Chapter 183: Intrigue at the Ember Faerie Court

Jude POV

He'd expected the castle of the Ember Faeries to look more fiery, but instead, the silver and gold fortress rose above the green valley surrounded by red and orange mountains.

Two strong, noble faerie guards stood at the tall gates. They carried long, lethal bronze spears and wore elaborate uniforms with filigree decorating their armor. Jude approached, pulling at the collar of his pale gray tunic. His silver crown with the pearls adorning the points looked regal. So did Ravyn's crown, sitting on her shining blonde hair. The pair's guards surrounded them.

"Alpha Jude and Luna Ravyn of the Silverpaw Pack to see Queen Ylavi," Jude requested.

The guards, one male, one female, eyed them warily. Both had light caramel skin and deep brown eyes. "Is Her Majesty expecting you?" one of the guards asked.

"She is," Jude asserted, smelling the smoky scent of their protectiveness. "We've come on official pack business to renew the trade between the Silverpaw Pack and the Ember Faeries."

Regal Ravyn stood straight and dignified. "If you wish, we'll wait here while you ask Her Majesty for permission to let us in."

One of the guards flapped his bronze-colored wings. "Wait here."

He opened the massive, tall gates and flew into the palace, disappearing into the darkness beyond. Left outside, Ravyn and Jude waited patiently, hand in hand, smelling the unique scents of the faerie kingdom. The female guard ignored them, focused on her duty.

"Do you think she's deliberately leaving us outside to wait?" Ravyn asked softly.

Shaking his head, Jude said, "It's probably just a security measure."

"She is a Dark Fae," Ravyn muttered, clasping his hand as if she wanted to fuse their hands together. "She's probably vengeful.

"Let's not prejudge," Jude said in a reassuring voice.

Ravyn stared at the silver battlements above. "Let's see how long she makes us wait."

Five minutes went by. Then ten. Finally, the massive gates creaked open, and the male guard beckoned to them with an elegant long finger. "Follow me."

Obeying, Jude and Ravyn followed him into a silver hallway with gold leaf decorating the walls. Torches lining the walls sparked and sputtered. The guard led Jude and Ravyn down the entrance hall to a circular chamber. Several corridors led out of the chamber, like the spokes of a wheel. The guard chose one of the corridors veering to the right. After walking down the short passage, Jude and Ravyn stepped into a circular throne room that was decorated in gold, silver, and black, with a black marble floor.

Braziers burned throughout the chamber. Plants decorated the space, and golden moss seemed to grow out of the back wall. Two silver thrones dominated the room, and in one of them sat Queen Ylavi Crystalsprite. Still beautiful, but darker, with burning crimson eyes and what looked like wings growing out of the top of her head. Gone were her beautiful golden wings. Instead, her wings almost resembled a bat's.

Moon Goddess, he'd had a lucky escape. Staring at her transformation, he struggled to keep a pleasant expression on his face. "Queen Ylavi. Thank you for granting us an audience."

She smelled sharp and overpowering. "Alpha Jude." Her golden eyes flicked to Ravyn, her gaze critical. "Luna Ravyn. You are carrying his pup. How nice for you."

Jude tensed, but Ravyn took everything in stride. "Yes. I'm several weeks pregnant."

"Mm. You two have already raised your children from your previous marriages, have you not?" Queen Ylavi said, tapping her fingers on the rounded arm of her throne.

Jude kept a pleasant smile on his face, and his cheek muscles began to ache. "That's right, but as you are no doubt aware, shifters prefer large families. Another pup is an occasion for rejoicing. Lilia, Bram, and Mali, as well as all the Crestas and Sinsworths, are thrilled to have another baby in the family."

The bizarre wings on Queen Ylavi's head flapped ominously. It looked almost comical, though. Jude bit back laughter. He'd fnd it more amusing, except for one thing.

Queen Ylavi was the spitting image of the Dark Fae in his dire vision!

Inside his head, Hades warned "IT'S HER."

"Oh, so you finally make an appearance?" Jude thought.

Ravyn added her dry wit. "Nice of you to join us."

"I was busy," Hades huffed. "She is the Dark Fae from our vision, and that means only one thing. Trouble. And it was your rejection that pushed her toward the abyss--"

"I was afraid you'd say that," Jude answered.

"But if it hadn't been you, it would have been something else. And something vastly more powerful and sinister shoved her over that cliff," Hades concluded. "This is the Dark Goddess' work. No question." A glimmer of remorse. "And I encouraged that darkness. We must fight against this."

"Open to suggestions," Jude answered through the mind-link.

* * * * *

Ravyn POV

They'd known that the Dark Goddess, through Hades/Melisande, influenced Queen Ylavi , but now to hear that the woman had plunged into full darkness made Ravyn break out in a cold sweat. Hades was right. They had to do something.

Queen Ylavi's neutral voice cut through their telepathic communication. "Alpha Jude, Luna Ravyn, have you heard what I said? I asked what was so important that you sought an audience with me today?"

With dignity, Jude knelt, exposing his throat. "I apologize for the way I behaved towards you when I first tried to court you as my Luna. I was not in my right mind, consumed by grief. And I did not know that Ravyn was my fated mate."

"I see."

The two flat, emotionless words send a shiver through Ravyn and Jude. They waited for her to say more.

After a few tense moments, Queen Ylavi gave them an aloof smile. "Well, that's in the past, isn't it?"

Ravyn doubted that very much. "I apologize, too, for the incident in the bookstore in--"

Queen Ylavi's eyes flashed blood red. "If that is all, I have many important matters that require my attention. I really do not wish to discuss my past humiliation with you. I had thought that this meeting concerned trade between the Silverpaw Pack and the Ember Faeries."

"It does," Jude said. "I merely wished to apologize--"

"Spare me your phony amends-making." Queen Ylavi snapped her fingers, and the male guard advanced, along with three of his comrades. "The treaty with Silverpaw is at an end. I will keep the one with the Shifter Federation provided that Silverpaw does not receive even a few grains of wheat or any magical potions or anything. We can do without your goods. And now, shall you depart on your own or shall my guards escort you out?"

Ravyn could feel the hot wave of Jude's guilt. "Is there nothing we can do to fix this?"

Hades spoke in the mind-link. "Both of you, concentrate your power on her. When i\I give the signal, hit her with everything you have."

Ravyn's wolf senses detected the energy of the faerie guards, poised to seize them and drag them out of the throne room. She summoned up the power inside her, channeling it through her staff. The answering surge from Jude joined with her power. Both of them let it build and build until they struggled to hold it back.

The wolf guards moved to protect their Alpha and Luna, but Jude held up a hand.

Jude stalled for time, dropping down, rolling onto his back, and exposing his belly. "Queen Ylavi, you have the right to cut off trade with us, but please let me take responsibility. Don't punish my pack or my Luna. Punish me."

Ravyn joined him, staring up at the guards, who had their spears and swords raised. Was that a flicker of sympathy she saw in their faces?

"Punish me, too," she said. "I was a part of this disgraceful situation."

"Very well. Take them to the dungeon," Queen Ylavi barked.

Now the male guard hesitated. "Your Majesty ... they have broken no laws. And this incident you speak of took place in Lugdunum, not here."

Queen Ylavi lost it. "You have your orders!"

A sharp, crackling ball of black and silver energy formed in her hands, and she pointed it at the noble guard, ready to hurl it at him.

"NOW," Hades commanded through the mind-link.

Ravyn and Jude leapt to their feet and straight up blasted Queen Ylavi with all their strength.