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  We made it to the table, where Regina passed her hand over the crystals, and once more we took hands, with Kaylin draped over Check’s shoulder. The room vanished as we fell back into the swirl of time, rushing every which way to return to the mansion.

  I shuddered as the room began to materialize again—we were back in the small chamber, safely away from Crawl.

  Turning to Regina, I gazed at her softly. “What happens if he ever gets free again? Can he get loose from his prison now?”

  She regarded me quietly. “We have built in safeguards against that happening again. To be honest, we thought he was safely locked away the first time. It never occurred to us that anyone would be foolhardy enough to ever set him free. Geoffrey showed us that we cannot afford to trust even those closest to the Crown.” Regina passed a hand across her eyes, and I thought, for a moment, she looked almost human. Her lip twitched, and a vague wash of pain swept across her face.

  I took a stab in the dark. “Geoffrey was a surprise to you, wasn’t he?”

  The Emissary stared at me, her hand back by her side. For a moment, I thought she wasn’t going to answer, but then she gave me a faint nod. “We did not expect his disloyalty. We all go through loyalty tests—those of us within close proximity to the Crown. He passed his last. . . . There is unrest in the Vampire Nation because we now realize that at least some of the Vein Lords can—”

  “Fake out the test.”

  “Yes, that is one way of putting it. We never realized that was possible. So one of our tasks now is to develop a new form of testing that eliminates the chance for deception.” She paused, then glanced at Check who was studiously ignoring us. “You yourself now understand the nature of what it means to be a royal—and what it means to not know whom you can trust. Cicely, when you take a position of power, it means leaving activities, and people, behind. You can never be as free as you were. Even when you were under contract to my brother, you were freer than you are now.”

  I nodded, absorbing her words. She was trying to help me. For whatever reason, she was doing her best to give me advice, and I’d be a fool not to pay attention. Regina might be harsh, and frightening, but unlike Lannan, she was all business, and she thought in terms of power and how to play it. She respected me more now because I had taken the throne.

  Even though the thought rankled a little, I wasn’t letting myself take offense. There was a mindset that went with power. And there was a mindset that went with being a vampire. Something about the turning brought it out, that much I understood. Though we might not like it, it was simply a fact. With the ability to destroy others, to turn them into the living dead, with the ability to control through glamour, came a certain arrogance. It was what it was.

  I thought carefully before I spoke, because what I was about to say would affect the Court of Summer, too. But it seemed a good time to broach the subject.

  “Will the vampires stand with us against Myst? And if we do defeat her, will we be able to forge an alliance afterward? As bad as the Indigo Court is, given what we saw down in the sewer system—with the creatures from the depths—we must think of the possibility that there are more dangerous beings in the world. In New Forest. I would prefer we work together to keep the town safe.”

  Regina regarded me quietly, then said, “I cannot give you an answer—the final word must come from the Crimson Queen, of course. But I will do my best to convince her that such an alliance would be the best way for us to move into the future. The Fae Courts are changing. The Consortium must follow suit. And the Vampire Nation? It would do well to heed the signs of evolution.”

  With that she moved to open the door, and we were once again back in the Regent’s office.

  Kaylin was beginning to come around as we schlepped him onto the sofa. Rhiannon, Grieve, and Chatter turned to me. I was about to speak when Chatter interrupted.

  “I take it he’s loyal to the Courts, or you would have let Crawl slurp him up?” The callous note in his voice startled me, but he just shook his head when we all turned to look at him. “You know I’m right. As much as I know this pains you, Cicely and Rhiannon, I also know we cannot allow our Courts to be endangered.”

  “Chatter is right.” Grieve stood back, folding his arms across his chest. “So Kaylin passed the test?”

  I nodded, thinking back to what Crawl had said. “Kaylin has a destiny that is going to take him away from us. And, I think, away from Luna.”

  “I think I may know what it is.” Kaylin sat up at that moment, wincing. “I never want to see that freak again, but I’m glad I went. There was something playing in my mind—something I’ve been dwelling on ever since I was hurt. I haven’t said a word about it, because I didn’t know if it was just my imagination or not. But Crawl . . . he confirmed what I thought.”

