A Thief of Nightshade(13)

Aislinn set the roll back onto the table, half-eaten. “What? There hasn’t been a human from Aubrey’s world here in over two hundred years.”

“And she will continue to suffer her loss until Saralia’s reign has ended,”

Tabor said simply. “We summoned her here in the hopes that she could save our world. She had hope then, but she will not be pleased to see you now. You represent everything she has lost. Bitterness will destroy a human soul and so it has destroyed what is left of hers.”

Lipsey listened intently, having stayed quiet for most of their trip. He seemed frightened of Tabor, jumping with every move the great dragon made. Tabor took notice and lowered his head within inches of the little squirrel. “You think I care to eat you?”

Lipsey fidgeted with a piece of carrot in his tiny hands, rolling it over and over like a worry stone, his eyes wide.

“Y-y-y-you’re huge,” he stuttered.

Tabor grinned, showing his teeth.

“You haven’t noticed my eating habits then.”

Lipsey looked around him, eyeing the various empty plates and saucers, and heaved a great sigh. Vegetarian. In all truth, it hadn’t occurred to Aubrey what exactly they were eating either. She’d been so hungry that she’d devoured it immediately.

Tabor laughed. “A King can’t very well eat his subjects. That would be bad manners, to say the least.”

Aislinn rose. “Your Majesty, as always I am grateful for your help and your blessing.” He bowed his upper body in the same oddly human fashion Aubrey had seen earlier. “But we must go.”

She followed his lead and thanked Tabor. “I hope we will meet again, your Majesty, next

time

under

better



circumstances. Thank you for everything.”

“Perhaps.

Be

safe,

Aubrielle.

Remember to listen to your heart. It will not lead you astray.”

“Are you all right?” Aislinn asked. They’d been walking for quite a while, listening to Lipsey talk about this and that. Aubrey hadn’t said much in the last couple of hours and the sun had begun to set.

“I’m fine,” she said quietly.

“If you’re tired, we can stop and rest for a bit.”

She’d actually been thinking about Jullian and what he would be going through, and wondering what the Winter Court was like. Then thoughts of Grant and Sam crossed her mind. “No, let’s keep going.”

Aislinn stopped her with a paw on her back and though she normally didn’t take to strangers getting anywhere near touching her, she felt safe with him— despite his grumpiness.

“You aren’t fine,” he said.

She tucked her arms against her chest. “I was thinking about Jullian. How terrified he must have been when he was brought back here, knowing what would happen.”

“What was the Prince like?” Lipsey asked.

“He loved the outdoors, especially in the fall when all the leaves change color.

We went camping all the time. We traveled a lot. He loved to travel.” She laughed then, “But he hated the ocean and I couldn’t imagine why until now.”

“Only freshwater is safe. Saltwater harbors Kelpies, Sirens and all sorts of other awful creatures, all commanded by the Sidhe.”

“You saved me. I never really thanked you. What were you doing out there anyway?”

Lipsey started to say something when Aislinn snatched him up and held his mouth closed. “It’s nothing,” he said. “I was ... exercising.”

Lipsey grumbled behind Aislinn’s paw and the bear leaned down, saying softly, “You’ve worn out her ears, little one. Perhaps you should let her talk more of the Prince?”

Aislinn lowered his hand. Obviously Lipsey was about to say something Aislinn didn’t want her to hear. She also noticed that Aislinn himself hadn’t asked her anything about Jullian and had known his name immediately, despite his own statement about the animal kingdom having nothing to do with Man. How would he have known Jullian if he had been gone ten years?

“You seem awfully well acquainted with humans, have—” Aubrey’s question was cut short with the sharp pain of claws raking across her back. She screamed as pain radiated to her ribs. It hurt worse than the broken leg she’d suffered three surgeries to fix.

Aislinn, having seen something, leaped above her in fury.

She gripped the dirt, pulled herself to the nearest bed of moss and with great effort, turned her head to see what looked like a dragonfly made human. So strange.

It had lovely iridescent wings, light that seemed to dance endlessly around it. How beautiful. She reached for her necklace, reminded of it, but found her throat slick with blood.

The creature twirled a shining blue sword through the air and, hissing, stepped out of Aislinn’s way, running the blade against Aislinn’s shoulder and arm.

Brilliant white eyes were set into taut, scaled skin. It stood on two spindly legs with a woman’s figure but was taller than an average human. It lacked a nose, but two protruding slits above its thin mouth flared slightly as it breathed. It laughed at

Aislinn. “Too late, Ellohim.”

“No!” Aislinn rolled out of his fall and came at the creature again. It tried to fend off his attack but miscalculated and Aislinn tore into its face, ripping out a chunk of flesh with his teeth, just below the cheekbone, and slicing its right leg with his claws. It screamed as it fell, but lifted the blade, still held firmly in its left hand.