Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

R osa spent the following afternoon with Nimue learning exactly how Eli had made her magical evening dress the last fateful party that Gwaed Lyn hosted.

"I still can't believe he made you a dress. When I showed him how to make clothes, he'd asked why anyone would bother," Nimue said.

"Desperate times call for exotic dresses apparently. Are you sure using magic to make dresses doesn't mean they are going to disappear at midnight?" Rosa asked.

"Of course they won't! Did your dress vanish last time?"

Rosa tried not to flinch as she thought of the tattered fabric. "It held fine until the queen ripped it from my body in front of the whole Seelie court."

Nimue pulled her into a hug, enclosing her in the smell of apples and sunshine. "One day, Rosa Wylt, we shall get our revenge on all that was done to us," she promised grimly. "Now let me show you how this dress making is done."

She put a handful of deep red rose petals, some small chips of gold flake and a tumble of black thread on the table beside her. Rosa started to laugh with girlish delight as Nimue's hands glowed with the gold of her magic.

"You start with small representational things, and you keep the image of it in your mind," Nimue instructed. The objects on the table spun together before they began to fan out into a skirt and bodice. Its skirts were layered like the petals of a rose and tipped with gold. It was a gorgeous thing that she could never dream of designing. It was going to stop Eldon's heart dead.

"This is just like in Cinderella," Rosa gushed, "except no pumpkins."

"Cinderella?"

So Rosa told Nimue fairytales as they spun everyday objects into beautiful couture dreams.

Rosa's stomach churned with butterflies as she made her way down the steps of her tower, being extra careful not to step on the skirts of her dress.

Inspired by the changing colors of a glacier, Rosa's gown had a creamy white bodice, but as the dress dropped, the cream ran to blues, greys, lilacs, and deep purples so that the folds of her skirts looked like grooves in the ice. Her chest was encased in fine gauze that ran down her arms to end in points at her wrists. Nimue had helped her weave her hair into a side braid and pinned it up. Gaeaf Storom had pride of place in her curls, adorned with small bursts of crystal snowflakes.

Who would've thought this is where you'd be a year ago? Rosa thought and opened the door that led into the house. She did her best to ignore the other voice in her head that demanded to know what right she had to such a life.

Out in the halls, she saw Gwaed Gam that she didn't recognize. The way they looked her over told her that the dress was going to be a hit. She mightn't have known them, but they knew her.

Heads were inclined politely, and one or two bowed low murmuring 'princess' in various dialects. She didn't feel like a princess or a Cinderella, but when she saw Balthasar standing at the end of the hall in a crowd of Gwaed Gam, there was no doubt that he was a prince.

Balthasar hadn't seen her yet, so she took a moment to enjoy the sight of him dressed in a midnight blue three-piece suit with a black shirt and tie. He spoke animatedly with his companions, but there was no doubt that he was a warrior, and the suit was not his true uniform. Now that Rosa had seen him in his battle leathers and sword, she knew what he truly belonged in. It was easy to forget the hundreds of years of war he had seen and survived when he was dressed in a suit or focused on the brush in his hand.

Rosa had taken a step towards him when her path was blocked by a tall man with an olive Mediterranean complexion and sun-kissed chestnut hair.

" Principessa ," he bowed low, blocking her path. "You're more beautiful than I imagined." He kissed her hand, and as he raised his head, she saw his eyes were a rich royal purple. He smiled charmingly, and she removed her hand from his. "May I introduce…"

"Thank you. Excuse me," Rosa said, moving away.

Balthasar's head turned at the sound of her voice, his eyes raking over her. He took her face in his hands and kissed her. It was a chaste kiss, but she felt it roll through her.

"You look…" he said, his eyes saying what he couldn't.

"Likewise," she replied, lightly touching the curve of his jaw with her fingertips.

Balthasar looked over her shoulder and smiled, moving his arm around her. "Rosa, I'd like to introduce you to my Uncle Vincenzo."

Rosa's polite smile dropped to an embarrassed grimace as she turned to face the purple-eyed man.

