Through Time-Slamming (18 page)

The Dark King anxious to create his son all powerful, slipped in the DNA of an Ancient and beloved Danu creature. He had not realized that it had been damaged by the solution the DNA had been preserved in.

The Dark King had hoped to instill all this creature’s powers and abilities for great empathy and kindness and instead, it had made his sons something altogether different.

Graely and his youngest brother, who was now dead, had not received those genes. Only he and Hordly had.

He sighed and shoved these cogitations aside. At the moment he had to deal with the fact that he was certain he had the Sluagh in the sky above his castle. What was it doing? No doubt it was spying for the Seelie.

The Sluagh had to die.

He smiled to himself; very soon he would have the means to accomplish just that. And in fact, as humans so aptly put it, he would take out two birds with one stone.

The notion made him laugh. His laugh was an ugly sound that rang through the Grampian Mountains, so at odds with the beauty of the wild and vibrant life it held.

Pestale immediately shifted to Gorkum.

Chapter Eighteen

“A DISRUPTION HAS occurred at MacTalbot!” Aaibhe said quietly, her hand up halting all conversation around her. “Our treasured Druids, Maxine and Julian, stand at the edge of their warded land conversing with Graely the Dark Prince.”

She turned to Trevor. “You must go there at once. Maxine and her Druid mate are mortal and both are beloved. I am not certain their wards will hold against a Dark Prince. They should, but I would feel better if they had your protection.”

“I’m coming with you Trev.” Jazz didn’t question these things anymore. She simply assumed that the Queen and Maxine had some kind of mind link in place. What she questioned was anything that might put Trevor in danger. From her tone and her stance it was obvious she was not backing down.

“Neither one of you should be going,” Breslyn stuck in irritably. “Maxine and Julian are
my
people—
my friends. I
shall attend to them.”

“Breslyn, Maxine tells me that
Graely
has asked for Trevor,” the queen answered softly. “She must have her reason.”

“I don’t like it,” Bres answered. As Ete reached for his hand and he looked into her eyes, Jazz saw him melt for her. She couldn’t believe that without a word or even a harsh look Ete had worked his will and made it her own. A smile curved her lips as she watched the handsome brute warrior sit beside his mate; much like a youth and allowed her to take control. Now that was a
real man
—male Fae, or
whatever.

Trevor sighed and took Jazz’s hand and frowned at her. “You say that, as though you are sure I shall allow you to accompany me, Jazmine Decker.”

“Whether you
allow
it or not,
I am
coming. If I have to track and follow you I will be at your side. When needed I will be
with you.
Understood?”

Breslyn frowned as he looked their way, obviously still of a mind to go as well. Ete murmured softly, “Maxine linked with the Queen for a reason Bres. She knew you would want to go to them and for some reason she requires Trevor.”

Jazz watched the two as he kissed her forehead and then her fingers. What a special love they shared. How complete. She turned and looked at Trevor who she discovered was watching her. He leaned over and said in a low voice full with emotion, “I love thee
just like that
. Please know that always, my very own Jazmine Decker.”

“Then accept the fact that I always want to have your back, Trevor of Lugh,” she said on an emotional note.

He lit up. She saw him simply glow as he pulled her close against his rock hard body and said in a throaty voice, “Aye then wench
have me
, my back, my front, and my all.” They shifted to MacTalbot Castle.

Deimne shifted just behind them, and in time to hear all of this. He watched them go and said softly to Aaibhe, “I must join them Queen Aaibhe.”

She nodded her approval and as Deimne shifted out he heard Breslyn begin a series of mild Danu curses.

~*~

Jazz saw this beautiful dusky haired young woman rush towards them. A big, dark haired buck at her side had looked stern and was ready for a fight.

Maxine’s green eyes were alive with excitement. Jazz thought that she may be mortal, but she didn’t seem to be afraid.

Maxine looked at her curiously but turned to Trevor and said hurriedly as she turned her head toward the big Dark Prince on the other side of the ward.

“Pestale’s brother, Graely is right there on the other side of the ward. He says he doesn’t mean us any harm, but must speak with you.” She looked up as Deimne glided easily to her side, pulled in his beautiful wings, took her by the waist, and drew her to himself with obvious pleasure. “High Druid Priestess,” he said fondly.

