Mists of Velvet (25 page)

“Rise and look upon me.”

Bronwnn did as she was told. With a wave of her hand, Cailleach draped Bronwnn’s nakedness in a drab gray gown. She was no longer virginal, no longer fit to wear white. She had forgotten that she was naked all that time, but the look of disgust in Cailleach’s gaze reminded her of her shameful conduct before Rhys and the others. A goddess was to be serene at all times. She had acted like a virago—and a wanton. She should be ashamed, but Bronwnn felt only relief that Rhys was safe—for now.

“Your mother was forced to wear this color also—gray for impurity.”

Her poor mother had been corrupted by the vilest creature in existence. It was not her mother’s fault that she had been seduced. Surely the impurity was only one-sided.

“Whatever possessed you to share your body with him,” Cailleach demanded, “when I told you that you were to be mated with the Shadow Wraith?”

Bronwnn looked Cailleach directly in the eye, holding her stare. She could not be meek and mild now. Rhys’ life was still in danger, and she was the only person who could save him.

“I have dreamed of him for many weeks now. When I saw him in Annwyn by the reflecting pool, I naturally assumed he was my mate. He . . . smelled of wraith,” she whispered. “He was very badly injured, and . . .”

“He smelled of wraith,” Cailleach sneered, “because he is part of my curse. He is the great-great-grandson of Daegan, and when he was banished from Annywn to live his life with his mortal lover, I cursed the firstborn son of their union, and every firstborn after that. It was my desire that no bastard halfling be allowed to come back and claim the throne of the Sidhe. No mortal would ever corule Annwyn. But Daegan had just enough magick left in him to perform one last spell, and that was to give each firstborn male a Shadow Wraith for protection. None of the others have ever dared venture into Annwyn, until this stupid mortal.”

“He’s not stupid,” Bronwnn snapped. “He’s very brave and strong. Stronger than many warriors I have seen in the temple.”

Cailleach glared at her. “Mortals are the very essence of evil. They strive to overtake everything—to rule that which is not theirs. I will not tolerate his presence here.”

Bronwnn studied the goddess. “It is his wraith that you intended to bind me to, isn’t it?”

“Of course. Keir is special. I’ve sensed that from the beginning. He is more magically gifted than any wraith I have ever known. With his powers combined with yours, a great alliance will be forged.”

Rhys would not tolerate that. He would not allow her to go to the wraith. She sensed his possession, still feeling it as she remembered the way he held her, claiming her body with his. “If I am to mate with the wraith, then why did I dream of Rhys? Why did I sense him as my mate when he is not magical, or immortal?” she wondered aloud.

Cailleach looked outraged. “The mortal is nothing to you any longer. The wraith will still have you—I’m sure of it. And you will take him. There is no question about that. Now—your powers.” Cailleach narrowed her eyes. “You are the only goddess shifter in our history. Tell me about your powers and when you received them.”

“I won’t until you agree to my
adbertos
.”

Cailleach’s eyes turned frosty. “How dare you!”

“I’m not afraid to die, either, Cailleach. And you should know that I have further knowledge of the mage, and powers that far surpass those of any of the other warriors. You need me in this fight. And I will not fight for you until you agree.”

“You will not mate with
him
.”

She knew that. She knew Cailleach’s wrath and vengeance would not allow her to go that far. Pride resided where her heart should. Lifting her chin, Bronwnn steadied her bounding heart.

“In exchange for sparing Rhys MacDonald’s life, I will mate the wraith, forging the alliance that you so desire, and I will aid the king and his warriors in any way I can. But . . . you must allow me to say good-bye to him. And you must promise never to do him—or his children—any harm.”

Cailleach’s nostrils flared with indignation. “And if I don’t agree?”

“I will run where you cannot find me—
ever
.”

“There is nowhere in Annwyn that I cannot discover you.”

“I will make Rhys take me to the mortal realm.”

