Chapter 18
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"What did she take?"
"Us. She made it impossible for me to feel anything for you."
Those words were still ringing in her ears. The wail she had let out had lessened the pain slightly. Although, her heart still ached from the loss. There was a hole in her chest. She would find that the pain of an empty chest was greater than a broken heart.
"DeeDee?!" Kenzi called softly, walking into her bedroom. Bo and Hale followed her, the latter was carrying a tray.
"A little too early for vodka and ice cream, don't you think?" Dani said, rolling on her side.
Bo sat on the edge of the bed. "We thought it might help you deal with your break up."
"That's sweet." Dani said unconvincingly. "But I don't need it."
"Then tell us what you need and we'll get it for you." Bo offered.
"Can you be there for me?" Dani looked up at Bo.
"Of course." Bo smiled softly.
Kenzi jumped on the bed. "Always D-pants." She turned to Hale. "Could you give us a second? This is kind of a girl thing, thank you."
"This is what I've been saying." Hale glared at her.
"Thanks for being there, Hal." Dani thanked him.
"Anytime, Lil' Red." Hale nodded before walking out.
"Are you seriously okay with this?" Kenzi asked the Banshee.
"No, definitely not." Danielle shook her head.
"So, what's the plan?" Bo asked Danielle as the latter sat up.
"There's no plan." Danielle answered confused.
"You're just going to let go of him? Just that easily?" Bo retorted.
"Not that easily." Danielle sighed. "A deal was struck with the Norn, Bo. And that's the price Dyson had to pay and there's no way of changing that."
"Dan," Bo held her hand. "Dyson risked his wolf for you. He did it because he loves you. You can't give up. You can't let it go without a fight."
"So, what are you suggesting?" Danielle gave her a little smile.
"Win him back." Bo smiled back. "Remind him of how great you two can be together. Being back at square one is a blessing in disguise. I mean, how many couples get to fall in love twice?"
Danielle chuckled. "If only it were that easy."
Unfortunately, it was pretty easy. What the Norn had taken, could not be taken back. And never to be found again. It was not just Dyson's love and passion for her that had been taken. His heart had been ripped out by the Norn. That was the emptiness she had felt for weeks. The soreness in her chest came from him. What he felt for her once, was gone forever.
"What are we drinking?" Trick said as a form of greetings as the three women walked up to the bar.
"Something cold and wet and on your dime." Kenzi replied.
"My cheapest ale it is." Trick countered.
"So, I've been wanting to ask you." Bo started. "What do you know about this Norn, Dyson visited?"
"Don't answer that." Danielle shook her head.
Trick turned to the door. All three women followed his gaze, and there, making their entrance was a dark skinned male Fae followed by his flock. They all wore the same colors. The colors of the Blackthorn. All the Light Fae at the Dal bowed as he walked further in. Kenzi followed their example.
"What?!" She exclaimed as Bo pulled her back up. "All the cool kids are doing it!"
"Just the Light Fae by the looks of it." Bo answered. "I'm guessing he's some kind of honcho?"
"Probably an emissary from the old country." Danielle said. "It was only a matter of time, I suppose."
The Blackthorn stopped at the bar. "May you be the Keeper of this Waystation?"
"That I am, well met." Trick nodded at him. "Fitzpatrick McCorieghan of the Clan Fin Arvin."
"Guy DuCharme." And their forearm met in a form of greetings.
"By your colors, I'd name you The Blackthorn." Trick pointed out.
"And you'd be the right of him."
"To what do we owe this honor?"
"Oh, just came to have a little poke around. See the sights . Make a little proclamation to the people." He rang the bell on the bar and turned to the patrons. "Let it be known; by order of the Council—in two days' time, a new successor to the Ash will be named. Let the Selection Games begin!"
A new Ash was to be named. And very soon. Danielle had only known of the selection games through books. It was a privilege to be able to assist to the games. Those did not happen very often. The current Ash was weakened, in a coma with his bond to the land severed, it was only a matter of time before they replaced him. And they had to do it soon, as not to let the dark take over.