"We already met. She brushed me off when she saw you. I don't believe that's ever happened to me before," Vincenzo said.

"I'm so sorry," Rosa replied, trying to keep the blush from erupting over her face. "I have problems concentrating when Bal is around."

"You are young and in love," he said, waving her comments away with a long brown hand. "You can make it up to me by dancing with me later."

"If you can handle your feet being stomped on, I'd be delighted."

"Don't listen to her. She is a good dancer," Balthasar said, kissing her cheek.

"I can imagine." Vincenzo gave her an appraising look that said dancing wasn't what he had in mind. She snorted before she could stop herself and tried to disguise it as a cough.

"Excuse me, I need to go and see Eli." Rosa gave Balthasar's hand a quick squeeze and moved away through the crowd. She wasn't in the mood to spar with an overly flirtatious Unseelie who was contemplating her sexual prowess. Besides, Eli wanted her.

She didn't know if it was his blood in her veins or the hazy pulse of power that she now recognized as essentially him, but being summoned by Eli now had a whole new meaning. She wondered how Balthasar had fought with it for so long when he had been off fighting wars.

Eli, dressed in dark grey, stood beside the set of doors that Rosa and Nimue had turned into the entrance to a hall of ice. She was ridiculously proud of it and was excited to see the finishing touches Nimue had made without her.

After using magic to decorate, Rosa was never going to make wreaths or bunting the old way again. Eli's green eyes rested on her, and a smile broke out across his stern face, making the likeness between him and Eldon even more striking. He looked Unseelie with his glamour half gone, but he was being careful not to reveal just how much magic was bubbling under his skin.

"You look beautiful tonight," Eli said warmly. "You and Nimue have outdone yourself with this ice pavilion."

"She wouldn't let me see inside," she replied excitedly. Rosa beamed as he offered her his arm.

"Then allow me to escort you, Lady Wylt."

"Lady Wylt? Please," she laughed.

"I would rather you be Lady Vane, but that's something for you and my son to figure out."

"We have bigger problems," Rosa said, trying to keep her stomach from fluttering. Eli responded, but Rosa didn't hear him.

All her attention was suddenly on the vaulted ceiling of ice that they had stepped under. She had only seen it in a roughed state and thought it grand, but Nimue had polished the ice to look like glass.

The ceiling above them was burning with illuminated lights in the shapes of elaborate snowflakes. There were no mortals at this ball, and no pretense was there that needed to be kept. This was magic with its hair down, and Rosa was rendered speechless at the sight of it.

"She always did such beautiful magic," Eli sighed and looked about him. "Never tell him, but even the tree she put Eldon in was almost too lovely to break him out of."

"I would've been tempted to leave him in there just for the quiet," Rosa said. "Where is Eldon anyway?"

"Where else?" Eli subtly pointed to the opposite side of the hall.

Nimue's red dress stood out like a drop of blood on snow. Eldon was bowing to her amidst a crowd of Gwaed Gam.

"Looking at them makes me feel strangely timeless." Eli smiled wistfully. "And yet I believe that a thousand years could pass, and those two would still be the same."

"You approve? Despite everything that has happened?"

"Look what she does to him! How could I not approve? She would burn the world for him, whether he believes it or not. His song brought her back from the dead. She was so young when Ryn approached her, and she had no idea what devil's bargain she was getting into."

"I know the feeling," Rosa replied, and Eli patted her arm.

"I tried to warn Bal off, and I tried to warn you off. Neither of you listened."

"And I don't regret a single moment of ignoring your warnings," she said firmly. "I love you guys. If there is going to be a fight against you, I want to be in on it. No woman is going to torture my family but me."

"Darling girl." Eli kissed her head affectionately. "You belong in this family."

"I don't think your brothers would agree. One will barely talk to me, and the other looked at me like I was a piece of meat."

