Courting Darkness

I swallowed. That was going to be one hell of a dinner party. “You know my sister Delilah is in love with a half shadow dragon.” I blurted it out before I realized what I was saying.



Vishana laughed. “Yes, remember? We met. And he seems a refined gentleman. The coming years should prove interesting.”



And then the chimes rang. The Wing-Liege motioned for us to stand quiet. He turned to Hyto and held out his hands, palms up. A hush descended on the hall.



“To walk freely in the halls of the Dragon Reaches means to abide by its rules. You have broken your vows. You have dishonored the halls. You have dishonored your race. You have dishonored your name. You have cast yourself out by your actions. You are cursed to wander the abyss, barred from the Shining Stars forever. You will walk in limbo, your spirit forever bound to wander between the worlds. Your name will be stricken from the Halls of Records and you will be expunged from the History, placed among the exiles. Hyto, you are no more the son of your father. You are no more the father of your sons and daughters. You are denied on all sides. You are no longer of the hive. You are alone. You were pronounced pariah. Now you are pronounced cast to oblivion.”



And then, with a single gesture, a bolt of lightning struck out from his palm, forking over Hyto like a net, sparking and glowing as it seared into his body. Hyto began to scream as smoke rose from his robes and his hair caught fire. Still the lightning played across him, until his pale skin was black with crust. And then the wind gusted through, as the lightning stopped, and he crumpled to ashes, and the wild breeze caught him up and swept him away, out of the Dragon Reaches, into the softly falling snow.



At that moment, my collar loosened and fell to the floor. I was free.



After that, it was a blur of voices and meetings, of the Wing-Liege declaring that everything from Smoky’s grandfather would pass to him. And then of Smoky speaking up, convincing them we needed to go home, and of Vishana handing me a wrapped gift, whispering that it was a temporary wedding gift and a better one would follow.



“One more thing,” the Wing-Liege said, holding up his hand. “Lady Camille, you have the right to claim damages for what happened to you. We should not have let him go free when he tried to kill Vishana and are we indirectly responsible for his assault on you. We owe you reparations. What would you ask? Jewels? Gold? A home of your own here in the Dragon Reaches?”



I stared at the man, at his stance, at the emblems he wore denoting his rank. He’d just offered me the key to the kingdom. Then glanced over at my mother-in-law. She believed in honor. She’d been just and fair with me.



“Sir, Lady . . . gold and gems are lovely, but they do not bring lasting joy. I have a home back Earthside. And one here—my husband’s home is enough for me. But what I would ask . . . You know of our war against the demons? Smo—Lord Iampaatar told me that much.”



“We do.”



“Then I ask a boon. I ask that when—if—we need your help to fight against the demons, the dragons will come to our aid. That you will be on our side in the demonic war we’re fighting.”



The Wing-Liege sucked in a deep breath, but then he smiled, full lipped and sensuous. “Lady Camille, such a request is greater by far than our most brilliant gems. But it is also one we cannot—and will not—refuse. Consider us your allies.”



And then we were surrounded again, by dragons on all sides in their human forms, wanting to meet me, wanting to congratulate us on surviving Hyto’s attacks.



After another half hour, we were able to slip away.



“I need to get home. They must be frantic with worry.”



“Patience, love. We can go now. But sometime, we’ll come back and explore, and you can truly get a feel for how grand this place is.”



I already had a feel for it but decided to play along. Smoky was proud of his home, and well he should be. I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding the wedding present between us, as he swept me up and we whirled our way into the Ionyc Seas and returned to the barrow.



As soon as we came out of it, I just wanted to sleep. The Ionyc Seas always made me tired, but I couldn’t let it stop me—I had to get inside and—



“Camille! It’s Camille and Smoky! They’re alive!” Iris was standing outside the door, and she screamed to the others inside when she saw us. A little unsteady on my feet, I made my way over to her and caught her in my arms and she reached for me, holding her tight. The next moment a teary-eyed Delilah came bounding out, followed by everyone else. We stood in the freezing snow, hugging, all talking at once.



“We thought you were dead. I was getting ready to go to Y’Elestrial to see if your soul statue was still unbroken. We thought . . . we thought . . .” Delilah burst into huge sobs and Shade pulled her into his arms.



