rogue shifter 07 - cut off (32 page)

When he was satisfied that we were listening, he said, "I shall be ruling Faerie alongside my son, Caelen, until after the war has ended and we deem the supernatural and human world to be safe from the demonic threat. When I return to my queen, Caelen will rule here at court for an appropriate number of centuries." Fin's stern expression left no room for quibbling. Lord Caelen had to fae-male up, and take the crown from his dad, keeping it firmly on his head until Aedus could take over.

That thought had me glancing around the room. Where was Zerian?

The king turned back toward the rest of us with a smile. "Because Caelen and his ladies will now be living here at court, Aedus will be taking over his father's position as an Elder of the Cascade Sidhe. Stand, Grandson."

All eyes turned toward Aedus. Philly, Linn and Lady Silvus beamed at him as he slowly stood, not looking quite as confident as he had a few minutes before. I noticed that Liam seemed to be enjoying his brother's discomfort enormously.

Aedus bowed gracefully with his hand over his heart, then said, "Grandsire, I am young in relation to the other elders. Perhaps my father could appoint..."

"Are you not up to the task?" Fin asked.

Aedus straightened his shoulders, looking more like the male I knew. "I have sat by my father's side as he and the elders governed Cascade for over thirteen hundred human years. I am more than capable of taking on the position."

"But?" Fin had pushed the chair back and was sitting with one leg swung over the arm in a playful pose. It occurred to me that none of his children seemed to have inherited his mischievous side, although Lady Dinestri could be a real hoot at parties after a glass or two of honey wine.

Aedus answered. "I will fight in the war against Naberia, lord. I will fight beside my people." He wasn't asking for permission.

"It is traditional that in a sidhe colony such as Cascade, the elders do not partake in the battles, but instead offer advice and support to the generals."

Aedus' gaze grew more intense. "I am familiar with the customs of my people."

Fin flattened his mouth. "They are my people, young fae.
My
people. You are also one of mine." There was a hard edge to his tone.

"I bow to your will in all but this, Your Highness." Aedus nodded again, this time the gesture was more shallow.

Holy Crap, this was bad. Lady Silvus looked like she was going to pass right out. The king's expression sharpened, making him look a lot more like the scarier side of the family. I leaned forward, but both Charlie and Garrett attacked my mind with a resounding, "
NO!
" Humbled, I inched back into my seat. Maybe they were right. This wasn't really my battle. Garrett's good hand clutched the back of my tunic pulling me toward him then snaking an arm around my waist to hold me securely in place. I was pretty much locked down.

"Was there something you wished to say, little mother?" Fin was looking in my direction, gold sparkling in his night-dark eyes.

Double crap. "No, I don't believe so, Your Highness." I tried to keep my voice on an even keel.

To my surprise, Liam stood. "May I speak on behalf of my brother, lord?"

Finvarra relaxed slightly and smiled at my friend. "Of course."

"Aedus can be stubborn and arrogant—," Aedus' eyebrows shot up, "—but he is the finest warrior our sidhe has produced. It would be a waste of talent to put him in front of a map instead of an army. There are many seelie as capable of planning strategy, but few more capable of killing our enemies."

"Are you volunteering to take his place in the war room while your brother fights on the field?" Liam's violet eyes grew to the size of saucers. Fortunately he knew a thing or two about diplomacy. "If that is your will, Grandsire. However, I would prefer to fight beside Charles and Aedus."

When Charlie sprang to his feet I almost cried out. His shields were so strong I couldn't get past them to send a private message. "Grandsire, may I speak?"

Fin was enjoying the show. "Yes, Charles. Please do so."

"It was foretold by Sinlae that Aedus and Liam are with me when I go before Naberia. She saw them on my left along with the sisters, Brina and Keara." He sent Brina a huge grin, but her response was more sultry. I frowned. What was up with that?

"You were a witness to this great event?" Fin teased, his mood having swung back to playful.

Charlie looked down at the table. "No, lord...um, Grandsire." Then back up. "But a lot of the people here were."

