15. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Josh

I smiled softly as I handed a cup of tea to the delicate waif of a woman who sat perched on the couch in the main living room area. The others all lounged or milled about not far away, waiting. Robin had clearly not wanted this stranger in the private area of The Fox. In her lair. Or her nest. Or whatever it was to the dragon. But she had instructed us to keep her here where she would be harder to detect and access if the emperor should figure out who had ransacked his secret mansion and absconded with his banshee.

"Thank you," she murmured, taking the teacup and primly sipping from it, her posture meticulous, and her tension clear for all to see.

"You're quite welcome," I said softly. "Please let me know if you need anything else."

The last day and a half had been an unbelievably awkward sort of standoff. It was almost as bad as when Sadavir and I had arrived at the court. The others were clearly mistrustful of this stranger and conditioned to be alert and watchful of any threat. But at the same time… she claimed to be Ruya's mother—a claim which all of the paranorms in the group seemed to believe, so they must sense something in her aura or her scent that reinforced the idea. Everyone was curious about her. I assumed they were as full of questions as I was. But no one would dare start the inquisition until their alpha returned.

I felt bad for the woman. From what little I had gathered about how they found her, Ruya's mother had been little more than a slave to the emperor. A captive. Just like me and Sadavir had been at the vampire court. Then she was scooped up and carried off by her owner's enemies—a group of powerful paranorms who were currently radiating obvious intimidation and mistrust. She must be terrified.

She was so quiet. Contained. But she wasn't as good as Ruya at pretending to be calm. Clearly, the emperor hadn't trained or beaten that quality into her, the way Ruya's cult captors had with our witch. That thought made me realize there were probably other reasons why the rest of the court were watching her with suspicious eyes. Perhaps they blamed her for Ruya's mistreatment. For abandoning her child. Though clearly there was more to the story than that.

Sadavir was pacing back and forth in front of the sofa where she sat, agitated and angry that his true mate was missing, but automatically taking up a defensive position near Achlys just in case. Even a human like me could feel the powerful alpha aura he was putting out. It made me want to cower and prostrate myself and do anything to please, like a good little beta.

But I grew up with the powerful naga prince. I was used to his alpha moods, and he was used to my lack of visible response. I took a deep breath and forced myself to relax. Despite Sadavir's feelings toward the dragon, the rebel princess was more than capable of finding Ruya. And she was, as much as Sadavir might hate it, every bit as driven to protect Ruya as my own alpha was. Between her and the sorcerer, I knew our worry was for nothing. They had not only Ruya to drive them, but their love for Yukio as well. All would be well.

I had to repeat that to myself constantly to make myself believe it.

I realized I was hovering near the end of the couch, probably adding to Achlys's anxiety. But I was hoping she'd ask for something. Anything. That way I'd have something to do to distract me from my own worries. I might not be a possessive alpha. But I cared for Ruya. I wanted her back just as much as the others did. Not knowing anything was driving me mad.

But my time with the vampire court had taught me to keep my emotions to myself and play the calm, quiet servant.

Cicely crossed the room and took a seat on the couch beside the banshee, earning a lifted eyebrow and a curious look from our uncomfortable guest. He smiled at her, warm and golden as always, and I felt some of my own anxiety fade as banshee's shoulders relaxed a bit. The faun's magic was fascinating. I really could have benefitted from powers like that back when I was tasked with tending to the deranged vampire queen's abused menagerie of donors.

It didn't hurt that the man also had a handsome, easy-going face, all golden skin and tumbled blond curls. He was good-looking, but unassuming and boyish. Custom-made to draw a person in and make them forget their worries. I was certain that was part of why the fae king had found him so useful.

He answered the banshee's unspoken question by tilting his chin back and patting the angry scar tissue that slashed across his throat. Then he shook his head.

"Cicely can't speak," I added, for good measure. Translating would give me something to do. "I've been teaching the court sign language so he can communicate."

She glanced at me, then back at Cicely as she took a sip of her tea. "Was there something you wanted to ask, Cicely?"

He nodded and signed to me. Everyone was learning, but the others were still a little slow or clumsy sometimes. Cicely, however, had been very motivated to learn, and he had thrown himself into his studies. His signs were fluid and swift.

