The realm of Tŵr Medb
Maeve cast an eye at the empty spot where her dragon throne should be perched, but that miserable lizard had escaped.
This was not the way she had expected things to go once she and Cathbad the Druid reincarnated in the present day world. Two thousand years she’d been waiting, stuck between life and death in perpetual stasis until the curse she and the druid had created came to fruition.
She’d cursed Daegan’s dragon into the form of her throne and had left him unable to sleep that entire time. She’d allowed him to nap a few times recently, thinking she’d found a way to manipulate him into sharing what he knew of the time before she reincarnated. He’d shared nothing of value.
That proved how showing any mercy was foolish.
Torturing Daegan for two thousand years was not enough.
He owed her far more now that he’d escaped.
A tap on the tall, double doors to her private domain in TÅμr Medb distracted her. That better be the person who’d promised he could bring Daegan down.
She glanced at the doors and they opened for her.
Outside the entrance, two guards stood at attention as a man strode through the opening before the doors closed. Based on the size of this warrior’s arms and legs alone, he had inherited decent genetics. She prided herself on possessing the largest force of witches and warlocks, some who possessed powerful gifts. What abilities did this man before her possess?
This warrior could hold his own with Adonis and had come highly recommended by the head of her Scath Force unit, whom she’d already gifted with a boost to his power.
See? She could be a generous queen if people proved their value.
Bowing low at the waist, he said, “Queen Maeve.”
“Hello, Perth.”
“I am honored to meet you in person.”
This man had approached the leader of her Scath Force unit in the human realm, surprising her warlock when he identified the Scath leader’s energy as one of dark nature. That had been disturbing since her special warriors could conceal their scent.
Perth had explained that he had not picked up on the scent, but the additional power from her. He then said he was also not a fan of Beladors.
She gave a brief head tilt. “My warlock tells me he explained the terms of the reward I’ve offered for capturing the dragon king. What makes you think you’re capable of such a task?”
Lifting his head, he stepped forward. “I inherited gifts that have allowed me to outperform other bounty hunters, even those who are known to have exceptional skills and powers for their line of work. Additionally, I have resources most can’t access. Plus, I am in a perfect place to gain knowledge of what goes on with the Beladors and their dragon king now that I am a contractor to VIPER.”
“Oh?”
“I answered Sen’s call for new agents when the Beladors left VIPER’s operations crippled last month.”
That vacancy in VIPER’s numbers had been due to her warlocks turning trolls into demons and capturing Belador children. Daegan had taken exception and pulled his Beladors out to do his own bidding.
VIPER should have been incensed enough to banish the Beladors from the coalition again, but no. Sen, the VIPER liaison between governing Tribunals and the pool of agents, had never been one to tolerate insolence though.
He’d gained her notice by the way he made life as difficult as he could for Beladors.
If not for clearly being tethered to VIPER and the Tribunal, Sen would have a place in her organization. Her plan to capture Belador children had been working flawlessly until Cathbad the Druid interfered.
As someone she’d partnered with long ago, Cathbad’s position next to her provided him certain benefits, but overruling her orders was not one of them.
That druid had become more annoying in recent days than ever in the past. His value to her dwindled each time he crossed her.
She waved a hand at Perth, dismissing information already reported to her. “Yes, yes, I was informed about the bounty hunter group that stepped in when the Beladors abandoned VIPER.”
“True, but I am independent of those bounty hunters. Sen didn’t care who came in as long as he no longer had to teleport all over the place to deal with problems. I am my own man.”
Her warrior had shared that as well, but she would not trust any man’s word. She’d ordered her Scath Force to investigate Perth further and determine for sure that this man was associated with no one else, like perhaps that blasted dragon.
Ready to determine if he would be of use to her, Maeve asked, “Back to my first question. How do you propose to win the reward?”
“As I understand it, you want the dragon captured, but not killed.”
“Exactly.”
“You could go on for many years, hundreds of years, without that happening. I would like to propose a different approach.”
She would always allow creative thinking when it was in her best interest. “I’m listening.”
“Daegan has to know he was fortunate to escape. He would not risk being captured again only to have you compel him to do your bidding, which would include sharing all knowledge he has gained since joining the Beladors. From what I’ve gathered, you are capable of necromancy. Considering your power, I can only believe that what you are capable of with a decapitated head would be far superior to any other who might attempt to compel such a head to speak.”
“Of course.” Maeve started seeing where he was going with this line of thought and allowed him to finish.
“Killing Daegan is considered impossible by many.” He offered a smile that had her thinking about how he’d look naked in her bed, but she would not be swayed from her goal.
