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LAERWEN BURROWED DEEP within the blankets of Andahar’s bed as she curled next to him, her head on his chest. He held her, his hand brushing her hair. Her fingers trailed through the fine hairs on his chest, slipping over the muscles there and back again.
For the first time since that horrible day when her realm was destroyed, a sense of safety and security came over her. But she’d always felt that way with Andahar. The loneliness she’d experienced seemed to finally abate. And it seemed as though she could face all the terrors of the world with him at her side.
“What are you thinking of, princess?”
“I am queen now,” she teased. “Or have you forgotten?”
“I forget nothing. You will always be a princess to me.”
She grinned in the warm glow of the room though he couldn’t see her. “I’m wishing this night would last forever and never end.”
“I wish that too.”
Alas, it must end and they both knew that. She rolled toward him and looked up at him. “I’m also thinking I don’t feel so alone anymore now that I know your true feelings.”
He brushed a lock of hair from her face. “Nor I. Though you were never truly alone.”
“I know that now.” She smiled. “You have always been there for me.”
“And will continue to be.”
She rested her head once more against his chest. “When should we announce our engagement?”
“Whenever you wish. Today. Tomorrow. It doesn’t matter to me.”
“And when will we marry?”
“Today. Tomorrow.” She could hear the smile in his voice.
She giggled. “It’s a fair question.”
“It matters not to me when we marry, so long as we marry.”
“I wish to marry you today.”
“That will take some doing.”
She rose sat next to him, pulling her fingers through her tangled hair. “All we need is an officiant. You have a High Druid in the realm, I assume? I don’t want anything elaborate or boastful. Not in a time like this, when we are about to go to war. Can we not just...marry?”
He reached for her and pulled her down to him, his hands on either side of her face as he placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “Is that truly what you wish?”
“It is.”
He nudged her out of his arms and slipped from the bed, reaching for his breeches. She watched in stunned silence as he dressed.
“What are you doing?”
“Dressing. Let’s go now.” He picked up her clothes and tossed them to her. “Before you change your mind.” There was a playful smile tugging at his lips.
“I’ll not change my mind,” she said. “You’re going to wake the High Druid now to marry us?”
“Indeed I am. We will greet the dawn as husband and wife.”
She slid to the edge of the bed and stood, still naked, her hands on her hips as she thrust out her breasts. “Are you certain you don’t wish to ravish me again?”
His gaze raked over her as he smiled. “Tease.” He moved to her in one step and pulled her to him. “I shall next ravish you when you are my wife.” He planted a kiss on her lips before releasing her.
With her heart beating rapidly, she pulled on her skirt and top, and then wrapped the sari around her, tossing the end over her shoulder. She placed her mother’s veil over her hair, hiding the long lengths.
They paused and he fingered the veil, his thumb running over the lacy edge.
“It was my mother’s,” she confessed. “All that is left of her.”
“It’s as lovely as you.”
He took her by the hand and led her from his chamber. They crept down the deserted hallways while the rest of the palace still slept. It was quiet and peaceful and no one was about. Not even the guards. As though they had all gone off to their own chamber to slumber away the wee hours of the morn. And it seemed to her as if they were two young lovers sneaking away for a romantic rendezvous. When really, this was so much more...quixotic. So delightfully wonderful, she thought her heart might burst from joy.
They arrived at a door and the king knocked, his knuckles rapping on the solid oak like a demand. It took several long, silent moments before it finally opened and a rumpled man appeared on the other side. He held a candlestick in one hand, the yellowish glow casting wavering shadows across his aged face. He squinted into the hallway at the king and then, realizing who stood before him, straightened and bowed.
“Your majesty. Your presence is most unexpected at this time of the night. Is there something amiss?”
“Eran, the queen of the Fire Elves and I wish to be married at once,” he announced, his voice strong and sure.
The High Druid blinked surprise before casting his eyes at her, giving her a quick once over. His brows knit with question as he looked back at his king. “Your majesty?”
