Witchbane (Book 5 in The Twilight Court Series) Read online

  Witchbane

  Amy Sumida

  Copyright © 2016 Amy Sumida

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-10:1540651487

  ISBN-13: 978-1540651488

  More Books by Amy Sumida

  The Godhunter Series(in order)

  Godhunter

  Of Gods and Wolves

  Oathbreaker

  Marked by Death

  Green Tea and Black Death

  A Taste for Blood

  The Tainted Web

  Series Split:

  These books can be read together or separately

  Harvest of the Gods & A Fey Harvest

  Into the Void & Out of the Darkness

  Perchance to Die

  Tracing Thunder

  Light as a Feather

  Rain or Monkeyshine

  Blood Bound

  Eye of Re

  My Soul to Take

  As the Crow Flies

  Beyond the Godhunter

  A Darker Element

  Out of the Blue

  The Twilight Court Series

  Fairy-Struck

  Pixie-Led

  Raven-Mocking

  Here there be Dragons

  (Witchbane)

  Other Books

  The Magic of Fabric

  Feeding the Lwas: A Vodou Cookbook

  There's a Goddess Too

  The Vampire-Werewolf Complex

  Enchantress

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  Pronunciation Guide

  Aideen: Ay-deen

  Ainsley: Ains-lee

  Aodh: Ee

  Balloch: Bal-lock

  Baobhan sith: Baa-vahn-she

  Basmhor: ba-svar (Gaelic for deadly)

  Beag: big(k)

  Bean-sidhe: ban-she

  Cailleach Bheur: CALL-yack Burr or COY-ick Burr

  Catan: KAH-tan

  Cliona: CLEE-oh-nah

  Criarachan: CREE-are-rock-ahn

  Craos-Teine: Cr-oo-SH Teh-nay (Gaelic for a blazing red hot fire)

  Cúl tóna: cool tone-ah (dickhead in Gaelic)

  Dathadair: Dath-ah-dare (death omen in Gaelic)

  Dhoire: Doy-rah

  Diocail: JU-kel

  Duergar: Doo-ay-gahr

  Each-Uisge: Ech-oosh-kee-ya

  Eadan: Ae-dan

  Elara: Ee-lah-ra

  Ewan: You-win

  Fir Darrig: Fear-durg

  Gancanagh: Gon-cawn-ah

  Ghillie-Dhu: Gill-ee-doo

  Glastig: Clee-stickh

  Gradh: Grah

  Greer: Gree-air

  Gwyllion: Gwith-lee-on

  Iseabal: Ish-bal

  Keelut: Kray-ee-oot

  Keir: Keer

  Latharna: LA-ur-na

  Lonnegawn: lonny-goon (forest dwelling plant-person)

  Lorcan: Lore-cawn

  Mairte: Mahrj-tah

  Marcan: MOR-kawn

  Mo ghaol bith-buan: Mo gurl beeth boo-ahn (my eternal love in Gaelic)

  Mo shíorghrá: Muh HEER-grah “my eternal love” in Gaelic.

  Moire: Moy-rah

  Mór: Mo-ore

  Mufasa: Moo-fah-sah

  Nathair-sith: Nah-hith-she

  Nighean: Na-yee-in

  Nuckelavee: Nuke-ah-lah-vee

  Paslein: Pahs-leen, a type of fairy butterfly with crystalline wings

  Qalupalik: Kah-loo-pah-look

  Rayetayah: Rah-yay-tah-yah

  Raza: Rah-zah

  Ryvel: Rival

  Searc: Sherk

  Seelie: See-lee

  Seren: Sare-rin

  Seudachan: Shay-da-kan (jewel box in Gaelic)

  Sorcha: SORE-sha

  Tiernan: Teer-nin

  Torquil: Tore-quill

  Tursa: Ture-sah (a type of fairy bear)

  Uisdean: OOSH-jan

  Unseelie: Un-see-lee

  Character List

  There was a request made for a character list for my other series, so I thought I'd do one for the Twilight Court too. I'll try to keep it as updated as possible but be prepared for it to get long. Please just skim it and use it as a reference.

  Abigail Teagan: Extinguisher. Seren's close friend.

  Aidan: Pack witch, Alpha of Missouri, werewolf.

  Aideen Evergreen: Twilight dryad. Works at Gentry Technologies.

  Ainsley: Twilight sidhe, knight, and member of the Star's Guard.

  Akhila Trivedi: Flame elder, witch.

  Alan Murdock: Head of Human Council House in San Francisco. Brendan's father.

