Scattered Magic (The Sidhe (Urban Fantasy Series) Book 1) (4 page)

Chapter Nine

London reached for her gun as Rico stepped up onto the coffee table. The bodyguards reappeared beside her, one snatching each arm. London struggled uselessly against them. Rico dropped down to the floor before her. Nothing but calm confidence shone on his wicked handsome face. “This is not the way to work a deal.” She jerked against the restraining hands. Besides bruises she accomplished nothing else with the effort.

Rico touched her face. His palm caressed the curve of her jaw and immediately a jolt of pleasure shot through her. She jerked away from his hand. It didn’t matter. The magic was in her like a seductive venom, spreading a heated desire across her skin. Her panic spread faster. “Incubus? Lust demon? What are you?”

Rico didn’t seem the least deterred. As his hands pushed beneath her blazer, she knew she should squirm away or kick out at him. Instead she arched her back, lifting her breasts to brush against his hand. He did not fondle her body as she anticipated. Instead he merely lifted her gun from its holster. His hands brushed the small of her back, down her hips, and stroked around her ankles. With each incidental contact London gasped, but nothing he did now matched the initial touch.

Rico passed her gun to one of his men and they released her. London swayed; queasiness made the room tilt. She barely managed to stumble away a few steps. Even clutching to the back of the chair didn’t slow the room spins. “What did you do to me?”

“You want more, don’t you?” Those dark eyes, so cold and yet so seductive, seemed to see right into her.

“Yes,” she breathed. The magic from his brief touch had already faded inside her, but it left a yearning void in its wake. The more she tried to control the shakes, the more violently she shivered. The flash of pleasure had torn through her system like a power surge.

“What did the wizards want?”

London stroked the lingering tingle on her cheek. It was hard to process everything with her teeth chattering and eyes watering. Her insides twisted. Reaching for… wanting… demanding… something.

The two bodyguards flanked Rico. “Tell me what I want and I’ll give you what you need.”

London glared. “What did you do? Poison? Spell?”

“I hired you. Now tell me what I want to know.”

Her gut clenched like she’d eaten some bad leftover Chinese food. Shaky legs gave way. The floor caught her but listed from side to side, riding the waves of whatever bad magic trip she was taking. If the nausea got any worse she was going to barf. “Fine. They wanted to find someone. Some Changeling called Deacon.”

“You delivered a Changeling into the hands of the wizards?” Rico snarled. All sensuality vanished. Nothing but pure fury remained.

“I didn’t ‘deliver’ him. I just arranged an introduction.” Her fingernails raked the carpet, wanting to do the same to Rico, knowing instinctively that he possessed what she needed inside him and wanting to rip it out of him. She growled, “I told you what you wanted to know. Now make this stop!” The aching need burned her muscles like lactic acid.

Rico gave a quick nod to his men. This time she didn’t recoil when they grabbed her arms.

The closer she came to Rico the heavier the air felt. Thick with magic. London trembled. She tilted her head up to gaze into those deep eyes. Body heat spread over her like oil. His hands settled at the small of her back and pulled her body against his. His easy strength supported her even when her legs couldn’t. The first brush of his lips against hers sent a tingle through her. The flick of his tongue made her lips part to inhale him.

The kiss was sensual. Slow and deep. London closed her eyes. Breathing him in, the magic cascaded into her once more. It tasted like rain. His power soaked into her, drenched her body in bliss. London circled her arms around his neck, drawing him deeper into the kiss.

More… She wanted more…

His hands slipped down to grip her bottom. She wrapped a leg around him and ground needfully against him. The magic drove into her core, intense with sexual pleasure. She shuddered as it spared no part of her being. The magic-induced orgasm exploded within her. Power spilled from Rico into her mouth, thick and rich. The scent of storm clouds filled her awareness. The kiss washed away everything. Everything but this moment, this fulfillment, this manifestation of perfect passion. She cried out into Rico’s mouth, but refused to let their lips part so it could escape.

Suddenly, the magic ceased. Just like the flick of a switch. London’s eyes snapped open.

“You work for me,” Rico informed her. “You work for no one else. You will tell me all you know, with no hesitation.”

