I stared into those deep brown eyes and fell. I fell so hard that I broke every chance I had to retreat, to walk away. "I"m here. I"m not going anywhere. When you"re feeling better, we"ll talk. We"ll find a way."

A tear trickled down his cheek, and he pressed my hand to his lips. "It"s you, Delilah. It"s only you. And whatever it takes-whatever arrangement you want, I"ll accept it. Whatever you want me to do to make up for lying to you, I"ll do it. Even if . . . even if you want Zachary. He saved my life, and he almost died. How can I ever forget that? How can I ever repay him?"

I pressed a finger to his lips. "Shush. Save your strength. Sleep, and know that I"ll be here when you wake up. We"ll figure this out, Chase. My parents made it work; somehow we will, too."

His eyes drifted closed and a soft snore came whistling out of his nose. I smiled then. Everything was going to be okay. It had to be.

CHAPTER 28.

I stayed at the hospital that night, sleeping in the bed next to Chase"s. Camille and Menolly went home and took care of matters there. We had a lot of housewares to replace, and while Iris had already started the process, there was so much work to do. Camille and Morio wanted to strengthen the wards and figure out a way for all of us to know when they"d been broken.

I didn"t think I"d be able to sleep, even as weary as I was, but Sharah brought me a mug of kettle-nap tea from Otherworld, and it did the trick. I was out like a light and slept until an unexpected sunbeam splashed on me. Shining through the window, it filled the room with warm light. As I stretched, yawning, I couldn"t help but feel relief. We might be staring h.e.l.l in the face, but at least this morning, we"d do so in sunshine.

"You"re awake." Chase"s voice echoed through my head, and I turned. He was sitting up, his hand gingerly resting on a pillow. Bruised, he looked exhausted, but his smile lit up the room.

"I"m awake," I said, padding over to curl on the end of his bed. "And how are you feeling this morning? Where"d Zach go?"

"They took Zachary in for surgery on his back. He took one for me. Don"t think I don"t know that. How I"ll ever repay him . . ." With a shrug, Chase leaned back against the pillows. "As to how I am . . . that"s a loaded question. They were rough on me, Delilah. I took more abuse than getting my finger chopped off." He stared at the gauze-wrapped hand, shaking his head. "But you know what? I understand now."

"Understand what?" I blinked. I"d expected him to sound fragile, and he sounded the opposite: strong and determined.

"I understand what you"re fighting for. What we"re we"re fighting for. I understand the nature of the Demonkin better. And I get why Menolly does what she does, why the rules no longer apply. I think I can do my job better because of this. I guess . . . I"m saying I"ve just enlisted in your army instead of standing on the fence." He gave me a hesitant smile. "If you"re still willing to have me." fighting for. I understand the nature of the Demonkin better. And I get why Menolly does what she does, why the rules no longer apply. I think I can do my job better because of this. I guess . . . I"m saying I"ve just enlisted in your army instead of standing on the fence." He gave me a hesitant smile. "If you"re still willing to have me."

I lowered my gaze. This was not the Chase I"d expected to find. And I rather liked it. "We need you, Chase. Whatever happens between you and me-we need you."

Letting out a long sigh, he closed his eyes. "I hurt you. I can"t believe I did that-"

"Don"t. Menolly explained it to me. How you needed to feel strong and how I might be making you feel like less of a man because of my father"s bloodline and how it makes me stronger-" I stopped. He was staring at me with a peculiar expression. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

"No, but you"re way off track. I wouldn"t take relationship advice from Menolly, if I were you." He snorted. "The blunt truth is that I did what I did because I"ve always been a pig. I"m not very good with relationships, Delilah," he added, leaning forward and reaching for my hand with his good one.

"This commitment thing is hard for me. I"ve always used women the way some guys use booze or drugs . . . even Erika, when we were engaged. I never took our betrothal seriously, and I hurt her. When she came nosing around, I screwed up. Plain and simple. No ulterior motives. No excuses. She"s pretty, she was always a lot of fun before she dumped me, and I decided to take a chance. I never thought you"d find out, and I never meant it to be anything more than a fling."

