"She is nothing like her twin," Apollo said by way of reply.

"They never are," Frey murmured.

Apollo drew in a deep breath and admitted, "The loss was a long time ago, however the feelings felt fresh. Until her. But time may have dulled the memories. It feels a betrayal to Ilsa to speak these words, but I am enjoying my time with Madeleine..." he paused and finished, "maybe more."

At that, Frey smiled and responded, "They never are the same, but they are always better. And for you, my friend, she would need to be considering the other her was as she was and you felt for her as you did."

Apollo felt his lips curving and concluded, "Yes. So, in other words, indeed. She pleases me. She vexes me often. But she pleases me more."

Frey's brows rose. "Ilsa did not vex you?"

"What we had was very steady."

Frey grinned. "You may have discovered that the vexing leads to many things and most of them are interesting. And most of those interesting things are very interesting."

Apollo turned and started walking again, Frey falling in step beside him, and Apollo did this murmuring, "I may be mad, but I simply find the vexing part interesting."

Frey chuckled and clapped Apollo on the back. "Do not share this with my wee Finnie, but I would agree."

They ascended the stairs and stopped again to go their separate ways.

"We leave on the morrow for Karsvall," Apollo told him. "Lavinia is there and it's safe. My children and Maddie are here where I feel it is not. You and Finnie are welcome."

"I'll report to you immediately about the dragons. And if they are not successful, we will discuss Franka and Kristian and how to use them," Frey replied. "I'll leave a man to deal with that and Finnie, my son and I will follow you to Karsvall."

Apollo lifted his chin.

Frey murmured, "I go to my dragons," as he turned to move away.

"Frey," Apollo called and Frey stopped. "I have a man who makes his way to Specter Isle. A self-appointed mission to scout. I have another man who follows him. I would think they should be there by now, though I've heard no word."

"This is a foolhardy mission," Frey remarked.

"He was warned," Apollo shared.

"The dragons' missiles cannot be precise if we don't know where they are," Frey said quietly. "Upon approach to Brunskar, we saw the black magic in the forest and the blue of Minerva's sparks, as well as the sea of wolves, so we knew one of ours was under attack and I could instruct the beasts." He shook his head, watching Apollo closely. "Specter Isle is not vast, but it's far from small. Not knowing where they are, I cannot do the same for your men or Franka's lover."

Apollo drew in breath and looked away, wishing like all soldiers-futilely he knew-that there was a world with no war.

If Derrik reached Scepter Isle, and the dragons succeeded, he would be lost.

Apollo felt that score through his soul before he let out his breath slowly and looked back to Frey. "I will hope they have not yet made their destination."

"I will hope that as well," Frey replied.

Apollo drew in another breath and on the exhale, whispered, "Thank you. For tonight what you did with your dragons in the forest, I owe you a debt."

"You owe me nothing," Frey replied quietly. "My wife was in a war zone, a princess surrounded by snakes. You were her one true ally who held power. You saw she took no venom. Tonight, I repaid my debt."

That he would allow so again Apollo lifted his chin.

Frey dipped his.

Then Apollo moved to find his Madeleine as Frey moved toward the front doors to command his dragons.

Chapter Twenty-Two.

Hold Tight to Happiness Apollo's boots made no sound on the blood red runner that ran the hall to the room in which the maid had told him he would find Maddie.

He was not surprised when, seven feet from the door, Madeleine's Maroovian maid stepped out, her eyes aimed to him.

He stopped three feet away and held her gaze as she closed the door with a soft click behind her.

Only then did he quietly state, "You are witch."

She shook her head.

He felt his eyes narrow at her lie. "You knew the danger, where she'd be. And you went there armed."

"I did," she agreed, steadily holding his gaze. She went on to explain, "My grandmother held magic. This was pa.s.sed down to me through my mother, who did not. I am not witch but I have the sight."

She had the sight.

And she was loyal to Madeleine. Loyal enough to put her own life on the line to protect her.

b.l.o.o.d.y brilliant news.

"I warn you, wolf, it is not under my control," she continued. "I cannot call it up as my grandmother could. If I sense something, however, I can pinpoint it, keep it in focus, and it is never wrong."

Although brilliant, this was annoying.

"If you sense something in future, woman, I bid you to tell me," he commanded. "For tonight could have had a different ending."

