CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Ah, hon, you do know the frigging hot werewolf crown prince is your mate, right?” Remi looked at Ada as though she were a few loaves short of a baker's dozen. “I realize you brownies are like one of the slower creatures to sense a mate—hey, don’t brownies only know when they do the horizontal mamba?”
As this seemed to be bordering on gossip that Remi would definitely pass around, Ada rolled her eyes, selected a delectable pastry, and nibbled while Remi laughed and teased. Remi was still recovering from her abduction and ordeal at the hands of Grydern, though seemed to be in much better spirits. Since arriving back in Galdo a few hours ago, she’d had a brief rest, saw her family and was now at a café across the square from the council chambers where they would go next to speak to the sentinels.
“Actually, brownies do not necessarily have to have sex to tell if another is their predestined mate—”
“No? Hells, that’s disappointing. So how long have you known?”
“Brownies receive a sense. We pay more attention to a particular creature when we receive a sense or run for the nearest immortal to cast a banishing spell.” Ada sighed. “In this case I felt he was a hot-headed annoyance, and I was suffering under a little bad-boy infatuation. Unfortunately that illusion lasted briefly, and I began to suspect. Unfortunately, I had no time to seek out an impartial immortal, what with you being abducted.” Ada cast her best friend a chiding look. “By twenty-four hours I knew.”
“Huh. Bor-ing. So no sex?”
“As I said, brownies do not necessarily have to engage in sex to discover who their mate is…and I feel he has endeavored to avoid sex—”
Remika shrieked, dropping her raspberry tart to the plate and drawing every creature’s attention in the café. Ada sighed at the dramatic reaction at first, then frowned and snapped.
“Yes, he is ridiculous.”
Suddenly Remika laughed. “Oh hon, he’s being smart and chivalrous! Wow, that’s real special.” Remi turned serious, lovely sky blue eyes softening, pretty features studying Ada as she gripped her hand. “I want absolute happiness for you. For a werewolf to take the time to let you two get to know one another is beyond my assessment of the usually loyal, domineering creatures. And he’s boiling hot for you also, must be absolutely killing him to keep himself in control.”
Ada lowered her coffee cup. The coffee was pleasant, but since having vamp coffee, she found this one lacking.
Ashamedly, she realized she had not thought of the werewolf’s side of this mateship. He was holding back, and that would be painful for a werewolf, excruciating even. Those creatures had an extremely high sex drive and combined with the mate connection, it would be unbearable to go without.
He had sacrificed for her? To give her time to feel the connection, perhaps? Get to know him? For…them?
“Dammit! What a truly annoying creature!” She growled.
Remika leaned back, blinking. “Annoying? Huh? How’s that, hon?”
Ada shook a sugar packet a little too vigorously in her agitation, sugar spewing over the table and the four creatures at the table beside them. The creatures, two imps, a demon and a werewolf, all objected to this by jumping up, some growling, others shrieking and turning to tell her off.
The werewolf took one look at Ada and her face flushed. The wolf tried to shush her companions.
Remi grinned. “Hey, it was just a bit of sugar! I can understand the big old demon there being antsy, that’s demons for ya, but imps! We love sugar!”
The imps snapped. “Not tossed over us, you stupid tart.”
“I disagree.” A tall toffee haired striking woman breezed over, phone in one hand, a coffee in the other. “I heard from Rigoberto how imps love sugar poured on them for a little…” Penny smirked. “Pleasurable entertainment.”
There were a few smiles of acknowledgment, but the imps and demon turned to Ada and glared.
“Not by a brownie though! Sneaky, deceiving—”
“Remika, as lawyers for the High Council, how much time are creatures indebted to others for making slanderous remarks?” Ada lazily flicked open her tablet computer. “I am not as yet update to date as Senior Councilor for the brownies and—”
The imps both shrieked in alarm and took off fast, leaving behind the still fuming demon while the werewolf was now standing guard beside Ada. That was so annoying, as if she required a werewolf’s protection.
“I do not need you, go werewolf.” Ada glanced at the big boned attractive Amazon werewolf. “Who are you? Some relation to Nathaniel I’m sure.”
The werewolf raised a brow at the demon who looked like he was about to choke, face turning a peculiar shade of purple before he inclined his head and walked away. Once he was a few steps out of the café, the demon bolted as three werewolves jumped down from the roof and took off after him.