I stared at him, thinking that I"d liked it better when I thought it was some angsty crisis he was going through. "Not sure what to say, dude. It"s not that you slept with her that p.i.s.sed me off so much."

His smile dropped away, and he looked like a dog about to be beaten on the b.u.t.t with a broom. "Go ahead."

"You lied lied to me. And you made me feel bad for wanting Zachary. You made such a big deal about Zach, and then you go out and f.u.c.k some woman I"ve never even met? If you would have told me you wanted her, we could have avoided this mess! I won"t live with a double standard." I waited, wondering where the chips were going to fall. to me. And you made me feel bad for wanting Zachary. You made such a big deal about Zach, and then you go out and f.u.c.k some woman I"ve never even met? If you would have told me you wanted her, we could have avoided this mess! I won"t live with a double standard." I waited, wondering where the chips were going to fall.

Chase sighed. "Yeah. I know. I meant what I said. Whatever you want me to do, I"ll do it. I"ll take any promise or oath you want. If you still want to be with Zach, I"ll be okay with it. Ever since you walked in on Erika and me, I realized just how much I love you, and how much I want you in my life. Maybe it"s true. Maybe every relationship is different. If I stop expecting it to be like what I think think it should be, we can have the relationship we"re it should be, we can have the relationship we"re meant meant to have." to have."

My detective had grown up a lot during the past few days. I reached out and flicked his nose with my finger and thumb. "Silly man. When did you finally get so smart? To start things off right, I"ll be honest. I slept with Zachary again. I was so mad at you, and I was so pent-up from a fight . . . and I wanted him. But Chase, I love you. I care for Zach, I respond to him-our natures are similar. But I don"t love him."

I watched Chase"s face, carefully gauging his reaction. He pressed his lips together, and I could tell I might as well have punched him in the gut, but then he let out a long sigh and smiled. "Yeah. Okay. It"s going to happen from time to time, and I can accept that. And if I . . . if I see someone . . ."

"Then you tell me first. Let"s just take it one day at a time. How about that?" I leaned down and pressed my lips to his. His tongue slid into my mouth, searching, and then his good hand was on my breast, and I moaned, wanting him, wanting my love inside me.

"Are you up to it?" I asked, glancing back at the door.

He nodded, an eager light in his eyes. "Oh, yeah, just take a look and see how up I am for it." He raised the sheet, and I saw that he was rigid and waiting. I licked my lips, and he laughed. "No biting! Just climb up here for the ride, ma"am, and I"ll show you the sights."

I grinned, stripping off my panties, and slid into bed with him as he took my right breast in his mouth and sucked. As the warmth spread from the tip of my head to the bottom of my toes, I lowered myself onto him, sliding down over the deliciously hardened c.o.c.k, hungry to reconnect, hungry to feel him inside me again. We matched rhythms, my hips rocking to a slow, steady beat, and he reached down to finger me with his good hand, sending a ripple of sensation through my body. Gasping, I drove down so that he filled me to the hilt, making me so wet that it felt like I could never get enough of him.

In our haste, he must have forgotten to move the call b.u.t.ton, because just before I was about to come, the door opened and Jessila, one of the elfin nurses, rushed in.

"You rang, Mr. John-oh!"

I glanced over my shoulder as she stood there, shaking her head and grinning from ear to ear. I know we should have stopped right there, but I was so close, and Chase felt so good, that when he touched my c.l.i.t one more time, I let out a little scream and came, waves of o.r.g.a.s.m rolling over me, sending me reeling as Chase followed suit.

"Carry on, then," Jessila said, laughing as she shut the door behind her.

Chase broke out in loud guffaws as we disentangled ourselves, and I crawled under the sheet next to him. "Man, did you see her face?"

"You are a bad, bad man," I said, snickering as I cozied up in his arms. I brought his injured hand to my lips and gently kissed the gauze. "You"re a bad man, and I"m going to have to punish you. How about if I order you to f.u.c.k me again?"

But he said nothing. My sweet detective was asleep, snoring soundly. I shook my head. He needed his rest, and so did I. I slid out from the bed to give him more room, pulled the covers up to his chin, then let myself go and transformed into my tabby self. One quick leap, and I curled up on the pillow next to his head, sleep beckoning like a warm, lazy day.

