New World Order (War of the Fae: Book 4) (40 page)

“If you’re not Dark Fae, what are you doing in their compound, bringing their elemental to see us?” yelled a dwarf I remembered as being one of Niles’ friends.

“I had to go there for healing.
 
The situation presented itself for me to learn more about this problem all of the fae are having and I took it.”
 
He shrugged his big shoulders.
 
“I do not apologize for doing what needed to be done.”

“I trusted you,” said Ben, angrily, before he thought to keep his emotions to himself and replaced his angry face with one of cold indifference.

“I have not betrayed your trust,” said Chase, matter of factly.
 
“What I have done has been for your best interests – as it has been for the Light Fae as well.”

Red stood up, full of righteous indignation.
 
“You cannot be serving both interests at the same time.
 
Do you take us for fools?!”

I stayed in my seat, not yet sure how I could defend Chase to these fae.
 
Unfortunately, Red made more sense to me right now than Chase did, which was seriously depressing.
 
I was starting to wonder if my fantasy relationship with Chase was going to remain just that – a fantasy
.
 
I sighed in frustration.
 
Guys totally suck.
 
Why can’t they just make sense for a change?

“I do not take you for fools, no.
 
I take you for reasonable, rational beings who can see the real threat when it is in front of them.
 
Your enemy is neither the Dark Fae elemental who stands before you now nor any of his brethren.
 
Your enemy has come in the form of orcs.
 
It has come in the form of a demon who brutally murdered Jayne’s mother and tried to take Jayne from you.
 
Your enemies reside in the Underworld today ... but they are coming to the Here and Now soon, make no mistake about it.”

The words spoken to me by the demon standing in my mother’s living room came flooding back.
 
I don’t know why I hadn’t been worried about them over the past few hours – maybe I’d blocked them out so I could move through the day without a feeling of imminent doom hanging over my head.
 
But now the truth of what Chase was saying suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks.
 
I could hardly breathe for a second.
 
My hand went to my chest and I struggled to get my lungs to work properly.
 
In, out .... in, out.
 
You can do this.

I saw Red, who was still standing, look down at me, confusion marring his usually cranky features.
 
I held up my hand to let him know I wasn’t going to die just yet.
 
I just needed to get myself back to normal.
 
I brought some of The Green up into my body, just enough to take the edge of terror off.
 
Immediately my cloak took on an even greater shine, almost glowing now with the connection firmly in place, the energy flowing around me and cooling me off, calming me down.

“Uh-oh,” said Tim.
 
“Someone’s going into a commaaaa ... ”

“Shut up,” I whispered, sending The Green back into the earth beneath the compound.
 
“I just needed a little boost.”

I looked up and realized the place had gone silent, everyone watching me talk to Tim – which I’m sure just looked like me talking to myself.
 
There were probably more than a few fae questioning the wisdom of council members who put a lunatic at the head table.
 
I sighed.
 
There was just no getting away from this constant self-doubt for me.
 
I wondered if I was ever going to feel comfortable in this role.

“I think it’s best if you heard this part of the story from Jayne.
 
She was present when the demon told her his plan.”

I started shaking my head.
 
No fucking way was I going to confess to the entire fae nation that a nasty ass demon wanted to do the dirty deed with me and have me give birth to his terrifying spawn.
 
The disturbing vision of demon wieners started dancing in my brain again.
 
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block the images that taunted me.
 

Céline stood up, casually resting her hand on my shoulder, immediately bringing me a small measure of peace.
 
“I don’t think that will be necessary, as I was also there.
 
Jayne suffered an extreme trauma that day with her mother’s death.
 
I’m certain she doesn’t remember all of the details; I, however, do.
 
Therefore, please allow me to explain.”

I loved her in that moment.
 
She was my personal superhero.
 
Céline – slayer of personal dragons.
 

She went on to relate the devious plans of the demon and I pretended not to care or be humiliated by all of it.
 
Some of the fae snuck glances at me, but for the most part those glances held pity and sadness – nothing that made me feel bad about myself.
 
I was grateful for that.

I could tell she was finishing up when she said, “And so you see, there is something happening here.
 
What it is, we are not sure exactly.
 
But we felt it important enough that we agreed to allow Chase to re-enter the compound so he could share the information he has with all of us.”

The murmurs in the crowd began as soon as Céline took her seat.
 

Dardennes allowed it to go on for a while until he saw a lot of faces starting to look our way.
 
Then he said, “We ask you now to submit your comments or questions.”

They didn’t waste any time.
 
A witch stood and said, “You speak as if you aren’t Light Fae and you aren’t yet Dark either.
 
What are you then, if you claim allegiance to no one?”

Chase stood up taller and said firmly.
 
“I claim allegiance to one fae and one fae only.
 
Jayne.
 
Your Mother.”

My heart felt like it was going to explode.
 
My face started burning along with my ears.
 
I knew I was red to the roots of my hair.
 
He didn’t turn to look at me, thank goodness, because I probably would have fainted if I had seen his face right then.
 
