Chapter 19: The Dark Faerie Queen

Patch POV

People often accused Patch Cresta of loving to stir up trouble.

That was true, but it had to be GOOD trouble. Like helping his dense brothers pursue their mates, and going a little overboard to win his Anneliese while managing not to ruin orc-shifter relations. And, of course, he'd challenged Melisande Bracknell, the woman everyone called "Battering Ram" behind her back, over his quest to heal his favorite ex-rogue brother, Cyran.

While he patrolled the area around New Moon City checking in with his spy network, he also thought about Melisande flexing her witchy muscles on Ravyn. Why she wanted to stonewall Ravyn's search for the truth about Daxius baffled him. He asked Jiro, Garnet, Cyran, and Naomi about it, and they came up with several possibilities.

1. Melisande just wanted to make life difficult for Ravyn, as she did for most people. 

They all thought this.

2. There was a dark secret behind Daxius abandoning Ravyn that Melisande and others in the Witch Circle were harboring.

Cyran, Garnet, and Jiro thought this. 

3. Melisande and Daxius were having an affair.

Patch thought that might be a possibility and so, surprisingly, did Naomi. Jiro wasn't so sure–Melisande seemed colder than a glacier. Patch argued that even a glacier needed a little sunshine once in a while.

4. The Dark Goddess was meddling.

Always a possibility and all of them agreed that this was the most likely one.

He only hoped that Ravyn, a mother to them all, would be safe as she found out the truth.

He thought something else, a fifth possibility: Ravyn and Jude were acting like fated mates. He wasn't at all sure how he felt about that, and he hadn't shared anything with anyone, especially Lilia!

* * * * *

Jude POV

His brown wool suit looked good on him, so Jude chose to wear it again the next night when he arrived at the inn. The gnome woman at the front desk spotted him immediately and greeted him.

"Jude Faolan to see the faerie lady who's staying here," he said in a calm voice. "I believe she's expecting me."

In no time at all, he was following the gnome to a private dining room at the back. Fleetingly, he thought that he should take Ravyn here for dinner, just to thank her for all the trouble she'd gone to on his behalf. 

Why hadn't he traveled more outside the pack lands with Emer? He should have arranged that trip to the sea and not let himself get caught up in the endless details of pack business and the constant fear of exposure shifters had in human lands. He should have taken Emer on more trips.

"This way, this way," the gnome woman said, gesturing to a door. "You and your lady will love your evening!"

Mentally shaking his head at the small creature's energy, Jude opened the door and stepped inside the tastefully decorated dining room. The walls were midnight blue, and the dim mood lighting made them even darker–thank goodness for his wolf sight. The only table had a midnight blue tablecloth, but luckily, the lady seated at the table lit up the room. 

Queen Ylavi Crystalsprite of the Ember Faeries rose when he entered, her deep golden eyes giving him a long look up-and-down. She smiled, liking what she saw.

Lean, graceful, with long cascading black hair styled in waves, she stood taller than he, with wings the color of dark amber through which midnight purple veins ran. Her long purple gown was studded with rubies. Her face was a delicate oval, with a perfectly shaped nose. Cheeks a man would love to caress. A curvy figure to inspire his fantasies and heat. Except his wolf seemed unmoved.

"King Jude," she said.

"Your Majesty. It's a pleasure to dine with you."

Queen Ylavi responded in a honeyed voice. "Oh, we've been in each other's company before when we battled Hades. And do call me Ylavi."

He grinned, liking her directness, and reached out for her hand to kiss it. She had long delicate fingers, like Ravyn's. Brushing the reminder aside, he said, "I do remember–and of course we were both celebrating at Jiro's and Garnet's home after that defeat. We didn't spend any time together."

"I think your lovely late wife had a lock on your attention," she said with a smile.

"She did indeed, and please, call me Jude. Shall we sit?"

Her smile dazzled him. "Yes, then we can begin our evening and let it take us where it will."

He laughed softly, liking her spirit. More than anyone else except Vinessa Vermello, he instantly felt comfortable in her company. Vinessa had been funny, forthright, refreshing, and brave–but she'd told him at the end of their time together that she didn't think he was done grieving and she wasn't going to rush his grief–she advised him not to mate before his heart was ready.

Ready or not, he needed a mate. It was a pity that Ravyn was still entangled with Daxius and Dane's mother-in-law …

Forbidden. She was forbidden.

Queen Ylavi didn't smell like pine. She smelled like woodsmoke. He liked woodsmoke just fine. He pulled out her chair and gently pushed it in once she sat down, then took a seat across from her. He surveyed the table, set with china, gold cutlery, and crystal goblets in which the staff had poured rich burgundy wine. "This looks quite fine."

"It's my favorite inn," she said. "It's not my palace, but it's quite lovely. I hear that Faolan Castle is magnificent."

He puffed out his chest. "I think so, but then, it's my home."

She nodded approvingly. "It's been in your family for generations, yes?"

He was impressed that she'd taken the time to learn about him. "That it has. But we didn't start out as royalty. We were–"

"Merchants. Yes, I know." She raised dark eyebrows. "Are you a merchant at heart?"

