Touched by Moonlight

by Bonnie Vanak

  I put a finger to my mouth, indicating silence.

  And listened.

  Wind whispered through the trees, and in the distance a tinkling like chimes blowing in the breeze. No birds. No animals scuttling in the underbrush. No hum of insects. It was eerily quiet. The air smelled dank, like fungus, but threaded through it was the sweet scent of childhood.

  Movement to our left made us turn. Several feet away, a white specter floated among the trees and then took on the shape of a little girl.

  “Carmen!” he yelled. “It’s okay, sweetheart, come here. We aren’t mad at you.”

  Sobbing, the figure took off.

  “Stay here,” the alpha ordered.

  Grayson headed off through the woods. But a tingle rushed down my spine. He was chasing a phantom, nothing more. I had seen that spectral energy and knew something had diverted him in order to throw him off Carmen’s trail.

  That something couldn’t distract me, however. I followed the pathway a little further and saw exactly what I needed to find.

  Faint traces of a pink aura threaded with bright yellow. Carmen.

  Following the trail, I headed deeper into the woods. Every few feet, the pink and yellow energy glowed on the leaves on the trail.

  Carmen was following something. An animal, perhaps. She did live with wolves.

  The further away I drew from pack land, the darker the forest became. Fresh scents of earth and woods became tainted with a trace of pungent rot, as if this section of forest was filled with death.

  Not a place to interest a child. Why had Carmen come here?

  Stopping a minute I closed my eyes, let a little of my Fae power surge. Not the destructive abilities, but the magick used to see through spells.

  When I opened my eyes, I could see a faint green glow on the path, signature of a Fae. Ancient Fae magick, and quite old.

  Maybe a Fae who was no longer present, but their glamour remained.

  Instead of the pungent smell and the creepy vines tangling overhead in the trees to form a dark canopy, bright rose bushes lined the pathway.

  Pink roses, like the ones we had planted in the secret garden.

  I bent down, touched the traces of Carmen’s residual aura energy, and closed my eyes. I saw Carmen in my mind’s eye.

  I watched the girl follow the pathway through the woods, enchanted by the trail of rose petals strewn on the dirt. The pathway ended in a small clearing in the dark forest.

  Red, pink and white flowering plants ringed the enclosure. A white trellis strewn with the same fuchsia roses that lured the girl here sat in the middle, a swing below it. Green vines marched up and down the roses holding the swing to the structure.

  She had fallen asleep in this glen, and had awakened. Suddenly the tableau changed, and turned ugly.

  I turned to call Grayson, warn him and summon help. But even as I yelled his name, I knew it might be too late.

  So I ran toward the glen, hoping I wasn’t too late to save Carmen.

  Chapter 20

  Fear is a terrible thing to taste in your mouth. Fear for yourself can immobilize you.

  Fear for a child in danger can give your feet wings.

  As I ran, the trees stretched out, the dark canopy lowering, as if to trap me, but I was swift. I burst through the trees and hedges into the glen.

  I saw it exactly as Carmen envisioned – a pretty little garden, with a brick walkway, rose bushes and a swing hanging from a tree branch.

  Soft green grass bent as the child ran toward the swing. The air was redolent with roses and warm chocolate chip cookies.

  Tendrils of my energy snaked out, like raindrops off a damp dog shaking its coat. Suddenly the scene changed and turned dark, as if my powers had twisted everything and turned it inside out.

  “Carmen,” I cried out.

  Turning, she saw me and stopped. “Sienna! Come push me.”

  I reached her side, careful not to scare her. Gently, I drew the girl away from the swing. “It’s not real. It’s fairy magick, glamour disguising the glade.”

  Carmen’s lip wobbled. “But it looks real!”

  “I know.” I squatted down, touched one tear-stained cheek. “Did you fall asleep here?”

  No answer. She stared at her feet, her bunny rabbit dragging on the ground.

  I squeezed my eyes tight. Ancient Fae magick ringed this glen, dark magick created by malevolent creatures. It was so powerful I had a hard time clearing away the illusion.

