Chapter 2266

"That was your stepfather?" asked Daniel toGrace.

"Yes."

Daniel chewed his cheek in thought."He's very tall."

"Yes."

"Tell me about your mother,"he asked when itbecame clear Grace was not going to say anything further. He had always wanted to ask her about her life in the Night fae realm, but it had never seemed appropriate. Now seemed like the right time.

"My mother is Rhiannon de Moroingi, Queen ofthe Night fae and the Unseelie Court. My younger sister is Morgaine de Moroingi. She is next in line for the throne."

"How is that possible? Shouldn't it be you?"asked Daniel.

"Yes."

Daniel stopped walking."Would you stop!"

Grace stopped and turned to glare at him, saying nothing.

"Don't give me that!"snapped Daniel. Thefeeling of doom surrounding them had worn away his patience."We are walking into the unknown here. I have been patiently not been pressing you for any details about your past. We are past that now. What are we walking into here?I need to know my circle will be okay. I trust you, Grace, but right now you are really pissing me off."

The expression on Grace's face went from anger to fear to something in between. Brian walked over to her.

"Lass. Tell them. They have a right to know.They've followed you here without complaint. Now we feel like we are walking into the dragon's den. Give them something. Something to understand."

Grace looked like she wanted to argue, but Daniel sent love down the bond he had with her. Grace's eyes went round, and she locked eyes on Daniel.

"Tell us, Grace. Please."

Grace lowered her head and stared at the floor.

After a moment she looked up at all of them. She squatted down and they all followed her example and looked at her expectantly.

"I'll make this short. Mother has no patience sowe must hurry. I am not fully Night fae. I am called a half-breed. Shunned by both Light and Night fae. My mother refused to tell me who my father is. Pywell wanted to hate my mother for conceiving me from another man, but he cannot hate the queen of the Night fae. It's simply not possible. So instead, he took it out on me. He made my life a living hell all the while doting on my stepsister. The more he tortured me the more he lavished love on his only true daughter. Mother once told me to suck it up. So I did. Then I escaped. It took me months in the darkness to make my way out of here. It was Morgaine that gave me the key."

Grace looked up as if remembering something. "I'll never forget my first moment outside therealm. The air smelled so sweet. The feeling of the wind startled me. Seeing trees and flowers was surreal. For a time, I was ecstatic. Then mother came after me. Trying to drag me back."She smiled."My time under my stepfather's thumb made me strong. The months fighting in the deep tunnels had honed my skills. I was my own master for once in my life and I embraced it. I vanquished all she set before me. Until the

得

day she sent my own sister after me."

Grace grew quiet, lost in thought.

Daniel waited and then coughed gently.

Grace looked up at him and smiled."I would never have expected my stepsister to take my side. She appeared one day. We can... communicate in a unique way. She let me know she was there, and I allowed her to approach. Honestly, I thought I was done. She alone had the strength to pull me back. If she asked it,I would have followed. She didn't though."Grace grinned triumphantly at Daniel."We sat and spoke for hours. In the end, she rose, hugged me, and went back home empty handed. Mother stopped chasing me after that. I even ventured back one time. I had to test her. See what she was capable of. She let me walk out and I've been free ever since. Since then,I formed a party and explored the world."She smiled at Brian and Jason."I found happiness."She looked at Daniel and the girls."And good friends."

"And now, Grace?" asked Daniel, gently."Whathappens now that you are back?"

Grace stared long into Daniel's eyes."I have no idea. I don't know what to expect. I suspect my

mother might place me in chains. She might never let me leave now."

"That won't happen," declared Daniel."We won'tlet it."

Grace chuckled, the sound strange in the dark tunnels."You have no idea what strength my mother has. She rules the darkness. She alone makes the transition from life to death happen. This is her realm, and she is absolute."

Daniel shook his head."It doesn't matter. No one will take you away from us. From me. We fight for those we love. Whatever the cost."Deep inside, Daniel felt the phoenix inside him agree, eager for a fight. Daniel frowned. The phoenix was starting to become more active inside him and it worried him.

Grace looked shocked and he wondered if she had felt the phoenix stir. She shook her head at him."We will see. If it comes down to it, I will make sure you leave intact. I will not allow my friends to suffer because of my mother. She's insane in case you wondered. So is Titania. Insane from a human point of view. Perfectly sane from a fae one. The motivation of the fae is something you will never understand, Daniel Davies."