“I believe I made myself perfectly clear. Marry us.” Andahar’s hand tightened on hers as he pulled her closer and wrapped his arm around her. “We wish to be wed at once.”
“Aye, of course.”
He stepped aside and welcomed them into his chamber.
The ceremony only lasted a short time. Merely long enough for the High Druid to perform the ritual handfasting and for them to exchange their vows. They sealed it with a kiss. Her pulse was aflutter as they left the High Druid’s chamber and headed back to their own.
They hadn’t discussed how their rule would work. Would he return with her to the Hin’dar Rhule to help her rebuild? She knew she could not stay here and leave her realm to ruin. Marrying Andahar also meant she would have to spend a fair amount of time here in the humidity of the Woodlands, something that seemed not to have bothered her. In fact, she’d never even thought about the humidity of the Woodlands. Mayhap because she’d been so distracted with other things.
At any rate, she wasn’t ready to discuss that yet. For now, she only wanted to revel in the bliss.
When they reached his chamber door, he opened it. As she took a step to go in, he caught her arm. She gave him a questioning look. He swept her into his arms and carried her across the threshold. She giggled as he kicked the door closed.
He set her to her feet. “And now, my wife, about that ravishing you requested...”
* * *
CORMAC KNEW THE RANKS of the Fomorians were divided. Some swore allegiance to Lorcann and others to him. He knew this because Gweneth had become his spy.
One of her powers was that she could remove her consciousness from her body. She called it removing herself to the First Sphere. She described it as taking her mind out of her body so she could go anywhere, anytime. She willingly did this for him and learned many secrets among them.
He waited for her mind to return from the First Sphere. She lay on the bed, her hands folded over her chest and her eyes still closed. He had made the mistake once of opening an eyelid and saw nothing but the white of her eye. No color there. Just a void. It had shaken him to his core and he vowed he would never do that again.
But Gweneth insisted he be there when she performed this spell. She needed someone to bring her out of her trance if she had not returned before the black candle burned down to the last mark on the wax.
He could see movement behind her lids and knew she was close to coming out of it. She inhaled sharply as her eyes fluttered open and she sat up. She looked at him, met his gaze, and then leaned over to blow out the candle. It plunged the tent into near darkness. Several candelabras still burned on the other side of the tent.
“What did you learn?”
“Lorcann has worked his men into a frenzy. They hate you.”
“Not unexpected. I took Lorcann’s powers from him.”
“Aye you did. And most of his men. And his woman.” She grinned as her eyes glinted in the half-light and then turned serious. “Be warned. They intend to kill you.”
“Let them try.” He ground his teeth until they ached.
“They will try.” She swung her legs off the side of the bed. “Lorcann will not carry the deed out himself. He’s convinced his men to attack you.”
“How many?”
“Twenty. They intend to ambush you.”
“When?”
“Dawn tomorrow. When you go for your morning exercises.”
“I will be ready.”
“As will I.”
“You’re not helping me.”
“I am. I will. No matter how strong you are, you cannot think to defeat so many. You will be outnumbered.” She stood and moved to him, sliding her hands up his chest. “I am to be your queen. I stand beside you no matter what.”
Cormac peeled his lips back from his teeth in a snarl before nodded. “All right. What does Lorcann hope to gain by killing me?”
“He thinks he can get his power back. He is mistaken.”
“You know this?”
She nodded. “Once the power has been removed as you took it, it cannot be returned. Not ever. He also thinks with you dead, he will be able to lead the attack at the Hin’dar Rhule.”
Cormac laughed. “The fool.”
“Once you defeat his men, then you will show the rest of them you are the rightful leader.” She placed her hands on either side of his face. “You will win this fight.”
“Just as I will win the Unseelie realm.”
She smiled. “Aye, my love. And just as I will be by your side.”
He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “Tell me your plan to defeat these brigands.”
