Summon (14 page)

“These currents … I have one?”

She nodded. “A growing one connected to me, and a
thick one anchored to Breandan. The only demons not feeding us were a couple of
your lesser Knights outside the circle.” She rubbed her temple. “Honestly, it’s
painful.”

“This energy you see, it is magics?”

A line appeared between her brows. “I think it’s
the stuff creating magics.”

“The Source creates magics.”

“And what feeds it?”

“Life, and the energy of living things. When we die
we nourish the Source. In turn, it gives us magics.”

“Godlings don’t need to touch the Source to wield
magics, Lochlann.”

“You have magics. I feel it beating against me.”

“I said
don’t
need to
, not
can’t
.”

A chill iced my spine until my limbs and insides
radiated cold. “You are a Source.”

Little
brother is a Source.

“Breathe. The colour of your face is clashing with
your hair, and it’s freaking me out.”

“Could I draw from you?”

She jerked a shoulder. “I wouldn’t think a godling
equal to the Source just not dependent on it.” Her attention turned inward.
“It’s still a sun just out of sight. I doubt anything can outshine it.”

“What feeds you?”

“Me personally?” She blushed, smiling shyly.
“Adoration. Breandan’s emotions are exhilarating. They make me strong.”

Finally, I understood. “The Loa are more powerful
because they demand worship, and were strengthened by the Vodoun.”

“They also got a powerful hit from me when Lex
died. I think that’s how they got enough power to cross over during the ritual.”
She winced. “My bad.”

Her acceptance of her mistakes, desire to set them
right and respect of the natural order infused me with awe.

Rubbing her forehead, she glanced at me sheepishly.
“See, right then the energy flowing from you to me increased.

“How did it feel?”

“Energizing. Like when your sleepy and cold wind
slaps your face.”

Perturbed, I panicked silently. “This is not easy
to accept.”

“Listen before you revert to looming. Tomorrow I’ll
be the badass godling you expect. Right now, see me as a girl so deep in love
it hurts to breathe.” She stared into my eyes. Rae wasn’t afraid to let me see
how much she needed this. “I want to curl up in Breandan’s arms. I’ve talked
myself into accepting my scars.” She shrugged. “For a few hours I won’t feel ugly
standing next to my insanely hot life mate.”

I softened at her frankness. “To Breandan you are
beautiful.” Magnanimous, I thumbed her chin. “And to me now.”

“I know.”

My lips twitched.

“I want Breandan to forget he can’t touch another
living thing without it withering. I want him to forget my weakness made him
this way.” Tears glistened in her eyes, and she scrubbed at them with the back
of her hand. “How better to make him forget than by making him feel alive? He
deserves happiness. He believed in me when you and everybody else didn’t. When
I
didn’t. So I’m going to make him
happy.” Her voice lowered. “I’m going to make him kill again. All he does is
stand by my side, to protect me, and it makes him a killer.”

“At least you admit it now. I told you, you would
be the ruin of him.”

She nodded. “So understand before I tear another
piece of him apart I
will
make him
smile.” She went starry eyed. “There’s nothing more breathtaking than his
smile.”

When her jaw slackened at some memory, I snapped my
fingers in her face.

“Lochlann, with respect and love, back the hell
off. I’m
ordering
you to take it
easy. I can totally do that now. Go back to bossing everybody around tomorrow.”

“If I demand you tell me?”

“I will kick your ass. Hard.” Eyes slitted, she
went for the kill. “Publically.”

“Rae–”

“If you can’t do it for me do it for Breandan?”

Guilt, outrage and shame warred within me until I
amazed myself by settling on amused. “I’m freakishly tall?”

Tinkling a laugh, she wrapped her arms around my
waist and rested her head on my chest. “Yeah, you are.”

After an awkward pause, I hugged her back. I rested
my cheek on her head and chuckled. “Say-so, little sister. Say-so.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Breandan

The
day took its toll. Giving Lochlann and Kalcifer room to converse in private, I
prepared myself to further stall my brother on Rae’s behalf.

I hurried up the inclining pathway and considered
taking a short cut to reach the dwellings a reasonable amount of time before my
Elder.

Gunarr slinked from the shadows to keep pace at my
side. “The Pack Alpha is unstable.”

I agreed, but Kalcifer had ample reason to cross
the threshold of lunacy. Fallen prey to their baser natures, the strongest
fighters in his Pack followed the Loa rather than heed his commands. He was
shamed, and his people vulnerable. “Kalcifer has reason to be volatile. He and
his Pack will recover.”

“
The human returns to Temple this eve.”

“Go with him.”

“They will never accept us.”

The bitter words stirred my sympathy. “Persevere.
You pave the way for others.”

Gunnar swerved into my path, effectively blocking
it.

Moving him aside would be an effortless thing, but
he noticeably struggled with something he felt deserved attention.

So I stared, not bothering to hide my frustration.

“Why do you insist on peace with the Sect,” he
asked, “because your life mate desires it? Her allegiance is misplaced.”

“Peace is a state we must strive for regardless of
its initial sponsor, something we used to inherently understand as a people.”

“We adapted to survive. The Rupture–”

“Does not serve as an excuse to abandon core
principles.” I fixed him a censorious look. “I have not forgotten the
perversion you embraced at Devlin’s tithe.”

His sharply pointed chin angled up. “I am
unapologetic.”

