ters.
No time to think about that as she turned and found a seven foot centipede with the head of a young and lovely human coming at her. She froze for a moment, staring at the innocent face as its many scrambling insect arms reached for her.
It went down suddenly and she saw Trevor with his Death Sword dripping green . She smiled at him, but he wasn’t smiling back. He took her upper arm and brought her in close, his voice a low hard growl, “Do you want me sick with worry? Is that what you want? Do you want me rushing in and unable to fight properly while I search for you?” he shouted at her.
“No Trev, I couldn’t stand by…”
“Don’t ever go off like that again, Jazmine Decker. You owe it to me to speak with me before you rush into battle. I have that much right, do I not?” he said as he shifted his hold to her waist and drew her closer still. Even in the midst of death and destruction, his love was like a halo all around him. He glowed and she felt his love as she said, “Okie dokie.” Now, let’s do this!”
“Right, but you need to know that Breslyn demanded and received permission to come in with the Dagda Warriors as well, so he will be surrounding the city and moving in with Morgan LeBlanc and his Milesians. We will have them contained so you and me, Jazmine Decker mine, we go back to back. You don’t leave my side. We’ll work the heart of the city while they bring in the rest.”
“Agreed, Trev, agreed.” She stepped away to fling her sword into the back of a giant slimy thing. It looked like half Lizard, half human in appearance. The creature dropped where it stood as she called her sword back to her. She saw Trev grin out of the corner of her eye. She suddenly realized that she had somehow turned into a warrior.
Chapter Sixteen
RECONNAISSANCE WAS A thing Deimne usually enjoyed, however this time it was difficult to think of anything other than the fact that the bastard monsters were stealing his time with his daughter. More than anything, all he wanted to do was be with Frankie and hear about her dreams and her needs. He wanted to tell her stories of their heritage, get to know her, and allow her to know him. He was a father and that was all he wanted to be.
Frankie should have all his attention. She should have all his time, every minute that she wanted should be hers.
He found himself adoring her. She had such a sweet and caring nature and there was great wisdom in such a young life. He could only imagine what she would grow up to be.
He had always come first. He had always put his needs first in the past and it struck him as momentous that he now first thought of Frankie’s needs above his own.
How very odd.
As Morrigu’s Castle came into view Deimne shifted into Sluagh invisibility. It was one of his special powers. Although other Daoine and Seelie Fae would be able to see through it, Unseelie could not.
He smiled at the notion of tricking the Dark Princes and getting what his Queen needed for their next move.
He had during his flight, already received news via his mind link with Queen Mab regarding the atrocities being committed in Dublin.
He was certain from his experience and observations of the Royal Seelie that they would contain it, but the human authorities would now be drawn into battle with their armies. Soon the land he loved, his beloved Scotland, his glorious Highlands, and his sweepingly lovely Ireland would be covered with blood.
Containment first and aggression next. That is what he had told Queen Mab and she had agreed.
First, he would follow through with Queen Aaibhe’s idea. She was a brilliant Daoine and the Seelie were lucky to have had her, he proudly thought. Then a rush of darkness swept into him and he sucked in air and steadied himself as he felt the Dark Magic frigid power.
Pestale was somewhere below.
He would have to get this done as quickly as he could for he had always been concerned about the power of Dark Magic. Queen Mab maintained that white magic was always stronger than dark, but he wasn’t so sure.
The plight of the humans flitted through his mind and he found himself surprised by the empathy that he felt for their present situation. He had discovered over the centuries that humans could be most endearing when they least realized it. He had always held himself aloof from them, but he had not always been blind to their many trials and tribulations. On the whole, he thought that the human race was an undeveloped life force who did not have immortality to protect them. In spite of their fear of death they were forever diving in to save one another or an ideal to secure their freedom. Indeed, it was his race’s duty to keep the Dark Ones at bay and out of their world. Perhaps they would develop into a finer race in the end.
He thought of Frankie’s mother. He had adored her. He could not remember a time when he believed he cared for a female to the point of bonding. That had not happened for him, but he had come close with Frankie’s mother. She had been a beauty whose soul had called to him. How had he not seen that she was a Fios?
Had he known, he would have insisted she come with him to Sluagh and be his mate. Indeed, he now believed they would have been happy. He should have insisted they raise their child together. He should have, but she seemed to love that farmer human of hers and his pride had been jolted. And now, because he had wanted to please her, he let her do what she said she needed to do. She was now gone. He had made a poor decision. He should never have given up his right to be with his child.
Now he would set that right and he damn well meant to make this world free of the abominations presently traversing his dear Ireland and Scotland. All so that Frankie’s life would be carefree.
As he circled the Grampian Mountains that hid Morrigu’s Castle, he cloaked himself in his Sluagh shield in addition to his invisibility. He felt he couldn’t be too cautious when it came to Pestale and his black power.
Pestale had an uncanny way of guessing what and where the Royals would go and do and he was forever preparing his little surprises for them.
Deimne’s flight brought him directly over Morrigu’s castle. He hovered high in the clouds. His great white, glittering wings were strong as they worked to keep him in place as he surveyed the scene below.
Maxine Reigate came to mind.
She was a High Druid Priestess and had the powers of a Fios although she was not one in the true sense. She had threatened him with the wand upon their first encounter. It made him smile for she was not an immortal. She was so brave. She was his friend and he had learned a great deal about humans from her, as he had from Shee Willow. He had learned to trust what they told him was his gut.