onto the Table and into her, bearing her back down and to the ground.
She screamed in frustration and struggled against mebut she didnt have any strength. We rolled down the hill a few times, and then wound up on the ground, me pinning her down, holding her there.
Aurora looked up at me, green eyes faded of color, unfocused. "Wait," she said, her voice weak and somehow very young. She didnt look like a mad faerie sorceress now. She looked like a frightened girl. "Wait. You dont understand. I just wanted it to stop. Wanted the hurting to stop."
I smoothed a bloodied lock of hair from her eyes and felt very tired as I said, "The only people who never hurt are dead."
The light died out of her eyes, her breath slowing. She whispered, barely audible, "I dont understand."
I answered, "I dont either."
A tear slid from her eye and mixed with the blood.
Then she died.
Chapter Thirty-four
Id done it. Id saved the girl, stopped the thief, proved Mabs innocence, and won her support for the White Council, thereby saving my own ass.
Huzzah.
I lay there with Auroras empty body, too tired to move. The Queens found me maybe a quarter of an hour later. I was only dimly aware of them, of radiant light of gold and blue meeting over me. Gold light gathered over the body for a moment and then flowed away, taking the dead flesh with it. I was left cold and tired on the ground.
The gold lights departure left only cold blue. A moment later, I felt Mabs fingers touch my head, and she murmured, "Wizard. I am well pleased with thee."
"Go away, Mab," I said, my voice tired.
She laughed and said, "Nay, mortal. It is you who must now depart. You and your companions."
"What about Toot-toot?" I asked.
"It is unusual for a mortal to be able to Call any of Faerie, even the lowest, into service, but it has been done before. Fear not for your little warriors. They were your weapon, and the only one accountable for their actions will be you. Take their steel with you, and it will be enough."
I looked up at her and said, "Youre going to live up to your side of the bargain?"
"Of course. The wizards will have safe passport."
"Not that bargain. Ours."
Mabs lovely, dangerous mouth curled up in a smile. "First, let me make you an offer."
She gestured, and the thorns parted. Maeve stood there in her white armor, and Mother Winter stood behind her, all shrouded in black cloth. Before them on the ground knelt Lloyd Slate, broken, obviously in pain, his hands manacled to a collar around his throat, the whole made of something that looked like cloudy ice.
"We have a traitor among us," Mab purred. "And he will be dealt with accordingly. After which there will be an opening for a new Knight." She watched me and said, "I would have someone worthy of more trust as his successor. Accept that power and all debts between us are canceled."
"Not just no," I muttered. "Hell, no."
Mabs smile widened. "Very well, then. Im sure we can find some way to amuse ourselves with this one until time enough has passed to offer again."
Slate looked up, blearily, his voice slurred and panicky. "No. No, Dresden. Dresden, dont let them. Dont let them take me. Take it, please, dont let them keep me waiting."
Mab touched my head again and said, "Only twice more, then, and you will be free of me."
And they left.
Lloyd Slates screams lingered behind them.
I sat there, too tired to move, until the lights began to dim. I vaguely remember feeling Ebenezar heft me off the ground and get my arm across his shoulders. The Gatekeeper murmured something, and Billy answered him.
I woke up back at my place, in bed.
Billy, who had been dozing in a chair next to the bed, woke up with a snort and said, "Hey, there you are. You thirsty?"
I nodded, throat too dry to speak, and he handed me a glass of cool water.
"What happened?" I asked, when I could speak.
He shook his head. "Meryl died. She told me to tell you that shed made her Choice and didnt regret it. Then she just changed. We found her on the ground near you."
I closed my eyes and nodded.
"Ebenezar said to tell you that youd made a lot of people see red, but that you shouldnt worry about them for a while."
"Heh," I said. "The Alphas?"
"Banged up," Billy said, a hint of pride in