Page 55 of Vicious Fates and Vast Futures
“But why the EA?” I grit out. I’m struggling to keep the Morrigan at bay, her anger nearly overwhelming me.
Another deranged grin. “Ah, well, they want to abolish the rule of the US government. Which means that the Fae will need a strong ruler. While the other Upper Council members and I disagree on the details, their aims of a universal Fae rule, a universal Fae ruler, aqueenmayhap...well, that I agree with.”
Oh, okay, she’s full-scale nuts and power-drunk. Alright then. I’m surprisingly unsurprised. That the Upper Council wants to install an appointed ruler for all of the Fae, I’m shaken but well...I can’t be borrowing problems right now.
The wings beat at my temples. Yup, it’s time. I drop the leash on the Morrigan’s magic and let it overtake me. My visionbecomes edged in black. I see Ossy locked in battle, facing three royal males. Their breath paints the frigid air.
My focus lasers in on Olwyn. My posture straightens and I throw my staff, pulling my mother’s blade from my thigh sheath as I bull rush Olwyn without conscious thought.
Bryn
I FEEL EN’S SHOCK,anger, andfearas the guard pulls a blade. I look to her hiding spot, confused, and back to the guard. I realize he’s wielding cold iron, which can break an enchantment.Fuck.
It hits me like a brick, what we need to do, and I step out of my alcove, waving to En. When I feel her attention, I point to myself and mouth the words. I do it again and I feel her understanding down our bond only a moment before her magic surrounds me.
Adelaide
OLWYN RAISES HER BLADE, a fierce glare upon her face. She welcomes this. She thinks she is about to kill me.
That won’t be happening. The Morrigan’s confidence and strength infuses me.
Instead of meeting her dagger, or even slashing at her, I do something that she is totally unsuspecting of. I crash into her at a full run.
We roll together, thumping hard against the ground. I use my momentum to end up on top, our bodies tangled in some tipped-over chairs. My free hand grabs the wrist of her hand she uses for magic, and I slam her arm into the ground as hard as I can. I hear the wet, thick, muted crunch of her humerus breaking over a chair leg as I hold her wrist to the stone floor. She screams in agony.
“You’ll not take me from my mates,” I growl. “I don’t give two fucks for the throne, but I do care for the Fae who deserve better.”
She knees me in the groin and I roll off her in agony. I pull air into my lungs, trying to clear my vision. I hadn’t expected that to hurt so badly for a female. Olwyn has somehow managed to stand, though her arm flops uselessly.
Perfect. I am better than her with a blade. I can take her. I swallow my pain and dive away as she aims a kick at me. I spot Ossy; he’s down to two combatants, though he’s holding a large swath of floor clear to keep royal court Fae away from Olwyn and I. The “rapists and abusers” houses have figured out that I’ll wipe out their lines and are trying to help Olwyn.
I climb to my feet and face Olwyn again, a mirthless grin on my face.
“Let’s end this, cousin,” I hiss, hair on my neck rising. I pull on my bonds, suddenly nervous.
Bryn
I STEP FORWARDS BOLDLY, pace light and arms swinging slightly.
“Father!” I call fondly.
Barclay’s head snaps up as his hand goes to the guard’s arm, stopping his iron blade mid-air. Filib looks to me and stomps his front feet. Er, hooves.
The king’s face is awestruck and tears fill his eyes. “Son? Is it truly you?”
“It is, Father,” I say, warmth in my voice, as I close the space between us. I avoid looking at the guard with the dagger.
“Tavish! I thought you were dead! I’ve dreamed of this, ofyou.” His voice falters, catches. “But how is this possible?” His cheeks are wet with his joy.
Ishouldfeel some sympathy for this male. For how he’s lost his child, his wife and queen, and before that, his lover.
But I don’t. Not a drop. He would kill me, kill my mates, if it got him what he wanted. He, even as a widowed childless king, will never step down, never cede power. And so, he must die.
His death is required to save other lives. He’s a sacrifice, as the kings of old. When a drought or blight hit their kingdoms, they would lay down their lives to let their lifeblood nourish their land.Theyput their people first.Theyknew that this is what it was to be a king, a leader. Barclay should be proud to die to save his people.
The Priestesses used to wield the true power, the embodiment of the Goddess on our plane of existence. AndmyGoddess, my queen, my Adelaide, needs this male’s death.
I wrap my arms around Barclay as he hugs me tightly to his body, his arm pinning my long, black, glamoured hair. As he sobs, lost, I flick out my wrist dagger, dropping it below his ribs and stabbing smoothly upwards, piercing his heart from the back.
