the stone circle. It’s made me a bit, well. A bit something. Unpleasant? Seems some of what I’ve inherited as the Niteclif is a wicked temper and a sharp tongue. I’ll try to be better.”
“It’s only been four days, Madeleine…Maddy,” Tarrek said, correcting himself and surprising me. “You’re doing remarkably well. I think we’re all a bit on edge, or nutso as you so delicately put it.”
Bahlin hung back a bit, not trusting my radical mood swings or, apparently, my apology. While I was sincere, I couldn’t blame him.
“Look, Bahlin, I’m sorry. Really, I am. It’s only that it’s all so new and I’m not handling it entirely well, especially internally, despite how things appear.” I smiled up at Tarrek. “The voices in my head have yet to quit screaming and for the love of Pete, I was shot then poisoned. Can’t a girl catch a break?”
“Who’s Pete?” Tarrek asked.
I burst out laughing and suddenly Bahlin joined me.
“Faerie, you’ve made my day. Let’s go greet the High Council.” He turned toward me and held out his arm in a courtly manner. “Fair lady?”
I walked toward him, working very hard to appear graceful. I took his arm and he smiled down at me. All appeared to be forgiven, if not forgotten.
“Tarrek?” Bahlin asked. “You’ll need to lead us to the others. We’re not familiar with where we’re going in your catacombs.”
“The sithen is not a catacomb any more than it is a place for the unwelcome visitor, Bahlin. You will do well to remember that.” Tarrek stalked forward and offered me his arm on my available side. To keep the peace, and because I couldn’t help but wallow in a little female satisfaction at being put between two such unearthly, stunning creatures, I took his arm. Oh, there was some fear there, don’t be mistaken. But I was the Niteclif, and we don’t cop to fear too easily…out loud, anyway.
We walked out of the room with Tarrek still muttering, “I still don’t understand. Who is Pete?” and Bahlin and I trying our best not to goad the faerie with our suppressed laughter.
The two men led me out of the room, with Tarrek slightly in front as we went through the doorway. The minute we stepped out of the bedroom Tarrek’s guard fell in around us, three to the front, three to the back, and one next to Tarrek. Bahlin’s side was left unprotected. The hallways were more than wide enough to accommodate the four of us as we walked toward our destination. The same lighting seemed to be present throughout the sithen, as if there were another sun that shone solely for the benefit of Faerie. With every step down the hallway, my stomach seemed to get tighter and tighter. I might be the Niteclif but I was human, and I had a feeling that nothing else I would meet tonight would be.
The guards seemed to know where we were going without any need for direction, so it felt as if we were swept along in the tide of leather and weapons as we moved toward our destination. Bahlin’s arm tensed under my hand and I felt his anxiety. Maybe some of his stress compounded mine? I don’t know, I only know I felt it through every fiber and nerve ending in my body. Hold it together, I thought to myself. Now’s not the time to make your insecurities public. Deep breaths, straight back, one foot in front of the other, Niteclif.
“Maddy?” Tarrek looked at me. “There’s nothing to fear tonight.”
“How do you know I’m afraid?”
“You’re going to draw blood with what’s left of your fingernails if you don’t relax your grip on my arm at least a little.” He was compassionate in his words, but I could tell he meant it. I looked down and realized he was right.
“Sorry,” I said, and attempted to draw my hand away from his forearm.
“I didn’t ask you to let go of me, only to relax your grip.” He looked over my head at Bahlin, who stared back.
“Of course,” I muttered. I wondered what the guards thought of my miraculous recovery. I was shot, now not. A human up out of bed so quickly would bring questions, and there were only so many answers that were logical.
“Uh, Tarrek? What will we tell people who ask about my speed in healing?” I whispered.
“Not to worry, Maddy.” Tarrek squeezed my hand then looked around at his guards. “My closest men are trustworthy and discreet. They’ll have