She smiled.

Yeah, I didn't think so.

Bastien said through the pack link. "M'selle," Bastien said again. "Can I ask this of you?"My own eyes widened when I realized what kind of door he was opening. "Bastien, no!"But he held up his hand. "You're right, ma pet.i.te. Your Arcane can't be trusted with something as delicate as this. You'll need that second request to heal your heart."

Tzariene stepped forward and moved her hand in front of me. I felt compelled to step aside and expose the very naked Lycan to the Faerie queen. "And what will you give me in return?""Bastien-"And that's when he did it. He used something on me he'd never done before.His will.I felt it through the link, a pressure artfully a.s.serted against all of my five senses. And for an instant I couldn't see or hear, smell or touch, or even feel. I staggered forward and warm hands caught my arms."Cherie," Bastien said and his body pressed against mine as my sight slowly returned. "Forgive me?"I shoved away from him, hard, and stumbled again, but this time I righted myself.Samantha?"It's fine, Hob." I blinked a few times as the light came back and I saw Bastien wore white pants now, tight and well fitted. A slight sparkle around them confirmed they were glamoured pants, most likely a gift from Tzariene. He lifted Ivan off the cot. "What are you doing?""Taking him to where he can heal. Pick up the staff and follow us."Us? I retrieved the wooden knife, though I didn't remember dropping it. Hob and Tzariene stood together off to the side and watched. "You two not coming?""No," Tzariene said. "But I'll be able to hear your request when you make it.""What did you ask from him?" I took a step toward her. I didn't think I seemed menacing, so I was a little taken aback when she actually moved away."He offered freely, Samantha Hawthorne. Just as you did. Now go. You don't have a lot of time.""We don't?" That's when I remembered Cordelia's declaration. "The Boggart said Brendi intends on marrying the Dragon. Is this possible?""It's not really a marriage. It's a binding. Something she intends on doing by using his blood. It's...an ancient spell she claims she took from the oldest Grimoire. The spell is said to forever bind the Dragon to do her bidding.""She..." My heart flip-flopped in my chest as I dropped my backpack. "She can't really do that, can she? Make him love her?""Love has nothing to do with it," Tzariene said, and then she narrowed her eyes. "You and the Lycan are not mates."Okay whoa. What? I sneered like Billy Idol. "Oh G.o.ddess no. Why would you think that?""There is a link...a connection between the two of you. He obviously has feelings for you," she held out her hands and inched forward. "Samantha...look at me.""Why? Are you going to do something nasty?""No...just, let me see your eyes."I felt childish at that moment because the green-eyed monster was alive and well. I was jealous. And angry. And ready to kill that kid if she dared make my Dragon love her. Or follow her. Or worship her-whatever the seven souls this spell is supposed to do.So in that childish, hissy-fit moment I glared at her.Her eyes narrowed and then widened as she put her delicate, charred fingers to her lips. "You...you love him.""Not the wolf.""No...the Destroyer. You...are in love...with the Dragon."I gave a short sigh before I lowered my shoulders. "Yes. If everyone has to know and it's a bad thing, I do. I love him. That's why I have to find him. I can't slay him, Tzariene. I want to bring him home, with me.""Knowing what he did?""I don't know what he did. And if he did something really, really terrible," I held out my hands, aware that Bastien was waiting on me with Ivan in his arms. "Then he has to tell me himself. Come clean. Tell me every terrible detail. And you know what? I'll listen to him. And I'll withhold any judgments until I know all the facts. For G.o.ddesses' sake, just move on. The man I love, the Dragon, whatever he is, works as a detective in my world. He fights for the victims, he punishes the bad guy, he doesn't use his power for personal gain-he's grown, moved on, changed, but apparently you people haven't!"My heart thundered against my chest and I was breathing fast. I waited few seconds and when she didn't answer, I grabbed my backpack and turned toward Bastien. "Let's go.""Samantha-"I stopped and then pivoted to look at her. Her light was back, her gown pristine and her hands...well they still looked a little toasted. But the image I remembered had returned. And I didn't know why. "Tzariene?""Do as Bastien tells you to do, understand? If what I sense is the truth, and he feels the same, the spell Brendi hopes to wrap him in will not work." She came to me and to my surprise, took my