Page 38 of Fae Devoted (Fae Touched #3)

“I find it hard to believe a Ferwyn male as powerful as Jeremiah Grayson would bow down to a Sídhe Lord,” Beta Anand accused, his dark eyes narrowed.

“My brother wouldn’t have succumbed easily.” Tucker held in a growl.

He would have fought.

According to James Reed, Jeremiah indicated it took years of drinking Fae blood to have any impact on a strong alpha, but what effect did bearing the brand alone have? Was it a stamp of Daimhín’s ownership and nothing more, or did it strengthen the unnatural blood binding with his brother?

“The Ferwyn warrior who infiltrated the Athair outcasts concluded that even after decades of corruption, Lieutenant Tucker’s brother was able to fight the Fae’s bond and disregard Lord’s Daimhín’s direct order to capture the agent’s truemate.

” The ESC’s queen argued in defense of a male she’d never met.

If Rose Standish hadn’t already won Tucker’s allegiance, her blind support of his brother would have secured it.

Only his undying loyalty to Jo and Samuel could supersede his commitment to the vampire queen.

“He was able to attack his lord , something a blood-bound vampire could never do. If the goal was a perverted version of the Dádhe Calling, then it failed.”

“Then Grayson conveniently disappeared immediately afterward,” Anand taunted. “No true Alpha would ever—”

“Then as a mere beta you’re admitting you would have hit your knees at warp speed,” the battle witch shot back, raised eyebrows giving him a wide-eyed innocent look.

“Ethan.” Lady Rose reprimanded her bodyguard with a straight face, but her clamped lips quivered.

Lydia snickered, not bothering to hide her amusement at the beta’s expense. The commander appeared to like Remington’s second as much as Tucker did, which was not at all.

Anand snarled at the battle witch, and Ethan lifted one shoulder in an indifferent shrug. As if to say, I call ’em as I see ’em .

“Enough.” Remington raised his hand for silence. “We have to presume a connection is possible, which means there will be other outcasts with brands on their necks bonded to tainted Alphas.”

“Daimhín’s had centuries to ingratiate himself within the magical community. If it comes to war, we’ll be fighting more than an army of pureblood Sídhe.” Samuel’s manner steady and assured in spite of his dire prediction.

Tucker had lost his patience along with his calm an hour ago.

The ENC beta’s continuous doubt and suspicion grated nerves already shot by his separation from Jo.

He smothered his irritation and said, “We should also assume Daimhín has infiltrated the US government under a human persona and could be magically influencing generals, politicians—”

“More speculation.” Anand stood with his feet braced apart, arms crossed over his muscular chest.

“We may be able to move beyond conjecture and assumptions when we locate the facility and discover what Jeremiah knows about the Athair.” The queen addressed the king, ignoring the surly Anand. “He may have insight on the Elven Lord that we do not.”

“How can we trust a denounced traitor?”

Tucker resisted baring his teeth, unable to dispute the beta’s blunt observation. Jeremiah couldn’t be trusted—not with a Clan bond and not with Jo. His brother would remain a wildcard until it was confirmed he was free from the Fae’s demented games.

“I said enough, Ajay.” Remington put an Alpha’s compulsion behind the order; the force in the command made everyone in the room except Samuel and the queen wince.

Anand responded with a grunt, his expression carved in stone.

“I agree we should find and question the outcast,” the king continued.

“We also need to learn everything we can about Daimhín and the Sídhe as a whole. What are their strengths? Their weaknesses?” He paused.

“Our people have become complacent over the centuries. We’ve forgotten our history, and that arrogance is about to bite our future in the ass. ”

“Maybe the Guild Keeper can enlighten us further?” Lydia suggested.

A regional curator could supply the information on Jumpers.

The librarians were highly skilled in accessing the documented history of the Fae Touched since the purebloods’ departure from Earth.

But a Keeper spent their life translating ancient manuscripts created during the Sídhe reign, seeking forgotten incantations and lost runes of their onetime mentors.

He or she also maintained the integrity of the treasured tomes and scrolls for the Guild’s exclusive use.

“If you grant me permission to reveal the existence of the Fae and the threat to our realm, I can contact the Overseer and request a consultation with Keeper Rockwell,” Ethan offered, eagerness in his scent.

The battle witch had been trained on the same estate which housed the Guild library.

