Elf-Shot Book 6 in The Twilight Court Series Read online

  “Do not say-” I started, but he cut me off.

  “A bigger, blacker dick,” Conri quoted the card with a satisfied tone. “King Raza will win every time.”

  We all groaned.

  “You have an interesting team,” Soren noted.

  “They're my personal Guard,” I said. “Closer than a team, and potentially more irritating.”

  “Thanks,” Conri smirked.

  “I have no wish to cause more irritation,” Soren offered his hand to Killian. “Shall we put aside our differences, for the time being, Ambassador Blair.”

  Killian grudgingly shook Soren's hand. Then we headed to our vehicles. Soren and his team would be taking their own van. I was a little relieved we wouldn't have to squish them in with us. I didn't think Killian and Soren's truce could withstand close quarters.

  “Now you know how you make Tiernan and Raza feel,” I whispered to Killian as we crossed the parking lot.

  “Am I really that annoying?”

  “Oh yes,” I chuckled.

  “Excellent,” Killian smiled broadly.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The ride out to the elven enclave, which was a few miles away from Vik i Myrdal, was tense. At least for me. I could feel Killian looming behind me, his gorgeous muscles... I mean his linebacker bulk, just pushing into my aura with its own... pushy one. Ugh. I could barely think. It was dark, cold, and there had been no coffee! How was I supposed to be diplomatic without coffee? It just wasn't right. Then came Soren, riling Killian up, using his silver tongue to prod at our relationship like a sore tooth. And Killian had the nerve to look all chipper and sexy in his leather hoodie. I wanted to smack him. I just couldn't decide where I wanted to smack him.

  Hrafn parked the van, turned off the engine, and pointed to the nearby woods, “The path is just there.”

  “You're not coming?” I asked.

  “Honestly, Princess,” he looked uncomfortable, “there are two reasons why I don't want to go. The first is, I need to be here should you not return. Then I can notify the Councils.”

  “What's the other reason?” Conri asked.

  “I just don't want to get between you and the elves,” Hrafn grimaced. “They're all going to be there. All of the elves. Do you know how many fairies that is?”

  “A lot?” Killian asked.

  “Thousands,” Hrafn settled into his seat. “And I live here. I'll have to deal with any fallout that occurs. Fallout which will be far heavier if I'm there when it's instigated. So, I'll be waiting right here.”

  “Fair enough,” I jumped out of the van, and Cat leapt out after me.

  Soren and his team had pulled up behind us, parked, and exited in far less time than it had taken us to get moving. Soren and I shared a look, and then we led our teams towards the trees, some of us grumbling about the chilly morning more than others.

  “This way,” Gradh slid past Conri and took the lead. “I've been here before.”

  “When have you been here?” Conri asked as he caught up to her.

  “When I dated an elf.”

  “You dated an elf?” Conri was horrified.

  “One of the human-sized elves,” she rolled her eyes. “It's not like I dated one of the little ones.”

  “Well, I assumed you'd date one your own size, but still,” Conri grimaced. “Dark or light?”

  “Light.”

  “Ugh,” Conri looked disgusted.

  “Says the bargest,” Killian snorted.

  “Says the nathair-sith,” Conri shot back.

  “Are we seriously going to do this again?” I asked. “I swear it's like being a preschool teacher sometimes. Did you two miss your morning snack? Shall I put you in a time out?”

  They shut up, and Soren gave me a sexy smirk.

  “It's just down this path, Princess,” Gradh led us off the pebbled lane we'd been wandering down, and onto a much slimmer, overgrown path which led through the sparse woods.

  “Come on, Cat,” I pushed past Conri and Killian, “the girls need to be at the front of the line or we'll all get lost, and fall into a ravine or something.”

  “Fine with me, get on up there,” Killian said. “I like the view.”

  “Now there's something we can agree on,” Conri chuckled.

  “Dude,” Killian muttered to Conri. “I think you're barking up the wrong tree. Gradh's never gonna be into you.”

  I snorted, and Gradh shot me a pained look.

  “You know?” Gradh whispered.

  “I may have walked in on the two of you once,” I gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry. Not my business.”