For the moment, everything was right with the world.

CHAPTER 29.

Three nights later, we gathered what turned out to be quite a conclave in Smoky"s barrow. Among the invited: my sisters and me, Iris and Maggie, Chase, Morio, Vanzir, and Roz, along with a medley of humans and Supes.

Venus the Moon Child from the Rainier Puma Pride was there, and Wade from Vampires Anonymous. Shamas, our cousin, and Lindsey Cartridge, the director of the Green G.o.ddess Women"s Shelter, showed up, along with Tim Winthrop, a female impersonator-computer guru FBH who was instrumental in helping us build the Supe community database.

But our most daunting guests were the three Earthside Queens of Fae, t.i.tania, Morgaine, and Aeval. As we sat there, a tangible energy raced through the air.

"They should be here any moment," Camille said during a lull in the conversation. "Trenyth, Queen Asteria"s a.s.sistant, sent word via Grandmother Coyote"s portal that they were planning on attending. There have been new developments, apparently, in the war at home."

She sat beside Smoky at the head of the table, with Morio on her left. An empty chair to the right indicated the place they were saving in hopes Trillian would return.

Every stick of furniture, every gla.s.s or plate that Smoky owned was exquisite. Figures, Figures, I thought. Dragons love fine goods and money. There was nothing ostentatious, just an incredible array of unbelievably expensive possessions, most likely gathered over a thousand years or more. The furniture was old-world and hand carved, the crystal hand blown, and the wine from the best years and best vineyards. I thought. Dragons love fine goods and money. There was nothing ostentatious, just an incredible array of unbelievably expensive possessions, most likely gathered over a thousand years or more. The furniture was old-world and hand carved, the crystal hand blown, and the wine from the best years and best vineyards.

I glanced around the barrow, amazed by how much room an innocuous mound of dirt could have beneath it. This molehill might as well be a mountain. Smoky"s barrow extended far into the earth as well as into other realms. No wonder Camille had said she felt like she was in some bizarre Alice-in-Wonderland sunken castle.

The ceiling of the barrow was a good thirty feet over our heads, while the walls enclosing us were granite on three sides. The fourth side opened into a huge ravine, and from below, I could hear the sound of water running. A stream or river wound through the bottom of the channel, but it was so deep and dim that I couldn"t see which. I wanted to go exploring but reined in my curiosity. Right now, we had more important things on the agenda.

Chase had just been released from the hospital. We were officially back together again. Though we hadn"t quite decided on the terms on which we were going to establish our relationship, we were determined to make it work. I sat there, his hand in mine, blessing the fact that he was alive.

I glanced around the room. I still hadn"t told anybody about meeting my sister yet, and I wasn"t entirely sure why. There was just something that kept me silent, some desire to keep the experience mine for as long as I could before I let anybody pick it apart and dissect it.

At that moment, a knock resounded from outside the barrow, and Smoky crossed to open the door. He stood back, bowing gracefully as the Elfin Queen-Queen Asteria-entered. She was followed by Trenyth, her a.s.sistant. I noticed Smoky staring outside, a look of surprise on his face. He said nothing, however, just shut the door and followed them back to the table.

After the round of introductions, everyone presented their news.

Venus went first. "Zachary will recover, but he"s out of the game for a while. His plans to run for councilman are on hold, so we"re pushing Nerissa to run in his place. I"ve marshaled the Elders and put my foot down. They agree to sponsor her, and they agree that it"s in our best interests to offer you whatever help the Puma Pride can give you. We"ve spoken to some of the other tribes who are going to sign the Supe Community Treaties. Within a month, we"ll form a militia. Let"s just say reading about the troll incident with Camille, and then Zachary being attacked by the Rksasa spurred them into action."

Tim stood up. "I"ve almost completed all the programming for the database, and we"ll have an expansive phone tree printed out soon. This will go to the elders of every tribe partic.i.p.ating, as well as to individual members who are heading the different committees."