  They had not harmed the child. Not yet.

  And then the roses vanished, replaced with flowerless bushes thick with sharp thorns, the grass became dead leaves strewn about the forest floor, the tree in front of us no longer pretty with vines, but tall, with outstretched limbs like arms.

  Hanging from one limb was not a swing, but a noose. I shivered, and tugged Carmen away.

  “Come on sweetie, let’s go back to the house and get a cookie.”

  “No.” Her lower lip wobbled. “I don’t want to go back there. I like it here. The forest creatures sing to me. They like me. They don’t tell me to get lost like Jason did.”

  Needing to anchor her to me, I touched her rounded cheek. “Honey, Jason is sorry for what he did. He didn’t intend to be mean.”

  “He hates me!” Tears formed in her eyes. “Ever since I told him my grandparents don’t want me around because I’m not a full-fledged witch yet, he doesn’t want to play with me.”

  Ah, that made more sense. Reasoning with a child was not my strong suit, but Carmen was an intelligent girl, and she lived in a shifter pack with constantly changing dynamics. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a luminescent green vine descend the tree trunk like a snake, slithering toward the ground. Denied its prey, the tree had decided to expedite the process.

  It would reach Carmen, and yank her toward the noose. I pulled Carmen closer to me. She lost her grip on her blue bunny. It lay on the ground, staring up at the sky.

  “He’s afraid, Carmen. Jason’s afraid that he might end up like you are now, and you may end up with magick and he’ll be powerless and no one will want him. So he hurts you because he’s scared here.” I touched her chest.

  She blinked. The vine slithered further down. Almost to the ground now.

  “Really? Jason’s a wolf.”

  “With a human parent. He’s sorry for what he said. He’s going to help you with your arithmetic.” I stood, ready to sweep her into my arms and run if necessary. “Let’s go back and you’ll find out.”

  A shaky breath fled as she finally clasped my hand. “All right.”

  The vine stopped as we marched toward the pathway again. Carmen looked down. “My bunny!”

  Lying near the tree, it was a blue blot against the dead landscape. As if sensing her intentions, the vine slithered toward the bunny. I released her hand, ran and snatched the bunny just as the vine touched it.

  The vine drew back, and then raised up, like a spitting cobra.

  It lunged forward, touching my hand.

  Power rushed through me, so much power I nearly collapsed. Dark energy that flooded my senses, but energy is energy and I yanked hard, feeding it into myself, feeling my own magick. Deep inside the earth I heard a hum.

  The ancient Fae magick wanted me, wanted my power to join with it. Together we could rule and become invincible, destroy our enemies. Smite them before they hurt us, and then we would take what was ours, destroying the humans who littered the earth and polluted the forests…

  “Sienna!”

  The tiny cry restored my senses. What the hell was I doing? Feeding off this dark place?

  “Screw you, ancient bastards,” I told the glen and dropped my hand. “I’m not playing your game. You can’t use me to manifest yourself. You’re dead.”

  The blue rabbit was in easy reach. I grabbed it and rushed to Carmen, tugging her out of the glen.

  This time as we scurried along the pathway, the trees were bent back, so far we could see the blue canopy of sky.

&n
bsp; Unsure of what that meant, I focused on getting Carmen to safety.

  At the same spot where Grayson left me, the alpha stood scowling. With him were Nicolas, Stephan and four of Grayson’s security team.

  Grayson bent down and caught Carmen in his arms. He trembled, and I knew how worried he’d been for the child.

  “I’m sorry.” Carmen’s mouth wobbled precariously again as she clutched her rabbit.

  “I know, sweetheart. But you’ll have to be punished. You broke a rule to never wander beyond the boundaries without a guardian and rules are rules.”

  Carmen took Nicolas’ hand and they walked off.

  “As for you disobeying my direct order, I’ll deliver your punishment tonight, in my bed.” Grayson’s whisper was more of a sensual promise than a threat.

  The urgency to leave the path and return to the security of Grayson’s land overcame all else. “Let’s go. It’s not safe here.”