“Enough!” Smoky’s voice thundered over the mayhem. “Everyone inside so we can tell you what happened.”



As we entered the barrow, I saw that Hanna was up, a haunted look on her face. And there were Georgio and Estelle. Thank gods for Shade. He’d saved our poor friend, and I would forever love him for that. I was tired of collateral damage. Hurt me? Fine. Hurt my friends? Not so much.



Everybody settled down, and I realized that we were near sunset. “Give it ten minutes until Menolly is up—I don’t want to have to repeat this.”



“Nice dress,” Trillian said, his eyes shining at me. “You are so beautiful. I was so worried, my love.”



“Make that two of us,” Morio said, forcing his way out of the wheelchair. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”



I kissed him first, then pushed him back into the chair. “Sharah says you need another two weeks in that, buster. So sit down. And this dress”—I turned to Trillian—“was a gift from my mother-in-law.” Then, after kissing him, I turned around to see Menolly standing at the edge of the chasm behind the living room, holding a very playful Maggie.



“What happened while I was asleep? Something, obviously.”



I let out a laugh, and then, with Smoky’s help, told them everything that happened. Well, almost everything. We left our lovemaking out of it. Trillian and Morio could know, but not everybody wanted or needed to hear that much detail. Sometimes TMI was TMI.



“So, he’s dead.” Delilah glanced up at me. “Are you going to be okay?”



“Yeah, I am. I will. It may take some time, but Hyto can’t hurt us again.”



“Unless his ghost makes a visit,” Morio mumbled. “He’s been cursed to limbo. We’d better put up wards. I don’t want any more angry ghosts or hungry ghosts popping in to say hi. Especially a dragon’s spirit.”



Choosing to push that thought out of my mind, I sucked in a deep breath. “Tomorrow night is the Solstice. I enter Aeval’s Court. After what I went through with Hyto, I think I’m ready. And I’m ready to start hunting down Telazhar. Give me demons and spirit seals any day over an angry dragon.”



Smoky pulled me onto his lap as we sat at the table. “Speaking of dragons, my mother likes you. Open your wedding present. She is sending us something else later on—this is just to tide you over.”



I stared at the box he held out, wondering what it was. As I untied the ribbon and unfolded the silk wrapped around the box, I thought about what family meant. The dragons were now our allies. And they were part of my family. Smoky wanted to have a child, to cement our bonds. Though I wasn’t the mothering type, I was beginning to see the wisdom of this, the politics of it, and . . . it would make him happy.



Perhaps when the war was over . . . when things were safer . . . but then, I’d have to have Trillian’s child first if I had one from Smoky, and then Morio’s. It would mean a lot of trouble and nannies because, although I knew I’d make a good mother emotionally, I wasn’t the type to be a stay-at-home mom. Minivans and soccer practice and picket fences weren’t my speed.



But for now the whole question was moot. We were a long way from winning the war. And we were a long way from knowing we’d even survive the next battle.



I shook thoughts of the future out of my head and opened the box. Inside, I found a silver-framed plaque. It was Vishana’s family crest, and imprinted beneath the crest, written in silver, was my name. She had truly accepted me. I was part of her clan.



Chapter 24



The next night, I drove out to Talamh Lonrach Oll and parked in the parking lot. A horse-drawn carriage waited for me, and I climbed inside, dressed in the robe of the Black Beast, beneath which I wore nothing but the perfumes and lotions with which I’d oiled my skin. The spent horn rested in the robe’s pocket, and I carried the silver-knobbed staff that Aeval had given me.



The cart wound its way, not to the palace, but out into the land itself, through the snow to a trellised archway that led to a modest cottage. I thanked the driver and stepped out, a shiver of anticipation running through me.



The moon was a shimmering quarter, waxing as she smiled down onto the snow. The sparkling mantle of white stretched through the woodland, mirroring the stars that shone over the blackened night. In my heart, I could hear the beat of the land, the pulse of the magic that filled the Court of the Queens. The whisper of the elements swirled around me, a cacophony on the wind, weaving a dance as I skirted the cottage and followed the path beyond it toward the steaming pool in the center of Faerie.



