Duncan took off his coat and handed it to the butler. The rest of the family did the same. They followed the butler down the gray and silver hallway toward a set of double doors. The butler paused, hands on the handles. “The Gray Throne. When his majesty is in there he’s all business.”
He hadn’t been before? Duncan nodded and the butler pulled the doors open, and a wave of sound slammed into them. The court was filled with glittering Sidhe, brown-skinned brownies, pale-haired sylphs, pale-skinned vampires, hideous hobgoblins, and an assortment of fae, both lesser and greater, more than Duncan could ever remember in one place. Even some nymphs and naiads were there, far from their watery home, their brightly colored hair vibrant against their gleaming gowns and suits. Before them all sat Oberon in his robes of office on the Gray Throne, his silver crown atop his head. His hands rested loosely on the arms of the chair, and his expression was cool, his lips unsmiling.
The Majordomo cracked his staff of office once, twice on the floor and announced them to the court. “Lord Robin Goodfellow, also known as Puck, also known as the Hob.” Robin handed Moira off to Jaden and strode into the room, stopping just short of the steps leading up to the throne. He bowed to the High King, then turned and motioned for the Majordomo to continue. “The Blackthorn family, Lord Jaden, Lord Duncan and Lady Moira, late of the Malmayne clan of the White Court.” Duncan hid his flinch as he and Jaden flanked Moira and proceeded into the room. They halted at the bottom of the stairs at Robin’s barely-there wave. “The Dunne family, Lord Sean, Lady Aileen, Lord Leo and Lady Ruby, and Lord Shane, of the Dunne clan of the White Court.” Sean’s eyebrows rose at his sudden elevation to the peerage, but he took his wife’s arm and the Dunnes stepped down en masse, Shane still clutching Akane’s arm. “Lady Akane Russo, Knight of Oberon and daughter of the Seer.”
Duncan saw Jaden jerk. Apparently he hadn’t known that little tidbit.
“Thanks a lot, Harold,” Akane muttered as she swept into the room.
“Don’t mention it,” the Majordomo muttered back.
When Robin waved them forward they moved, Duncan, Moira and Jaden leading the way. They stopped at the foot of the stairs leading to the throne. The men bowed, the ladies curtsied.
“Rise.”
They rose.
“Robin Goodfellow has apprised us of the situation between Duncan Malmayne, once Lord of clan Malmayne. Glorianna has officially declared the new lord to be Henri Malmayne.”
Duncan heard Jaden voice a soft hiss. He’d thought Glorianna would at least keep Henri away from a leadership position after his conversation with her. Apparently he’d been wrong.
Oberon’s gaze bore into Duncan. It took all he had not to shiver under the power in that one look. “I understand that you wish to give your oaths to the Gray Court.”
“Yes, sire.”
“All of you?”
Duncan turned and faced the Dunnes, stunned to find them nodding. “Aye, we do, sire.” Sean looked to his wife and smiled. “After the attack on our farm we requested aid from the White. That aid has been refused. The White believes the attack may have been justified due to the presence of Jaden Blackthorn.”
Duncan’s jaw clenched. Now more than ever he regretted ever giving Glorianna his oath. The woman was rabid when it came to vampires.
Oberon showed no signs that he was affected in any way by Sean’s pronouncement. “Then let those oaths be said, here before the court.”
The Dunnes and the Blackthorns sank to their knees. Only Akane and Jaden remained standing, having already given their oaths.
Duncan began, having been the only one to ever give oaths before a royal. The others repeated his words, following them faithfully, even the fully human Ruby. “I hereby renounce all ties to the White Lady, Queen Glorianna, Queen of the White Court, Lady of the Seelie. I declare myself Oberon’s man from this day forth, in honor and in faith, having no other oaths to forswear. By the gods I pledge my loyalty to the Gray Court, High King Oberon and his descendants.” Oberon’s eyes turned icy gray; he had no queen, and it was said he had no wish for one. “I declare myself the sworn servant of the Gray Lord, High King Oberon, King of the Gray Court, Lord over the Fae. I pledge my sword and my honor to uphold the laws of the Court. I and my house will abide by the laws handed down by the High King. I will faithfully perform all services required by Crown and Court. So swear I, Duncan Malmayne-Blackthorn.”
Moira’s hand clasped his as he spoke his new name. It was surprisingly good to declare himself Jaden’s before the entire court.
Oberon smiled for the first time. “I, High King Oberon, the Gray Lord, Lord of the Fae, hereby hear your oaths and accept them in the name of Crown and Court. I declare you our loyal servant, sworn to our bidding. From this day forth my sword shall defend you, my magic protect you, and my wrath be mighty should you fail of your duty. All former oaths to the White are hereby null and void, by my power as High King. So swear I, Oberon, High King.”
Duncan quivered as the weight of Oberon’s magic settled over him. He was now truly Gray Court, bound to Oberon, no longer a Seelie Sidhe Lord but just another disenfranchised Gray Court Sidhe.
Part of him mourned the loss of his clan. The rest rejoiced that he could openly be with his mates without fear of reprisals.
“Please stand.” The newly minted Gray Court liegemen stood. Oberon’s gaze landed on Duncan. “I understand that one of Glorianna’s, and clan Malmayne’s, objections to your continued leadership was your tribond with both Moira Dunne and Jaden Blackthorn?”
Duncan nodded. “Yes, sire.”
“And that Jaden Blackthorn, Knight of Oberon, has completed the mating with both yourself and Moira Dunne?”
“Yes, sire.”
“The Sidhe Vows and Binding have yet to take place, officially making you all Blackthorns?”
Duncan had no idea where Oberon was going with this. Besides, he’d embraced his new name when he’d given his oath. The new name declared his fresh start, at least in his mind, while also acknowledging his past. “Yes, sire.”
Oberon took a deep breath and viewed the court behind them. “It has long been my understanding that there are those in my court who feel a lack, who feel that, clanless as they are, they might be at a disadvantage.” He stared over their heads, but Duncan was not going to turn around and see who he addressed. “While I myself am clanless, I have yet to feel this lack, for I consider all my Court to be my clan. However, due to certain circumstances, Robin Goodfellow has declared Jaden Blackthorn of his blood. This can, of course, be verified by both Robin and myself.” Oberon turned his silver gaze on Jaden. “I can see the blood running through him, and I detect Robin’s presence. Do any wish to dispute the blood claim Robin has made?”
Silence. He could sense Jaden’s shock. Where and how had the Hob given him blood? Jaden wasn’t a child of the Hob. The glimmer, the spark the Hob’s children tended to have wasn’t there.
Duncan blinked and drew in a breath. The spark was there, deep in Jaden’s dark eyes, changing the red flame of his hunger to the Hob’s iridescent green. “Jaden?”
Jaden stared at him. “You’ve got me.”
“The claim Robin has placed on Jaden makes Jaden a Lord under our laws.”
Duncan stiffened. He had an inkling of what Oberon was going to say next and almost laughed. Yes, this would cause some outrage in certain circles.
“In order to fill the lack of clan for those who have given their oaths to Crown and Court, we hereby declare a new Clan, one open at the discretion of the new Lord, to all those who petition for entrance. This clan will be mixed, as the mating of the leading members is mixed, of all races.” Oberon waved his hand. “Step forward, Lord Jaden, and give your oath of office.”