Not only was he practically declaring himself to me, he was also calling me that ridiculous name again.
 
And he knew how much it bothered me.
 
I was definitely going to have to smack him when I got close enough.

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“It’s as much of an answer as you’re going to get,” he said.
 
I noticed that he seemed more like the real Chase than he had in a long time – no more giggling, no more smiling.
 
He was all business.
 
Somehow it made him more attractive and more intimidating, all at the same time.

“He should have to answer our questions; if he’s here to submit himself to us, how are we supposed to trust what he says if he won’t tell us who he really is?”

Finn stood up.
 
“He’s just a confused changeling, is all.
 
Ya’ll just need to give ‘im a break.”

Red, who had sat down, listening to Chase with growing indignation, piped up again.
 
“He’s no simple changeling.”

I could see the suspicion blooming across his face.
 
Of course I knew Chase was no simple changeling either – as did Becky ... and Céline and Dardennes, because I had told them.
 
But I wasn’t going to be the one to blow his cover.
 
I figured the more fae who knew, the less chance I had that he’d be sticking around.
 
And I didn’t want him to leave.
 
I needed him here with me.
 
I wasn’t up on the protocol of Overworld creatures mingling with us in the Here and Now, and I still wasn’t exactly sure what I believed about Chase and all that stuff, but it seemed implausible that an angel or a demon could just hang out with us in our realm forever.
 
Seemed like it would throw the balance off or something.
 
The more I thought about it, the more depressed I became.

“You have heard what I came to say.
 
I would like to get the Light Fae council and the Dark Fae council together to discuss this matter.
 
On neutral territory.”

The fae started grumbling amongst themselves again.
 
Dardennes walked over behind our seats, ignoring the crowd, so we all stood to join him in a circle.
 
He spoke in low tones so that only we could hear him.

“What do you think, council members?
 
He is suggesting something that has not occurred in eons.”

“You guys meeting with their council?
 
You guys never do that?”
 
It seemed kind of silly to me.
 
I mean, even my human country’s leaders got together with their enemies from time to time, to try and work things out.
 
Sometimes it even worked.

“No.
 
It isn’t done,” said Red.

“I don’t like it,” said Niles from a couple feet down.
 
He was one suspicious looking dwarf.

“I think it’s necessary,” interjected Céline.
 
“You didn’t see that demon.
 
If more of his kind come here – I’m afraid to think of what that could mean, not only for us, but for the humans as well.
 
And where would we be without them?”

All of the council members began looking at one another.
 
I decided to give it a shot.
 
“Listen, what’s the harm in talking?
 
We can use our witches to make sure they don’t try anything funny.
 
I saw that demon too.
 
Céline covered for my ass a minute ago saying I didn’t remember, which I appreciate, but the truth is, I remember everything.
 
They have some big, disgusting plans.
 
And if you guys don’t mind, I’d rather not be a demon mommy anytime soon.
 
So can we please just agree to meet with them once?
 
To talk?
 
I promise I’ll behave.”

Dardennes smiled.
 
“We are not concerned about your behavior.”

“Speak for yourself,” grumbled Red.

Dardennes frowned at him and Red had the good sense to look slightly chagrined.
 

“All in favor of a single meeting with the Dark Fae council, to be held on common ground and presided over by Chase, say aye.”

Everyone but Red and Niles answered in the affirmative.
 

“The ayes have it.
 
I will push to have this meeting tomorrow.”

We broke apart and went back to our seats.
 
I looked at Chase and winked.
 
He nodded ever so slightly at me and then turned his eyes towards Dardennes, who began speaking as soon as he reached his chair.

“The council has voted in favor of a meeting with the Dark Fae council, to be held tomorrow and presided over by Chase.
 
This meeting will be closed to other fae, including those who may think they wish to listen in.”
 
He gave a pointed look towards the witches in the back of the room who looked at each other with what appeared to be guilty looks on their faces.

“We will ask that witches particularly adept in providing protection spells and charms come see us after this assembly so we can discuss our safety at the meeting.
 
We also ask the leader of the ogres to please be prepared to provide us with ten of your group for additional personal security.”

I was happy to hear we were going to have muscle there, just in case the witchy stuff didn’t work out.
 
In my experience, it tended to backfire as often as it worked.
 
Maybe that’s because I’d been on the receiving end of Samantha’s talents too many times.

“We will hold another assembly tomorrow evening to conclude this business with all of you and to let you know the outcome of our meeting with the Dark Fae.
 
Please report back here at six in the evening tomorrow for the update, unless you hear otherwise.”

Being on the council gave me the right to leave before everyone else, but I wanted to talk to Chase and Becky, so I left my seat and went down to the stage in front of the head table.
 

Becky came running over to me and grabbed me in a fierce hug, while Tim buzzed around our heads.
 

Tim started talking a mile a minute, “Tell her I’m happy to see her.
 
Tell her she looks good.
 
Tell her I don’t hold it against her that she mingled with the bad fae.
 
Ask her if she saw Abby.
 
No, wait, don’t ask her that.”

“Tim’s glad to see you back.
 
So am I.”