Chapter 43

 

 

Treoir Island

 

The fire caught quickly and flames engulfed the body.

An hour after the Tribunal meeting, Quinn stood straight, hands at his sides, thinking of the last time he’d held Kizira. What he would give to touch her one more time and part on better terms than they had, but that was never going to happen.

Tears pooled in his eyes, but he held them back. He’d shed enough over losing her.

He’d never really possessed her.

She’d come into his life for two weeks when he was a very young man, just long enough to discover that the warm young woman with too much heart was a Medb priestess.

But some things in life couldn’t be avoided, like an unwanted Medb birthright.

Kizira had hated being a Medb, but when they went their separate ways more than thirteen years ago, she’d accepted her duty as he had his. He forgave her for not telling him sooner about their child. But he’d missed a child’s lifetime with Phoedra.

He and Kizira had met a few times over the years since parting ways. They’d been sometimes lovers, and always enemies, but the last time he’d looked into her eyes was the one he’d carry with him for the rest of his life.

“How are you doing?” Evalle asked, stepping up beside him.

That broke his focus from the funeral pyre. “I’m fine.”

Storm stepped up and said, “Lie.”

When Quinn looked at him, he saw that Storm had been poking at him in a friendly way and Quinn answered with a shrug. “Let’s say that I’m looking forward and the future will be fine.”

“Truth.”

Daegan had teleported Quinn to Treoir from the Tribunal, which probably really pissed off Sen, who now knew he wasn’t so special after all. Then Daegan teleported the tomb from Evalle and Storm’s garage, plus both of them and Tristan to Treoir, where Quinn explained what he wanted to do.

Brina stood in front of Tzader with his arms wrapped around her baby bump. They whispered between them in a sad tone.

Tristan had taken on the duty of creating the pyre once Quinn explained that he was going to cremate Kizira. Daegan actually suggested doing it here, which had surprised Quinn.

He would never have asked to have the funeral of a Medb priestess on Treoir Island.

Things were going to be different with Daegan, for sure. It sounded as if the Beladors were heading into a war, but thanks to Daegan’s intervention, Quinn would be there for everyone, including Daegan.

Daegan walked over, arms crossed over his bulky chest. He was still dressed like a warrior from centuries ago, which must feel normal to him.

Once everyone had joined Quinn, he said, “First, I wish I hadn’t put anyone in jeopardy because of my relationship with Kizira.”

Evalle gently argued, “If not for that, Kizira would never have teamed up with me before the big battle here to help save our people. It wasn’t all bad.”

“No, it wasn’t,” he agreed. “But I want to thank all of you. This was more than I would have expected to have for her. I feel like this will be the closure I needed.”

Daegan observed him with sharp eyes. “You must have had a reason for waiting to do this.”

It was time to give Daegan the entire truth. “I did. When Kizira told me about our child at the last second before she died, I was ... wracked with guilt. I convinced myself that the one thing I could do was give Phoedra a body to grieve. If we were human, that wouldn’t have been unusual, but we’re not. I foolishly thought I could protect that body. I should have been thinking about protecting my child first and foremost.”

Tristan said, “Now I understand more.”

Tzader squeezed Quinn’s shoulder, a sign of support, and Brina said, “We’ll find her, Quinn.”

“Yes we will,” Evalle confirmed with a determination that surfaced anytime someone in her close circle of friends was in need.

Daegan said, “She must be found.”

Quinn nodded, in total agreement. He had no idea where to start, but he would find his child.

“We have time, but there’s no telling how much,” Daegan said, confusing Quinn.

“Queen Maeve can’t touch Kizira’s body now,” Evalle pointed out.

“That solves only one problem.” Daegan took in every face, then said, “Cathbad and Queen Maeve had not discovered anything about this child before I left, but that doesn’t mean they can’t find out. The queen kept watching Kizira die on her scrying wall. She knew then that something was up and will suspect even more now that she’s been denied the body.”

Tzader said, “I’m pretty sure we wrecked that wall when we pulled you out of there, Daegan.”

The dragon king nodded. “I hope so, but that will not prevent her from finding out through other ways. No secret remains hidden forever in our world. After today, she’ll be even more determined to find out what Kizira was hiding.”

“Can she?” Evalle asked. “I mean don’t we plan to salt the ashes and spread them afterwards?”

“Yes,” Quinn answered.

Daegan continued on his line of thought as he stared at the fire. “Queen Maeve did not manage to keep her coven growing over thousands of years and reincarnate by luck alone. She’s a dangerous adversary who will not be stopped by a destroyed scrying wall.” The dragon king finally dropped it by saying, “We still have to figure out who was behind Lorwerth. I’m not fully convinced that it was Maeve, or at least not Maeve alone. Not after seeing her at the Tribunal. That will wait for tomorrow. We’ll meet to develop a strategy for hunting the girl then.”

Quinn’s heart had beaten faster with each declaration Daegan made. Where would Kizira have hidden their child to keep her from all this bloody insanity?

His gut twisted with worry for his daughter out there exposed to the predators of his world. Dark witches. Evil mages like the one who’d harmed Lanna. Demons, like the ones that hunted Reese.

Where had Reese gone? Was she safe?

He’d never find out.

If he’d gotten to know her better, he might have asked her to use her remote vision gift to help him find Phoedra, but she’d vanished into the ether. Whoever had sent her to Atlanta had very likely covered her tracks when she returned home.

What would that person say when Reese arrived empty-handed?

As the fire burned, he said his goodbye to Kizira and swore he’d find their daughter. Now he just had to figure out how to make good on that vow.

Yes, the Beladors had resources, but the world was a huge place and she was one small girl.