There were also the children who trained at the Guild to consider, if most of the Witches and Warlocks were Mages or had joined ranks with them over time. The Humans needed the Guilds, but they needed them to be there for the right reason, they also needed them to not be on a crazy vendetta and run by Mages hell-bent on revenge no matter what the cost.
“So this is what we know from Vlad and Adrian. The Guild went quite a few days ago, and they said that the Fae are growing bolder. It’s like they know that no one is there to stop them. It’s gotten worse in the last few days. Vlad had to take out a few of the Light Fae. Said they fed until the woman turned FIZ, and then continued until she was dead. He doesn’t allow that shit in his place and took their heads without a second thought,” Zahruk said, looking right at me. “Then yesterday some unclaimed Fae turned up and caused a bar brawl, and when Adrian threatened to call the Guild, they told him go ahead. It was like they knew there was no Guild.”
“Because there isn’t one in Spokane now,” I mumbled and got up to pace. “I should have gone and checked on them.”
“When could you have done that, Synthia? When you were dying, or when you were fighting here, against Faolán?” Ryder asked calmly.
“I knew Ristan wasn’t telling me everything, and I didn’t make him say it. I know better, I was a damn Enforcer! I know when something is wrong and I felt it but I chose to ignore it.”
“You can’t hold yourself responsible,” Aodhan said. “I knew something was off with Ristan as well, and I didn’t pry either.” Many of the brothers nodded in agreement as if they all had noticed the same thing.
“Nobody is at fault here,” Zahruk said, cutting in. “The only thing we can do now is load up on weapons and go have a look. Maybe rid the world of some of those fuckers in the process. It’s the only choice we got right now, but first we need to secure the castle and the babies. I have Darynda with the babes, along with some of the guards who I trust. We leave the castle guards here—I trained them myself—and they know what to do should any of the visiting Fae get itchy. I doubt they’d have the balls to do it, but I never take chances.”
“And me?” Ciara asked as she moved into the room. “I’ve trained with you as well, brother. I can help protect the wee ones.”
“I’d like that,” I said when the others failed to answer her.
“Ya sure, Ryder?” she asked, ignoring me as she looked to Ryder for his agreement.
“They’re my children too,” I said, and didn’t back down. I liked her, even though I didn’t know much about her. She was hidden from most of the Fae at court, and while I understood Ryder’s need to protect her, I also knew she was a little wild at times.
“You shouldn’t be out of your chambers,” Ryder replied quietly as he studied the map.
“But I am, and even I can taste the energy in the air. If Rissy’s in trouble, I’m going to play a part in helping save him, even if it’s a small one.”
Rissy?
“Ciara,” Ryder warned.
“I said it was okay, but I guess I’m mute and invisible,” I offered as I sat back down to stop pacing the floors.
“Synthia, this doesn’t concern you,” Ryder growled.
“Oh stuff it, Fairy. They are my children and my soon-to-be sister in-law, and it’s pretty much in my face, so I think it does concern me. She’s trained in weapons, right?” I asked Zahruk, who nodded with a look of duh on his face. Or maybe it was a please-don’t-make-me-choose-a-side look.
Poor girl had to deal with an entire army of alpha men who thought her some weak-minded sissy. She had fire, I knew it. I could see it in her eyes, and yet I also saw the spark of spunk and the mischief that I’d seen in a lot of the younger Witches, which boiled down to trouble. I knew she’d protect the babies. That wasn’t a worry in my mind.
“Ciara is trained to fight, but should the need to fight arise, we will abort and come home,” Ryder snapped.
I was off the chair and in his face. “Snap at me again, Fairy, and I’ll show you how you how to sing fucking soprano! I’ve had enough of this pissing contest with you and your sister; she’s a grown ass woman trained for war and in my book that alone makes her the best God damned babysitter here!”
“Fine!” Ryder growled.
“Fine,” I smiled and took my little victory over my beast.
“Then let’s gear up and gather in the great hall,” Ryder said.
“If we gather in the great hall, they will know we are leaving to fight,” Zahruk pointed out what everyone else was thinking.
“Yes,” Ryder said. “We’ll also return there, no matter what. They need a fucking reality check, as a very smart woman told me not too long ago.”
Chapter Twenty-Two