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Harpies.
    “Knock it off.” Aislinn moved back by his side.
    “He’s right to protect you from us,” Celaeno said. “We could snuff out your pathetic existence with a thought.”
    Rune snarled and launched himself at the Harpies. Before he got even close to striking distance, a blast of magic picked him up and tossed him twenty feet backward.
    “Control your bond animal,” Aello said, “if you wish him to live.”
    The wolf leaped to his feet and shook himself all over. Before he could charge again, Aislinn snapped, “Rune. To me.” It would piss the wolf off because he couldn’t refuse a direct order from her, but it was better than having him cut down before her eyes.
    This time, Rune’s snarl was for her as he stalked to her side. When she settled her hand on his head, he jerked from beneath it.
    “Come with us.” Aeollo’s voice, directed at Fionn, was liquid honey.
    “I don’t think so.” Aislinn squared her shoulders. “He’s mine.”
    “If I come with you, then what?” Fionn asked.
    “Your woman and her bond animal will be allowed to return to your home,” Celaeno spoke smoothly.
    “Bullshit!” Aislinn spun so she stood in front of Fionn facing him. “Not an option. We face this, whatever it is, together.”
    “But we don’t want you, human,” one of the Harpies said.
    “Of course you don’t.” Aislinn twirled and faced them. “Not if you’re thinking of seducing him again.”
    Aello laughed, and her mirth cut into Aislinn’s heart like sprinkles of grated glass. “I wouldn’t be so certain just who seduced whom, human.” She snapped her fingers and tossed her hair over her shoulders displaying her full, white breasts to advantage. “We waste time. There are only two outcomes. Either you join us, or fight us.”
    “There might be three.” Aislinn spat the words. “We could get lucky and kill you.”
    Fionn placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her back to his side. “Nay, leannán, ’twould never happen. Not against two. Harpies are soul stealers. Not mine, but they prey on human souls.”
    “Shall we?” Celaeno extended a hand, her fingers tipped with curving red talons.
    “Hold.” Fionn’s face could have been carved from stone. “I want your word that Aislinn, Rune, and my bond raven will have safe passage between here and my house,” Fionn said.
    “No!” Aislinn shrieked. “I—”
    “Hush.” Fionn cut her off. “We doona have a choice, lass. Tell Gwydion and Bran exactly what happened. Arawn and the dragons too, once they return.”
    “But when will you be back?” Aislinn cried.
    “He won’t,” Aello said.
    Magic flashed and the place where Fionn had stood lay empty. Smoke roiled, stinging her nostrils and eyes. Aislinn pulsed destructive magic in a wide enough arc to disable damn near anything, even though she knew in her bones the Harpies were gone.
    “Goddammit!” Aislinn pounded her fist into a nearby fencepost. The pain cleared her head.
    Rune nipped her leg. “Hurry.”
    “Where?”
    “Fionn bought our freedom. Don’t throw his gift away.”
    She ground her jaws together until she was surprised her teeth didn’t shatter. “I was going to go after him.”
    “Do you know where to find him?” the wolf asked.
    “No.” The word tore out of her.
    “Maybe Gwydion or Bran will.” Rune pushed his snout into her thigh. “Come on. Before those bitches change their mind and return.”
    At the very edges of her hearing, Aislinn heard shrill, tinkling laughter that sounded a lot like Aeollo. She shook her fist at the night sky. “Fine. I’m leaving, but this isn’t done. You can’t have him.”
    She took off through the night running as fast as she could with Rune right beside her. Just before she passed beneath the manor house outer wall, Bella landed on her shoulder, cutting deep with her long, sharp talons.
    “Stop it!” Aislinn grunted. “That hurts.” But the bird didn’t loosen her grip.
    Aislinn pelted past the moat and up