"Do you know what a true gift is?" I asked him, looking into his leaf-green eyes. I figured he was thousands of years old, but I didn't have a gauge yet on Green Fae scents.
"What is this of which you speak?" He was curious, now.
"A true gift," I said. "A lot of gifts are given because the giver is obligated, somehow, or they expect something in return. A true gift is one freely given, with no expectations or conditions. That is what this is," I flung out a hand toward the newly erected village. "You are free to do with it as you will. This is yours, now. I know you will respect the land—I saw what you did on Vionn." I'd seen Redbird in the distance, leading Toff around—he was trotting happily behind her, his chubby fists filled with wildflowers. Roff still didn't recognize his child and I wasn't going to open that wound right then.
Tiearan was staring at Roff, who was helping Green Fae herd cattle into a fenced enclosure. "That one has wings," he said, surprised.
"That one is Toff's father," I looked Tiearan in the eye. "And if you hadn't stolen Toff, he would be the same—a rare, winged vampire one day. Only your daughter managed to f**k that up, didn't she?"
"She will treat the child well."
"Honey," I poked Tiearan in the chest, and he backed up a little, "I would treat that child well. Did treat that child well, as did many others who loved him. Your daughter took what wasn't hers to take. I saw her—scented her—when she brought Toff in after doing what she did to him. She's a spoiled little bitch, Tiearan. Is that your fault, or somebody else's?"
"I did not wish to instigate a confrontation." He held up both hands.
"Then learn some f**king manners," I muttered.
"Tiearan, perhaps someone else should interact with the Queen." A new Green Fae stood next to Tiearan, now.
"You are?" I had arms crossed over my chest, trying hard not to let my anger take control.
"Zervias, lady," he nodded to me. "I am the seer for this tribe. I attempted to tell them not to take the child, but they were desperate and ignored me."
"Do you hand out bad advice?" I asked him.
"Not as a rule, lady."
"Then why weren't they listening to you?"
"Some are headstrong, and want what they shouldn't."
"I can see that," I was still glaring at Tiearan.
"It was my idea—the kidnapping," the female called Rain came forward. "So now I am without my child, when it was Corent I was trying to keep by my side."
"He's only fifty miles away," I said. "He can live here if he wants. I have no argument with him. You just got added to my shit list, though."
"What would you have in exchange, or as punishment?" Rain asked.
"What is wrong with you people?" I asked, tossing up a hand. "You can't go around trading things for babies. Is that what you think? Look at yourself." I was glaring at Rain. "You were desperate to keep your child. Put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Imagine what it would be like if that child no longer recognized you as his mother. How would you feel about that?" I was pissed, and she was just now getting that idea. She backed up and stood behind Tiearan, now.
"I will say this, though," I went on. "If your daughter breathes a word to Toff, trying to say bad things about his father or anyone else on this planet, as soon as that child is grown, I will take her so far away from the rest of you and leave her on a deserted world somewhere, she'll never be able to get back to you. That world will be shielded, too, so she can't skip or flash or whatever it is that you do, to get off it. Do I make myself clear?"
"You can do this?" Zervias asked.
"I have a whole planet full of former Ra'Ak and Elemaiya, who would be more than happy to tell you just what I can do," I snapped.
"You know who I am?" Kifirin was at my side, suddenly, blowing smoke.
"Dark Lord," Tiearan went to one knee and bowed his head.
"This is my mate," Kifirin put his arm around my shoulders. "She is what I am, and has spent too much effort in your direction already. When the child comes of age, I will pass judgment upon you myself, for all your errors."
"I told you," Zervias hissed at Tiearan.
"You will be confined to this world," Kifirin went on. "I expect you to treat all as fairly as you can, and if the child suffers in any way, you will answer to me."
"Leave Corent and Zervias out of it," I said, looking up at Kifirin. He was the god, now, and nothing else.
"I will do as you say," he inclined his head to me. Zervias was weeping as we folded away.
* * *
"And we thought it was going to be terrible to offend the Warlock King," another Green Fae came forward. "Instead, we have offended the Lord of the Dark Realm and taken his mate's child. How have we come to this?"
* * *
"Brother, Mordain is dead, as are those Prylvis sent. Their spawn have been destroyed and the Green Fae have disappeared. Saa Thalarr came to Vionn."
"Our brother is dead?" Viregruz hissed. "That is preposterous. Did the Saa Thalarr take him down as well?"
"I have interrogated Red Hand troops who were nearby. They say not—a red-haired woman stood before our brother, then disappeared shortly before his death. We believe it was the Queen of Le-Ath Veronis. Our plan has been interrupted, brother." Ringolar was angry and very close to shifting. He had no desire to shift before Viregruz, however. His brother abhorred such loss of control.
"You believe she killed Mordain?" Viregruz lifted a dark eyebrow.
"Yes. No one else was near."
"She will die for killing our brother, then. Double the price on her head. That will keep her busy fending off amateurs while we make our plans. The Five-Year Conclave is approaching, is it not? How difficult do you think it might be to attack her there? She is obligated to attend."
"That might be accomplished, brother. And it may be easier than you think. All we need is a bit of cooperation from our Solar Red allies."
* * *
"Lissa, you have to stop torturing yourself with this." Winkler stood with me outside the Green Fae village. Rain fell around us as I kept watch, hoping to get a glimpse of Toff. The Fae had used their talent to bring rain to newly planted crops, and everyone was staying inside if they could.
"I know. That stupid Conclave is coming up, too, and I've barely looked at the agenda. What if Toff doesn't come back to us?" I looked up at my handsome werewolf's face. Winkler was using some of the Power granted by the Saa Thalarr to keep rain off us as we talked. Reaching up, I smoothed a lock of black hair away from his forehead.