I picked up her body, she was so light, and carried her home, to my home, not hers. I knew she was gone but I couldn’t leave her here. The demon would go back to its own plane now. Whoever summoned it and didn’t contain it would still be worried until daylight.
Fed or otherwise it wouldn’t live longer than the night.
If I found the person who summoned that demon, I would give all my power away by violating my oath and be happy to do it.
I reached my door and saw someone was lurking in there. I ignored them and went around the side to my garden. There was an old oak tree in the far corner. I cast a dig spell and within minutes there was a deep hole big enough for me to lay Cate inside. I placed her as gently as I could and then picked a bouquet of roses and lilies and placed them across her body.
Then I pushed the dirt back in place.
I sat beside the grave trying to make sense of what happened. This afternoon we were planning to save the fairies and humans. The twins had been so vigilant because they knew about the demon. And that was why all the Sidhe had been in court. They weren’t willing to take the chance of encountering a hungry demon.
Why couldn’t it have taken a twin? Why Cate?
I heard someone calling. “Quinn. Quinn.” I felt like I was at the bottom of a well, the voice distant and echoing.
My shoulders were frozen with the cold and from being held stiff to contain my grief.
“Quinn.” It was a woman.
I rolled my shoulders to warm them up.
“Quinn Larson.” I knew that voice, and the impatience in her tone.
I stood then turned to see Maeve standing at my gate. I ran toward her.
“Get away from me,” I snarled.
“Quinn, I’m sorry what happened to Cate.”
I could barely force words through my anger. “We were there because you told us the amulet was in the building.”
She frowned. “You mean it wasn’t?”
“No, don’t pretend you didn’t send us into a trap.”
“No, I didn’t. I swear to you, Quinn, I wanted you to succeed. I’m sorry, had I known there was danger to either of you I would have done something.” She reached to touch me but jerked her hand back when she hit the defenses I had around my home. “Please, can I come inside? This is too public.”
“No, I will not invite you into my home.”
She looked around then sighed. “I understand. I promise when I get the crown back, I will make amends to you.”
“There is no way for you to make amends. You cannot bring Cate back.”
A flash of anger crossed her face and I realized I may have gone too far, but I didn’t care.
She composed her features to sorrow again before speaking. “There is still the problem of Fionuir stealing power from the Fairies. You must stop that.”
“I don’t care. Find someone else to defeat your enemies. I have better things to do.” Like shut out everyone and mourn what could have been with Cate.
“You didn’t think that a few hours ago.” Her voice hardened and I saw a glimpse of the queen she claimed to be. “Grieve for her, but don’t walk away from this, Quinn.”
My vision clouded with a red mist. I reached across the gate to slap her. She pulled away at the last second. “Don’t be foolish,” she hissed. “I know you are obligated to not harm a Sidhe. I will forgive you the attempt because you are grieving.”
“I don’t need your forgiveness, Sidhe.”
She smiled and it was a cold expression. “You need two things I can give you. I will find out where the amulet is now, and I will find out who released the demon. I know you have a spirit oath, Quinn. I will leave it to you to decide what to do with the knowledge.”
She caught my attention with that. “Let me know when you have found the fool who can’t contain his summonings.”
“Oh, Quinn, I expect to be able to find out both things and quickly. I will tell you who summoned the demon after I am queen.” She smiled that predator smile and walked away.
I watched her go then turned back to the tree. The mound of earth seemed to reproach me. As if I was supposed to be doing something. Even from death Cate was trying to tell me something.
“Lionel.” I felt my shoulders slump. I was going to have to tell him.
I wiped my hands on my jeans and headed for Cate’s house. I hoped Lionel had managed to clean it up since the last time I was there. Remembering the hurricane incident stopped me in my tracks. Could Lionel have summoned the demon? No. I started walking again. He didn’t have the experience to do that. Summoning was not just speaking the spell and having the right ingredients. You had to know what you were doing.
From the outside, Cate’s house looked fine. The front door was locked, and now that she was dead, I didn’t feel right just walking in. She’d passed me through her protection spells but still, I felt that the permission ended when she died. I knocked on the door.
No one came so I knocked harder.
I heard someone approach, heavy footsteps and a bang of some piece of furniture being knocked over. The curtain twitched in the window beside the door, and then the door flung open.
“Wizard Larson, please come in. I’m afraid Cate…I mean… Witch Witherspoon is not at home.” He sounded happy to see me.
I followed him into the living room, new furniture was in place. And all evidence of the hurricane was gone.
“Would you like some tea? Coffee?” Lionel turned to the kitchen before I could answer.
“No, Lionel, please come back and sit here. I need to tell you something.”
He sank his hands into the pockets of the overalls he wore, the light going out of his smile. “Something has happened, hasn’t it? I expected her to come home last night but I told myself she was probably with you. She likes you, you know.”
“Yes, I know.” I forced the words out through the pain in my chest.
“Look, I know you don’t like the idea of an apprentice, but I promise I won’t get in the way.”
“Lionel,” I said before he could start rambling again. If I didn’t tell him soon, I wouldn’t be able to speak through the tears.
He clapped his mouth shut and looked at me expectantly.
“I’m sorry,” I began then swallowed a sob before telling him what happened in a rush.
“May I come to say goodbye to her?” His voice was quiet.
“Yes, of course. I’ll set the protections to let you through. Come when you want.”
He swallowed and wiped a tear from his cheek. “I should leave soon. I mean someone will want this house. I can’t just stay here. I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t be talking about this, but I don’t know what else to do.”
“Lionel, don’t worry about that right now.” I didn’t think he was about to be evicted. “You can stay here. I’ll see if I can find you a new master.”
“Thank you. I don’t want to put you out. I can go back to Master Vollont, he’ll find someone for me.”
Master Vollont lived in San Francisco now; I didn’t think it was a good idea for Lionel to be traveling that far without an escort. “No need for that. You stay here and keep studying. I need to figure out who summoned that demon and deal with him, or her I guess. Then I’ll either take you to Master Vollont or find you someone else.”
He sighed before nodding. I felt some of my fury drain away at the sight of his wretchedness.