His words wormed their way through her blind lust. “What?” London snatched her arms back, forcing her body to obey, to back away when she desired to clutch to him. “You kiss like a million bucks, but that don’t buy me.” The magic washed through her, glorious and cleansing. Her head swam as the lingering power overloaded her equilibrium. She fought the narcotic effect of the magic, feeling herself tripping.

One of the bodyguards shoved a card into her pocket.

“We require your help. You will give it to us. Willingly or otherwise.” Rico brushed his fingertips over her lips.

London froze, expecting the jolt of magic again, but nothing happened. Nothing except the heated craving that flooded through her. “What are you? What did you do to me?”

“Find out what treachery Deacon’s performing for the wizards.”

“Answer my question.”

“Call me when you have something.” With a nod to the others all three of them vanished, leaving London in devastated silence.

Chapter Ten

The minute Jhaer reappeared in the castle of the Unseelie Court, he knew the Changeling hadn’t been lying. He raced along the deserted corridors, shouting at the top of his lungs. “Where is she? Where is the queen?”

The chancellor rushed out of an antechamber, disheveled and frantic. He hooked Jhaer’s arm and propelled him along, unwilling to stop even to talk. “She’s gone. Danu demanded the queen come to the Seelie Court for the summit. The All-Mother compelled her to comply.”

“Compelled? So there is no pretense of neutrality anymore.” Jhaer jerked free of the chancellor. “Where are you going? We can’t allow this. The Courts can never be united.”

“She ordered me to impart that information to you. My obligation is fulfilled.” The chancellor snatched up a satchel from a hiding place shielded by Glamour. “Believe what you will, Jhaer. The Seelie will overrun us. The Unseelie are fleeing into the Sluagh lands.”

“That won’t save you.” Jhaer growled. “If the Seelie force the unification, no corner of the Mounds will be spared.”

Chapter Eleven

The barrier against teleportation prevented Lugh from bringing them directly to the castle. They instead reappeared in the fey town beyond the castle walls. In anticipation of the summit that was to take place, the fey of the town were busily strewing garland, ribbons and fairy lights as if preparing for the spring festival of Beltaine. Lugh never exhausted in his amazement of the artistry of the fey, gilding the already beautiful hamlet. Voices and music rose in celebration.

Except one voice.

Kaitlin’s choked sob came sooner than he’d anticipated. He’d expected her shock to last a while longer, but perhaps being home made it safe to crumble. Lugh gathered her into his embrace and she clung to him. Gently, he stroked her back, hoping to soothe her. He murmured soft reassurances, to which she shook her head in denial. So very young. So painfully innocent.

Lugh slipped his hand up under the back of her shirt, seeking skin contact. His palm curled against the delicate curve at the small of her back. As he held her, gently rocking, he allowed the Touch to flow once again.

The feel of it was utterly different this time. Her magic accepted his, as it merged with her body. Natural. Beautiful. Restoring. As he loved his people, individually and as a race, he loved Kaitlin. The power of his love flowed with his magic. Flowed into her pain. He gave her more than the comfort and rejuvenation of his magic, he gave her the strength of his faith. Of his belief that she was strong enough to endure, to overcome, to grow. Idealism must bend to the winds of realism, lest the spirit might break.

Having heard his thoughts through the Touch, she smacked lightly at his shoulder. “You are a poet, Lugh.” Kaitlin pushed back enough to gaze up at him, tears still streaking her fair face. “How can you be a warrior, too?”

“I’m just that talented,” he teased and she rewarded him with a laugh.

“Egomaniac is what you are.” It was a familiar game between them, and it was good to see her play at it now. She scrubbed at her face with the sleeves of her sweater. As they returned to the castle they held hands. She Touched him back for a while, and it was just a light Touch. Sharing magic and comfort, without revealing her thoughts or the deep current of emotions he knew must be churning within.

The dwarves manning the outer gatehouse opened the wooden door for them and closed it behind them. Fey warriors lined the inner courtyard wall, and they watched the pair of them cross to the castle. The castle was locked down, ready to defend against attack. The tension was a weight of anticipation.

Lugh spotted an elf on the tower balcony, the very same elf who’d given Kaitlin the message that propelled her on this mission of distraction. He ducked back into the castle, and Lugh suspected whom he meant to warn. As they crossed the threshold Manannan descended the grand staircase. Danu herself, the All-Mother of the Sidhe, watched from the second floor walkway, her hands resting on the railing.