Ada sighed and rolled her eyes at their antics.
“I’m Sonya. Nope, no relation…” She frowned. “Hmm, maybe through my second aunt—ah, nope. Just a loyal werewolf, ma’am. And I don’t mind sugar.”
Ada gave a grudging smile. “Well, you may stand down, Sonya, I am more than capable of taking care of myself.”
“Yeah, heard how you took out the werewolf bastard Byrnes. I’ll head off. Need anything, let me know.”
Curious, Ada halted the werewolf. “What is it you do, Sonya?”
The werewolf stopped. She seemed young, maybe only just out of werewolf adolescence.
“Studying.”
Ada glared, having no time for such nonsense. “I’m waiting, werewolf.”
Heaving a sigh, the werewolf shoved her hands into the pockets of her pants, which were actually a bit too big for her big-boned form.
“Art…I like metal work…and the olds make me do business.”
“Are you any good at artwork?” Penny asked without looking up from her phone. She had taken a seat at the table with Ada and Remi.
The werewolf growled, then blew the hair off her face. “Yeah, kinda.”
“I’ll text Ruine. Go to the demon castle tomorrow. He’s looking for an apprentice.”
The werewolf looked so shocked she might have a stroke. They all stared at her until she nodded slowly, muttered thanks, and took off.
Remi grinned. “See, Pen, told ya Ada is pretty awesome. She acts all tough and disinterested like she couldn’t give a fuck if she saw you getting run over in the street, but beneath it she’s OK.”
Ada merely took another sugar packet and this time managed to get it into her coffee without spurting it over everyone and causing another table of disgruntled creatures to bother her. There were so many around, she wouldn’t mind ticking some off, but she knew that would draw more attention to them. Then more annoyingly protective werewolves would appear. At least her kind let her fight her own battles.
“Yeah, I see it. How did you know the werewolf was needing something, Ada?” Penny asked, now sipping coffee and putting her phone aside.
Ada shrugged. “It is my gift. An annoying one I assure you. She is a big bugger.”
“Yeah, werewolves and demons generally are.” Remika grinned. “I like that about them.”
Laughing, Penny nodded. “So do I, but no one touches me because I have a big powerful immortal cousin, a big ruler uncle, and a surly, deadly big brother. And a dozen of their sentinel friends.”
“You should learn to sneak. Ada’s real good at that. So is the ancient one by the look of it.” Remika inclined her head to the roof across from them.
Penny and Ada look to where Remi motioned and were blinded by shimmering sparkles as the ancient fairy disappeared from where she’d been standing on the roof of the council building. Penny reacted in a way that surprised Ada. The immortal grabbed her phone and tossed it in her bag, put that on her shoulder and with a touch of her hand on both Remi and Ada, shifted them from the café to the roof. Ada was so shocked she very nearly slid off, and would have but for Penny keeping a hold of her.
“Holy blood of the devil! Penelope you skank! Warning!” Remika shrieked.
Penny donned sunglasses and looked around. “Search for the ancient one, she’s under an order to be brought in.”
Ada didn’t know much about this ancient fairy creature, but the little she’d seen, the fairy was dazzling and well able to move about without detection. Now that she thought it, she found it a little alarming for the security and magic measures Galdorcwide had in place disallowed easy movement between here and the Outside. Yet that did not appear to bother the ancient fairy in the slightest.
“For real?” Remi’s eyes were wide with shock and a little excitement. “You know, there is an old tale about her and an imp, that curse and the aligning of moons—oh shit! Look up!”
They did and saw something truly amazing.
Penny went pale. “Galdorcwide’s moon is aligning with the humans…no one said that would be happening, it was not foretold.”
Creatures had stepped out of cafés and buildings to stare up at the sky, and in the distance, Ada caught sight of a blinding shimmering spark. The ancient fairy was on top of a hill near the imp palace and, with a sweep of her hands across the sky, covered the land in silver, white, and gold dust. She blinked out of view.
“Well, this is alarming.” Ada looked down to see Nate standing beside his cousin Blaine and his mother Stephanie, Queen of the Werewolves, all looking up at her.
Nico appeared beside them. “Where did this fairy dust come from?” He caught hold of Ada’s hand and squeezed.