“Deimne! Oh, it is so good to see you,” she said and hugged him fiercely.

His glittering eyes were alive with a tease. “Have you decided to leave this Druid Priest and fly around the world with me, my sweet love?”

She laughed and as her husband the Druid Priest in question, had stepped up at that moment to offer his hand which was heartily taken. A moment was lost in the greeting and Jazz managed to get a good look at her surroundings.

They were in an open field with what Jazz assumed to be MacTalbot Castle in the distance.

She saw Graely standing very still and looking solemn. At his back was a Pine Forest that loomed dark and mysterious. She looked into his black eyes and found the amber light glittering in them. He was not like his brothers.

Jazz turned back to look at Maxine whom she had heard so much about. She knew that Maxine and her husband Julian had fought during the time of Gaiscioch not so very long ago. Their personal story was very intriguing, however at the moment it was Graely that held her totally and seriously, too worried to think of anyone else.

She returned her attention to the Dark Fae and studied him. He wore simple, aged brown leather pants and sandals—nothing else. He was as tall as any of the Royal Fae and muscular. He was handsome, but he looked as though he never smiled. His black hair was slicked back, braided, and tied in a knot at the nape of his neck. His tats were intricate. He wore a band around his biceps and a large Celtic cross at his left shoulder that tipped onto his chest. He wasn’t covered in them like Hordly and Pestale.

He stood quietly watching and waiting. When he brought his coal black eyes up and met Jazz’s gaze, she felt a wave of sympathy for him.

Jazz wondered what it was about this Dark Prince that was so very different than his brothers. She was certain
he was different
. She couldn’t forget that he had jumped in and saved that mother and child from one of the Unseelie monsters. He saved them when she would have been too late. Surely his brothers would have been upset had they known.

“Maxine—Julian, I am sorry, but you two are mortal and we don’t want you at risk,” Trevor said as she turned back to him. “Will you return to the safety of your castle while we deal with this Dark One?”

“No,” Max said staunchly. “We have been a part of this from the beginning and we mean to see it through…right, Julian?”

“If I could, love, I would send you back to the house and remain here, but I know you too well,” Julian said. Jazz liked him at once. There was something deadly serious and honest about him and yet she sensed he was gentle and caring.

“Maxine, you don’t know me well just yet, but one of these days you will. In the meantime, I think if you and Julian would wait for us up at the castle it would be a good thing. By staying here, Julian also stays and both of you are in
mortal
danger,” Trevor persisted.

Max frowned as she thought this over and lifted something she had tucked into the waist of her jeans. “I have this. Aaibhe’s Rowan wand and it has seen me through a time or two.”

Deimne chuckled, “I can attest to it.”

“Still it would be better if you were out of harms way,” Trevor insisted.

Maxine shrugged and said with a frown, “Maybe, but I don’t think, that one…,” she turned to Graely, “…means us much harm. As long as you promise to come on up afterward and tell us everything.”

“I promise,” Jazz said with a reassuring smile. She liked Maxine, a whole lot already.

Jazz turned and saw Trevor step up to the invisible wall and go face to face with the Dark Prince and her heart trembled. In spite of the fact that she agreed with Maxine, she did not think Graely meant them harm.

Jazz watched Maxine and Julian walk off towards their castle and turned to jog over to Trevor’s side and then it hit her in waves of warm air. She was sure she was getting a vibe off the Dark Prince!

He was attempting to make her see past who he was. He was trying to get her attention. She saw a soft aura around him and felt its warmth deep inside her mind. But apparently, Trevor did not. He was scowling at the Dark Prince.

“Graely, why did you have Maxine summon us?” Trevor asked getting right to the point. He glanced at Deimne who had his arms folded and his wings drawn completely in.

“My brother Pestale wishes me to deliver a message.” He shook his head. “But before I do I need to tell you that you shouldn’t trust anything he says. In spite of the fact that I am here giving you his message, I do not believe you should comply with his wishes.”

“Really?” Trev said sarcastically.

