I was getting close. I pushed and pushed and pushed. The rain was making my costume wet and heavy. I shoved my wings up to the head and tried to get it off. It wouldn’t budge though. Without the traction my fingers offered, the stupid costume was stuck to me. But I was almost there, and so was the Lord Alpha.

Corrigan flung himself at Endor, swiping at him with the Palladium. A mage to the side sent out more blue flame, arcing it through the now dark sky. It hit him on the side of the face and, finally, the necromancer seemed pained. Solus, coming out of nowhere, leapt at him feet first, kicking him on the other side. We were winning.

Endor shot out more black fire, catching both Solus and Corrigan. Each of them was clearly in pain, but it didn’t stop them and they continued their attack. Then he began to mutter something. An indigo dark cloud was rising, enveloping all four of them and concealing them from sight. What it was I had no idea. With only a few feet between me and where Endor had been, I flung myself through the cloud and into the heart of it. I kicked out with my penguin feet, and rolled, trying to connect with the necromancer and knock him off balance. But whatever he was conjuring up, it was making the air difficult to breathe.

I continued rolling until I was clear of the choking haze. The rain was making it difficult to see, but I just caught a glimpse of Endor striding out from the dark haze. Where Corrigan and Solus were, I couldn’t tell. Hearing a shout from up ahead, I looked back at the mountain to where Endor was obviously heading. Someone up there was pointing out at the sides. I twisted over from where I was lying and realised what Endor had done. He’d conjured up some kind of dead army out of nowhere. We were hemmed in on every side by the shapes of rotting skeletons. Okaydokey then.

Streams of Otherworlders ran up and engaged them. The dark sky was being lit up by the force of the mages’ magic and, everywhere, shifters and faeries were getting up and close to the dead. But Endor was at the foot of the mountain and already beginning to climb. His cloud of darkness continued to hang where he’d been. I’d have to go back in and get Corrigan, Solus and the fucking Palladium.

Twisting in the other direction, I rolled myself again, this time into the cloud. I held my breath, forcing my body round and round until I hit something. It felt like a body – and it was complete inert. Every single good intention I had completely broke as a furnace of bloodfire lit inside me and roared. The penguin costume split open as I transformed. A mini hurricane spun through the cloud, forcing it to dissipate. Solus was at my feet. I scooped him with one clawed arm, and looked around for Corrigan. He was unconscious, lying face down. Roaring, I sprang forward and picked him up in my other hand. Then I looked upwards and jumped. And this time I flew.

It was beyond anything I’d experienced before. Exhilaration sipped through me and I felt as light as a feather. I didn’t have time to appreciate it, however: I had to get them to safety. In a flash, I was by the Eagle’s nest exit where I carefully laid down their inert bodies and then twisted back. A skeletal shape ran towards me but I flicked my tail round, easily catching its midsection. The thing collapsed in a pile of bones. Then I lifted up, stretching out my neck and flew back to the dark cloud.

Lying there, on its own in the driving rain, was the Palladium. I stared up at the mountain for a second. Endor was almost at its summit. I scooped the statue up in my talons and, without pausing, sprang upwards. I roared, just as another bolt of lightning struck in front of Endor, forcing him to find another path. Breathing in deeply, I took as much oxygen into my lungs as I could. Then I spat it out in huge wall of flame that engulfed the necromancer. I pulled back slightly to watch the results of my labour. Shit. It didn’t seem to be affecting him. He laughed and shouted up at me in the air.

“Did you not think I’d come prepared?”

His lips began moving, then there was an almighty shudder. I looked behind, my mouth dropping as I realised there was another dragon right behind me. Except this one was all bones. He’d called up a fucking dead Draco Wyr to beat me. Endor laughed again. There was a flicker of golden fire and I could suddenly see the phoenix, rippling with magnificent plumes of red and gold and silver. Endor was stretching out his hand to catch it. Behind me the skeleton dragon screamed. Screw that. I dropped down, flapping my wings, and concentrated on my match and my grip on the Palladium.

My bones snapped and my flesh shifted and then I was naked, in the middle of a thunderstorm with only a wooden statue in my hand. I sprang forward and tapped Endor on the shoulder. His head turned, and an irritated scowl lit his face. The dragon above us screamed again and swooped down, but I didn’t pay it any attention. I just gripped the base of the Palladium, and rammed it down Endor’s throat.

