Chapter 34
They crossed through the stone circle, straight into an ambush.
Cuan thrust Tamsin behind him, protecting her with his own body. He summoned both swords—oh, thank the Shining Ones, that still works in the human realm—and dropped into a combat crouch, ready to fight…
Nothing, apparently.
No enemy materialized. What he’d mistaken for the glitter of magic turned out to be nothing but small, brightly-colored fragments of paper. He found himself blinking, blades raised defensively, as tiny pink hearts fluttered around him.
“I told you confetti was a bad idea,” Betty said, from somewhere around ankle level.
“Okay,” Daisy said, sounding somewhat muffled. “Maybe I should have just made cupcakes.”
“Tamsin!” Cathy pushed past him without a second glance, brushing his upraised blades aside as though they were nothing more than tree branches. She seized Tamsin in a fierce embrace. “It worked! You’re back!”
Tamsin hugged her friend in return, just as enthusiastically. Before Cuan could step back to give the women some space, Jack’s sharp elbow caught him smack in the ribs. Shoving him aside, she flung her arms around Cathy and Tamsin both. A moment later, Hope too joined in the mass embrace, laughing, her blue eyes shining with tears.
Betty got to her feet, dusting off her knees, then bent to haul Daisy up as well. “Next time, don’t leap out at a highly-trained fae warrior yelling ‘Surprise!’, okay?”
Daisy beamed, not looking at all like someone who had come within a hair’s-breadth of being beheaded accidentally. “That was awesome. You moved so fast! You didn’t tell me that hellhounds had superpowers. Oooh, can you turn people by biting them, like werewolves in movies? Can you bite me?”
Betty put a hand over her eyes. “Don’t tempt me. Go join the others welcoming Tamsin back, Daisy.”
Daisy made a face at Betty, then bounced over. Cuan had expected her to fling herself enthusiastically into the mass hug, but to his surprise she flung her arms around him.
“Thanks, mister elf,” she said into his armor. She didn’t quite come up to his sternum. “For bringing her back to us.”
“You are most welcome,” he managed to gasp out. Daisy had a very strong embrace. If she was any more grateful, she was going to crack a rib.
To his relief, she released him. Eyes twinkling, she reached up to tousle his hair, as though he was a half-grown youth rather than an armored warrior who outmassed her twice over.
“I’m glad you’re staying in our world,” she said warmly. “I have soooooo many questions for you. And you’ve never seen any movies! Oh, I can’t wait! We are going to be best friends.”
She bounced off to Tamsin, leaving Cuan staring after her.
“Why did that feel vaguely like a threat?” he murmured to no one in particular.
“Only vaguely?” Betty joined him. She folded her arms, watching the tearful ongoing reunion with indulgent satisfaction. “You’ll be lucky if Daisy doesn’t kidnap you and chain you up in her broom cupboard.”
“I think that Tamsin may have something to say about that. She has strong opinions on the subject of chains.” He hesitated, casting Betty a sideways glance. “Ah, I hope that I do not have to worry about you clapping me in irons?”
Betty waved a hand. “I’ve already contacted my alpha and explained that you’re an outcast fae seeking asylum in the human realm. As long as you follow our rules and don’t make any trouble, the Wild Hunt won’t bother you.”
He gave her a small, grateful bow. “I would very much like to avoid all forms of trouble for a while.”
“No doubt.” Betty gave him a long, considering look. “But if you do find yourself wanting to keep your blades sharp…we could do with someone like you in the Wild Hunt. The scum who tithed Tamsin is still out there, and he’s just lost whatever he got from the fae. I’m betting he’s going to try to strike a new bargain as soon as he can, to get it back. And the next woman he sacrifices might not be lucky enough to meet her fated mate in the fae realm.”
A slight chill punctured the warmth in his chest. The thought of another woman facing what Tamsin had faced, alone and without aid…
He pushed down the instinctive surge of protective anger. This was a night for joy, not plans of war.
“I will have to talk it over with Tamsin,” he said. “I can make no promises about the future without consulting her first. But I suspect we both already know what she will say.”
Betty grinned at him. “I look forward to welcoming you into the Wild Hunt as a brother. And maybe I can help you in a few other ways, too. I know some people down in Brighton who know a bit about having to find your place in a strange new world. I think you should meet them.”
He gave her another, deeper bow. “I am very grateful for your aid, Mistress Betty. All of it.”
“Just Betty.” She punched his shoulder, warrior to warrior. “Welcome to the human realm. Now go get your mate, and go home.”