Into the Fire (The Unseelie Court Book 4) by Gwen Rivers (free ebooks romance novels .TXT) 📗

“The Kiss of Clarity.” Briefly, he describes how Underhill had infected him with madness. “It is the only way I can rejoin my mate.”

Freda tilts her head to the side and he can feel her scrutiny. “You don’t look mad.”

“It’s dormant. One of Underhill’s games. I can’t cross the Veil until it is removed or risk unleashing my wolf to run rabid across Midgard.”

Taj studies his face. “I’ve never bestowed it before. I’m not sure if I even can.”

“You sat on the throne.” Aiden gestures to the branch and leaf seat that thrums with life magic. “You must be able to give the gift of the court.”

“For Nic’s sake, and for the sake of true love everywhere, I will try.” Taj moves forward and takes a deep breath. “Hold very still.”

Aiden does. He doesn’t close his eyes but lifts his chin to receive the kiss. Taj’s lips are soft and gentle on his. A steady pressure. The intimacy of the moment stretches out but there is no pulse of magic. Aiden closes his eyes in frustration. Worry courses through him. What if it doesn’t work? What if he can’t cross the Veil? Nic’s been banished.

I might never see her again.

A single tear tracks down his face and lands on their joined lips.

Suddenly there is a brilliant flash. Power radiates from Taj’s body and floods into his own. A sharp pain stabs into his mind but as quickly as it came, it dissolves.

“Did it work?” Taj asks.

Aiden hesitates and searches his thoughts. Smooth, clear, focused. The wolf too seems on point.

“Well, that was an interesting spectacle.” Says a familiar voice, peppered with Latin spice. “Too bad our queen missed it.”

Aiden pulls away and turns to the seer, Harmony Goldfeather. The purple-skinned fey tosses him a wink. “Two royal consorts necking in the throne room. The end of the worlds must be at hand.”

“Watch your tone, slag,” Freda barks. Aiden is surprised that the First would bother. Of course, the leader of the Wild Hunt is eternally loyal to his mate.

As loyal as he himself.

It’s done. The wolf rises again. Bloodprice.

No. Aiden thinks. We must get to her.

Again the beast crouches. It wants Nic more than it wants vengeance. It helps that Soladin isn’t here and that Taj isn’t a threat. Aiden needs to get out of here and away from the new Lord of the Land.

“Where is the nearest in-between.” Aiden turns to Freda. “Or how far is the tear in the Veil? I need to get over there immediately.”

“Slow down, lad.” Thor holds out a hand. “What’s wrong?”

“Everything.” Having his mind cleansed lifts one weight from his shoulders but there are so many others. Against his wishes, he sinks back into the chair.

“Our queen is in mortal custody.” Harmony takes the chair on the opposite side of the table from Freda.

“You saw this?” Freda inquires.

As a seer, Harmony has visions of events before they occur. Their abilities are so rare that seers often rise to the highest ranks of the courts.

Harmony bobs her head. “I did. She was betrayed and in turn captured by a special unit of federal agents.” Her lips curl up as she turns to face Aiden. “And she just received some very interesting news.”

Aiden doesn’t give a damn about the news. “Is she hurt?”

“She’s been shot twice but is healing.”

Pain pierces his heart. The mortals shot her.

We’ll shred them to ribbons, the wolf vows.

“Mostly, she’s worried about what is happening here. With you.” The seer holds his gaze. “If her mother has captured you yet.”

Aiden shakes his head. “That doesn’t make any sense. I’m nothing to the Unseelie or Underhill for that matter. Why would she want me?”

“The prophesy.” Harmony whispers.

He frowns. “What prophesy?”

Her eerie gaze is transfixed on him but he gets the feeling she is looking through him to something he cannot see. “Ragnarök. Once Loki has been freed, the end is unavoidable.”

Even Thor appears uncomfortable with that.

The prophecy of Ragnarök—the end of the worlds. Aiden knows it well. “What does that have to do with me?”

Harmony’s dark gaze meets his. “Underhill intends to free your father and hasten the end.”

His lips part. “How?”

Her expression is somber. “The gods used your brother’s intestines to create the trickster’s bindings so he is held by his own blood. They need your bones to break them.”

A shudder travels through him. “And once he’s free he can unleash Fenrir.” The wolf who will swallow the world. His half-brother.

“Fenrir rules from the Shadow Throne,” A sibilant voice says.

Aiden turns and spies a ghost hovering in the doorway. Taj’s guards draw their fey blades but the king holds out one hand to stay them.

“What do you want, Valkyrie?” Taj asks.

At the same time, Freda narrows her eyes. “Nightweaver.”

“I come on behalf of she who was queen.” Her gaze rests on Aiden. “I was just with her across the Veil.”

His heart pounds. Nic. “How does she fare?”

“She is intact,” the ghost says, making all the hackles rise along his spine. “Her message is for the First. She bids that no one cross in an attempt to save her.”

Freda frowns. “What? Why?”

The ghost drifts farther into the room until she is situated above the table, her transparent form like an untethered balloon. “She has been captured by mortals.”

“Tell me where she is.” He’d find a way across even if he needed to tear the Veil himself.

The first shakes her head. “Did you not hear the part about how she doesn’t want rescue, wolf?”

He meets Freda’s stare. “I am her lover, not her soldier. I go where I will.” Nic saw to that.

Freda smiles. It’s gone in an instant but he saw it. “Fine, but if we can’t cross to Midgard, where shall we go? Without you and the dead of the Hunt to protect it, this stronghold will fall.”

Harmony steps forward. “We need to evacuate these people. Without Nic’s barrier, we’re all sitting ducks here.”

“Where can we go?” Taj asks. “Where is safe?”

“The lands of the Vanir.” Aiden breathes. “There is a