Tall and imposing, she had the palest skin, blue-black hair, and the reddest lips I’d ever seen. Her breasts crested abundantly over the top of her corset dress, and she circled me, smiling coyly.
“Well met, again, Camille. I’m sure you’ve met my son by now?”
At that moment, I realized that I had to have strayed out of Talamh Lonrach Oll, because even though Aeval had invited Bran, I knew she would never invite this woman to touch the soil of the Sovereign Nation.
Cautiously, I eased myself into full sitting position, wondering what the hell was going to happen next. I’d never been alone with her, and I didn’t want to. Because, inadvertent ally or not, Raven Mother scared the hell out of me.
Chapter 10
Raven Mother stood there, left arm crossed across her chest to hold her right elbow as she cupped her chin. She eyed me, waiting.
Unsure of how to proceed, I slid to the edge of the boulder and hung my feet over. I was too tired for games, but I had to be cautious. Raven Mother was one of the great Tricksters. And she was one of the Immortals. She was also the consort of the Black Unicorn, so I had to show her respect, but I also had to make certain I didn’t say or do anything that might suggest that she had a hold on me later. Raven Mother had expressed an interest in my coming to live with her in Darkynwyrd and joining her court, and that was the last thing I wanted.
When in doubt, say nothing. I yawned, covering my mouth.
“Tired, are we, young Moon Witch? Tired and weary, perhaps? Oh, pardon me,” she added, a feral smile on her lips. “I mean Priestess Camille.”
I could see Bran in her features—he was his mother’s son, all right. A thought ran through my head as I tried to picture just how the Black Unicorn and Raven Mother had managed to reproduce, but some of the possibilities were too scary to consider. Seeing that they were both Immortals, I decided that whatever the truth, I probably didn’t want to know.
I nodded. “Yes, I am tired. I am trying to find my way back to the palace.” I didn’t like admitting I was lost, but it was obvious that I was exhausted, and attempting to lie my way out of why I was sitting here on a big rock, in the middle of the woods, attempting to take a nap, wasn’t going to fly.
Raven Mother shifted, and she slipped her hands into hidden pockets on her flowing skirt. She sauntered up to me. I continued to sit on the boulder, too tired to stand and show the proper respect. Usually, I was the first to curtsey or bow or whatever the situation required, but right now? Not so much.
“So, the little priestess lost her way in the woods? A red cloak, yes, you should be wearing. And a red hood, should you not?” And she laughed then, rich and throaty, and I found myself fixating on her gorgeous lips. They were full and pouty, and mesmerizing.
She reached my side and looked down at me—Raven Mother was incredibly tall and bigger than life. She was vivid in an almost unnatural way. As she stared into my face, I forced myself to sit still.
“Oh, my lovely. My lovely Camille, the Moon Mother does choose the most delicious for her Order. You have met my son. My offer still stands. Come away, my lovely, and join me, and my son would be happy to attend you. Dragons and foxes are fine, but they are not of our woodland magic. You may bring your Charming one, of course. Svartans thrive in Darkynwyrd.”
I sighed. Would she try to woo me away every time we met? And the thought of Bran attending me gave me the creeps. But…not a good idea to tell her that I found her boy less than appealing. Still, my irritation spilled over.
“You know my pledge is to the Moon Mother. Would you have me break one oath to form a new one? I am no warlock. I am no oath-breaker.”
Her eyes narrowed, staring at me with beady focus. Oh fuck. What the hell did I just do? She let out a slow breath, and I smelled worms and soil and early autumn’s touch. I blinked, trying to focus on my feet as the morning light began to shimmer brighter. But I couldn’t keep my gaze off her face.
“Morning light, it attends us soon,” Raven Mother said, her voice shrill and curt.
“Um, yeah. Looks that way.” I had no clue what to say, except for the fact that she was right—it was almost morning. Menolly would be going to sleep soon. And if Morio didn’t show up soon, I was really going to freak. That was, if Raven Mother decided not to peck out my eyes for my insolence.
But after a moment of staring me down, she looked up at the sky and let out a long laugh. “Oh, my lovely, you are a conundrum. Well, then. Since you still refuse to join me, I suppose I will muffle my disappointment and show you the way back to your precious Aeval. Someday, though, young witch, you will realize your destiny lies with me, and you will come join me in the delights of the dark forest, and dance your nights away under the sparkling stars.”
