Page 23 of Swords and Curses

"Saul." Eli joined them, jacket off, shirt unbuttoned and covered with a thin layer of dust. "What kept you? I expected you back eight days ago."

Saul smiled charmingly."Let's go into an office, and I will show you."

Saul plugged his laptop into a projector and brought up a detailed map of England, Scotland, and Wales. It was unlike any map Rosa had ever seen before. The grounds were covered in lines like neon spider webs.

"Ley lines." Eldon appeared beside her, making her jump. "I can't believe you had someone skilled enough to record them in this detail."

"Lovely chap called Alfred did them for me in the '20s," Eli replied. "Okay, Saul, what's this all about?"

"It's about getting the clans to do their bit," Saul replied, and he clicked them, highlighting pinpoints of light. "These are all the weaker points from the Aos Si into our world. The Autumn Queen could use any of these to bring warriors through and cause trouble for us or to draw us from Gwaed Lyn. She doesn't need a solstice to do it. You know she can use her power on the portals whenever she sees fit. When I was in London much of what the Gwaed Gam clans are afraid of is being fodder for the fae. They are freaked out. Many of them, especially the youngerones, had never even seen a Seelie warrior, let alone Ryn Eurion, the fox bastard. Seeing them took the fight right out of them. They are scared, Eli."

"Their feelings and lack of spine is no concern of mine," Eli replied coolly. "And it's hardly my fault they stopped seeing the Seelie as a threat."

"They know you don't care. That's kind of my point. I spent the better part of a week convincing them that you wouldn't rather see them all dead," Saul huffed. "The Gwaed Gam aren't like us, I know, but you know they are still a part of us. I used every ounce of my charm, wit, and flirtation to convince them that a threat against Gwaed Lyn is a threat to us all." Saul clicked again, and another layer of colorful areas separated the countries.

"These are the Gwaed Gam clan regions. After convincing them that they are important, I also had to convince them that their region is their responsibility to protect. Any portals or weak spots in there will be guarded at all times by their own clansmen. Any Seelie that is stupid enough to come through, they can do with as they please." Saul looked at Eli nervously, waiting for his reaction.

Eli studied the map, hands in his pockets. "They've agreed to this?"

"Entirely. The Blackfoxs got huffy for a bit, but when I showed them how many entrances they have on their land, they simmered down."

Eli's face broke into a smile. "Well done, my boy." He patted Saul on the shoulder. Rosa lifted an eyebrow, and Eli turned the pat into an awkward hug. "Excellent work. I should send you south more often. Bal usually kills them when they start arguing."

Balthasar shrugged nonchalantly with an entirely unapologetic smile.

"Sometimes a scalpel is better than a hammer." Saul flushed with pleasure at Eli's unexpected warmth.

"Rhosyn, are you trying to teach my father how to be affectionate?" Eldon murmured to her as Balthasar, Saul, and Eli talked business.

"I don't need to teach him," Rosa said, giving him a sideways smile. "He only needed a gentle reminder. Look at Saul. He'sgoodat this. He grew up in the courts. He's the diplomat. Eli should be sending him to deal with the clans more often as this has proven."

"You love them, don't you?" Eldon remarked.

She gazed at the Vane men, who were tall and beautiful, clever, complicated, argumentative, and in their way, honorable. "I do. They are my family. I'll do anything to protect them." Rosa took his warm, calloused hand. "That includes you too, my surly cousin. I won't let the Autumn Queen get her hands on any of you. If there's going to be a woman giving you a hard time in your future, it's going to be me."

"I have no doubt," he smiled.

"Now, Rosa," Saul interrupted, "I also met up with Cecily when I was in London and sent her to Province for a much needed holiday."

"You did what?" Rosa demanded. "You used compulsion on my mother?" Heat and power coursed through her, the light building in her hands.

"Simmer down, Wylt," Saul replied. "Eli told me to."

Rosa rounded on him, and Eli folded his arms against her temper. "Don't forget your mother is human, Rosa," he said firmly. "I promised Harold I'd take care of her. I don't want her at Gwaed Lyn until this business with the Autumn Queen is stable for her own safety. Besides, she hasn't had a holiday in years."

The light in her hands faded. It made sense, but she missed Cecily and the extra female presence. She'd wanted to show her the magic she was learning. Nevertheless, Eli was right. Cecily was in danger at Gwaed Lyn.

"Eldon, have you had any more visions of the Aos Si?" Eli asked.

"Not as yet. The Autumn Queen has placed new wards around the court, but I will find a way through. I'll try again tonight," he said and offered Rosa his arm. "Come, Rhosyn, we have lessons to get on with."

Her hair waslike the dawn, a blaze of warm gold with strains of red blush. She was a body of soft curves and honey skin that held a faint shimmer of gold dust, blessings of her bloodline. It was so unlike his body of long muscle, sharp lines, and hard edges. Their coming together was like spring straddling winter, a streak of sunlight in a sleet storm.

Even without his memories, when he smelled apple blossoms, he would feel the sensation of her touch along his chest. His mouth would taste the fragrance of them left on her skin where he had placed them in swirling designs.

Nothing existed outside the feel of her, warm and tight around him, the way their magic had radiated out of their skin.

The summer afternoon in its hedonistic perfection broke away, and there was screaming, blood, and betrayal. There was snow and desperate pants and whimpering prey. There was the wild call of dogs and horns and hunters. There were desperate frozen lips pressed to his ear. "Save me, Myrddin. Save me."

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