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

“Get a room,” Harmony says, but she is smiling.

There is a large charred oak banquet table at the far end of the throne room. The thralls lay the feast down on it and we wait for the others to arrive.

“So, what is this about?” Bard asks.

I take a breath and look at them all. The beings I had once believed to be my court. My friends.

“The One True Queen.”

Taj’s jaw drops. “You mean the prophecy?”

Harmony sits on Aiden’s other side and addresses the Seelie king. “She’s not a prophecy. She’s real.”

“Where is she?” Fern tilts her head.

“In Midgard. With Laufey and Chloe and some other friends.” I take a deep breath. “I want her to rule from there.”

Silence. Taj takes a deep breath. “Our people are scattered to the winds. The gods have granted us a temporary stay in Vanheim, but we need somewhere else to reunite. Midgard might be the best plan.”

“Why can’t they come back here?” Soladin turns to face me. “You’re in charge now. Surely you will let them come home.”

“The land here is toxic.” I can feel it every time I turn the spigot to Underhill’s power. “It won’t sustain life for a long time. And I plan to release the souls that provide magic to the noble fey. They deserve peace.”

“That will mean no more magic.” Jasmine’s eyes are wide.

I smile at her. “Not exactly. It will mean wild magic. Harder to contain or control. Everyone will have to master other skills.”

“The nobles won’t like that,” Freda mutters.

“The nobles can fuck directly off.” Harmony tosses her midnight hair. “They like the imbalance of power and the inequality it creates.”

“It sounds as if your mind is made up. What do you need from us?” Soladin’s tone is quiet.

I hold his dark gaze. “The fey need to come out from behind the Veil. No more hiding, no more thieving, no more poverty. They will need strong leaders to guide them.”

Bard’s lidless eyes fix on me. “You’re talking about revealing ourselves to the humans?”

Aiden’s fingers lace through mine. “Even though he was a total and complete bastard, Wardon had the right idea. An educated population of fey will mean a better world for all. We want to keep his dream alive. His son, Jedda, has already agreed to help in whatever way he can.”

“This won’t be an easy transition,” I tell the room. “I will hold down the fort here. I won’t force any to go. But I can’t guarantee their survival once the souls are released from the elements.”

“It’s the right thing to do.” Nahini had been quiet up until that point. “Not just for the fey. But the giants and trolls as well.”

“Gods, can you imagine a pack of trolls roving downtown Manhattan?” Freda asks.

“No, and that’s why we’re going to ask the giants for help creating pocket realms.”

Jasmine’s eyes light up. “Like a sort of halfway house.”

“Right. Teach them the rules of Midgard before exposing them to the humans.”

“Like that they can’t eat humans,” Harmony mutters.

“I know it’s not a perfect plan. Which is why we’re going to have a vote.”

“A vote?” Taj blinks. “What is a vote?”

“A show of hands. Who thinks we should move forward with integration into Midgard?”

Aiden’s hand is the first to rise, followed a second later by Nahini and Jasmine, Harmony and Bard.

Freda holds my gaze. “What of the Hunt?”

I shift in my seat. “That is up to your Unseelie Queen. But the Hunt is always welcome to stay with me.”

She nods once and then her hand goes up as well.

“Gentlefey?” I ask Soladin and Taj. “What say you?”

The males exchange a look. “I have…reservations,” Taj says.

“As do I.” Soladin nods. “We want what is best for our people and ripping away the one thing they’ve always been able to count on, their magic, might be too much.”

I lean back in my chair. He’s right. It might be too much, especially for some of the ancient fey. But the younger ones…. “What if we set up a school?”

“A school?” Taj repeats with a frown.

“A place where mortals learn to read and write and do math,” Jasmine explains.

“Only in this case, they will learn to harness the elemental magic,” I explain. “I have used magic on the far side of the Veil. It does exist but it works differently. We can teach the fey who want to learn how to wield it. And they can teach others.”

“Progress,” Soladin nods. “Steady forward progress. It’s something the fey haven’t had in my lifetime.”

“You like this idea?” Taj asks his lover.

“I do. But I will go along with it only if you want to. You are the Seelie king after all.”

Taj looks around the table. “You have all helped us. Helped our people. I haven’t been king long and it’s easy enough for me to say I am willing to give it up. Especially if by doing so we get to live in peace. I trust you, Nicneven.” He raises his hand and Soladin does the same.

I let out a breath. “Then it’s agreed. The fey will cross the Veil.”

Through the Man’s Eyes

“Stop fidgeting,” Nic pinches him lightly on the arm. “You look great.”

Aiden stares down at the outfit Nic had Jasmine retrieve for him from the farm. Dark jeans and a black tank top, black boots on his feet. He’s grateful that she thought to have the girl run the errand but he wished she had brought something more impressive. Like what he wore on his first date with Nic. “It’s so casual.”

“She’s a casual girl. Grew up running through the trees with a pack of werewolves and healing injured rabbits and birds. Trust me.” She threads her fingers through his as they wait.

A moment later, a line splits down the hall in front of them. Freda appears first wielding Seelenverkäufer. Alric by her side. Then Jasmine. Chloe, Liam and finally….

“Addison.” The name is expelled from his very soul. She is breathtaking, as gorgeous as