"She gave you the Star." Terin's gaze glittered on my sword and he focused on Andi. "And you have the Heart. The golden age of Annfwn has passed forever. Her borders will crumble, the magic die away. I failed. I'm sorry, Tosin." Tears tracked down his face, a gleaming trail. He looked down at the now quiet Stella. "This should have been your daughter."

"It's over now, Terin." I edged closer. "All the should-have-beens and could-have-beens. They're gone, but we live. All we can do is move forward. Make a better future for all our peoples."

"Give me the child, Uncle." Andi urged beside me. "Do not answer death with more death."

He made a harsh sound and stood, raising his chin in defiance, staring me down. "I see Salena in you. Heartless. Ruthless and without love for anyone. Go ahead, cut me down. Follow in the cold footsteps of your cruel mother."

Though I knew his words to be the taunting of the enemy in dire straits, I also tasted the truth of them. Not that I'd let that stop me. "Hand the baby over and your own people will see to whatever justice they decide."

"Kill me!" He screamed the words and, in his extremity, lost sight of Ash, who moved like a blur, knife flashing across Terin's throat and Stella falling to the stone floor.

Without thought, I dove, flying in a great leap to catch her in my hands, flipping to catch the babe across my body, letting my back hit hard on the rocks. Stella's renewed screams of fury sounded like sweet music and I lay there sending thanks to all the goddesses, trusting the others to dispatch Terin. Agony and gratitude feeling very much the same.

I let Ash carry the still wailing Stella out, needing a moment to recover my breath and strength anyway. We'd lost a number of the cousins from our side, and none of Terin's people remained alive. From the grim set of Rayfe's jaw, that was just as well.

Andi and another cousin shifted to horse form and carried Ash, Ami, and Stella back to our camp, a wolfish Rayfe pacing alongside as guard, along with several others. A few remaining cousins were too tired to risk shifting, so followed along with me on the long walk back through the early morning light.

Zynda shifted back to human, grimacing in relief as her minor wounds healed with the effort, then gave me a rueful smile. "How are you holding up, Cousin? We can rest a while before walking back. Sorry that none of us can be a horse for you."

"That's okay." Somehow riding a family member seemed uncanny and wrong. "Better for me to keep moving. Once I sit and the battle energy crashes, I'll stiffen up."

"Smart of you to bind a consort with magic hands, then."

I slid her a dark look, and she grinned in her mischievous way. "Don't look so mean," she continued. "The women of our family may be fearsome, but they're also generous of heart, mind, and body-as you clearly are. I hope you won't give Terin's words any weight."

So odd, to be considered part of a larger group, to share traits with a family besides Uorsin. "Did you-did you know my mother?" I asked.

She nodded. Then shrugged. "Barely. I was a girl when she left. And she was the Queen of the Tala, so it wasn't as if she came to the family celebrations or sat down with us at the beachside campfire. Still, I had more than a little hero worship for my famous auntie."

That made sense.

"To tell the truth, I'm surprised that you're not more, well, royal."

I raised an eyebrow at her and she gave me that unrepentant grin.

"You know, I figured, Uorsin's right hand, Heir to the Twelve Kingdoms, no animal forms-I always pictured you as more of an insane tyrant. Like your father."

"He's not a tyrant." Maybe it was letdown setting in from the fight, postbattle fatigue-I realized my slip too late.

"Isn't he? Maybe I'm wrong about him, too. So the tales of him executing anyone who stands in his way are false? The stories brought back from Tala who've escaped the prisons can be dire indeed, but those are hardly unbiased sources. And they say more than half the population is on the verge of starvation. I'm glad to hear it's not true-horrible to contemplate people living that way."

Anyone else I would have suspected of baiting me. Or exercising an agenda. Zynda, however, walked along and whistled a bright tune, as if we'd gone on a pleasant stroll instead of limping home from a pitched fight to rescue our own.

"I've always been interested to visit but also afraid to," she continued. "Maybe now that we're friends, I will. We are friends, aren't we?"

All so surreal, walking through the verdant meadow, the sky brightening as Glorianna's sun returned, fruit gleaming on the trees like jewels and the sea glinting in openings here and there. And this woman, much like me, though a few years senior, my cousin, asking to be my friend.

"Of course," I answered, though I had no idea how we'd go about that. I see you with your subordinates, the people who turn a blind eye to what you suffer. I have not seen any friends. It felt like years since Harlan had said that to me. Perhaps I needed to learn how to do this, too.

"Good." She smiled at me. "Gorgeous sunrise. It's going to be a lovely day."

"Aren't they all in Annfwn?"

"True enough, Cousin. It is paradise, after all."

They had a campfire going on the beach, with baskets of fish and shellfish steaming. In the aquamarine water, a seal-shaped cousin popped a head out of the swells to deliver a fish, dropping it neatly into Harlan's hands, who filled yet another basket. He'd doffed his weapons and shirt, standing knee-deep in the surf, tanned and glistening with sea spray.

