My Warrior Fae (18 page)

Tess and Shamus both dropped their eyes to the floor as soon as Lord Lucas made his

presence known to them. Without his permission to look him in the face, Lucas could ensnare a being and claim them as one of his minions. Neither of them wanted to work for the demon lord.

“I’m more than ready, Lord Lucas, but it seems my lady is not. My master Tess has a need to speak with you, sir. I am only along as her support.”

“Humm, I wonder about that. Tessa, love, come sit with me and we’ll talk. It has been too many years and this boon I owe you needs to be paid. I don’t like owing anyone, as you well know. Tell me, what has you coming to me at such a horrible hour?”

She walked to the large sofa and sat in the middle of it. Tess thought that if she sat anywhere else he would think she was being rude. Sitting in the middle gave him the advantage, she knew, but she also knew that he would not press her with Shamus here with her. She was relieved when he sat at the far end and did not touch her.

“I wish to speak to you as equals, Lord Lucas—face to face as it were.” Tess held her breath.

He would ask her for something in return for this. She only hoped that she got to offer something rather than him ask for it.

“You ask for a lot, Tessa. What will I receive in return? Something worthy, I hope.” He had always called her by her full first name. She hated it, but thought now would not be a good time to quibble about it as she had in the past.

“I believe so, sir. I give you information about Marlus and his plans to overpower the Queen of Magick.”

Tess heard him shift on the couch and saw his long leg stretch out on the cushion between them. She did not look at him; he had not given his permission.

“You may be my equal—for the moment. Marlus has been talking about taking over the

queen’s realm since that moron of a mate of hers tried to take her out. He is no closer to it than I am to getting to fuck your man-at-arms here. You must do better than that, I’m afraid. What will you give me as a boon?” He reached out and curled a strand of her hair around his finger. She wanted to pull away, but did not.

Tess licked her lips. This is it, she thought. If he knew what information she had she was dead. If not, then…

“He has help, sir. Albadar is helping him. And also a member of the queen’s own council.

They plot to overthrow her and then kill off the royal court. I have it on good authority that he plans to do it very soon.”

“And this ‘authority,’ is this person someone you trust, someone I would trust through you?”

“Yes, my lord, it is I. I overheard the councilman and Marlus talking about their plans quite by accident in the Caves of Avalone.”

“And Albadar’s involvement, how do you know that he is going to help Marlus? How do

you know that he isn’t merely a pawn in the plan and not a player at all?”

Now came the really tricky part. She had to tell Lucas what she was and how she knew. Not knowing if he would believe her was what she was worried about most. “I took his blood as a pledge of alliance. I also know what he is and his relationship to you, my lord.” Tess did not turn to see Shamus, but she could feel his anger as it boiled into her through their connection.

She had not told him what she had done, nor had she told Nathaniel. She knew what she had done was both stupid and dangerous, but he had pledged himself to her and she hoped that by doing so she would be able to control him.

Lucas looked at her sharply with narrowed eyes. She was both relieved and terrified at the same time. His temper was legendary.

“Go on.”

Tess stood to pace and looked back at the demon. She needed to walk to talk and when he waved at her with his hand she began walking.

“Albadar has been feeding Marlus fae blood. As you know, fae blood to a de…to one such as yourself makes them powerful for a while, but it will eat at their brain until they are insane.

Or, in this case, insaner. Over the past several days six of my men have come down with flulike ailments. When I searched their minds I found that their memories had been altered. When I was able to dig a little deeper I saw that Albadar had lead them to Marlus and then he…they used my men for not only food, but for sexual release.”

He got up to the fireplace and threw several logs into the high flames. The room was already too warm; the heat coming from the fire was nearly unbearable. Tess could feel the sweat begin to trickle down her spine. Looking at Shamus she noticed that he was not faring any better.

“This is against the treaty that we have with the queen. They are both aware of this. He faces death—both of them, for breaking it. I’ll see them punished immediately.” Lucas got up to pace as she had done. Then after a few minutes he settled in the large arm chair closest to the fire and regarded her.