  “Are you all right?” I rushed over, kneeling down by his side.

  “Well, it wasn’t a walk in the park, and I feel like I’ve been hit by a sledgehammer—my head feels bruised inside and out—but I’ll be okay.” He accepted the glass of water that Regina offered him, drinking it greedily. “I feel dehydrated.”

  Regina motioned for Lannan to get the pitcher and refill the glass. “You probably are. The Blood Oracle . . . well . . . Let’s just say he has more than one method of attack. And his touch is as unpleasant as his presence.”

  “What did he confirm, Kaylin? We heard what he had to say, but what was he talking about?” I had a nasty suspicion but was hoping I was wrong.

  Kaylin was unusual. We’d been in the Court of Dreams, talked to the King of Dreams who was the lord of the Bat People. The night-veil demons had chosen the Bat People as their children, but with Kaylin, it was a little different. His mother, one of the magic-born, had been possessed by one of the demons during her pregnancy. It had died, but its soul bonded with the child in her womb. The King of Dreams had told us there were a few others like him—a new generation.

  “I must return to the Bat People and learn from them. There are things I need to know for my future. While I don’t know what that future is, I knew in my heart long ago that it would lead me far from New Forest into a different realm.”

  “I had a feeling that might be it. You have to return to the Court of Dreams, don’t you?”

  He nodded. “There are things only the Bat People can teach me. I think . . . it’s the only way. They said I’m part of a new generation. I think I’m going to be at the forefront of . . . whatever my people will be called.” He hung his head. “I should never have led Luna on. I don’t want to hurt her.”

  Biting my lip, I decided to just be upfront about what I knew. “Kaylin, Luna cares about you, but she’s still uncertain. She’s held back. I asked her, while you were hurt. She told me because the future is so tenuous, she wasn’t letting herself fall for you.” Even though I knew the news might hurt him, I hoped it would alleviate any guilt he was feeling.

  Kaylin’s gaze flickered to meet mine. “I hope you’re right.”

  With a heavy heart, I asked, “Are you feeling up to helping us? I know it’s going to be hard for you to check Luna. Probing anybody’s mind can’t be pleasant.” And having Kaylin’s demon in my mind hadn’t been pleasant, either.

  He pushed himself fully to a seated position. “Yeah, I’m ready. But . . . are you going to tell them first? And for me, it helps if they’re asleep—or drifting off. I work better during that time, being a dreamwalker.”

  Kaylin could travel the astral, in body and in spirit. That was how he could get into people’s minds. The night-veil demon just made the process easier for him. I still wasn’t entirely clear on what a dreamwalker was or how they became one, but I had the feeling he’d been born that way. Most of the magic-born had one innate ability over the others. I was a wind witch; Rhiannon worked with fire. Leo had been gifted with herb crafting. Anadey, Peyton’s mother, had been an anomaly—she’d been adept with all four el
ements. Peyton’s magic came out in divination.

  I turned to Regina. “I hate to ask this, but is there a way to put them to sleep? Ysandra will be difficult, given she’s so strong in her magic.”

  Regina glanced at Lannan, who said, “Visotine.”

  “What’s that?” Kaylin stood and stretched.

  “A safe knockout drug. It shouldn’t hurt them. The stuff can flatten a horse.” Lannan shrugged. “We have occasion to use it on members of our stables. It will quiet even the most magical person.”

  “You’re sure it’s safe?”

  Regina nodded. “As safe as any drug can be. I have never seen anybody have more than a slight hangover from it. Should we administer it to them? It’s simple, tasteless, and the dosage is easy to control.”

  With a heavy heart, I okayed it. As Lannan left the room, I crossed to the window. It was snowing up a gale outside. When we had pushed Myst back, the winter had died down a little—felt more normal. But today, I closed my eyes and I could feel Myst on the winds. She was out there, no longer waiting but beginning her advance. The snow was a directed force, swirling in a frenzied dance, eager to gobble up the land.