“I cannot judge after my behaviour since meeting
Rae, I simply have not forgotten.” Pushing my tongue into the back of my front
teeth, my brows plunged. Gunarr’s opinion was hardly the only of its kind.
Teaching him the value of distilling old traditions into modernised life, life
that included interaction with other species would mature him into a Warrior
under my Elder’s instruction. Gunarr was older than me in years, but far more
limited in perspective. “Not considering our individual behaviour the purpose
of the fae is to promote harmony.”

“You think taking one human into our confidence
achieves this?”

“Samuel is a good man. He will initiate change.”

Gunarr appeared unconvinced. “The young Disciples
adjusted to my presence, but the older Clerics were unsettled. Rifles were
thrust in my face every other step.” He motioned to his green skin. “My
appearance is too strange to them, my habits foreign. Perhaps one of Lochlann’s
Knights glib of tongue with magics to glamour is better suited to the task of
ambassador.” His voice took on an uncustomary lilt of hope at the end.

He was hopeful I’d relocate him elsewhere. That
streak of reluctance sealed his fate.

“I trust you to continue as you are. The humans
show faith in Samuel despite his radical approach to dealing with demons. With
him at the helm, Lochlann has a chance to rebuild the Tribe’s losses. The
humans need this chance too. If the fae accept them, so will the rest of
demonkind.”

“Cleric Samuel is too young.” Gunarr’s voice
returned to its unemotional monotone. “He has no experience giving orders. He’s
used to following.”

“Then throwing our support behind
him
can only be beneficial. He brings a
fresh perspective to a jaded view bestowed upon all things nonhuman by the Sect
Priests. Their Doctrine needs changing. I believe Samuel will see to it.”

Gunarr grunted. “I will be of better use at your
side.”

“I do not need protection.”

“The phantom–”

“Is not your concern.”

“Fine,” he grated, candid in his abhorrence for the
blood drinkers.

Lips quirking, I gave him side-eye. My exasperation
at his continued service niggled. He plainly wanted to remain at the Wyld
rather than leave.

Why does
he not ask me to release him?

Darkness coalesced at the edge of my vision, and I
inwardly cursed.
Did our conversation
beckon to him? Or does he hound me for spite?

I wondered if I’d ever sleep peacefully with the
threat of the phantom lurking.

Taking pleasure from ignoring Tomas’ formless
presence, I reverted my attention to Gunarr who remained ignorant of the
newcomer he disliked by species. “You swore fealty aware I possessed enough
power to challenge my Elder for the honour of fairy High Lord. Since Rae’s
resurrection my path has changed. Drastically. My destiny is no longer tied to
the Tribe.”

“I am aware of what you have become.” Gunarr sensed
I expected more, and added, “The death touch does not discomfort me. It is a
formidable weapon.”

The intention to bare my teeth in a smile was
stymied by a cringe. “There is nothing dishonourable in swearing a superseding
oath to my brother and rejoining the Knights.” He didn’t react. “Ask, and I
will release you from your vow.”

His expression was unreadable. “Can I stay for the
feast then follow after the humans?”

Content to let it go, I inclined my head. “If that
pleases you.”

With a nippy salute, he grabbed the branch above
his head and swung his legs up. Climbing swiftly, grumbling all the while, he
vanished into the trees he loved.

I followed his progress shaking my head in
amusement. Gunarr puzzled me, tasked me, yet he was satisfied to lend me his
considerable skill. For as long as he wished to serve I’d accept his talents.

“Ignoring me won’t make me go away.”

Stiffening, I continued my journey towards Conall’s
dwelling. Enough time passed for Rae to feel better. I wanted my life mate in
my arms and her lips on mine.

“Are you that insecure, Breandan?”

“I made my thoughts on your infatuation with Rae
clear the last time I faced you.”

“Much has changed since then. The bond is gone.”

I froze mid step. “Changed, not gone. Deepened.”

“Hmm.”

“Stop.” Face heating in a burst of anger, I faced
him as he materialised. “Do not think you can shake my trust in her.”

“I already have.”

“Leave.”

Eyes brimming with laughter, he smirked. “No.”

“You are here on the whim of a mad creature.
Nothing more. Why not go back to your Queen.” I dragged a look over him I hoped
left him feeling dirty. “Surely she will take you back as you are.”

He shifted uncomfortably at the mention of
Gwendolyn. Guilt streaked across his features then was wiped by contempt. His
eyes dropped to the shrub I’d accidently brushed and withered. “You’re not what
you were before. Rae is adaptable.”

“For me. It does not matter
what
I am to her only
who
.
I am hers.” Sighing, I rubbed a hand over my head. “Whatever you think speaking
to me will achieve will not work. I’ll never give her up. I cannot explain in
words the feeling that overcomes me knowing she’s mine. I see her and struggle
to
breathe
.”

Tomas’ eyebrow winged up. “So sure of yourself and
her.”

“Your point? I may look at her one day in some
distant future and not feel my entire body lurch. But I will always love her.
Give my life to protect her.”

“As would I.”

“You cannot compare my love to yours. She is the
only one for me. You showed where your heart truly lies.”

“Vampires do not mate for life. My kind has the
blood tie, and its formation is rare.” Tomas looked at me beseechingly. “Rae
and I had that. It means something.”

“I see why that may confuse you into thinking you
should pursue her.”

“Don’t try to convince me your bond with her is of
greater importance than mine was.” He muttered to himself, “As it could be
again.”

“You are not worthy of her.”

“I will be,” he vowed. “For her I can be better.”

“Did I not make it clear the last time we met I will
not tolerate you when it comes to her?”

Tomas cupped his throat and grimaced. “Crystal.”

Anger exploded inside me. “
Then why
? Why force me to hate you? I would kill you again if I
didn’t recognise my jealousy for what it is.”