The Mages were cloaked in invisibility, as they had been at the coronation, but someone else within the castle had to have let them in and draw me here. Ristan had told me to come, but deep down I knew he’d do anything to protect my unborn babes. No, this was an inside job. The Demon had to have been misled and this wasn’t something he’d known about.
That meant it had been someone else; someone from our inner circle or close to someone in it, was working against us. Someone we trusted had allowed the Mages to breach our defenses, and welcomed them into our sanctuary. I eyed the floor, seeing the crystals. I knew what crystals could be used for, and I had a feeling these ones were used to keep me in, and the guards out. No one would be able to remove the crystals with the exception of the person who spelled and placed them there, and that was something only a very talented Witch/Warlock/Mage could do. I knew it wasn’t easy to get the crystals to work right because this was something we’d learned to do at the Guild towards the end of our training.
I weighed my options.
They sucked.
Freaking hairy Fairy balls!
It wasn’t ideal to kick ass while pregnant, but it was doable. I’d fight to protect my children from being in the hands of these depraved assholes to my dying breath. I’d fight to keep them alive, that much I knew. I could still hear Ryder as he roared with anger. Zahruk and the rest sifted in close behind Ryder, and I watched as they moved to the motionless bodies of Adam and Darynda. Dristan and Asrian were examining the crystals blocking the entryway and the barrier they created. I could see Dristan touch the barrier and winced as he quickly pulled his fingers back.
“Get out of there, Syn!” Ryder ordered, even though he knew he was asking the impossible.
“You know I can’t, Fairy,” I replied on the mental path. I didn’t want the Mages listening in, or hearing my distress, which would be stark in my voice.
The fact that they’d waited to make a move until they had an audience was telling. It told me they wanted Ryder enraged, and to feel the loss where they could witness it. Idiots.
“Synthia,” Ryder continued as the first Mage took a shot.
It was deafening at this close proximity, but I’d felt the disturbance in the air and had easily dodged the attack even clumsy as I was with this new form. This was real, and I could feel my panic increasing with every passing second. They’d brought guns? Who the hell brings guns to a magic fight? Were they loaded with iron bullets or something? Something that could kill me was my guess.
“Fuck, Synthia, tell me how to get these fucking crystals down!”
“Calm down, I need to concentrate,” I ordered back. “Danu, I need you now,” I prayed, knowing Ryder could hear me. He probably thought I was asking for strength, but nope, I wanted my kick-ass Goddess mother to get her ass in here and now. “Danu!” I continued screaming inside my head. I could hear Ryder as he continued to order me to remove the crystals. Another bullet tore through the room, hitting my shoulder and grazing my flesh. “Mother! Right now, I need you now!”
Silence filled my mind as what I said took root in both mine and Ryder’s minds. I didn’t turn to see the shock on Ryder’s face. I just knew it was there. I hated the idea of knowing it would be seen as a betrayal, which honestly, I deserved. “Mother, if you don’t get your ass in here now, I’ll hunt you down and—”
“Duck,” Danu snapped at me as she shimmered into my view. She had called out in the nick of time, and I ducked, barely missing being hit by the bullet.
I was awkward, but not about to give up. “Swords,” I growled as I stood shoulder to shoulder with the Goddess, aka: my mother. Swords appeared in my hands.
“He knows. I’d have thought you’d of kept us a secret a little longer, daughter,” Danu said softly as she tilted her head to look at me. Her eyes filled with worry as the knowledge of my mistake set it. I only spared a second to hate myself for calling out for her where Ryder could hear it. He was in my head, and I’d even heard the gush of air that filled his lungs and rolled out in a growl of anger.
“I’d do anything to protect my children, even spill my secrets to the world, if it meant they’re safe. Can they see you right now?” I asked barely above a whispered breath.
“No.” She shrugged. “The Fae tend to worship me when they can see me or feel my presence. Now is not the best time for them to do that. I’d rather have them standing erect, ready to fight for you, than on the floor kneeling.”
I knew he could hear us, and it couldn’t be helped.
“Turn off your humanity. It’s time to show your beast just how badass you are,” Danu said and I felt my brands as they appeared on my arms. Thin, colorful lines crawled up and swirled around my forearms, biceps, and then my face. My inner demi-Goddess was now on the outside; my hair was fuller, and my eyes glowed with power from within. With Danu so close beside me, the raw electrical current was massive.