“If you would be so kind, sir, I would rather you hear my plan first. This plan, with your help, will put you into better graces with the queen and you will also set an example to other demons that would go against you. I would consider this a favor to me and will wipe our debt clear.”

He stared at her for several minutes. She had stopped pacing when he had stood to do so and now she looked at him as well. Her men would be meeting soon and she wanted to be there, but this was more important.

“Tell me your plan, Tessa, and I will go along with you if it suits me. If you are wrong…”

“I’m not.”

“If you are wrong, I will take you, mate or not.”

Taking a deep breath Tess nodded and sat down to tell the Lord Demon what she wanted.

***

Tess stood with two dozen men that were visible to the general assembly room. Albadar was there as well, but he was not aware of the hidden thousands that moved around him. So far so good, Tess thought.

Shamus was with the other more than one thousand men shadowed around the queen’s

throne room. Colin and Aaron were outside with the rest—nearly six thousand more men,

vampires, knights and demons.

Tess had even assigned a dozen men to protect Lord Lucas. Though he had claimed he did not need them he allowed them to follow him to show his faith in Tess, he told her.

When the double oak doors opened her men and she, helmeted and fully armed, escorted the Fates into the room. They encircled the women and walked with Tess in the lead. The room tightened with their combined magic and then settled down after a few seconds.

As predicted, Councilman Douglass Trundle rose and began to protest the armament the

Fates had dared to bring into the great hall.

“Ladies, we are not at war. There is no need for such a show of force. I would very much appreciate you dismissing your guard so that we may proceed with this hearing.”

“You may proceed, but these men are not leaving,” Clothos said as she sat with her sisters.

Tess smiled behind her helmet. She may not like these women most of the time, but she

certainly loved their style.

Douglass moved forward toward the Fates and Tess drew on him, her sword at his heart. He stopped dead and tried to look at her though the slit in her faceguard. She did not say a word and when he did not move back she pressed the blade into him, not breaking the skin, but coming very close. She knew the moment he came to realize that the men beside her had come to the ready, blades drawn and all pointed at him, and they would not back down until he stepped back.

“I only meant to have a private word with the Fates. I meant no harm to anyone, my Lady Knight.”

“Then back the fuck up before I have to kill you.” Her voice was low and sharp, but Tess knew he had heard. The man backed up so quickly that he nearly tripped over his own feet.

“Shall we please get this over with? I would like to make a…” Marlus started to say in a voice that sounded bored and someone whiny.

“Wait! I have a…I am still the queen of these proceedings. I would like to give a boon to one of the Knights of Avalone. Tessa May, please come forward and to me.”

Tess tensed. What the hell? she thought. She was not even aware that the queen even knew she was there. Sword still drawn, she turned and looked at the Fates. Not good, they were smiling. She looked at the now closed doors and wondered if she could make it before anyone could catch her.

“Don’t you dare run. So help me, Tess, if I have to chase you down I’ll spank you harder than I already plan to. I’m looking forward to pinking up that nice ass of yours. Oh yeah, I know all about your meeting with a demon lord, so that beautiful ass is already mine. If you make me chase you and bring you back you won’t sit down for a week,” Nathaniel whispered through her mind.

She looked over at him and saw him raise his brow. Shit, she thought, he would do it too.

“Tessa May?” the queen asked again.

“Yes. Yes, I’m here.” Tess put her sword back into the scabbard and walked slowly to the dais. Her feet felt leaded and her heart was pounding.

The queen was standing and Tess marveled again at the beauty of the woman before her.

When dressed as she was now—cape, gown, crown, and scepter, Tess thought she looked regal and powerful. When Tess was standing before her Mel smiled.

“Take off your headgear. I like to look into the face of the person I’m talking to.”

“I’m sorry, my lady, but I cannot—at least not without help. I will need some assistance if you wish it off and I would rather you allow me to leave it in place, please. The gear is clasped in the rear and is very heavy for one person to lift.”

