12. Love

12

LOVE

R eadiness fills me as I stand in Quinn’s lofted bedroom, taking in a new dress laid out on the bed. Gorgeous, it’s made of draping, waterfall silk in dragonfly tones, a Victorian riding dress with a modern Fae twist. The lace and silk shimmer in gossamer blues, purples, and greens, the bodice entirely encrusted with sapphires, emeralds, and amethyst. Quinn had this couture made with countless Dark Fae spells imbued into it; the fabric shimmers with midnight-rainbow sigils for protection today.

It’s the very best of Summer Fae and Vampire magic, thanks to the Dark Fae in the Hidden City of Venice who made it. It feels like I’m barely dressed as it settles around me, the cascading skirt leaving a long swath of my left thigh bare, yet hiding a shortened Faeanic spear strapped to my thigh. The tight corset hides knives, the long sleeves tight for fighting; my middle fingers slip into loops so the sleeves cover my hands.

Hiding more knives at my wrists—for battle today.

Because this is my armor, as the United Haven of Florence makes a run on the Summer Fae Palace of Light to rescue Lucca today. We will liberate him from King Archivolio Bellari or die trying; as I glance in the mirror, I see certainty shine in my dark jade eyes.

As I step into tall heeled boots so comfortable I could run for days in them, I open a jewelry case on Quinn’s bed. A massive sapphire pendant is within, set in platinum, plus a matching sapphire ring. Both are ringed by onyx stones and black diamonds, the symbol of my bond to Quinn and the Dark Haven of Florence.

The United Haven of Florence now—that will fight today to save our own.

I finish settling the massive gem around my neck as I hear Quinn enter his rooms far below. He treads quickly up the corkscrewing wrought-iron staircase; dressed in an all black silk and lace ensemble encrusted with as many gems as mine, Quinn’s Dark Fae outfit is just as much armor as mine is.

Done in a high-Victorian Fae style, it’s still somehow Vampire in its lustrous, dark shimmer, with its wealth of onyx, sapphire, and copious diamonds.

But a large, fire-red ruby is in Quinn’s cravat pin. It’s like the eye of hell as it swirls with his dark magic now, his black aura seething around him with flickers of red and gold flame as he comes to me. Quinn made that ruby these past two days as we firmed our plan to march on the Summer Fae Palace.

Flooded with his Dark Fae fire—for battle.

“Everyone is ready. We depart.” Quinn extends his arm to escort me.

I nod as I accept his arm. Together, we step down the staircase, then egress from Quinn’s suite. Devi and Curio are on the other side of the door; with twin nods, they step in to follow us as we walk through the bowels of the Red Letter Hotel Florence, back up to the light.

Curio wears a stunning ensemble like Quinn’s, but pure winter-white. Devi wears a gown like mine, though hers is scarlet with furious black knife-slashes all over its ruthlessly sexy design. Their gear is armor also, hiding Fae-spears and knives, as well. Our plan to get Lucca back does not precisely include battle at the Summer Fae Palace today.

But if Archivolio Bellari attacks, we will give him the fight of his life.

As we exit the hotel at the grand main doors, stepping down through the vaulted front portico, I see a massive force awaiting us. We’ve emptied the hotel of all who can fight; the ingress swarms with Quinn’s Dark Fae, and Vampires Kissed to him who can withstand the bright autumn morning, thanks to Quinn’s daywalking powers.

The entire street is full; thousands of our people are here, not just from Florence but also from Pisa and Monaco, assembled over the past two days. I see a few faces from our allies in Venice; none of the Dark Fae Sages have joined this battle, but they’ve sent a cadre of fighters five hundred strong.

In addition to our new couture-armor, which all are wearing today, it makes a difference as I feel Venice’s mighty power seethe with us in the bright autumn day. Gunther’s Vampire-Giants are with us also, and Eiseth has sent a retinue to us now that she’s finally beaten the Vampire Council that assailed her up in Britain. Like Gunther, she was wounded and can’t be here now to save Lucca.

Though she’s promised to come herself, the moment we’re ready to make a run on the Vampire Council.

But that’s then, and this is now; as Quinn and I gaze up the street, ready to take our massive force to the Summer Fae King, I feel history turn. Because such a force has not marched on the Summer Fae since the War of Rome; I feel it as Quinn’s satisfaction surges at our muster, the general inside him approving.

Though our force is small compared to the full might of the Summer Fae, we have power on our side. As Quinn reaches deep inside himself, closing his eyes and pulling up the Music in a shimmering wave of intent, I feel it surge not just through me but through all those we are bound to.

