Page 41 of Wind and Water (Reign of the Witch Queen #2)
Chapter Twenty
Liam
A s I escort Wren into the private dining room in the blue dress, my heart leaps in my chest. She is stunning and wears a charming smile. Not even my father is immune to her warm, kind nature as she thanks him for the hospitality.
Mother has had the dinner delayed slightly in favor of some light snacks and wine in the sitting area at the far side of the room. “I thought we might sit and hear about your journey before beginning dinner, as Wren is concerned for our appetites once we hear the tale.”
Besides my family, Wren, and Birdie, the group includes Harper, Rían, and Niamh. Father told me that Corell and Farress were invited but declined as the centaurs are celebrating at their encampment this evening, which has been planned for a few weeks. They will visit tomorrow.
Several footmen offer wine, but as soon as their duties are complete, Father asks them to step out.
Mother says, “Corell and Birdie told us everything up until you were pulled through a ground portal.”
“Are we late?” A blond elf accompanied by a stocky man with dark curly hair and wrinkles rush in.
It strikes me a second later that the man is human. Moreover, the woman is familiar.
“No. We’re just going to hear about Liam's journey.” Aaran takes Harper’s hand, and they sit together.
The familiar elf stares at me and grins. “You’ve grown, Liam.”
“Nainsi?” My memories are scattered because I was young, and she went to live with an aunt and uncle. Then she went with my parents to the human world and never came back. But this is my adopted sister. I pull her into my arms. “Nainsi. How is this possible?”
“We came back with Aaran and Harper.” She touches my cheek. “This is my husband, Bert. Bert Donaldson, my brother, Liam.”
Bert’s handshake is firm, and he looks me in the eyes. “It’s good to meet you. We’ve been praying you’d make it back.”
“Nice to meet you.” I’m still bewildered.
Father clears his throat. “I know there’s a lot of catching up to do, but perhaps we’d better start with your journey, son.”
“You’re right, Father. Nainsi and I will have time to get reacquainted. The tale Wren and I need to share isn’t pretty, but we did learn some things. Most of them don’t bode well for elvenkind.”
“You brought us the centaurs, Liam. That is a fascinating and favorable alliance.” My mother’s eyes shine with pride, and I’m honest enough with myself to accept that I covet that from her.
Wren takes my hand as I sit next to her. “Before we tell the story, has anyone seen Adhar?”
“Who is that?” Father looks to Birdie for clarification.
“The raven.” Sitting on Wren’s other side, Birdie pats her knee. “She left us as soon as you were taken. She flew north, and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of her since.”
I’ll have to ask about that phrase later.
Wren sips her wine, then puts it on the low table. “I suppose she’ll return if she’s needed.”
I wish there was something I could do to comfort her. “Wren was separated from the rest of us by the crows and the wolves. The portal opened, and she fell through. I dove in after her,” I begin the story, letting Wren take over when she wishes.
When we reach the part where I was turned into a shadow demon, my mother and father both inhale sharply.
Nainsi clutches my shoulder.
They all relax a degree at the realization that Wren saved me from a fate much worse than death.
Wren keeps her voice level as she describes the scene in Venora’s chamber and the torture she endured.
I have to force my breathing to remain steady and hold my rage deep inside. I never should have allowed her to be harmed in any way, let alone tortured for information.
Birdie weeps quietly.
“When they returned her to the cell, Wren was hurting, and I told her about the fairy glen a day’s ride from here.
I used my mind to show her the place. She opened the portal.
I lifted her and walked through. There was no pain or sensation of spinning.
One moment we were in the cell in Coire, and the next we stood in the glen with the moons and stars shining down on us.
Wren closed the portal. We healed and would have stayed another day before daring the walk home, had Niamh not come for us. ”
“Liam healed my broken ribs.” Wren chimes in as I skipped that part as well as our lovemaking.
No one speaks or sips their wine. They barely breathe as they stare at us in stunned silence.
Harper dashes away a tear, and Aaran wraps an arm around her. She takes a deep breath. “I know the pain you endured from the black lightning. I’m so sorry, Wren. If the dark magic in the pool was worse, I can’t imagine what you have suffered.”
Mother stands and turns away for a long moment.
“My sons and their mates have endured much at Venora’s hands, and I am to blame.
