Page 69 of Sidhe (The Incubus Saga #3)

Like his first encounter with Lindsey, Nathan had an instant disliking for Aloysha.

He was about Nathan’s height, maybe the slightest bit taller, with shoulder length wavy brown hair.

He was strikingly beautiful, Nathan could admit that, glowing with power and authority like he was ancient even though he looked that same incubus age of twenty-five.

His coloring was green like Lindsey’s, his horns jutting forward and then curling sharply back.

After greeting them, he sat in one of four chairs in the center of the main chamber within the castle, hugely grand and open as if to fit every one of their people inside should an announcement need to be made, with only the four chairs slightly elevated in the center taking any space.

The other members of the High Council had remained seated when they entered.

At Aloysha’s right was Irina, her features narrow and sharp, her hair straight and long, a deep pitch black, and her coloring bright red to match her succubus eyes.

She looked down at Nathan like staring at an insect she was about to squash.

Cyzarine was on Aloysha’s left. She offered Nathan a kinder though still scrutinizing stare.

She was the first of their kind Nathan had seen with black skin.

And it was black , like the darkest shade on the spectrum, the same way others were pure white.

Her hair was silver, like a dark elf, Nathan mused, and her markings were silver to match, making her look like some brilliant demon up there with spiral horns and a pinkish pearl tone to her lips.

She seemed the most favorable of Nathan’s presence, though she might change her tune if she was really so anti-human culture in the fae realm, since Nathan was a whirlwind of pop culture references.

Finally, Lesta sat at Cyzarine’s left. He looked bored.

His claws tapped impatiently on the armrest of his chair.

Though maybe he was more anxious than anything.

He eyed Nathan in a very different predatory manner than Irina.

He didn’t seem to have horns upon initial inspection, but as Nathan looked more closely, he saw the remains of stubs, as if his horns had been broken off.

He looked like he was on fire, like a sunset; his hair a wild shock of orange that seemed to flow up and out from his head rather than down, and his coloring was bright orange to match.

Nathan felt sort of plain amongst them, with his black hair and matching markings, though he did make an interesting reverse of Cyzarine.

“Do not think that allowing your presence here means anything in your favor, or that we will usher others of our kind to your foolish endeavor,” Aloysha said stiffly from his throne amongst the others.

“My grandson has spoken quite blatantly his opinion on the matter,” he said with a swift glare at Lindsey, “but it is you, Nathan Grier, who must convince us.”

“Look, buddy,” Nathan started in without so much as a flinch, despite the way Lindsey shook his head in horror that Nathan was even speaking and how Shiarra rolled her eyes, “the doors to the Gatehouse are open to anybody who wants to walk through them. Always have been. But this is different. Now we’re asking for help, and that means of everyone, not just you.

We have other fae, light and dark, as well as seals on our side.

You wanna be the one group who opts out of keeping the human world safe, you go right ahead, we won’t miss ya. ”

“ Nathan ,” Shiarra grabbed onto Nathan’s arm with a vice-grip as she hissed, “each of them could tear you apart by snapping their fingers.”

“I know what I’m doing,” Nathan hissed back.

At least, he hoped he did.

“Let’s be honest, huh?” Nathan refused to be afraid of this guy, or any of the others.

“The real reason you agreed to meet is so you could get a look at Puck’s handiwork.

Not much to see really. Just little ol’ me.

I’d happily stay this way if I could, but it’s not looking like the cards are in favor of that.

Sasha…he’s human now and missing his true self like nothing else, though he’d never admit it.

Now that we’ve gotten a few things out of our systems anyway,” he added with a smirk.

Cyzarine smirked in kind, and Lesta let out a laugh. Irina and Aloysha remained cold.

“You have a problem with humans,” he looked to Irina, “I can understand why. Humans are crazy. Dicks most of the time. Myself included…before Sasha. Now I’d give anything to get the chance to be with him forever, as one of you, and have him show me around this place.

Lindsey wasn’t lying when he said I’m lucky to get the chance to see it.

Makes me realize how much it has to kill Sasha that you sentenced him to never see it again.

“Yeah, he killed his aunt. Actually, my brother did, if you want to get technical, because she was trying to kill us, because she thought killing innocent girls was okay, and we couldn’t abide that.