She backed up. “I will lead you. Follow, as the raven flies.”
“I’m hurt—I can’t walk very fast.” Again, not so much wanting to admit my vulnerability, but there wasn’t any way around it. She would expect me to accept her offer, and there was really no way I could turn her down. Especially since I was truly lost.
“Hurt, my lovely? What ails the Moon’s Daughter?”
“My foot. I sliced up the bottom of the heel on a bramble thorn.” I stuck my foot out to show her the slug-slimed leaves affixed to the sole.
Raven Mother stared at my foot, and it was hard to tell whether she was smiling or affronted. After a moment, she sighed. “Very well. Since you are not ready to run with the raven, then the raven shall have to run with you.” She stepped forward, prepared to gather me up.
The thought of Raven Mother holding me against her was unnerving, but before she could wrap her arms around me, the ferns to our right parted, and out of the wild wood stepped Morio.
“I will take care of my wife.” He was back in his form, scratched and bruised, but looking relatively intact.
Raven Mother let out a low hiss but stepped away from me. “It would seem your demon prince has arrived, to save you from the big, bad raven. Ah, kitsune, your fair maiden was in no danger from me, regardless of what her thoughts might be whispering. Run with her; she is tired and sore and with a sadly injured foot.”
He quietly stepped between us, and Raven Mother gave him an irritated look. “I warn you, youkai. Do not cross me, nor crowd me. Your lovely was in no danger. If you find yourself running rude, you may find yourself running for your life.”
Luckily, Morio kept his mouth shut. I reached out, touching his arm, and he nodded at my unspoken plea to remain silent.
“Bird have your tongue? Perhaps that is best.” Raven Mother turned to me then. “My lovely, I will see you again. Give Aeval my salutations, and tell your blessed Moon Mother to guard her daughter well, for there are others who would be only so delighted to play the role of Mother.” And with that, a flash of crimson blinded us and when I blinked, a large raven flew to a nearby tree, perched, gave three long cries, and then vanished into the sky, winging away to the east.
“What was she doing here?” Morio asked, turning to me. “I thought she belonged in Otherworld.”
“The Elemental Lords and Queens travel where they will. You know that. They cross dimension and plane and portal. But where the fuck were you? I’ve been looking for you most of the night.” I stuck out my foot. “I caught my foot on a thorn, and I can’t walk on it until I get some antibiotic or a healing potion or something, and a soft bandage.”
He examined the sole of my foot. “My love, I’m sorry, but the Horned One, he ran me through the woodland all night long. I’ve not had that much fun in a long time, nor reveled in my nature so much.”
I frowned. “Where’s your familiar? You can’t change back without your skull. Where did it go?”
Morio shook his head. “He had to have helped me. My skull is in my bag, back in the cottage near the palace.”
That was definitely odd, but then again, he had been running with the Horned One, and so much could happen when dancing with the gods. “Where are we? I got lost when I was looking for you.”
“This path? Leads directly out to the front gates. It delineates the eastern boundary of Talamh Lonrach Oll. We’re about a quarter mile from the entrance to the Fae Nation.” He grinned. “You were almost there.” Pausing, he looked at me closely. “Are you okay?”
Tears were close to the surface, and I wasn’t even sure why. I ducked my head. “I thought you were hurt. And I’m so tired. I was going to rest when Raven Mother showed up, and she scares me spitless.”
Morio murmured softly, then stood back, shifting into his demonic form. “Come, love. No more words, no more tears. Here, let me get you back to Aeval’s palace, and then we’ll go home.”
He lifted me up, and I leaned my head against his shoulder. He carried me as if I were as light as Maggie, and the rocking move of his stride had my eyes closing. Before we neared the gates, I fell asleep, safe in my youkai’s arms.
When I opened my eyes the first time, I was dressed in a loose shift and in the car. Morio was driving. He reached over and brushed my hair back from my head. My foot was throbbing, but as I blurrily glanced down, I saw that it was bandaged in a proper fashion now.
“Shush…don’t even speak. Aeval had her attendant—Tanya? Yes, Tanya. Anyway, Tanya dressed you and the healer attended to your foot. We’ll talk more when we get home, but for now, sleep. I’m good to drive.”