"It's not like we choose our local government every day, so, it's kind of a big deal." Hale explained. "Lots of rituals, big ass feast, and a stag hunt."
"Ooh, will there be wenches and mead?" Kenzi asked him.
"You crash the party, there'll definitely be a wench." Danielle snorted at Hale's words.
"So, who is this Blackthorn?" Bo asked him.
"The Blackthorn. Like the Ash." Danielle answered. "It's a title, not a name."
"The Dark Fae take their names from dead warriors; Light leaders are named after our sacred trees." Hale continued.
Kenzi laughed. "Trees. Bunch of hippies."
"So, this is a good thing for us, then?" Bo turned to Danielle. "A new Ash?"
"Depends on who's chosen, I mean—"Hale replied. "We won't even know who's in the running until the big gala. And then whichever contender wins the hunt, gets the big gig."
"How do we get tickets to this shindig?" Kenzi asked him.
"You, ladies, looking to be my date?"
"I'll pass." Danielle shook her head.
"Thanks, but um—" Bo stood up. "We got other places we need to be. Have fun storming the castle." Danielle followed her, pulling Kenzi behind her.
"Aww, seriously?" Kenzi groaned.
"Yeah, well, the line up's long anyway!" Hale shouted after them.
New Ash or not, things wouldn't change for the two unaligned Fae. They would still be caught between two sides. And yet, things had changed. Aife had launched an attack on the elders, there would soon be a new Ash. The Blackthorn had paid their congregation a visit. Everything was changing and Danielle was not sure what to expect.
"When do we turn down the chance for a free party?" Kenzi asked as the trio walked into their clubhouse. "It's like I don't even know you anymore."
"Trust me, nothing is free when it comes to these guys and their little reality show." Bo replied.
"That's what I've been saying for forever." Danielle walked up to the kitchen counter.
"Survivor: Fae Island, I would tune in." Kenzi said.
"Look, Aife got messed up in politics and nearly blew everything to hell for us." Bo continued. "Literally. I'd just as soon not get involved in any Fae authority for a while, thank you very much."
"Amen to that." Danielle nodded.
"Ugh. Your mom ruins everything." Kenzi groaned, pulling off her shoes. "Come on!" The human stood up. "How much fun would this be, huh? Feastings, and hunting stags. And kilts!—and bangers!" Danielle and Bo shared an amused look. "And mash—and Mary Poppins!"
"Are you feeling okay?" Bo asked her.
"I'm all out of British crap. You win."
"I always do." Bo walked out of the kitchen. "Just trust me, okay? You will thank me later. The further we stay away from this 'succession' business, the better—"
As the three of them walked towards the stairs that led to their bedrooms, they heard the clanking of chains behind them. Unbeknownst to them, a young woman had entered their clubhouse while they were at the Dal.
"What the—?" Kenzi exclaimed as they marched onto the woman.
"Don't be scared." She stood up.
"How about violent?" Bo threatened her.
"If you're Bo and Danielle, I need your help."
"What kind of help?" Danielle asked her.
"You know that stag hunt you were just talking about." She replied.
"Yeah?"
"I'm the Stag."
"Oh, crap." Bo moaned.
"So much for not getting involved, uh?" Danielle crossed her arms over her chest.
"Why would they be hunting you?" Bo questioned her.
"Tradition." She shrugged. "To prove his or her merit. Contenders for the Ash compete by fighting a worthy prey. The Stag is always a prisoner and, well—"
"You're an escaped convict. Wonderful." Bo looked at the handcuffs she still had around her right wrist.
"What did you do to get sent to the pokey?" Kenzi asked her.
"I followed my heart." She smiled. "I was planning to elope with the man I loved. Hamish. Neither of our peoples would have approved of our union. We had no safe haven."
"Was he human?"
