Crimson Dawn (34 page)

He passed me the book and pointed out the familial connections. I traced the lines until I came to my own name. There beside it was Tristan’s name, with a line converging between the two of us. A black circle surrounded the blank area where the name of a possible child would be.

I passed him the book and shook my head. "Please tell me that's not what I think it is."

Mikilos shook his head as he frowned. "I'm afraid I can’t. I am sure that the Djin’s price, whatever it hinges on your union with the Abomination."

I had butterflies break dancing in my stomach at the thought. I moved closer to Irulan and didn't even realize it until she had her arms wrapped around me.

"Well, at least I can say there's little chance of that happening now.” I leaned into Irulan, grateful for her presence. At that moment, I think she was the only thing keeping me sane.

FaeVar growled. "Do you really believe your mating is going to stop the Abomination? He'll have no qualms about taking what he wants. The Djin has obviously made a deal with him also. He couldn't have come into all that power on his own."

Mikilos frowned. "The Djin more than likely has required a child of your union as payment."

I sagged farther into Irulan as tears welled in my eyes. "That's why Tris didn't kill me," I mumbled.

Irulan spun me around so she could look in my eyes. "No, Val, he would have killed you if I hadn't gotten there in time.” She waved at the journal. "Don't give that musty old book any credit where it isn't due."

I wanted to believe her, but we both knew she didn't even believe it herself. I pulled away from her as I sadly smiled. "No, baby, we both know they're right."

My smile turned to a smirk as I tightened my grip on her hand. "We need you to do whatever you're going to do so I can put an end to this."

FaeVar looked at me as if I was speaking gibberish. "Under the circumstances, I don't think that's a prudent idea, Valeria."

I laughed and shook my head, "I don't believe this. Listen, I'll take into account the fact that you don't know me, so I'll be as nice about this as I can, but with or without this stupid ceremony that you and Irulan claim is so important, I'm going after Tristan."

FaeVar's lips parted but I held up a finger. "Not so fast, I'm not done.” He looked offended that someone had the nerve to hush him, but he stayed quiet. Mikilos stifled the laughter that was threatening to erupt. One look from FaeVar and he got quiet.

"Now then," I started. "If everything you're saying is true, then I've got three other reasons to go after Tristan - Valerian, Tamerlane, and Constantine. I won’t let my brothers get caught up in my grandfather’s schemes. If Ahmad can’t get what he wants from me, then he could go after them next. If I catch Tristan, maybe he can give me a heads up as to what the Djin really wants with my family."

Irulan looked back and forth between my ancestors and me before sighing. "I realize you're only trying to protect her, but you don't know her. She's serious. She’ll go without the ceremony. If she does that, then my chances of protecting her drop dramatically."

She raised my hand and kissed the back of it. "As much as it worries me, she's got to do this. And injury to her in my family's lands now means war between the courts, am I right?” She looked back and forth between the two as they solemnly nodded. “Do you really want to risk the possibility of war, when it can so easily be prevented?"

Both men looked defeated as they stepped forward and raised their hands. "Raise your joined hands," FaeVar said.

When we raised them, both men laid their own over ours. I immediately felt the tingle of power dance over us. When I looked down, both of our hands were glowing. A ribbon of dancing lights slipped in and out of the crevices in our hands, tracing an intricate path on our flesh, until it faded into our skin.

Mikilos smiled as he dropped his hand. "There, the joining is complete. All of Faerie will recognize the bond that was made today."

"Three minutes,” I shook my head and hissed at FaeVar. "You were going on about preparations and ceremonies and it took all of three minutes."

Irulan laughed and drew me into a kiss. My ranting died the moment her soft lips met my own. "There now," she said as she pulled away from me. "What was all the fuss about?"

I pushed her away from me, "Heathen."

"It's not the first time someone's accused me of being a heathen."

A ping of jealousy struck me and as hard as I tried to ignore it, I couldn't push it aside. "Somehow I'm not surprised."

Mikilos noted the change in my voice and quickly pulled me to his side. "Come, granddaughter, I know you have to leave soon, but give me a few moments of your time. I'd like to get to know you a little."

As Mikilos led me away, he cut his eyes towards FaeVar. Something was going on, but jealousy had so invaded my mind, I didn't give it a second thought.

I let him lead me away without a glance backwards. When we were well out of earshot, Mikilos rounded on me with a very pissed off expression gracing his features. "Princess Irulan doesn't deserve your callous attitude. She's done our family a great service."

"What in the world are you talking about?” I knew he was talking about my small streak of jealousy, I just didn't expect him to call me on it.

"Don't play dumb, Valeria. It doesn't look good on a princess."

"Listen, I don't need you to tell me how to act with Irulan. I've known her my entire life."

"And I hers.” He grabbed me by the elbow and pulled me behind him. It’s a good thing they raised me to respect my elders I thought as I fumbled along behind him, fighting to maintain my composure. My mother would kill me if I went off on him.

We finally came to a stop well outside of the castle walls. If my nose was right, we were close to the stables.

Mikilos waved a hand, the ground beneath me began churning, twisting and groaning until a fissure appeared, and a huge rock rose from the darkness. "Sit," he said very pointedly.

"Listen, I don't have the time..."

"SIT," his voice was void of the pretense of Humanity. His powerful bass, rumbled through me like a sonic boom.

