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Authors: D. L. McDermott
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course it’s wrong,” said Miach, his irritation plain. “But it is necessary. If the wall comes down, the Court will enslave or kill my entire family.”
“Sorcha may not even be a stone singer. You could be murdering an innocent woman.”
“That is a chance I am willing to take to protect my family.”
“You didn’t always think that way.”
“When we fought the Druids,” said Miach, “I refused to let Finn kill the children because they were innocents. I was weak then, and we are paying for it now. The Druids are returning. Rediscovering their power. The girl, at the very least, has the talents of a bard. She can play the old instruments, she can wield a cláirseach . That is dangerous enough that she must be prevented from falling into the Prince’s hands.”
“Then let me prevent it,” said Elada. “I’ll find her and bring her to you.”
“Plans are already in motion,” said Miach.
“Change them,” said a woman’s voice from the door.
Elada and Miach turned. Miach’s lover, Helene, stood on the threshold, her blond hair hanging loose over her shoulders, her long legs clad in deep-blue jeans, one of Miach’s needle-tailored shirts half-buttoned over them.
“I didn’t mean for you to find out,” said Miach, looking his lover in the eyes. “But this must be done.”
“That’s what you said when you tried to kill my best friend.”
Helene’s voice was steely. Elada had never thought of her as a potential ally.
They had always been on opposite sides. First, she had thwarted Elada’s attempt, under Miach’s orders, to kill Beth Carter. It had been obvious that Miach had desired Helene even then. The blonde was undeniably attractive. But the couple had gotten off on the wrong foot. And then Miach’s renegade son Brian had kidnapped her and held her prisoner.
No, not just held her prisoner. He had tortured her. Brian had known she was claustrophobic, and he’d locked her in a narrow attic closet. Miach had rescued her, but she’d wanted nothing more to do with the Fae after that.
The sorcerer had tried wooing her from afar, but she had rejected all his gifts and overtures. Only when Helene had been stalked by mad Druids herself, when she had understood the stakes, the death and destruction that would be unleashed if the Fae Court escaped their prison, did she come to understand Miach MacCecht’s motives and start to care for him.
“You have never met this woman, Helene,” said Miach MacCecht. “She is nothing and no one to you. And she poses a mortal threat to this house and everyone in it.”
It was the wrong tack to take. Elada could have told him that. But when it came to his family, Miach was blind to reason.
“So was Beth,” said Helene. “You found another way with her. Find another way with this girl. Murdering an innocent woman makes you as bad as the Fae Court you’re so desperate to keep imprisoned.”
“Your understanding of the matter is human, and limited,” said Miach. “You could not possibly comprehend the depravity of the Court. And I will do what is necessary to be sure you never have to experience it firsthand.”
“I’m not sure which is worse. That you planned to hide this from me, or that you planned to do this at all,” said Helene.
She spun on her heel and walked out. Elada watched her go and turned to face Miach.
“That was a mistake,” said Elada.
“She doesn’t understand.”
“She understands better than you. Helene is right. Sorcha Kavanaugh is an innocent. She’s got no more control of her power than Beth Carter did. And you would have killed Beth—you would have had me kill Beth—and lost a powerful ally had Conn not intervened.”
Miach shook his head. “This is different.”
It wasn’t different, but it was clear that there would be no reasoning with Miach MacCecht. Elada could think of only one way to save Sorcha Kavanaugh.
“Do you mean to renew our bond?” asked Elada.
“No,” said Miach. “I want Helene
“Sorcha may not even be a stone singer. You could be murdering an innocent woman.”
“That is a chance I am willing to take to protect my family.”
“You didn’t always think that way.”
“When we fought the Druids,” said Miach, “I refused to let Finn kill the children because they were innocents. I was weak then, and we are paying for it now. The Druids are returning. Rediscovering their power. The girl, at the very least, has the talents of a bard. She can play the old instruments, she can wield a cláirseach . That is dangerous enough that she must be prevented from falling into the Prince’s hands.”
“Then let me prevent it,” said Elada. “I’ll find her and bring her to you.”
“Plans are already in motion,” said Miach.
“Change them,” said a woman’s voice from the door.
Elada and Miach turned. Miach’s lover, Helene, stood on the threshold, her blond hair hanging loose over her shoulders, her long legs clad in deep-blue jeans, one of Miach’s needle-tailored shirts half-buttoned over them.
“I didn’t mean for you to find out,” said Miach, looking his lover in the eyes. “But this must be done.”
“That’s what you said when you tried to kill my best friend.”
Helene’s voice was steely. Elada had never thought of her as a potential ally.
They had always been on opposite sides. First, she had thwarted Elada’s attempt, under Miach’s orders, to kill Beth Carter. It had been obvious that Miach had desired Helene even then. The blonde was undeniably attractive. But the couple had gotten off on the wrong foot. And then Miach’s renegade son Brian had kidnapped her and held her prisoner.
No, not just held her prisoner. He had tortured her. Brian had known she was claustrophobic, and he’d locked her in a narrow attic closet. Miach had rescued her, but she’d wanted nothing more to do with the Fae after that.
The sorcerer had tried wooing her from afar, but she had rejected all his gifts and overtures. Only when Helene had been stalked by mad Druids herself, when she had understood the stakes, the death and destruction that would be unleashed if the Fae Court escaped their prison, did she come to understand Miach MacCecht’s motives and start to care for him.
“You have never met this woman, Helene,” said Miach MacCecht. “She is nothing and no one to you. And she poses a mortal threat to this house and everyone in it.”
It was the wrong tack to take. Elada could have told him that. But when it came to his family, Miach was blind to reason.
“So was Beth,” said Helene. “You found another way with her. Find another way with this girl. Murdering an innocent woman makes you as bad as the Fae Court you’re so desperate to keep imprisoned.”
“Your understanding of the matter is human, and limited,” said Miach. “You could not possibly comprehend the depravity of the Court. And I will do what is necessary to be sure you never have to experience it firsthand.”
“I’m not sure which is worse. That you planned to hide this from me, or that you planned to do this at all,” said Helene.
She spun on her heel and walked out. Elada watched her go and turned to face Miach.
“That was a mistake,” said Elada.
“She doesn’t understand.”
“She understands better than you. Helene is right. Sorcha Kavanaugh is an innocent. She’s got no more control of her power than Beth Carter did. And you would have killed Beth—you would have had me kill Beth—and lost a powerful ally had Conn not intervened.”
Miach shook his head. “This is different.”
It wasn’t different, but it was clear that there would be no reasoning with Miach MacCecht. Elada could think of only one way to save Sorcha Kavanaugh.
“Do you mean to renew our bond?” asked Elada.
“No,” said Miach. “I want Helene
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