Through Time-Slamming (10 page)

“I just saved the human’s life…nothing more,” he shouted trying to explain as he stabbed a drooling thing that looked half insect half human. It fell and he stepped over it as it made a puddle of obscene goo, oozed out of its wound.

“For a Fae who has never related well to humans, you were doing a pretty good job of it.” Jazz snapped at him and took off the head of another monster, wondering how many more there were.

“Jazmine Decker, it was not what you thought,” he countered.

“It was exactly what I thought! You’re opportunist—you—you…” A monster reached out with its claws and slashed her across her face. Blood poured out of her cheek. Trevor made quick work of the fiend trying to feed on the human in front of him so he could help Jazz. He had Jazz in his arms and shifted to a quiet spot while the warriors continued in the battle.

“What are you doing? We are in the middle of…”

He touched her bleeding cheek and watched it heal a moment before he answered her. “There are only a few of them left and our warriors out number them now.” He clicked his tongue, “What is it Jazmine Decker? Do you not believe me? Do you not trust me? I had just saved her life. She was holding on to me because an Unseelie had almost eaten her. It was no more than that and you know it.”

She looked up at him and she did know it. She sank into his arms and said just one thing, “Trevor.”

“Aye, so much so soon,” he answered. “By Danu, don’t you know I am bonded to you love? My essence calls your name. My mind thinks of you above all others. I am a Fae. I live by earth, wind, and fire, but now you are my ground. You are the breeze that gives me life. You are the fire in my blood.”

She looked at him with her mouth open. Her heart was swelling. Then she dove at his chest, hitting him hard enough to knock the wind out of him.

A shaky laugh escaped her.

She had never thought it possible that a male could love like that, especially a male Fae! She wrapped her arms tightly around him. She laughed as she realized she had Fae strength.

“Right then, my little warrior,” he said after a long breath, “I see a few more Unseelie on the loose…”

She grinned at him before they dove into the fight together.

Chapter Eleven

BANZAR HAD BEEN working furiously to get the votes he needed to overthrow the Queen. He had used some very persuasive arguments and it was because he had the full council at his back, that he had the confidence to march down the elegant corridor that led to the Queen’s private quarters.

What he was about to do would put him in jeopardy.

Neither he nor the members at his back were royals. They had served on the Council for centuries and that gave them all a sense of power.

The Queen was not just a Royal, but a Daoine Royal., Daoine Fae were the highest caste of Fae with the most magical and scientific abilities imaginable. He knew she was respectful of the Council’s position in her reign, and would not use those powers against them.

Her renowned abilities were formidable. With the flick of her wrist she could send them to cool their heels in the middle of a mountain, where she could trap them for eternity if she so desired. What he was attempting to do, was dangerous to them all, but more so for him. He believed the Queen had never really liked or respected him.

Even so, he depended on her sense of fair play. She would hear them out. She was not yet prepared to harm any of them. She just was not that sort and that was another of her failings.

He would cut down his enemies before they could strike.

She, on the other hand, would first attempt to show the members they had made a grave mistake. She would attempt to talk sense into them and show them their failed logic, easing them into backing down. Her diplomacy was always though charming and quite convincing, undeniable in its might. He would have to be cunning and make it impossible for them to do so.

He could smell the fear on some of them at his back. He could sense the sudden indecision in others as he raised his hand and pounded fiercely at her door.

Her voice when it invited him in was such that he experienced a moment’s weakness. She seemed too confident, for surely she knew who was on the other side of her door and why they were there.

Some of the members began to murmur to one another as he raised his hands. “There is no turning back. We are here to do the right thing for our fellow Fae and our lives here in Tir”

“Enter,” said Queen Aaibhe.

He opened the door wide so that she could see in one fell swoop of her glance who was backing him up.

Her head was held high. Her smile, was as always confident and when she directed it at him, contemptuous.

She would see now what he could do!

He looked back at the members he had collected and nodded encouragingly at them. He could almost feel a few of them tremble.

He thought them, cowards. He could see the worry flit across even his most reliable followers’ faces.

He smiled at them and then led them a few feet into her chamber and then all at once stopped.

Queen Mab had been out on Aaibhe’s balcony communicating silently with Deimne. With Banzar’s entrance, she stepped into view. Her brows arched. She had an arrogant expression on her lovely face. She had been alive and the ruler of the Daoine Fae for over one hundred thousand years. She was Aaibhe’s cousin and she did not look pleased.

Banzar was momentarily taken by surprise, then hit with a sense of unease. The members at his back were astounded and a few of them stepped backward, their heads lowered respectfully.

Queen Aaibhe stood tall and regal, exquisite as always. Queen Mab took a few strategic steps and stood right by her side.

Alone, Queen Aaibhe was a commanding presence, but with her cousin by her side, Mab the Queen of the Daoine, the Council was completely undone by the might both matriarchs.

Banzar had not expected this. He silently chastised himself for walking into it unguarded. Daoine never visited Tir. The Seelie always thought them too arrogant and never gave them much thought, but he should have known.

He should have realized that the Daoine would fight the onslaught of the Unseelie.

For a moment he was overwhelmed with the task he had set for himself.

This was a serious complication
.

His obsession had made him reckless. He felt it was the moment to make his move regardless of Queen Mab’s presence. He could not keep the Council members on the edge teetering to his side much longer. He could almost feel their retreat behind him.