  “You're not upset?”

  “Why would I be upset?”

  “We're both on your Guard,” Gradh said. “It's just not done. Conflict of interest.”

  “Oh, like you might be too worried about each other's welfare to protect me?” I asked.

  “Something like that,” Gradh deflated.

  “Will you be?”

  “No, Your Highness,” she said immediately. “I will always put you first.”

  “I think Conri would answer the same,” I nodded. “So there isn't a problem.”

  “There isn't?” Gradh stopped walking.

  Behind us, Killian was still extolling the futility of Conri's potential pursuit of Gradh. So it was particularly entertaining when Gradh turned around, walked up to Conri, and laid a hot kiss on him. Killian's expression was so hilarious, I pulled out my cell phone and took a picture.

  “Hey,” Killian protested the paparazzi moment. “Did you know about this?”

  The rest of the Star's Guard didn't seem at all surprised. A fact which Killian also noted.

  “Did all of you know about this?” Killian huffed.

  “Yep,” Ainsley gave Killian's wide shoulder a pat. “Sorry, Kill.”

  “Why didn't you tell me?” Killian asked Ainsley.

  “It was way more fun to watch you make a fool of yourself,” Ainsley shrugged.

  “You're all dicks,” Killian grimaced and trudged up to me. “You too, Brutus?”

  “It wasn't my secret to tell,” I shrugged. “And honestly, I didn't know the rest of the Guard was aware of it.”

  “We didn't either,” Gradh cleared her throat, and resumed leading us through the woods.

  “You allow far more freedom in your Guard than I allow in my team,” Soren noted, then looked back at his people. “Don't get any ideas.”

  “So, we just gonna walk up to the elf door, and give it a good knock?” Killian asked.

  “I... uh,” I looked to Gradh.

  “Yes, in a way,” Gradh kept walking.

  “In a way,” I repeated to Killian.

  “Thanks, I got it, Human Telephone,” Killian rolled his eyes.

  “And you allow far more insolence,” Soren scowled at Killian.

  “Killian is an ambassador, not a knight on my Guard,” I explained to Soren, even though I knew he was already aware of Killian's status.

  “That's right,” Killian smirked. “I can be as insolent as I damn well please.”

  “That's a shame,” Soren's expression turned disdainful, “you could benefit from some discipline.”

  “I've got some discipline for-”

  “Killian!” I snarled.

  “Here it is,” Gradh stopped before a flat-topped boulder, a little taller than Killian.

  “That's a rock,” Killian said dryly.

  “Well spotted,” Soren drawled.

  “Look closer, Rat-Breath,” Conri sniffed at the stone, then placed his hand on it.

  “Just because I'm part snake-djinn doesn't mean I do snake things,” Killian huffed. “Do you piss all over the castle, bargest?”

  “That's what that smell is,” I couldn't help teasing Conri.

  But Conri ignored us, he was too busy “knocking” on the elves' door. The stone shimmered and the illusion faded away. The boulder was still there, but now there was also a wooden door set into the stone. Conri stepped back from
the door and waved us all away. Gradh stepped in front of me and crossed her arms over her chest. Which made her the first thing the elf saw. Still, he knew who was standing behind Gradh.

  “Princess Seren Firethorn of Twilight,” it was a dark elf who had answered the door, one I happened to know. “You are welcome here. I offer you a chant of truce. No ciurr thoirte.”

  “Lord Dagur?” I asked.

  Gradh stepped aside, and the dark elf I'd once met in the underground levels of Craos-Teine, came into view.

  “Your Highness,” Dagur bowed. When he straightened, his icy blue eyes gleamed, shining like beacons against his pure black skin. “It's good to see you again, alive and well.”

  “No thanks to your kind,” Killian growled.

  “Killian,” I gave him a look. “Do you know what the word 'truce' means?”

  Killian grimaced himself into silence.

  “He's right,” Dagur's jaw clenched. “There's much to discuss, but first, my apologies, Princess Seren. I had no desire to see you dead. I argued against the attack, but alas, I was outvoted.”

