Water Fey shouted and held their arms out for balance as the entire mountain trembled. Then the ground before the cliff rose. A wide swath of it, still mostly covered in grass, simply broke away from the rest and angled upward toward Castle Deuraich, forming a slope beside the waterfall. I looked down to see Rory and several other Earth-Sidhe holding their hands out before them, directing the ground to do their bidding.
There went all those well-laid traps. I laughed brightly, then called down to Dubheasa, “What you gonna do now, Queen Biatch?”
Dubheasa spun to look up at me, then said something to the men beside her. They went running into the castle. She didn't look at me again. Her focus was where it needed to be—on the two armies now marching up the freshly formed hill.
Puffed-up Spriggans, armored Dryads, and snarling Bargests moved to the side, and when King Rory motioned forward, I saw why. Trolls lumbered up to form the first line beside their king, their massive hands holding swords as long as I was tall. Maybe longer. Arach didn't have to give an order for our Red Caps, who were grinning ear-to-ear, to take the front line beside him. They were already there. Behind them waited the Wild Hunt—Hags cackling, Phookas snarling, and Leanan-Sidhe baring their fangs. But the Fire Army didn't go forward when Earth did. They waited on their king.
Arach's clothing exploded from his body like confetti as he shifted into his dragon form. The sight of those crimson scales, like a warning of blood soon to be spilled, sent the Water Army into a muttering state. Many stared at their queen, probably hoping she'd be inspired to toss me to the Dragon King. But then my husband roared and monsters answered his call.
Tears slid down my cheeks as my beloved friends, the Hidden-Ones, came through the ranks of Fire Fey to stand proudly with Arach and his Red Caps. The Wild Hunt was now complete. Well, it would be once it had its queen.
The Water Fey quaked to see those terrible faces. Nightmares to all who didn't truly know them. But what made them monstrous to others made them precious to me. I knew that the Hidden-Ones were the first race that Faerie created. The foundation of all the Fey races. Within them was Faerie's love and creativity. Her hope for what the Fey would become. I had once been shocked by the mix of creatures in the Hidden-Ones, each of them different. No race had ever had so many distinctive features. It didn't make sense until you understood that they were the source. All fey features stem from them.
Hard crustacean carapaces, velvety horns, thin and thick fangs, silken fur and matted. It went on and on. I saw pieces of every race of Faerie within them. Our history in the flesh. And they were powerful, fearsome people. Stepping forward on hooves and claws and paws, they roared with their king.
The door behind me burst open.
It wasn't my pie delivery.
The soldiers didn't smile at me as they came forward. Nor were they kind in their handling of me. They forced me from the room and down many stairs as the sounds of roaring, cackling, and clanging continued. Their grips were firm on my arms, but their faces twitched. One of them was a Kelpie, but he wasn't Nori, and he wasn't going to give me a kiss. We weren't heading back into the ocean.
Nope. They took me out to the front of the castle and over to the edge where Queen Dubheasa still stood in an impressive show of bravery. Or very possibly stupidity. As soon as I drew close, she spun to me and grabbed my throat.
“Halt!” Dubheasa shouted down at the armies. “Stop or I will tear out her throat. And if you keep coming after that, I will stab her through her heart with this.” She lifted a wooden stake.
I rolled my eyes. At least she'd spoken in English so I could understand her threat.
While the Armies of Earth and Fire came to a halt and my dragon husband stepped free of them to snarl at Dubheasa, time seemed to slow. Isn't that always how it is when your brain races? Mine was going at super speed. Admittedly, this didn't happen often. But things had been stewing for a while in there, and they had finally melded their flavors. Dinner was served.
I glanced at my Kelpie guard. He was as focused on my husband as everyone else, including Dubheasa. Sure, she had her clawed hand around my throat, but so what? If I moved fast enough, she would only scratch me. And even if I didn't, a cut throat wouldn't kill me. But if I did this right, I could save thousands of lives. Faeries from all the armies.
Another glance at Dubheasa. She wasn't looking. But Nori, who stood on her other side, was. He met my stare, then subtly nodded. My lips twitched, but I didn't give anything away. This had to be done swiftly.
Dropping out of Dubheasa's grip, I kicked at her knees. She fell back, and Nori grabbed her, holding on even when she struggled, under the guise of steadying her. As he restrained her, I shot to my feet, lifted my arms, and then brought them down over the Kelpie's head. The other Kelpie. Instead of choking him with the chain, I drew back when it was level with his mouth and forced the links between his teeth. He bucked in surprise, but when I stepped behind him and pulled back on the makeshift reins, he went still. To bridle a Kelpie was to take control of them. Full control. He was mine.
Dubheasa found her feet at last, but it was too late. By then, I had ordered the Kelpie to shift. Her big fish eyes got even wider. Everyone's eyes widened. All but Nori's. He looked almost smug as I mounted the Kelpie mid-shift, his body flowing back and between my legs to lift me smoothly from the ground as if we had rehearsed it.
As the Kelpie shifted, the Water Army withdrew, even the Queen. I found myself astride a snorting water horse, using my manacles to guide it back and forth along the edge of the cliff, in the narrow space they had abandoned. Funny that this would scare the Water Fey more than the Hidden-Ones. But it seemed to do just that. Or maybe they were just amazed that I had the balls to bridle one of them. Whatever it was, I had everyone's attention.
Masculine, deep, primal,sexylaughter came from below.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Once Arach stopped laughing, he took to the air, then landed behind me. The Hidden-Ones roared and ran up the hill. Hot on their heels was the rest of the Wild Hunt, but the Earth Army was a little late to follow, having spent so much time gaping at a Dragon-Sidhe riding a Kelpie.
Fear shot across the faces of the Water Fey.
“Hold!” I shouted, not at the Water Army but at Fire.
Arach cocked his head at me but spread his wings to keep the Wild Hunt from passing. Even those in the air paused to hover behind him.
“Thanks for coming,” I said to Arach. “Finally.”
“There were preparations that had to be made, A Thaisce,” Arach said. “I suffered along with you.”
“I didn't suffer, Arach. I'm fine. And these men and women are only following orders. They shouldn't be blamed for what their queen has done.”
“What are you saying?”