"He says you have Ruya's eyes. He wonders if all banshees have such pretty blue eyes, or if it's a family trait." I smiled, amused by the faun's blatant flattery.

Achlys chuckled softly, the eyes in question twinkling at his mild flirting. "It's a family trait. Not all banshees have blue eyes—at least not that I know of. There aren't very many of us around." Then she lifted a hand to pat her silver hair. "The hair though, that's pretty common in banshees."

Cicley nodded happily and continued making small talk, all the while pumping out the feel-good aura to calm everyone in the vicinity. I translated for them, glad for the reprieve. They talked about unimportant things. Her favorite food. Ruya's pets. Eventually, he smiled softly and shared something more personal. "Everyone here is a rescue case," I said softly, voicing Cicely's words aloud. "I was a slave to the fae who did this." He gestured to his throat.

Then he waved a hand at me, inviting me to join the conversation. I took a breath, never fond of talking about my own history. But if it helped put Ruya's mother at ease, then it was worth it. "I was a captive in the vampire court. As was my friend Sadavir there," I said with a nod toward the pacing naga. "All of us have a similar story. You're not alone in that."

She sighed and watched Sadavir pace, his handsome face lost in thought. "He's deaf, isn't he?"

I nodded. "Yes, but unlike Cicely's muteness, Vir was born that way."

"And still, he has such a powerful alpha presence. Not at all hindered by that challenge." She quirked a wry half smile. "Why is he guarding me?"

I shared a glance with Cicely. Was this information we should share with this stranger? In the end I settled for a neutral response. "Because he thinks you might be valuable to Ruya."

In truth, it was because Sadavir considered Ru his true mate, despite them not yet being bonded, and he was instinctively protecting this woman because she was now his family. But that didn't seem like my information to share.

Besides, the others could be right. Achlys could still turn out to be a spy, a plant sent by the emperor to destroy the rebel court from the inside out.

I was considering what to do with our captive guest now, when everyone in the room went all tense and alert again. "What is it?" I began. "Is—"

Dusek slunk out of the corner where he had been lurking, turned into smoke and shadows, and flowed out the door, Martina hot on his heels. Sadavir looked torn between following them and staying here to protect Ruya's mother. Cicely just arched a brow at me and shrugged. "They're back," he sighed calmly.

The banshee sat up taller on the couch, setting her teacup aside on a nearby end table and folding her hands in her lap, clearly able to sense what the others had. I stayed beside the couch and tried to remain calm. It was frustrating sometimes, being the only person in the room who didn't have paranormal senses or the ability to read auras from a distance.

Moments later, Robin strode into the room, as fierce and beautiful as always, confident command in her every sinuous movement. Sanka followed her, and behind them came Ruya and Yukio. I let out a breath of relief. They were back. And they both looked healthy and unharmed. Thank the gods and any other powers who were listening.

The rest of the court slowly filed into the room, filling the large space with powerful personalities and watchful eyes.

"Martina," Robin said evenly. "Report. Has our newest guest been behaving since you got back?"

Martina crossed her arms over her chest and glanced between the banshee and the dragon. "You see it," she said impatiently. "Nothing to report."

Robin nodded. "Banshee," she said in that smoky, no-nonsense tone that was all alpha. "We have much to discuss. But first…"

She took Ruya's arm and drew her forward to stand beside her. Ruya's brow was furrowed, and her head tilted, her blind eyes sweeping the area. "What is that I feel? What have you been keeping from me Robin?"

The rebel princess spoke calmly, as if this was all just another day of boring normalcy. But her golden eyes flared briefly with her magic. "Ruya, this is the emperor's pet banshee, Achlys. She claims to have tricked him into leaving her behind so she could meet you. I didn't explain it all to you because I wanted to get your honest reaction first. What do your instincts tell you about this woman?"

Achlys stood and defiantly glared at the alpha dragon as if she cared nothing for her own life. "There is no claiming about it, dragon. It is the truth." Then she turned to Ruya, her expression softening and her eyes watering with unshed tears. "Ruya, sweetheart. My sweet girl. It's really you! I thought you were dead."

Realization dawned on Ruya's face. Then the controlled priestess mask snapped into place. She lifted her chin a notch, squared her shoulders and turned toward Robin. "Something in her feels familiar. Distantly. Like I met her in another life."