You wanna call him a traitor, you go right ahead, and then you can shove your help, because I don’t want it anyway.

You wanna pull the sticks out of your asses long enough to realize you’re making an enemy out of the wrong people, and ignoring the real threat at your door, I’m here to accept your apology on Sasha’s behalf, and accept your help on behalf of everyone else.

Otherwise…I’m sure Malak will leave you alone after he takes over Earth,” he added with a sarcastic jab.

Irina gave a telling twitch upon hearing Malak’s name.

Aloysha clicked his claws, all of them on each hand, slowly on his armrest, more like a threat than Lesta’s twitching.

Cyzarine glanced at her companions before settling on Nathan with a fond smile, seemingly having made her decision—Nathan hoped—and Lesta…

“Tell me,” Lesta said suddenly, as he leapt from his seat and strolled down the steps toward Nathan, “will I get to kill dark fae if I agree to fight with you?”

Nathan shook off the chill that threatened to climb up his spine; Lesta’s eagerness was eerie, but if he was on their side… “As many as you can, pal.”

“Aye!” Lesta shouted and swung back around, taking a great leap and floating back into his chair with a grand display of sunset wings.

“Nay,” said Irina.

Aloysha continued to stare at Nathan.

“Aye,” Cyzarine declared.

Aloysha huffed. Nathan noticed how the incubus looked to his grandson. The electricity between them, from one stubborn jackass to another, bound by blood, was impressive, almost as if they were trading mental blows. But Lindsey didn’t flinch. He stood tall. Beside Nathan.

“Aye,” Aloysha said, to which Irina scowled.

“We will revoke the banishment on Sasha Kelly of House Brennan—active when he is once again one of our kind—and we will offer all of our ranks who volunteer to join this cause. We do not conscript, Nathan Grier. We will present your case to the people, and those willing will be allowed to join you at the Gatehouse. We will provide our own accommodations outside the walls.”

“Just consider the lawn a campsite,” Nathan said with a smile. “And thank you.”

“You may go,” Cyzarine said, her voice low and raspy like a jazz singer, which Nathan found rather sexy with her stark look. “It will take us some time to gather our people and to explain the situation before anyone is able to cross over. Be ready for us,” she added with a smirk.

Nathan felt a little like he’d dreamed the whole encounter as they walked away from the castle back on the marble road, but he’d known his strategy of clear, direct, and as tactless as possible would do the trick.

“Hey,” he said as a thought struck him, “what would have happened if the vote tied?”

“There’s an honorary member of the Council for those situations,” Shiarra said, “newly appointed once a decade.”

“Who would that have been this time?”

“Me,” she grinned, which brought Nathan up short. “My vote couldn’t do anything for Sasha before,” she went on, “it had been unanimous then, but I was ready for more contention between them this time. You did well, Nathan, in your way.”

“Thanks. And hey, Lindsey, in case I just shat all over this budding friendship of ours with how I acted toward your grandfather—”

“You meant every disrespect,” Lindsey said lowly, in much the tone Nathan had expected. What he didn’t expect was for the tall incubus to throw his arm over Nathan’s shoulders and finish, “so when we return, I’m buying you a drink.”

“Dude,” Nathan gaped, “I just told off your ancient as dirt grandfather. Isn’t this when you tear my head off for some sort of family honor thing?”

“Nathan, I love my grandfather. He has accomplished more than I could ever hope to live up to. He is a great man. But if someone can bitch him out like that and come away with a win, you’ve more than made good in my book.

And you’ve helped bring Sasha home.” He smacked Nathan hard enough on the back to send him stumbling forward.

“Ha…my pleasure, man,” Nathan said as he regained his footing. They were nearly back to the Veil doorway that would return them to the Gatehouse. “Now let’s go see if I can pull off the rest of this plan.”

“Wait!”

Nathan turned just as he was pulling on his glamours again, becoming his normal self in a T-shirt, button down, and jeans.

A like glamoured incubus was rushing toward them from one of the smaller paths.

It took Nathan a moment to recognize the kid, clean now and healthy, wearing something Shiarra probably dressed him in before she left, because he looked very GQ in slacks and a collared shirt.

Nathan remembered the kid being more modern punk if that ragged sweatshirt with the safety-pin closure had been any indication.

Adrian.