I felt a stirring of anger. Lochlann, he was a problem. I thought he was going to be the good guy. He would continue to try and justify his actions by saying Tomas had killed a fairy. I would not let him take his life. Tomas had to make amends for the life he had taken - I was not sure how I would get him to do it, but I would - and I did not give a damn what power Lochlann thought he had to condemn my vampire-boy to death.
Breandan's reluctance to go to the Grove made sense now, as did the fairies reaction to news that we were bonded. The fairy Priestess were usually the life-mates of the fairy-lords. Lochlann was trying to overthrow Devlin, who definitely needed overthrowing, and that would make him High Lord of all fairykind. The Priestess kept the spiritual balance and the High Lord kept physical order. Breandan had not wanted to see me, because he knew we would be stealing his brother's future mate. Yet, he could not help but seek me out, knowing that the white witch had seen we were to be together.
Anger became rage as Devlin, skewering Alex, flashed across my memory again. He would die, and I sent a fervent wish it would be by my hand. I was going to become so powerful just hearing my name would stop his heart. I would find him and destroy him, laughing as I did so.
Guilt I would never be able to shake, crept over me and memories of Alex bombarded my vision. I sobbed. Again, I tormented myself with the depth of my failure. It hadn't worked. I had tried to save her, and it had failed miserably.
I lay down beside my vampire-boy, the one I had been able to save, and cried for the one I had lost. Lying in the dark with death itself had me wallowing and sinking deeper into a place I did not need to be. I needed the sunlight. I needed Breandan.
Tomas was going nowhere, and this shroud was nice and tight. I called on the Source and asked the forest to bury him deeper. The ground rumbled and more roots emerged from the cool earthen floor to wrap around his lifeless body and cocoon him. Happy he would be safe from the sun; I dug a small opening for myself and crawled out. A hand gripped my forearm tightly and pulled. I emerged from the shroud and blinked rapidly at the bright sunshine.
I looked around tentatively, on guard for any attack, but the camp was empty. The fire was now a smoldering pile of ash, and the only evidence of the nightmare at dawn was the fresh trails in the undergrowth. My gaze settled on the stone slab, still awash with blood. I trembled.
"Where is she?"
Breandan rubbed my arms, soothing me. "Maeve is tending to her body. We are going to burn her, a queenly funeral."
"No. I want to take her back to Temple."
The soothing caress stopped. "You know how the humans will react." His voice was calm, as if he knew that was what I had wanted all along.
"It's the right thing to do. I won't burn her like a dirty secret."
"Alright."
We were quiet for a while. He seemed serene and I could sense no anger bubbling under the surface.
"You don't hate me?" I blurted, unable to contain myself.
"Never. Though, I wish you were simpler."
I snorted and rubbed some mud out of my hair. I flexed and extended my wings and sighed in relief.
"Where did everybody go?"
"Back to the Grove. Lochlann cannot stay here until he is High Lord. This wyld is for the ruling family."
"Where has Devlin is gone? Will we be able to track him and his followers?"
Yes. But he is still High Lord. There are rules, Rae. Devlin must be tried against the laws of our people and the lordship removed from him by popular vote. Only then can a new High Lord be chosen."
I sighed, hearing between the lines. "For Lochlann to rule, Devlin must live."
"Oh yes. That is the way it must be. At least, until the power has been transferred."
"I will kill him," I said bluntly.
"And I'm going to stop you."
Again, we were at opposite ends of the spectrum. The truth was, I didn't care what he wanted, or what Lochlann wanted. I wanted Alex to be avenged. Nothing was going to get in my way.
"He murdered Alex, and for what? She was an innocent."
"I know you are grieving." Breandan stroked my face temple to jaw. "I will help you to heal."
