"c.r.a.p, am I bleeding?"

"More . . . puslike. Either Lannan didn"t brush his fangs before he bit into you or . . . h.e.l.lo, what"s this?" Leo held out the swab and murmured a few words I couldn"t hear, then watched. The tip of the swab where the droplets were had turned bright pink-fuchsia to be exact.

"What"s that mean?" I stared at it. Barring lipstick or flowers, anything that color couldn"t be good.

"Poison. You were poisoned . . . but not with anything like a.r.s.enic. This is . . . a bacteria? Virus maybe? You were infected with something when Lannan bit you, Cicely." Leo looked at me, his meaning clear in his eyes.

"And when Grieve licked the wounds last night, he got some of whatever this is in his system. And he"s terribly sick. But why is he sick and I"m not? We both have Cambyra blood in us, so it can"t be against the Fae."

Kaylin shook his head. "Maybe it"s not meant to hurt the Fae. But I still bet you anything Lannan"s fangs were coated with whatever this is."

"If not the Fae then . . . oh . . ."

And I saw. The Indigo Court. The Vampiric Fae.

"Do you think . . . could the vampires have made their first attack against Myst? And could I be their weapon?" I pushed myself out of bed, striding to the dresser, where I leaned toward the mirror. I knew it-knew it in my gut. The vampires had used me as their own personal Typhoid Mary. "I wonder if this thing can spread? And if so . . ."

"If so, then the Indigo Court may be in for some casualties. Or at least a nasty bout of stomach flu."

"Grieve"s sick. I can"t do a d.a.m.ned thing to help him right now. What if he dies? What if they used me to kill him?" I whirled around. "I need to speak to Lannan. Now Now!"

"You can"t," Leo said. "Lannan"s asleep for the day. You won"t be able to talk to him until tonight."

"Then I"m heading out to Dovetail Lake. Lainule may know something about this and by G.o.ds, she"s going to tell me." Frantic, terrified I"d lost Grieve a second time, I raced down the stairs, Kaylin and Leo on my heels.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Leo grabbed me by the wrist and spun me around. "I think you should just wait . . . wait until I can talk to the vampires tonight."

He knows something, Ulean whispered. Ulean whispered.

I stared at him. There was a flicker in his eyes. Ulean was right-his eyes read guilt all the way through. "What do you know about this? Tell me. Now! Before I b.i.t.c.h-slap you across the room. And trust me, I could do it. And trust me, I could do it."

Leo backed away. "I can"t tell you."

"You"d better tell me. I learned to fight in the streets, boy, and you"re smart enough to know you"d better not p.i.s.s me off." I started for him, fists clenched.

Leo jumped back another step and held up his hands.

"Okay! Okay . . . stop. Don"t hurt yourself. Or me." He paused, then shook his head. "Sit down and I"ll tell you what I know. But if Geoffrey finds out, I might as well impale myself on a pitchfork."

I crossed my arms, waiting. "This better be good."

"Good? Not likely. But the truth." His eyes flickered and he let out a long sigh. "I heard Geoffrey and Lannan talking-neither one knows I eavesdropped and if they find out, I"m toast. They were discussing the best way to get in a first attack on the Indigo Court. Someone-not Crawl, but someone of his stature in the Vampire Nation, has apparently figured out a virus that affects the Vampiric Fae. It spreads through close contact, like kissing, hugging, shaking hands."

"Or s.e.x and feeding on blood."

"Right. And it causes a ma.s.sive breakdown of the ability of the Vampiric Fae to handle daylight. The vampires are trying to even the playing field, I think. If the Indigo Court can only come out at night, then they"re on par with the vampires and won"t have the advantage of being able to wreak havoc while the vamps have to sleep."

"Holy c.r.a.p. Then Grieve"s reacting the way he is-"

"Because it"s daylight. I think . . . I think the virus or whatever it is worked. And when he went back to the Court, he began spreading it. And those who catch it, will spread it further. The vampires are hoping to create a pandemic."