Everything shimmered here—from the woodland to the ground, to the very air. And my magic hummed, alive and vibrant. The Moon Mother surrounded me, my heart and soul. This night—the Winter Solstice—I would take my place as her priestess.



Tears flowed down my cheeks as I remembered my first initiation, when I’d entered the Grove of the Moon Mother over in Otherworld, bound by silver chains, not knowing whether my Lady would accept me into her service as a Moon Witch.



Now, I was growing, changing. I would become the first Earthside High Priestess of the Moon Mother in thousands of years. I would train under the Earthside Fae Queens—in Aeval’s Dark Court, under Morgaine’s watchful eye.



Tears flecked my eyes. I was about to assume a mantle both heavy and brilliant, one of which I hoped I was worthy. Thank gods and Earthside technology for waterproof mascara and lip lacquer. I dashed the tears away and stepped forward, crunching in the frozen snow, pins and needles shooting through my bare feet. I would come to my Lady with both body and feet bare as the day I was born.



How many years since I’d walked this path—back home in Otherworld—the path to my initiation as a witch for the Moon Mother? Too many to count, but now I was ready to take the next step on my journey, a thousand miles from where I’d begun, a world away from where I’d come.



The hush of the forest rested around me, the snow muffling all sound as I came to the edge of the hot springs, dropped my cape, and stepped into the steaming pool. Here, the water was brilliant, glowing a deep sea green. How they managed to heat it, I didn’t know, but magic permeated the glade.



As the warmth began to seep into my frozen limbs, a sense of purification and cleansing raced through me, and as the water hit my knees, it washed away the lingering pain of my bruises, of Hyto’s abuse, of the fear that had held me in its grips. His abuse fell away in the magic of the night.



Another step, and another.



The water hit my waist and my heart lurched. After this night, I’d forever be pariah in my home city-state, but some things were greater than blood, some oaths more binding than family. I mentally sent my father a kiss, wishing him well, tears pouring as I relinquished his birthright, his legacy, and his love for a greater passion and allegiance.



Another step, two more . . . and I spread my arms for balance, my shoulders shimmering beneath the glistening surface.



The water splashed against my breasts, and images of Smoky and Morio and Trillian filled my thoughts. Bowing my head with gratitude for the loves of my life, I reached out for them, but even a link as strong as ours could not penetrate the magic of the Fae Queens. I thought of Delilah and Menolly, and Iris . . . and began to cry in earnest. They could not be here tonight—this was a journey I had to make on my own—but I knew they were with me in spirit.



One more step and I was at the center of the pool. The water lapped at my chin, and I sucked in a deep breath and ducked under, letting it stream through my hair. As I came up, gasping for breath, I saw them, standing there on the other side of the pond, waiting for me.



Aeval—my new Mistress. I would belong to the Court of Darkness and Shadow from here on out. I would be under her will and walk with her under the Dark Moon. And beside her—her opposite. Titania, Queen of the Light. To her left, Morgaine—my half-Fae, half-human ancient cousin, Queen of the Dusk, who was now my teacher.



And, a little ways away, in full riding outfit and crop, stood Derisa, the High Priestess of the Moon Mother from Otherworld. She had taken my oath so many years ago. And she would take my new oath—the one binding me as a member of the Priestesshood.



They waited, these four, and as I made my way to them, a flash of snow lightning crashed behind them and there, in their midst, stood the Black Unicorn and Raven Mother for just a second, before they faded out of sight.



The Queens of Fae began to laugh, wild and free, and I swallowed my fear. There was no going back. There would be no chance to return from here.



And then I saw him—hiding in the shadows. My heart skipped a beat as he raised one hand in salute, his spiky platinum hair shining under the pale moon.



What was he doing here? But there was no time for questions. I had to trust in the ritual. I had to trust that Aeval knew what she was doing. I had to trust Derisa, and most of all, I had to trust the Moon Mother.



Sucking in another long breath, I steadily began my journey out of the pool, toward a ritual so secret I would never be able to tell anyone what went on. I began my journey into the arms of the dark . . . into the shadow of the unknown.