  Only when we were on the other side of the fence did I sigh with relief. The pathway marching to the cursed glen seemed like a gateway leading into hell.

  I waited until the others headed for the house before addressing the real problem.

  “Level with me, Grayson. Dark Fae magick exists beyond your borders. That glen where I found Carmen spilling over with it. Hell, the entire land is!”

  Quickly I explained where I had found Carmen and the trap she’d walked into. The alpha’s jaw tightened and he drew in a deep breath.

  “That magick is powerful. That’s why you’re anxious to ward your land.”

  Grayson sighed. “Ancient Fae magick has always been there. I told you the Fionn once lived here. They died long ago.”

  “How?”

  “Legend has it they killed each other in a quest for more power.”

  I shuddered, for I knew well the malicious and destructive talents of my people.

  “They lured Carmen into the glen to hurt her. The noose wanted to strangle her.”

  He met my gaze. “No, Sienna. It was a trap meant for you. That’s why I didn’t stop with you at the campground. Somehow, it sensed you and flared to life. Like to like – Fionn to Fionn. The noose wasn’t aiming for Carmen, but you.”

  Grayson rubbed the nape of his neck. “I’ve warded my land against evil, and the power lurks there, for anyone to use. It’s a store of energy. I keep my people away because you can easily get lost in that forest. The glamour can fool them as it fooled Carmen. During a full moon, the shifters are allowed to rove that land. The Fae magick is weaker during the full moon and they see the forest for what it truly is.”

  “The full moon empowers your shifter magick.” I rubbed my forehead, which had begun to ache. “What the hell did you bring me into, Grayson?”

  “My home. Our home. It’s safe here.”

  “Safe?” I laughed. “The Fionn are not safe. My people can be lethal. Are you delusional?” Did he have any clue what my people could do to shifters?

  To innocents?

  Amber flashed in Grayson’s eyes, signaling the rise of his wolf. He growled softly. “I know my people and my territory, Sienna. The Fionn who once lived in these woods died long ago. The forest has been benign until today.”

  My stomach gave a sickening jolt. The walk I’d taken earlier, lured into the forest by the mysterious whisper. I’d stirred up the ancient magick once more, like a dust cloud. This near disaster was all my fault. Had I never broken Grayson’s rule, the magick would have remained quiet.

  Carmen would have remained safe.

  My hands shook and sweat poured down my back.

  “This happened because of me.” I whispered, my chest hollow with the knowledge that once more, I had caused harmful magick to rise up. Magick that nearly hurt a child!

  Grayson’s eyes returned to their normal blue. His expression softened and he framed my face with his warm, rough hands. “No. Whatever happened is not your fault. You saved her, Sienna.”

  “Saved her? Because of me, she might have died.”

  The last thing I wanted was to freak out in front of Grayson, and show any kind of emotion. Because I’d spent three years perfecting my poker face, not letting anything under my skin. But this was a child, an innocent, who could have died from the magick brought to life because of what I am.

  Who I am.

  He stroked his thumbs over my suddenly chilled skin. “Stop that. It wasn’t you, Sienna.”

  “My power destroys,” I whispered.

  Grayson bent his forehead until it touched mine. The contact felt soothing and reassuring, knowing he did not fear me. “You are a good and noble Fionn, Sienna. You’re not evil. I have seen inside your heart. Only another evil Fionn Fae would use the magick to destroy and harm.”

  He lifted my face to his haunted gaze. “I’ve seen evil and destruction, and how power can be used to destroy innocents. That is not you. I have dreamwalked with you and seen your visions in our shared dreams. You have been hurt by the Fionn and what they can do. But the magick here can be used for good – to heal the land, and cure illness. Power is neutral. It is the person wielding it that can turn it beneficial or destructive.”

  Oh, I wanted to believe him. For the first time in years, someone believed in me, so why couldn’t I believe in his words?

  “Why are you so nice to me?” I whispered. For I was accustomed to people wanting something from me – to grab power, to use me for their own purposes.

  “You deserve nice,” he murmured. “You deserve good things.”

  I saw the shadows dance in his eyes. “No, I don’t. You know what I did to my colony. To my family.”