I gently rubbed my hand across my wolf, wanting to find Grieve, to tell him to get out of the light, to get inside and stay in the dark.

"I"d like to kill Lannan," I said softly. "I want to be the one to stake him. He knew that Grieve would respond to my fear and anger. I know know he knew it. I don"t know how they a.s.sembled their information, but they know all about me and I"ll bet you anything they know I"m part Cambyra Fae." he knew it. I don"t know how they a.s.sembled their information, but they know all about me and I"ll bet you anything they know I"m part Cambyra Fae."

"Cicely-this may not be a bad thing." Leo took my hands and I glared at him. He let go, but wouldn"t shut up. "We"re fighting the Indigo Court. No, not Grieve, but everybody else there. Put your emotions aside, at least as far as he goes, and look at this logically. We can use this to help us get Peyton back. By tomorrow, the Court"s going to be in shambles and we can use that turmoil and chaos as a cloak."

Bleakly, I stared up at Kaylin, who nodded but said nothing. Leo was right. As much as I hated Lannan, I had to admit the plan was ingenious. And by the very nature of what was happening, the prophecy was coming true-the vampires were causing Grieve, via me, to become an unwitting traitor and carry the virus back to the rest of the Indigo Court.

Which made me wonder, which had come first-the plan? Or the prophecy? Or had some vampire-c.u.m-scientist somewhere engineered this infection, and then the higher-ups-maybe Crawl or the Queen herself-had the foresight to take an ancient prophecy and make it happen?

No matter what, Grieve and I truly now were the traitorous lovers of the Najeeling Prophecy. Because I knew, in my heart, from my link with Grieve, that he was suffering horribly right now. And others of the Court would soon be suffering, too. And there was nothing I could-or should-do about it. To run in there to save Grieve would be tantamount to helping the Indigo Court, and I couldn"t do that. Not even for love.

I lifted my head slowly, staring at Kaylin and Leo. "Get ready," I said in a hoa.r.s.e whisper. "We"re going to have a talk with Lainule. We need her help, and I owe her my allegiance, it seems."

After calling Rhiannon and telling her to wait for us at Anadey"s, we headed for Dovetail Lake. I revved up Favonis, wondering why I"d ever bothered to come home. The world was bleak, and I couldn"t seem to find one bright spot to hold on to . . . not even though the sun was shining in the impossibly cold and bright and harshly snow-blanketed world.

By the time we got to the lake, I was more than depressed: I was furious. And fury would carry me a lot further than moping. I hopped out of the car the minute I turned off the ignition and went stomping toward the rushes, kicking up the snow. Kaylin and Leo followed, at a distance.

"Lainule! I know you"re here!" I stopped, and forced my thoughts into the slipstream. I know you can hear me, you know who I am and you"d better come out or I"ll broadcast it far and wide that you"re still around here. I know you can hear me, you know who I am and you"d better come out or I"ll broadcast it far and wide that you"re still around here.

Don"t toy with her, don"t threaten her, girl. You know that"s not safe.

I don"t care, Ulean. We"re being played like p.a.w.ns between three rival forces and I"ll be d.a.m.ned if I give away all of my power. We"re going to at least get one thing out of this and that"s Peyton, back alive and safe.

The susurration of the winter breeze turned into an icy blast as the reeds parted. Lainule, flanked by two men who reminded me of Grieve and Chatter in the old days, stepped out from between the parted bushes.

"You dare to summon me with such language and threats?" Her voice was low but the power behind it sent me reeling back. I stumbled into Kaylin"s arms and he steadied me.

Lainule might be beautiful in the night, but during the day she was blinding. Radiant, even under summer"s torn and shredded cloak, her eyes were the blue of morning sky and her hair the color of spun platinum woven with auburn strands. She looked at Kaylin, then at Leo, then back at me.

"What do you want, Cicely? It had better be good for such an entrance into my world." The Queen of Rivers and Rushes brushed back the stand of cattails and rushes and nodded for us to enter.