Neither Queen spoke, but their mood was palpable.

Banzar cleared his throat and his voice squeaked out of him and as he heard himself. He attempted to gain control of his nerves as he said, “I regret, Queen Aaibhe, that I must inform you, we have taken a vote and have found that you have broken Seelie Fae law.”

Queen Mab clicked her tongue and looked at Aaibhe, “How do you suffer these fools?”

Aaibhe smiled softly at her and turned to Banzar. “Indeed, why don’t you tell me how I have done so.”

“You are physically interfering with the human world. You have sent
our warriors
to fight on their behalf. Our law prevents us from interfering with the humans and their world.”

“But that is not exactly what I am doing, as you well know,” the Queen answered calmly.

“It is precisely what you are doing!” Banzar snapped.

“And that is why you are not fit to lead my Council Members. All of whom I am gravely disappointed in.” She held her head high and with a slight sneer, and said, “The Dark Prince has moved his monsters into the Human Realm. The lower castes are feeding on the humans and
will multiply
if not stopped. We have a duty to stop them from feeding on humans, because we brought them to this universe when we left Danu. It was our duty to keep them imprisoned. When they have conquered the humans, where next do you think they will turn?” She pyramided her fingers. “What my Council should be doing is research for me. I need to discover where we can gather the
Twalla
which will keep them in the Dark Realm once we have returned them there. That is what you should be concentrating on doing.” She eyed them all, “Now I think you should all leave and reflect on what you have tried to do today.”

Her Council would have left then. They would have run for they could see she was out of patience, but Banzar put up his hand. Some of them stayed because they felt now they could no longer turn back. If she remained Queen, they were doomed. Others stayed out of way. Others stayed because they thought they should be heard and explain their actions to the Queen.

“No my Queen. We will not be thrown off course by scare tactics,” Banzar said.

“Will you not?” Aaibhe returned her brilliant eyes glittering.

Mab raised her hand, “Do let me send them off somewhere out of the way.”

Aaibhe smiled at her cousin and turned back to them and said simply, “As I said, please leave. Scurry back to your hovels and think about your priorities.”

“We have no choice but to continue with this. We have, you see voted to remove you,” said Banzar.

The Council broke out into objections. For most of them, this was suddenly unthinkable. They had in fact been led by the Queen through those first unthinkable years after Danu’s destruction. Suddenly a few of them saw what they were doing with distaste and began to protest.

Aaibhe’s lips trembled with her outrage, “Banzar, tread carefully. I consider your actions now at such a tumultuous time to be treasonable.”

“It is odd how
we
consider yours.” Banzar didn’t know where the courage was coming from to take such an unprecedented stand.

The Council members had been quietly arguing amongst themselves. Then one spoke up and said, “Indeed, Queen Aaibhe. Banzar has a very grave point. You sent the warriors into battle without even consulting us.”

“It’s my right as your Queen. It’s my right as a warrior.
It’s my right
…
period!
” returned Aaibhe.

“We don’t have time for this Aaibhe,” Queen Mab said as she regarded these Fae with contempt. “Shall I put them somewhere you may deal with later?”

“No, it is not my way.” She turned to Banzar. “Have you any military willing to put me under arrest?”

Banzar frowned. He did not. He had tried to talk a few of their royal militant leaders to follow him, and they had laughed at him. “I did not think that was necessary. I mean only to put you under house arrest in the comfort of your own quarters. We are not barbaric after all.”

“Are you not?” she sneered at him. “And how then do you mean to recall the warriors I have sent into battle?”

“You will do that as your duty, commanded by the vote we have taken,” he answered.

Queen Mab was out of patience. She flicked her wrist and the entire Council vanished.

Aaibhe was not shocked but concerned as she turned, “Mab, what have you done?”

“Aaibhe, we have a problem in Killarney and they were taking up our valuable time.” Queen Mab said.

“But dearest, what have you done with them?”

“I have sent them to a dimension where they cannot be harmed and where they can do no harm. It will give them pause and perhaps they can reflect on the majesty of their Queen, her loyal family, and Royals and her warriors.” She shook her head, “None of those fools were royals, Aaibhe. Why you appointed them is a mystery to me.”

“I wanted the point of view of our citizens,” Aaibhe said.

“They have lost touch with your citizens. I do not wish to discuss them. Deimne has finished removing the Portal from Venice and has shifted to Killarney where your Royals are in a fierce battle. We must concentrate on that.”

Aaibhe knew she was correct. She could if she wished insist that Mab return her Council to Tir and let them do what they wanted. Mab, however, had a very good point. They had lost touch with everything important and perhaps they needed this time away, reflecting on the magic that was
not
theirs. It just might help her political situation.

“Very well then, Mab. We will speak of this afterwards, as I do not wish to retrieve my Council without your leave.”

Mab smiled and touched her younger cousin’s face. Aaibhe knew that no one ever balked at what Mab did any longer. She was her senior by thousands of years and her experience and wisdom was legend.

Mab said softly, “You with all your wisdom and life challenges have much to learn if you are to survive creatures such as Banzar. He, like Gaiscioch is only concerned with
his own
needs and puts his entire race at risk to achieve that. The others following him have forgotten who they are and what they
owe you
. I am glad you have not forgotten the respect due to yourself, but in this I shall overrule you. They can rot in the realm I have sent them, for they are no longer trustworthy.”