Bloodlust (31 page)

Streams of Otherworlders ran up and engaged them. The dark sky was being lit up by the force of the mages’ magic and, everywhere, shifters and faeries were getting up and close to the dead. But Endor was at the foot of the mountain and already beginning to climb. His cloud of darkness continued to hang where he’d been. I’d have to go back in and get Corrigan, Solus and the fucking Palladium.

Twisting in the other direction, I rolled myself again, this time into the cloud. I held my breath, forcing my body round and round until I hit something. It felt like a body – and it was complete inert. Every single good intention I had completely broke as a furnace of bloodfire lit inside me and roared. The penguin costume split open as I transformed. A mini hurricane spun through the cloud, forcing it to dissipate. Solus was at my feet. I scooped him with one clawed arm, and looked around for Corrigan. He was unconscious, lying face down. Roaring, I sprang forward and picked him up in my other hand. Then I looked upwards and jumped. And this time I flew.

It was beyond anything I’d experienced before. Exhilaration sipped through me and I felt as light as a feather. I didn’t have time to appreciate it, however: I had to get them to safety. In a flash, I was by the Eagle’s nest exit where I carefully laid down their inert bodies and then twisted back. A skeletal shape ran towards me but I flicked my tail round, easily catching its midsection. The thing collapsed in a pile of bones. Then I lifted up, stretching out my neck and flew back to the dark cloud.

Lying there, on its own in the driving rain, was the Palladium. I stared up at the mountain for a second. Endor was almost at its summit. I scooped the statue up in my talons and, without pausing, sprang upwards. I roared, just as another bolt of lightning struck in front of Endor, forcing him to find another path. Breathing in deeply, I took as much oxygen into my lungs as I could. Then I spat it out in huge wall of flame that engulfed the necromancer. I pulled back slightly to watch the results of my labour. Shit. It didn’t seem to be affecting him. He laughed and shouted up at me in the air.

“Did you not think I’d come prepared?”

His lips began moving, then there was an almighty shudder. I looked behind, my mouth dropping as I realised there was another dragon right behind me. Except this one was all bones. He’d called up a fucking dead Draco Wyr to beat me. Endor laughed again. There was a flicker of golden fire and I could suddenly see the phoenix, rippling with magnificent plumes of red and gold and silver. Endor was stretching out his hand to catch it. Behind me the skeleton dragon screamed. Screw that. I dropped down, flapping my wings, and concentrated on my match and my grip on the Palladium.

My bones snapped and my flesh shifted and then I was naked, in the middle of a thunderstorm with only a wooden statue in my hand. I sprang forward and tapped Endor on the shoulder. His head turned, and an irritated scowl lit his face. The dragon above us screamed again and swooped down, but I didn’t pay it any attention. I just gripped the base of the Palladium, and rammed it down Endor’s throat.

He choked, eyes bulging and tiny veins popping. His fingers clawed at his throat and his mouth. I used the base of my hand to shove it in further. I felt the roar of the dragon behind me as its jaws opened, and then Endor was on his knees with the fight completely drawn out of him. He collapsed on the stones thudding down as every flicker of life left him. The hollow sound of bones crashing onto stone came from behind me, and, in front, a large golden bird blinked. I could have sworn it was smiling.

Chapter Twenty Six

I found the change of venue refreshing, even if the Summer Queen and the Arch-Mage were patently unimpressed at having to sit on battered white plastic chairs. The air was clean and fresh, with the heat of summer still clinging on. I swatted lazily at a fat bee, and surveyed the council. The dead were buried and, while the mourning was not yet over, and the wounds were still fresh, there was the sense that they had not died in vain. Small comfort, I supposed, to their loved ones. I was fully aware that had it been Corrigan who had lost his life at the Eagles’ Nest, then I would not be finding it so easy to recover.

“Are we sure he’s dead?”

At Haughmond Hill, Endor had recovered seconds after receiving what should have been a fatal strike to his heart. I needed to be certain this time.

Beltran nodded. “We have divided his body into five parts.”

I couldn’t help wincing. Euurgh.

“And those parts have been separated and burned at different points across the British Isles,” added Larkin. “He ain’t coming back.”