I hesitated for a second, then marched through. Kaylin and Leo followed more slowly. As we pa.s.sed through the parted bushes, the winter fell away and we were standing by the lake during summer-the trees were in full leaf, the sun gleaming warm and golden overhead. The ice and snow were gone and the water rippled gently as a light breeze drifted past.

"We"re . . . Where are we?" The sudden shift had taken the wind out of my sails and I smiled as the sunlight warmed me through. It felt so good compared to the harshness of winter that I just wanted to find a soft spot on the gra.s.s to lie down and sleep and dream.

"You asked to speak to me. I will not stand around the parking lot of Dovetail Lake for all the world to see. So I brought you into my domain. What there is of it, for now." She let out a long sigh and her eyes looked red from weeping.

I frowned. "What"s wrong?"

"I am tired, child. Weary and heart sore. But such is the way when you belong to the world of the immortals. Come, sit and rest. You have the time here. Tell me what"s so urgent that you would come seeking me out."

Her guards escorted her back to a makeshift throne-an old cedar stump that had been hastily carved into a royal bench, complete with footstool and armrests. As she ascended to take her place I had a sudden glimpse of what she"d been forced to leave behind. Beyond her possessions and her forest, she"d been stripped of her roots. Lainule was the Queen of Rivers and Rushes, the sovereign of the land in New Forest, and now she was hiding out in a temporary encampment, trying to stay one step ahead of Myst.

I let out a long breath. "Did you conspire with the vampire Lannan Altos to infect me, so that I might contaminate the Indigo Court by pa.s.sing a virus to Grieve?"

She gazed at me, her eyes steady and clear. "Not just a virus, Cicely. Plague. Plague. And yes, I know Altos and his bloodthirsty companions. This is not the time to retain old grudges. We have a common enemy. It behooves us to work together in order to eradicate Myst and her vermin. When you seek to exterminate a threat, you don"t use sugar water instead of poison." And yes, I know Altos and his bloodthirsty companions. This is not the time to retain old grudges. We have a common enemy. It behooves us to work together in order to eradicate Myst and her vermin. When you seek to exterminate a threat, you don"t use sugar water instead of poison."

I nearly swallowed my tongue. "Poison? But Grieve-you used your own Prince to carry the toxin back to Myst"s camp."

"Sacrifices must be made. And since he isn"t born of the Indigo Court, there"s a chance he will survive. I will do what I have to do, take the risks I have to take. And you . . . while I said before you are mine, I have no problem sharing you with the vampires in order to accomplish our goals."

Sharing me? A sudden thought struck me and I stared at her, wondering if I could be right. A sudden thought struck me and I stared at her, wondering if I could be right. No . . No . . . . but yet . . . but yet . . .

"Are you behind the Crimson Court insisting I come work for them?"

Lainule smiled, and her smile was both fierce and bright. "Oh, Cicely. One thing you will learn, as you come to know your father"s people more and more-we do not flinch in the face of danger. We do whatever is necessary."

I shivered. I"d never considered the Fae to be pacifists, but I had not realized they could be so ruthless.

We . . . I had to include myself in that. I was half-Fae. I had to include myself in that. I was half-Fae.

Lainule leaned forward and tipped my chin up, looking into my eyes. "Never make the mistake of envisioning your people as gentle creatures, playing silver pipes and darting around the flowers. We are warriors and lovers: We are the chosen of the Mother to guard her wild sanctuaries and to rule the realms of Maeve and Danu, of Aine and Mielikki. Of Pan and Herne and Cernunnos and Tapio. Do you understand?"

I nodded, my stomach leaping from one knot to another. Lainule seemed taller, stronger, more powerful than I"d first thought, and she could squash me between her fingertips if she wanted to. I had no doubt that, if my death would strike down Myst, she"d see to it that I was sacrificed.

