Page 40 of Kings and Monsters

"Do it," she repeated hoarsely. "I give you permission."

With that consent, he sank his teeth into her. He was aware of her groan, but it he didn't loosen his hold on her. Memories flowed into him, coming so fast and thick that he had to struggle not to lose himself in her. It wasn't the first time he had taken her blood, but the taste of her overwhelmed him as it always had done, robbing him of his senses.

He searched back through her memories until he found the day he had done everything to forget. Eirianwen's fear was overwhelming her as she spat curses at the Autumn Queen's smug face, the golden soldiers cornering her. Pain ripped through her arms and legs as arrow after arrow was shot into her. Through the clouds of smoke, she had seen Bleddyn screaming, soldiers struggling to hold him back, the grief and fury turning his face feral.

He lives. He lives, Eirianwen thought as life flowed out of her. She could die in peace knowing that her beloved lived on. The soldier was a blur above her as he drove the tip of his lance through her. The next memory was of waking up to Bran's concerned face. He was speaking to her, but she struggled to understand the words.

"I am so sorry, my lady. I couldn't… I couldn't save it," he said, tears streaming down his face. "The lance had done too much damage. I couldn't save your womb…or your baby." She hadn't even known that she was pregnant. Fae children were so rare that they were treated as treasure, and the queen had killed it.

That wasn't all Bleddyn saw.

Bran had used blood magic to bring her back from the dead, awakening a thirst and violence inside of her. She wasn't like the Gwaed Gam or even his own children. She was pure Unseelie transformed into something else entirely with all the power of a Gam and all of the magic of the fae.That was why they called her the Bánánach.

Bleddyn lifted his mouth from Eirianwen's neck before dropping to his knees. Eirianwen turned to him, shaking with tears.

"So now you know," she choked. "You know why I couldn't tell you what I am, what we lost…"

"Show me," Bleddyn commanded, grabbing her legs to stop her from running.

With trembling hands, she lifted up the edge of her shirt, revealing the ridges of scar tissue across the round curve of her stomach. Bleddyn pulled her closer and rested his tear-wet cheek against it. Her hands shook as they tangled in his hair, holding him gently against her.

"I didn't know, Bleddyn," she whispered. "I never would have fought that day. I would have run as far and as fast as I could. I never would've done anything to jeopardize the life of our child. You have to forgive me…"

"Forgive you? Eirianwen,noneof this is your fault. I'm the one that needs your forgiveness," he said. "I…abandoned you. No wonder you never came after me. I have spent a lifetime failing you. I can't give your child back, but I swear to you,I won't stop until Aeronwen is dead and her cursed ashes are scattered from one side of the Aos Si to the other."

The Night Courts shuddered as the deep well of magic inside of him opened like a void, the living embodiment of his pain. His hatred and grief rolled out and into the stones under him. Magic overrode him, rushing in his ears like a raging waterfall, the world buckling beneath him.

"Bleddyn," Eirianwen took his face in her hands, "look at me! Focus on my voice. Come back. Don't let the power take you!"

The panic and fear in her voice made him pull back, slamming shields down hard on the flow of power. He pulled her down into his lap, cradling her tightly to him to ground him and force the magic to leave.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I couldn't," Eirianwen admitted. "I almost did last night in the gardens, but I thought if you knew, you wouldn't let Merlin and Rosa go. It's horrible and selfish, but we can't win this without Gwyn, and Ineedto win this, Bleddyn. Revenge is all I have left."

"Then you're wrong on two accounts. One, you should've told me last night instead of running from me because Merlin would've left with or without my approval," Bleddyn said, stroking her silver hair. "I just got him back, and being overprotective will only push him away again. Where Merlin goes, Rosa will follow, but I know he will do anything to protect her. If Gwyn turns them down, I'll contact my brothers and convince them to bring their armies through the portal at the next full moon."

"And the second thing I am supposedly wrong about?" Eirianwen asked.

"Revenge isnotall you have. I know we are different people now, and you might not want me the way you once did, but family is more than blood. That bitch stole our future once, Eirianwen. I won't let her steal it from us again. Whatever thechange did to you, whatever you are now, you are no Bánánach. You are something new, and you are perfect. Do you hear me?"

"I drink blood, Bleddyn. I kill and take life so that I may live, or whatever this in between state is. I'm a monster." She let him go and put distance between them, the vicious glint back in her eyes.

"Perhaps, it is destiny. It will take a monster to kill a monster, and make no mistake, I will see the Autumn Queen dead if it's the last thing I do."

Still on his knees, he took her hand and held it to his heart. "I swear to help you in any way I can to see it done."

Eirianwen touched his cheek. "Will you start a war with me tomorrow?"

His answering smile was beautiful with its promise of violence. "It would be my pleasure."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The air was heavy with memory, and the only sound was the rain and rumble of thunder overhead. Rosa stood frozen as the Lord of the Hunt raised his huge hand and touched one dirty finger to her forehead.

"Remember," he commanded, and the fog in her mind cleared.

Rosa could smell the still warm bread that she had taken from Glenna's kitchen, clutched tight in one small hand. Outside, Gwyn had stood in her yard, Dormach at his side.

"Child, why do you summon the Hunt?" Gwyn demanded.

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