Corrigan Rage (16 page)

The Summer Queen also clearly knew when it was best to acquiesce. ‘I can do that. But, Mackenzie, you should know that you can come and join us in Tir-na-Nog. I can assure you that you’ll be safe there.’

‘That’s alright,’ Mack dismissed.

I took a deep breath, my heart hammering in my chest. ‘Will you come with me? I won’t force you, Mack. You know that.’ At least I hoped she did. ‘And I won’t look after you if that’s what you want. You’ll have as much freedom as you want.’

Mack smiled. My stomach flipflopped and I thought for a moment she’d say yes. She touched my cheek gently. That’s when I knew what her answer would really be. I understood why, even though it made me unbearably sad. ‘No, Corrigan. But thank you. I need to do this on my own, at least for now.’

I nodded, trying to be understanding. Unable to keep looking at her face, I dropped my gaze. When I looked back up again, she’d already gone.

A small part of me was half-expecting the Tower of London guards to recognise my face. I even passed the Beefeater who’d regaled me with his stories of ghosts. He simply gave me the brief smile of a stranger, however. The Arch-Mage had done a good job with this memory wipe at least.

I found Corux displaying his feathers and preening himself ostentatiously in front of a group of tourists. He cawed loudly, flapping towards me. The humans gradually dispersed, sensing that the’show’ was over.

‘How are you doing?’ I asked.

‘Corux is better than you,’ the bird squawked. ‘You’ve not been sleeping much.’

I guessed the dark circles under my eyes were pretty obvious. I’d been having a lot of disturbed dreams – most of them involving dragons. I shrugged awkwardly. ‘No trouble with the vampires?’

Corux snorted. ‘No. They wouldn’t dare come here again.’

I thought of Natalia. The bird was probably right. ‘I’m pleased to hear it.’

The raven hopped over to me and made an odd birdlike approximation of a bow. ‘Corux thanks you,’ he intoned formally. ‘You came to help us and we won’t forget it.’

‘It was nothing,’ I dismissed.

‘If you say so.’ He pecked at an invisible speck on the ground. ‘There’s someone who wants to talk to you.’

I raised an eyebrow. ‘Who?’

Corux raised one wing, pointing down the small gravelled path. I followed his gaze, stiffening when I saw who was there. ‘What does he want?’ I growled.

‘How the hell should Corux know?’ He flapped away.

I watched him go then straightened my shoulders and walked down to meet Solus. The Fae was dressed soberly for once. He also appeared to be carrying a set of clothes in his arms.

‘What’s new, pussycat?’ he drawled when I reached him.

I scowled. He handed the bundle of clothes over to me and my scowl deepened even further.

‘This my suit,’ I said accusingly. I looked at him. ‘You stole it, didn’t you?’

He shrugged awkwardly. ‘I borrowed it.’

‘Why the hell do you do that?’

Solus grinned wickedly. ‘It seemed like fun at the time.’

I stared at him. I couldn’t fathom out how it would be’fun’ at all. ‘Don’t come into my house unannounced again,’ I ordered.

He swept out a bow. ‘As you wish.’ He gazed at me, clearly wanting to say something else.

‘What is it?’ I asked.

He shrugged. ‘Nothing.’

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. Bloody Fae. You could never trust them. I lifted up my chin. ‘What is it with you and Mack?’ I demanded. ‘Why are you hanging around her?’

A tiny smile played around his mouth. ‘Who wouldn’t want to hang around such power?’

I was bitterly reminded that Mack had confided her true nature to him long before I’d discovered it. ‘Are you ... involved?’

Solus threw back his head and laughed. ‘Dear Corrie! I’m always involved.’

I blew air out through my cheeks and rolled my eyes, ready to walk away. Solus grabbed my arm, however.

‘I’m not involved in the way that you think,’ he told me. ‘For a while I thought I would be. But Mack’s in love. True love. There’s no breaking through that kind of barrier.’ He pouted. ‘Shame.’

‘Who?’ I snarled. ‘Who’s she in love with?’

He laughed again. ‘Oh dear. You really are quite dim, aren’t you? You’re well suited to each other. She won’t admit to herself that she’s in love and you can’t see it in her either. This will be fun to watch.’

I narrowed my eyes. ‘Why are you doing this?’

He sobered up. ‘Because I owe her. I ... accused her of something I shouldn’t have. If anyone deserves a bit of happiness, it’s my dragonlette.’ He threw me a slightly disparaging look. ‘Even if it’s with someone with your dress sense.’

My mouth dropped open. ‘I ...’

Solus patted my arm. ‘Don’t worry about it, furry one. You know, she’s going to stick around this time. In London.’ He winked at me. ‘And whether she’ll admit it or not, it’s because of you.’ He patted me on the shoulder, then snapped his fingers and vanished.

I raised my head up to the brilliant blue sky and inhaled deeply. I grinned to myself. Draco Wyr be damned. She would be mine sooner or later – and she’d want it just as much as I did.

After teaching English literature in the UK, Japan and Malaysia, Helen Harper left behind the world of education following the worldwide success of her
Blood Destiny
series of books. She is a professional member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and writes full time although she still fits in creative writing workshops with schools along with volunteering to teach reading to a group of young Myanmar refugees. That’s not to mention the procession of stray cats which seem to find their way to her door!

Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland.

Helen currently lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with far too many cats – not to mention the dragons, fairies, demons, wizards and vampires that seem to keep appearing from nowhere.

The
Blood Destiny
series

The
Olympiana
series

Eros

Lyre

The
Bo Blackman
series

Dire Straits

New Order

High Stakes

Red Angel

Bo Blackman Box Set (Books 1 – 3)

––––––––

T
he
Dreamweaver
series

Night Shade