  For the first time, I began to think by the time this battle was over, I wouldn’t have any friends left. Those still alive would probably hate my guts. As I stood there, contemplating what felt like a bleak future, Rhiannon joined me.

  She put her hand on my shoulder, leaning against me. “We will win this. Don’t fear. We’ll win, and free New Forest of Myst.”

  “But what then? The town is dying. People are being murdered on the streets. You saw the news reports. Will there be anybody left?” I turned to Regina. “We heard the news. What’s going on in the town?”

  She let out a soft whisper, as if to someone by her side. Then she flipped on her computer and quickly tapped something onto the screen. Another moment and she met my gaze.

  “There were fourteen deaths today—the Shadow Hunters are in the town. Lannan and I already dispatched a group of men tonight to hunt them down and eradicate them. They seem tougher than before. I think Myst has been recruiting for strength rather than numbers.” She pulled out a file and tossed it across the desk. “I think you should see this.”

  I picked up the folder. “What is it?”

  “What we have managed to gather on Myst and her cronies the past few weeks. We noticed that attacks on animals near the town were growing—yes, we keep track of things like that.” Regina drummed her fingers on the desk. “The remains were . . . few, and viciously ripped to shreds. We’re not stupid—we know Shadow Hunter attacks when we see them. So Lannan sent out scouts and began to find traces of them. They’re cagey though, and good at hiding in the woodlands surrounding the town. Then, yesterday, the attacks on people began.”

  “Yesterday? How many, total?” Rhiannon turned from the window, where she’d still been standing.

  “Twenty-two deaths. Sixteen wounded, six severely.” Regina leaned back in her chair. “We can send scouts out into the woods, but the Shadow Hunters can hide by night and come out in the day. They know we can’t chase them down during daylight hours.”

  “I may be able to help there. I met my grandfather today. He said he’d send out reconnaissance to look for Myst’s warriors. If the Indigo Court is holing up in the Golden Wood, we’ll find them.” Though I said it with more confidence than I felt, I still felt that at least we had some hope.

  At that moment, Lannan returned. He motioned for Kaylin to follow him. “They’re all asleep and will stay that way for the next few hours. How long do you think it will take you to examine their thoughts?” Though he spoke to Kaylin, he looked at me, and in his face was hunger mingled with a strange sense of loss.

  For once, I met the vampire’s gaze, and—even though I didn’t want to admit it—the thought of his touch appealed to me. The more stressed I was, the more I welcomed his slam-bam attitude. My darker nature hid in the shadow of worry and regret, and when the gloom grew thick, it came out to play.

  Kaylin glanced from Lannan to me but only said, “Not long, though it will be harsh and penetrating. They will wake with the full knowledge of what I’ve done. I’m prepared for their anger, as should you be. This is a deliberate mind-fuck, Cicely. I agreed because it truly is the best option in the situation, but even my demon is squeamish at the intrusion. And it’s hard to make a night-veil demon squeamish.”

  I patted him on the shoulder. “Yeah, I know. Just . . . go. Do what needs to be done. We’ll deal with the aftermath when we get there.”

  Kaylin followed Lannan out the door. As it closed behind him, I turned back to Regina. “I don’t know what my grandfather will be able to do, but I’ll let you know as soon as he contacts me.”

  I didn’t want to sit around waiting, but there wasn’t much else we could do. We couldn’t just head out in the streets looking for a fight. And once I knew for sure that the others were on our side, we could start to plot our course of action. I wandered over to the window again. Rhia had taken her seat next to Chatter, and they were holding hands, softly whispering. Watching them, I wondered how she’d ever let herself get involved with Leo. He’d been so wrong for her.

  Chatter leaned over, softly nuzzling her ear, and their connection was so tangible it was hard to ignore. Did Grieve and I look like that? Did my pull toward Lannan interfere with us, or did it simply exist in a different light? I didn’t love Lannan, and I never would. Grieve was my heart. He was my center. Lannan fed the darker side of me, the side that I didn’t want Grieve to go near. If Grieve stepped into those shadows, then my rock would vanish, and I would be fully swallowed up by the abyss. Lannan allowed me to be vulnerable with Grieve.