"Zalan isn't as sociable, but if he didn't like you, he would make it very clear why. He is quietly impressed that you killed Ryn and doesn't know how to take you yet," Eli explained. "And Balthasar is the favorite nephew of Vincenzo, who is a hapless womanizer. He'd want to make sure that you're worthy of him. Please don't be offended by either of them. They're uneasy with everything that is happening, and so they forget their manners."

The youngest Seren Du brother made his way over to them and offered his hand to Rosa.

" Principessa , you promised me a dance," Vincenzo reminded her. "Eli cannot keep the newest family member to himself all evening."

"Treat her politely, brother. She's not as sweet as she looks," Eli warned.

Rosa took Vincenzo's hand and allowed him to guide her out onto the dance floor.

"I can see why my nephew is so enchanted with you," Vincenzo said while they waltzed.

"Do you ever turn off the charm?" Rosa asked as he spun her.

"It is a part of who I am."

"You remind me of Saul."

Vincenzo smiled. "Ah, the golden-haired beauty. I knew him in the Russian court. If Eli hadn't have gotten to him first, I would have changed him myself."

"How is Lily?" Rosa tried to change the subject. Despite everything that had happened with Pearl, she didn't think Lily was a bad person, just easily manipulated by the woman she loved.

"She is fearless. It's doing my kingdom good having her there to pull them into line. She tells me I am too soft with them."

"Sounds like Lily."

Vincenzo spun her again and then brought her close. "So tell me, Rosa Wylt, do you still have nightmares about killing Ryn?"

"I do, but they aren't nightmares. I would happily take his head again," she admitted.

"Ha! You are bloodthirsty like my nephew. I bet your sex is incredible."

"Speculate about my sex life again, and I'll show you how bloodthirsty I can be," Rosa retorted, wondering what the purpose was to his questions. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of red from Nimue's dress, and she turned to see her fleeing the hall.

Rosa stopped dancing. "Fuck. Sorry, Uncle V, there is something I need to do." She caught the hilarious expression on his face just before she hurried through the crowd to find Eldon.

Eldon downed his second scotch in a futile attempt to calm his nerves. He couldn't remember the last time he attended such a large gathering when the guests knew who his family was.

The Gwaed Gam loved to party, but the ones that Zalan and Vincenzo had brought with them were all warriors over two hundred years old and were on their best behavior.

Eldon tried not to notice the vividly red, iron rich cocktails they were drinking. With magic returning to the Unseelie, the Royals no longer needed blood to be strong, but their bastard children still had to have it to live.

"You look like you hate every minute of this," Nimue's voice snapped his attention back to her. He took the drink she offered him and tried not to look too long at her.

That dress . It was strapless, revealing the golden tinged skin of her arms and chest, and fell into a river of red that he refused to study too intently.

"I don't hate it, but I've never been very comfortable in a crowd this size. Too loud, too intrusive, but it's important to Eli, so I'm here."

"I like this time's formal clothing," Nimue said, looking over his three-piece suit and brilliant purple shirt. Eldon shifted uncomfortably. There was a glint of teasing in her eyes and something else that made him feel twitchy and flustered.

"I don't wear a suit often, so enjoy it while it lasts."

"I intend to."

Eldon had forgotten the smirk that appeared on her face. It made him want to do very stupid things like press her up against the wall behind them and kiss her. Or burn a city to the ground.

Eldon cleared his throat as he struggled to regain his composure, but it was too late. She'd already seen the desire in his face.

"Dance with me," she insisted, taking the glass from his hands and passing it to a confused man beside her.

Eldon's objections caught in his throat as she gently pulled him into the throng of dancers. How long had it been since he'd danced at a ball?

He squashed the panic down as he instinctively placed his hand on the small of her back and took her other hand. The orchestra was playing a slow waltz that he didn't recognize. His mind was too focused on the woman in his arms, the light of the twinkling snowflakes above them making the gold in her hair glow.

Eldon was aware of the looks that they were getting from those that knew their true natures. The strangeness of two half blood children dancing together was enough to keep the boldest Gwaed Gam from approaching them. That they were of the Seren Du family kept them respectful, but the fact that they were the real Merlin and Nimue kept them awe-inspired.