That tremendous power seethes through our army, wielded by everyone who is bonded to us now. There are many it can’t sing through, like the Summer Fae rebels now with us thanks to Lucca’s battle at Valorhome, or my parents, or Gunther and Eiseth’s people. But we’re of a single intent anyway, as that massive power even sings inside the three once-Revenants now bonded to Quinn.

The once-Revenants seethe in black smoke through the crowd, as they come to join Quinn and me. The tall, gaunt man with red eyes, the tiny Pict woman with her long cascades of ebony hair, and the willowy Spring Fae Vampire, the returned Revenants walk with us now as Quinn flares his power and we move out through the streets of Florence.

We could have used a portal to move our people across Florence this morning; but it feels right to be marching in our silent parade as we fix our thoughts on the fight ahead.

Few want bloodshed today; I feel the emotions of the Summer Fae as we march, fear in their hearts that they may have to slay kinfolk. Sadness fills the Dark Fae from Florence who were once part of families still loyal to the King, his Brightwatch, or his yet-loyal Darkwatch.

I know Quinn intends to try a magnanimous approach once we get to the palace; his plan today does not focus around fighting. That all depends on the reception we get at the palace when we arrive, however. It’s up to Archivolio Bellari if he wants a battle today.

Though if he does—we’ll bring it.

Some of those with us do not care if we save any Summer Fae today. The tall, willowy Autumn Fae Vampire, Lumeria, seems nothing but calm as we move out towards the Summer Fae Palace.

The tiny Pictish Vampire, Bredei, has eyes nearly as black as Quinn’s as she meets my gaze. With plain leather bracers at her wrists, her rough spun garb is wrapped close, as if for moving silently through ancient forests.

As her calm gaze holds mine, I feel a sudden searching inside my mind like a dark forest wind. She lifts an eyebrow, as if curious that I wish to spare as many Summer Fae today as I can.

Then she looks ahead again—marching quietly to war.

The tall, gaunt returned Revenant man whose name I still do not know glances my way now, and I feel nothing but death in his scorching red gaze. He has only a wild sort of focus, as if some part of him never quite came back from being a Revenant.

His mind is awhirl with madness as our gazes connect; it makes me wonder for the thousandth time if he’s even our ally. But he’s taken a blood-oath to Quinn; his empty, mad eyes shine as he stares at me, then looks away. I shiver as we march on through the mild autumn day.

Still, all are joined in our aims as we march on the Summer Fae Palace. As we make our way through the city center southwest towards the Arno river, approaching the palace grounds on the south bank, we do not meet resistance from the Summer Fae. No one wants fighting in the streets of Florence; many innocent Fae and other Lineages live here and would be caught in the middle of it.

As if sensing the impending battle, however, people have vanished from the streets. They gaze down at our forces from balconies, some waving blue-white dragonfly scarves as they sing softly high above.

Their voices drift down to us in the early morning; it’s a mourning song for Lucca Bellari, whose emblem they wave. It steals into my heart as we march; that strange, heartbreaking song imprints into my soul and all through every part of me.

Soon, I’m humming it, then singing the aching, lilting tune without words. Because rather than a proper song, this is a dirge, an ululation of sound.

A crying out of our true hearts for a Dark Fae who was a good Prince to us all.

Everyone knows Lucca’s been captured by his father now, sentenced to death. The first day of Lucca’s capture, word came from King Bellari that he would execute Lucca in three days, for High Treason against the Summer Fae. Today is that day; Lucca’s judgement and sentencing are at noon. As we cross the River Arno, I glance up at the sky.

And feel time run out.

Though we began our preparations at dawn and it’s only ten am, it feels like the clock is ticking its last seconds to noon already. I can feel Lucca somewhere down our truncated bond, still alive, but just barely.

Whatever that horrible spear of the Gold Eyes did to him, it bound his magic away from us, pouring a black sludge like concrete all through him, deep into our Fae bonds. Neither Quinn nor I can touch it, lest we become overtaken by it.

The Gold Eyes’ message via King Bellari is clear—we have to come in person to get Lucca back.

As Florence’s mourning song for Lucca pours through my mind and heart now, I feel it reach my very soul. Suddenly, our Music is tuning in a massive, heartbreaking wave as countless others of our people take up that song with me.

As Quinn joins us now, that song gains fire and wrath, for a good man done a terrible wrong. All the Summer Fae with us sing, as well; I feel it as their hearts open wide for their fallen Prince, their beloved city, and their people still trapped under the rule of this most heartless King.

Quinn had planned to raise the Music once we reached the palace’s gates; but as we arrive at the broad semi-circular entrance to the promenade grounds now, our Music is already seething through us.