  Albert Fremond: Quake witch who got thicker and taller after visiting Fairy.

  Alby: Twilight knight and member of the King's Guard.

  Alex Kavanaugh: Extinguisher, telepath and twin brother to Alexis.

  Alexis Kavanaugh: Extinguisher, telepath, and twin sister to Alex.

  Aluki: Unseelie qalupalik.

  Amanda: Human girl Seren saved from Unseelie.

  Aodh Silvereed: Seelie sylph and brother to Nighean.

  Arran: Unseelie corrigan caster.

  Balloch: Unseelie shellycoat Seren rescued from Seelie, friends with Raza.

  Bambam: Unseelie bunyip, Lord of Australian rath.

  Barran: Twilight sidhe and hunter.

  Baxia: King of the Court of the Nine Sons, sea dragon.

  Beatrix: Unseelie corrigan caster.

  Beixi: King of the Court of the Nine Sons, sea dragon. And yes, I know these sea dragon names are really similar to each other but I didn't come up with them, these are the names from the myths.

  Bian: King of the Court of the Nine Sons, sea dragon.

  Bixi: King of the Court of the Nine Sons, sea dragon.

  Breasal: Twilight knight and member of the Star's Guard.

  Brendan Murdock: Extinguisher. Grew up with Seren and had a crush on her until she rejected him. Now he's a bit of an ass.

  Bress Thorn: Unseelie sidhe, Marquess, and Seren's cousin.

  Brett: Unseelie sidhe, knight, and member of the King's Guard.

  Briana Sloane: Head of Human Council House in New York.

  Cailleach Bheur: Unseelie hag who caused a bit of trouble with her staff in Pixie-Led.

  Cat(riona); Seren's best friend and twilight puka.

  Catan: Head of Twilight Council House.

  Chad: King Chiwen of the Court of the Nine Sons, sea dragon.

  Chantelle Robinson: Elder of Tide, witch.

  Chaofeng: King of the Court of the Nine Sons, sea dragon.

  Cliona Timberstride: Seelie sidhe and Tiernan's ex-wife (AKA that bitch who broke Tiernan's heart).

  Conri Shatterhowl: Twilight bargest and knight, on Seren's Star's Guard (and is a horrible flirt).

  Corc: Twilight sidhe. The dungeon guard when Moire came for Bress.

  Crispin Arterbury: Elder of Bite, witch.

  Dagur: Unseelie dark elf.

  Daiyu: Queen of the Court of the Nine Sons and sea dragon.

  Daniel Claybourn: Elder of Casters, bite witch.

  Davy: Unseelie sidhe and Lord of the Alaskan Rath.

  Diocail Shadowcall: Seelie sidhe and Tiernan's father.

  Dylan Thorn: Unseelie sidhe, duke, heir to Unseelie, and Seren's uncle.

  Effie: Unseelie qalupalik.

  Elara Blair: Caster witch, ex-Storm witch, Killian's mother.

  Elena: Twilight sidhe and lady-in-waiting.

  Digby: Twilight knight and member of the Star's Guard.

  Eadan Gale: Lord of the Wild Hunt, unseelie sidhe.

  Ed Teagan: Extinguisher: Worked on t
he Cailleach case with Seren.

  Ewan Sloane: Extinguisher, raised Seren. He believed himself to be her father until the truth of his wife's adultery came out.

  Frederick: Storm witch who grew tiny dragonfly wings after visiting Fairy.

  Gabriel Alegre: Elder of Beckoning, witch.

  Gradh: Twilight sidhe, knight, and the only female member of the Star's Guard.

  Greer: Councilman of the High Fairy Council, seelie sidhe.

  Haoxian: King of the Court of the Nine Sons, sea dragon.

  Hana: Unseelie dragon-djinn, countess, and Raza's cousin.

  Horacio: Unseelie duende, hunter stationed in Hawaii.

  Iain: Twilight sidhe, knight, member of the Star's Guard.

  Illarion Maksimov: Elder of Storm, witch.

  Iseabal Bloodburn: Queen of the Seelie, seelie sidhe, and Keir's mother (Seren's grandmother).

  Ivor: Unseelie corrigan, caster.

  Jake Sloane: Worked on the Cailleach case with Seren.

  James: Seelie keelut.

  James Penderson: Human politician caught up in Cailleach's schemes (Pixie-Led).

  Jared Turner: Elder of Quake, witch.

  Jarne Vinter: Elder of the Pack, witch

  Jason Murdock: Extinguisher. Worked on the raven-mockers disappearance with Seren.