Robin sighed, ignoring Achlys and her indignation. "Then I suppose we'd best figure out why she's here." She arched a brow at Achlys, her voice going deceptively soft. "And whether she should continue living after what she's done."

Ruya immediately stiffened beside her mate, but she didn't speak. We all knew she was opposed to killing in general as a means of solving problems. A stance I tended to share. But it was also very obvious that Robin was deeply, dangerously angry. And an angry dragon princess took as much careful handling as an angry naga prince. Direct opposition was rarely the answer with alphas.

Robin waved a hand, shooing Achlys backward into her seat. Then she ignored the banshee as she fussed over Ruya, making sure our witch was comfortable in an overstuffed wingback chair by the fireplace flanked by Dusek and Yukio. Turning back to Achlys, she smoothed a hand over her gleaming red-gold braid, straightened her immaculate clothing, then gave the banshee a slow, pleasant smile.

"Now," she said, taking a seat on the coffee table in front of Achlys and crossing her long legs. "Explain to me, in detail, what your part in this whole mess is and why you are here in my nest." Her smile deepened, becoming just a bit toothy. "And I suggest you stick to the truth. It has been a rather… trying day."

Achlys stared at Robin for a moment, and it was anyone's guess whether she was about to sign her own death warrant by disobeying the alpha. But the banshee seemed to sense she had pushed back as much as was wise, at least for the moment. She straightened her spine and spoke in an even voice.

"I saw a vision of you and your people. A vision of the emperor's death. I have to tell him whenever I see a threat. He has ways of ensuring I'm truthful about my banshee visions using hired sorcerers and that strange, stolen magic of his." She shrugged. "But over the years I have carefully figured out ways to get around his truth serums and slave spells. One of the other servants at the mansion helped me accumulate the things I needed to make a charm. One to allow me a small amount of leeway."

Achlys her lips, a bit of nervousness showing through as she probably realized that she was currently in danger. Robin had gone completely silent. Not moving a muscle. A predator riveted on the actions of her prey.

"I lied," Achlys continued. "I told him just enough truth to satisfy his spells and potions, but thanks to the charm, I was able to… embellish. I told him I couldn't make out features, but that his attackers would be shifters and fae. I was hoping that would redirect him to his own people—he never fully trusts his underlings. And I told him that he had to leave me behind. That if he took me with him, his killers would use me a as way to track him down and kill him wherever he chose to flee. Another half-truth. You would have continued to stalk him. But if he found out about my subverting his safeguards, I'd be back to saving his life with my visions."

Robin moved with that slinky grace that was all dragon. Graceful, but whip-fast. She was suddenly standing over Achlys, leaning down, one clawed hand gripping her face. "Let me be very clear," she breathed, her voice nearly a purr. "You are telling me, once again, that I could have walked into that mansion, murdered that disgusting waste of flesh, and taken back all that was mine. You are telling me that I would have been successful in easily accomplishing what over sixty years of planning, and scheming, and waiting have not. That I could have avenged my family and my entire dragon clan for the blood that was spilled and the lives that were taken from them." Her clawed forefinger swept over Achlys's brow and around her eye socket in silent threat. "And you ruined it?"

The banshee swallowed, her head tilted back, throat bared by Robin's demanding grip, forced to look into the eyes of the raging dragon. Robin gave her just enough movement to speak. "I had to," she managed to get out. "I saw my daughter in that vision. I knew she was alive. I had to do anything I could to get to her."

Ruya sat forward in her chair, but Yukio gripped her shoulder, holding her back. Robin narrowed her eyes at the banshee in her grip. "Why? Do you think it matters now? After you abandoned your child to be tortured and abused, to be used by a coven of psychopathic witches. People who isolated her and sold parts of her on the black market while they used her powers for their own greed?" The sweeping claw left a red mark this time, an angry trail just shy of laceration across the banshee's pale skin. "That doesn't help your case, you know. It only makes me want to leave you alive while I gut you. Maybe I'll start by gouging out your eyes so you can know what it's like to have someone blind you, the way those witches blinded a helpless little girl."