Daniel considered that for a moment. He looked at his companions and saw they were all set on defending Grace. He smiled at her."We'll see, won't we?"

Grace nodded once and rose."Come. It's time I discovered who my real father is. I've had enough of being slighted and treated like an outcast. My mother has much to answer for, and this time I will demand those answers.” She started to walk down the tunnel and then stopped as the others rose to their feet."Thank you, my friends."

She turned away and waited for them to catch up before continuing the trek. Grace ignored hundreds of side passages and led them directly through the underground realm.

It was Daniel who caught the scent first. While the Light fae realm had smelled of Spring and life, the Night fae realm smelled of Fall and decay. It was cl oy and stuck to the back of their throats. Human nature being what it is, the smell of decay unsettled them further. Even Brian, used to being underground as a dwarf, was not immune. After about six hours, Grace announced they were almost there.

The tunnel suddenly opened up into a massive rough chamber. Daniel and his circle almost

cried out when they spotted the many Night fae watching them from beside the walls. Hundreds of them stood silently and watched them pass. Daniel's party clustered closer together with Grace out front leading the way with her shoulders back and her head held high.

Many Night fae hissed at her but Grace ignored them. Only through the bond could Daniel sense Grace's anger and shame. That made Daniel angry. No one should be treated poorly due to birth circumstances beyond their control. Daniel glared at the fae who hissed.

"Ignore them, Daniel," warned Grace."They arebeneath you."

This caused more hissing but then they were at their destination. A large set of stone double doors stood before them. Four guards in armour that gleamed like black oil, holding black halberds, stood before the doors, looking straight ahead.

Grace stopped before them."I am Grace de Moroingi, eldest daughter of Rhiannon de Moroingi, Queen of the Night fae and the Unseelie Court,I have been summoned by my mother. Let me and my companions pass. We are expected."

All four heads snapped as one toward Grace and stared at her for a long moment. Then they snapped to a position of attention. The two closest guards moved to the doors and grasped the large ring handles. Daniel could see them strain as they pushed the doors open, swinging them into the ch amber beyond. Then the guards returned to their places and went back to attention.

Grace strode forward, the others following. They passed through two more large double doors, until they reached what Daniel surmised was an audience chamber.

A large ornate throne made of gleaming obsidian rose up the back wall of the room. It was spiked and threatening. Easily twenty feet up sat the actual throne, and seated on the edge peering down at them was Rhiannon de Moroingi, Queen of the Night fae and the Unseelie Court. Standing before the throne, in front of a much smaller chair, was Pwyll, looking like he had just bitten into a lemon.

The sides of the audience chamber were lined with rows of seats, filled with Night fae nobles. They all glared at them as they marched forward. A large ornate circle was inlayed into the floor before the throne, and it was here that Grace stopped. She fell to one knee and hung

her head.

The others followed her example. Daniel found the floor uncomfortable to his knee. He examined the stonework and sensed a power emanating from it that spoke to him. He felt he could reach out and claim it if he wanted. The phoenix in him seemed to perk up and pay attention. Daniel was getting very worried about his passenger. She was becoming more curious all the time and Daniel worried he would be powerless to stop whatever it was she wanted.

Calm down, he thought to the phoenix. He felt her pout, but she did as he asked, and Daniel's eyes went round. He felt her mirth.

After a minute passed, Daniel started to worry. The queen had said nothing and neither had Grace. One minute turned into two, and then five. Daniel wondered if this was some weird test.

"GRACE!" cried out a voice, and Daniel couldn'thelp himself. He looked up toward the voice. A Night fae, exquisite in her form and beauty had entered the audience chamber from some unseen entrance and was rushing to Grace's side.

The face reached Grace, grabbed her by the

shoulders, and pulled her upright to hug her. Through the bond, Daniel knew this had to be her sister, Morgaine. Grace's feeling of relief across the bond was profound.

"Hi, Morgaine," she said after Morgaine releasedher.

"It is so good to see you home! Mother has beenworried and so have I!" Morgaine turned to the throne and ignored the buzzing of voices from the surrounding fae."Mother why are you leaving them like this? It is unseemly and ungracious!"