The old/new king surveyed the three males standing in dissent before him. Well, maybe not dissent, but at least presenting a unified front in support of Aedus. Sensing that Charlie had matured by leaps and bounds during his short stay in the DR, a shiver of pride crept up my spine. The look on Garrett's face mirrored my own.

"Even though you agree to serve as an elder at all other occasions, someone must take your place in the war room, Aedus. Do you have a suggestion as to who that might be?"

"I will take on that duty," Kellaine said, standing and meeting Fin's gaze with a challenging expression. "I am warrior-trained and have been blooded in the last two conflicts against demon clans. I have trained with Aedus and the sisters and have done much research involving the unseelie and demonic species that might be set against our people. Because I am a cousin of many of our top warriors and also your descendent, lord, communication between us, which is vital during wartime, will be quick and clear."

Caelen spoke, probably anxious to have Aedus on the field during the battles. "She has a keen mind and would be a good choice, Father."

"You are Jorrenn's child?" Fin asked, and Kellie nodded. "You have the same lovely eyes as your mother and also, it appears, the same fighting spirit. Have you a sibling?"

"Farrell is my younger brother."

"Ah, the mysterious Farrell." He laughed. "I look forward to meeting him."

"He is the typical fae male." Kellaine pouted.

"But you are not the typical female?"

She smiled with confidence. "No, Grandsire."

"We will speak tomorrow, Lady Kellaine." She bowed and sat. Liam draped an arm over her shoulder and kissed her cheek.

"Your Highness." Garret spoke up, standing. "Might I ask about your plans?"

"I have plans for Faerie that will require help from all who would offer it."

"Forgive me, I should have been more specific. Are you going to turn Kennet over to the Lord of the Hunt? The Cascade Elders had found him guilty and were about to..."

"Caelen has told me of the judgment against Kennet."

Garrett waited for an answer, but there was none. "Will you execute Fionna?"

"Forgive me, Garrett, but my children's fate is not your concern."

"Oh, but it is." This time I stood.

Garrett took hold of my hand. "I agree with Jackie, Your Highness. We have a right to this information. Our family's security is at stake, along with the safety of our friends."

His expression was cool. "I have not made a final determination."

I sank back into the chair, my energy sapped away. "You're...you're going to let them go?" This was a nightmare.

"I give you my word that my judgment will not endanger you or your family. However, I will punish my own blood as I see fit. Anyone who takes it upon himself to kill any of my children or grandchildren, will experience my rage made manifest."

Air was sucked out of the room as if a bomb was exploding beneath our feet, and suddenly I couldn't breathe. Garrett threw his arms around me, sheltering me as I shivered. I trembled, but not from cold or even fear.

Fin understood. "Child, your anger will tear you apart."

I shifted my face to see him more clearly. "Garrett was starved and tortured. I was forced to send my son away to keep him safe. I almost went crazy with worry. My anger will dissolve only with the deaths of Fionna and Kennet."

Fin was suddenly by my side, achieving that feat without flux or breeze, as if he'd always stood there. "You lie to yourself. You choose to hold onto your anger, even though your family is now safe."

"Are they?"

"Yes." He touched my shoulder to encourage me to meet his gaze. "Be honest with yourself. If Charles were more like my son in temperament and had killed and tortured many innocents, could you gather the strength to kill him?"

"No, but...but I wouldn't protect him either. He would be turned over for judgment."

"Think hard. Would
you
turn him over for judgment, knowing that he would be executed?"

"No."

"You would leave it to another."

"Yes. I'm his mother. I couldn't do it myself."

"And I am the king and therefore the judge and jury of all my people, even my own children."

"Comes with the crown, I suppose." I folded my hands and stared at my lap.

He reappeared in his chair. "The crown has decided that like you, I want them punished, but unlike you, I want it to be in a way that affords them another chance, perhaps ending this time in redemption."

"There's no hope for Kennet or Fionna."

"I have lived a very long time, little mother. I have seen few who could not or would not redeem themselves if given the chance."

"I've been your son's victim, and might have been again if you hadn't arrived to save us. Kennet is...he has no empathy, no interest in others' feelings. He's ruthless and cruel. That will never change."

"You have not seen into his mind nor his heart."

"Kennet has no heart."