He choked, eyes bulging and tiny veins popping. His fingers clawed at his throat and his mouth. I used the base of my hand to shove it in further. I felt the roar of the dragon behind me as its jaws opened, and then Endor was on his knees with the fight completely drawn out of him. He collapsed on the stones thudding down as every flicker of life left him. The hollow sound of bones crashing onto stone came from behind me, and, in front, a large golden bird blinked. I could have sworn it was smiling.

Chapter Twenty Six

I found the change of venue refreshing, even if the Summer Queen and the Arch-Mage were patently unimpressed at having to sit on battered white plastic chairs. The air was clean and fresh, with the heat of summer still clinging on. I swatted lazily at a fat bee, and surveyed the council. The dead were buried and, while the mourning was not yet over, and the wounds were still fresh, there was the sense that they had not died in vain. Small comfort, I supposed, to their loved ones. I was fully aware that had it been Corrigan who had lost his life at the Eagles’ Nest, then I would not be finding it so easy to recover.

“Are we sure he’s dead?”

At Haughmond Hill, Endor had recovered seconds after receiving what should have been a fatal strike to his heart. I needed to be certain this time.

Beltran nodded. “We have divided his body into five parts.”

I couldn’t help wincing. Euurgh.

“And those parts have been separated and burned at different points across the British Isles,” added Larkin. “He ain’t coming back.”

“The clean-up operation?” I asked. “At the Eagles’ Nest?”

“All done and dusted,” the Arch-Mage said. “The Queen herself glamoured the Bird World staff, and no-one is any the wiser. The enclosure opened again yesterday morning.”

I smiled in approval. That was good. “Where’s the Palladium?”

“We removed it from his body. It’s safe at the keep.”

Corrigan looked good, despite the curving black scar that now ran from his ear to his chin. Normally, his shifter ability to heal would preclude any scars from forming. Something about Endor’s dark cloud of necromancy had changed that. I didn’t mind it though. It added to his ever present air of danger, as if he may just pounce on someone at any second. I hoped he was going to pounce on me.

“And we’ve spelled it to ensure it won’t be removed,” said the Arch-Mage with a look of satisfaction.

“The phoenix?”

“Happy. We’ve even had some communication from the kelpies. It appears they regret their earlier actions and wish to make amends.”

I snorted. “I bet they do.”

“So what happened to the sky?” asked Beltran. “That storm wasn’t natural.”

Lucy nodded. “Yeah. And it wasn’t of Endor’s doing either because every bold of lightning seemed to be directed at him.”

I smiled smugly. “That was Vasily.”

The entire gathering stared at me.

“He’s Russian,” I said airily, as if that explained everything. “He normally prevents storms so he can help farmers. Well, he actually normally drives like a demon taxi driver, but he used to prevent storms. I just asked him to come and do the opposite. He was happy to oblige.”

Corrigan grinned at me. “Nice.”

The squeak of wheels announced Julia’s arrival. She beamed at me, then turned to everyone. “Ladies and Gentlemen, the service is about to begin.”

I stood up. It was over. Endor was dead, the council was finished and I was fully absolved of my responsibilities. I touched my stomach for a moment and glanced towards Corrigan with a tiny smile. His eyes crinkled back, then we walked out towards the courtyard.

I breathed in the heady scent of him, and his hand lightly brushed against mine, making my bloodfire sing.

“Who’d have thought it?” he said. “Faeries, mages and shifters all together at the same wedding and no-one’s started arguing yet.”

I grinned. “The wedding’s not started yet.” I looked over to where my date was waiting patiently. “I should go.”

Corrigan scowled. I don’t understand why he is here with you.

I have a promise to keep. There’s nothing between us, my Lord.

He growled, a low deep sound from within his chest.

Down, boy. You should go and find your sister.

I veered off. Cherniy Volk held out his arm, and I hooked my hand round it.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

“I meant what I said,” I reiterated, “if she really doesn’t want to see you…”

“I’ll back away and leave quietly. You have my word.” I looked down and realised the werewolf’s hands were shaking.

We strolled into the great hall. Rows upon rows of chairs were laid out, pretty white and pink flowers strung at the end of each. I felt someone’s gaze on me and turned round. It was Anton. I hadn’t seen him since he’d thrown me out of Cornwall last year. So much had happened since then, but it didn’t outdo half a lifetime of mutual hatred. His expression was guarded and wary, making me pray he wouldn’t take this opportunity to cause a scene. The last thing Tom and Betsy needed was their wedding day upstaged by that prick.

I turned back to Volk just in time to see a fist flying in his direction and connecting with a painful sounding crunch against his nose.