That made the goddess seethe. She was bound to Annwyn. She could not leave this world. “You ungrateful little bitch! After everything I’ve done for you after—” She started for her, then stopped, her eyes widening in fear. What she saw looking back at her, Bronwnn had no idea, but suddenly the anger went out of the goddess, and weary reluctance replaced it. “Very well,” Cailleach murmured. “I accept your
adbertos
. You may return with me to the king’s court, and there you may say good riddance to the mortal.”

“Settle your feathers,” Keir demanded. Angrily Rhys flung the wraith’s hands off his shoulders and prowled the length of Bran’s study.

“Don’t tell me to be calm. That bitch could be killing her.”

“Cailleach needs this particular goddess, MacDonald.” Bran sighed. “She isn’t going to kill her.”

“This is bullshit,” Rhys barked. His frustration and fear for Bronwnn were escalating. “She’s out there alone with that—that witch.”

“Bronwnn is the Supreme Goddess’ handmaiden,” Bran reminded him. “She will know how to manage Cailleach’s moods.”

Rhys stopped his pacing and glared at them. “What the hell is an
adbertos
?” Bran and Keir shared a hooded glance. “I’ve never heard the word.”

“That is because it was never allowed to be spoken. Daegan forbade it.”

Then it must be bad news, Rhys thought. Great. What else was happening that he didn’t have a fucking clue about?

“An
adbertos
is a sacrifice,” Keir explained. “It is not something to be done lightly.”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “No way.” What the hell had Bronwnn been thinking? What was she sacrificing? Herself ? Oh, hell no! He’d haul his mortal ass before the Supreme Goddess and kill himself before he allowed Bronwnn to do such a thing.

“You had better get yourself under control, MacDonald, before Cailleach arrives,” Bran ordered. “Your life expectancy is getting perilously shorter, and this mood of yours will not ingratiate you with the goddess.”

“Nothing could, because I’m Daegan’s descendant. She already hates me.”

“When one lives as long as a goddess does, revenge always comes at last.”

Rhys whirled around to find Cailleach standing beside Bronwnn, who was dressed in a hideous gray gown. Their gazes met, and she glanced down, away from him. He wanted to go to her; to ask what had happened; to see if she was okay. But Keir stood beside him, blocking his way.

“My handmaiden has offered me an
adbertos
, which I have accepted. As her wish is to speak with the mortal in private, we will first talk of the mage, and what you know. Then, you may speak to my handmaiden. Do you agree, mortal?”

Bran shot him a glare, and so did Keir. He was raging inside and only wanted to take Bronwnn aside and ask her what the hell she had offered the witch.

“Do you agree, Rhys MacDonald?” Cailleach asked.

“Yes.” But he ignored her look of warning when he strode over to his mate and hauled her into his side.

“Are you all right?” he whispered. She trembled but looked up at him and nodded.

“Now then, you have seen the mage,” Cailleach prompted.

Rhys dragged his gaze away from Bronwnn’s face, which suddenly looked so sad. “I have. He dwells beneath Velvet Haven, in the Cave of Cruachan.”

Everyone in the room sucked in a simultaneous breath. “And how the hell did you find your way into the cave?” Bran demanded.

Rhys stole a look at Keir. “Cliodna brought me to the door. Keir went through, and I followed.”

“That fucking bird,” Sayer snarled.

“Watch your mouth,” both Bran and Keir demanded. Then Keir spoke to him. “I thought you were still in your study. I didn’t feel you behind me.” Keir’s gaze then found Rowan, who was seated by the fire. “I’ve been distracted lately.”

Rhys took pity on his wraith. “
Later
,” he mentally told him.
“I’m alive, and there’re no hard feelings
.
”
Keir’s eyes met his, but Rhys saw there was a new darkness in them. His wraith was consumed with Rowan and her impending death. Nothing could penetrate that wall, not even Rhys.

“And then what?” Cailleach demanded as she took an empty chair beside Bran. Rhys looked away from Keir and settled his gaze upon Cailleach.