“Holy bloody moons, they are nearly aligned! There is a legend about that, I don’t know it, but the imp queen does.” Remi shook with excitement. “It was the ancient fairy! She was up here on the roof, then on the hill over there, and covered the land in fairy dust. Oh, my fucking Gods! The moons are changing colors!”
“You were supposed to catch the ancient fairy.” Divij snapped at Ace and Ruine. “You knew she had information we needed and was up to something. Why did we not foresee the joining of the moons?”
“Because they were not due to be joined for another hundred years.” Empress Tacie of the Imps swept into the large council meeting room, imps following and simpering behind her, one being Princess Missy who wasn’t simpering, too busy looking shaken. “Your fairy must have felt they needed to be joined now, or has grown impatient.”
Queen Giselle of the fairies stood with hands on curved hips, big glorious breasts jutting out of her silky dress and golden eyes snapping fire.
“My ancient fairy is full of goodness! If she is bringing the moons together, there is a valid reason for it.”
“You are sooo young, Giselle, you barely know anything.” Empress Tacie said dismissively.
This caused the Fairy Queen’s eyes to snap, fists to clench and she would have gone for the Empress if Ace and his father hadn’t grabbed and calmed her.
“If you know something of value, Empress, it is best to tell us, and perhaps not needle Queen Giselle,” Chase advised.
Penny was very curious and very shocked at the way the two royals could not seem to stand each other, and she wondered why. After all, Queen Giselle’s mate and father to her three children, Dareios, Ace and Jaac, was Consort Andre, an imp and brother to Queen Tacie. He was shorter than all three of his son’s and a few inches shorter than his six foot one wife and mate, statuesque, stunning Queen Giselle.
“Oh please, let us not fight, Your Highnesses.” Lady Tamsin was Consort Andre and Queen Tacie’s sister, and an imp. “We must find the ancient fairy and find out why she has brought the moons together to align them.”
“This is the point.” Divij paced. He never paced and never looked worried, but right now he was very much on edge.
Penny glanced over to see Ada being fawned over by Nate, who had not liked his mate on the roof. Queen Stephanie of the werewolves was astutely watching her son and new daughter-in-law and had placed herself in front of the pair, including Blaine and Nico in her protection also. The queen was very protective and knew that with the magic and tempers here, anything could happen if someone lost control.
Her claws slid out. “Cease these squabbles. Tacie, this legend of the moon alignment and anything you know of the ancient one should be disclosed immediately. I have been informed the ancient one may be in danger from Grydern and another creature, one she called the desolate one.”
“The desolate one is who cursed her and took something that drove all love from the ancient one. I am one of the eldest here; your sultana knows a little also, Chase, Ruine.” Empress Tacie slapped one of her niece’s hands as she fiddled with a dagger. “Give me that, child.”
“Pretty.” Ace grinned, letting go of his mother. “The dagger and niece.”
“Down, boy, she’s your second cousin,” Andre said indulgently. “That is the ceremonial knife, is it not, Tacie? Dareios, I prefer you behind your mother, Ace, and me.”
Dare simply cast his father an insolent look but sighed when Andre, using his imp magic, sent his son away somewhere. Tamsin smirked and nudged her brother, who grinned in return. Those two were awfully close.
“Yes, Consort Andre, this is the ceremonial knife.” She dropped it on the ground and crunched it beneath her feet. Everyone gasped. “A fake. The ancient one has…borrowed the real ceremonial knife and left a copy.”
“What the devil’s spawn is the fairy up to?” Chase demanded. “Tell us, Tacie.”
Tacie raised her brows. “The moons will align and change color fully. When this happens, all curses will be removed, all deals broken, all vows freed—”
“No!” Tamsin exclaimed, flushing when everyone looked at her. “I had not heard this. Can it be true?”
Penny glided over to Remika, who had inched along to the demons. Knowing Remi, she was going to get close to the big hunks and get as much gossip as she could, and maybe ravished in the process. No way was Penny letting her dear friend have that fun, so she snagged her and pushed her to the imps. Princess Missy grinned and patted Remi’s head.
“Leave them alone, girl. They’ll steam you up, and that’ll lead to conflict in the council.”
Remika sighed. “Yeah, yeah. So what’s the gossip here? What’s the ancient one doing? Removing the curse over her? If so, why now? Since she’s so freaking awesome powerful, why didn’t she do it like thousands of years ago when she was cursed?”