Venus leaned forward. "Sounds good. What about privacy?"

Tim nodded. "I"ve managed to rig it to maintain a degree of privacy while still allowing us to reach everyone on the rolls within an hour, providing they"re near their phones. But the only only people who will have access to the entire organization"s files will be the council, once it"s elected, and Camille, Menolly, Delilah, and me." people who will have access to the entire organization"s files will be the council, once it"s elected, and Camille, Menolly, Delilah, and me."

Camille nodded and turned to Lindsey. "What do you have for us?"

The newly pregnant-and thoroughly delighted-newcomer to our group gave everyone a timid smile. Lindsey had been so much help with Erin Mathews, and she was a well-known priestess among the FBH witches, so we"d decided to bring her into the fold. She"d been terrified when we told her about the demons, but she was more than willing to help.

"As you know, most human pagans and psychics are a scattered lot and not taken too seriously, but I"ve managed to convince several of the larger magical orders that there are dangerous energies around, and that you"re trying to help deflect these. We"re working together to seal areas of the city with protective runes. It"s too early to tell, but we should keep an eye on the crime rates in those areas. Several of the Fae you recommended we talk to are working with us to strengthen our own magic. Kind of scary, but we"re with you."

"Then it seems," Menolly said, "that we"re building our allies."

"Good. Speaking of allies, we have much to discuss and little spare time, so if you will allow me to go next," Queen Asteria said, "then I can return to Elqaneve before morning."

She glanced around the table, her gaze lingering on the three Earthside Fae Queens. "First, I have important news about the war in Y"Elestrial. Tanaquar"s forces have breached the city, and she"s claimed the crown."

My sisters and I let out a cheer, but Queen Asteria held up her hand. "Lethesanar is on the run, but she and her armies are murdering everyone in her path as she attempts her escape. The city is burning. She decided to raze it rather than hand it over to her sister."

My stomach lurched, and Camille blanched. Menolly stared at the Elfin Queen, her eyes dripping b.l.o.o.d.y tears. Our home, our beautiful home. Our family was missing, and now the city of our youth lay in ruins.

Camille let out a long breath. "At least Tanaquar has taken the city. If she can destroy Lethesanar, then perhaps Y"Elestrial can be rebuilt."

Queen Asteria nodded. "Yes, it"s very good news indeed. Though there has been so much destruction that it will take a long time before Y"Elestrial returns to its former glory."

"Will Tanaquar help us out, when she gets the city back to order?" Menolly leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "Or are we still on our own?"

Queen Asteria let out a long sigh. "The death threat on your head has been rescinded, but the OIA will be a long time in re-forming. Tanaquar made it quite clear she intends to overhaul the entire structure of the government. I"ve tried to impress upon her the gravity of the situation, but she is as strong-willed as her sister. And . . . there"s something else. Something that may present a problem in the future."

She paused and looked over at Camille. "My dear, I know you did as the Hags of Fate required, but the fact that you broke the spell holding Aeval in stasis is causing quite the concern, as is the fact that you now bear the horn of the Black Unicorn. I"ve kept both bits of news quiet, but somehow, rumors have filtered back to Otherworld. You and your sisters-but especially you-are fueling debates all through the cities there."

Camille flushed, looking so downcast that I wanted to wrap my arms around her and hug away the pain.

"Wonderful," I said. "We"re over here busting our a.s.ses to protect our home, and we"re being singled out for controversy? Let them them put put their their p.u.s.s.ies on the line and see how quickly they talk." p.u.s.s.ies on the line and see how quickly they talk."

Queen Asteria smiled at me. "Easy, child. While only the Elemental Lords and the great Sidhe lords who commenced the Great Divide can punish Camille for breaking their spell, there are magicians aplenty who wonder how to claim her powers for themselves. You must all be careful. The enemy is no longer just the foe you see in front of you. It might just be the friend you thought was backing you up."

"You see?" Aeval said, shaking her head. "This is the thanks you get from those who ran away. Stay here, you are part of our world, too."