* * *
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Cormac emerged from his tent, his senses on high alert. He knew Lorcann’s men were waiting for him on the edge of the encampment. Before he left, Gweneth had given him an enchanted dagger, one that would make him all-powerful in the coming battle. She was proving to be more and more of an asset. And more and more he knew he could not live without her.
As he left the row of tents, one of the men stepped in front of him blocking his path.
“Good morrow, Cormac.”
He opened his palm and let the dagger slid into it. His fingers closed around the hilt as he gave the man a nod of greeting.
The next thing Cormac knew, he was hit from behind. He went to his knees, the dagger falling out of his hand. Someone punched him in the back of the head while someone else punched him in the kidneys. Another kicked him in the side, he was on the ground then, face in the dirt. He couldn’t find the dagger.
Get up and fight! Don’t let them defeat you.
It was Gweneth’s voice in his head. He lifted his head enough to see the dagger just out of reach. But there were too many punching and kicking him. The next thing he felt was a sharp stabbing pain in the shoulder.
He dove for the dagger, knowing he’d been stabbed by one of them. His hand closed on the hilt and suddenly, a surge of power spread throughout him. Something he hadn’t experienced before.
Strength poured through his arms, giving him what he needed to break free of his attackers. He turned and lunged, stabbing the first one in the gut.
That’s it, my love. You can do it. Kill them. Kill them all.
He wasn’t sure if Gweneth was projecting herself into his head, if she was on the First Sphere or what. But it didn’t matter. All that mattered was he had the strength and the power to kill all of these men. Dark shadows pressed into his vision, giving him one thought and one thought only. He saw nothing else. Heard nothing else. Knew nothing else. All he knew was he killed them, one by one. He wasn’t even sure how he managed to do it, his actions had become such a blur.
By the time he stopped, his chest heaving from exertion and sweat trickling down his face, the men were in a heap at his feet. Even the one who’d blocked his path was dead. He recalled him trying to get away but he wouldn’t let him.
When his vision cleared and the power had dwindled inside him, he blinked and saw the crowd had gathered before him. Staring at him. Gaping at the dead on the ground. His gaze landed on their faces, picking them out one by one. Making sure they all saw he knew they were there.
“Let this be a lesson to you all. I am in command here. Not Lorcann.”
No one replied. Slowly the crowd dissipated, leaving only Lorcann there.
“What sort of trickery did you perform to kill my men?” he asked.
“No trickery.”
“Liar. I saw you. No one possesses that kind of strength or power. Not even the highest wizard.”
“I do. I have that kind of strength. And power.”
“They will never follow you out of loyalty. Only fear.”
“Fear is all I need.” Cormac gave him a wide smile.
Lorcann said nothing as he turned and walked away.
Gweneth emerged from her hiding place and stood next to Cormac.
“He will not stop,” she said. “He’s still desperate to kill the princess of the Fire Elves.”
“I didn’t think he would. He’s desperate to get his magic back and he’ll do whatever it takes to do that.” He glanced at her, took her hand and held it. “You know this for certain?”
“When I was in the First Sphere, I saw him conspiring with the others. If this did not work out, he has another plan for her. He will take her on the battlefield in the Hin’dar Rhule. He is merely biding his time until the final fight.”
“Then my lady sorceress, it’s time we pay a visit to the Woodlands.”
She smiled. “By your command, my lord.”
* * *
THEY AGREED TO TELL no one of their nuptials. Laerwen wasn’t ready to break the news to Hiram, though Andahar didn’t see how it mattered. He honored her wishes, though, to keep the marriage secret until after the battle was over.
Andahar left her alone in his chamber so she could prepare for the day. He headed to the dining hall to break his fast. There he found his brother and the Lady of the Skye.
“Your majesty arrives late for your morning meal,” Eldrin said. “Would that have anything to do with the lovely Queen of the Fire Elves.”
“That would be none of your concern,” Andahar said.
Eldrin snickered. “You were the last two here when we all retired. We hoped there would be some...development.”
“Development?”
“It’s quite obvious the lady fancies you,” Lady Talaiel said with a smile. “She’s quite smitten actually.”