"We help keep the balance in check, and when one-such as Myst-seeks to upset that balance, we go to war in any way that we can. Winning is paramount. And I"ll use every resource available to strike back at the Mistress of Mayhem for invading my domain and slaughtering my people. Whether it includes you and Grieve-I"ll do whatever is necessary. I have always done what is necessary."

I wanted to protest, but something in her words-a finality that rang a chord of deja vu-stopped me. There were no more words. I couldn"t defend Myst and her people, even if those people those people included Grieve. As much as I loved him, I couldn"t put his safety before stopping the Indigo Court. included Grieve. As much as I loved him, I couldn"t put his safety before stopping the Indigo Court.

"Can you help us save Peyton? We were thinking that this might be the time to strike. If this . . . poison . . . works like you say it does-they"ll be off guard and not paying much attention to her." I stared at the ground. "If you can"t, then I warn you-I"m going in on my own to rescue her. I have to. My loyalties are to my friends and family first. Now that they"ve turned Heather, my first order of business is to save my friend, even if it costs me my life."

Lainule rested a hand on my shoulder. "I cannot send my people with you, but I will give you this . . . take it, use it in good conscience. Do not lose it." She handed me a delicate lacquered fan made from oak. "It will help you to control the wind. And when you change into owl form, it will travel with you."

I blinked, taking the fan. It hummed with magic, strong and brilliant and magnetic. With a soft hush, I opened it wide and felt the wind stir.

"One wave of the fan, and you call a strong gust. Two waves, and you call a potent wind. Three . . . and you can walk on the wind. But it has limitations: It may only be used by you, and only when your wind Elemental is near. Ulean has kept me abreast of all your comings and goings over the years and she is linked to this fan."

"Ulean? You"ve used her to spy on me?" Feeling a sharp sting of betrayal, I jerked my head up. Ulean had never, ever told me she was in touch with the Queen of Rivers and Rushes.

Lainule touched her finger to my lips. "Shush, child. The Elemental had no choice. She is bonded to you, but she was originally mine. I gave her to you to protect you."

"You . . . gave her to me? I knew you"d asked Grieve to show us the bonding ritual but I didn"t know . . . I didn"t know Ulean was yours." And then I looked up at the Queen and saw something in her eyes that I couldn"t quite read. "Why are you helping me? Other than the fact that I"m half-Fae? Why choose my mother to bear a Cambyra"s child?" . . . gave her to me? I knew you"d asked Grieve to show us the bonding ritual but I didn"t know . . . I didn"t know Ulean was yours." And then I looked up at the Queen and saw something in her eyes that I couldn"t quite read. "Why are you helping me? Other than the fact that I"m half-Fae? Why choose my mother to bear a Cambyra"s child?"

Lainule motioned toward the portal leading out of her realm. "It"s time for you to go," she said, ignoring my question. "Use the fan to help you in recovering your friend. Kill as many of the Indigo Court as you can. And if you can . . . rescue Grieve and perhaps we can figure out some way to break the connection between him and Myst"s Court. Also . . . Chatter-he was always one of my favorites even though he was born outside of a n.o.ble match."

I dropped into a curtsey-the best I could, considering I was in jeans and a leather jacket. "Thank you. I"ll do my best. And if we can somehow save Grieve from himself . . ."

"I know. You love him. You"ve always been on opposite sides, child, as far back as time goes. Perhaps this time, the two of you can get it right."

"Then you know-"

"It"s time to leave. Stay longer in my domain and the years will fly by outside. For now, you leave but a moment after you entered."

As we turned to go, she called out, "Kaylin-the Court of Dreams is but a step away from my own domain. Watch closely. Your demon is about to awake."

Kaylin jerked around, but Lainule"s guards thrust us back through the portal and we were standing in the middle of the snow again, thick flakes now pouring from the sky. I glanced at my watch. We"d been gone all of five minutes.

"Come on. Let"s gather Rhiannon from Anadey"s, and then . . . then let"s go hunting. We"re about to become soldiers in this three-sided war, although I"m not sure just whose side we"re on."

