“I am magic and pain.” Not-Solas lowered his arms. “But I am also forged of divine intelligence. I learn. I adapt. Every time you attacked me, I led you to believe you injured me.”
“The screams,” I whispered. “They were fake.”
“Yes.” Not-Solas sauntered over to me, but as he walked, he transformed. His platinum hair darkened at the ends, as if dipped in ink. It lengthened. His silver eyes grew an indigo ring around them. A silver scar appeared, curling around the outer edge of his right eye and down along the top of his cheekbone. By the time he stood before me, he was an exact copy of my husband. “You never hurt me, my Queen,” Tiernan's voice camefrom the pretender, and his elegant hand lifted to cup my cheek. “You taught me how to protect myself from you, and then you destroyed my cage. You freed me, Seren. Let me free you.”
Freed, yes. Transformed even. But there was still darkness inside the King of the Somber Ones. It entered me as he pulled me into an embrace. Paralyzed, I watched his head bend, and then his lips touched mine.
Every slight, every hurt, every heartache I had ever felt came rushing to the surface. I had nothing with which to fight him. My knees buckled even as I heard Tiernan roar in fury. Eyes open, I saw the Not-Tiernan lift a hand, and the real Tiernan flew backward to crash into the rock wall and fall in a heap.
Not-Tiernan lifted his head to meet my horrified stare. “First Seelie, then Unseelie, and finally, Twilight. You won't have to split your heart anymore, my love. You and I will rule all of Fairy.”
I screamed.
Chapter Thirty-Five
“I, Tiernan Shadowcall, King of Seelie, call unto those who have gone before me!” Tiernan's voice rang out, filling the cavern.
The Not-Tiernan straightened, setting me on my feet. I swayed and blinked, focusing on the real Tiernan. He was glowing, his hair lifting in the currents of magic.
“Come to me, you honorable dead. Kings, queens, and all who chose to bind themselves in service to Danu. Seelie, Unseelie, and Twilight Fey. I call upon you to defend us against this foul enemy who threatens our world. Come to me now, Shining Ones of Fairy!”
It was a long summoning, but I felt every word vibrate through my bones. The vibration they created shook the dark cobwebs from my mind. Even as the world rumbled around me, I found my footing. Strength returned to me.
Meanwhile, Not-Tiernan's eyes widened, and his hands fell away. Freed of him, I backed up. He didn't notice. Those stolen eyes darted around the cavern as a new light drove away the darkness.
I eased over to stand beside the real Tiernan. His silver eyes glowed, but he kept them locked on the impostor as he took my hand. He was so handsome that it should have been hard to look away from him. But it was impossible not to look at the men and women who appeared around us. Thousands of them. They filled the cavern. Seelie, Unseelie, and Twilight. All the races of Fairy. So many fairies had chosen service beyond death, and their souls shone with the honor of that act. They stood proudly around us and before us, circling the impostor king and protecting us from his darkness.
Glowing with golden, silver, and lavender light, the Shining Ones did not draw weapons. They were the weapon. But only a portion of them closed in around the King, leaving the others to guard us and bear witness.
“Tiernan,” I whispered.
“They're beautiful.” His eyes overflowed with tears as he looked upon the Shining Ones.
From Sidhe to Brownies, they were all there. Even a few Pixies flew above the ranks, their little faces as proud as the others to be summoned at last. It was impossible not to look upon the Shining Ones without feeling the weight of loyalty and love that bound them to us. To serve Danu and Fairy even after death—it was humbling. Even I didn't want to do that. It was hard enough to serve the Gods while living.
“Dear Danu,” I whispered. “Is that who I think it is?”
Among the Shining Ones were faces I recognized, and several surprised me. Queen Iseabal, my grandmother and also the woman I killed to take the throne of Seelie, turned and looked at me with a peaceful expression I'd never seen her wearin life. She inclined her head to me, with her husband standing on her left and her son on her right.
And there was Moire! Duchess Moire Thorn of Unseelie, my aunt and Bress's mother, stood beside . . .
“Holy shit,” I whispered. “It's Uisdean. Uisdean is a fucking Shining One!”
Beside my evil Uncle Uisdean stood the wife he had risked everything for—Rue. It was sort of romantic, except that Rue had been a mad, murderous bitch when she was alive. Not really her fault though. Uisdean made her that way when he summoned her back to life. I wondered if she'd been a Shining One then. Had he pulled her from these illustrious ranks and forced her into a new body? Or had Rue chosen this after her second death? Perhaps to make amends for what she'd done.
Then I saw someone I actually cared about. Someone whose death nearly started a war and still haunted me. Tears poured down my cheeks as I met the bright stare of King Zhayu of the Court of Nine Sons. A Sea Dragon among the Shining Ones. What would his court think? They had a shaky relationship with Danu. Evidently, dying had renewed Zhayu's faith.
He grinned broadly at me and bowed.
I set a hand to my heart and returned his bow.
“Father,” Tiernan whispered.
I jerked up and followed Tiernan's gaze to see Diocail Shadowcall standing among those who had held back. Tiernan had his father's eyes, though Diocail's facial features were harsher and his pin-straight hair was midnight black. Their twinstares were locked, father and son reunited while one still lived. Diocail had been a harsh man in life, but now, he wore the peaceful yet prideful expression of a Shining One. Through that peace, shone love for his son.
And then Diocail turned to face our enemy.
“Father,” Tiernan said again, this time in a tone of wonder.