“Valid points.” Tacie frowned at Remika. “You will only work for the imps at the council until I say further. No aligning yourself with the brownies again.”
“OK, Empress!” Remika twitched. Obviously the Empress had snapped power at her.
“We know only a little about the ancient one and moon alignment. I will begin with the moon alignment. The curses on her will not be broken. They may be weakened, though. They were blood magic. Other curses, deals, and the like will be broken, vows will not if they were honestly made from passion, blood, sweat, tears, and the heart. Powers will…be amplified,” the Empress said cautiously. “Tempers and emotions also. Do not worry, the alignment itself will only be brief, an hour at the most, then the moons will begin to move past one another. The reason and timing for the ancient one to bring the moons together, I am unsure of. Perhaps she seeks changes.”
“There must be a reason,” Ace murmured. “She doesn’t care about her curses, and to be honest, I think she can offload them herself but doesn’t for some reason—” Ace’s eyes shone brightly. “Something, or someone, has a hold on her, and she wants it stopped. Maybe the moon alignment puts an end to it.”
“That makes more sense. But what sort of hold? What means the most to her?” Divij said seriously. “If we knew this, we could draw her to us, trap Grydern, and bring him to his knees.”
“Grydern?” Penny exclaimed.
“He wants her,” Blaine said. “And it ain’t because she’s one of the strongest so he can take her power. No doubt he’ll take her power because she can defeat him, but he wants to control her, so he’ll take her power most likely and keep her alive.”
“Wow, that sucks.” Missy pulled a face. “Yuck. What, did she touch him or something? You know she can’t touch anyone without them falling in lust and love with her.”
“It’s the manifestation!” Penny exclaimed. “From the tablet. That’s real old isn’t it? And Grydern was consumed by it when he read it.”
“Got it in one.” Nico smiled indulgently. “The fairy herself alluded to this. She was in fact warning you, Ruine and Chase, and that she would not allow herself to be caught.”
“I did not figure she’d start aggression against him, doesn’t seem her style,” Ruine rumbled. “Not that I’m complaining. A bit of fighting and strategizing can’t hurt.”
Penny grinned up at the war demon. “You’re so transparent. You just want a big, bloody war.”
“Yeah, that’d be good. OK, so we track the ancient one and very delicately bundle her up and return her to the fairies for safekeeping. Can you put her back into one of those hibernations she does, Gis?”
Queen Giselle looked like she was going to hyperventilate. “Do not call me that, Ruine Diablo of the Demon clans! Ugh, too familiar, and stop bending my fairy palace doors!”
Everyone winced at the fairy scream. Consort Andre immediately went to calm his mate. Giselle waved a hand and a fountain appeared. Penny edged a little closer, keen to see what would happen. She had only ever seen a seeing fountain used once.
“Ooh, the seeing well!” Ace hurried over to join his sparkling mother. They were a matching pair. “Maybe we could look for Jaac again—wow, there he is, the little twat! Oops, gone again.”
The queen took a calming breath, closed her eyes briefly, and breathed out. The queen’s eyes glittered with a fierceness that Penny hadn’t known the fairy was capable of.
Ada went to move closer also but Queen Stephanie held up a hand, instantly stilling her. Ada stared at the queen of the werewolves in astonishment and got an affectionate pat on the cheek.
“Such a sultry, earthy little brownie. I am most pleased. It is a while since we had new stock for our lines. Most pleased indeed.”
Yeah, everyone thought the werewolf king was the most protective and into keeping his lot together, but that was shit. The king was domineering and fearsome, but he was also jovial, heaps of fun, a rascal, and a scoundrel. It was the queen no one messed with.
Meanwhile, Giselle’s search wasn’t going well, and with a loud scream of outrage and frustration, she threw the fountain at a wall. Creatures in the room scrambled out of the way and used magic to shield themselves from the debris.
“I take it that means you couldn’t find your missing fairy, huh,” Empress Tacie taunted mercilessly. “And you fairies are supposedly the most magically powerful.”
The look in Queen Giselle’s eyes had every creature in the room standing stock-still and not breathing.
“Uh, Ma, maybe we should go home and think about where fairy Perry has gone—”
“Fairy Perry?” The queen lowered her head a little, hands beginning to raise, fingers wiggling.
“Oh, crap.” Empress Tacie winced.
