Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

" A re you concentrating, Rhosyn?" Eldon asked, jolting her out of her daydream.

"Yeah," she said noncommittally.

They were in the library for their lesson, the large wall of windows showing the freshly falling snow outside.

"How much sleep did you get last night?" he asked, shutting the book he'd been reading. They were sitting at a long table that Eldon had arranged all too much like a schoolroom. Looking at Eldon with his Doc Martens, elaborate scarves, raven hair, and perfect cheekbones, Rosa couldn't help but smirk at the reaction he would have teaching at an all girls school.

"Why are you smiling? Are you even listening to me?" he asked.

"Sorry, Eldon. I stayed up all night baking, and I'm not with it," she apologized. "I'm listening. I just need to lie down for a bit." She got up and went to stretch out on one of the couches.

"You are going to fall asleep," he argued, moving to join her.

"No, I won't, but my eyes are burning. Keep reading," she insisted.

Eldon sat down on the end of the couch, and Rosa rested a cushion against his legs.

"Are you quite comfortable?" Eldon frowned down at her disapprovingly.

"Yes, thank you," she said innocently and then frowned.

"What's wrong?" he sighed. "You might as well tell me because you won't concentrate until you do."

"I don't know if it's taboo or not," she admitted, biting her lip.

Eldon laughed loudly, her head moving as his body shook. "And when has that ever stopped you?"

"When I had sex with Bal the other night, our magic did this weird mingle thing, and I can still taste it," she admitted in a rush, and Eldon stopped laughing.

"You don't believe in doing anything slowly. Do you have any idea how dangerous that could have been?"

"I do now?" she said uncertainly. "It's not as if it was premeditated."

"It's a good thing you two are already connected to each other. I've seen people that have been blown across the room when they touched their power to someone else."

"It wasn't a threatening, protective thing." Rosa struggled to explain. "It was more like it wanted to be involved."

"Thank you for that disturbing visual. Remember how I told you about magic being linked to emotions?" Eldon asked.

Her brow furrowed. "The bit about lightning in a bottle?"

"That's a part of it. Think of your body as the bottle and lightning as magic. Lightning that is controlled by your feelings. You need to be the master of both. Otherwise, they will set each other off." Eldon lifted his hand and light twisted about his fingers. "Balthasar's and your souls are a mated pair. You want to touch and wrap around each other on every level you can. That's why your magic did what it did. If you hadn't been, then who knows what could've happened."

"Did you…with Nimue?" Rosa asked haltingly, not knowing what his reaction would be.

"No, not like that." Eldon looked at the light in his hands, eyes far away. "And never with anyone since."

"Who is your true love?"

"I don't think I have one. All for the best. My fate is not meant to be shared with another, and I wouldn't allow it in any case," he answered before smoothly changing the subject. "No matter how much distance separates us, we are kin, Rosa Wylt, and this is how we can prove it." He gestured for her hand, and she focused on letting her magic trickle out of her own fingers.

"Down at the lake, all of our power linked in a knot," he continued as he hovered his hand over hers. Their magic twisted, and the knot reformed between their hands. "We are true family, Rhosyn, bonded by magic, blood, and love. We will always be stronger when we are together and united. Whatever the Autumn Queen tries to do, whatever happens, we will face it together."

Rosa was still staring, transfixed, at the magic knotwork when the door opened, and Balthasar, Eli, and Nimue entered. They were discussing all that Nimue had seen when she was released from the lake. Balthasar stopped mid-sentence when he spotted them on the couch.

"There you two are," Eli said and frowned at their hands. "You ought to be careful doing that in here. I wouldn't be happy if the library burned down."

Nimue was staring at their linked power, jealousy burning in her eyes. Rosa wiggled her fingers, and her magic pulled back into her body. She could feel Balthasar's eyes boring into her, so she sat up, wincing at the pain in her head.

Eldon seemed unperturbed by their interruption. "If you don't need us, Rhosyn and I will be on our way. I wanted to go over some herb lore in the nursery today anyway."

There was an awkward silence as they both stood. Eldon was as tense as a bowstring even being in the same room as Nimue. She was dazzling in a maroon and gold men's dress shirt and skinny black jeans, her golden hair up in intricately woven braids.

"Be mindful of the time," Eli said, breaking the moment. "I want us to have a dinner together tonight to discuss strategies and reinforcements."

"Will do. Come on, Rhosyn, it's crowded in here," Eldon said, and she followed him out with a sigh of relief to be away from Nimue's baleful glares.

"I'm surprised and delighted to see how your library has grown, Lord Bleddyn," Nimue said as she glanced about the shelves.