  “They deserved it.” He rubbed his cheek against the top of my head. “Life can be harsh, and when those who are supposed to love you turn cruel, it makes you die a little inside. I want to see the light dancing in your eyes as it does when we make love. I want to see you smile, and hear your laughter. I want to make you happy, and fill your nights with passion and your days with purpose.”

  My heart turned over as he spoke. Did I really deserve all those things?

  “Is this an illusion, Grayson? Are we still dreaming?” I gave a little laugh. “Sometimes I’ve been so damn lonely I would fall asleep early, hoping to conjure you. And when you entered my dreams, it pushed the loneliness away. I’m scared this is all in my mind.”

  He clasped my shoulders and shook me a little. “It’s not, Sienna. I’m real. I’m here. So are you.”

  Grayson sucked in a deep breath. “You are important to me, Sienna. You have been since the moment our minds touched and our dreams were shared. You are my anchor in a world that looks to have gone mad at time. You are a balm to my soul. I want you to be with me, and my people. I want you to stay here, with us. If you wish.”

  I touched his face, marveling at his acceptance of me. Emotions surged through me. Joy and doubt twined together. Someone wanted me, truly wanted me, and that made me feel less marginalized and outcast.

  It was a heady feeling, but deep inside, I wondered if it would last. Because in my experience, it never did.

  “I’ve thought you a dream and never believed I would find you, Grayson. But even though you and I share a connection, and your betas seem to cherish me, your people never will accept me.”

  “When my people discover what you did, they will thank you, not chastise you. Some do fear the Fae, but after they discover how you saved Carmen, they will change their minds.”

  I wish I could believe that.

  Power radiated from Grayson, so much power that he seemed more than an ordinary alpha shifter. I had dreamwalked with this man, shared sex dreams and later, sex itself. Maybe he was right. Maybe they would accept me.

  He took my hand. “Come. I will tell the pack about Carmen.”

  We went into the living room. To my surprise, the pack gathered there – all 127 members, including the children. They sat on the floor or lounged against the walls.

  Grayson drew me forward. “This is Sienna. She found and rescued Carm
en.”

  Cheers rose into the air, along with applause. Grayson glanced at me and squeezed my hand. “She has been staying with us since Friday night. A few of you have already met her. I would like her to stay longer. She means a lot to me.”

  More murmurs amongst the people.

  “I have something else to share with you,” Grayson continued. “She found her by using her Fae powers. Sienna is a pureblood Fionn Fae.”

  The cheers died, followed by gasps, except for Nicolas and Stephan, who knew what I was.

  “You brought a Fionn Fae here, to live with us for the week?” This from Jodi, who moved closer to her parents, as if to protect them.

  He drew in a deep breath. “Longer if she so desires.”

  Now I not only faced the confused people, some of whom looked quite displeased at the revelation of my nature, but I also had to digest their reaction at Grayson’s invitation. The idea of remaining here intrigued me. I wanted a home, a safe place to feel accepted.

  Hope rose in me as Grayson smiled at me and squeezed my hand.

  “Her?” someone said. “A Fionn Fae?”

  Hope died fast, like someone blowing out a lit match.

  “Share space with a Fionn, I don’t think so,” muttered one man, whose claws started to emerge. “Fionn are snobbish and greedy.”

  “They’re untrustworthy,” Jodi cried out.

  Stephan and Nicolas threw Grayson worried looks. He held up a hand. “Silence,” he roared.

  You could have heard an owl hoot from a mile away. The pack looked downward, except for Stephan, Nicolas and myself. I kept my gaze centered on Grayson.

  Amber flashed in his eyes. Grayson’s temper rose. You didn’t need to see his eyes, or hear his low growl to know his wolf rose up, and the alpha emerged. Whatever the pack thought of me, they clearly had respect for their leader.

  “Sienna rescued Carmen. Did you, or did you not hear what I said? She is a compassionate soul, not greedy nor untrustworthy.” Grayson glanced at me. “It is my desire to have her remain here, if she chooses.”