“When I was young, Daegan told me stories of Annwyn, and how, if I were to ever find myself there, I should head directly to the reflecting pool where your powers do not immediately reach. He said the reflection of the water acts as a shield and temporarily weakens you.”

Cailleach’s expression turned murderous, but Rhys carried on, not particularly caring if he was spilling the goddess’ weaknesses to everyone in the room.

“He told me how to get to the veil and how to find the pool. So, when I went into the cave and didn’t see Keir, I followed the lit corridor to Annwyn. But then, I was stopped.”

As if by magic, the adder suddenly slithered beneath the oak door and snaked its way into the middle of the room. Everyone quieted as the beady black eyes fixed on Rhys.

“You know this animal?” Keir asked wonderingly.

“I do. He stopped me in the corridor. It allowed the mage to hit me over the head and drag me to his underground crypt.”

“Kill it,” Mairi squealed as she jumped onto a chair. “Oh my God, it’s huge. Bran!” she shouted as the snake started to sway.

“Muirnin,” Bran murmured as he took his queen into his arms. “The adder is a sacred animal. It represents wisdom and reincarnation.”

“I don’t care if it marks the coming of God! Someone get rid of it.”

Rhys bent to his knees, and the snake slithered over to him, climbed up the length of his arm, and wrapped around his bicep. When he glanced up, Keir’s eyes were as big as saucers, and Cailleach was now standing. Only Rowan and Mairi looked alarmed. Bronwnn, he noted, was smiling. He had a way with animals—always had. Like with the snake, and now his wolf as well.

“The snake is a representative of sin and evil throughout the mortal realm. It is a symbol of the fallen angel Lucifer.”

Rhys nodded, acknowledging Cailleach’s claim. “I thought so, too. The mage even called him Lucifer.”

“There are two worlds here,” Cailleach reminded them all. “Two very different doctrines. The mortal is fortunate this particular snake was an ally.”

“Or an agent of the mage,” Sayer stated from his spot in the corner of the room. Rhys had barely noted the Selkie’s presence. But as always, Sayer lurked in the corners, observing.

“How did you escape?” Bran asked quietly.

“The mage fed me a drug and tied me to a slab. I was hallucinating, and he was performing some rite on me. Behind him, there was a woman tied up. And beyond her, in the darkness, was another—a man—although I never saw him. But the mage spoke with him, and he answered back.”

“And the woman?” Bran asked. “What did she look like?”

“Blond. Mortal, I believe. I can’t tell you more. By this time, I was nearly unconscious, and I was losing blood.” Rhys swallowed hard. “He gave me too much of the drug, and I remember that he left me. He wanted me awake. Wanted my screams. When he left me, he went to her.”

Bronwnn pressed into his side, and he took comfort in her embrace. While he wasn’t a suck ass, he was haunted by that woman’s scream and his inability to help her. “He . . . ah . . .”

“Performed sex magick,” Keir supplied, “and you heard it.”

“Yeah.”

“And she was killed.”

Rhys pressed his eyes shut. “Yes.”

Cailleach’s gaze flickered to the snake, then to him. “What significance does this animal have for you?”

“It released me from my bonds and showed me the way out of the cave. When I went through the veil, it was the adder that led me to the pool.”

Cailleach glanced at Bran, then back to him. “An animal ally.”

“There is no denying the snake saved my life.”

“You are a shaman,” Keir said to him, “as am I.”

Rhys shook his head. “No. I merely knew from Daegan’s stories that animals could befriend a person.”

“The adder has seen something in you,” Bran provided. “And to be chosen by the most sacred of animals is something to be revered. It cannot be ignored.”

Rhys gazed down at the adder wrapped around his arm. It was now sleeping. Never in his life had he dreamed that he’d have a reptile twined around his arm, but there it was.

Suddenly, the scales began glistening an iridescent pink, then gold, then finally silver. When the glistening was gone, a silver amulet in the shape of the snake was wrapped around his arm.

Cailleach walked to him then. “You have shed something in favor of something greater. The adder is yours now. Your guide. Your protector.”