“Yeah, that’s what some bedazzled vamp called our ancient fairy when she rose this time—oops, sorry about that, Nico. Ah, could you leave my friend alone, he didn’t name our fabulous and most loved fairy some ridiculous name like Perry Twinkle—oh shit! No Ma, leave them alone!”
Everyone bolted. Creatures who couldn’t shift away used their superspeed, others assisted those who couldn’t shift or move fast enough, and even Penny was grabbed by Blaine, who snatched and moved with amazing speed. Out in the hall, they heard walls explode and Ace trying to calm his temperamental, overly powerful mother down so she didn’t destroy the High Council chambers.
“She has always been so dramatic.” Tacie sighed heavily.
“Her youngest son is in danger; of course she is high-strung at present. Why, if it were me, I would be tearing the world apart searching for one of my family. Nico, take the brownie to the werewolf compound.” Queen Stephanie waved a hand regally at Nico, who complied immediately, misting away with Ada, who looked stunned and alarmed as her body was transformed to mist. “Now, Divij, the moon alignment. How long do we have until they are fully aligned?”
“Forty-eight hours. Unless the ancient one hurries it along. It would be good to know why she does this…” Divij trailed off, then inclined his head. “Fairy Perry, thank you for gracing us with your presence.”
Everyone turned or glanced in the direction Divij was looking. Penny moved quickly forward, smiling at Perry.
“Wow, you’re aligning the moons! Why?”
The fairy smiled gently. “It is necessary. I do hope Giselle is OK. I can retrieve Jaac if she desires, but he has something most important to do, and I cast a protection over him to help keep him safe. Though the boy did not stand still long enough, so it may only have covered half of him—”
“That was kind of you, dear.” Stephanie moved closer, stalking. She tutted. “We need to know why and to place you in protection from Grydern.”
Penny was snatched back by Divij, who thrust her into Blaine’s arms. Blaine placed her behind him. She was shocked. Were they afraid the fairy would harm her or them?
The fairy pinned Tamsin and Andre with her dark eyes. “Where is your eldest son, Andre? Do you know what plagues him? Do you know who plots and took something they say to be the most precious from him? Do you ache and search? Do you open your eyes?”
Andre stepped forward, but Giselle appeared directly in front of Perry.
“Perry—I apologize, what a terrible name they gave you this time! Come with me to the palace, darling. You obviously require rest—”
Perry rose up so she was level with the very tall queen of the fairies and leaned close. “Beware of the viper in your nest, Giselle of the Glitters. It sneaks and slithers, leaking its poison to take all—I want him back! Now! And I will have him.”
The words were not shouted, they were hissed, Perry’s skin blasting them with brightness and she shook, power bursting through her.
“Who, Parissa of the Shining? I will give you who you seek—Dareios! Stay back.”
“Parissa will harm no one, Mother.” Dareios had appeared behind Perry and reached out a hand. “The moons needed to be aligned to reset time, I understand, Parissa. If you let me, I will assist.”
Perry, or Parissa as they were calling her, a name from the past perhaps, floated to Dareios and raised her hands to cup his face. She leaned forward and touched his lips ever so softly with her own.
Everyone moved at once. Giselle paled beneath her glittery complexion.
Penny knew the ancient one’s touch brought on a love and lust that could lead to insanity unless magic was used to remove the effects. She never touched anyone, others fought to touch her. To now instigate touching, to kiss Dareios was alarming. For one, he was probably nearly as powerful as she, and if he went insane, Gods save the worlds. And he didn’t feel, was lost from a pain so powerful it stripped him of emotions.
“Only those who are mated touch her!” Queen Tacie yelled, staying back, protecting the weaker imps.
Queens Stephanie and Giselle thrust all the men back, and even Penny landed heavily against Chase, who caught her in midair. Stephanie grabbed Parissa and pulled her back, while Giselle caught Dareios and tugged him away.
Dareios looked alive and clutched his head, squealing like a shrill fairy and hurting their ears, his golden eyes never leaving fairy Perry as she remained still in Stephanie’s clutching, lethal paws.
“I see, Parissa.” He panted. “Why not show me everything?”
Perry smiled, a beautiful, blinding smile. “I am to do the rest, dear Dareios. Do not worry; you will feel no side effects due to your condition. And here is Lucio to ease you. Oh no, Stephanie, you are becoming a bit too heated.” Perry blinked out of Stephanie’s arms, her voice still floating in the air. “Your mate will be happy to ease you, and do not worry, the effect will fade in a few days as you are mated!”