"Dark Fae." She said. "I'm Light. We knew it was treason. But we didn't care." She paused. "We were young. We were naïve. We really believed our love would conquer all. We could have go on in secret like that for years." She continued. "But his clan was arranging a marriage for him. We had twenty four hours to make our escape or we would lose each other forever."
"What happened?" Danielle asked her.
"We decided to meet that night and make our escape." She answered. "Something went wrong. I was met by Light Fae guards who knew of our plan and accused me of treason. I fought. In the struggle one of the guards was seriously injured. I'd been imprisoned ever since."
"How long?" Bo asked her.
"Eighty-three years."
"Your penal system does not Fae around." Kenzi commented.
"What about Hamish?" Bo asked her.
"I never saw him that night." The Stag said. "I still don't know if it was the Dark Fae who betrayed us or my own people." Someone knocked loudly on their door. "They're here."
"Here we go." Bo and Danielle sprang up. "Kenz."
"On it." Kenz rushed to the kitchen as Bo and Danielle walked up to the doors while the banging continued.
The Stag grabbed Danielle's arm. "I'm not afraid to die but I have one final request. To know that Hamish is well and to see him one last time. Now will you help me?" Danielle glanced at Bo.
Danielle clasped her hand. "We will." She promised.
"Thank you."
"Bo." Kenzi threw a dagger to the Succubus and another one to the Banshee.
They stood protectively in front of the Stag. "This is not Light Fae territory. Get out!" Bo ordered them.
"Bo." A familiar voice called behind them. "Stand down and wait outside." It was Dyson. He walked up towards the two unaligned Fae while speaking to the guards. "I speak for the Blackthorn. Feel free to complain to him, if I leave you a throat."
The guards walked out. Danielle sheathed back her dagger while avoiding to look at Dyson. She could lie if she said hearing his voice had no effect on her. It reminded her how much she missed him. How much she had missed his touch, his kisses, his scent. It only wakened the dull ache she had in her chest.
"What the hell is going on?" Bo asked him.
"You're outnumbered, Bo." Dyson answered. "It's better for everyone if the girl comes peacefully."
"Uh, except for her." Kenzi told him.
"I'm going to take her in myself, Kenz." Dyson promised her. "She'll be safe and well cared for. Until the hunt, it's the law."
"He's right." The Stag interjected. "I've said what I came to say. You can't help if you get yourself into some kind of trouble."
"Can we at least know your name?" Danielle asked her as she walked towards Dyson.
The Stag turned to them wearing a small smile. "Sabine."
"Where are you taking her?" Danielle asked Dyson.
"To the Ash's compound." He replied.
"Thanks." Danielle retorted. "For having our backs."
He nodded. "Danielle."
"Shapeshifter."
She could do like him and stop using the nickname. She should stop using it. It only hurt her further to use it. While Dyson clearly stopped. But he was the only one who no longer had feelings for her. He was the only who had his love taken away. She was still in love with him. Why should she stop calling him that? It was the only thing the Norn had not taken away from her. The only thing her mother had not taken away from her. She would hold onto it for as long as she could.
"Oh, good, you came." The Blackthorn exclaimed as both the Succubus and the Banshee stepped into his view. "Bo and Danielle, the Undecided." He greeted them with a kiss on their cheeks. "You know I'll be the envy of political pundits for years, just from this meeting."
Danielle and Bo awkwardly glanced at each other. "Great. Listen: your people abducted a guest from my house last night." Bo told him. "That's not okay."
"Well, technically, she was our prisoner." The Blackthorn retorted.
"I told you it'd be useless to come here." Danielle said between her teeth.
Bo turned away from her friend. "Are you seriously gonna hunt her down and kill her? For Sport?"
"Not sport." The Blackthorn seemed offended. "Ritual."
"Yeah, potayto, potahto." Dani shrugged. "You're still gonna kill her."
Bo groaned. "I'll never understand you people. You slaughter your own kind and you call yourself Light Fae."
