Part 9 (1/2)

Blue mist filled the room so quickly that Renn had no time to react before he found himself completely stretched out on the bed and tied to all four bedposts. He struggled to free himself from the mist ties, but as usual, the bindings held fast.

”Release me,” he bellowed.

Anistana appeared againa”between Renn's thighs, his huge c.o.c.k in her hand, her lips over the head, her eyes focused on Tierra. ”I am Queen. I do as I please.”

The sight of the Faerie Queen with Renn's c.o.c.k in her hand, and so close to taking it in her mouth, filled Tierra with such fury that her hair all but stood on end.

Anistana flicked her tongue out.

Tierra flung up her hands and whipped out her spellbindings. One from each finger.

Ten bindings wrapped around the Faerie Queen in a movement so fast that Anistana had no time to react. One moment she had been about to go down on Tierra's dark warrior, and the next she was tied from neck to toe in spellbindings, face down on the mattress, with only her wings left uncovered.

Mist ties around Renn's wrists and ankles vanished and he moved away from Anistana and eased off the bed.

”What have you done?” Anistana shrieked and fought against the spellbindings. ”My magic. I can'ta””

Satisfaction swirled within Tierra and she folded her arms across her naked b.r.e.a.s.t.s. ”Can't undo my magic, eh? Don't tell me the all-powerful Queen isn't exactly all-powerful.”

”Release me,” Anistana demanded, turning her face toward Tierra, her wings snapping open and shut with her anger.

Renn moved to Tierra's side and smiled at his woman before turning a frown on Anistana. ”First you must speak the truth to Tierra, for your binding leaves little doubt. The resemblancea”it is no coincidence, is it?”

”Silence,” Anistana hissed.

”Tell her of her true heritage,” Renn persisted. ”Now.”

Surprise widened Tierra's eyes, but she kept her focus on her spellbindings and on Anistana's enraged features.

The Queen scowled. ”I will tell her naught.”

”Tell her,” Renn said in his deep, controlled voice, ”or we shall let all of Faerie into your bedchamber to see you trussed up like a fatted boar. And they will all know there is one who has power enough to control you.”

Anistana stilled and Tierra did not need the magic of senses of her halias to know that losing face to her people would be the worst of fates for the Faerie Queen.

Renn strode to the bed, picked up Anistana by her shoulders and raised her to a sitting position as though she was no more than a doll. ”Second,” he added, ”before Tierra releases your bindings, you must promise to transfer us at once from Astral, directly into Sky Castle in Phoenicia. With our clothing and weapons. And Feymir, along with all of our other belongings.”

”b.a.s.t.a.r.d.” The Queen glared at Renn, her voice tight with anger.

She suddenly looked very young, and Tierra wondered about Faerie aging. Anistana didn't look a day more than twenty seasons.

Like me.

”Of course I am twenty seasons,” Anistana snapped, turning her fiery gaze on Tierra. ”Are you so daft you have not figured it out for yourself?” She c.o.c.ked her head at Renn. ”Your lover obviously has.”

Tierra studied Anistana, and realization dawned upon her...she and the Queen did look alike. Very much alike. From the shape and color of their eyes to the shade of their hair.

Child of Fae... The words of To'en and one of the ebony Faerie twins echoed in Tierra's mind.

”You and I are related,” Tierra said slowly.

”Obviously I inherited the larger share of intelligence.” Anistana rolled her eyes to the silver-leaved ceiling, before returning her gaze to Tierra. ”Sisters. Twins. Now free me.”

”Twins?” Tierra's skin tingled all over, and she could scarce maintain her concentration on the spellbindings. ”You are my sister? Ia”I am Faerie?”

Anistana gave an exaggerated sigh. ”As the second born, you have no wings.”

”And the starmark behind your right earlobe,” Renn said to Anistana. ”It matches the one on Tierra's left.”

Tierra's gaze shot from Renn back to Anistana as the Queen replied, ”Aye, 'tis the mark of Astral royalty.” Her gaze rolled up to the silver-leaved trees above. ”The symbol matches the star pattern on the mishnui leaves. The mishnui is a most sacred tree to Astral.”

Astral royalty? Tierra thought. To think that the star marked her as a royal Faerie.

”Do not get any ambitious ideas, sister.” Anistana's gaze cut to Tierra. ”Now you know your heritage. Untie me and I will send you to Phoenicia at once.”

”There is more.” Renn's deep voice filled the room. ”You are too eager to be shed of us. There must be more. Details.”

The spark seemed to fade from the Faerie Queen's eyes and for a moment she was silent. ”As you wish.” Anistana swallowed before saying, ”By recommendation of the Council, Father sent you away when we were mere sprites.”

A sense of the surreal overcame Tierra as she eased onto the golden chair, still concentrating to control the spellbindings. ”Why?” she finally asked.

Something like sadness flickered in Anistana's eyes. ”Mother had been murdered by the Fae killer, and they feared for both our lives. They decided that if you were hidden, you would be able take over the throne if something should happen to me.”

Tierra let Anistana's words sink in.

Her birth mother was a Faerie, and she had been murdered.

I am... a Princess?

Second in line for the throne of the Faerie realm. It was so bizarre, so unreal that she almost wanted to laugh.

Yet was this any more fantastic than Renn's stories of Ranelle and Liana?

Instead of voicing her confusion and doubts, Tierra asked the next question on her mind, ”Then it is me who inspires you to seek vengeance, not Renn. But why?”

Anistana's features hardened. ”Our parents gave the bulk of their magic powers to you at birth. Father said it was because you would face more adversity. But the gifts were wasted, from what I can tell.”

Renn cut in, ”Tierra simply needs to be trained in how to use these gifts.”

The Faerie Queen's words were almost more than Tierra could process. ”I have the same powers as you?”

”Nay.” Anistana shook her head. ”Yours are different, mayhap similar, but beyond mine.”

Still feeling dazed, Tierra murmured, ”I have more powers.”

Anistana raised her chin. ”Do not let it go to your head. I am still the rightful Queen and will remain so 'til my death.”