Ami, sitting in the curve of Ash's arm, gave me a weepy smile, holding Stella to her breast, Astar on Ash's lap staring in fascination, reaching out for his sister with chubby hands and fighting Ash's restraining hold. Andi and Rayfe sat similarly together, on a log by the fire, deep in conversation. He had one hand wound in a long lock of her hair.

"The best part of getting to the party late is everyone else does the work," Zynda commented. "I'm taking a dip to wash off some of the battle ick. Join me?"

Harlan had caught sight of me and straightened, surveying me with that intent look that I knew measured my every scrape and contusion, taking note of my pronounced limp. I held up my palms in acknowledgment of my bruised and bloodied self and he crooked a finger at me in a come-hither.

"Never mind." Zynda laughed. "I see true love awaits."

I snorted at her but toed off my boots, rolled up my trousers, and unstrapped my ankle knives. I'd lost several and would need to replace them eventually. I could have kept the others, but after a moment's hesitation, I decided to ditch them all. I didn't care to carry any weapons at the moment. Leaving even my sword in the pile, I went to Harlan, wading into the gentle water. It burned into a few open cuts, but I ignored that, sliding gratefully under the sheltering arm he held out for me.

His lips brushed my right temple. "They said you weren't badly injured, but that's a lot of blood on your face and neck."

"No water to clean it off." I started to bend, to splash my face, but his arm tightened to stop me.

"Stay next to me a moment more," he murmured, then leaned his head against mine.

"Hard to stay behind?"

"Maybe the most difficult thing I've ever done," he agreed. "And I've faced some harrowing situations."

"I appreciated it. It meant a lot, knowing that I could count on you to protect Astar, no matter what else happened."

"I know. I'm glad for your trust in me. If you asked the same of me again, I'd do it, but . . ."

"But?"

"Please don't." His deep voice had gone so quiet I almost couldn't hear. "Just don't."

"I'm okay, really."

He let go of me to receive another fish, adding it to the bright silvered-rainbow pile in the basket. The seal opened its mouth in an oddly human smile, bobbed its head, then popped into one of the younger men, the smile staying in place as he transformed. Very odd.

"Enough?" Harlan held out the basket and the cousin nodded, giving me a little bow. "Come on, then, Essla. Wash off the blood and let me see for myself."

"That's going to scar," Ami pronounced, narrowing her eyes at a claw mark on my cheekbone, then delicately nibbling on a piece of hot fish.

"Better mine than your fair face," I returned equably. I sat in the sand, leaning against Harlan's knees as he worked the remaining strain out of my shoulders. "Or Stella's."

Ami gazed down at her daughter with lovestruck eyes. "Thank you, yes. Thanks to all of you." She gazed around the circle with damp eyes, able to look gorgeous weeping as only she could, and took Andi's hand. "I was so afraid this wouldn't end well. I owe all of you everything I am. I feared I'd never see her safe again. I'm so glad it's all over."

I waited for Andi to say it. She returned my questioning look with consideration, daring me to speak first.

Ami looked between us. "Oh, stop that, both of you, and put it out in the open."

"Don't play dumb," I retorted. "You know full well it doesn't end here. You have a decision to make."

"And you know that I think Stella needs to stay in Annfwn," Andi added.

"And you, Auntie Essla?" Ami gave me a surprisingly steely look from her pretty violet eyes. "You think I should bring them both to Ordnung. Uorsin's heir, and a spare, and a spare."

Harlan's hands on my neck stilled, and everyone fell silent, looking to me. "Oh, for Danu's sake, don't all look at me like I eat babies for breakfast."

"If only because you prefer to roast them for dinner," Ash said in a sorrowful tone.

"Very funny."

"Would you force me to bring them, Ursula?" Ami asked softly, pushing me. "The King commanded you to do so, didn't he? I mean, I appreciate you coming to help as you promised, but we also know where your primary loyalties lie and that you won't go against Uorsin's command. Would you take them from me?"

My gut chilled and I sat forward, shaking off Harlan's hands. "Did I take Astar from Windroven? Did I force you to go to Ordnung instead of going after Stella? How in the Twelve do you imagine I could force you-either of you-to do a thrice-damned thing?!"

Ami flinched a little and Andi gave me a hard look. "Don't go self-righteous on her. You know full well that you've always tried to control our lives, pushing us to do what you wanted."

That hurt. Probably because it was true. Which only made the anger rise. "Not what I wanted," I snapped. "What's best for you."

"And you're the one who decides that," Andi retorted.

"What? You were going to at some point?" Remembering the sense of helpless rage when Andi bungled into Rayfe and brought our father's fury down on her head, I flung a hand at him. "You think because things worked out that you weren't in terrible danger? And you," I said to Ami, who looked stricken, "you can sit there and ask whether I'd take your children away? When I've made myself into a traitor to the crown to help you? Everything I've done, I've done to protect you both, all these long years."

"Well, I don't know what there was to protect us from," Ami fired back.

"No. You don't. Which was precisely the point." I felt ill from the anger. Strung out from the battle still, throbbing from the scrapes and bruises, exhausted. "I need some space to breathe."

My body protested as I got to my feet, bringing my sword with me. The Star's heat diminished as I strode away from them, cooling as I withdrew.

Back to normal.