“Ugh! She got away,” Tacie exclaimed. “You OK… Oh dear.”
Stephanie howled, panting heavily. “I must return home. Boys, never touch that fairy unless you are mated. And have her captured. Dare is fine. Giselle, Lucio?”
“Surprisingly. Do not ever, ever do that again!” Giselle scolded, hugging Dareios, then wincing. “Oh dear, I feel her touch…Andre, let us go.”
Andre looked alarmed as Giselle advanced on him and pounced, and they disappeared. Stephanie had run out a few moments ago, Blaine and Nate both grinning.
“Buddy, you OK? Smoking kiss from the fairy.” Blaine grinned.
Ruine smirked. “I am jealous.”
Dare shook his head clear and waved Lucio off. “Don’t touch me. I must be cleansed of her touch, or you will go insane.”
“It lingers?” Penny was so excited. “This is amazing. She seemed extremely agitated one moment, calm the next. What was the kiss about? Is she hot for you, Dare?”
Dare sighed. “No.”
“What was that about?” Lucio demanded. The hot vamp was scowling, checking Dare over. “Your father sent you away, your mother said not to go near her, yet you always do what you should not. There is a reason they say not to—”
“Yes, I am aware. Parissa did not harm me, it is not her way,” Dare said blandly. “She was woken from hibernation centuries ago when something very important was taken from her. Now, with Grydern attacking, Parissa feels this is the time to align the moon, eliminating some deals, weakening others, and finding what was taken from her. She did not show me what, but there is, as she said, a viper in our midst, and this one is working with Grydern and the Revmiras, instigating both into overtaking Galdorcwide.”
“How does she know this?” Tamsin, Dare’s aunt, asked, looking like she wished to clean Dare off.
Dare met his aunt’s eyes, then Empress Tacie’s. “She is ancient, has seen so much. Who was the imp that cursed her originally? Who was placed in the cursed tablet?”
Empress Tacie paled, hand going to her neck. She glanced at her younger sister, Tamsin, who looked annoyed and shrugged.
“What does it matter?”
“Who cursed her?” Divij demanded. “If we can trace it back, we can work on how to take this cursed tablet spirit down, eliminate him as well as Grydern, and break the fairy’s curse.”
“Don’t worry about her, she doesn’t care about the curses,” Tamsin said flippantly.
“That’s not nice, Tammy.” Nate crossed big arms over his chest. “She looked pretty tormented to me.”
“Good!” Tamsin snarled and stalked off. “Fairies need to be brought down a peg.”
Surprised, they looked to Tacie, Tamsin’s much older sister.
“Olef.” She raised anguished eyes to them. “I was young then, much too young to be involved in locking him away for what he did. But I witnessed it. So did Tamsin and Andre. They were very little, just kids. But it damages you, leaves scars, to see your brother cast out of his body and into spirit, then locked into a tablet, cursed and imprisoned for all eternity.”
“Holy death’s blood! Your brother is the one who cursed the ancient fairy and now inhabits that fucking moron who cut me and drained me of power? Look, sorry and all, but I heard that Olef dude speaking through Grydern with the woman partner, and they didn’t like each other much. They are both whacked! What the hell did the ancient one ever do to him?”
“My brother was rejected. The ancient one, Parissa, did not love him. She avoided him, was gentle and kind, but he was obsessed, following her, using magic to try to capture her, lure her to him. He would sneak into her chambers, and in the end, her brother—oh my Goddess Wings! Etienne! That is who she wants back, who she is aligning the moons to break curses, vows, and deals for. He is the reason she wakes every few decades and wanders the earth. She searches for him.”
“A brother? And he is alive?” Divij demanded. “Can he control her? If we find him, bring him forth, can he control the ancient fairy? Because Tacie, that is one fairy it will take a lot of power to stop and control, and I am very concerned that if Grydern and your spirit brother get her first, they’ll take her power.”