  Jeb Murdock: Councilman out of the San Francisco House.

  Jeffrey Lyman: Human councilman, scientist, and medium.

  Jiaotu: King of the Court of the Nine Sons, sea dragon.

  John Sullivan: Human councilman in Tulsa.

  Julie McNeil: Caster witch, blend of Beckoning and Bite.

  Justine: Aidan's beta in the Missouri pack, witch, werewolf.

  Karmen Simmel: Extinguisher. Grew up with Seren, a very close friend.

  Kate Teagan: Extinguisher. Works at Tulsa Council House.

  Keir Bloodthorn: King of Twilight, the first twilight sidhe, and Seren's biological father.

  Kevin Chepaney: Unaligned witch, shaman, discovered raven-mockers.

  Killian Blair: Caster witch, blend of Storm and Flame.

  Koko: Unseelie qalupalik.

  Latharna Shadowcall: Seelie sidhe and Tiernan's sister.

  Lewis: Selkie from the Court of the Nine Sons, meets Seren on a turtle.

  Lorcan Timberstride: Councilman of the Fairy High Council, seelie sidhe, Cliona's father.

  Luava: Unseelie qalupalik.

  Mairte: Twilight brownie and Seren's maid.

  Marcan Luminary: King of the Seelie, seelie sidhe.

  Mark Sloane: Extinguisher. Worked on locating the missing raven-mocker plane with Seren.

  Moire Thorn: Unseelie sidhe, marchioness, Bress' mother, and Seren's aunt (we hate her).

  Mufasa: Unseelie djinn.

  Neala Silvereed: Seelie sylph and mother to Nighean and Aodh.

  Nessa Buinne: Unseelie water sidhe.

  Nighean Silvereed: Seelie sylph who Seren rescued from Bress.

  Pulao: King of the Court of the Nine Sons, sea dragon.

  Qiuniu: King of the court of the Nine Sons, sea dragon.

  Rachel Forester: Councilwoman out of the San Francisco House.

  Ralph: Unseelie adlet.

  Randy Sullivan: Extinguisher. Worked on the Cailleach case with Seren.

  Rath: Pixie who Seren meets on her first approach to Twilight Castle.

  Ray Teagan: Councilman out of the San Francisco House.

  Rayetayah: Twilight fairy, raven-mocker, and Raza's son.

  Raza Tnyn: Unseelie dragon-djinn and Seren's ardent admirer.

  Reginald Murdock: Head of the Human High Council House.

  Richard Nelson: witch, Elder of Flight.

  Rose: Seelie buttery sprite who Seren rescued from Unseelie.

  Rue Reòthadh: You're about to find out.

  Ryvel: Seelie hunter once on Tiernan's team. AKA the jackass who has it out for Seren.

  Sarah Jacobson: Beckoning witch, Vex of the East.

  Searc: Twilight cat-sidhe and stable boy.

  Seren Sloane: Extinguisher, fairy princess, and ambassador. Our heroine (I hope you already know this).

  Shane Luminary: Prince of the Seelie. Seelie sidhe, and Seren's uncle.

  Sorcha Silverlight: Seelie sidhe and Tiernan's mother.

  Suanmi: King of the court of the Nine Sons, sea dragon.

  Taotie: King of the Court of the Nine Sons, sea dragon.

  Ted: Seelie merman (technically without a court).

  Ted Teagan: Head of Human Council House in Tulsa.

  Tiernan Shadowcall: Seelie sidhe, seelie count, Lord of the Wild Hunt, member of the Star's Guard, and Seren's main squeeze.

  Tom: Aidan's beta in the Missouri pack, witch and werewolf.

  Torquil: Twilight sidhe, knight, and member of the Star's Guard.

  Tristan Lightheart: Beckoning witch changed into a dullahan hybrid and made a high councilman on the Isle of Danu, by Danu herself.

  Uisdean Thorn: King of Unseelie, sidhe, and Seren's evil uncle.

  Wesley Dearheart: Alpha of the Alaskan Pack, witch, werewolf.

  William Sehoka: Flight witch.

  Yazi: King of the Court of the Nine Sons, sea dragon (general asshole).

  Yuki Shinsato: High Councilwoman, seelie kitsune.

  Zhayu Sin-Eater: King of the Court of the Nine Sons and sea dragon.

  Rue: A herb used in the Middle Ages to protect against evil spirits, the plague, and witches. For this reason, it was also known as witchbane.