hand in hers. "There is one thing, one concept, one emotion that cannot be defeated by magic. Any magic. Do you know what that is?"I felt sarcastic and a bit put on the spot. "Love?""Yes."I got it right."Remember, do as Bastien says to do and be prepared to show that love. It's the only way I can help you get him out of here alive and whole.""Wait-what? I haven't asked you to do that.""No. This one is for me, because there is nothing more satisfying to me than the idea of seeing Brendi's face when her prize no longer fuels her need for destruction and domination. Slaying him wouldn't have nearly the same devastating effect as him escaping would have."I swear I expected her to giggle like a schoolgirl. "Oh-okay. If you say so.""Yes. Now, your guide will meet you just outside the bars. Use your power to remove the bars. That will allow myself and Hob pa.s.sage out of here."Our guide. I a.s.sumed she meant Cordelia, since she led us down here. "So just follow Cordelia?""Oh. No. I sent Cordelia to bed. She's napping in the grotto. Just follow Bastien."I made a face again as I slipped my backpack on and headed past Bastien to the bars. One touch and I felt and saw the Arcane spiral down my arm in glittering red effect. It wrapped the bars one at a time quickly and when it was done, the bars were gone.Trans.m.u.tation. I could see the iron dust on the floor. On a crazy whim, I removed the backpack and pulled a small plastic bag from the side, something I kept in there just in case we're somewhere and Kyle needs an herb or plant from the side of the road.I filled it with the dust, sealed it, shoved it into my pocket, and stepped through the door.:Well fancy meeting you here.: Oh no... I knew that voice!Standing in the middle of a crossroads of iron bar cells stood a two-foot high Hopi Kachina doll. It had a black half-dome head, hollow tubes for eyes, and white and red painted razor sharp teeth. Just behind its head was a fan of feathers in bright colors. It had a bib of gold and purple lace, a skirt of leather with a black snake on it and moccasins.I just stared down at it as it put its small hands on its hips. "Medbh?"TWENTY THREE."Is it diable?" Bastien asked beside me."You could say that.":I'm standing right in front of you, you know.: I remembered every nuance of Medbh's voice, since I had to live with it in my head for nearly nine months. I thought she was long gone by now, destroyed by Brendi. But here she was.I pointed at her and made a figure eight in the air. "What's with the Kachina look?":The usurper's idea of a joke. She had a doll her dad gave her. Loved it. Had one of her Fetches get it and then here ya go, Medbh, you get to look like a cosplay character.: "Cherie...what is that?""That is the former Obsidian Queen, Medbh."The look on his face was priceless. "T'es sr de sa?":Oooh,: Medbh waved her small arms. :Where did you get that one? I like the accent and he looks a lot better than the Drachen does now.: I dropped to my knees and grabbed the little doll around the upper arms, pinning them to its side. "You've seen Crwys? You know where he is?":Let...go!: The thing squirmed back and forth. :Of course I do. But I'm not gonna tell you anything if you don't...let...GO!: I released Medbh and she stumbled back a few steps and landed on her b.u.t.t. When I reached out to help her, she slapped my hand away. :I'm fine! I don't need your help. I think you've done enough!: Nothing was going to stop the ping of guilt that statement brought to the surface. Medbh's separation from her body wasn't my fault. That was all on her. But her being tossed into the body of a doll? Well, that was partially me. I was tricked by my "not aunt" to tempt Medbh with a necklace apparently spelled to s.n.a.t.c.h up souls. Or essences. Or whatever the h.e.l.l she was now.I put my hands on my thighs and pushed myself back up. "Okay. You're right. Lead on."Medbh tilted that mask up to me, nodded and pivoted. When she started walking around the corner, Bastien and I followed. As we walked, I touched the Lycan's arm. "Don't think I've forgotten what you did. You're going to tell me what you traded to help Ivan."He didn't say anything. Didn't even nod. Just kept looking straight ahead.Great...now I felt worse than before. My stomach twisted with guilt and I was insanely worried about Ivan and Crwys.And now Bastien.The dungeon turned out to be a maze of corridors and endless cages. Some were occupied with living things. Others...not living. After the third turn, I stopped looking inside of them.Cool air brushed against my face as I kept an eye on Ivan in Bastien's arms. He looked so much smaller like that, curled up and unmoving. His eyes remained closed and he was quiet. Ivan