“You say that as if you don’t consider it impossible, Perth.”
“I do not. I have spent my life figuring out the impossible and have a plan for dealing with him, but I require more than the ability to teleport that you have offered your warlocks.”
This one had balls. Perhaps this man could prove worthy of being the next leader of her elite Scath Force unit. “What would that be?”
“I wish to serve you for eternity. You would never have a more loyal man at your side. Before you think that I am a fool to aspire to keep you to myself, I am not. You are an exceptional beauty in addition to being a powerful queen. Eternity is a long time. I would never interfere with your decisions or complain about those you’d take to your bed. I would be the perfect right-hand man. Yes, this is a bold request, but so is bringing a dragon to his knees.”
She found his confidence extremely seductive. Bedding this one would be an adventure for sure.
He was not a druid, but then she didn’t need a druid these days if having one around was going to interrupt her plans.
Allowing the hint of a smile to touch her lips, she said, “You have given me something to think on. I admit that I had not considered how valuable a dragon’s head might be.”
“Yes, my queen. Especially in place of an empty hand.”
Wise man to claim her as his queen. Was she really going to do this? What would be the harm in agreeing? He could do nothing to her if she lied to him.
“Very well, bring me the head of Daegan in his dragon form and I will grant you immortality, but I am not agreeing to more than that as yet.”
With a broad smile that spoke of success, he said, “I would not expect more unless it was your desire.”
She wanted this one. He had piqued her interest in ways no man had for many centuries. Cathbad could take a few lessons. The more she considered this Perth and his claims, the more she could see him at her beck and call.
He very well might end up immortal and at her side.
Careful not to allow him to believe he had any control of this meeting, she handed him a deadline. “My offer is good for only two weeks.”
His searing green eyes darkened at that. “Wonderful. As I have already set my plan in motion, I need only one week. I merely wanted to reach an agreement on terms and that a dead dragon would be as much use to you as a live one.”
Possibly more useful, now that he had her thinking that way. Just imagine the secrets she could pull from Daegan that would aid her in conquering Treoir while the Beladors were in turmoil after his death.
“One last point, Perth,” Maeve said. She’d realized a potential flaw in his plan.
“Yes, my queen?”
“If the dragon is killed or destroyed entirely and you fail to deliver a head to me, the only reward you will receive is a slow and agonizing death.” She smiled as she gave that warning.
“I would expect no less from you as that would be unacceptable for both of us.”
She had to give it to Perth. No fear. “I admire your bold attitude, but how do you plan to keep up with a dragon that can teleport?”
“I will not be chasing the dragon. He will be chasing me.”
Having a champion for her cause emerge from the human world couldn’t be more surprising, but among preternaturals anything was possible.
For all Cathbad’s ranting about the power he’d expended on Ossian, one warrior who was now gone, he could have found this Perth.
No, Cathbad had focused all his energy on turning a Scath Force warrior into a polymorph. Granted, Ossian, his pet warlock, had been able to shift into any human form, but that one had been flawed and failed to survive one simple duty she’d assigned him.
Cathbad was still upset with her over losing his polymorph.
When had the most powerful druid she’d ever known become so attached to anything? Their partnership had lasted two millennia only because she was no weak-kneed woman.
She held the power here and he had better remember that, once he got over his pity party.
Ready to dismiss Perth, she said, “Few men have surprised me. I enjoy rewarding those who rise above the mediocre and prove their potential.”
“Is that so, Maeve?”
Snapping her hand in a quick move, she teleported Perth to the human world before Cathbad got a good look at her new pet.
She swung around. “Ah, Cathbad. I see you’ve returned from your wandering.”
Cathbad eyed the spot where Perth had stood and failed to hide the scowl on his face. “Who was that?”
This druid had spent plenty of time in her bed, but that had never given him the right to question her or anyone she brought to her chambers.
She was beginning to find him boring.
Not sexually. Cathbad would never bore a woman in bed, but he took offense at the least thing these days, like the loss of his polymorph. Cathbad should have given the warrior enough power to avoid being captured and controlled by a deadly witch.
Although calling Veronika a mere witch was an understatement. She’d intended to control Witchlock and boasted she’d force everyone under her thumb.
That Sterling bitch, Adrianna, had grabbed the ancient power instead.
What a waste. Adrianna Lafontaine wasn’t even a dark witch, according to what Maeve’s warriors had recently reported.
Veronika might have had extraordinary powers, but she was not Maeve. She was not the leader of the Medb coven.
