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ways had not left him. He called to his brother, Theron,
using the Fae language. When Theron didn’t answer or appear, Lugus
then called more urgently, letting Theron know that there was a Fae
trapped on Earth.
    Still Theron didn’t answer.
    Lugus sank onto his stool. He had been afraid
Theron would ignore any correspondence from him, which was why
Lugus hadn’t told Ahryn what he had planned. He didn’t want her
hopes dashed if he had failed. It was better if she thought he
didn’t care enough to try.
    He stared at the metal he had started to form
into the shape of the sword. His work helped keep the ugly thoughts
out of his mind. He rose and grasped the metal and hammer as he
began to pound.
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
    “You aren’t going to answer him?” Rufina
asked.
    Theron squeezed his eyes closed and shook his
head as Lugus’ voice reverberated around their bedchamber like a
tolling bell. He leaned forward in the chair and with his elbows
braced on his legs, dropped his head into his hands. “You know I
cannot.”
    “He hasn’t called to you or any other Fae in
the five years he has been on the Earth realm. He wouldn’t be
calling to you if it wasn’t important,” his wife said
earnestly.
    “I cannot,” he repeated.
    She rose and backed away from him.
“Regardless of where he is, he is still your brother and part of
this family.”
    Theron sighed as he sat up and looked at his
beautiful queen. She had been intended for Lugus, who, as eldest,
had been in line for the throne. Theron thanked the heavens each
day that he had Rufina by his side.
    “You know what he did,” Theron shouted over
the din of Lugus’ voice.
    And just as suddenly as it had begun, it
stopped.
    Theron looked around his chamber. “Why did he
stop?”
    “Because he is a proud man who has suffered
more than any man, Fae or human, should. He has endured the
greatest of trials and conquered power that would have killed me or
you.”
    “And nearly destroyed our realm and Earth,”
Theron pointed out.
    Rufina sighed and shook her head sadly, her
long white blonde hair gently moving around her. “I think you have
made a mistake, my love.”
    “I don’t think I have,” he said and prayed he
was correct. “If he hadn’t closed his mind off to us, we would be
able to decipher if his call was genuine or not.”
    Rufina cocked up a perfectly arched brow.
“I’ve never known you to take the easy road, Theron. Why is it you
always do that with Lugus?”
    “I don’t trust him.”
    “Then go have a look in the village he lives
near. You will be able to find out all you need very quickly.”
    Theron considered her suggestion but wasn’t
comfortable spying on his brother. Lugus had made him swear that he
would not interfere in his life on Earth even the smallest bit. He
had wanted to make it on his own, and as far as Theron knew, he
had.
    But why the sudden call? Could he be in
trouble? If Theron knew his brother at all, he knew Lugus would
rather die than ask for help for himself. But if it involved
someone else, he just might send the call.
    “Stop your worrying,” Rufina
said as she came to stand in front of him. “I’ve other things I
would like to occupy your mind with.” 

    Theron smiled. “And what might that be?”
    “This,” she said and dropped her silver robe
to display her naked body.
    He reached out and pulled her against him,
her breasts even with his face. “Ah, a feast,” he mumbled just
before he took a hard nipple into his mouth.

Chapter Four
     
     
     
    No matter how Ahryn tried, she couldn’t
sleep. It wasn’t the banging of Lugus in his forge. It was the
knowledge that her last thread of hope had slipped through her
fingers. Because of her curiosity, she would be enslaved on Earth.
Forever.
    She knew without trying that she would never
convince Lugus to take her to a gateway between the worlds. She
didn’t even know if there was one close by. It was something all
Fae were taught to discover before ever