Page 76 of Fae Devoted
The rebellion of the wolf packs and exodus from Faery depleted the Fae’s armies. The experiment to replace the lost shifters and create a new predatory race of warriors failed miserably. The vampires’ sensitivity to the sun, parasitic nature, Infusion’s low success rate, and the insufferable tendency to use their inherent cunning to circumvent the simplest of Sídhe commands made them more trouble than they were worth.
“Annoying creatures,” he grumbled. “As for the Ferwyn…they should be crouched at our feet, begging for scraps of affection like the dogs they are.”
“This destructive obsession you have to replicate the past has to end. Those days are gone forever.” She leaned forward and squeezed his hand. “Let. Them. Go.”
“Don’t you see?” He brought her fingers to his lips and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles. “We were gods once, Aoife. And will be again.”
“We were never gods.” She tugged, and he reluctantly let her go. “We were bullies.”
“The Fae Touched wouldn’t exist without us.”
“Your arrogance is astounding.”
“Haven’t you sacrificed enough for Niamh?”
“Leave my sister out of this.”
“It’s been over a thousand years since we’ve seen Faery. Don’t you want to go home?”
“What Idon’twant is anything to do with your insane schemes.”
“They aren’t insane.” Why couldn’t she see his genius, the validity of his actions? And now that the halfblood Walker had been found, it was a matter of time before his grand plans came to fruition.
“Opening the pathway to Faery will initiate global war. Lives from both sides will be lost,” she said with impressive composure, considering the same argument had raged between them for centuries. “Humanity isn’t as defenseless as they once were. The invention of modern-day weaponry has evened the scales. And who do you think the Fae Touched will choose to battle alongside when we threaten their independence? Us or them?”
“You underestimate me, milady.” When the Na’fhuil matured enough to fulfill her destiny, many would answer his call. A thousand years of plotting ensured it.
“Why would the Sídhe wish to return at all? Have you forgotten the reasons our people chose to leave Earth’s realm?”
“Religious fanatics are—”
“Why the strongest of our kind combined their magic to lock the gateway behind them?”
“It’s been millennia since the war, Aoife,” he said, even as the far more recent memory of liquid flames and charred skin raised the hairs on his nape.
“A parent, no matter what species or race, never forgets the loss of a son or daughter. Of a heartmate.”
“The Fae will come again.” And then nothing on Earth will stand a chance against them. “The promise of land, power, and riches will be too tempting to resist. They will be the new kings and queens in this realm.”
“And you’ll reign as the emperor over these make-believe kingdoms?” She wrinkled her pert nose, scrunching her dark eyebrows, the color a necessary concession for an elf with hair an unearthly shade of white.
“Naturally.”
The bell above the diner’s entrance jingled, announcing another customer. Aoife showed him her profile as she tracked the pair of humans to the counter.
“I know you were behind Abby’s kidnapping this past summer,” she said without looking away from the older couple who carried their guns in what amounted to a fanny pack over their souvenir t-shirts. Her voice lowered to a whisper despite the existing deflection-acting spell. “And I know you’ll try again.”
“The Walker female is the key.” He would recapture her when the timing was right.
“I’ll be forced to stop you in the end.”
“We are too well matched.” In strength, magic, intelligence, and if Daimhín had his way, a mated alliance.
“You are not the only one who’s been gathering allies, my old friend.”
“Aoife…Ava?” He waited for her gaze to return to his before saying, “Join me.”
“I cannot,” she said. “Iwillnot. The passage must remain closed.”
