A Dark and Lovely Devastation by J. Ann Curtis
Author:J. Ann Curtis [Curtis, J. Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-10-16T16:00:00+00:00
Chapter 22
Badb leaned against the bookshelf, exhausted. She disliked how strong Morrigan was getting, that it took two of them to take her down, and leaving Badb physically weak from the encounter. The pathetic faerie queen was supposed to be broken, not putting up fights.
She glanced up at Ornan looming over her. He raised clawed hands. âThat was not me.â Though a curiosity lit his eyes. âCare to explain, your majesty?â
Badb sneered up at him. âI am not the queen.â
Ornan froze. âWait.â His head tilted toward her as he breathed in. âWaitâyouâyou are not Morrigan. By the blood, who are you?â
âPerhaps you have heard stories of Morrigan and her sisters. Of the deal struck with the bog witch and of our bondage tying us within Morrigan's power.â
Ornanâs eyes grew wide. âYes, yes, I recall hearing such stories⦠But I thought those days were long past.â
She straightened, pushing her weariness aside, and squared her shoulders. âThose days have returned.â
He studied her. âSo what? You have appeared to rescue her from my retribution?â
Badb laughed. âI am not here to save Morrigan.â
âI shall not leave until our bargain is fulfilled.â
His gaze challenged her, but she stared back, unbent by the threat in his expression.
âHear my proposal,â she said, âand you may leave here not only with what you desire, but a bargain that will deliver much, much more.â
He left the bookshelves and plopped into a chair. âI am listening.â
She gazed off through the towering stacks, stilling, making sure they remained alone before turning to face the demon lord. âIn less than two weeksâ time, on Samhain, Morrigan will go to the bog witch to renew the bond that was made. The same bond that bound Macha and I to her.â
âYou are pretty certain of this,â he observed.
âShe must go, or Macha and I will consume her.â
âSo not much choice. Continue.â
âShe will fail.â
Ornan steepled his fingers. âAnd how do you know she will fail?â
âMorrigan herself has foreseen it.â
His eyebrows rose. âThat is interesting indeed. What has Morrigan done?â
âNothing. She has told no one. Not even dear King Dagda. Though I am sure she is thinking about using that last wish to undo our bond altogether.â
âHmm. That does sound likely.â
Badbâs fingers itched for a weapon in her hands, not because she feared the demon in front of her, but the weight of a blade settled her. âIf Morrigan undoes the bond before Samhain, it is Macha and I who will disappear forever.â
Ornan tapped his claws against the table, boredom twisting his mouth. âWhy should I care about that?â
âYou said that only a faerie of royal blood could loose the demons from their prison in the Dark Woods.â Badb spread her arms. âI reside in Morriganâs body. Even if that were not the case, Morrigan and I are sisters, born of the same blood.â
Ornan sat up straight. âYou could free the demons.â
âMorrigan had one more vision. Of an open battlefield filled with faeries, elves, and demons.â She left out the part about them all being dead.
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