Fae wings spread wide on every side now, as our hearts begin to synch from the love that binds us. It’s not just Quinn’s people, bound to him and me that feel it, but the Summer Fae that also tune with the Music now. Even the Dark Fae from the Hidden City of Venice surge with it, though none of them are bound to us.

Beside me, Alleno bristles with a furious, deep love as he sings the Music, going to war for a cousin he loves like a brother. Devi snarls the Music beside Quinn with her love of justice; Curio sings it with a crystalline, clarion tenor beside her as he proclaims his bright wrath against all who’ve wronged us.

My parents march behind me, setting their hands to my shoulders now as I grip Quinn’s hand; they sing the Music in proud, powerful voices for the Summer Fae they once protected and served so dearly .

Tears spring to my eyes to hear my father’s deep baritone ring out, full of those most ephemeral harmonies, and my mother’s roaring alto as she shreds the air in a voice that cuts across battlefields. The Music inundates us all now, as we sing Lucca’s song.

As gargantuan wings of darkfire spread from Quinn’s spine, truly vast wings of silver-gold and black rainbows surge from mine. The Dark Fae have their roaring wings spread wide, also; the Summer Fae meld with them in beautiful jewel tones of light, as the Vampires rush black and many-hued amongst that.

Even Gunther’s forces have been inspired to sing as they come into our defiance, booming with voices like cannons for the one who was betrayed. Eiseth’s warriors from Britain roar and pound their silver armor and bright shields with their weapons, as their Dark Fae and Vampire wings spread wide, chiming full of the Music.

I feel it as even the Spring Fae Vampire joins us now, singing in a clear, dew-like voice that cries for the people she’s lost. Even Bredei sings to herself, joining our Music as some deep emotion moves in her for a family and a way of life she lost ages ago, never to be returned.

As we arrive at the main gates of the Palace of Light, their wrought-golden reaches shut with a strong barricade of fighters holding their ground outside, countless more in the semi-circular drive of the palace, I feel only one voice who has not joined our Music. The tall, red-eyed once-Revenant only stares straight ahead as our forces halt before the palace gates, singing our hearts out as the Music sweeps us. No emotion comes from him except death, as he looks at me with those very red eyes.

But then I feel a voice in my mind as he speaks to me.

For the sanity I once had… that I have now lost.

I hear him begin to sing softly inside my mind, though he does not give it an actual voice. As he does, however, the Music explodes between all of us. It’s so strong now, it sweeps me with its power; I have to grip Quinn to steady myself as that incredible sound roars through us, weeping and blazing with the truest power of our hearts .

But Quinn is a million miles away now as we face off with the Summer Fae Brightwatch guarding the gates; I feel it as he looks into the otherworld .

Seeing the Ascendant Sigils we might create to win this day and get our Lucca back.

I feel Quinn’s frustration now that he can’t yet make those complex phrases of the Music manifest. Even with all this tremendous joining of hearts, we still don’t have enough control over the Music to work such incredible magics with our own intentions.

Without Lucca’s beautiful heart in our magic or Staphylogenes’ heart’s strength, we can’t work our truest will in the universe; as my own truth-telling magic rings inside me, I know what we need to do. The guards on the gates are already stunned by our Music; clasping Quinn’s hand, I focus on them now as I spiral deep within.

Singing the song of my truest heart—all the way into my soul.

Love cascades from me, as I touch that most tender place deep within. I feel it tune through the air as the Music ascends to form a towering sigil above us now, and all through us.

Love , it says, as that simple, purest song rings throughout our blazing army. We don’t need complex phrases today to help the Music do our bidding and get Lucca back. We only need to stand in our hearts and show the Summer Fae our purest intention.

And our love—to liberate them all, at last.

It works. As our Music suddenly tunes into a towering sound, clear as a bell and the most impossibly beautiful thing I’ve ever heard, Quinn masters it. I feel it as he takes all of that incredible sound into himself, focusing his intent like the brightest fiery lance—then explodes it through all our people and allies, joined right now via our hearts and song.

It blasts through us, that incredible wave of love and power staggering our forces as it hammers to the gates. Despite all the immense Fae sigil-work on them for protection and keeping invaders out, it blasts those gates inward .

As the Brightwatch guards on them drop to their knees in surrender.

Their hands are on their hearts as they succumb to our love. Their eyes fill with tears; they’re sobbing with beauty and joy as we march in through the gates now, and they don’t stop us.

I feel it as something inside them is seared away by the brightest power of our love, and the song of the Music that roars from our hearts and lips. A black void burns away from them as our Music blazes it; I know that terrible power as it flinches back from us, as if singed by our most heartfelt love.

