Chapter 8

Tiernan Shadowcall, Lord of the Wild Hunt, lost his cool, blank expression for just a moment as his lips twitched. Then he lifted his chin along with one perfect, blond eyebrow. It appeared to be all the answer I was getting from him.

"Count Tiernan has asked to join our investigation," Murdock answered for the fairy. "And we're very happy to have him," the last was said with a bit of force and the Head Councilman's gaze fell hard on me and my father.

All I got from the exchange was that blondie was a count. Seriously? A Count? That was a fairly impressive title; somewhere between a Baron and a Marquess. Not at all what I'd been expecting when Aideen said he was a royal. A count definitely didn't belong on the Wild Hunt. He should be parading about some fairy estate in fairy finery, petting his fairy dogs and painting sparkles in the air or whatever silliness fairy royalty did. My thoughts must have shown on my face because the Count gave a slow blink as his lips twitched once more.

"I've investigated Aideen's claims, and I, as well as the West European Fairy Council, have found them to be worth further inquiry," Tiernan said... directly to me. "The Council has ordered me to protect Ms. Evergreen and see this through. We do not want a war with you humans."

"Could you say 'you humans' with just a little more scorn please?" I smirked at him. "It wasn't quite obvious enough."

"Extinguisher Seren!" Murdock snapped.

"What?" I asked excessive bafflement.

"My apologies for any misinterpreted sleights," Tiernan offered with snobbish gallantry.

"That didn't sound like an apology," I muttered.

"You're very welcome here, Count," Murdock spoke over me.

"Dracula," I added under my breath.

"What was that, Extinguisher Seren?" Murdock pinned me with his gaze.

"Nothing," I said innocently. "I was clearing my throat." I said it again, "Dra"—cough—"cula."

"I've never in my entire existence drunk blood," Tiernan protested with a little smile.

"Your skin's pretty white though, and I bet you've impaled a few people." I lifted my brows at him.

"I suppose you could call it impalement. Would you care for a demonstration?" His look turned lascivious, and my cheeks heated.

"What did you just say to my daughter?" My father's voice went low and dangerous.

Tiernan only grinned wider; keeping his startling gaze fixed on me and my red cheeks.

"That will be quite enough of that!" Murdock's glare went back and forth between Dad and me. "Not that it matters. Both of you will be heading back to Hawaii shortly."

"Now, wait one minute," my father growled.

"I'm sorry, Ewan, you're both still too unpredictable for this mission," Murdock said with a fair amount of sympathy. "This is too important to compromise with your bias."

"We were the ones who found Aideen and brought her to you in the first place," I protested. "If we were biased, she'd be dead."

"Councilman Murdock," Aideen interrupted, and we all looked at her in surprise. "I must insist on Seren as my personal guard. Frankly, I trust her, and I won't be comfortable with anyone else."

"Well." Murdock blinked at her and then at me. "It looks as if you've snagged a spot on the mission, Extinguisher Seren."

"Then I stay as well," Dad growled.

"You can stay, of course." Murdock waved a hand. "But I'm afraid my decision stands; you won't be helping us any further."

"This is bullshit," Dad growled.

"Extinguisher Ewan, we appreciate you bringing this problem to our attention," Murdock started to dismiss my father.

"Fuck no, Alan!" Dad stood and slammed his fist onto the table. "I deserve this chance to get back into the game. I can handle myself."

The room went silent for the space of three breaths and then Murdock finally spoke, "Sit down then, Ewan, and begin by showing me a better temperament."

"I can stay?" Dad cocked his head at Murdock.

"I already said you could stay. Now, sit your stubborn ass down!" Murdock shouted, and Dad sat. "You will not be on the mission, Extinguisher Ewan. You can help in an advisory capacity, but that is all."

"Murdock," my dad growled.

"Councilman Murdock," Murdock corrected my dad with a dangerous tone.

"Councilman Murdock," Dad amended and sighed. "I have served this council for most of my life. You owe me the chance to redeem myself."

"Do you know how many fairies you and your daughter have killed in the last two years, Extinguisher Ewan?" Murdock asked calmly.

"No," Dad admitted; adjusting his shoulders like he did whenever he got nervous.

"Thirty-six," the councilman said, and I watched Tiernan's eyes widen just slightly.

"All with warrants." My father's jaw was clenching. "All of them were legal extinguishes."

"Yes, but they weren't all your warrants." Murdock sighed. "You used your rank to commandeer executions from lower level extinguishers so you could take out your rage on those fairies."

"They were criminals." Dad frowned. "All were slated for execution; there's nothing wrong with what we did."

"That you can't even see the problem, is a problem." Murdock shook his head. "We don't enjoy killing. We extinguish convicted fairies humanely."

"When someone behaves like a beast, he says, 'After all, one is only human'," my father quoted. "But when he is treated like a beast he says, 'After all, one is human.'"

"Using wit to twist my words won't help your cause." Murdock narrowed his eyes on my father.

"I'm not." Dad sighed deeply. "I'm telling you that I made a mistake. That's it's an easy line for us to cross; to go from killing humanely to simply killing. I'm angry and yes; I'm out for fairy blood, but I'm also in control of my actions again."

"I will allow you to advise on this mission; no field work," Murdock said again. My dad started to protest, but Murdock held up his hand. "If you display this reclaimed self-control and reason, I will have you reinstated to a proper position and move you back to San Francisco."

"That's fair," Dad agreed. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Murdock said stiffly and then turned toward Aideen. "Now, please, Ms. Evergreen, tell us exactly what you know."

Aideen seemed to know quite a bit about the biological weapon as well as the plan to deploy it and it took over three hours to get it all out of her. Then another two to work out a plan on what to do about it. Finally, we decided to infiltrate the lab Aideen worked at... with her help. She said she knew where they kept a sample of the poison, and she was willing to personally lead us into the lion's den if we could get her past all of the guards.

I was surprised by that. After seeing her friend murdered as she tried to escape, the thought of going back into the lab must have been terrifying. Yet Aideen was willing to return to make sure his death wasn't for nothing. I have to say, I was growing more and more impressed by her. She was one brave dryad.