  “'Alas', you were 'outvoted'?” Killian asked. “That's it? You didn't warn her or anything?”

  “I am loyal to my people first,” Dagur didn't look bothered at all. “I barely know the Princess.”

  “But you do know what she stands for,” Torquil stepped forward. “And you know that Moire is trying to destroy all of the Princess' progress. I would have thought that the elves, above all other fey, would appreciate what Princess Seren is trying to do. Yet instead of helping her unite Fairy, you've sided with her enemy. Do you truly want to go to war against Unseelie and Twilight?”

  “No, that's not what we want,” Dagur said. “Which is why I just offered you entry under truce instead of death at the tip of my sword.”

  “As if,” Killian huffed, and I shot him another glare. “What? We could totally take this guy.”

  “I alone, perhaps, nathair-sith,” Dagur said. “But not all of the elven community, which happens to lie in wait, just beneath your feet.”

  “Can we go in before one of my men says something even more stupid?” I asked Dagur.

  Cat gave a huff of agreement.

  Dagur chuckled, “Please, come inside, Princess Seren of Twilight. My people await you eagerly.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  The elven enclave was more than an underground city, it was practically an underground continent. It stretched for miles beneath the Icelandic soil. Homes of all sizes, from grand palaces to miniature cottages, spread across a stone foundation, and some were even carved directly from the rock. Shrubs, vines, grass, and even small trees grew out of crevices in the walls, coating them so lushly, you almost forgot you were beneath the earth. The plants freshened the air and imparted a fragrance of ripening fruit. Fey lights hovered high above, making it brighter than the gray Icelandic morning outside.

  We were led along a cobblestone road, through a growing crowd of elves. Human sized elves, of both the light and dark variety, watched us warily, while their smaller cousins smiled and waved to me, calling out greetings to me and my Guard. I nodded and smiled back, feeling like a pageant queen in a parade. They may have been the smallest of fairies, but their enthusiasm was enormous and impossible to resist. Tiny flowers were tossed to me from the top of pyramids of little elves. I think I may have giggled.

  “As you see,” Dagur smirked, “we bear you no ill will here.”

  “Then why did you try to kill me?” I lifted a brow.

  “It's complicated,” Dagur sighed. “We'll explain it all at the assembly.”

  “Assembly?” Killian asked.

  “Where we're headed,” Dagur waved a hand forward, indicating a domed building which rose above the enclave like a shepherd on the lookout for wolves. “Thus the crowd,” he nodded behind us, where the elves were closing in, and following in the wake of our group. “All are invited to attend and participate when decisions are made.”

  “How diplomatic,” I noted.

  “We are a loyal and loving race,” Dagur smiled softly and flicked an ebony braid over his shoulder. “We value every elf, along with their opinion.”

  “I wish all of Fairy were like that,” I said.

  “So do I, Princess,” Dagur said earnestly. “And I have faith that one day, it shall be.”

  I blinked at his zeal, and a shiver went through me.

  “Here we are,” Dagur led me to a set of grand doors, which were opened for us by a pair of stern warriors.

  The domed building was one large amphitheater, with seats ringing it in ascending levels. Those seats were already being filled with elves. The mix of stark black, dark elf skin, among the much paler, light elf complexions, was a little startling, even more so when you saw how blended the crowd was. The elves didn't segregate themselves, not by color or size. They congregated together in beautiful harmony. So beautiful, and so rare, among the fey, that it brought me to tears.

  “Princess Seren?” Dagur froze in dismay.

  As if they could sense his distress, the entire building went quiet, staring down at us. Cat whined and leaned into my leg.

  “Seren, what's wrong?” Killian's hand slid over my shoulder.

  “Nothing's wrong,” I whispered and found myself gliding forward into the open space in the center of the auditorium. “Everything is so right. Look at you,” I turned to see all of the elves. “Big or small, light or dark, it doesn't matter, does it? You are elves and so you are united. All of Fairy could learn from you. All of the worlds could.”

  The elves paused a moment, drinking in my sincere praise, then they stood and cheered. The applause went on for a few minutes, until a light elf separated himself from the others, and came to stand before me. The gathering settled.