Kaylin remained silent, looking pensive, but Leo snorted. "I think we make up the fourth side, Cicely. Haven"t you figured out yet that we"ve got our own little army right here? Let"s get a move on, because if the Indigo Court is really being hit in the gut with whatever poison or virus that was sent back through you, now"s the time to dive in and see what damage we can do."

We headed back to Favonis. To war. To battle. To rescue Peyton. And hopefully . . . to survive.

Chapter 23.

When we showed up, Anadey and Rhiannon were just finishing a few energy-control exercises. We waited until they were done, then went over what had happened with Lainule and Grieve, and what we were planning.

"I"m so glad Lainule is alive, but that she"s dealing with the vampires is unsettling. The Fae and the vampires tend to distrust and dislike one another. She must be in desperate straits if she"s turning to them for help."

"Her people were ma.s.sacred. She"s holding court just off a parking lot by the lake. I think that qualifies as desperate," I said.

Anadey motioned for us to wait. "Let me see if I have anything that might help you. I"d go with you but I"m older and stiffer and I"d slow you down and that"s the last thing you need going into this."

I nodded. While I had my doubts she"d slow us down that much, now was not the time to find out. "Tell you what you can do to help: If we succeed, we"re going to need the house to be so protected that even a fly can"t get through the shields. While we"re out hunting for Peyton, can you do something to sh.o.r.e up our warding? Because what we"re about to undertake is tantamount to waging war on the Indigo Court. I guarantee, they"ll be out for revenge."

Especially if we manage to steal away Grieve and Chatter, I thought. I thought.

"I can do that." Anadey examined the fan Lainule had given me. She shivered as she touched it. "This is heavy, old magic, Cicely. Not the kind you just hand out on a whim. Keep this safe and don"t lose it."

She speaks the truth. You have been gifted generously from the Queen of Rivers and Rushes. Don"t underestimate what that means. Ulean blew through my hair and I could sense a tingling in her words, which always indicated she knew more than she was saying. Ulean blew through my hair and I could sense a tingling in her words, which always indicated she knew more than she was saying.

What do you know about all of this? I had no idea you belonged to Lainule before Grieve bonded the two of us together.

That is for the Queen to tell you. Not my place. But I will be with you today, and I will help you learn to use your fan to greatest advantage.

Anadey poked around in her stash and came up with several items. One, a small bottle filled with a red liquid, she handed to Rhiannon. "You know how to pull your flame back in, so now you should be able to use this. The potion will magnify your fire, but I have only one dose so drink it at the moment of your last resort."

To Leo and Kaylin, she offered small jars, also filled with liquid. "Iron water. It won"t bother those with half-blood of the Fae, but I guarantee this will burn and scar its way through a full-blood, even of the Indigo Court."

Turning back to me, she let out a long sigh. "You are one of the Owl People, and you can harness the wind with your fan . . . I"m not sure what I can give you that"s stronger than what you already have. But I have one thing . . . it belonged to my mother and I found it in her personal ritual gear."

She held out a silver torque. It was wound silver, and the ends came together in the front in the shape of two flowers. "Those are belladonna flowers-deadly nightshade. Somehow, it seems to fit you. Marta never wore it, but she kept saying that one day it would find a home."

I took it, and it radiated magic in my fingers, though a subtle, slow, deep energy that ran in the currents of the ley lines and the high mountains of the earth. The tattoo on my left breast suddenly tingled and I looked at the wound silver torque. Belladonna flowers Belladonna flowers . . . deadly nightshade like the ones in my tattoo. There was a connection, though I didn"t know what. . . . deadly nightshade like the ones in my tattoo. There was a connection, though I didn"t know what.

Glancing up, I met her eyes. Anadey gave me a weary smile, one that said she knew just what we were facing and was holding out as much hope as she could.

"We"ll do everything we can to bring Peyton home," I said. "But say a few prayers for us, because we"ll need it."