But only the Keeper and his chosen apprentices were allowed inside its hallowed halls without the explicit authorization of the Overseer; the Anwyll in charge of every aspect of the elite sect of warriors.

In all likelihood, Ethan had never visited the Keeper’s domain.

Even Carter Jenkins, the queen’s worldly liaison and longstanding member of the Guild, spoke of the Tomb with reverence.

“Is the current Overseer trustworthy, Ethan?” Lady Rose cocked her head, meeting the witch’s eyes with a regal air.

Lydia opened her mouth to speak, undoubtedly ready to defend the league of nine grandmasters’ recent election of the highest Guild office. The queen held up a finger, making it clear she wanted to hear Ethan’s opinion of the Overseer first.

The smell of excitement dissipated as Ethan turned thoughtful.

The male was acutely aware his response could determine if the Guild had more or less time to prepare for a war they didn’t know was coming.

The formidable witches would be placed on the frontlines of any battle and delaying the relay of vital information on the Fae could cost the lives of the small, tight-knit group of warriors.

“I would trust him with my life. I have trusted him with it.” The stink of apprehension faded, and his playful grin returned. “Many times over, milady.”

The queen waited for King Alexander’s and Lydia’s assenting nods before saying, “Granted.”

“We also need to determine which Fae Touched leaders are our allies.” The ENC commander’s brown eyes were fastened on the ceiling as though going through a list of names in her head, adding or discarding them one by one.

“And who should be permanently removed from the playing board,” Anand said, a predatory gleam in his eyes.

“This is not a game.” Samuel’s tone was sharp, a low-pitched rumble increasing in volume in his chest. “The life of my Ca’anam is in grave danger and not just from the Elven Lord.

Every perceived friend will become a potential foe once we reveal what Abby’s magic can do.

Many of the leaders we contact will be foolish enough to believe eliminating my female will end the threat to our people the Fae represents, too short-sighted to realize it will merely postpone it. ”

“If we have discerned anything about this particular Fae,” the queen said, “it is that his patience is infinite and his arrogance boundless. Lord Daimhín believes he is a god, and we should all kneel at his feet in worship. He will not stop until he rules over Earth’s realm once again.”

“Or we kill him,” Samuel stated, the gaze of his wolf fixed on the king.

“Or we kill him.” Remington’s own beast glittered in his eyes.

“I think we should adjourn for the rest of the day and meet again later tonight,” Lydia said into the ensuing silence. “We could all use the rest.”

After Tucker joined Samuel, they flew to the airport nearest Sault Ste.

Marie then drove the short distance to the small tourist town and arrived at Remington’s building complex well before midnight; the sole land designated sovereign for the Fae Touched in Michigan was inside Detroit’s City Limits.

It was now almost noon. And the phantom weight of so much iron ore in the vicinity seemed to be wearing on the queen.

“Perhaps we can persuade Patriarch DuPont to join us for this evening’s discussion?” Lady Rose smoothed the fabric of her pencil skirt over her knees.

“I was about to propose the exact same thing,” Lydia said. “Do you know Julien well then, milady?”

“Casual acquaintances.” She twisted her wide gold bracelet, placing it just so on her wrist.

“Yet, you’ve asked me to include the most powerful vampire in the ENC in a crucial meeting that may decide the fate of our world without first consulting his king .

” Remington lounged in his leather chair, one palm resting on his thigh, the other planted on the mahogany table, fingers drumming on the polished surface.

“Care to explain why you’re willing to entrust a Dádhe you claim to barely know with this dangerous information? ”

“He has been accommodating in helping one of my people find,” Lady Rose said, meeting the king’s gaze without blinking, “one of their people.”

Remington stared back, fingers tapping a slow rhythm.

The queen lifted a single eyebrow, offering no further explanation.

The king’s focus left the close-lipped vampire, swinging to Tucker. “Where is your she-wolf, beta? She wasn’t on the plane from Memphis, but then neither were you.”

Tucker maintained his relaxed stance by strength of will and nothing else.

“Did you think I wouldn’t hear about a pretty redheaded female searching for her mate in my territory?

One who met with Mater Russo three nights ago along with a large Ferwyn male who fits your description?

” Remington’s nostrils flared. “Or recognize the scent of a Clan Walker she-wolf on you? Tell me, Beta Tucker. Are you Dancing?”

“You left your female?” Anand’s lip curled.