Once we were both reassured, our heartbeats back to normal, Raza let me slide down his body to stand before him. He stroked my cheek, his claws tickling my skin. “I threw a tantrum like a child.”
“No, you threw a tantrum like a dragon,” I teased him. Then I got serious. “Why didn't you tell me how you felt sooner?”
“Because, as I just implied, it's childish. I'm not a man who needs to feel stronger than his mate. But your Anu magic, it . . . ah, it galls me. I don't like it. Seeing you use it so often, appearing to disregard all in you that's fey, makes me angry. Maybe I was jumping at shadows, seeing things that weren't there, but it felt as if you viewed yourself as this great being, uniting the worlds because of Anu. As if you'd forgotten how much we sacrificed to help you unite Fairy.”
“Yeah, I see that. And maybe I do use the Light more than any other magic, but I use it more than Darkness too. It's just soeasy to summon, and it has so many uses. And I'm glad of it now, Raza. Nothing else could drive back the blight.”
“Yes, the blight.” He took my hand and led me to a pair of wide wooden chairs before a stone fireplace.
Raza's guest room befit his status, meaning it was massive. We were in the main room, an open doorway in the right wall giving a glimpse of an enormous ebony bed. Mullioned windows took up most of the far wall, showcasing a rainy day on the Isle of Danu. Despite the dreary weather, the Goddess's temple shone brightly nearby, its crystal spires a tribute from the planet itself. Over the fire, a cast-iron pot hung, steaming. Raza took a mug from the mantel, a ladle from a hook, and filled the mug with the steaming liquid in the pot. The smell of apple cider came to me as I sat down.
Raza handed me the mug and filled another for himself before sitting down across from me. “The High Council is scared. If the blight reaches Danu's Isle, it could kill the Goddess.”
“Kill her?” I held the mug between my suddenly cold hands.
“She's already missing, Seren, and the blight is only in Seelie.”
I frowned. “Yes, that doesn't seem right, does it?”
Raza straightened. “What are you saying?”
“I'm saying that if those villages hadn't sent word to the castle, Tiernan would never have known about the blight.”
Raza's expression went horrified. “You think it could be in all the kingdoms?”
“I think it would be a good idea to send people out to check on all the villages.” I pulled out my scry phone. “Is my father still here?”
“I think he left.” He stood up and went to a side table, where he had discarded his scry phone upon my arrival. He picked it up, opened it, and called out, “Rayetayah Tnyn.”
Seconds later, I called out, “King Keir Bloodthorn of Twilight.”
As Raza ordered his son to send runners to all the Unseelie villages, my father's face filled my phone.
“Seren?” Keir frowned at me. The cushions and wooden roof of his carriage formed a dull backdrop to his vibrant self. “What's wrong? I've just passed through the rath.”
“Dad, I'm worried that the blight could be in all the kingdoms. Maybe you should send some people to check the villages.”
Keir's eyes widened. “That's a good idea. I'll send them as soon as I get back.” He paused. “Where are you?”
“With Raza. We're fixing things.”
He sighed. “Good. Thank Danu for that.”
“I will as soon as I can find her.”
“Yes, I see why you're concerned about our world. One infestation shouldn't keep her from us.”
I nodded. “Raza's sending people as well. Hopefully, I'm worried about nothing.”
“Yes, well, if the blight is only in Seelie, Danu's absence is even more troubling. There must be more to this than we know.”
“That garden is strong enough to manifest a sentient being to represent itself. Maybe it is the only thing weakening Danu.” I grimaced. “Our Seelie archivist warned us that destroying the garden could be bad, but I don't see any other option.”
“Burn it to cinders, Seren. Whatever comes of it, it will be better than Fairy covered in regret.”
“True. All right, Dad. I love you.”
“I love you too. Be careful when you deal with the Garden. You've grown stronger, but this thing has affected our goddess. If it can do that, it's likely stronger than you.”