I frowned at him as I reluctantly sat down. "It's really not that serious," I mumbled.

"Valeria, before you leave for Tir Na Nog, there is something you must understand about your Irulan.” He paused and waited for me to acknowledge him.

I rolled my fingers urging him to continue. "When Princess Irulan asked for an official Sidhe ceremony, it was just as much for her benefit, as yours."

"What are you talking about?"

"How much do you know about Irulan and her family?"

"I know that she and her mother don't talk much so she left the FaeLands to live in the Human realm."

Mikilos scratched his forehead in a move reminiscent of my brother, Tam. "I see. Well, that's the short version, and she must have had her reasons for not divulging everything so I will only reveal what's pertinent."

"Will you please get to the point?” My patience was wearing thin.

"When the princess was a youngling, she fell in love with her chambermaid. The object of Irulan’s affections was half Fomori.” The pang of jealousy spiked, drawing a growl from my lips but he ignored me and kept talking.

"Her family refused to let her join with an UnSeelie. They didn't want one placed in a position to gain access to the Tuatha throne. Irulan's mother and uncle condemned the child to death."

That bomb certainly knocked the wind out of my body. It evaporated the jealousy and replaced it with shock. My hand flew to my mouth, and tears sprang into my eyes. My grandfather gingerly wiped the tears away with the back of a knuckle before he continued.

"By taking you as her mate, her wife, she could possibly face banishment from Tir Na Nog for the remainder of her existence. That's why she needed the ceremony. Oh, believe me, it was also to keep you safe. But now that she's been officially accepted by the Dark Court, she'll need not worry about being banished from Faerie all together if King Fazion presses the issue."

I didn't know what to say. "She should have told me," I murmured as I got up and slowly began walking in circles. "I would have made do with a simple wedding. We could have waited until we were back home."

"I told you these things so you would see the true depth of her love for you.” Mikilos took my hand and led me down a worn path toward the stables. "Irulan risked everything for you. You've got to make sure she does not act against the Abomination or her risk will be in vain."

"You don't have to worry about that. I'll keep her safe if it's the last thing I do," I said with my head bowed.

We walked in silence the remainder of the way. When we reached the immense stables, Irulan and FaeVar were already there. They two had their heads together like two girlfriends sharing their most private secrets as they watched the stable hands prepare Frost and Blaze.

I squeezed Mikilos' hand before I let it go to hurry to Irulan’s side. "Am I allowed in on the secret?" I asked, poking her in the side.

Irulan yelped and jumped. "Will you please not do that," she said with her face lit up in a smile.

I wrapped my arms around her and pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. "Are we ready?"

Irulan briefly looked at FaeVar before she sighed. "Are you sure this is what you want to do, Val?"

I let her go and took a small step backwards. "We're not going over this again. If I don't stop him then who's next? My mother - maybe grandmother Caroline? Hum, what about Tino, Vedo, and Tam? I won’t let anything hurt my family."

Irulan grabbed my hand, brought it to her lips, and kissed the back of it. "I had to ask."

FaeVar stepped forward and pulled me into his arms. "As a princess of this court you have a full contingency of soldiers at your call. All you need do is saying the words and I can have them ready in an instant."

I threw my arms around him and laughed into his chest before pulling away. "Thank you Fa...Grandfather. You'll never know how much your acceptance, means to me. But I can’t ask your men to fight in a battle that's not theirs."

"The reasoning doesn't matter. You are a princess and your orders are to be followed."

"It matters to me."

FaeVar frowned. He wasn't very happy with my decision, but he didn't press the issue any farther. I turned to Mikilos with tears in my eyes.

Damn it, I was turning into the biggest wuss. I'd cried more since I'd been on this case then I had in the last two years, but I couldn't help it.

Once they found out the truth, FaeVar didn't hesitate claiming me, and Mikilos actions so long ago had possibly saved me from whatever plans my grandfather Kemet and Descantes had in store for me. Most importantly, he was responsible for Irulan’s presence in my life. I owed him so much.

My grandfather pulled me into his arms and kissed me on top of my head. "I've always watched after my children. I stood quietly in the shadows making sure you, your grandmother, mother, brothers, uncles and cousins were safe. Do you know what this is doing to me, allowing you to walk into the Tuatha court unprotected to face that monster?"

Mikilos’ voice cracked and I felt a drop of moisture hit my cheek. I backed out of his arms and wiped the tears from his face.

"No fair, both of us can’t be blubbering idiots. What kind of goodbye is that?"

Mikilos sadly smiled and let me go. He went to Irulan and squeezed her to his chest. "Jesob would be proud of you Irulan. You've grown into a remarkable woman. One I'm proud to call a daughter of my court."

Irulan clenched her teeth to keep the tears in her eyes from falling. We said our final goodbyes and called for Kether. The Pixie came flitting from out of nowhere and landed on Mikilos' shoulder.

"Have no worries, Monarchs. I will keep both of the princesses out of harm’s way."

Both FaeVar and Mikilos bowed to the little man, before turning and heading back towards the palace.

After we mounted our horses, Irulan reached over and took my hand. "I know what Mikilos talked with you about. I'd rather he hadn't, but now that you know, I hope you realize that if it came down to you or Tir Na Nog, I choose you, Valeria."