  Chapter One

  I stepped out of the rath and into a garden of olive trees and vibrant blooms. Circles of orange poppies, dots of yellow buttercups, trumpets of fuschia foxgloves, purple columns of betony, and white sprinkles of angelica spread out beneath delicate branches heavy with olives. There was color everywhere, and the perfumed air was nearly as pure as it was in Fairy. A stone wall encircled the garden, shooting up several hundred feet. Velvety clumps of moss tried to climb it, but surrendered after just a few inches. I glanced up at the clouded sun overhead, willing it to try harder. It was damn cold in the Irish Highlands.

  I had just traveled from Danu's Isle in Fairy, where the weather was much more balmy. There was a very similar garden surrounding their end of this rath, though the flowers were different. It too was enclosed in high walls, protected by the other High Fairy Council House. This Council House, the one I was currently standing in, was the only Fairy Council House in the Human Realm. It was a sort of diplomatic embassy, where the Fey could meet with human council members safely. But it was also a fort, guarding the most important fairy mound in both worlds. The first rath ever made. Created by my goddess' twin brother, Anu, just moments after their birth, when he traveled to Earth to claim his domain.

  I often wondered what Anu thought of his sister's children infiltrating his world. Did he resent Danu for allowing them to travel to Earth, and eventually make war upon his own children? Did he even care? Or was he an absent god? An apathetic one? Perhaps the humans had stopped listening to him as fairies had done with Danu. Perhaps Anu was waiting, hoping to be noticed again, just as his sister had.

  Well, if Anu was waiting, and still watching over his people, he was about to be royally pissed off.

  I was there to meet with a panel of high council members and coven elders (whom I immediately dubbed “The Collective”, in my head- I mean, come on, they needed a group name), to inform them of my Uncle Uisdean's latest debacle. My Star's Guard and I had traveled there, instead of just scrying, so that I could speak with the leaders of all three races in person. My Guard was still two men short, though there was no minimum requirement of knights for a royal guard. Mine had originally been twelve, and it had seemed to be a holy number. They had all been divinely blessed, and perhaps that had made me believe they were untouchable. I had been naive to think so, and so very wrong. Uisdean had shown me just how wrong I was, when he killed two of them.

  But that was only part of the reason I was in the Human Realm.

  A fairy g
uard met us outside the door to the rath's garden. He bowed and greeted me before leading us directly to the high council chambers. We were expected. At a pair of arched doors, the guard stopped and pushed them open for us. But when my Guard tried to follow me in, the hunter held up his hand.

  “Only the Princess.”

  I sent a silencing look towards my grumbling Guard and proceeded.

  “Um...” the guard looked down pointedly.

  Oh yes, I forgot to mention. I'd brought Cat with me too. After her near-death on the battlefield, I was reluctant to leave my puka (a type of massive fairy canine) bestie behind. I was also nervous to take her anywhere. I kept seeing her bleeding out beside me. But she had whined so pathetically when I told her I was leaving, that I finally decided to bring her along. She was the size of a Shetland pony and had sharper teeth than a crocodile, so having her with me upped my intimidation factor. That could be helpful when dealing with the Collective.

  Cat growled at the guard, testing her intimidation technique on him.

  “I suppose your puka is fine,” the guard swallowed hard and stepped back.

  “Thank you,” I said graciously and strode in with a proud Cat. Intimidation test, a success.

  We walked through a massive, but mainly empty, room. I imagined it had been built to be so spacious because there were occasions when the deeds of the Councils were made public. For instance, the time when we made a treaty with the newly discovered witches. The council chamber had been packed that day.

  Today though, it was echoingly empty. The polished marble floor didn't help either. In fact, it seemed to encourage the hollow sounds. The pound of my footsteps seemed to skip across the floor like a pebble across the surface of a lake, hitting the distant walls and shimmying up to the arched ceiling. Nothing impeded the progress but a few pillars.

  It was a long walk to reach the dais at the end of the room, where both high council members and witch elders sat at an elaborately carved wooden table. The chairs they sat in were just as elaborate as the table, almost throne-like. But the seat placed in front of them, at the foot of the dais and facing the table, was obviously the grandest. That would be mine.

  Because no matter how high up you were on either council, or how powerful a witch you were, you still didn't outrank a fairy noble. Yeah, sometimes it was cool to be a princess. I nodded to the council members and the witches before taking my seat. Cat sat on the floor beside me, but her head still came to my shoulders. She set her deep brown eyes on them, and suddenly her stare wasn't soft, as it usually was. It was piercing. Full on intimidation factor.