"Ahhh—see, that, that right there is—" The Blackthorn steered them further into his mansion. "—why some argue we need a rebranding." He took them to four women dressed in purple coat. "Would you mind if I borrowed you both for a moment?" The Succubus and the Banshee climbed on two different stands. "Look, humans are food. We eat from them or we die." The woman on Danielle's stand took off her jacket. "Now, the Dark Fae, they tend to kill for pleasure. Not just need." A dark green cloth was placed against her skin. "Good." The Blackthorn nodded. He turned towards Bo. "Show me the red."
"And you Light are so much better?" Bo asked him.
"Well, we're more like your Native American hunters: we respect the kill, won't over hunt, don't eat the young."
"And what does that make us?" Danielle asked him.
"Obnoxious vegans."
"Good to know." Danielle nodded.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Bo said.
"You would." The Blackthorn pulled them behind him. "The Stag Hunt is a respected tradition. Through their willing sacrifices, the Stag's crimes are forgiven, returning honor to their family name. It's really quite an equitable system."
"Okay, wait, a willing sacrifice?" Bo turned to Danielle.
"Never knew that." Danielle shrugged.
"Stag always volunteers." The Blackthorn confirmed. "If you had a chance to go out free and fighting, instead of rotting in a cell, wouldn't you take it?"
"Look, I—uh—" The seamstresses helped them with their jackets. "I don't want to get off on the wrong foot here. And this isn't me asking you permission. Because you and I both know we don't do that." Bo continued.
"I'm listening."
"Sabine asked our help to reconnect with her old lover." Danielle told him. "As a dying wish. It seemed fitting to inform you that we intend to help her."
"Well, now, I'm informed." The Blackthorn smiled.
Two seamstresses came to him and gave him one box. While the other stood next to him holding a box herself. In these boxes were dresses.
"What's this?" Bo asked him.
"A little something to wear to tomorrow's gala." The Blackthorn answered. He handed Bo the box he was holding. "Come be my guests." And handed Danielle the second one. "See how civilized we can be." He started to walk away. "And oh, bring that bartender along. He seems like he'd be fun."
"Next time, ask him if he has Gucci too." Kenzi commented as they walked to Hamish's location. The one Hale had given to them.
"I'll just be happier when this Blackthorn guy leaves town, couture aside." Bo said.
"Well, for once I'm not too worried about him." Dani followed them. "I'm more worried about who's gonna be the new Ash."
"Well, this whole Fae election thing is creeping me out." Bo sighed.
"Are you sure Hale gave us the right ino for this Hamish dude?" Kenzi asked Bo. "He's not answering his phone and the files were hella old."
Bo knocked on the door. "Maybe he's not home. Oh, speaking of not home." She turned to Danielle. "Kenzi and I are giving you some space on Saturday night. You invited Dyson."
"No, I didn't." Danielle looked confused.
"Technically, it was me but he agreed to it." Bo smiled.
"Bo, this is a bad idea." Danielle groaned.
"Why?"
"Because, I told you already. The Norn took away his love." Danielle explained. "It's not something I can change by putting on some lingerie and showing cleavage. Not that I got any."
"You certainly got more than I do." Kenzi said as the door flew open.
A man appeared at the door. "Yes?"
"Hi, Hamish?" Bo asked.
"Where did you get this address?" He asked looking over their heads, behind them.
"We've been leaving you messages about Sabine, you may have not gotten them?" Bo continued.
"I got 'em." Hamish shortly replied.
"Good." Danielle nodded. "So, you'll come with us to see her."
"I don't think so. But thank you." Hamish was about to close the door on them but Bo blocked it.
"Clearly, there's been some kind of communication error here." Bo said. "See, I'm talking about Sabine Purcell. The woman who spent the last eighty years in chains for wanting to be with you."
"Those are her actions, not mine." Hamish replied which only angered Danielle. "I can't help you."
"She just wants to see you." Danielle told him. "Say goodbye. You loved her, didn't you?"