"I'm an Alpha, a warrior, a businessman, a Shifter Parliament representative, a fighter against the Dark Goddess … and most of all a father."

They enjoyed their dinner immensely and the conversation flowed, and when Ylavi suggested an evening stroll to see the city lights, he agreed, because he didn't want their time together to end!

* * * * *

Ravyn POV

HOURS EARLIER 

Melisande Bracknell was right about one thing. The city seemed full of people needing their help. In every house they visited, there was someone needing care. An old woman who couldn't walk or an injured laborer who couldn't leave his house for treatment or a new mother confined to her bed after a difficult pregnancy. How could Ravyn refuse to help them?

After their rounds were over, she asked her enthusiastic group of volunteers to make one final stop, and they said yes.

As the healers approached the small Machpelah Street house, looking squashed in-between larger, more stately homes, Ravyn had the sense of walking into a deep dark night at noon. The feeling of foreboding gripped her and wouldn't let go. 

She hadn't visited or even seen the home where Daxius' family once lived because he didn't have good memories of it–he'd told her he never wanted to see the place again. His parents had gone through a stormy patch in their marriage because his baby sister died from an ailment magic couldn't cure. 

Daxius had to be desperate to hide out in the sad, weatherbeaten house with peeling paint and weeds poking up through cracks in the front steps. But it was the perfect place for him to avoid unwanted company and attention. She wouldn't have thought to look there if Galen hadn't casually mentioned the home.

"You're sure this is the house?" she asked Galen.

He shuddered, sharing her eerie feeling about the place. "I came here with Senior Healer Bracknell once. That was plenty. She said we didn't need to look in on the family again…"

Ravyn gave him her most authoritative look. "She also resisted healing Cyran Sinsworth."

Galen gritted his teeth at the reminder, then said, "Well, I never said she was right about everything. Let's go."

The front door had been used recently, because the lock looked free of dust. Ravyn knocked on the wooden door and then used the door knocker in the shape of a phoenix's head. Knock-knock-knock. No answer.

Galen called out, "We're from the Wildefell Witch Circle–do you require assistance?"

Still no answer. No sign of life inside the house. Galen pounded on the door. "Hello?" 

"We're here to help you," Ravyn added, taking a huge leap to flush Daxius out of hiding.

Still no answer, and all the windows were magically sealed. The group tried to break the spell while Galen attempted to pick the lock. Impressed by his nerve, Ravyn grabbed his shoulder. "Be careful," she murmured.

"They could be unconscious or having a seizure or injured," Galen pointed out.

Good enough. "Anneliese never mentioned you had a burglar's skills."

He grinned. "She's not exactly an amateur herself and neither is her mate."

Ravyn grinned. "True, but in this case, it's not needed." She pulled out the key and inserted it into the lock, then turned it …

And it didn't unlock the door.

Baffled, she couldn't understand it. Surely, this would unlock the door where Daxius had been living! Unless he was no longer living there?

Galen just stared at her, dumbfounded. "Where did you get that?"

"It doesn't matter–it's not very useful, is it?" She sighed. "Do you sense anyone inside?"

He shook his head. "Maybe Senior Healer Bracknell was right. Should we teleport in?"

Intuition warned her to leave and not look back.

Ravyn shook her head. "We might land in a nest of poisonous snakes. No. We'll just have to visit at another time. Good work today, everyone."

She only hoped Jude had more luck than she did. A strong urge seized her. She needed to find him, to make sure that his evening with Queen Ylavi was a success.

After dismissing everyone, she made her way to the Wild Lyre Inn via the street where Madame Coco Blass' boutique was located. Although the shop was closed, plenty of other shops, cafes, and attractions were open, drawing townspeople and visitors …

Visitors that included Jude and Queen Ylavi, who strolled together, chatting nonstop. That should have heartened Ravyn, but instead she noticed something about Queen Ylavi that she'd missed.

The woman had transformed into one of the Dark Faeries. Seductive and enchanting, especially to men, but Ravyn could feel the sinister intentions underneath. Often, normal faeries who were full of light and love changed when touched by a curse or tragedy. Queen Ylavi had lost her husband years ago, which could be devastating because, like shifters, faeries had soul bonds with their mates. 

Cursing herself for not foreseeing that possibility, Ravyn intercepted them with a smile. "Your Majesties. How lovely to see you."

Jude looked dazzled–and also incredibly appealing in his brown wool suit.

Queen Ylavi's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Thank you for introducing us. Oh look, Jude, a bookstore. There's a human book I've been dying to get my hands on. Let's go!"

When the pair headed away, Ravyn caught Jude's arm and pulled him back. "She's not the one for you," she hissed.

He blinked, astonished. "What do you mean?"

"She's become a Dark Faerie. Bond with her and there'll be nothing left of you after your wedding night. Nothing but a shriveled-up corpse. They always do that to their husbands. Do whatever you have to, but get away from her! I'm so sorry. I didn't know."

His scathing response shocked her. "Jealous?"

"What? NO!" She stared at him in indignation. "I'm trying to save your life!"

"This spiteful behavior doesn't become you. You're jealous–maybe you've wanted me for yourself all along!"