Mists of Velvet

naturally assumed he was my mate. He . . . smelled of wraith,” she whispered. “He was very badly injured, and . . .”
    “He smelled of wraith,” Cailleach sneered, “because he is part of my curse. He is the great-great-grandson of Daegan, and when he was banished from Annywn to live his life with his mortal lover, I cursed the firstborn son of their union, and every firstborn after that. It was my desire that no bastard halfling be allowed to come back and claim the throne of the Sidhe. No mortal would ever corule Annwyn. But Daegan had just enough magick left in him to perform one last spell, and that was to give each firstborn male a Shadow Wraith for protection. None of the others have ever dared venture into Annwyn, until this stupid mortal.”
    “He’s not stupid,” Bronwnn snapped. “He’s very brave and strong. Stronger than many warriors I have seen in the temple.”
    Cailleach glared at her. “Mortals are the very essence of evil. They strive to overtake everything—to rule that which is not theirs. I will not tolerate his presence here.”
    Bronwnn studied the goddess. “It is his wraith that you intended to bind me to, isn’t it?”
    “Of course. Keir is special. I’ve sensed that from the beginning. He is more magically gifted than any wraith I have ever known. With his powers combined with yours, a great alliance will be forged.”
    Rhys would not tolerate that. He would not allow her to go to the wraith. She sensed his possession, still feeling it as she remembered the way he held her, claiming her body with his. “If I am to mate with the wraith, then why did I dream of Rhys? Why did I sense him as my mate when he is not magical, or immortal?” she wondered aloud.
    Cailleach looked outraged. “The mortal is nothing to you any longer. The wraith will still have you—I’m sure of it. And you will take him. There is no question about that. Now—your powers.” Cailleach narrowed her eyes. “You are the only goddess shifter in our history. Tell me about your powers and when you received them.”
    “I won’t until you agree to my adbertos .”
    Cailleach’s eyes turned frosty. “How dare you!”
    “I’m not afraid to die, either, Cailleach. And you should know that I have further knowledge of the mage, and powers that far surpass those of any of the other warriors. You need me in this fight. And I will not fight for you until you agree.”
    “You will not mate with him .”
    She knew that. She knew Cailleach’s wrath and vengeance would not allow her to go that far. Pride resided where her heart should. Lifting her chin, Bronwnn steadied her bounding heart.
    “In exchange for sparing Rhys MacDonald’s life, I will mate the wraith, forging the alliance that you so desire, and I will aid the king and his warriors in any way I can. But . . . you must allow me to say good-bye to him. And you must promise never to do him—or his children—any harm.”
    Cailleach’s nostrils flared with indignation. “And if I don’t agree?”
    “I will run where you cannot find me— ever .”
    “There is nowhere in Annwyn that I cannot discover you.”
    “I will make Rhys take me to the mortal realm.”
    That made the goddess seethe. She was bound to Annwyn. She could not leave this world. “You ungrateful little bitch! After everything I’ve done for you after—” She started for her, then stopped, her eyes widening in fear. What she saw looking back at her, Bronwnn had no idea, but suddenly the anger went out of the goddess, and weary reluctance replaced it. “Very well,” Cailleach murmured. “I accept your adbertos . You may return with me to the king’s court, and there you may say good riddance to the mortal.”

    “Settle your feathers,” Keir demanded. Angrily Rhys flung the wraith’s hands off his shoulders and prowled the length of Bran’s study.
    “Don’t tell me to be calm. That bitch could be killing her.”
    “Cailleach needs this particular goddess, MacDonald.” Bran sighed. “She isn’t going to kill her.”
    “This is bullshit,” Rhys barked. His frustration and fear for Bronwnn were escalating. “She’s out there alone with that—that witch.”
    “Bronwnn is the Supreme Goddess’ handmaiden,” Bran reminded him. “She will know how to manage Cailleach’s moods.”
    Rhys stopped his pacing and glared at them. “What the hell is an adbertos ?” Bran and Keir shared a hooded glance. “I’ve never heard the word.”
    “That is because it