"Yeah, and I've had eighty year to get over it, she should too." Hamish argued back.
Danielle glared at him. "I don't think you get how serious this is. Sabine volunteered to be the Stag. Surely, you know what that means."
Hamish remained quiet and slightly stepped away from her, disappearing from their view. Invisible. He suddenly reappeared and closed the door on them.
"This guy is a douche." Danielle angrily said. "Eighty years to get over it? Seriously! And to think she's dying over him."
"DeeDee? Honey?" Kenzi followed her. "Look, I know you are little sensitiv-o when it comes to—penis related rejection at the moment. And I know you're gonna be tempted to personalize this—"
"This is not about me, Kenzi." Danielle cut her off. "I know that."
"Cool. So, we are not gonna get any more involved, right?" Kenzi said.
"Well—" Danielle turned to Bo. Kenzi groaned. "We could save Sabine's life and not get caught doing it."
"I like your thinking." Bo smirked.
"I wish I could quit you." Kenzi whined.
Danielle did not like to get involved in Fae business. And after what happened with her mother, Aife, Dyson, she had wished not to get any more involved for a long while. But Sabine had come to them, desperate with only one wish: to find the one she loved and see him one last time. Danielle couldn't help but feel sympathy for her.
She herself would have given everything she had just to get Dyson's love back. Even if it was for just one day. Danielle would do everything she could just to have him love her again. So, she understood Sabine. The Banshee was still enraged by Hamish's answer. He had moved on from her. Eighty years ago the man was ready to defy his own clan and family just to be with her. And now he had gotten over it while Sabine still had hopes. While Sabine still wanted to be with him. She deserved better. Much better.
"Okay, talk me through it." Bo said.
The two unaligned Fae had made their way to the Dal. There Trick gave them a crash course on the Selection Games.
Danielle's head was resting on the table. "What's the process for naming the new Ash?" Bo asked the Barkeeper.
"First, the potential candidates gather for the 'Gyallahaal.'" Trick explained.
"Which one: Jake or Maggie?" Bo joked. Danielle raised her head up and chuckled.
"It's a Gala in the Stag's honor." Trick clarified. "But actually, it's the first competition. A test of political skill and cunning. And those who survive it—"
"Survive it?" Bo repeated.
"Those who gets enough votes." Danielle corrected.
"Are deemed contenders." Trick continued. "And they compete in the hunt. And you know how the hunt ends."
"Not if Sabine makes it to the bell." Danielle said. "Once she does, she'll be free to live her life free of all charges."
"But Danielle that never happens. The entire system is canted against it." Trick countered.
"Then, let's un-cant it." Danielle argued back. "Fast."
"Look, there has to be a way that we can save Sabine, without breaking their rules and pissing off the Blackthorn." Bo said. Trick scoffed. "I know we can at least get into the gala as his guests. Oh by the way, he wants you there too."
"He said that?" Trick worriedly asked.
"But we can't be part of the hunt." Bo continued. "We're not light Fae."
"We need someone in." Danielle turned to Bo. "Someone with enough ties to make it to the hunt. Someone of noble blood."
Bo turned to Trick. "Well, you must know some old, noble family type we can exploit into helping us?"
"Actually, we all do." Trick smirked.
"Who?" Bo asked him.
"No, no, no, uh, uh." Hale protested. "Not happening little mamas."
"Poseur." Kenzi said. "Why didn't you tell us your family was hooked up?"
"They're not hooked up. They're old." Hale said back.
"Old as in old money."
"Old as in stuffy and judgmental. And generally disapproving of any non-traditional life I want to make for myself. Okay?" Hale countered. "If I wanted to give my grandmama the satisfaction of getting into politics, I'd have done it decades ago."
"Oh, boohoo!" Kenzi mocked him. "I'm sure you had it so rough, Lord Gutless of Nosburg!"
"Oh come on, Kenz! Just cut him some slack, will ya?" Danielle placed herself between her friends and Hale.
"Okay, maybe we need to ask his highness nicely." Kenzi suggested.