  The snow continued to fall in the growing dusk, and it called to me. I wanted to be out in the chill and gloom. I turned back to Regina. “I need to go outside for a breath of fresh air. Will it be safe?”

  She considered, then nodded. “The French doors will lead you to the patio. Feel free to walk out on the veranda for a bit. No one will harm you here. Not unless they launch a full-scale attack, and then war would be upon us all, and no one would be safe.”

  I motioned for Grieve to stay where he was. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts. As I stepped out into the chill night air, the winter braced me up and quickened my blood. I straightened my shoulders and shook back my hair. How fast this transformation had changed me. And how much I’d taken to it.

  I walked atop the drifts, gliding over the crust that had formed on the surface. The air caught me short. Not nearly as cold as it was back in the realm of Snow and Ice, it was still harsh and austere. A snowflake fell into my mouth and landed on my tongue, but it did not melt.

  The patio—or veranda—extended some fifteen feet out from the mansion and was surrounded by a low stone wall, high enough to sit on but not so high that it impeded vision or could easily conceal someone crouching behind it. I wandered over to the edge, staring out into the wintry darkness.

  Guards were patrolling the compound, and more would be making the rounds, watching over the perimeters of the land. They were vampires, all of them. During the day the Vampire Nation had to rely on their day-runners—not nearly as powerful but almost always loyal without question. Though, after the incident with Crawl and Geoffrey, I had a feeling that all the day-runners would be under scrutiny as well.

  I passed the wall and walked out onto the lawn, the full brunt of the snowstorm landing on my cloak. The owl feathers softly wafted in the breeze, and as I stared up into the sky, the barren trees loomed overhead, black silhouettes against the silvery night. In one of the trees perched an owl, and I recognized it immediately. Hunter. My grandfather.

  He flew down, circling to land on a nearby bush. The bough bent under his weight, and within seconds, he stood there, a pale glow against the night. He was wearing soft white leather buckskins and a matching tunic, and a pendant arou
nd his neck emanated a silver light. It looked to be moonstone, though it was surrounded by a black onyx ring of stone. Hunter’s hair was caught back in a ponytail. Something inside quivered.

  Blood recognizes blood.

  At first I thought Ulean had spoken, but then remembered she was not allowed within the compound. Vampires didn’t like the magical creatures—Wind Elementals could read a vamp’s thoughts, where most of the magic-born couldn’t. And vampires couldn’t sense them very easily. So they banned them from the premises, and we respected their wishes.

  “No, I spoke to you.” Hunter took a step toward me. “You are my blood, even with being half-breed. My blood sings when you are near, as it did with your father. As it does with all of my children, and their children.”

  There were so many things I wanted to ask, so much to learn. But I’d come to learn one lesson as Queen—patience. Even though I hated waiting, I’d learned that there was an order to all things, and trying to hurry them up didn’t work.

  I smiled and held out my hand. I wanted to reassure myself he was real. Hunter seemed to understand—he took my fingers in his and drew me out fully under the blowing gusts. We stood there a moment, listening to the soft hiss as snow met snow. There was music in the fall of the flakes, hard to hear unless I listened for it, but it was there, and the song was melancholy and haunting.

  After a moment, Hunter turned his face from the sky to me. “I have sent my men out into the woods and the fields. We are searching for the lair of the Indigo Court. We will find it, know this.”

  His words inspired confidence, and I nodded, as certain as he was. “Do you miss Wrath?” I asked, wondering why that was my first question to him, and yet it seemed fitting. He had lost his son, first to the Court of Rivers and Rushes, and now back to the Golden Isle.

  Hunter pressed his lips together, and for a moment, I thought he wasn’t going to answer. Then he placed a light hand on my shoulder. A flicker of remembrance and recognition ran through me. I gathered it close, cherishing the feeling. It felt like . . . family.