Page 6 of Tair

“That is why I killed your worthless father,” the queen said, baring her teeth. “Rune not only failed to return the cluet to me, he silenced forever the one who had hidden it away in this wretched place. I considered it lost until it recently granted a wish. In Elphyne I sensed the ripple of power it gave off when awakening to use its enchantment. The cluet has come alive again, and that is why you will find and bring it to me at once.”

“It’s been well-hidden for a hundred years, Highness,” Tair reminded her. “I cannae promise to return it to you as quickly as you wish.”

“You have until the winter solstice.” Before he could reply she lifted one hand. “It is as much time as I will spare you. If you do not bring it to me by then, I shall destroy this realm and all that dwells in it.”

Her vow made his gut clench, for the dark Fae did not jest. “Why would you do such?”

“The cluet cannot fall into the wrong hands, for it grants any wish asked by its master—any,” the queen told him. “If you wished the thing to bring the sun and moon to you, so it would pluck them from the sky and drop them at your feet, regardless of what it should do to this world and all the otherworlds beyond it.”

“Fack.” Tair knew dark Fae objects of power could be lethal, but one that could snatch the very stars themselves from the skies should have been long ago destroyed. Before he could agree, however, Lucy tugged discreetly on his arm.

She leaned close, her breath warm against his flesh. “Make her promise that once you give her the sodding thing,” she murmured, “that she’ll never harm this world or anyone here ever again.”

He nearly told her to bite her tongue, and then he realized the brilliance of her suggestion. How had such a young wench gained such canny cleverness?

“My clan and I shall find it, Highness,” he told the dark Fae queen. “Only if you swear never again to act for any reason against the MacRune, mortals or the realm we call our home.”

The ground shook beneath them as the immortal monarch stamped her foot. “You dare demand anything of me, you abomination?”

“My sire didnae.” He met her furious gaze. “’Tis why you ended him. I’m no’ Rune.”

“As you say.” A faint glimmer of respect came into her eyes. “Very well, I shall make that vow when you deliver the cluet into my hands—not before.”

“I need more assurance, Highness,” Tair said. “Swear to me now.”

For a moment the queen looked as if she might hurl all her power at him for insisting she make the pledge. Her guards cowered away as her magic radiated around her like a cloud of faceless black adders. At the same time the sky above them crackled with thin webs made of lightning racing from cloud to cloud. The immortal monarch glanced up as two bolts struck either side of the island, and her corona of angry power slowly diminished.

“As long as the cluet is delivered to me before the winter solstice arrives, I vow that I shall never again act for any reason against the MacRune, the mortals, or this realm where they abide,” the dark Fae queen finally said. “Fail me, Tair MacRune, and I shall destroy everyone and everything here.” Her thin lips curved into a sneering smile as she tossed to him a glittering black and red crystal. “You may summon me to this wretched place with this when you’ve found my treasure.”

She turned her back on him, her gown flowing around her as she walked back into the black tear, followed by her guards. The rift then shrank and closed, disappearing as if it had never been.

Shudders racked Lucy’s long, slender body as she turned and pressed her face into his shoulder. Tair embraced her, stroking her back with one hand to soothe her. Most mortals would have swooned or run mad after witnessing the spectacle she had just endured. Moreover she had remained collected enough to give him excellent counsel. What angered him now was the fact that she had been forced to. He never involved the innocent in his dealings.

“You did well, Lucy Brooke,” he told her.

She lifted her head to look at him. “I’ll assume this is the Narnia version of Scotland in the fourteenth century. Is there a third alternative fate I can pick, or is it too late?”

Whatever Narnian was or whatever she wanted, she would have to wait, Tair, thought, as the sky overhead had darkened nearly to black, and lightning now jumped across it without cessation. He hadn’t realized he’d grown so angry, either.

Master yourself, Lochran, his most unfortunate half-brother would have advised. Else you shall never master your weakness.

The storm came from the anger boiling up inside him. Thanks to his mixed blood he’d suffered a weakness since birth that made his moods affect the weather. From fogs when he was melancholy, blizzards when he grew lonely, or storms and whirlwinds when his temper frayed, his every emotion changed the conditions in the highlands. He endeavored to remain indifferent under any circumstances, but the dark Fae queen’s demands had made that impossible. Now he’d been fool enough to enter into a bargain with her that he could not lose, else the world pay the ultimate price.

Facking Fae.

Whether dark or light, the immortal otherworlders had always imposed themselves on mortal kind. Tair’s sire Rune had taken Brenna as his lover without once realizing what it would mean when she bore his half-mortal son. Now he would have to settle his sire’s debt, one that had nothing to do with him or his clan, just to keep everyone alive and safe. The crystal in his fist grew brighter, as if empowered by his dark thoughts. Would it call back that immortal wretch to laugh over his rage?

We’ve almost a year until the winter solstice. We’ll find the cursed thing.

Tair took in air and imagined sitting in a green meadow in the sunlight. As he did his emotions settled and the glow of the queen’s gem diminished. He’d never parlayed with the Fae, but at least it would be the final time he had to serve the vicious monarch, thanks to this wench and her shrewd thinking.

At least he could say as much to her. “My thanks for your counsel, Mistress.”

“It’s nothing,” she said, her voice tight. “You’re hurting me.”

Tair looked down to see her pale face, and loosened the arm he’d clamped around her. “Why didnae you say?”

“I just did.” She let out a breath and pressed her hand against her ribs, brushing his fingers.