Andahar knew that. They’d professed their love for each other only hours ago. He shifted in his chair as the servants brought a heaping bowl of porridge. “There is a week left before the eclipse. We must begin moving toward the Hin’dar Rhule.”
“Changing the subject, brother?” Eldrin smirked.
Andahar gave him a pointed look. “Aye, I am.”
Talaiel rested her hand on Eldrin’s arm as if in warning to keep him quiet. Eldrin pressed his lips together and Andahar could tell he resisted another barb about Laerwen. “I believe you’ll find everything in order,” he said. “Queen Elyne said she is ready to move her troops as soon as you are. She has offered to sift us all there to make the journey less labor intensive.”
“Did you agree to that?” Andahar asked.
“I thought it might save the troops from unnecessary exhaustion. If she can sift us there, then we should allow her to do so.”
“I will speak to the queen about her plans for that.”
“As you wish.”
At that moment, Laerwen made her entrance. Andahar and Eldrin stood as she approached the table dressed in her traditional Fire Elven clothes—the trousers that billowed around her legs but were tight at the ankle, the long tunic and the sari over her shoulder. She also wore the veil over her head, hiding her silken locks of hair. He knew now how precious that veil was to her.
“Good morrow, Queen Laerwen.” Eldrin bowed with his greeting.
“I’m glad you could join us.”
Andahar couldn’t suppress the smile that erupted over his face. He held his hand out to her and she came to him, her gaze pinned on him and not looking at anyone else in the room. When her fingers slid against his palm, a zing of happiness jolted through him.
Her cheeks held a rosy pallor, something he’d not seen in her before but he suspected was the look of delight at being near him again. At least that’s what he hoped for. He couldn’t help but look at her differently now that she was his wife. His heart.
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” she said.
“Not at all. We were just discussing our journey to the volcanoes.”
“Oh.” Her eyes lit up at that and he could see the hope and anticipation in them. “We’re planning to go soon then?”
“Soon.” He kissed her hand. He was aware Eldrin and his lady observed the intimacy they shared. Somehow, he didn’t care if they saw. He wanted to shout to the world she was forever his but she had forbidden it. He understood her need for secrecy but he didn’t have to like it.
They returned to their seats. The servants came by with a large bowl of porridge for Laerwen. She wasted no time digging into it.
“I hope you know the Skye Elves are ready to assist,” Talaiel said. “I’ve also added more wards around the Woodlands. I don’t know if it will keep the Fomorians out for good should they decide to attack again, but it will deter them.”
“Thank you, my lady. Cormac seems to have become quite powerful. He may be able to punch through those wards no matter how good they are.”
“You are quite right, King Andahar.”
At the sound of Cormac’s voice, everyone jumped to their feet. Eldrin pulled his sword. No one had seen him flash into the room. He was getting entirely too good at that and it disturbed Andahar. Laerwen took a step behind him, peering around him at the Fomorian mage who had made his presence known.
Cormac leaned against one of the far walls, his ankles crossed and his arms folded over his chest. A woman none of them knew stood next to him. Her black eyes alighted on everyone in the room, pausing on each face is if to memorize them. Her sleek black hair fell over her shoulders. She exuded power and confidence and Andahar knew this was not a woman to be taken lightly.
Cormac, however, looked as though he’d just been in a tavern fight. He had an oozing cut above his left eye, which was black. His knuckles were raw and red. His lip was split. He held up his hands in surrender.
“Stand down, ranger. I assure you I come unarmed.”
“Shall I search you to find out?” Eldrin said.
“Put the sword down, brother. We can trust him.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Eldrin eyed him suspiciously.
Andahar placed his hand on his brother’s wrist and pushed down his hand. “I’m sure. Who’s your friend?”
“May I present to you Gweneth? My lady sorceress.”
So this was his woman. The one who had agreed to help him through the Barrier to the Unseelie realm.
“She stands beside me and is my future dark queen.”