"You're right. Perhaps in a manner that would be fitting his station." Bo agreed before bowing to Hale.
"Please, Sir, please." Both and Kenzi said while bowing to him. The Siren grinned widely enjoying it way too much.
"Seriously!" Bo slapped his chest. "You could help save a woman's life here. And nobody's asking you to win, you just have to run."
"And losing could be a whole new way to disappoint your family, uh?"
"Yeah." Bo nodded quickly.
"Come on, Hal. We really need you on this one." Danielle turned to him.
"Yeah, and I would really like to see you kissing hands and shaking babies."
"Well, jokes on you, anyway, Cinderella." Hale looked at the human. "No humans at this ball. Now, what's your brilliant plan?"
"To save Sabine we have to get you in the game." Bo started. "Hopefuls for the Ash have this one event to curry favor, sabotage the competition, and win enough votes to enter the hunt."
Bo, wearing the red dress the Blackthorn gifted her, walked between Hale and Trick. Both were dressed for the occasion. The long red dress hugged Bo's curves perfectly. On the bust of the dress, there was embroidered flowers that would go over her left shoulder, leaving her right shoulder naked.
"They'll use any means necessary, short of murder." Danielle continued. "Hal, you will use your siren skills to charm votes, while Bo will incapacitate your competition. And Dyson will act as protection."
Danielle, in the dark green dress offered to her by the Blackthorn, walked on Trick's right side. The top of the dress was laced, and the skirt was slit on the front. The long laced sleeves covered her arms and yet, you could see her milky white arms underneath.
"You're sure Dyson's coming?" Danielle asked Hale.
"Don't worry, I talked to him." Hale answered. "He's cool, he's in."
As he said those words, Dyson made his appearance. He walked past them, barely glancing in Danielle's direction, and walked up to a young lady that was waiting for him. He kissed the woman on the cheek and walked away from them, with the woman on his arm.
"The important thing is for us to work as a team." Bo said. "Get in, get out. Together."
Danielle felt a pang of jealousy at the sight of it all. He had lost his passion for her, or rather he sacrificed it for her. It was easy for him to move on. But it wasn't for her.
"Would you allow me to escort you in?" Trick offered her his arm to Bo, as Hale offered his to Danielle.
"Here we go." Bo said as they walked into the lion den.
"Wearing the blue: Baronet William Haley François Santiago, Clan Zamora." A blue ribbon was given to him.
"Haley?" Bo asked as Danielle chuckled.
"One more word." Hale warned her. "Just one more. And I will sing to sleep and leave you in a corner."
"So, the arm bands identify competitors but what are those?" Bo asked Trick as a clear stone was given to him.
"Gias." Trick replied. "It's the stone you use to cast your vote."
"Real modern system you got here." Bo commented.
"Exactly—old people like old shit." Hale said.
"Excuse me." Trick walked away from them and towards Dyson.
Danielle scanned the room. She caught sight of the other contenders. They wore green and red. One of them was speaking to Bo at this instant.
"You, uh—you, good on your own?" Hale stood beside them. "What do you say?"
"Well, I'd say Mister green arm band there, is my first target." Bo replied. "The cougar and grandpa. And Mr. Big." She continued. "I'll try to take them out of competition. The other two contenders shouldn't get much support."
"Well, you know what you two need to do." Danielle sighed. "Work your magic and score us some votes."
"Let's rock out, with our frocks out." Hale dawned his drink and went to work the room.
Mingling with the Fae was so much easier at the Dal. Things were so casual at the tavern. Whilst there, everything was so pompous and so proper. Without forgetting that they constantly had to be on their guards. The contenders were actively trying to eliminate the competitions. They would not murder anyone, Danielle knew that but still, that would not stop them from hurting anyone.
"Danielle Jennings, Aibell Banshee." One of the contenders came to her. It was Mr. Green Arm Band.
He kissed her hand. "You know my name, but I don't know yours."
