“True, but what that scumbag of a demon didn’t realize is that I’m a snake shifter and even a demon’s no real match against the venom in my fangs,” Vixen said, letting out a rich laugh. “Taipans are far more deadly than most people think.”
The doorbell rang and I excused myself as they continued to spin out their story.
I opened the door. Four tall guards were standing on the porch. They looked almost Amazonian, but I knew they weren’t Amazons—not with incredible tattoos that I recognized as Celtic in origin. The knotwork ran up their arms and the shortest one must have been six feet. The women wore silver winged helmets and black trousers with silver tunics, and they were carrying dirks, sheathed at their sides.
A shiver ran up my spine. They carried heavy magic. It rippled over my arms, making the hair stand to attention. The magic wasn’t chaotic like Pandora’s energy, but whoever they were, these guards weren’t lacking for defense.
“Yes, how can I help you?” Even as I asked the question, I knew. They were sent by the Banra-Sheagh.
The one in the frontmost position straightened her shoulders. “By order of the Banra-Sheagh, I command you in the name of Her Majesty to accompany me to Reímseil-Tabah, to stand before the Queen and answer the charges brought against you.”
I stared at her, unable to speak. Charges brought against me? What the hell had I done? Finally, finding my tongue, I turned around and called for my mother.
Chapter Four
I had no intention of letting the guards waltz through my front door, but they had other plans and before I realized what was happening, they pushed their way into the house, firmly but quietly. Crap, I thought. Even if I told them I was in the middle of a dinner party, they weren’t likely to apologize and agree to come back later.
Herne and Kipa immediately bristled. The cousins stared at the guards with suspicion and Kipa stepped around me, inserting himself between us.
“Who are you and what do you want with my mate?” he said. “You do realize who I am?”
One of the guards blinked, but the one who had ordered me to come with them barely even showed a response.
“Yes, you’re Kuippana, Lord of the Wolves, and this is Herne, Lord of the Hunt. We know who you are. Now step aside. We’re here to escort Raven BoneTalker to Her Majesty, the Banra-Sheagh,” the guard said.
Herne paled, but Kipa seemed oblivious to the guard’s words.
“You’re royal guards to the Banra-Sheagh?” Herne asked.
The guard shifted from one foot to the other. “Yes, and we have been ordered to take Raven BoneTalker into custody.”
Herne gave me a quick look. “What the hell is going on, Raven?”
“I don’t know—my mother warned me today that they were being sent, but she didn’t know what they wanted either,” I said. My irritation was rapidly giving way to fear and I felt myself spiraling down a dark hole. I felt like a child, facing a big, bad monster. “Mother, what do I do?” I asked as Phasmoria pushed herself in front of Kipa.
“What do you mean, showing up like this and threatening to arrest my daughter?” She shook her finger at the lead guard, her eyes flaring. The guard held firm.
“Do not interfere, Queen of the Bean Sidhe. This is not your affair.”
“It most certainly is my affair,” my mother said, gritting her teeth. “Raven is my daughter and you will treat her with respect.”
“Very well, you may accompany us. But if she doesn’t come with us now, we’ll drag her out in chains.” The guard reached for her dirk.
Attached to her belt were silver cuffs. At least they weren’t iron. “I’ll go, but my mother’s coming with me.”
“That is acceptable,” the guard said. “Two allies may accompany you.”
I turned to Kipa, who was scowling. “Will you come?” I glanced at Herne. “Will you ask Angel to lock up, and ask Apollo to look after Raj and the ferrets in case we’re detained?”
Herne’s eyes filled with worry. “Of course,” he said.
My mother turned to the guard. “Give us time to dress for the weather.”
The guard grimaced but acquiesced. “Be quick about it.”
Phasmoria hustled me toward the foyer closet. “We don’t dare take more than a few minutes or they will drag you out in chains. Hurry now, grab a jacket. I’ll explain to Herne what I told you as we go.”
I rushed to the foyer closet.
Angel came up, frowning. “What’s going on? Are you all right?”
“Truth? No. And I’m not sure. My mother, Kipa, and I have to leave.” I gave her a quick hug. “Herne can explain a little after we’re gone. Tell everyone I’ll be back as soon as I can. Give Raj a hug from me and explain I didn’t have time to say good-bye. He worries so much ever since what happened with Pandora.”
“Of course—” She paused as the guards moved toward me.
“I have to go,” I said, hastily slipping into a vintage military coat in steampunk style. Glancing back at Raj, who was frowning, I hustled the guards outside so he wouldn’t see them if they decided to handcuff me. My mother and Kipa were waiting. Kipa reached for me, but the guard stepped between us.
“Do not touch the prisoner,” she said. “Are you ready?”
“Ready,” I said. I had my purse with me, but I had left all weapons behind. It wasn’t a bright idea to show up at a palace packing heat, blades, or anything else.
The guard held out her hand and right in front of her, a swirling vortex opened. I blinked—whoever she was, she was powerful. As she and another guard flanked my sides, and the other two brought up the rear, behind Kipa and my mother, we stepped through the vortex, into the portal, and everything seemed to shimmer and shift around me.
Portals were always disconcerting, even if you were used to them, and this was no exception. The world fell out from beneath my feet and everything began to swirl, blending into a blur of stars and motion, of energy tracers and glowing clouds. I felt like I was falling, but then my feet hit the ground and I opened my eyes, cautiously looking around.
Overhead, the moon was shining down onto a field of snow that glistened as though it had diamonds sparkling on the surface. The trees were tall, black silhouettes against the night sky that stood like solemn guardians over the woodland. Everything looked like the forests back home, except for a subtle difference that I could feel on an energetic level. There was magic in the air, the feeling of electricity that swam around me like at the height of a lightning storm. As I stared up at the stars, they seemed to blaze a path across the night sky, a thousand suns almost blotting out the moon.
I caught my breath, spellbound. I loved being out under the stars, but even in the years before light pollution had become such an impediment to seeing the night sky, I had never seen anything quite like this.
“Where are we?” I asked.
One of the guards glanced at me. “You’re in Reímseil-Tabah, which is near Caer Arianrhod.”
I froze. Caer Arianrhod was the home of Arianrhod, the goddess of the Silver Wheel. She was the original ice queen, sitting on her throne of stars as her realm rolled through the universe. That the Banra-Sheagh’s realm was close to Arianrhod’s didn’t bode well for me, if the Queen of the Ante-Fae was anything like the goddess. Arianrhod wasn’t evil, but she was aloof and near untouchable; she was as far away from humans and Otherkin as were the Force Majeure.