He had been worried someone would recognize him once he got his memories back. He was surprised to find that he was losing that concern. Perhaps it was time to shed his face as Eldon Blaise and allow Merlin to join the land of the living once more. Warm fingers on his face drew him back to the blue eyes in front of him.

"Where do you go, my Merlin, when you disappear like that?" Nimue asked gently.

"Memories, only memories," he replied vaguely, his mind still trying to process the 'my Merlin' part of her question.

Was he still hers? He lifted her fingers to his mouth to kiss, the soft skin tasting far too familiar.

"Come out from the past. If I must learn to do it, so can you," she whispered.

"My past is longer than yours."

"Scars and fears run deep for us all."

"We can't all hide ours as you can," Eldon retorted and instantly regretted it.

Nimue stopped dancing and pulled back from him as if she'd been slapped. Before he could say another word, she was pushing her way through the crowd. Eldon swore violently in Welsh. He turned to Rosa's flushed face as she grabbed him and pulled him off the dance floor.

"I don't know what you just did, but go after her, Merlin," she commanded. The use of his real name on her lips told him how angry she was.

"It's none of your business, Rosa."

"I've always idolized Merlin in all of the stories. You were always the hero, the one who could fix any problem and outwit any enemy," she said insistently.

"I don't see the point of…"

"You arrived here, and I loved you from the minute I met you. You are my true blood, a Wylt . So start acting like one! Stand up for what you want and get out of your own damn way…" She gripped the lapels of his jacket, scrunching them in frustration. "Stop being such a fucking coward and go to her!" Rosa released him with a shove.

"Your motivational speech needs some work," he snapped.

"Bite me."

Eldon caught Eli's eye as he moved through the crowd, but instead of disapproval for bailing on his party, his father only gave him a smile and nod of encouragement.

"She went through the servant's passage," Saul told him.

"Thank you, baby brother," Eldon replied and didn't stop to see the joy that bloomed on Saul's golden face at the endearment.

It was snowing in heavy drifts when Eldon pushed his way past the flustered kitchen staff and outside. Fresh tracks smeared the heavy snow, but he didn't need to follow them to know Nimue had run back to the cottage. He caught up with her as she reached the tall hedges.

"Nimue stop," he begged. "I'm sorry."

She whipped about, her skirts a wave of red and gold. "How did you know? Who told you?"

"No one told me, Nimue. For fuck's sake, you died in my arms, and I saw the scars! You were having nightmares, and when I went to wake you up, I saw them again." Eldon stopped a few feet from her. "I don't know why you feel like you have to hide them from me."

"You wouldn't understand." She opened the gate, and the door to the house flew open before she reached it.

"Nimue, will you just talk to me?" he slammed the door behind him. "We've all got scars. Why wouldn't I understand that?"

"You aren't going to want me if I'm hideous!" she exploded. "I was beautiful and whole when you loved me. I don't want you looking at me in pity. I don't want to see the memory of how I once was in your eyes."

"And you are so sure that's what will be there when I look at you?" He folded his arms stubbornly. "You really believe me to be so shallow? Me?"

"You won't love me like this!" Nimue exclaimed, and her glamour shattered through the air. Golden scars and burn marks covered her arms and chest, one long slash running from her hairline through her right cheek and leaving one blue eye slightly lighter than the other.

She was panting with the effects of the magic, her fear and anger and pain radiating from her as she waited for him to recoil. Instead, he closed the gap between them and took her face in his hands.

"I'll be the judge of what I love," he growled before kissing her. His hands pushed through her tangled curls, moving down her back and bringing her closer to him. He bent down so he could kiss the scar on her cheek. She allowed it before she buried her face in his chest.

"I've loved you for a thousand years," he admitted, failing to keep the emotion from his voice. "I've feared your memory, longed for your laughter, and dreamed of your smile. I hated how much I wanted you after what happened. We are the only ones of our kind, and nothing in my life has ever made me feel like I belong anywhere except being with you. I don't care about your scars. You will always be the most beautiful thing in my world. Just…just don't leave me again. I don't want to live another thousand years without you, let alone another moment. I'm so damn tired of being alone."