"Lachlan." He smiled at her.
"Pleasure to meet you." She smiled back. "Lachlan."
A vision of giant fiery bird flashed before her eyes, followed by several severed heads that wore Lachlan's features. She quickly pulled her hand away. A voice whispered to her. A name.
Danielle pulled her hand away quickly. Not aware of the word she whispered, or of her eyes glowing purple.
"You are very powerful." Lachlan smirked and walked away. Leaving Danielle to stare after him.
"Are you okay?" Dyson stood next to her.
"Yeah—yeah, I'm okay." Danielle replied slightly shaken from the encounter. She looked at him. "We need to talk. You can't avoid me forever."
"I know."
A loud clattering drew her attention. Mr. Big, wearing red, had fallen to the ground. One less contender to deal with. When she turned back towards Dyson, the Shapeshifter had disappeared.
The Stag was seated in the middle of the room. Every guests could go and greet her, pay their homage to her. So did the two Fae. Bo and Danielle approached her together. They kissed her hand.
"Hamish?" Sabine asked immediately. "Is he here?"
"No." Bo shook her head. "But good news, though. He's alive and free."
"He didn't want to see me?"
"We tried. I'm so sorry." Danielle apologized. "Sabine, is it possible that Hamish was your betrayer?"
"No. It's not." Sabine shook her head.
"How can you be so sure?" Bo asked her.
"Have you ever been in love? With someone who loved you with everything he had?"
Bo glanced at Danielle. "I was."
"Then you understand. When you've been loved like that, you know." Sabine looked to Danielle. "You feel it."
"Look, Sabine, we couldn't bring you Hamish. But we brought you something better." Bo told her. "A chance. My friends and I are going to help you during the hunt."
"Help me, how?"
"To win by their own rules." Danielle said. "We get you to the end of the woods alive. You'll win your freedom."
"Freedom to what?" Sabine countered. "To wander alone in a world I haven't lived in for eighty years. And risk all your lives in the balance…?"
"Sabine—"
"Thank you." Sabine smiled at them. "You've been good to me. But not every story has a happy ending."
A platter had fallen to the ground behind them. Bo leaned into Danielle's ear. "He's here."
Danielle followed her friend to a dark room. Dusty, dimly lit, furniture covered with white sheets. The room looked more like a storage room. Danielle looked around herself, hoping to catch a glimpse of Hamish but nothing. Until Bo headbutted the air and a very visible Hamish fell on the ground, groaning in pain.
Bo pulled him up. "Dumbass! I can see auras and yours is totally hot for Sabine."
"What do you want from me?" Hamish hissed at her.
"How about you tell us the truth?" Danielle replied. "You still love Sabine."
"What?"
"You love Sabine, say it." Danielle snapped.
"Fine." Hamish finally gave up. "I love her. I love her, okay? She's the only one I've ever loved."
"Then why did you betray her?" Dani asked him.
"I didn't." Hamish answered. "But I might as well have. You know, my family, they are not good people, you understand? They found out about us and they were furious I would jeopardize the family name."
"So, they tipped off the Light Fae." Bo stated.
"But I've tried for years, to figure some way to help Sabine. Years." His voice was trembling now. "But what can I do? I'm Dark Fae. Even now, all I can do is glimpse her from afar."
"There is something you can do." Danielle walked closer to him. "Come with us to the Hunt. Help us save her."
"No." Hamish weakly said. "I don't want to get her hopes up. It's best I just let her be."
Danielle caught his arm before he could leave. "You are a coward. She wants you and all you can do is walk away." The Banshee snarled at him. "You say you love her then fight for her." She pushed away his arm in anger and walked away.
The fastuous gala had come to an end. There were three competitors left: Lachlan, Cougar and Hale. Bo and Danielle had joined Kenzi to the woods. They wanted to make sure that Sabine would arrive safely to the Bell. The three friends had found the bell before anyone else had. And they waited for Sabine. Barely a few minutes later, Sabine made her appearance. She made a dash to the bell.
