PROLOGUE
Etain stared into the golden flames that flickered in the wall-sized fireplace. The warm light usually calmed his soul, but he found that he couldn't close his eyes without seeing the tormented tears of his mate.
Sighing, he sat back in the worn, brown leather recliner and swirled the rare amber liquid in his goblet. Fae wine outside of Éire Danu was hard to come by, but lucky for him he was favored by their queen.
He took a sip and breathed through the warmth expanding from the wine as it traveled to his stomach. Usually, it only took half a glass to chase away the worries of the day. He was on his second bottle, with little effect.
For the dozenth time, he raised his cell phone and stared. He had never once asked for help in all the long, lonely centuries he had been in Noctem Falls. It made him feel like he was failing to call now.
He shook his head. This was his future mate. His pride be damned. She deserved every protective measure he could call to their side. With his thumb, he pushed the number two. After several rings, a soft voice answered.
"Hello?" his baby sister sounded half awake.
"Hello, Allia."
He heard her gasp. "Etain! Are you well?" she paused. "Do you know what time it is?" she demanded, sounding more like her usual spitfire self.
"I may need some help baby sister," he admitted.
"Who do I have to kill?"
He pulled the phone away and stared at it checking the number. Frowning he put it back up to his ear. "No one." He scowled. "Who is letting you fight?" His second call would be to her twin and his other younger sibling Ailain.
She humphed. "My only big brother in the entire universe is calling me at two o'clock in the morning for the first time in years. Years Etain!" her voice rose an octave and he winced. "Of course someone needs a beat down and if you're even thinking of bypassing me and calling Ailain I will come there myself to kick you."
Etain's mouth twitched. "By the gods, I have missed you."
She sniffed. "I miss you too. When are you coming home for good? Surely your duty to the queen as been fulfilled by now."
He chuckled. "It was fulfilled a long time ago little one. I stayed because I saw hope where once there was nothing but fear and I wanted to ensure that hope had a chance to bloom."
"Then why call? What is going on?"
"I believe my mate in on her way to me and could be in danger. Many things are happening right now in the city."
"Your mate? Oh Etain! That's wonderful news. What do you need from us? Should we come help?" she volunteered.
"No!" he barked. Images of his two precious siblings getting hurt or sick flooded his mind.
"You don't have to take my head off. I was offering assistance you know."
"It's not safe for the two of you to come here."
"But it's safe enough for you to be there?"
"I am a warrior. Besides I do have other fae here who can help. Belenos, Eoson, Vindonnus, Daire and Sulis also serve as unit warriors."
"Which Sulis?"
"Sulis Vi'Erlondon, Sulis Ri'Orthames is assigned to the Zeta Unit in Lycaonia."
"I always get those two confused. How did that happen? It's not common practice to name children after anyone, we're too long lived for it."
Etain chuckled. "The younger Sulis was named after his athair. Our Sulis walked around with his chest puffed out for months." He shook his head at the memory.
"Ailain and I have been training. We could help as much as the other warriors," she offered.
"Don't make me call father."
She snorted. "Go ahead. I bet it would be faster to come here explain everything, visit with mother and return, than to get him off the phone." She was quiet, then continued in a softer tone. "They miss you every day."
Etain swallowed hard. In truth, he missed them as well. Leaving the shining city of the fae had been hard, leaving his family painful, but leaving them both had been torturous.
"Can you ask the queen if she has anyone who can come visit for a few weeks, until things calm down?"
She sighed. "Of course I can. That's why you called me isn't it, instead of father? Because I'm her personal attendant."
"That and you're right, if I called father at two o'clock in the morning, I would only be able to hang up the phone with him after he traveled through a portal and stood knocking on the other side of my door."
She giggled. "True. I will pass along your request first thing in the morning. Is that crazy little human well? I know the queen will ask about her."
"She is fine. It amazes me that Meryn has captured the interest of our queen."
"I'm not amazed, do you follow her on Facebook? She is an absolute nut! We all love reading her posts here at court."
Etain shook his head. He wondered if Meryn knew exactly how popular she was, but then again, knowing her, she probably wouldn't care.
"She's even crazier in person."
"Bring her to visit along with your mate. You're long overdue to return anyway."
It was on the tip of his tongue to promise, but he hesitated. If his gut feeling was right his mate would be arriving to help with the children's sickness. If that was the case, she'd be needed here to help treat the children.
"I will bring them as soon as I am able," he promised.
"Etain, brother, everything is all right isn't it?" she asked, sounding younger.
He forced himself to smile and lighten his voice. "Of course darling. If things were truly dire I would be calling the queen herself would I not?"
"No you wouldn't. Don't try to blow smoke up my bottom, I know you. You don't like ask for help, that's why I'm worried, because out of all of us, I know you feel I am the easiest to talk to. That's why I believe things are dire, you'd never ask for assistance otherwise."
He sighed. "When did you grow up?"
"While your huge ass was walking around that dark, horrible city," she retorted.
"I do not have a huge ass," he protested. He smiled when he heard her giggle.
"You know what I mean. I'm pretty tall but sparing with guards always makes me feel tiny."
Etain frowned. "Who have you been sparing with? Does the queen know?"
"Who do you think suggested the lessons?"
Etain rubbed between his brows. "Be careful." He knew he would be calling Ari Lionhart later to threaten his ability to reproduce if anything happened to his baby sister.
"Always."
"Goodnight darling."
"Goodnight brother, may the gods bless your dreams." She blew him a kiss and hung up.
He set his phone down and brought the goblet to his lips.
If only the gods could bless his mate instead, maybe, then his nightmares would end.