" Rwyn dy garu di ," Nimue murmured against his neck. "I'll never leave you again."

Eldon leaned back so he could brush the tears from her cheeks, and her lips pushed up against his. Her fingers twisted in between the buttons of his shirt, and his skin buzzed from the contact. Their kiss changed, becoming deeper as his jacket fell to the carpet. A small tremble went through her as he moved his hands up her bare arms, fingers exploring the small ridges of her scars.

"Merlin, I'm covered in them. I'd understand…" Nimue fumbled, her skin flushing red when he kissed a burn mark on her shoulder.

"How fascinating, I suppose you'll have to prove it."

"I'm serious. I want to prepare you."

"In that case, you'd best be prepared to see my scar where a Roman almost took off my…" He made a sweeping cut with one hand, and she burst out laughing.

"You have a scar there?"

"I was almost circumcised and then some," he complained, his fingers brushing over the laces of her dress.

"What other scars should I look for?" she asked, popping the top buttons of his shirt.

"You'll have to find out for yourself. A man needs his secrets."

"You have enough secrets as it is."

Eldon's breath caught as she kissed the center of his chest. It had been so long since he'd been touched that every caress was overwhelming him.

Get it together, man! He tried to calm himself, but when her hands ran up his back, he couldn't get close enough to her. She laughed as his fingers struggled with the laces of her dress until he used magic to shred them.

"That's cheating."

"Cheating would be making this dress disappear altogether," he pointed out. "Something I'm sorely tempted to…" He stopped talking as his shirt fell to pieces, and Nimue gave an innocent shrug.

Eldon stepped eagerly towards her, but her hand on his chest stopped him. She walked slowly around him, tracing the lines of muscle with her fingers as she examined him. He knew she saw his own share of scars, tattoos, and memories.

He wanted to pull her dress off and drag her to the floor with him, but he held his ground, knowing it was important not to push her and to let her feel in control. Her lips along his spine made him tingle as he felt the touch of her magic and her own desire burn up through him.

"You're still so beautiful," she sighed, leaning her cheek against his back and hugging him tightly around the waist. "Even with all the world has done to you, you are still perfect."

"You only say that because you can't see my mind. It'd be more scarred than that glorious body of yours." He snagged the corner of her skirts and brought her back around so he could hold her against him.

The fire sprang to life, and the gold of her hair glowed brighter. The silk of her dress sighed as it slipped from her body, revealing gold lace lingerie. He didn't give her a moment to be anxious, but sank to his knees in front of her, kissing the soft curve of her stomach.

A small gasp escaped her lips as he ran his hands up the warm skin of her thighs, twisting his fingers slowly, taking in the softness. He whispered a command under his breath, causing blankets and pillows to arrange themselves on the carpet behind them.

Nimue pushed his shoulders backward, and Eldon lowered himself down, taking her with him, so she straddled him. She enclosed them in a wave of red gold hair as she leaned down to kiss him.

"My beautiful girl," he murmured against her lips.

"You still want me? Even like this?" she asked, using a hand to point out the worst of the violent marks.

"I think it's painfully obvious that I want you."

Nimue smiled wickedly as she slid down the length of his body and ground herself against him. "Oh, I see."

"Witch," he said affectionately.

She went to do it again, but he flipped her, pinning her down as she giggled.

The tops of her breast peeped out over the top of the golden strapless bra, and he slid his finger up underneath the warm center of her breasts.

"What a delightful turn women's fashion has taken over the centuries," he said appreciatively before lowering his mouth where lace met skin.

Whatever she was going to say in reply was cut short as he gave a light tug and pulled it down far enough that the peaks of her nipples slipped free. Nimue gasped as he slid his tongue over one and sucked.

