Warrior Queen - Karpov Kinrade Page 0,46

instant I do, Catalina flashes to Alfio with that same vampiric speed I’ve only seen in movies.

Alfio faces her boldly as he sits on his donkey, wide awake and bolt upright. “I’m foolish,” he says. “But not as much as I was then, Lady Catalina.”

So, this is the Fae Queen? I can understand why others fear her. She’s not even looking at me and I’m terrified, both the Lily and Prometheus versions of me. She stands before the donkey, her dark hair wild about her shoulders and her slender fingers gripping the hilt of a crystal blade. Her eyes are locked only on Alfio.

“Old age has a way of making a man think,” Alfio says.

“I care little if you think.” Her voice is low and vibrating with anger. “Now you are once again in my wood, I will take the last drop of your vitality. A life for a life.”

I gulp and once again step forward.

Again, she seemingly appears on the opposite side of the donkey, huffing momentarily at me for the inconvenience.

“And I would agree nothing is more just, my lady,” Alfio is saying. “Only, no life was lost. I’ve been searching for years to tell you that. In my old age, I have found you, at last. ‘Twas a mistake, a foolish quest, nothing more. I never—”

“Enough babbling, old man,” she cuts him short. “Make your peace.”

“Wait!” Alfio holds up shaking hands. “The babe stands before you now.”

Catalina’s head snaps up and then, she peers at Ladron first, then Mirk, and the instant their silver eyes meet, she freezes.

I toss a puzzled glance at Ladron, but he responds with a puzzled expression of his own. Artemis, too.

We wait. Already, I know with Catalina, there’s no other option.

The Fae Queen walks toward Mirk, slow step by slow step to come to a stop before him.

He doesn’t flinch as she reaches out to cup his cheek. I’m close enough to see that the instant their skin makes contact, both pairs of silver eyes widen in shock.

“Mirk,” she whispers.

He goes rigid.

“Mirk,” she chokes, her beautiful face a terrible mask of pain. “They told me you were…dead.”

“Explain,” Mirk replies, his voice raw, hoarse with emotion.

She doesn’t. She can’t. She’s too busy crying.

“’Twas my foolishness,” Alfio’s reedy voice cuts through the silence. “I was given the quest as atonement for my anger in which I killed a man and was told the babe was an unholy creature. I didn’t think to question, Lady Catalina. But I did come to my senses, I did. When I couldn’t find you, I left him at his father’s door.”

Mirk’s eyes flick to Alfio. “You…what?”

“’Twasn’t right,” Alfio says with downcast eyes. “I let my rage hinder my judgement, I did. I was that foolish. But I couldn’t find these woods again…” He holds out his wrinkled hands. “I have less vitality and vigor flowing through me by the day. I’m a shell of what I once was.”

“Mirk,” Catalina swallows, her silver eyes bright with emotion. “I can feel it in your blood. You are…my son.”

Mirk draws a shaking breath. “They told me…you were dead.”

Ladron’s brows creep up to his hairline.

And, Artemis begins to chuckle. “Well, isn’t this a pleasant twist.”

I sidle over to Alfio. “What’s going on here?”

“Atonement, my lady. At long last.” He bows his head and sighs as if a huge weight has lifted from his shoulders. “’Twas my foolish youth, my lady. Acts a man would rather forget.”

I stare at Alfio, astounded. It’s hard to imagine him as anyone but a devoted follower of the rules—albeit grumpily.

Catalina turns back to Alfio. “I came to end your life, what little remains. You have caused so much pain.”

Alfio nods, taking his judgment in stride.

“There are many questions, I’m sure,” Artemis says. “But time is of the essence here. We must get to the Bridge of Oblivion.”

“That bridge is dangerous,” Catalina says. “And one you can only see if we allow it.”

“You must help us,” I say. “Clay—Epimetheus, rather—has returned to Earth, taking with him the weapons of the gods. And he’s unhinged enough to use them all.”

“This is not a decision to be made lightly.” Catalina searches my face and then her gaze latches back onto Alfio. She draws a breath. “Originally, I was inclined to refuse your request and prevent you from entering the Forbidden Woods, but now, it appears things are not as they seem. Come.”

She turns around and strides into the woods leaving us scrambling to follow.

I’m tempted to skip ahead and join Mirk,