It took no more than a blink. He looked at Pestale with deep sorrow and watched as his first creation beat on the walls of his old castle, and ran to the window to look out on the Dark Realm.
Outside that window was a land of mist and fog and death. It was a land of slithering life and abominations. It was a life without…
And Pestale raised his hands and cried, “Noooooooooo.”
* * *
FRANKIE WOULD HAVE liked to have been able to wrap things up neatly and be certain of the ending.
That wasn’t to be. She, like Trevor and Chance before her, had wanted to kill Pestale with her own hands. That he and his brother Hordly were alive, meant that he would still try and find a way to come at them again.
Aaibhe reported that the Dark Princes were once again imprisoned within the Dark Realm and that the magic walls that held them within had been reinforced. Frankie did not find this adequate.
Prince Graely however, was more than adequate.
He had been healed by Breslyn, Deimne and Trevor, and that had created something of a bond between them.
Frankie’s blood was still inside of Graely, healing, working in a mysterious way. She had the blood of Daoine, Fios and human and his organs were renewing, in his system, as the blood she gave him revived and created.
Her da was still not pleased with her choice, but he had relented enough that Frankie no longer had to choose between her father and her mate.
Worley was another sore trial for Frankie.
Queen Mab had been unable to attach any concrete accusation against him. Very little could be proven. However, everyone knew what he had done, and he was being shunned in Daoine. Frankie supposed that would have to suffice for the time being.
Conglam was left in peace and Sventer and his men were being dealt with by their own. Blasfer saw that without Pestale, Sventer could no longer fulfill his dreams of conquering other worlds. Sventer and his clan went back to their place in the darkest part of the jungle to lick their wounds.
Darmon however, found his days filled with joy.
Essie was still heartsick over what she had done, but slowly, he was teaching her to forgive herself. He had always believed that some of what she had done was because Pestale had spelled her. She wasn’t so sure of that, but she knew she had been taken in by him, and had learned a great deal.
Darmon realized it was going to be a long haul, but he was willing to wait until she was ready.
It was a beautiful day in the Highlands and Frankie had been walking with Graely enjoying the air and she turned a smile up to his adored face. He grinned at her and she laughed, jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. She looked him in the eye and said, “Hold on, Graely, hold on to me tightly now.”
He did, he squeezed her to him and laughing she spread her wings at her back and they were airborne.
He barked a laugh and said, “What are you doing, monkey?”
“Have ye heard of the mile high club, Graely m’prince?”
“No,” he said questioningly.
“Well then, let me show ye, let me show ye now…” Frankie said saucily.
* * * * * * *
Meet Claudy Conn’s Shapeshifters and Werewolves in Hungry Moon-Quicksilver
~ Prelude ~
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
—William Shakespeare, Hamlet
1575, Scottish Highlands, where many honored their clans and chose to follow the old ways