Eldon's hand stroked down her side, along the curve of her stomach and to the soft lace between her legs. He'd had a lifetime of tormenting sex dreams about her to make up for, and despite the roaring in his head, he was determined to take his time.

Nimue shivered under his hand and mouth, her hips rising gently, pressing harder against his touch. Heat rose from her skin as a flush swept up her chest, and he moved to kiss her neck gently, tasting her, breathing her in. His hand slipped under the lace to tease the hot sweetness underneath. Her mouth found his, and he caught her moan of pleasure as he slipped a finger inside of her.

"Merlin…" she whimpered, and it nearly did him in. When she came, it was a shuddering gasp, her skin lighting up like wildfire.

She was Seelie, and they weren't called the shining ones for no reason. He'd only ever seen her glow when she was caught in the throes of passion, and he was delighted that he could still make it happen. She pulled him on top of her, her hands fumbling with his belt as her lips kissed whatever they could touch. He kicked off his trousers and when he looked back down, her lingerie had disappeared entirely.

"You were taking too long. Stop gaping and get inside of me."

"So impatient!" he said, kissing her chest. "And I can't help but gape when such a delight is beneath me." Her hands tangled in his hair, tugging it hard enough to produce a growl from him.

"I've been apart from you for far too long as is." Her legs twisted around the backs of his as her hand moved to grasp him with one firm stroke as if testing his hardness. "Stop teasing me."

Despite her insistence, he still took it slowly, gently easing his way into her. He was drowning in sensation, her sharp nails digging into his skin, her tight wetness gripping him as each thrust brought them closer. His breaths were ragged as he fought helplessly against every impulse that demanded release.

As if sensing it, Nimue moved, rolling him onto his back so she could ride him, giving him a full view of her breasts, head back as her own desire overwhelmed her. Light shone around them, and she smiled down at him.

"Merlin, you're glowing." The silvery white glow of starlight lit up his skin and infused with her golden sunshine.

The Unseelie were night creatures, the Seelie the golden day, and together, they burned hot and bright in a fusion of magic. When they came, it was together as if they were one body, leaving both shaking and clutching each other. They collapsed in a tangle of limbs, both watching in awe as their bodies shone together.

She curled around him, his arms holding her tightly. "I'd forgotten how much light we created."

"So had I. You were the only one it ever happened with," he admitted when he could finally speak. He reached for a blanket and drew it over them. It felt the same as when he did strong magic—exhausted and elated at once.

"My Merlin," Nimue whispered, twisting his raven hair around her fingers, studying his face as if it was for the first time.

At that moment, with her eyes burning into his, he knew himself again, and the face called Eldon Blaise crumpled to dust, never to be taken up again.

Down at the lake, three brothers stood beside the faerie ring that marked the portal to the Aos Si.

"I suppose you are pleased to have us all together, so you can keep an eye on us," Vincenzo said, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets.

"It would be better if it were under different circumstances," Eli admitted, trying his best to be patient. "I asked you to come weeks ago."

"If you had your way, we'd never leave Gwaed Lyn where you could control all of us."

"It's no bad thing to want my family together. And I don't think I've been able to control you since you were born."

Zalan had been touching the stones while they had been bickering, his eyes clouding over as he felt them out with his power.

"They've been disturbed on the other side. I think the queen has been guarding it since Balthasar and Rosa's trip there," he said as he let the rock go.

"As if we would be stupid enough to send another spy through even if they did have enough Seelie blood to maintain the ruse. Balthasar shouldn't have been able to get through at all," Vincenzo argued.

"Perhaps the Creator is tired of the curse she put on the Aos Si and is helping us," Zalan said thoughtfully.

Vincenzo snorted. "You and your Creator! Next, you will say it was the power of their love."

"It doesn't matter how they got in or out. They did it," Eli interrupted. "I've thought about sending a spy, but there is none that I would be willing to part with."

"What about the Seelie girl that Merlin won't stop ogling at?"

"No. She has suffered enough at the hands of the queen," Eli said.