“The clean-up operation?” I asked. “At the Eagles’ Nest?”

“All done and dusted,” the Arch-Mage said. “The Queen herself glamoured the Bird World staff, and no-one is any the wiser. The enclosure opened again yesterday morning.”

I smiled in approval. That was good. “Where’s the Palladium?”

“We removed it from his body. It’s safe at the keep.”

Corrigan looked good, despite the curving black scar that now ran from his ear to his chin. Normally, his shifter ability to heal would preclude any scars from forming. Something about Endor’s dark cloud of necromancy had changed that. I didn’t mind it though. It added to his ever present air of danger, as if he may just pounce on someone at any second. I hoped he was going to pounce on me.

“And we’ve spelled it to ensure it won’t be removed,” said the Arch-Mage with a look of satisfaction.

“The phoenix?”

“Happy. We’ve even had some communication from the kelpies. It appears they regret their earlier actions and wish to make amends.”

I snorted. “I bet they do.”

“So what happened to the sky?” asked Beltran. “That storm wasn’t natural.”

Lucy nodded. “Yeah. And it wasn’t of Endor’s doing either because every bold of lightning seemed to be directed at him.”

I smiled smugly. “That was Vasily.”

The entire gathering stared at me.

“He’s Russian,” I said airily, as if that explained everything. “He normally prevents storms so he can help farmers. Well, he actually normally drives like a demon taxi driver, but he used to prevent storms. I just asked him to come and do the opposite. He was happy to oblige.”

Corrigan grinned at me. “Nice.”

The squeak of wheels announced Julia’s arrival. She beamed at me, then turned to everyone. “Ladies and Gentlemen, the service is about to begin.”

I stood up. It was over. Endor was dead, the council was finished and I was fully absolved of my responsibilities. I touched my stomach for a moment and glanced towards Corrigan with a tiny smile. His eyes crinkled back, then we walked out towards the courtyard.

I breathed in the heady scent of him, and his hand lightly brushed against mine, making my bloodfire sing.

“Who’d have thought it?” he said. “Faeries, mages and shifters all together at the same wedding and no-one’s started arguing yet.”

I grinned. “The wedding’s not started yet.” I looked over to where my date was waiting patiently. “I should go.”

Corrigan scowled.
I don’t understand why he is here with you.

I have a promise to keep. There’s nothing between us, my Lord.

He growled, a low deep sound from within his chest.

Down, boy.
You should go and find your sister.

I veered off. Cherniy Volk held out his arm, and I hooked my hand round it.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

“I meant what I said,” I reiterated, “if she really doesn’t want to see you…”

“I’ll back away and leave quietly. You have my word.” I looked down and realised the werewolf’s hands were shaking.

We strolled into the great hall. Rows upon rows of chairs were laid out, pretty white and pink flowers strung at the end of each. I felt someone’s gaze on me and turned round. It was Anton. I hadn’t seen him since he’d thrown me out of Cornwall last year. So much had happened since then, but it didn’t outdo half a lifetime of mutual hatred. His expression was guarded and wary, making me pray he wouldn’t take this opportunity to cause a scene. The last thing Tom and Betsy needed was their wedding day upstaged by that prick.

I turned back to Volk just in time to see a fist flying in his direction and connecting with a painful sounding crunch against his nose.

“Where the fuck have you been?” It was Leah, Corrigan’s sister. Then she leapt up, hooked her legs round his back and began to kiss him. Okay, then.

I backed quietly away, and left them to it, finding myself a seat on the right side of the aisle. It was strange being back here in Cornwall. I had thought it might be too painful, that the memories of the life I used to lead here would overwhelm me. Instead, however, it was almost the opposite. I wasn’t indifferent – far from it. It just felt more like a fond nostalgia for a part of my personal history which was now over. A chapter that was finished.

“The past is a foreign country,” quoted Mrs. Alcoon, sitting herself behind me. She must have telepathically picked up on my mood. “They do things differently there.”

I looked around the room. “Yes, they do.”

She leaned forward. “Slim has been released from his duties with the Ministry. He’s going to come and work at the bookshop full-time.”

It had kind of seemed to me that he was already there full-time, but I held my tongue. “That’s good.”