Sweat poured off me as I ran through the twelve forms. Sometimes doing them helped limber me up, increasing my energy and blood flow, burning away the restless tension. Danu's gift, to lift us up. This time, though, each movement dragged at my limbs, draining me, leaving me hollow and slow, my wounded thigh refusing to cooperate.

Finally I capitulated, stopping halfway through the seventh form to catch my breath. Then had to bend and put my hands on my knees, dropping my head to stop the dizziness that threatened to make me fall over.

"Done punishing yourself?"

I looked under my arm to where Harlan sat in the shade of a scrubby tree. "I'm not in the mood for company."

"No, you're in the mood to drive yourself into the ground. Doing a fine job of it, too."

"Leave me alone, mercenary."

"Never, Your Highness. Want some water?" He held out a canteen and I realized how parched I was. Accounted for the dizziness, no doubt.

"Danu, you're a stubborn man." But I went to sit in the shade, taking the canteen and guzzling the sweet, cool water gratefully.

"Every time you say that as if you're just discovering it. Kind of charming, really."

I huffed out a breath, shaking my head at him. "What's the buzz back at the campfire? Sorrow and consternation? More of how awful I am?"

"They don't know how much their accusations hurt you." He paused. "You need to tell them."

Envisioning myself telling my sisters they hurt my feelings, I laughed. It came out a little dry and bitter. "It's a temporary insult. Slipped under my guard because I'm tired."

"At least you admit to that part. No, I meant you need to tell them about your father and what he did to you."

The cool water turned to ice in my stomach, sharp edges digging in, slicing and drawing blood. "Absolutely not. Need I remind you of your promise not to reveal it?"

"I would not betray your trust." He said it mildly, but I'd annoyed him. Add him to the list of people pissed off at me. "But you do your sisters a disservice by not sharing this with them."

I scrubbed my hands over my scalp, my hair soaked with sweat and sticky with seawater. The cuts on my cheek throbbed in time with my leg and my whole body ached with exhaustion. If I'd had a hard time envisioning telling Andi and Ami my feelings were hurt, the prospect of speaking those words about what I'd done with our father . . . Impossible.

"That's never going to happen," I said. "It has nothing to do with the decisions I've made or have yet to make."

"Doesn't it?" Harlan kept that same patient tone but made it clear that he disagreed. "Here comes Ash."

Indeed Ash strode toward us, barefoot in the sand, in his calf-length black trousers and a billowing white shirt that covered his scars.

"I wonder what he wants."

"He's going to heal you now. Don't you dare protest." Harlan's pale eyes glittered. "I know you saved his resources in case anyone got seriously injured. Guess what? They're all safe and you're the worst of our injured, so you get the benefit of it. Don't fight me on this."

Ash stepped into the shade on the last of Harlan's words, green eyes alight with ironic humor. "Perhaps you should tie her to the tree. At least take the sword away."

"I'm fine, really, and-" I broke off at the set of Harlan's face. "Your Highness." Ash crouched in front of me. "Your courage and resilience are never in question, but even you cannot heap injury upon injury and not suffer for it. We've already agreed to what you owe me. This will not add to it."

"Fine. But I'm not taking my clothes off for you."

He laughed soundlessly under his breath and sat cross-legged in front of me. "Not necessary."

"Shall I go?"

Ash glanced at Harlan with a sly smile. "You might want to stick around, Captain. You were passed out for your turn, so you didn't experience the rather significant side benefits of magical healing."

"Why do I not like the sound of that?" I'd wanted to hang on to being annoyed, but Ash's magic already flowed into me, with a tart snap of spring apples, refreshing, vital, and my voice came out softer. Almost immediately the aches ebbed and that core-deep exhaustion that dragged at me lessened. At the same time, a dreamy warmth overtook me, not unlike the kind stirred by Harlan's sweet, drugging kisses.

"You're more beat-up than you let on," Ash murmured, mostly to himself, looking through me the same way Andi did. "Quite a bit of internal bruising. Some bleeding. The wounded leg is severely strained. I'm amazed you stayed on your feet. You and Ami, both so thrice-damned determined not to show weakness."

"If you grew up with a father like Uorsin, you'd have learned that also." The words were out before I knew it, but neither man said anything. Maybe I'd only thought it. I floated on the sheer relief of freedom from both the pain and that sick sense of defeat that the after-battle crash always brings, no matter the outcome for your side. As the drained lethargy eased, a sparkling sense of well-being followed, burgeoning into the heat of arousal I'd felt only at Harlan's touch.

My eyes popped open to find Ash's bright-green ones gazing back with wry acknowledgment and more than a little amusement. Significant side benefits indeed. Cupping my cheek, much as Harlan liked to, he stroked a sizzling touch over the talon scores.

"You will have scars-only so much I can do there-but you'll still be prettier than I am." He took his hands away and slid them briskly together, his wry smile crooked by scar tissue. "That should take care of it. I'm off to take a nap, as was most everyone else when I left. You two should have an hour or two of privacy before we leave for Annfwn, to take the edge off that itch." He winked at me, an odd sight in his corrugated face, nodded at Harlan, and sauntered back up the beach.