"Eli will suffice," he replied. "Tell me what you saw at the court."

"I was there for less than a day. The queen took me there because she seemed to lack the ability to keep warm outside," Nimue replied. "The courtiers are scared of the snow. They've been in an uproar since Ryn's death. They are still in their mourning clothes. The fact that Leiddiad infiltrated their home frightens them most of all." She looked at Balthasar with something like approval.

Balthasar did his best to keep his emotions away from his face. He wished Rosa had stayed. He knew how relaxed she and Eldon were in each other's company, but seeing her head in his lap, magic glowing between them, filled him with a sudden and furious jealousy. He knew how he had felt when they had linked their power. He couldn't imagine what she felt when she tied to a powerful being like Eldon.

The rational part of him knew that he was overreacting. The irrational part wanted to beat Eldon to a pulp. He hadn't liked the way Nimue had looked at them and had given him a knowing, sideways glance. Her words the previous days sparked uncomfortably in his mind. She's messing with your head. You're smarter than that .

"Hopefully, the Seelie will be scared enough that they will think twice before attacking us here," Balthasar managed, forcing himself back into the conversation.

"Quite the opposite in fact," Nimue answered. "Many are calling for the insult to be met with action."

"One could argue they started it the night of the treaty. Oh, yes, and let's not forget they kidnapped Rosa," Balthasar replied coldly.

"Bal," Eli interrupted. "Can you please go and check how the teleconference with the clans is going? Having you there will back up Saul."

"Of course, Father," Balthasar replied.

Outside of the library, he took a steadying breath, happy to be away from the scent of apples and Nimue's strange magical aura.

Saul's voice was a calm murmur through the conference room door as he argued with the southern lords.

"We haven't seen any sign of these faeries," Lord Riverclear said tersely. "My men have been scouting the sites for weeks now."

"And they can handle a few weeks more," Saul said.

Balthasar quickly slipped into the room where his brother sat at the polished boardroom table. Saul looked up from the starfish-like teleconference phone and rolled his eyes at Balthasar.

"How long do you think it will be before we see some movement?" Richard Riverclear asked.

"Eli is interrogating a Seelie informant as we speak. She tells us the queen is gathering her allies for an attack. It won't be long before your clansmen are glutting themselves on Seelie blood."

"Excellent. We're looking forward to some retribution."

"Aren't we all? Keep me posted, Rich," Saul said happily.

"As my prince wishes." The phone went dead, and Saul let out a groan of frustration.

"As my prince wishes? Really?" Balthasar asked.

"I thought it had a rather nice ring to it," Saul replied. "I flirted with him a bit while I was in London, and it's doing a world of good in the manners department."

"So it seems. The south is quiet then?"

"Not even a twitter," Saul looked him over with a frown. "What's the matter? You look like I did when Rosa kicked me between the legs."

Balthasar hesitated for only a moment before the story came haltingly out of him. He hated sharing his thoughts with anyone, but he needed advice and failing that, a smack in the back of the head.

"I see," Saul said slowly as he steepled his fingers in a mock Eli pose. "What you're telling me is that you are jealous."

"No, I'm not…Yes? I don't know," Balthasar answered uncertainly.

"Sounds like Nimue is screwing with your head. She wants Eldon, and maybe she thought all would be forgiven once they knew she was trying to save him from the queen. He won't even look at her. Then there's Rosa—kind, friendly, luscious with those big sexy…"

"Concentrate," Balthasar warned.

"My point is Rosa is amazing, and she's the darling of Gwaed Lyn. Nimue used to be that. Eldon is teaching Rosa magic that Nimue couldn't even dream about under the lake. They're each other's confidants. Nimue wants that again desperately. You'd best be careful that she doesn't play you against Rosa." Saul leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his blond curls. "Besides, Rosa wouldn't leave you for Eldon. She'll leave you for me."

"I will hit you, Saul."

"Lighten up, Bal, or you'll end up pushing her away. The way she linked magic with you isn't the way she linked with Eldon. She linked with all of us down at the lake, and you're not concerned with Eli trying to run away with her even though she lounges on the couch with him. They've drunk each other's blood too."

"Eli's different!"

"No, he's not. He's growing more powerful every day. He's the rightful king of the Unseelie. Once the power leaves the queen completely, who knows what he'll become."

"You're not making me feel any better," Balthasar muttered.

"Then you are going to hate this. If you don't trust Rosa, you have nothing. It doesn't matter if the world falls at her feet. If you don't believe her heart is yours, then you might as well give her up now."

"You've been watching too many self-help TV shows," Balthasar teased, even though he was right.

