“When the path leads into a bedroom, would you mind waiting outside?”
Danu laughed as she stepped back into the central crystal column. Her laughter lingered as she faded into the light.
“That wasn't an answer,” I called after her.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Tristan took his place among the High Council of Fairy with very little difficulty. Most of the council members were actually on the other side of the rath, in Ireland for the summit. Even William Sehoka, the imprisoned Flight witch, had been taken back to HR to be released into the Coven's care. There was only one high council member left on the Isle, the rest of the inhabitants were trainees or household staff, so there was no one to protest the witch-turned-sidhe taking his place in the High Council. The one councilman left had originally given us shocked looks but when it was all explained, he simply nodded and declared that Danu's wishes must be obeyed. Tristan was given a room and that was that.
After we saw him settled, the rest of us returned through the rath to the High Fairy Council House in Ireland. We stepped out of the garden to find my father waiting for us. My true father; King Keir. He smiled when he saw me and came forward to give me a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek, before taking my hand and wrapping it around his arm.
“The summit has been scheduled for tomorrow afternoon,” he said with supreme satisfaction.
“Wonderful,” I sighed. “Then I'm going to get something to eat and go to bed.”
“I'm afraid you aren't,” Keir laughed. “I came to collect you because you're needed immediately in the ballroom. There's a pre-summit party going on as we speak, meant to provide us with an opportunity to get to know each other.”
“Oh,” I ran a hand through my hair and looked down at the velvet fairy dress I'd worn to see the Goddess. “I guess it's a good thing I dressed up for Danu.”
“Indeed,” Keir laughed and looked back to the others. “All of you are welcome to join. There will be refreshments and entertainment.”
“I'm in,” Conri smirked and then turned to Sarah. “What about you, witchy lady?”
“I think I'm gonna get some rest before the summit,” she rubbed at her temple distractedly and broke away from our group, heading towards the stairs.
“Looks like you're losing your touch,” I teased Conri.
“Impossible,” he scoffed. “And if I'd actually touched her, she would have invited me to join her upstairs.”
“Bargest, you need to learn some humility,” Gradh said as she rounded a corner. “I could hear your ego coming all the way down the hall.”
Conri just stopped and smiled, looking over the amazing vision Gradh made in her fey evening gown. Her lustrous cobalt hair was piled high on her head in intricate braids, showing off the graceful curve of her bronzed neck, and the pistachio dress complimented her periwinkle eyes.
“I'm open to any suggestions you'd like to give me,” Conri bowed to Gradh and offered her his arm.
“If you touch anything you're not asked to,” she took his arm and narrowed her eyes on him, “I'll make those suggestions with my dagger.” She shifted aside her split skirt and revealed the gold dagger strapped to her thigh.
“Danu help me,” Conri groaned as he led Gradh away. “I think I'm in love.”
“You wouldn't know love if it bit you on the ass,” Gradh huffed.
“Was that an offer?” Conri asked hopefully.
“I think we'll just let them go into the ballroom first,” Keir grimaced.
“Don't want to be associated with the bargest and his female knight?” I teased my father as Tiernan came up beside us and Cat ran ahead with Conri.
“No, I don't want to be within the blast radius when Gradh decides she's had enough of Conri's flirtations,” Keir rolled his eyes.
“Blast radius,” I nodded approvingly. “Well said, Dad.”
“Thank you,” Keir beamed, proud to have got a human saying right. “Now, smile big and stay close. These witches have a dangerous aura about them.”
“Dangerous, eh?” I frowned, thinking of Danu's warning.
“Not as dangerous as us, of course,” Keir gave me a sideways grin. “But you might need to look after our human friends.”
“Right,” I slid a glance at Tiernan and he gave me a little nod.