"Merlin would burn the Aos Si to the ground if they took her again," Zalan said, frowning at the sky as if he was watching to see if the stars were listening.

"Even better."

"He would burn Gwaed Lyn to the ground too, if we made her do it," Zalan added.

"She would be the perfect double agent. The queen thinks she still belongs to her, right?" Vincenzo turned on Eli. "You send her in to be the queen's lap dog, and she can report her movements back to us."

"It's too risky."

"For whom? She is a Seelie."

"She's still a part of my family."

"The part that got Deryn killed."

"What if we asked her?" Zalan said, distracting them before they could get at each other's throats. "Eli, she could convince the queen to bring the army to face us here."

"Bring her army? Are you fucking madder than usual?" Vincenzo demanded.

"We could level the odds of being able to pick our battlefield. She could never resist a challenge." Zalan looked pointedly at Eli. "Or you. Bait her, bring them over, and be done with it once and for all."

Vincenzo started to pace. "And what if we lose? We'd have let in an entire Seelie army to pillage Britain."

"She wouldn't bring the whole army and leave her kingdom unprotected. She doesn't know what numbers we have. She'll bring a force only big enough to combat what Nimue would've reported to her."

"I told you that I wouldn't allow Nimue to be involved," Eli snarled.

"I saw the girl fight Merlin and hold her own against Seelie warriors. I can see through the glamour. I know what the queen has done to her. I have similar scars from my time in her hands. That is why I know she'll be willing to take the risk to bring the Bitch Queen down once and for all. She wants revenge."

"She wants Merlin more. I can't ask this of her." Eli shook his head. Zalan was the best warrior of all of them and knew Gwaed Lyn's advantages if the battle should come to them.

"This is an idiotic plan, and you're just as big of an idiot for suggesting it."

"Not as idiotic as waiting for our enemies to keep weakening our numbers," Zalan replied, unfazed by his younger brother's insults.

The plan and the question were hanging in the air, and Eli fought not to flinch as he considered what he had to lose. They would never feel safe knowing that the queen was still out there, waiting for the moment to attack.

" Fratello ?" Vincenzo asked after a long stretch of silence.

"I'll ask Nimue, but we must accept her answer whatever it may be."

"And Merlin?" Zalan pushed.

"If she chooses to go, then she must convince him that it's the right path to take. I will not lose my son again through my own stupidity…or his."

Vincenzo started pacing again."He will try to follow her."

"Not if she tells him to stay. He has to trust her. Otherwise, what is the point?"

"Rosa will not like this," Zalan said. "Are you ready to face disappointing her?"

"Rosa is more like me than you'd think. She wants a chance to kill the queen for all she has done to our family. The sword sings to her of blood and victory."

"If she was more ambitious, she could claim the Seelie Court with that blade," Vincenzo said. "Are you sure you can trust her?"

"More than I trust my other children," Eli admitted, who knew only too well what it felt like to have a child betray him.

"Lily would've made it into the Aos Si by now if she had it," Vincenzo said fondly as if reading his thoughts. "Italy will have to satisfy her for now."

"She was born to rule—that's one of the reasons I chose her," Eli agreed, "but she's made too many bad choices with companions and lovers that would compromise her. Rosa is levelheaded and tough. Pure Wylt."

"Worse still, she is noble," Vincenzo muttered distastefully, but without any real scorn.

"I like her," Zalan grumbled and got to his feet. "Let's go back. I'm in need of a drink and a fire."

"After this conversation, I need a fuck," Vincenzo replied and disappeared into the darkness.

Eli stayed watching the stars a while longer. He wondered what the next week would bring and if Merlin would stay if Nimue went back to the Aos Si.

For the first time in many years, he allowed himself to think back to his youth, the plans he'd had for his lost people and of Eirianwen, the woman he'd been betrothed to.

These memories always ended the same way—with his father dying, his people slaughtered and enslaved, his silver-haired love, Eirianwen, filled with arrows, and everywhere the blood-soaked Autumn Queen, laughing at the destruction she had wrought.