Jazz turned her head as she heard Deimne scoff and say, “I don’t think you need to tell us that.”

Trevor shook his head. “I don’t have the patience to play your games. Don’t try to fool us by making yourself appear sympathetic to our side.”

“All I am trying to tell you is that you should disregard his message,” Graely said softly.

“Then why bother to come here to give it?” Jazz asked.

“If not I, Hordly would have been sent. I thought it would be safer for the mortal Druids if I came.”

Trevor thought this over. “So you have warned us not to trust Pestale. Fine, but we don’t trust you either.” Trev eyed him up and down and added roughly, “Just tell us what is the message.”

Jazz stood apart and watched, taking everything in and filing it away for later examination.

She could see that Graely considered Trevor, quietly. The Dark Prince stood eyeing him grimly. They were much the same height and she was struck by the vibrations in the atmosphere by the testosterone being emitted.

Trevor had his fists clenched at his side. Graely however, did not look angry. Jazz thought he looked sad and something else she could not name. She was all too aware that only an invisible wall kept them apart, she didn’t feel threatened, which was odd to her.

Graely sighed and looked away, but when he brought his dark thoughtful eyes back to Trevor’s face he said quietly, “Pestale wants what he says humans call a conference. He wants to discuss other options than war. He says he has no empathy for the Unseelie castes he has brought over to the Human Realm and will gladly eliminate them if you agree to all of his terms.”

“Why should I believe this is anything but stall tactics for some other operation he has in mind,” Trevor said with obvious disgust.

“You
shouldn’t
believe him. You should never believe my brother.” Graely looked away again and then looked across and directly at Jazz. Trevor followed the Dark One’s line of vision and snapped.

“
Don’t look at her
! Don’t ever look at her! You speak to
just me
!” Trevor was in a rage.

“Listen,” Graely said. “They don’t confide in me and they don’t trust me. I am not privy to their plans, but I know one thing they want,
you and yours dead”
Graely once again looked at Jazz as though imploring her to believe him.

“Look at her again and I’ll shift over to your side and you will be the one that is dead!”

“That would be a mistake,” Graely said.

Jazz moved closer to Trevor, he turned and frowned at her. He tried to step in front of her and block Graely from looking at her.

She peeked around Trev and said, “You saved that mother and child, and I thank you for that, but have to wonder, was it to gain my trust for this moment?”

“What mother and child?” Trevor frowned at her.

“Look into me, is that what you sense?” Graely answered her.

“Jazmine Decker, what mother and child?” Trevor asked again.

“I will tell you later,” she said and turned back to Graely. “I haven’t seen you in the battles.”

“No, I do not want this war. I only want freedom,” Graely murmured hopelessly.

“Do your brothers know?”

“Why are you speaking to him? Do not, Jazmine Decker.”

She stroked Trevor’s arm to calm him and repeated the question as Graely had not answered.

Finally, he said, “No, they do not know or care what I want. They did not see me spare the mother and child. They don’t trust me because they know I don’t have the same interests as they do.”

Trevor’s golden eyes narrowed, Jazz could see he did not quite believe Graely, but oddly enough she did.

Trev said, “Where does Pestale want to conduct this so called conference?”

“Out in the open at the Lower Lake, the humans call their National Park at Killarney. There you may see everything for miles and shift off if you feel so inclined,” Graely said and shrugged. “I don’t see any immediate danger, but be forewarned, I know Pestale and he will be planning something.”

“I don’t like it,” Deimne said with a shake of his head. He ran a hand through his white gold hair and his glittering eyes surveyed Graely. “If Pestale truly wants peace then let him deliver his terms in a document. We will read them over and allow our Queens to decide if they are workable terms.
That
is how it should be done.”

“He will not do that. He wants the respect he thinks is due to him. He knows the Queen will never meet with him, but he is willing to conduct a meeting with Prince Trevor and you.
Only you two.”
Graely stared hard at both of them. “It is my belief that he means to kill you both, but why you two in particular escapes me.”

Jazz beat down the gasp that came to her throat. She tugged at Trevor’s hand, “Don’t do it. Don’t you expect to meet with him?”