"Not so. He loves you and Charles enough to kill his own people in order to claim you."

"To own us." I leaned against Garrett. "He wants to own us. We would only be his property." I met his gaze and saw what I most dreaded in his eyes. "You're going to give them a slap on the wrist and tell them to behave. You'll release them." He said nothing. "If that's your plan, I'll kill Kennet myself, and face your wrath gladly."

"And I will help her." Charlie stood, drawing his dagger.

"Along with me and my team." Garrett also stood, even though he was still pretty shaky. "The supernatural world is not safe if they are free to roam within it."

Fin gave us a scrutinizing gaze, then spoke quietly to Caelen in that other language. Caelen nodded in response. "Go home and rest. We will speak again." Fin swept his hand across the room and there was darkness. A moment later, we found ourselves safely on the soccer field at the vamp villa.

I glanced at my family. "Other than the fact that you're both back home with me, I can't tell if we're better off with Fin in charge or not." We walked together back to the house we shared, not wanting to take the lines, our bodies still buzzing from an overload of fae magic.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

I was home once again with my mate and my son. I'd suffered through a few days of misery, but now it was over, and I was healthy and strong, fully recovered. I'd lived through much worse under Eleanor but considered myself extremely fortunate that Finvarra had shown up when he did. If he hadn't, I might have been sent home without my family, a situation more horrible than any torture I could have endured at Eleanor or Kennet's hand.

Everything was perfect, except for the problem of what to do with Elle.

She'd arrived along with Caelen and Aedus about an hour after Fin had sent us home. I'd been shocked speechless when Caelen told me he wouldn't take her to Cascade. "I have no reason to trust her." he said.

Aedus agreed. "She is of Fionna's court. She cannot be allowed to move freely among our people."

"I gave my word to protect her."

"Then you shall, I have no doubt," Caelen said. "I'll be moving to court within the week, so you can petition the elders and it will be up to them."

Liam looked sheepish. "There's Kellie and Grady..."

"It's fine. I'll think of something."

I called for Sasha. "Elle, I'd like to introduce you to a member of my nest, Sasha Vodinski. He lives in the house next to ours."

They nodded in the fae way, Sasha's eyes lighting up with interest.

"Could she stay with you for a few weeks, until I can work something out? She'll be able to go back to court after Fin reinstates the half-bloods. Apparently there are laws that Fionna put in place that have to be removed."

Sasha grinned in his most seductive way. "Mistress Elle. I am most pleased to offer you a lovely guest suite in my home. Rick and I will be delighted to have you there."

"Rick?"

"Rick is a good friend who shares the house with me. He's also a vampire."

"Are you—are you civilized like Garrett or brutish?"

Sasha laughed out loud. "I believe that you'll find us to be civilized and most hospitable. And if we do anything that disturbs you, Jackie and Garrett live right next door."

"Then upon Garrett's recommendation, I shall stay with you, Sasha Vodinski."

I sent to Sash, mind-to-mind, "
No blood or sex. Elle needs to heal
.
She's been badly mistreated."

"
Yes, master
." Sash teased, acting the gentlemen as he led her outside. I had no doubt that Sasha would eventually seduce the female into bed, but I also knew that Elle would be willing when it happened and that Sash and Rick would never hurt her.

The house now empty, we sat on the couch breathing in each other's scent. For obvious reasons, Jackie and I couldn't seem to stop touching each other. We'd sent Charlie off to Jay's at his request, the relief evident on his face when we said it was okay. As soon as he'd left, I pulled my mate into my lap. "I should spank you." I growled

"What? I saved your undead ass."

"You should have stayed with Isaiah and Charlie in the DR." I flipped her around and gave her jeans-covered behind a gentle smack.

"Ow. You're serious? Your son didn't stick around in the DR either." She struggled to right herself.

"I'm very serious." I was whispering against her ear, running my hand over the part of her body up for discussion. "You never know. You might enjoy it."

"What? Have you been corrupted by the fae court?" She squirmed and tried to twist out of my lap, but I held her down for two slightly harder whacks. When I allowed her to flip face up, she was flushed and smiling. She pulled me down on top of her.