her face, and her resemblance to Rhyann was strong enough for Ashk to guess her identity. When her attention shifted to the newcomers and the joy faded, there was no doubt in Ashk's mind that this was the woman who had shaken the Fae enough to come down from Tir Alainn. There was no doubt that the woman now walking toward them was Selena, the Lady of the Moon ... and the Huntress.

Ashk walked forward to meet her, aware of the tension starting to fill the people behind her. They stopped at the same time, close enough that one leap in their other forms would have them at each other's throats.

"I am Ashk, the Hunter," Ashk said.

Selena studied Ashk, her eyes searching for something. "Shadow hound."

"Yes."

They studied each other, searching, measuring-and finally smiling in

approval of what each saw in the other.

"Are you being bossy again?" a voice asked.

Ashk clenched her teeth. It had been too much to hope that Rhyann would

follow orders-and seeing the temper flash in Selena's eyes made her wish

she could change into her other form and give Rhyann a sharp nip.

"Some people wouldn't have to be bossy if other people did what they were told," Selena snapped.

Here, here, Ashk thought, turning enough to see Rhyann walking toward them, followed by Breanna and the others.

"And some people just like being bossy," Rhyann replied with a sweetness designed to spike another woman's temper. "I kept my promise to Father. I came to this side of the hills with an entire army as an escort. Who came with you?"

Selena made an indescribable sound.

"There's an army?" Breanna asked.

"Yes," Rhyann replied. "Fae, human, and Sons and Daughters of the House

of Gaian." She gave Selena an annoyingly sweet smile. "Why don't you and the Hunter go discuss whatever you need to discuss, and I'll help-" She looked inquiringly at Breanna.

"Breanna," Breanna said."I'll help Breanna sort things out here."Mother's mercy, Ashk thought, wondering how much longer it would be before Selena simply exploded.

But the Huntress gave Ashk a look that could sear flesh and snarled, "I'll saddle my horse and meet you at the arch near the stables."

Watching Selena stride toward the stables and the arch, Ashk grabbed

Aiden's arm, pulled him aside, and said in a low voice, "Use your gift, Bard,

and smooth things over as best you can here."

Aiden gave her a weak smile. "I'll ask Lyrra to join us. She and Breanna deal well together."

"Do what you think best." She saw a dark-haired man come round the corner of the house, check his stride when he noticed the new arrivals, and continue toward them slowly.

"Do you have any advice about dealing with featherheaded older brothers?"

Ashk heard Breanna ask.

"Of course," Rhyann replied cheerfully. "I'm very good at being a younger sister. I've been practicing all my life."

Aiden grabbed Ashk's arm, his blue eyes filled with alarm. Ashk just patted

his hand and pulled away. "Do what you can, Bard."

As she hurried back to her horse, she knew with absolute certainty that, no matter what mood the Huntress was in, by leaving Aiden to deal with annoyed barons and younger sisters, she was getting the better side of the bargain.

Aiden wondered how he was supposed to smooth things over and get a message to Lyrra that he needed her. Then he remembered file letter in his saddlebags-and the hawk.

Hurrying back to Minstrel, he made a "come here" gesture to the hawk. His stride faltered when he saw the hawk flutter to the ground and change into a man.

What had Falco been up to here that he felt comfortable enough to change

form where outsiders could see him?

"Merry meet, Aiden," Falco said, smiling but a bit wary, as if he anticipated criticism from someone he considered a friend.

"Merry meet, Falco," Aiden replied. "I see you've become acquainted with the ladies here."

Falco stiffened. "You're not the only one who has a heart, Aiden. Breanna's

brother has no reason-yet-to believe in a Fae Lord's ability to be loyal to a lover, but I thought you would understand since you and Lyrra-" He stopped. Looked away. "But it is different because you're both Fae."

Falco and Breanna? Aiden wisely hid the grin of delight that might be

mistaken for mockery. "I take it her brother disapproves?"

"I can't blame him," Falco said quietly. "Not after-" He closed his eyes for a moment before looking at Aiden. "Do you know where the Black Coats got their Inquisitor's Gift of persuasion? Do you know where they got the power to draw magic from the land and twist it to create those nighthunter creatures?"

A chill went through Aiden as he shook his head.

"From us. They're children we abandoned in the human world because they

weren't pure Fae. We enjoyed the women, both human and witches, and ignored the children we sired."

"You don't know that," Aiden protested.

"Yes, I do. Varden's men caught a Black Coat when Baron Liam's home

was attacked a few days ago. We've kept it among ourselves-so far-but

we know, Aiden."Staggered, Aiden rubbed his hands over his face. "The Inquisitors came from Wolfram."

"Which only means it wasn't the Sylvalan Clans who had ignored those men when they were young. What about the children here? There are some. You know there are. Mother's mercy, Aiden, the Huntress is one of them. So I don't blame Liam for being reluctant to accept that I'm staying."

Aiden stumbled as he reached Minstrel. Leaning against the horse, he noticed how his hands shook while he tried to open the saddlebag. "We'll talk more about it later, Falco. Right now, I need you to go into the woods and fetch Lyrra."

He waited until Falco changed form again and flew off toward the trees before he pulled the letter out of the saddlebag. After he closed the saddlebag's flap, he leaned over and rested his forehead against the leather.

As soon as she got back from her ride with Selena, he would have to tell Ashk what he'd learned about the Inquisitors. She needed to know about every weapon the enemy could bring to the fight-including their ability to control people through persuasion. But, right now, he had to do his best to smooth things over between men and women, brothers and sisters, gentries'

sensibilities and witches' feelings. And he was gambling that the piece of

wax-sealed paper would help him do that.

As he walked back to the others, he noticed they'd split into two groups.

Breanna and Gwenn were talking with Rhyann while the barons stood a few feet away, probably making plans for the army. He also noticed that the dark-

haired man he assumed was the Baron of Willowsbrook-and Breanna's brother-kept glancing her way, as if to keep an eye on her.

"Breanna?" Aiden held out the folded paper. "This is for you."

Looking puzzled, Breanna studied the blob of sealing wax, then looked at

him. "What is it? A song?"

"I don't think so. We met up with a messenger heading east. Since I was

coming to Willowsbrook anyway, he entrusted me to deliver this to you in exchange for taking messages back to the west."

Still puzzled, she turned the paper over-and stared at the writing.

"Mother's mercy." She broke the wax seal, opened the paper, and started to