"Hush!" Queen Asteria rose and glared at the Queen of Darkness. "Be silent. Quit making things worse. These are but tidings I bring. My main reason for coming is to discuss how we can make a concerted effort to help these girls in their fight against the demons. They seem destined to lead the army against the d.a.m.ned, so we must back them up."

Aeval let out a long sigh. "Oh very well. We"ll put aside petty grievances for now. I will speak for the Triple Threat Triple Threat." Here she gave us all a dark smile. It was my turn to blush.

"Come the summer solstice, we play host to the first gathering of Earthside Fae this world has seen in thousands of years. At that time, we will coronate the new Courts and establish our sovereign state. We will align ourselves with no one nation but will fight against any foe who might seek to harm this world."

t.i.tania smoothed her hair and flashed a gracious smile around the room. "In return, we"ve claimed autonomy. We"ve purchased a parcel of land on which to establish our palace within this dimension, and it will host our sovereign state. While most of our work is done between the worlds, our land will be considered sanctuary for the Fae, and we will be choosing an amba.s.sador to represent us to the world."

Everybody broke into conversation at once.

t.i.tania rose, holding up her hand. "Our Fae militia will also be at your service, should you need it. We intend to host both magical and military brigades. Think of us as a Special Forces unit. The warriors will be connected to the FH-CSI, by the way. So, Detective Johnson, you may have reserves at hand sooner than you think."

The room grew silent as we digested all of this. My heart began to soar. Good news at last. One month, and we"d have allies. One month, and we"d have help to fall back on.

Queen Asteria broke into a smile then. "I have another tiding to add. As soon I can make arrangements, we will be sending over more of our people from Elqaneve to work in the medical unit here. I"ll also be a.s.signing an amba.s.sador to Earthside on a permanent basis. And so will Tanaquar. Meanwhile, she bade me to introduce you to her new chief advisor."

Why would Tanaquar want us to meet her advisor? Unless we were going to be reporting to him.

Trenyth glanced at the Queen. "May I have the honor, Your Majesty?"

"Of course," she said, gracefully resuming her seat.

Trenyth turned to Camille, Menolly, and me, beaming. "After all the bad news I"ve brought you, it gives me the greatest pleasure to introduce you to the man who will be working alongside the new Court and Crown of Y"Elestrial."

Smoky silently walked over and opened the door.

A man stepped through, clad in the rich blue and gold of Y"Elestrial. As he pulled back the hood of his cape, Camille gave a little scream, and Menolly"s eyes widened. I rose, unable to believe what I was seeing. As my gaze fastened on the face of my father, I trembled and started to cry.

"Delilah-what is it-" Chase started to say as I broke away and raced across the room. All three of us converged on him, though Menolly hung back, waiting. He caught Camille and me in his arms, looking weary and tired but alive. His hair was tied back in the raven-blue braid he always wore it in, and his smooth cheeks gleamed with tears.

"My girls. My girls. Oh how I"ve worried . . ."

I buried my face on his shoulder, never wanting to let go. Father was here. Father was alive and safe, and everything was going to be all right.

After a moment, he let go and stepped forward, staring at Menolly. b.l.o.o.d.y tears stained her face as they trickled from her eyes. Our father-Sephreh ob Tanu-had always hated vampires. In fact, he despised them. When we parted, his relationship with Menolly had been strained. He wanted to love her, but we"d all seen the struggle in his face.

But now he hung his head and held out his arms.

"Please forgive me, my child. Forgive me for everything. I was wrong. You are my daughter, through life and death and life again. And I beg you to forgive me. I love you. I accept you as you are, fangs and all."

As he waited, Menolly glanced over at me, looking ready to panic. I could see the hope and disbelief warring in her eyes. And then Roz stood up and pushed her forward. Just enough so that she stumbled into Father"s arms. As they stood there, embracing, it occurred to me that bleak as the future was, at last we were finding our way. Forging allies. Laying plans.

I glanced at Chase. The odds were against us, all right. But with help, maybe we had a chance, after all.

Camille, Menolly, and I sat by the edge of Birchwater Pond. Dawn was an hour off, and we still had a little while before Menolly had to retreat for the day. Iris and Maggie were snuggled asleep, and Father was sleeping in the parlor.