She shook her head again.

"I saw the dragons," she whispered and Apollo tipped his head to the side. "I knew Miss Maddie did not die tonight."

"If you saw all you saw, explain why you didn't share it with me."

"Dragons?" she asked, shaking her head yet again. "Impossible."

"Not in Lunwyn," he returned.

"I have heard much of this. However, I thought it lore. It was too fantastical." She drew in breath and finished, "It must be seen to be believed."

"Now you've seen it, believe it and share any future visions with me no matter how impossible you feel them to be," he ordered.

She held his gaze for a moment before nodding. However she did not step away from the door.

He grew impatient with her delay as well as what he read behind it.

He disliked both, but more the latter.

"You will be recompensed for your actions and your loyalty displayed tonight," he said low.

"I wish nothing but to remain in service to Miss Maddie," she replied and he felt his head twitch in surprise.

"That is not a difficult wish to grant. You excel at your job and she cares for you," Apollo told her. "That said, with what you did this night I will still reward you in coins or baubles, your choice. Simply tell Cristiana when we've returned and they will be provided for you."

"I will accept either to save for when I am no longer able to work. You choose which you will bestow. In the meantime, I simply wish to remain at Miss Madeleine's side."

Apollo felt his skin p.r.i.c.kle at her reiteration of something he'd already a.s.sured her she'd have. Before he could ask after it, she told him.

"She is not of this world," she said softly.

He said nothing.

"She is special," she carried on.

He said something to that.

"She is," he agreed.

She drew in a breath through her nose, the long line of her neck lengthening, her eyes never leaving his.

Then, hesitantly, for her words were not those acceptable from one such as she to one such as him, not ever, she spoke "You should feel no guilt for this love you hold for her, this love that builds beyond imagining. It does not reflect on the love you had before."

With respect to her actions that night, instead of remonstrating her for her insolence, he simply replied, "This is not your concern."

She ignored him.

"Love like you build with Miss Madeleine is as she is. It is not of this world. Not of her world. It is beyond the worlds. It is beyond anything."

He was feeling that, he didn't need a ladies maid, no matter her intelligence or power, to tell him so.

Apollo looked beyond her to the door, starting to say, "We will not dis-"

"She is in grave danger."

He looked back to her.

"This I know," he growled.

"I do not know why these powers wish to extinguish this love beyond worlds. But this is their wish. I sense it. They wish to extinguish it but they will wrest something from it." Her head c.o.c.ked to the side. "There are others." It was a question and a statement.

"Three others," he confirmed.

"They are in grave danger as well," she informed him of something he knew.

"Woman, this is not something we don't know," he shared.

She didn't move.

He grew more impatient but still, to learn what she might know, he waited.

Finally, she said, "The one with white hair we met tonight and Miss Maddie I see often surrounded in green. This green does not cause me dread. It means them no harm, in fact, the opposite. There is also one who is surrounded by gold. She, too, does not trouble me. You say there's another?"

He drew in breath and told her, "Cora, the Gracious. Princess of the Vale."

She nodded. "I will tell you if I see her."

Brilliant.

Now she needed to b.l.o.o.d.y move.

He didn't order this. He waited again, his patience waning.

"It is their love," she said softly, her eyes going unfocused.

"Pardon?" he asked.

She lifted a finger. Closing her eyes, she rubbed it between.

Finally, she dropped her hand and looked to him.

"The men of these women, they are hard to love," she declared and Apollo clenched his teeth. "All for different reasons. All, if they had not found these women, would have lived lonely, untouched by that emotion, the companionship they enjoy, the contentment their lover brings them."

"I was touched by it," he reminded her, his voice cold.

"You were, and yet it was lost. Worse for you, as you know how that feels."

He wished she'd cease telling him things he knew and get out of his G.o.ds d.a.m.ned way.

"And because you lost it," she continued, "this is why your love is not easy to win, and you not an easy man to love."

He said nothing for she was again telling him something he knew.

"I will share if I see more," she declared, finally moving out of the way.

"My grat.i.tude," he muttered, shifting toward the door. Hand on the doork.n.o.b, he turned back to her. "I wish you to stay with Loretta tonight. Lady Madeleine and I will be going back to my children. We travel with a guard and a witch."