question far sooner than he expected, as Eevul’s face contorted with a
vicious sneer.
“The great goddess Badb. Traitor. Murderer.” Her fingers
curled into talons, and she braced as though to spring at Gràinne. “Making you
banshee was better than you deserved. I would have annihilated you if I had the
power, but you were too strong. Instead I stole from you what you’d stolen from
me—the life that could have been.”
She didn’t have a chance to attack, as she seemed set to do,
for the two banshees closest to her stepped forward, grasping her arms. They
must have done something to negate her magic, which was abruptly curtailed.
Eevul laughed, even as she twisted, trying to escape.
“You’re a thief, Gràinne Bairdie. I accuse you of theft of a
magical object. You will surrender yourself to the authorities. You think
you’re free, but I will make sure you are never free again.”
“That rune was imbued with my stolen emotions and memories.
No fey court will find me guilty of theft for taking what was rightfully mine.”
Gràinne sounded strong, so alive Jakuta’s heart leapt and his stomach clenched.
“You, on the other hand, stole my emotions, the life I was entitled to. I think
they will find that a far more heinous crime.”
“It was worth it, to see the great traitor Badb reduced to
an emotionless cipher.” Eevul whispered it, her voice taking on an edge of
madness. “You took everything we valued, betrayed your own. We would have ruled
this world if not for you. Memories are long, Badb. They will spit upon you in
the street, just as I spit upon you now.”
Finally he could look at her again and once he had, Jakuta
couldn’t take his gaze off Gràinne. Pain shadowed her eyes at Eevul’s words but
although he wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms, something about
her stiff posture kept him away.
There was the sound of a scuffle and Jakuta turned to see
Eevul being dragged out the door by two of her companions. The third lingered, her
eyes on Gràinne, concern tightening the corners of her lips.
“We will have to check each of the recruits Eevul brought to
us after the Purge, to ensure there are no more like you.” She seemed to sigh
slightly, her gaze turning inward for a moment, then returned to Gràinne’s
face. “Our entire way of life has been jeopardized by this. Up until tonight I
would have sworn all banshee were that way by choice. If this matter becomes
known, women who wanted nothing more than peace may be forced to accept memories
and emotions they no longer know how to bear.”
“Take any you have doubts about to the room where the runes
are kept.” She bent to pick up the drape and wrapped it around herself again.
“My rune called to me, as though it knew I hadn’t surrendered myself willingly.
Perhaps the others will react the same.”
The banshee nodded, relief flitting over her features. “I
have been in the room where the runes are kept, felt no draw to any particular
one. That may be the answer we seek.” She started to turn away, hesitated. “Can
we count on your discretion in this matter? You have my word that we will deal
severely with Eevul. It will do no good for others to know the truth of who,
what, we are.”
Gràinne nodded, pain ghosting across her face. “You have my
word, I won’t tell anyone.”
The banshee left, closing the door behind her. Jakuta stared
at Gràinne, still unable to move, to even speak. After a quick glance at him,
she dropped her gaze, and his heart stumbled.
“Well.” Jasmina’s voice startled him. He’d forgotten she was
even in the room. “I think I’ll go down and let Ula know everything is okay up
here, but I want the full story, and soon.” She disappeared in her usual swirl
of gold-and-green lights, leaving silence behind.
Gràinne sank down on the edge of the daybed, still avoiding
his gaze, and pain sliced through his joy. Then she raised her hands to her
face, but not quickly enough to hide her
vicious sneer.
“The great goddess Badb. Traitor. Murderer.” Her fingers
curled into talons, and she braced as though to spring at Gràinne. “Making you
banshee was better than you deserved. I would have annihilated you if I had the
power, but you were too strong. Instead I stole from you what you’d stolen from
me—the life that could have been.”
She didn’t have a chance to attack, as she seemed set to do,
for the two banshees closest to her stepped forward, grasping her arms. They
must have done something to negate her magic, which was abruptly curtailed.
Eevul laughed, even as she twisted, trying to escape.
“You’re a thief, Gràinne Bairdie. I accuse you of theft of a
magical object. You will surrender yourself to the authorities. You think
you’re free, but I will make sure you are never free again.”
“That rune was imbued with my stolen emotions and memories.
No fey court will find me guilty of theft for taking what was rightfully mine.”
Gràinne sounded strong, so alive Jakuta’s heart leapt and his stomach clenched.
“You, on the other hand, stole my emotions, the life I was entitled to. I think
they will find that a far more heinous crime.”
“It was worth it, to see the great traitor Badb reduced to
an emotionless cipher.” Eevul whispered it, her voice taking on an edge of
madness. “You took everything we valued, betrayed your own. We would have ruled
this world if not for you. Memories are long, Badb. They will spit upon you in
the street, just as I spit upon you now.”
Finally he could look at her again and once he had, Jakuta
couldn’t take his gaze off Gràinne. Pain shadowed her eyes at Eevul’s words but
although he wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms, something about
her stiff posture kept him away.
There was the sound of a scuffle and Jakuta turned to see
Eevul being dragged out the door by two of her companions. The third lingered, her
eyes on Gràinne, concern tightening the corners of her lips.
“We will have to check each of the recruits Eevul brought to
us after the Purge, to ensure there are no more like you.” She seemed to sigh
slightly, her gaze turning inward for a moment, then returned to Gràinne’s
face. “Our entire way of life has been jeopardized by this. Up until tonight I
would have sworn all banshee were that way by choice. If this matter becomes
known, women who wanted nothing more than peace may be forced to accept memories
and emotions they no longer know how to bear.”
“Take any you have doubts about to the room where the runes
are kept.” She bent to pick up the drape and wrapped it around herself again.
“My rune called to me, as though it knew I hadn’t surrendered myself willingly.
Perhaps the others will react the same.”
The banshee nodded, relief flitting over her features. “I
have been in the room where the runes are kept, felt no draw to any particular
one. That may be the answer we seek.” She started to turn away, hesitated. “Can
we count on your discretion in this matter? You have my word that we will deal
severely with Eevul. It will do no good for others to know the truth of who,
what, we are.”
Gràinne nodded, pain ghosting across her face. “You have my
word, I won’t tell anyone.”
The banshee left, closing the door behind her. Jakuta stared
at Gràinne, still unable to move, to even speak. After a quick glance at him,
she dropped her gaze, and his heart stumbled.
“Well.” Jasmina’s voice startled him. He’d forgotten she was
even in the room. “I think I’ll go down and let Ula know everything is okay up
here, but I want the full story, and soon.” She disappeared in her usual swirl
of gold-and-green lights, leaving silence behind.
Gràinne sank down on the edge of the daybed, still avoiding
his gaze, and pain sliced through his joy. Then she raised her hands to her
face, but not quickly enough to hide her
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