Elyne and Derron chose that moment to enter the dining hall and stopped short at the sight of Cormac. She didn’t hide the look of surprise on her face. Nor did Derron hide the scowl.
“Cormac, what are you doing here?” Andahar snarled.
He pushed off the wall and walked toward them, his hands still up and visible. “I’m glad you could join us. I’ve so looked forward to this reunion. Your mother fares well, Princess?”
His gaze landed on Elyne. Derron slipped a protective arm around her shoulders. “Queen. She is queen now,” he said. “As I am king.”
“Ah, queen. Forgive my insolence. You both have my congratulations on your coronation as rulers of the Otherworld.”
Andahar saw the smirk cross his face before he managed to hide it. For all his intent, Cormac sounded less than happy about Elyne and Derron as rulers.
“My mother is fine, Cormac. You’re looking well for a dead man. In fact, you look like a new person altogether.”
To that he laughed. “No longer dead. My spirit was put into another’s body so that I may live again.”
Her eyes narrowed, suspicion evident on her pretty features. “Is that so? Then tell me something only Cormac would know.”
“I released you from Kieran’s burning tent and took you on the back of Nero to the Stone of Destiny.”
One thin blonde eyebrow raised. “And what did you say to me?”
“That I was taking you to meet your fate.”
Relief passed over her features as she smiled and blew out a breath. “Aye. You really are Cormac.”
“Then we can get on with business.” His gaze flickered to Andahar. “I’ve come to discuss our truce.”
“You realize you are now a traitor to the Fomorians. And to Lorcann.”
“Lorcann has no power. But he still intends to steal the princess—forgive me, the queen of the Fire Elves—to sacrifice in the fires of the Hin’dar Rhule. He has not given up that quest.”
Behind him, Andahar could feel Laerwen shift with her unease. Her hand landed on the small of his back.
“He can’t have her.”
“No, he can’t.” Cormac nodded in agreement. “However, I have a plan I’d like to propose.”
Andahar glanced around at the expectant faces of the others. “We’re listening.”
“Since Lorcann is determined to see this through, we can use it to our advantage. She can lure the mage to her while Gweneth and I open the portal to the Unseelie realm.”
“As bait?” Andahar shook his head. “No. I forbid it.”
“Come now. You haven’t even asked her yet.” He looked at her then and smiled. “Your majesty?”
“No,” Andahar said again.
“I’ll do it.” Laerwen stepped out from behind Andahar. She held up her head, as though ready to take on the world. Ready to take on the dangerous mage.
“Laerwen—”
“Andahar, I want to do this. If it means getting back my realm and my home, then I’m all in.”
“It’s too dangerous. I won’t allow it.”
“You can’t forbid me,” she challenged.
“I can. I’m—” He halted, clamped his mouth shut when he realized he was about to announce he was her husband. He would forbid her because it was his duty to protect her. “I don’t want to see anything happen to you.”
She softened, knowing what he was about to say. She placed her hand on his chest. “I know.”
Cormac cleared his throat loudly. “I appreciate the affectionate moment but we have plans to make. Can we resume? If her majesty is willing to act as bait, then we have a chance to make this work. My lady Gweneth will explain.”
She had remained where she flashed in with Cormac. Now she came toward them and paused beside him. Her glittering dark gaze landed on each and every one of them before resting on Laerwen.
“Cormac commands the Fomorians but there are still those opposed to him. Those loyal to Lorcann. Though they will never show it, their allegiance is divided.”
“How do you know that?” It was Eldrin who spoke. That heated gaze of hers landed on him.
She narrowed her eyes. “I have my ways of knowing these things.”
“We can trust what she says as the truth,” Cormac put in. “She is more powerful than any of us put together and she knows Lorcann’s plan.”
“Once we are in the Hin’dar Rhule, they plan to alter the attack,” she continued. “Their first order of business is to get the Fire Queen. They will do whatever it takes to capture her. Even kill each other. You do not yet understand how desperate Lorcann is to have his power back.”