It’s the taint of the Gold Eyes, Staphylogenes, wielded through this entire force as it clears from the Brightwatch guards. I know his leviathan darkness upon this army must be the result of some deal King Archivolio Bellari made with the creature.

Just like Junius’ spear, which still keeps Lucca’s bright love from reaching us.

But we are here to rescue him now, our white knight. As those black tentacles of power are singed back from the Brightwatch at the gates, they throw down their weapons, letting us pass.

Those stationed to defend the promenade do the same as we reach them, pulling back and letting us through as their eyes shine with tears and their lips exclaim our song. Because the song of the Ascendant Music that comes with us is not just all around us, but deep inside our hearts.

Making us all shine today—as one.

Our power is magnificent as we arrive before the palace’s front steps. A formidable force there blocks us, however; many hundreds strong. I see the towering form of Commander Junius Alterri standing firm in his silver-gold Fae-armor as his most stalwart forces resist us.

A combination of the King’s most elite Brightwatch and his yet-loyal Darkwatch, they guard the palace in a many-layered chevron, not about to let us pass. They bar us from entering the Palace of Light as our people halt now before that massive force upon the steps.

Facing resistance, at last .

Commander Junius levels a terrible spear at Quinn now, made of silver-white wood and seething with black, caustic Fae-runes. I know now where this force’s resistance is coming from; I’m certain that’s the weapon that wrested Lucca from us, something made by the Gold Eyes, as Junius menaces Quinn with it and blocks us from continuing into the palace.

But though our song falters now, many of our people unsure what to do, Quinn doesn’t halt. Without breaking his stride, he lets go of my hand as we arrive before the guards. His gaze pinned to the Brightwatch Commander, Quinn kisses me on the lips.

I feel him firm our song in his heart then; as our Dark Master takes command, a powerful wind of magic sweeps us, to keep singing. That magic has fire and darkness in it, and a beautiful, blistering light as Quinn approaches Junius. He doesn’t even glance at Junius’ forces as he walks right up to the Brightwatch Commander.

And places the point of Junius’ terrible spear right to his heart.

“Kill me, Junius. Only spare Lucca, please. He is the best of us,” I hear Quinn say now. As Junius stares Quinn down, his furious violet-green wings surge from his spine; Fae wings flare all down the line, spreading from the backs of his elite Brightwatch and Darkwatch as they withstand our Music.

But they shudder now, as they shake from the strain of resisting our power. Tentacles of the blackest void lick inside them from the Gold Eyes, contending with our heartfelt love as Quinn and Junius stare each other down.

Junius’ spear tip right to Quinn’s heart.

“I will kill you, Valerio. For my King,” I hear Junius say as they hold their standoff.

“He betrays you, Junius.” Quinn holds Junius’ gaze with no fear, only compassion, as they speak. “King Bellari betrays you with the devil he has let into your midst. You know it as well as I do.”

Quinn’s gaze flicks to the terrible spear tip upon his breast. Junius’ gaze follows. I see a moment of wretchedness in Junius, then; he knows his King has done some horrible deal to wield the power that is in his hands. I see Junius’ distaste for it in that flash. It’s only a moment, but it’s enough, as Quinn seizes the spear.

Pressing that most diabolical weapon into his heart.

Junius blanches as he sees what Quinn’s doing. Junius jerks the weapon back, away from Quinn before Quinn can become cut with it, and I feel the Music surge.

As an ancient fealty and deep love floods Commander Junius for this man who was once his prince, I understand Junius can’t kill Quinn. Because once, Quinn was the brightest light of the Summer Fae, their beloved Prince Valerio Incendari.

Whom Junius himself loved so much.

As Junius’ shock and love crashes through all his elite forces now, thanks to the mystical bonds the Brightwatch and Darkwatch share, I feel them understand this man before them was once their prince. Few Summer Fae knew Quinn’s secret; Junius was one of only a handful, since Quinn changed so much when he supposedly became a Vampire.

I feel them all understand who he is now—their old, beloved Prince, come home at last, when he was thought dead. And I feel them understand as Junius does, as the Music surges through us all and Quinn’s wings blaze a pure, towering white with beautiful swathes of gold-red fire now, that Quinn is still very much alive.

Still Fae—just as he was of old.

Junius sees those wings, the wings of the real Valerio Incendari before him at last, and he cries out. He falls to his knees before Quinn, casting his wretched devil-spear away.

Placing his forehead on the white promenade, he sobs to his deepest heart as the Brightwatch and Darkwatch bow reverently away from the Palace of Light.

Surrendering to us and our bright love without a fight.