"Not really, but I've had more relationships, liaisons, and affairs than you, so it's only my experience talking." Saul looked sad for a moment before adding, "I've made a lot of mistakes with both sexes, but I can tell you with certainty that when you are both in the room, she sees no one else but you."

"Thank you, little brother," Balthasar said with a smile.

"Treat her well, or I'll steal her myself…or Eli will kill you, that is if Eldon doesn't first."

Balthasar snorted. "You could all try… What are we going to do about Nimue?"

"Be wary of her, and when all of this blows over, we'll send her on her way."

Rosa had learned family dinner with the Vanes wasn't like dinner in a normal household. For one, they didn't eat in their pajamas, which Rosa being single for the most part, had done all the time.

Rosa settled on skinny black jeans, because Eldon would be in jeans, and a wine-colored top that flattered her breasts and brought out the red in her hair. She matched everything with black accessories, including the one hairpin that Eli had given her that had survived the Aos Si and a long silver pin carved with roses. After slipping on a pair of stilettos, she studied herself in her mirror.

"Not bad, Wylt," she told her reflection. She took comfort in the fact that, while she would never have Nimue's magical hair, Nimue would never have her cup size.

Downstairs, Saul greeted her with an affectionate peck on the cheek and handed her a martini.

"Am I early?" she asked when she realized they were alone.

"The more respectable Vane men got caught up," Saul explained. "Something to do with extra warding they want to put on the boundaries."

"Sounds serious."

"Eli wants to be ready, that's all, and Bal needs to learn how to do them." Saul poured himself another martini from the shaker. "Speaking of Bal, you might want to be mindful of his ego when you decide to snuggle up and play magic with Eldon."

"I had a headache," Rosa huffed. "There was no snuggling up, and there's nothing going on between Eldon and me. He's my cousin. It's too weird."

"I know that, and he knows that, but Bal's a jealous old bastard. It's all that macho Italian fire in his blood."

"I never thought I'd see the day that Bal would be insecure about his own appeal," Rosa said and drained her martini.

"Tin Man isn't infallible, Rosey. I think Nimue's been in his ear too, and you don't need to add any more fuel to the fire."

"I'll throw her on the fire," Rosa muttered.

"She's jealous too. Remember my warning about her being crazy. Eldon is her trigger, so watch it," he said.

Balthasar entered the room, and Rosa's heart jolted just seeing him in his neat suit and grey dress shirt.

"I see Saul is trying to get you drunk already," he said, joining them.

"Guilty! You want one?"

"Yes please." He came to stand beside Rosa, his eyes warm. "You are looking particularly lovely this evening."

Rosa's hands slipped under his coat and hugged him tightly, her face resting on the groove of his collarbone. That she had made him doubt himself, even for a moment, filled her with guilt.

"Are you okay?" he asked and kissed her hair.

"Fine. I missed you today, that's all. I'm starting to think we should've escaped to Spain after all."

Balthasar ran a comforting hand up her back. "Lessons with Eldon that painful?"

"He's trying to convince me to learn Latin, but that's not gonna happen."

"How awful. I don't blame you in the least."

Rosa stretched up and kissed his jawline. "Come on, handsome, let's make a break for it."

"You are forbidden to go anywhere, children," Eli announced.

"Stop eavesdropping," Rosa replied tersely, but Eli only stared at her until all her sass vanished.

"Please don't even dream of leaving until this matter has been sorted," Eli said, his tone gentle.

"I was joking, Eli. Relax," Rosa said exasperatedly. She was going to have to teach him about sarcasm. "Where's Eldon?"

"He'll be here. He went to change."

"Eli had him explore a particularly muddy part of the property." Balthasar's eyes shone with mischief.

"I'm sure that would've pleased him," Nimue said. She was wearing a navy halter neck jumpsuit, her hair a curling mass over one shoulder. She looked effortlessly classy.

"The brambles were my favorite part," came Eldon's dry reply from behind her.

"You don't look any worse for wear," she said as her eyes gave him a languid once-over.

"Appearances can be deceiving," he said calmly, but Rosa saw his hands clenching at his sides.

They sat together around the large table, and if Rosa weren't so tense, she would've made a joke about how strained everyone seemed. Instead, she accepted another martini from Saul and let the Vanes swap information about the impatient Gwaed Gam in the south.

She tried not to watch Nimue. She didn't want to judge her, but Nimue's jealousy and aloofness made it hard to see her without suspicion. Nimue looked at Eldon even when she was trying not to, and the air all but hummed between them with unsaid words. Maybe she's his true love after all .

