Page 53 of The Rebel Seer

It strikes me forcibly that I haven’t seen a shade in hours. Not since we entered the palace grounds.

I know the Fae are long lived, but this place is ancient. There should be dead around.

“Sorry. She believes we will know when we find our true mate,” Meadow explains. “She does not believe it is Devinshea Quinn, but she intends to honor my will. We need her power back on my plane. It has been infected with blight, and our spring will not come. The wheel will not turn. We are left in permanent winter. The king will fix the problem, and we will open our hearts to him.”

I kind of think that’s a bad plan and Meadow should listen to her inner goddess. “How does he plan to strengthen Ostara?”

“Oh, he is wise and well-traveled. In his many travels across the planes, he met a smart magician who knows much about restoring the spirit and opening doors between the planes.”

Both Rhys and I stiffen at the same time. I don’t know about him, but I am sure as hell filled with dread.

“And what is the name of this magician?” I force myself to ask the question even as every cell in my body knows the answer.

“Myrddin,” she says with a smile. “Myrddin Emrys.”

Well, fuck.

Chapter Fourteen

Zoey

I stare at the food set out in front of us and hope that Bibi told the kitchen staff that now’s not a good time to kill us all.

I’m hungry. My morning sickness is gone and now baby wants some food, but I worry about that cold iron dust. After all, even when growing a baby abomination, one must consider nutrition.

“It’s fine.” Dev stares at me across the table. He glances up at the beautifully dressed servants waiting by the entrance. We’re dining in the most intimate of the dining rooms. I say intimate, but it still seats twenty, and the open-air walls that look out over the grounds make it seem even larger. “I promise.”

I nod and take a bite of the salad, noticing how Rhys keeps staring at our guest. Although I suppose we’re in fact her guest.

It’s weird since she thinks she’s marrying my husband.

“Maybe I should eat in my room,” I say tentatively.

The goddess, who told me I should call her either Ostara or Meadow, cocks her head and sends me a quizzical look. “Why would you do that?”

“I suspect my go…Zoey is worried her presence will offend you since we are engaged to be married,” Dev says evenly.

Rhys and Shy explained the meeting with Ostara, though we’re still trying to feel her out. And to figure out if her Myrddin Emrys is another version of ours. As tales go, this one feels confusing and poorly plotted out. Like the writer was high or something.

Ostara smiles, her teeth a perfect white and eyes sparkling. “Oh, no. I am not offended at all. I’m Fae, Zoey. Even if your husband was the Devinshea I’m going to marry, I would not be offended by his lover. We are not in love. He is simply kind enough to aid me and my plane.” She glances around. “I am curious as to why the vampire is not here. The one I saw you with earlier when you entered the palace.”

Daniel is busy checking the place out. And by that I mean he’s casing Devinshea’s rooms, trying to figure out if Evil Dev keeps the important amulets in the same place his mom did. Neil is going with him as backup, and Sasha is doing his Sasha thing. Hanging out in shadows and listening.

“He does not eat,” Rhys explains. “Have you never met a vampire before? Is that why you’re so curious about him?”

“He feels familiar to me,” she says. “Ostara would like to meet him.”

See, it’s weird when she talks about herself like that. She told us her Fae name is Meadow, but she often goes by Ostara now. Simpler, she said. Nothing about this situation feels simple to me. “I’m sure that can be arranged. So you are from another… Wait. What did you mean by even if my Devinshea was yours?”

Ostara gives us all a beatific smile. “I read energy very well. I thought that was the case, but I have never met Rhys nor his goddess so I could not be sure. Being in the room with this Devinshea makes it all clear. Your energy is off, and not in a way that would let me know you come from another plane. Though I feel that as well.”

We all stare at the goddess, wondering exactly how to handle the situation. If she goes to the guards, will they believe her?

“Perhaps we should hold this discussion for a time when we are alone,” Dev says, glancing at the servants. Telling me not to give anything away.

Ostara waves a hand. “Oh, the servants in this dining hall are all spelled so they cannot hear unless it is a command for them. Devinshea says it is because of the rebellion, to protect both them and him. The rebels won’t hurt the servants if they know they can get no information from them. The king has been hurt many times. I will help him and this land heal.”

“I’m not so sure he deserves your help,” Dev says with a sigh. “Fine. Since you already seem to understand we don’t belong here, Ostara, I am the High Priest of the Fae of a plane connected to the Earth plane. This is my goddess, and the vampire you are so interested in is my partner. Can you get us home to our timeline? We are in danger here. It is clear to me you have faith in this timeline’s Devinshea Quinn, but I find myself horrified at the things he’s done and worry what he will do if he returns home and finds me and my family in his palace.”

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