was never quiet, unless he was sleeping.Finally we reached a dead end with no cell, just a stone wall. Or so I thought, until the little doll walked right through it. I motioned for Bastien to follow and I brought up the back this time, my hands loaded and ready with energy. I nudged my Elementals and they were ready to make a quick appearance if I needed them. Even the Arcane's voice was ready and felt...eager.Pa.s.sing through the fake wall gave me a bit of vertigo and I reached out to grab a hold of something before I fell. My hand touched Bastien and I felt him jump. It was dark and though I had my eyes open, I couldn't see anything. "Medbh?":Give it a minute.: I waited and kept my hand on Bastien's arm. After a few more seconds, I called my Salamander and he was ready to strike a flame.But then a subtle light grew from the walls, the ceiling and the floor. Symbols that had no meaning to me glowed in soft aquamarine. The light gave contour to the room. It was round, with a darker center. I could see Medbh climbing up on a round, raised dais and I walked toward her. The dais was three tiered in decreasing size, the third tier level with my chest. I heard a dripping noise the closer I got to the dais. Not a steady stream but a constant tap of water.The air temperature lowered and I shivered inside my damp clothing. The wind came from above. As Medbh made it to the top dais, I stepped on the first tier, looked down and touched the sides. The tier was made of solid dark marble in the green and blue light. The center of it sloped down to form a basin, half filled with something dark. I could see the ripples as the water dripped in. "What is that?"Medbh pointed at it. :That is what Tzariene knew about. The Machine Witch drinks this and he'll be good as new. And then some.: I stared into the basin. "But what is it?"Bastien came forward and carefully sat Ivan on the lower tier. He waited for Ivan to half wake and then told him in a hushed voice to sit up. When Ivan slowly complied, Bastien straightened and leaned over the tier next to me. "Do we have a cup?"Medbh looked around and pointed behind us. :There. This is where the Queen's sycophants come to drink. Should be a cup in that alcove.: Sycophants come to drink? What for? What are they drinking? Is this some kind of magic potion that comes from the rocks? I leaned over the basin and looked up. I could see a pinpoint of light above, but it was too far up, and I could hear voices and what sounded like...singing?Bastien moved to the alcove and came back with a gla.s.s chalice. It took on the gleam and color of the glowing symbols around us. With a glance at me, he started to dip the chalice in the basin.I put my hand out. "Stop. I'll do it. Ivan's my responsibility."Bastien handed me the chalice and I filled it with the liquid. It made the gla.s.s warm, and I wondered if the basin was heated from underneath. Carefully stepping down with some support from Bastien, I knelt beside Ivan and touched his face. "Ivan, I need you to hear me. To listen to me."My Undine, still seated on my shoulder, moved to shine some of her blue light on his face. She kissed his cheek and he opened his white eyes.I ushered the little mermaid out of the way and put the edge of the chalice to his lips. "Drink this for me, Ivan. It'll stop the pain."Ivan brought his hands up to help balance the chalice and tilted it back, his eyes closed. I heard him swallow a few times before he lowered it and pushed it away. "Ugh...wow...what is this? Watered down hot sauce?"The laugh that came out of me was half a sob. That sounded like my Ivan. I laughed and sniffed. "Tastes bad, huh?""Yeah, like you ran some of it through a rusty pipe.":You have to drink the whole cup.: Ivan jumped. "Whoa...is that Medbh?"I lifted the chalice back up and told him to drink. He continued until he'd emptied it. Bastien took the chalice as I leaned in to Ivan. "You feel better?""Oh I feel great," Ivan said and opened his eyes.They were brown again. Beautiful brown. "And you can see me?""Yeah...why wouldn't I see you?"Narrowing my eyes, I said, "Do you know where you are?""Yeah. I'm in Faerie Land, and don't ask how I got here. All I did was try to grab that stick and wham! I was standing in some high gra.s.s and dudes on horses rode up, threw a net over me and dragged me behind them." Ivan's expression changed and he looked sad. "I remember what she did to me, Sam. I...I don't know this woman the way you do. My only experience with Faerie is Medbh and honestly, she creeped me out but she made me laugh. This girl..." he shivered. "She's bat s.h.i.t crazy and she's sure you're going to take it all away from her.""How does she know this? Why does she think this?"