Priestess Dreaming (An Otherworld Novel) (35 page)

I laughed, but then sobered. How much would the human governments put up with our coming out of the closet? How far could we push the issue? But then, the cheering began anew as one of Bran’s warriors shouted, “Armor!” as he held up one of the wyrm’s scales.

Yes, we were building a whole new world, and the more that happened, the more Earthside felt like home. I wrapped my arm around Smoky’s waist and he kissed me on the forehead.

“You saved the day, my love. You went up against the wyrm and you saved the day.” He sounded so proud that I laughed.

“No, I didn’t. Don’t you see? We
all
saved the day. We each had our part to play, and we each did what we were called to do. We’re all in this together, Smoky. We’re all equally in danger. We all fight . . . and we all either lose . . . or triumph.” But inside, I realized that sometimes, someone got lost along the way while the rest of us kept moving. Arturo left us this round, and most likely, Mordred. And Morgaine . . . who was still lost within her mind somewhere. Whether she would return to us remained to be seen. I decided to keep quiet, though. No use dwelling on the collateral damage we’d already faced.

He laughed then. “Very well . . .
we
saved the day. Again.”

I nodded, my thoughts drifting to Trillian. Maybe, if we were lucky, there would be news of him when we got home. And with that melancholy thought, I decided to shake off all of the scattered thoughts and worries, and try to enjoy the victory. Just a little bit, at least.

YULE—THE WINTER SOLSTICE

Back home, everything was decked out, waiting for us to return from the ritual. The presents were under the trees, the food was waiting in the kitchen. But for now, in this moment, we were all here to celebrate the turn of the Wheel. It was Winter Solstice and, once again, we were gathered down at Birchwater Pond. Eye catchers dappled the snow-covered woodland, and we were dressed in warm, festive clothes. Music echoed from the speakers—Damh the Bard, Spiral Dance, Woodland, Faun, Gypsy—all FBH musicians who had tapped into their pagan roots and put their feelings and beliefs into song.

The moon shone overhead—the Moon Mother watching over us through her waxing eyes, sparkling in the chill night air. The sky was clear and the temperature settled around freezing, but in the center of the Circle, the bonfire burned brightly, a beacon of hope in the darkened night. Vanzir and Rozurial were minding the fire, keeping it stoked. Roz had forgiven me for stealing his firebombs, especially when he found out how they’d helped keep us alive.

Menolly stood by the water, her arm around Nerissa as they watched the moon glisten on the surface of the waves. Delilah and Shade snuggled in the shade of a cedar tree, cuddling on a bench together as they held Maggie, playing with her. Maggie was wearing a scarf Hanna had crocheted for her, and a Santa hat, looking cute as a button.

Chase was helping Hanna decorate one last tree near the pond with giant silver and gold ornaments and cranberry garland. We’d bedecked the entire grove and now everything sparkled. The babies were tucked warmly in their carriages, as Bruce guarded over them. We’d invited Tanne to join us, but he was celebrating with his own clan, as was fitting.

Around the Circle, Smoky, Shade, and Trillian finished setting up the candles and final touches for the ritual. Trillian had made it home safely, but without Darynal, and he was heartbroken about it.

We didn’t know whether Darynal lived or not, and Trillian had no idea where to find his soul statue. After an ambush, Trillian and Rozurial had managed to escape and had made their way back to Ceredream, and from there, home. I knew Trillian felt he had failed, but there wasn’t much else we could do. So we would hope and pray, and keep asking Trenyth for updates, and Trillian intended to try again when there was anything new to go on.

As I took in the scene, I smiled softly. Family and friends—that’s what mattered most. Money made a difference, yes, but it couldn’t buy back a life. All the treasure in the world wouldn’t bring back our father, or Shamas, or Queen Asteria, or Chrysandra. All the fortunes combined couldn’t bribe the Lady of Ice to loosen her grasp on the dead.

And
so many
were missing or dead. Or they were among the walking wounded. Morgaine was still wandering in the shadows of her mind. Aeval had fully taken over my training. She said very little of the Queen of Dusk and Twilight, save that the shock had been more than our cousin could handle, but she would not tell me if Morgaine would recover. And there had been no sign of Mordred. Whatever fate awaited him was clouded from our view.

Morio motioned to me. “It’s time. Let’s begin.”

Since we’d returned, he’d been spending time with the Merlin, and what they discussed, he wouldn’t tell me. But Aeval had warned me to let it alone. All I knew is that Morio had become integral to my magic—not only the death magic we practiced but my Moon Magic. I was paired with a priest who was my match now, and while Morio always acceded the primary role to me, he took part in most of my rituals.

Iris joined us at the altar. As the others took their place in Circle, Morio, Iris, and I joined hands. We called on the spirit of Winter. We petitioned Beira to go easy on the land. We invoked the Holly King, and Undutar. We embraced the depths of the snow and ice.

I glanced up at the shining Moon, wondering what she had waiting for me next. And what was in store for all of us? The war against Shadow Wing had settled into a long fight, yes. But I had the feeling that our individual destinies were also beginning to play out in our lives. Something was brewing—a witch’s brew of intrigue and shifting power and rising tides that the world had not seen in many ages. The Merlin was back, and the world would never be the same.

As I sang out to the Moon Mother, she flared, brilliant and silver overhead, and a moonbeam shot down, bathing me in her magic. I could hear her laugh, distant and tinkling, like chimes on the wind.

“Are you ready, Camille? Are you ready to embrace your destiny? Are you ready to step up to the task?”

I caught my breath, as I looked up to meet her gaze as she stared down at me from among the stars. Wild she was, and feral, but also beautiful and as fragile as glass on a cold night. One wrong movement and the web we were weaving would shatter. But follow the threads, and the web was strong as steel.