She grinned. “He’ll look after me in my dotage.”

I had a feeling she would be the one doing the looking after. It would no doubt involve tea. Lots and lots and lots of tea.

More and more people began to wander in and take their seats. Originally, the wedding had been planned for a far smaller number: the Cornish pack, naturally, some of the Brethren and, well, me. Somehow the bonhomie between all three Otherworld groups had extended the guest list quite considerably, however. Looking around, the sense of camaraderie was clear. Rather than choose to segregate themselves, every row contained a mix: a pure melting pot of mages, faeries and shifters. Half of them probably didn’t even know Tom or Betsy, but that kind of wasn’t the point. It felt like a new beginning for everyone. Fortunately, before I became too maudlin and sickly-sweet, the music signaling the arrival of the bride and groom kicked in. The chattering died down, and everyone turned to watch them enter together, with smiles which must have stretched from ear to ear.

*

Johannes had managed to designate himself as the official photographer. Everyone milled around outside as he fussily arranged groups of guests first one way, then another. I was distracted by his amusing suggestion that Solus and Corrigan place their arms round each other’s backs in a gesture of bromance, when Anton appeared by my side. I stiffened involuntarily, and had to force myself not to step away and put some distance between us. For a long time, the pair of us stood there in an awkward silence before he eventually spoke.

“So you’re not human after all.”

“No,” I said shortly. Anton had frequently used my theoretically human status as an excuse to treat me like shit. “Does it matter?”

“I suppose not.” He sighed heavily. “Look, Mackenzie, er, Mack, whatever you prefer being called, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

You could have blown me down with a feather. “Pardon?”

“I’m sorry. I was horrid to you.”

I stared at him. “You were a fucking wanker to me.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I guess I deserve that. Not that you were particularly a bed of roses.” He grinned. “Well, perhaps the thorns…”

He had smiled at me – with a genuine smile. I was utterly flabbergasted.

“Er…”

“You seem a lot mellower than when you lived here.”

“You seem a lot mellower than when I lived here, Anton.”

He laughed. “Yeah. You’d think that responsibility would make a person more stressed and angrier. Instead it’s had the opposite effect.”

I glanced up and noticed Corrigan watching the pair of us, as if ready to defend my honour at any minute. I flashed him a smile of reassurance.

“I should go,” said Anton, “it wouldn’t do to piss off the Brethren Lord, now would it?” He patted me on the shoulder. “You could do worse than him, you know.”

He walked off, leaving me open-mouthed and staring after him. Damn. I guessed I wasn’t the only person with the capability to change.

Solus wandered over in my direction, lifting his fingers towards me a half salute. “So what gives, dragonlette?”

“Hmmm?”

“You’re different. Not just because Endor has gone. There’s something else.”

I shrugged. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He raised his eyebrows slightly. “I was chatting to Mrs. Alcoon earlier.” He leaned in towards me, and lowered his voice. “So what do you think a cross between a panther and a dragon really looks like?”

I could not believe Mrs. Alcoon had told him. I opened my mouth to say something, but he just grinned and patted me on the shoulder. “If you ever need a babysitter…” He turned and left. I snorted to myself. As if.

Breaking into my thoughts, a cherub fluttered up and offered me a glass of champagne. My mouth dropped open a little bit further. I shook my head. It actually had a golden harp strapped to its back. Surely…?

“We used a few spells to spice up the occasion,” said the Arch-Mage, walking up.

“Oh.” That made more sense.

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re not partaking?”

“What? You mean the champagne? Um, no. The bubbles give me a headache.”

I wasn’t sure whether he believed me or not. I shrugged inwardly. I wasn’t going to announce my pregnancy by telling the fucking Arch-Mage before anyone else, even if my old Scottish friend was doing half that work for me. Then the Fae Queen drifted over in a haze of honeysuckle and glowing warmth. Excellent.

“I believe congratulations are in order,” she said.

I coughed. “Excuse me?”

“With your success. We knew no-one else could lead the council. We were right.” She swept her arm around the garden. “Look. Everyone’s here and having fun. Together.”

“Oh, right, yes. Thanks,” I said.

“So we need to consider what the next step is.”