  “Princess Seren,” the light elf bowed. “I am Lord Hinrik. Thank you for your kind words. I see that you've given us the truth of your heart, which makes it even more valuable. And which makes our discussion even more difficult.”

  “Because you still want me dead?” I smirked.

  My candor startled him, widening his royal blue eyes. His pale cheeks flushed to the roots of his even paler hair.

  “My apologies,” I said. “That wasn't very diplomatic, and I am supposed to be an ambassador. But I get a little put-out after being shot with a poisonous arrow.”

  Cat circled me, eyeing Hinrik pointedly, then settled at my side.

  “No apology necessary,” Hinrik recovered. “I appreciate all of your truths, even those which are hard for me to hear. I was simply unprepared for you.”

  “Is she not all I said?” Dagur asked Hinrik.

  “She is,” Hinrik nodded. “Princess Seren, because you have been so truthful with us, I shall be equally candid with you. We have sided with Duchess Moire.”

  “She is not a-” Conri began, but I cut him off with a quelling look.

  “As you know,” I amended Conri's statement, “the title of Duchess has been stripped from my aunt.”

  “Ah yes,” Hinrik agreed, “which is one of our grievances.”

  “You have grievances?” I asked. “More than one?”

  “We have long felt unwelcome in Fairy,” Dagur explained. “It's why we built a home here.”

  “Unwelcome,” I shook my head. “But I thought you had homes in both Seelie and Unseelie?”

  “Separate homes,” Hinrik grimaced. “We are one people, but they segregate us, force us to live in different kingdoms because of our magic. Magic does not divide us. We are elves!”

  The amphitheater erupted into cheering.

  “And Moire understands this?” I asked when the shouting died down.

  “She has promised us a home in Fairy,” Dagur nodded. “Where we can all live together.”

  “In Unseelie, you mean?” I narrowed my eyes on them. “You realize that Danu herself gave King Raza her blessing to rule Unseelie?”

  “We love and respect the Goddess,” Hinrik bowed his head as if Danu were in t
he room. “Which is another reason we wish to go home. We are tired of hiding here, in the Human Realm. Princess Seren,” Hinrik lifted his eyes to mine. “I think I speak for all of us when I say that I wish you no harm. You are an exceptional fairy, and I vow that no arrow of mine shall find your heart.”

  A muttering of agreement circled the building.

  “Well, that is a relief,” I looked up and around me, “Thank you for not wanting to kill me anymore.”

  The elves tittered with laughter.

  “But you want peace,” Dagur amended. “Yes, it's to be expected. For no other reason than you are the Twilight Princess. But know this, Princess Seren, we go to war with Danu's blessing. There can be no peace until her orders are carried out.”

  “What?” I went still, focusing intently on Dagur. “Did you just say that Danu has backed your side?”

  “No,” Dagur held up his hand. “The Goddess loves all of her children. She did not back us, per se. Before I left Unseelie, Danu spoke to me. She told me this war is necessary. Painful, but necessary. Danu backs the war itself, as a whole.”

  Danu's words to me echoed in my memory. 'How I wish I could simply take you to the end of this journey, and bypass the pain.' What the hell was she planning?

  “She doesn't approve of war,” I protested, trying to work it out.

  “Not usually,” Dagur agreed. “But this is for the good of Fairy.”

  “Did you not recently go to war on behalf of Unseelie?” Hinrik asked. “We follow Moire not out of loyalty to her, but loyalty for Danu, and for each other.”

  “You said Moire promised you a home,” I reminded him.

  “And Danu has guaranteed that we shall have it,” Hinrik said. “Unfortunately, this means we will be on opposing sides, Your Highness. I regret that now. So I offer you this warning. We march to Fairy soon.”

  “That's it?” Killian huffed. “You 'march to Fairy soon'?”

  “It's more warning than any elf has ever given an opponent,” Dagur said. “We do you a great honor.”

  “I understand that,” I ignored Killian, and focused on the elves, “and I appreciate your warning, Lord Hinrik, as well as your efforts on my behalf, Lord Dagur.”