As soon as she saw Manannan, Kaitlin fled toward the family wing of the castle. Lugh had half expected her to confront Manannan, but surely it would come eventually. Manannan watched her depart before joining Lugh.

“She knows about Riley. That you used him to distract her.” Lugh’s tone was intentionally neutral to disguise any inference as to his opinion regarding the facts he’d stated.

Manannan didn’t bother to deny, merely nodded. “A small ploy, but effective.” Manannan put his arm around Lugh’s shoulder drawing him away from the staircase. “The Unseelie king and queen have come. They have yielded. We are to have the unified court!”

Lugh halted, “You jest!”

“No, my friend.” Manannan gripped Lugh by the upper arms and shook him with excitement. “The day we’ve long fought for has come. The preparations are underway. Danu will perform the ritual for the Unseelie to submit their magic.”

“I fought for peace, not for unification of the courts,” Lugh clarified. “I cannot believe any Unseelie, much less their monarchs, are submitting willingly. This is something I must see.” He twisted to head toward the stairwell leading to the throne room above where such a ritual would be performed, but Manannan held him fast.

“Unification will bring a final and lasting peace. One people. One court.” Manannan smiled more joyously than Lugh could ever recall seeing before. “But the magic of the ritual is delicate. I anticipated this success, and made what preparations I could. Distracting Kaitlin was but one small part, the least of the plans I set into action. Other distractions were placed into motion as well. I need you to make sure that if those distractions fail, as Kaitlin’s did, that the enemies of unification do not succeed in destroying the peace process. We have good warriors on the courtyard walls, but none that could hold back the Unseelie Elite. I had them prepare your armor.” Manannan looked over the human clothing Lugh wore. He mused, “Unless you think this costume more appropriate.”

Lugh cast a glance up at Danu. She watched, listening to all that was said, but in true Seelie fashion giving nothing but a calm, serene expression. Too peaceful. Too controlled. He knew her too well to miss such obvious signs.

Manannan continued, “I need you, Champion. I need you to be the final and ultimate protector of the Sidhe. Will you do this for me? For our people?”

Lugh leveled his attention upon his king. He knew the truth with certainty now, even as he allowed his silence to linger and chill the space between them. Finally, he said, “Though I doubted this victory, Highness, I have never been your enemy.”

The king feigned surprise. His grip on Lugh’s shoulders tightened. “I have always relied upon your devotion, your dedication.”

“You never worried young Kaitlin would disrupt this summit. Not to a degree justifying the lengths to which you went. You have been cultivating Riley for this very day for quite some time.” Lugh’s expression remained even, civilized though in truth, this realization cut him. “You jeopardized the princess’ safety to distract me.”

“She was never in danger. Not with you there to ensure her safety.” Manannan’s voice hardened. “Champion, I know your fidelity extends beyond the service of the Seelie Court, and beyond what even I might task you to do. We might debate my methods at length and with leisure once this day’s labors are done. You say I may trust you, and I am entrusting you now. Allow none to disrupt this ceremony for the consequences would indeed be dire for all involved. Take up your spear once more and be our Champion. Lead the guard as no one but you might. For though you have doubted this day might truly come, it has indeed. Though you doubted the Sidhe could be one people, you have always protested that you hold them all with equal regard. That you would defend the Unseelie as fervently as the Seelie. That when you have represented the Sidhe in negotiation with other races that you have done so with the good of all Sidhe at heart. For you the Sidhe has always been a unified people. Let us today make it so.”

Lugh raised his face to Danu once more. The Creatrix. The one connected to the realm and all within it. Although loyal to the Seelie Court, its king could not compel Lugh against his will. The All-Mother possessed that power. She merely nodded her assent.

“I shall lead the guard, as you have asked. For all our people.” Lugh bowed his head to Danu, but pointedly did not offer the same sign of respect to Manannan. He departed to the armory to prepare himself. If the Unseelie Elite did come, and Lugh highly suspected that at least one would, the fey warriors he’d seen manning the watch would not have the strength to subdue them. He loved his people, light and dark alike. If Danu believed a unified court was the path to lasting peace, he would defend it. For his people. For all Sidhe.