“I think I have an idea,” Laerwen said, her tone flat.
“We will position Queen Laerwen in the middle of the field. This will allow those loyal to Lorcann to show themselves,” Cormac said.
“Out in the open? She’ll be an easy target,” Andahar said. “I don’t like that idea at all.”
“Aye, she’ll be an easy target. Which is exactly what we want.” Cormac nodded agreement.
“You expect her stand there waiting to be attacked?”
This time Derron spoke up. He stepped around Elyne and positioned himself near the other two men and edged toward Laerwen. As though they were a wall of muscle. Andahar was well pleased with that show of solidarity.
“Once the traitors show themselves, they will be killed immediately,” Cormac said.
“That’s how you intend to cull the herd, so to speak?” Andahar asked.
“Indeed. Once the traitors are dealt with, then we can proceed with opening the Barrier to the Unseelie realm.”
“How many Fomorians are left?”
“Five thousand. Though I expect that number to go down,” Cormac said. “When they realize what we intend to do, most won’t be willing to go into the Unseelie realm.”
“But we will force them,” Gweneth added. She had the air of confidence in her tone.
Andahar didn’t like this plan. Too many things could go wrong. What if there was a revolt and they turned on Cormac and his sorceress? “And the eruption? You’re sure it will happen?”
“Aye, I’m sure,” Gweneth said.
“How can you be?” Laerwen asked. “They haven’t erupted in thousands of years. Why now?”
“It has always been said the next eruption of all the volcanoes in the Hin’dar Rhule will happen when there is no day and no night. The eclipse is coming,” the sorceress replied.
Andahar gave Laerwen a questioning look as if to ask her silently if the sorceress was telling the truth. She nodded. “I’ve heard the myths. Though it hasn’t occurred in my lifetime, I know it is a possibility.”
“All right.” Andahar looked back at Cormac. “I’m not entirely sure I’m in agreement with this plan but if you think it’ll work then who am I to stand in anyone’s way? We will begin mobilizing soon to travel to the Hin’dar Rhule.”
“Leave the traveling to me,” Elyne put in.
Derron cut a glance to her but she gave him a stiff shake of her head, as if to silence him.
Andahar knew the queen of the Fae could sift them all there. He appreciated the help. It would save days of travel and keep the troops from being weary by the time they got there.
“Then it’s settled. We will meet again in the Hin’dar Rhule,” Cormac said.
He took a step toward Laerwen and every one of the men stiffened. Andahar saw Eldrin reach for his sword, his hand on the hilt. Derron did the same. The Fomorian mage glanced at each of them before taking Laerwen’s hand and kissing it.
“Until we meet again, your majesty.”
And then he and the sorceress flashed away. Silence descended on them and none of them seemed to know what to say or do.
“It’s settled then,” Laerwen announced. “I will soon see my homeland again.”
Andahar didn’t miss her faint smile of anticipation. A cold knot formed in the pit of his stomach. If anything went wrong, she could die.
“As soon as you’re ready, King Andahar, I can sift the troops to the battlefield,” Elyne said.
Derron moved to stand beside his wife. But Andahar wasn’t sure he was ready.
“How many days until the eclipse?” he asked, turning to Laerwen.
“Less than a week. Sifting may be the only way. It took us several days to traverse the realm. But we were trying to avoid the Fomorians.”
“Very well.” He turned to the queen of the Fae. “How many can you move at one time?”
“Several hundred, I should think.”
“We’ll need horses and equipment as well.”
But she was nodding before he finished. “I can move that as well. Whatever you need.”
“We can move that,” Derron said. “She forgets I can also sift.”
“And Lady Talaiel?”
“Our sky dragons can fly my people there whenever you give the word.”
Andahar reached for Laerwen’s hand and laced their fingers. He looked at the expectant faces of his friends and spoke four words that would begin the final battle between them and the Fomorians and rid the realm of them forever. The four words that would seal all of their fates.
“The word is given.”