I should have known what she was capable of many years ago and stopped her.
I let the memory of our friendship blind me, and you have all paid the price.
Even Birdie suffered because of my failings.
” She faces us. “You have my deepest apologies. I promise that I will do better, and you will always have my support and allegiance.”
The fact that Mother accepted Wren as my mate means more to me than the fealty. It shouldn’t, but it does.
“Thank you,” Wren says. “I will do what I can to help save this world. I’d like to see it as it should be, rather than how the witch queen has altered it.”
Mother’s eyes shine with emotion. “We don’t deserve you humans.”
Nodding, Father squeezes her shoulder.
“Something has just occurred to me.” Niamh’s wings flutter faster.
“The pool where the witch queen healed herself, you say it harmed you. That is probably because human magic is neither light nor dark, the way elven and fairy magic is. She must have known or at least suspected this, and your torture was to confirm that there is more than what we know. Human magic, from what we know, is neutral, and it can be used for good or evil.”
“Perhaps she was trying to turn Wren to darkness so that she could recruit her.” Father crosses his arms, a stance he always takes when contemplating or protecting.
Niamh rocks her head from side to side, and her eyes remain unfocused while she thinks about the idea. “It’s possible. It’s equally possible that the substance in the pool is a living source of magic, and if that’s the case, it may have learned something about humans.”
Mother’s eyes are wide and her voice is soft with tension. “And that knowledge could be transferred to Venora. By the old gods, I hope you’re wrong.”
“I think Wren could use her magic to send herself and her mother back to Texas, where they would be safe. If Venora knows how to use magic against her and Harper, this battle is lost.” Part of me thinks we all should make our way to the human world and cut our losses with Domhan.
That decision is up to my mother, not me, so I keep it to myself.
Wren’s mind nudges at mine, forcing me to meet her gaze.
“I know you want to protect me, Liam. I appreciate that more than you know. But if she knows how to push through to the human world, if that knowledge was in me, I’m not leaving here until we stop her.
I don’t speak for Harper, but I’m not going to stand by while Verona destroys our world.
It’s not perfect, and there’s plenty of evil there, but there’s a whole lot of good too.
If I have to die, let it be for a good cause and not because I ran home with my tail between my legs and let a villain into my home. ”
“Amen,” Harper says.
By the old gods, this woman could ask anything of me, and I would jump to give it to her. She’s magnificent. “Venora may have already learned enough. She may already be laying siege in your world.”
Niamh shakes her head. “I don’t think so.
If she had gotten all she needed, she would have had no reason to keep Wren alive.
You, Liam, she might have tried again to turn or used as bait for your family, but Wren would have been useless to her.
” She gives Wren a sweet smile. “I’m sorry to be so blunt. ”
“Not at all. You’re right. She stopped her torture once it was clear I wasn’t going to survive much longer.
She planned to bring me back to that pool day after day until she had what she wanted.
At the time, I thought it was getting me to tell her how human magic works.
Of course, I have no idea the answer to that question, so it was easy enough to keep telling her that humans have no magic.
She might have meant for the pool to tell her by draining me of the knowledge, then absorbing it when she soaks in that horrible slime.
” Wren shivers as if a cold breeze just blew through.
“Would the knowledge be compatible with the source?” Rían asks.
We all turn and stare at him.
I have to admit that even I’m surprised by the depth of thought that the question holds.
Rían Redmond is the captain of the Tús Nua guard.
He is an innovative leader and an outstanding soldier.
His ability to identify a set of conditions and apply them to a successfully mounted offense or defense is why he has climbed in rank.
Clearly, I’ve underestimated his magical aptitude.
I’ve known him all my life, and this is the first time I’ve seen him think beyond what is presented to him, or at least, the first time he’s voiced those thoughts. This fairy he loves is good for him.
“Good question,” Niamh leans into his side. “We don’t know that. It's possible Venora’s plan could backfire.”
“Meaning, she might absorb something harmful?” Father asks.
“Or it might damage her healing source.” I would pay a mountain of gold to see her face when she realized that Wren’s magic would be her destruction. “Of course, we have no way of knowing the answers.”
“Dinner is served,” the butler, Perri, announces in a firm voice from the dining area.