Tacie straightened, glaring at Divij. “Do you really think Parissa ever let Olef near her? She could have crushed him like a bug, and my brother was very powerful. But she did not, and Etienne came, rose from his hibernation, and mediated. When he got annoyed, and hells, you did not dare annoy that man, he crushed Olef like a bug, and the council punished him for it. Olef was so angry he attacked everyone and took the power bowl. He tried to take Etienne’s power because he is the only one who can touch Parissa without falling under her spell, which has nothing to do with the curse, by the way. That is her magical talent—she can help others find and feel love.”
“Another power Grydern will want.”
“Oh yes, immortal.”
“What a mess,” Ruine muttered. “So where is Etienne now?”
“I know not. After he and others had locked my brother in spirit form to the tablet, he took Parissa away—he is a demon by the way, not a fairy—”
“Demon? Not the one who loiters out in the demon caves, is he?” Lucio asked curiously.
“No, that is Daimon, and he’s nasty, stay away from him,” Chase advised. “Do the sultan and sultana know this? Who were Parissa and Etienne born from?”
“I do not know that. All records were destroyed by Etienne. Anyway, it was centuries later that they returned to Galdorcwide, and by then creatures had forgotten, it was all just a legend. I do not know exactly what happened, but when Parissa went into hibernation, Etienne remained awake for another few years. They often did that; he’d watch over her, but then he disappeared without any trace whatsoever. The only thing they found was a talisman, a few old Montello coins, some crystals and burned ashes. He’s not dead, Parissa stated this, she rose when she felt he was gone from her and searched for years, but with no success.”
“Crystals and Montello coins?” Dare frowned. “It does begin to make sense. Did Etienne have some of this alluring quality of Parissa’s?”
“He blessed you, you know.” Tacie smiled. “All of you, around the four hundred year mark. Anyway, I guess he has a little, but he could turn it off and on, and he dampened Parissa’s. They were close, but he kept her on a short leash because she’s a ditz.”
They all choked a little on that, and Tacie shrugged, unconcerned.
“Hey, I call it as I see it. The number of times I saw him chasing after her as she smiled at some guy who immediately tried to jump her were countless. The poor big demon ran himself ragged trying to keep her safe, and she certainly didn’t help him. She just pouted.”
Penny was immensely enthralled. “So, we need to find Etienne. You got those objects that were found when he disappeared, or anything else of his?”
Tacie’s nose went in the air. “They are sacred, immortal girl.”
“You don’t have them, do you?” Divij sighed in exasperation. “Imps never keep things sacred. You like to play and are disrespectful of the past and of powerful items, that is why this imp here wears the cleansed crystal on a bracelet instead of keeping it safely tucked away, conserving its power.”
Remika grinned. “I had it set so nicely, I hope Perry likes it.”
“It is a priceless, powerful item, imp!” Divij exploded in exasperation, hair floating around his head. “Is that the crystal that was found, Tacie?”
Tacie winced. “Yeah, it was covered in dirty bad magic, and we lost it for a little while. I think Parissa—Perry, whatever you call her—found it and put it in the museum along with the coins and other things.”
“Give me the crystal, imp.”
“No way, man, Perry said it was for me— Hey! Empress, he stole my crystal! And he isn’t even a sneaky, thieving brownie!” Remika glared up at Divij, then warily took a step back. “Why is his hair changing color?”
“Oh crap. Deep breaths, old buddy. Uh, one of you demons want to dampen him down? I think he’s reached his limit of imp tolerance for the day—”
“A century, Ace, a fucking century!” Divij snapped.
“Why must he do this whenever he’s in my or an imp’s company for more than half an hour?” Tacie huffed.
“Because he doesn’t like you and imps. You taunt and disrupt, are uncaring,” Dareios said blandly, stepping in front of his aunt and the imps. “Go take a breather, Divij.”
Divij looked like he wanted to crush the imps, but Chase and Ruine dragged him out of the room.
“Why does he always go for imps?” Penny asked curiously.
“Can’t say. It really bugs Nate not knowing why either. But that’s Div for you. He keeps things real close to his chest. I think they screwed him over when he was younger, and since then, he occasionally has uncontrollable urges to kill them painfully.”
Penny blinked. That was the thing about happy, relaxed, easy-going Blaine. He was a frigging tease and often said things in a way that just shocked the hell out of others. Especially since he wasn’t kidding.
“That’s not a good thing, wolf.”
Blaine merely shrugged. “Probably not.”
They were all a bit crazy; she loved that about them. Penny smiled and grabbed her tablet. Time to write up a report on today's events.