“Nathaniel, please come forward, your mate needs your help. She will have a hissy fit, no doubt, if I try to help her.”

Nathaniel was suddenly in front of her, dressed as one of her men minus the head gear and the swords. He did carry a gun, a Glock forty with two extra clips and one in the chamber he had told her. She had tried to tell him she would make sure he was safe, but he kissed her and put the gun into the waistband of his leathers.

Looking at him now, this close, and her body already tense and waiting for action, she had to admit he did look good in the pants that fit him like a glove. It was everything she could do not to run from the room with him and find a nice private area. She felt Shamus shift inside of her mind and quickly thought of something else.

She kneeled down on one knee and braced herself for the dismounting, what it was called when a person was disarmed. She knew that Nathaniel knew how to remove it. He had helped her to put it on when they were back at Avalone Castle.

The clasps in the rear went from her neck to the crown at the top of her head. There were six steel buckles that snapped together and fit into the cowl of the chainmaille collar she had on as well. He moved the collar out of his way as he got to the bottom and then unwound the chain from her throat to unstrap the chin guard that held the helmet to her head during battle. The headgear was heavy, weighing in at more than five pounds of pounded steel and leather. It did not seem all that much, but with all the other gear she wore, the bulk of it added to her already weighty protection. It was very hot as well.

Standing again with Nathaniel beside her she looked up at the queen. There were tears in the queen’s eyes.

“You’ve been avoiding me, Tessa May,” Mel whispered to her gently.

Tess did not say anything; there would be little point to answer. They both knew it was true and they both knew why. They had both lost so much and had said more, Tess wondered if they would ever be able to put it behind them.

The queen put her hand to her mouth and seemed to be thinking about something. Tess

wanted to pace and she nearly did when the queen slapped her. Hard.

Tess’s head jerked to the side. She felt her lip open and blood pour freely from the wound.

She did not touch the wound, nor did she wipe at the blood that now stained her vest. The room rumbled with voices and restless movement. Her men were moving toward her and the queen.

Not taking her eyes from the queen, Tess stopped them from surging forth by her voice and a simple rising of her hand. “Hold, please.”

The queen stepped toward Tess and she stood her ground. She had no idea what this was

about, but she was sure that she would find out when this thing was over.

“You always were the most stubborn woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Do

you know what this is?”

Tess only stared at the queen. Anger poured from Tess and she nearly didn’t look at what the queen was holding in her hand. When the queen nodded down to indicate where she wanted Tess to look she looked down at the chain in the queen’s hand. It did not look like much and, as Tess did not wear jewelry, she couldn’t figure out what it was, so even it if were expensive or worthy she would not know what its worth would be or why it seemed important to the queen. It wasn’t until Mel shifted her fingers that Tess saw them. Her gaze jerked to the queen’s.

“Yes, I see that you do. Good.” The queen opened the bracelet and gestured towards Tess’s hand. She lifted it without thinking. “I’ve preformed my part in this; all you need to do is accept.

Do you know how to do that?”

Tess nodded, still not able to speak past the pounding of her heart. The queen stepped back and sat in her chair. When Tess felt a nudge at her arm she turned and looked at Nathaniel, who was still holding her helmet.

Dropping to her knee again, she waited as he put her hood back on her head and then he stepped up behind the queen’s chair. Tess was all the way back to the Fates before she could think.

“Thank goodness we had to wait for that. I’m not sure I would have been able to sleep

tonight wondering if the queen was going to bitch slap some broad and then give her a worthless piece of finery. Woo! If we could get back to the real reason we are here, please. I wish to bring my complaint to the council that Queen Melody, Mistress of Light, Keeper of Magic is in violation of her own decree. She is not only an unbound queen, but she is also childless. I protest that she is not fit for the position as queen, and hereby ask to be made king to her queen,” Marlus said. Sarcasm was thick in his voice and Tess tried to focus on his words, but they kept swirling around the queen and how she had hit her.