His voice was already fading out. I glanced out the window at the early sun rising through partial overcast. Streaks of red and orange lit the pale blue aflame, while the cotton candy clouds covered the sky. As I watched, a murmuration of starlings filled the sky, swooping and turning in unison, creating a vision in fluttering wings. Overwhelmed by their beauty and by the night, I closed my eyes again as the swaying of the car lulled me back into a deep slumber.
As we pulled into the driveway, I grumbled and forced myself to open my eyes. “Can’t you just leave me here? The seats are comfortable and I can sleep right here.” I didn’t want to get out of the car and drag myself up the steps to my rooms.
“Come on, Sleeping Beauty. Iris is waiting for us.” Morio swung around to my door, opening it.
“What? Why? You called her?” The brisk morning air infiltrated my sinuses, and I groaned as he took my hands and helped pull me to my feet. I stumbled out of the car, blurry-eyed, but at least the half-hour drive had given me a chance to fend off a total meltdown.
“No, she called me. I didn’t want to wake you up.” He sounded worried now.
Oh fuck. Not another problem. “Don’t tell me we have another emergency? I don’t think I can handle anything more after last night. My energy is at low ebb.” I draped my arm around his shoulder and struggled up the porch stairs. My foot was better but throbbing. However, compared to what it had felt like in the woods, I could tell it was already on the mend. The Triple Threat would, of course, have some of the best healers in the Fae world.
“Yeah, something new has cropped up, but we don’t have to address it immediately. You’ll have time for a nap. Iris is preparing something to help you sleep deeper, so that you’ll recharge faster.” He opened the door and we were greeted by chaos, as usual.
I was about to ask what the hell was going on, but before I could open my mouth, Iris was there, pressing a small glass into my hands.
“Drink this. Just do it.” She looked harried. So harried that I did as she asked without question. Whatever it was tasted like bitter mud and I grimaced, but before I could ask what it was, or what was wrong, the room began to spin, and the last thing I remember was Iris smiling as I slumped into Morio’s arms.
The sunlight was streaming through the window as I woke to sudden consciousness. Blinking, I pushed myself up, trying to figure out where the hell I was. After a moment, it registered that I was in my bed, in a loose nightgown. A glance at the clock told me that it was eleven. I’d been asleep only five hours, but my mind felt remarkably clear. As I slipped out from beneath the comforter, my muscles groaned, but my foot felt a lot better. If it came down to either my muscles being a little stiff or limping because my foot hurt, I’d choose the stiffness.
As I headed for the shower, my stomach lurched. I hurried into the bathroom, reaching it just in time to throw up. Luckily, there wasn’t much in my stomach, and as I rinsed out my mouth, I stared into the mirror. My eyes were dilated, and I had a light rash of tiny bumps on the left side of my face. What the fuck? But they didn’t itch, so I decided the hell with it and hopped into the shower. The hot water felt good on my back, and ten minutes later, I stepped out, brushed my hair out from the ponytail that had kept it from getting wet, and hurried back to the bedroom.
Someone had set out an outfit for me, and I quickly dressed in a light green gauze skirt and a plum-colored corset top, deftly fastening the hooks and eyes. I looked through my shoes and found a pair of black ankle boots overlaid with silver netting. Their kitten heels weren’t my usual height, but they were cute and, more important, they were padded with gel inserts. The boots were the most comfortable pair of shoes I owned. Finally, I put on my makeup and headed downstairs.
As I hustled into the kitchen, Hanna was putting out a platter of sandwiches and a bowl of chips for an early lunch.
She gave me a bright smile. Hanna had blossomed during her time with us, and more and more I caught a glimpse of the woman she had probably been before Hyto got to her. “I heard you stirring. You must be starving.”
“Thanks, and now that I think about it, I am.” My stomach rumbled, the queasiness replaced by hunger, as I reached for one of the ham and cheddar sandwiches. I slapped it on a plate and added a handful of potato chips, then settled at the table. Hanna glanced at my plate, then quickly poured me a big glass of milk. She also added a fruit salad and bowls to the table and, in a loud voice, headed into the foyer calling out that lunch was ready.
