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All the anger and loss that both the Morrigan and Bryn had felt left her lips. The dangers that they would face, it all left her body in the violence of her voice. The howl of the wolf next to her brought more howls from the woods beyond the Faerie version of Ifreann. The birds rose in their own song, and Senan took her place at Bryn’s side.

It was a battle cry.

As the scream left her breathless, she stood, turning to see the crows along the tops of the buildings, Cyerra nearest her. But what left her even more breathless was the black wolf that stood before her, and the many wolves behind it, all looking to her as if for guidance.

The beauty of the pack struck a loose chord in Bryn’s soul, one that tightened, and a physical golden string moved along the wolves until it hit the black wolf, who turned and walked to Bryn before taking its place on the other side of her. With the wolf on one side, Senan on the other, Cyerra moved to Bryn’s shoulder.

The silver wolf moved to the front of the pack where the black wolf had just stood and took position in front of them. It was as if the silver wolf was the beta of the pack to the black wolf’s alpha.

A howl broke free of the silver wolf, and all the pack returned the call.

“Now, my queen, you have an army. Call when you are ready for them to fight at your side once again.”

The voice did not seem to belong to anyone in particular, the echo of it androgynous.

“You are always welcome here, child of Danu.”

Something deep in Bryn knew then that it was the Otherworld, Faerie, that had spoken to her.

Faerie was sentient.

Chapter 33

MomentsafterBrynhadreturned from the veil, stunned by the knowledge of all that happened in Faerie as she now referred to it, Sage had run to her, grabbing her arm, and pulling her to her small cottage.

“Okay, I can explain... maybe.” Sage held her hands up as Bryn walked into her cottage, her eyes wide as she shut the door behind her.

“What the fresh hell. . .?” Bryn reached out to touch one of the vines that had wrapped itself around a sconce, the smell of far too many herbs in a small room was overpowering and made Bryn’s eyes water. It was so much like her vision in Faerie, Bryn almost thought she’d left the veil open long enough for something to slip through, and her blood froze.

“It’s a damn forest, Sage!”

“I know!” Sage responded, pressing a knuckle against her lips, her eyes panicked. “I was trying to see if I had magic with the herbs like Danu said, so I started trying different things... and well... I do... have magic that is.”

It was Sage’s magic. Faerie hadn’t slipped through, and Balor hadn’t slipped out.

That was all Bryn’s battered emotions could take before she started laughing so hard that tears were coming from her eyes. Bending over, she put her hand out to grab a vine-covered chair as Sage stomped.

It was from the hilarity of the room around her and the relief she hadn’t left the door wide open for Balor with a “Welcome back!” sign awaiting him.

“It’s not funny, Bryn!”

That only made Bryn laugh harder.

A knock at the door had Bryn attempting to calm herself, Sage walking past her to check who it was before giving Bryn the evil eye and opening it.

Bryn responded by wiping away the tears and flicking them at her friend.

“Good gravy, Sage, you weren’t kidding.” Kessler walked in, his eyes wide as Bryn was sure hers had been upon seeing the newly forested cottage.

Bryn snorted, covering her face as it turned red from embarrassment.

“I am sorry, Sage. I don’t mean to be cruel. I honestly wish my power was less deadly...” Bryn stopped herself from continuing.

This wasn’t a competition. She needed to remind herself of that.

Running his hand through his hair, Kessler whistled as he looked around.

“Well, the rest of us have been trying to figure out what our powers are, and it’s going about as well, so perhaps this is not such a shame after all, though you’ll need to redecorate,” he stated as he lifted a bundle of herbs that had overtaken the table.