Mists of Velvet

a woman did not allow her leathean to be slaughtered by a vengeful goddess. She could resign herself to living without him, as long as she knew that Rhys was alive, and living in his world.
    Cailleach paused to stand over her. “All right, then. I will grant you your request. We shall speak of this in private.”
    “If you touch one damned hair on her head,” said Rhys as he took a few steps forward, “I will not tell you, or your nine warriors, what I know of the Dark Mage. And after my run-in with him, I know a lot more than anyone else.”
    Cailleach whirled around then, her rage palpable as it radiated through the air. “Who do you think you are?”
    “The great-great-grandson of Daegan MacDonald.”
    “You have none of his powers. You’re a pathetic mortal, and no match for me, or anyone in Annwyn.”
    “You once thought Isobel MacDonald was no match for you, either. But her love for Daegan proved you wrong.”
    The goddess did seethe then. “Your arrogance will be your undoing,” Cailleach stormed.
    “My pride is the only thing that kept me alive while I was suffering under the mage. My mortal soul and drive prevented me from becoming his next victim. Humans, Cailleach, are different from you, but we are not inferior.”
    “Rodents, all of you,” she snapped. “I have the power to crush you with the flick of my hand. Do not tempt me to use that power.”
    “But then you won’t know what I saw. And thinking you can torture the information out of Bronwnn would be a mistake, because I’ve not burdened her with my ordeal. I am the only one who knows, Cailleach. And I can be just as stubborn as you.”
    “You will share what you know, or you will die, mortal.”
    Rhys stood tall, his chest filling with indignation. “I’m not afraid of death. If my destiny is to die with dignity while standing up to you, then so be it.”
    “There will be no dignity in your death,” Cailleach taunted. “How well do you think you would hold up against my torture?”
    “No!” Bronwnn launched herself toward Cailleach, falling to the goddess’ feet. “I will do whatever you want, Supreme Goddess. Anything. Just . . . spare him.”
    “Don’t,” Rhys beseeched her as he gave her his hand to help her up. “Don’t do this. I can handle whatever she tries to do. You don’t have to lower yourself before her for me.”
    Shaking her head, she tried to convince Rhys to let her be. He didn’t understand Cailleach’s powers. He could have no way of knowing how powerful her magick was—or how she never backed down from a challenge. “I know what I’m doing,” she whispered. “Let me save you.”
    “Not if it means you’ll be taken from me. No. I’ll face her.”
    “Raven,” Cailleach commanded, her expression as dark as the clouds that now covered Annwyn. “Take your warriors and this mortal back to your realm. I will speak with you later.”
    “The hell you’ll order me around like I’m a fucking kid,” Rhys snarled, his fingers curling into fists.
    With a blinding flash of white, Rhys was gone, and Bronwnn’s scream echoed through the forest.
    Within the blink of an eye, Rhys was thrust forward, landing on his ass inside a castle. Fucking magick.
    He really hated it, especially when he had none of it.

    “Rise and look upon me.”
    Bronwnn did as she was told. With a wave of her hand, Cailleach draped Bronwnn’s nakedness in a drab gray gown. She was no longer virginal, no longer fit to wear white. She had forgotten that she was naked all that time, but the look of disgust in Cailleach’s gaze reminded her of her shameful conduct before Rhys and the others. A goddess was to be serene at all times. She had acted like a virago—and a wanton. She should be ashamed, but Bronwnn felt only relief that Rhys was safe—for now.
    “Your mother was forced to wear this color also—gray for impurity.”
    Her poor mother had been corrupted by the vilest creature in existence. It was not her mother’s fault that she had been seduced. Surely the impurity was only one-sided.
    “Whatever possessed you to share your body with him,” Cailleach demanded, “when I told you that you were to be mated with the Shadow Wraith?”
    Bronwnn looked Cailleach directly in the eye, holding her stare. She could not be meek and mild now. Rhys’ life was still in danger, and she was the only person who could save him.
    “I have dreamed of him for many weeks now. When I saw him in Annwyn by the reflecting pool, I