And she was now dead.
Cathbad’s sour attitude was infringing on Maeve’s upbeat frame of mind. She asked, “Are you better now?”
His gaze locked on her and stayed there longer than she’d have liked, considering the anger simmering beneath it. “What were you up to, Maeve?”
“You mean with that young man?” she asked, pushing hard on the word “young” as a dig even though Cathbad could appear any age.
“Of course that’s what I’m askin’ about,” he drawled.
“You’re a surly bastard these days. If you weren’t so depressing to be around, I’d invite you to spend a few hours relaxing with me.” She added that last line only as a taunt.
“Depressing?” He strolled around, not really walking toward her, but gaining distance each time. “We both know I’m not the sort to be depressed. I am, however, quite capable of extreme rage.”
Giving him an exaggerated sigh, she said, “Can you not get over losing Ossian? These things happen.”
“That’s what bothers me about you these days, Maeve. At one time, you could look farther down the road and see the greater picture. Not anymore. He was not just a polymorph. He could have been our secret weapon in the human world for a long time. He could have handed us Daegan and Macha, but you were so reckless you didn’t care.”
Perth could turn into her own secret weapon in the human world. “When have you ever known me to be emotional about a servant, Cathbad? To care about losing anyone is not in my makeup.”
His eyebrow arched. “Does that include me?”
With any other man, that question could be a positive sign, but she knew Cathbad too well. He had not meant anything personal by that question. No, this sly bastard would trick her with his words if she allowed it.
“I will be honest, Cathbad. I would miss you if you were gone.”
“Such heartfelt concern,” he said, his words swimming in sarcasm.
Throwing up her hands, she demanded, “What is it going to take to mend this rift between us? I won’t play word games with you.” She did harbor a concern that the longer Cathbad remained angry, the more she had to watch her back around him.
She trusted no one.
Definitely not an angry druid who knew many of her secrets.
“You wish to fix things between us?” he inquired.
Hadn’t she just said that? “Yes.”
“Then you could start by discussing your plans so that I know what you are up to in the human world. What have you got our Scath Force doing?”
“My Scath Force,” she snapped, and power sizzled through the air.
Cathbad ignored her show of anger, instead pushing her more. “You seem to forget that I was the one who infused them with the power to hide their scent, among other things, Maeve.”
What an ego. “If you need to take credit for that, fine. I give you credit. Happy now?” Why did she waste her time trying to deal with him when he was surly?
His eyes narrowed and he became quiet again.
She’d seen Cathbad like this right before he decimated an enemy. He was slow to rile, but once he reached his limit he became a dangerous threat.
“Have it your way, Maeve.” He lifted a hand.
“Wait. Don’t teleport away.”
Lowering his hand, he asked, “Why not?”
Because your recent absence is suspicious. She had to think what a woman who cared would say and tried not to cringe at sounding so needy. “I want to spend time together and get back to where we were before, in a happy partnership.”
His eyebrows climbed up his forehead. “Truly?”
Maybe sounding a little emotional had done the trick. She softened her voice to siren sexy. “Yes, Cathbad.”
“Then you’ll allow me to call in our Scath Force for a report and to answer my questions.”
“No.” She silently cursed at her foolish attempt to sway him.
“Very well, Maeve. You continue to put our Scath Force at risk. When they’re all dead, you’ll be the one to create the next ones.”
“You’re so pissy,” she muttered. “I don’t know what you want.”
“It’s not what I want, but what I’m due. I expect my considerations to be respected. You may be queen, but you would not be here without me.”
Don’t lash at Cathbad. Don’t lash at Cathbad. She kept repeating that to avoid losing control of her body. He’d love to see her warp out of shape right now and she would not give him that opportunity.
She had to regain her control or he might think she was vulnerable in those moments. Drawing herself up, she warned, “Tell me where you’re going or you may not be able to return.”
“I am finding a way to bring Daegan to his knees. Isn’t that what you want?”
“Why would you do that if you’re still so angry with me?”
The muscles in Cathbad’s face relaxed. “I don’t care for this constant tension either. I am not just using this time as a sabbatical. I’m working on a surprise.”
The man could be so confusing.
Did he mean he was trying to smooth things out with her? “Is the surprise for me?”
Offering a genuine smile for the first time in a while, Cathbad said, “Of course it’s for you, love.”
He lifted a hand and teleported away, leaving Maeve staring at an empty spot.
Did he think she just accepted those words?
Not for a minute.
As she had done many years ago, Maeve started thinking on a plan for the future.
One that might not include Cathbad.