Rosa shifted in her chair. There was going to be a fight between them soon, and she hoped she was far away when it finally happened.

Balthasar found Rosa's hand underneath the table and squeezed it reassuringly. Nimue spoke easily about the Aos Si, her nervousness of the previous day seeming to have vanished. It was one more thing for Rosa to feel suspicious about. Nimue had only been out of the lake for a few days, and yet she seemed to know all about the court and the queen. Eli was no fool. He would know what to trust and what not to.

The ball in Rosa's chest had only started to ease when her magic flared. There was a crash and scream from downstairs, and as one, they were on their feet.

"They are in the kitchens," Eli hissed, his glamour melting off him.

Rosa pulled the ornate pin from her hair and magic danced along it. The pin grew until it took the true form of Gaeaf Storom . Eli had transformed his fountain pen into the long black blade of Widow's Fury, and then he came to stand beside her.

"Whatever happens, don't let them get the sword," he instructed. "Stay close to Bal." The rest of the Vane men had produced long daggers from about their persons and waited tensely for Eli to give the word.

"I need a weapon," Nimue said urgently. "Merlin, please ."

Eldon made an exasperated sound before handing her one of his daggers. "Try not to stick it in my back this time."

The Seelie poured through the house, calling out to Bleddyn in their malicious singsong voices that haunted Rosa's nightmares.

"Clear the house. Make sure all the servants are safe," Eli instructed, and then they were gone in a flurry of movement and shining steel.

In Rosa's hand, Gaeaf Storom hummed with magic, calling out for justice against her tormentors. Rosa tried to keep her mind steady so the sensation didn't overwhelm her like last time, but it didn't last as the Seelie charged them. She was aware of Balthasar beside her, but it was a vague awareness. The sword in her hand knew what to do, and it cut through her attackers with the hot anger that burned in Rosa's heart.

A Seelie leaped off the banister, and magic streaked through the air towards her. Rosa pulled up her shields as Eldon had taught her. It deflected off her, but she felt the shape of the spell rattle her bones. Gaeaf Storom took the Seelie's hand off as it raised for another attack. A dagger flew past her head and embedded itself into its eye. Balthasar pulled it out of its bloody head before he let it fly again. When he threw himself into the fray below, Rosa fearlessly followed.

Eldon took the sword from the first Seelie he cut down and tossed his other dagger to Nimue. She caught it in an easy movement and drove it into the gut of the nearest Seelie raider. She was a golden firebrand of uncontrolled fury. Whatever doubts Eldon had, there was no denying how much she hated the fae. He tried not to look at her as her magic whipped out and sliced another Seelie in two.

"Merlin, look out!" she shoved him out of the way, and the arrow soaring towards him met her shoulder with a meaty thunk . She swore viciously but didn't fall.

"Pay attention, prince," she snarled. She cut the shaft smaller with a flick of her magic and threw a dagger at the archer. Eldon passed her his sword, and he picked up the dying archer's bow.

"Stay close to me, and I'll protect your wounded side," he instructed, trying to keep the rattle out of his voice.

"Now you care."

"Fuck, Nim, just do it!" he snapped. "Come on. We need to find Eli."

Eli and Saul had cut a path to the lower levels and made sure the staff was safely barricaded in the wine cellar.

"She must've sent half an army," Saul yelled across to Eli.

"She's trying to overwhelm us. Keep going! We can't let her take Gwaed Lyn," Eli replied. He didn't want to think about the Autumn Queen walking through the halls of his home, looting and burning. Never again. He'd burn it to the ground himself first.

"She wants you, Bleddyn," Saul moved up beside him. "You should go in case they are too much to fight off."

"And leave my children behind? No, it's not going to happen."

Balthasar and Rosa joined them in the entranceway, protecting their backs. Rosa's eyes were burning with magic, Gaeaf Storom humming. They shared a look, and only they understood the power in their hands.

"They are readying the next wave," Balthasar said. "Dear God, how many did she send?"

"Take it as a compliment," Eldon said from the mezzanine above them. "They've finally stopped underestimating you."

A Seelie horn sounded outside, but the tone was cut off abruptly. A great roar rose up in its place with the clash of battle.

"Outside! Quickly!" Eli shouted, and they hurried through the front doors.

A huge black-haired general swung two shining axes, leaving a trail of dead Seelie in his wake. His warriors dressed in black armor and wielding spears followed him, taking down the queen's raiders with practiced skill.

"Who the hell is that?" Rosa asked, her eyes wide.

"That's Zalan." Eli dropped his remaining shields and let wild, dark power fill him. He let out an echoing cry and jumped into the bedlam to meet his brother.