"No." Danielle breathed out when she saw Lachlan nearby, aiming her with his bow and arrow. "No, no, no! SABINE! RUN! Go, go, go!"
Sabine was mere centimeters from the bell when Lachlan's arrow hit her. And she fell on the ground.
Bo, Danielle and Kenzi rushed to Sabine's side. Dyson joined them. He looked for a pulse, his eyes met Danielle's when he found none.
"She's dead." Dyson announced. "If you'll leave the fallen to us?"
"As I told you, we aren't monsters." The Blackthorn turned to Bo and Danielle. "Tend to her burial if you wish." Dyson nodded. "Meanwhile, it looks as if we have ourselves a new Ash to crown." And he blew the horn, announcing the end of the hunt.
Lachlan walked up to Bo. "You're the Succubus, aren't you? The one that does as she pleases. Well, not anymore."
"Was that a threat?" Bo asked Danielle as they watched him walk away.
"I'm not sure." Danielle replied.
"Clear." Dyson said and Lauren came to tend to Sabine's wound.
Lauren broke the arrow before taking it out. "How's the wound?" Bo asked her. Hamish appeared out of thin air.
"It's just soft tissue damage." Lauren answered while pulling something out of her bag.
"I tried to spin her out of the arrow's path as best as I could—" Hamish said worriedly.
"You fought for her." Dani said softly. "Now let the doctor do the rest."
"You did well." Lauren tapped on her syringe. "If it'd hit the heart, we'd have no hope. The problem will be the poison. But we prepared for that." Lauren thrusted the needle into Sabine's chest.
Sabine's chest rose as she took in a deep breath. "Hamish—" She said as soon as she laid her eyes on him. "You came."
Hamish dropped to his knees. "Just eighty-three years late."
"I knew you'd come." Sabine said as she hugged him tight. "Thank you." She smiled up at Bo and Danielle.
The lovers were at last reunited. Hamish and Sabine were now free to be together. After eighty three years, it seemed as though they were both breathing again.
As for Lachlan, he was now crowned as the new Ash. Danielle did not know what to make of him. He seemed he had a secret agenda and that vision she had. The name that was whispered to her. Something terrible was coming and Lachlan was probably a part of it. But which part?
Danielle would figure this out later, though. She was sitting in the clubhouse, expecting Dyson. She did not know where to start. She had no intention to speak about this, it was pretty clear. The Norn had taken away Dyson's passion, condemning the latter to live a life without love. Condemning her to live a life without him.
"Hi." Danielle stood up as Dyson walked into the loft.
"Danielle, I—" Dyson started.
"Thank you." Danielle cut him off. "For risking what you value most to protect us. I'm just sorry that because of this—because of me—you can no longer love anyone." Her eyes starting to well up with tears. "I'm sorry."
"I told you once that wolves mate for life." Dyson reminded her. "I gave that love to you and I don't regret it."
"I know." She chocked out a sob. "I know." She hugged him while doing so, with her head to his chest, she could hear his heart beating. "But I still feel it. All of it. And it hurts so much to know that you don't feel the same anymore."
"I'm sorry." His arms went up behind her back. "Banshee, the last thing I ever wanted was to hurt you."
"I should let you go." Danielle said. "It's the best thing to do for both of us. I have to let you go. But I can't."
"Danielle,"
"You gave me your love. And I gave you mine." Danielle smiled softly. "I can't let you go."
"Danielle, you have got to move on." Dyson snapped. "Because I already have." And he walked out of the clubhouse.
Danielle had decided to not fight against what the Norn had done. There was no undoing it. But seeing how much Sabine believed in her love—how much she believed in Hamish. She waited eighty years to be reunited with him. And it paid off. It worked for them both, and the odds were against them. Danielle could do it too.
What was lost, could be found again. It was her job after all; finding what was lost. She knew the Fae, she would find a way to get Dyson to love her again. Even if it was just for one day.