“I’m ready, Lady. I’m willing to do whatever you ask of me.”

“The way is long and difficult, but you are my Priestess. And you will lead the path for those who are lost and seeking their star. But Camille, watch close to your back. Enemies come from all sides, seeking the horn, seeking the seals. Even now, Shadow Wing sends new envoys to your city. The vultures are gathering. The lions are hunting. Keep alert. Be ready.”
And then, she vanished and I was back in Circle.

Shaking, yet feeling stronger than I had in a long time, I looked at the faces surrounding me. The faces of those I loved. And they beamed their love back at me. Yes
,
events were brewing in this, the longest night. But I would meet them, chin up and face forward.

I was a priestess of the Moon Mother. And
that
made me strong. Whatever new threats were coming our way next, my sisters and I, and our lovers and friends, would stand against the enemy together. Where there was darkness, we would shine light. Where there was danger, we would remain strong. Because this was our home, and we would defend it till the very end.

The D’Artigo Family

Arial Lianan te Maria: Delilah’s twin who died at birth. Half-Fae, half-human.

Camille Sepharial te Maria, aka Camille D’Artigo: The oldest sister; a Moon Witch and Priestess. Half-Fae, half-human.

Daniel George Fredericks: The D’Artigo sisters’ half cousin; FBH.

Delilah Maria te Maria, aka Delilah D’Artigo: The middle sister; a werecat.

Hester Lou Fredericks: The D’Artigo sisters’ half cousin; FBH.

Maria D’Artigo: The D’Artigo sisters’ mother. Human. Deceased.

Menolly Rosabelle te Maria, aka Menolly D’Artigo: The youngest sister; a vampire and jian-tu: extraordinary acrobat. Half-Fae, half-human.

Sephreh ob Tanu: The D’Artigo sisters’ father. Full Fae. Deceased.

Shamas ob Olanda: The D’Artigo sisters’ cousin. Full Fae. Deceased.

The D’Artigo Sisters’ Lovers & Close Friends

Astrid (Johnson): Chase and Sharah’s baby daughter.

Bruce O’Shea: Iris’s husband. Leprechaun.

Carter: Leader of the Demonica Vacana Society, a group that watches and records the interactions of Demonkin and human through the ages. Carter is half demon and half Titan—his father was Hyperion, one of the Greek Titans.

Chase Garden Johnson: Detective, director of the Faerie-Human Crime Scene Investigation (FH-CSI) team. Human who has taken the Nectar of Life, which extends his life span beyond that of any ordinary mortal, and has opened up his psychic abilities.

Chrysandra: Waitress at the Wayfarer Bar & Grill. Human. Deceased.

Derrick Means: Bartender at the Wayfarer Bar & Grill. Werebadger.

Erin Mathews: Former president of the Faerie Watchers Club and former owner of the Scarlet Harlot Boutique. Turned into a vampire by Menolly, her sire, moments before her death. Human.

Greta: Leader of the Death Maidens; Delilah’s tutor.

Iris (Kuusi) O’Shea: Friend and companion of the girls. Priestess of Undutar. Talon-haltija (Finnish house sprite).

Lindsey Katharine Cartridge: Director of the Green Goddess Women’s Shelter. Pagan and witch. Human.

Luke: Former bartender at the Wayfarer Bar & Grill. Werewolf. One of the Keraastar Knights.

Maria O’Shea: Iris and Bruce’s baby daughter.

Marion Vespa: Coyote shifter; owner of the Supe-Urban Café.

Morio Kuroyama: One of Camille’s lovers and husbands. Essentially the grandson of Grandmother Coyote. Youkai-kitsune (roughly translated: Japanese fox demon).

Neely Reed: Founding member of the United Worlds Church. FBH.

Nerissa Shale: Menolly’s wife. Worked for Department of Social and Health Services. Now working for Chase Johnson as a victims-rights counselor for the FH-CSI. Werepuma and member of the Rainier Puma Pride.

Roman: Ancient vampire; son of Blood Wyne, Queen of the Crimson Veil. Menolly’s official consort in the Vampire Nation and her new sire.

Queen Asteria: The former Elfin Queen. Deceased.

Queen Sharah: Was an Elfin medic, now the new Elfin Queen; Chase’s girlfriend.

Rozurial, aka Roz: Mercenary. Menolly’s secondary lover. Incubus who used to be Fae before Zeus and Hera destroyed his marriage.

Shade: Delilah’s fiancé. Part Stradolan, part black (shadow) dragon.

Siobhan Morgan: One of the sisters’ friends. Selkie (wereseal); member of the Puget Sound Harbor Seal Pod.

Smoky: One of Camille’s lovers and husbands. Half-white, half-silver dragon.

Tanne Baum: One of the Black Forest Woodland Fae. A member of the Hunter’s Glen Clan.

Tavah: Guardian of the portal at the Wayfarer Bar & Grill. Vampire (full Fae).

Tim Winthrop, aka Cleo Blanco: Computer student/genius, female impersonator. FBH. Now owns the Scarlet Harlot.

Trillian: Mercenary. Camille’s alpha lover and one of her three husbands. Svartan (one of the Charming Fae).

Ukkonen O’Shea: Iris and Bruce’s baby son.

Vanzir: Was indentured slave to the sisters, by his own choice. Dream-chaser demon who lost his powers and now is regaining new ones.

Venus the Moon Child: Former shaman of the Rainier Puma Pride. Werepuma. One of the Keraastar Knights.

Wade Stevens: President of Vampires Anonymous. Vampire (human).

Zachary Lyonnesse: Former member of the Rainier Puma Pride Council of Elders. Werepuma living in Otherworld.