between family lines. Though two were half-breeds, all of these children came from strong lines and will be valuable assets to the colony when they come of age. Had they been but just a few years older, they could not have been taken at all without great risk of injury to any who attempted them harm.”
Sam caught my eye, and I knew what she was thinking. Could this be the work of our blood magick witches? Or was it completely unrelated?
At another hand tap from his charge, Dorn said, “We must return to the water now. As a female, Arella has the ability to be out of the water much longer than I do, but she reminds me that my time is nearly up.” He helped Arella up from her seat and we got to our feet to see them off.
Arella met my eyes one last time. “Please. You must help us.” With those parting words, she preceded Dorn down the terrace stairs and was gone from our sight moments later.
I sat down heavily and looked around at my friends. One look at their faces and I knew—for I was sure there would be no keeping either Sam or Tess away from this—what our answer would be. “Thoughts?”
Sam held up a finger, going back to her notes. Tess was reading them over her shoulder and shook her head. Finn’s wings fluttered before he spoke. “It could be anyone. We already know there are the blood magick witches. Any fae, young or not, would still have enough magick in their blood to be of use to them.”
“Okay. They’re at the top. But how would they know about them? Arella said their people are cautious.”
Sam tapped her pen on the pad of paper. “I know he said otherwise, but it’s still very likely they could