Achlys sucked in a breath. I squeezed my hands together, mustering the courage to interfere, since it seemed no one else was going to. I glanced at Sadavir, translating rapidly. But he just crossed his arms over his broad chest and looked on with a brooding expression, like a king watching an execution. I opened my mouth to speak, but Ruya shook off Yukio's restraining hand and stood, moving to Robin's side. "Enough," she said calmly.

Robin kept her grip on the banshee, her golden dragon eyes blazing into the woman's gaze. "Oh, it's not nearly enough, my sweet omega. I will see blood spilled for this betrayal of all I have worked for. And for the abuse you suffered."

The tension in the room was palpable. Martina put a hand to the knife at her belt. Dusek crept closer. Cicely sent an unmistakable wave of calming influence over us all. But nothing was going to stop the alpha. Her dragon was in charge now. And the beast carried decades of hurt, rage, and need for revenge in its blood.

"Robin!" Ruya snapped, her voice commanding and stern. "Get ahold of yourself this instant!"

I watched in utter fascination and shock as the dragon receded from Robin's eyes and some of the crushing power that I had felt even with my human senses diminished. Robin gave Achlys's head one more little warning shake, then patted her cheek before she released her and stood, yanking at the bottom of her shirt and acting as if she hadn't just completely lost control of her beast side.

"Apologies, darling," she said to Ruya in a lazy, droll sort of voice. "Was there something you wanted to add?"

Ruya rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. As if the omega hadn't just commanded an alpha of immense power. "Oh, do I get a say now? How very kind of you to let me speak to my own mother before you threaten her." She shoved Robin out of the way. The alpha narrowed her eyes, but allowed it, taking a single step back.

Ruya sighed as she took Cicely's place at her mother's side. "Look," she said tiredly. "I'm sorry about that needless display. Unfortunately, alphas just can't seem to help themselves."

Several sets of eyes narrowed at the insult, but no one contradicted the omega.

Achlys rubbed the long red almost-scratch on her cheek as she replied. "I'm happy to see you surrounded by such… protective friends." Then she arched a brow at Ruya. "Do you think we could speak alone? That might be less triggering for your alphas."

Robin growled.

Sadavir hissed.

Yukio shook his head and took control of the situation, like the gamma he was. "Out," he said, pointing at the door. "Robin. Snake. If you piss her off any more, your precious omega is never going to give you the time of day again. Move it. I'll make you food."

Dusek joined the pixie in herding the alphas. "Martina, you too. I see you fingering your knife. They aren't going anywhere. There is nothing the banshee can do here in the heart of our nest. She'd be dead in an instant if she pulled anything." That last was a clear warning directed at Achlys.

Robin shook her head. "Who is the alpha of this court? I swear, you all need disciplining." Her tone was light. But the look in her eyes said she absolutely was not happy about being ordered around by a couple of gammas, especially in front of a stranger.

Sanka finally diffused the situation. "Take a break, alpha," he told Robin in a light tone. "Get something to eat, rest for a bit. Then you can get back to terrorizing people. I've got this."

She narrowed her eyes at him. But Sanka was a good beta and a strong sorcerer. "You will not leave this room," she told him firmly.

He just nodded. "Of course, alpha."

They all filed out except the big sorcerer. I dallied, taking my time straightening things and picking up Achlys's abandoned teacup. But eventually my eyes met Sanka's and he lifted a brow. "Did you need something, Josh?"

I glanced between Ruya and her mother, hating my place in all this. Not only was I a beta. I was also human, which meant I was absolutely the lowest ranking person here. I wanted to stay with Ruya. But I knew I wouldn't win that battle.

"No," I said softly. "I'll see myself out."

"Josh?" Ruya said, halting my progress toward the door. "Would you mind bringing me some hot chocolate?"

I smiled faintly, well aware she was only making the request so I would have a reason to return. "Of course, Ruya. I'll bring some for all of you."

I glanced at Sanka, and he winked. "Once you're done with that, you can come back with snacks, too. I'm pretty sure Yukio is currently baking as we speak."

I nodded in acknowledgement. It sounded like he was ordering me about, but Sanka wasn't as oblivious as he liked to make people believe. He was giving me more excuses to return. I felt seen. It was a novel feeling, and one I could really get used to.