by Mary Martel
Collette appears at my side. She urges me to move forward, pulling on my arm. “We must be going,” she declares.
“Where’s Ian?” I ask her, completely ignoring what she said. I know Ian was close moments ago because I heard his voice and I desperately wish to know where he is now.
When she doesn’t answer I look around the room for him.
Too late, I realize all eyes are yet again on me.
Shit. Why does this keep happening to me?
These people, Ian’s people, must think I’m some kind of freak. Hell, I am a freak. This is just the first time I’ve had an incident in front of a whole room full of people instead of just one person.
Damn.
Collette continues to pull on my arm, dragging me behind her.
Tears start to well up in my eyes.
To my utter embarrassment and complete humiliation I feel wetness trickle down my cheeks.
Shit and damn.
“Unhand her, Vampire,” someone calls out, the voice distinctly male.
Collette stops dragging me to glance around the silent room.
An extremely short man with a squat face wearing a flannel button up shirt and worn looking jeans comes charging through the crowd. Straight at us.
People quickly retreat, moving back, further from us.
“Fuck,” I hear whispered from behind me.
Recognizing the voice I turn my head to see a worried looking Brooks come to a stop close to my side.
“Fuck,” he repeats, louder.
I follow his gaze to see the small man now standing not three feet in front of us. His arm is stretched out in front of him, fist balled except for his pointer finger which he has pointed directly at Collette’s face.
What now? I just want to get the heck out of here before my migraine reappears and I end up making more of a spectacle of myself. Ian will probably never forgive me for the freak show I’ve made myself out to be to his people already. A pain spears through my chest at the thought of Ian being embarrassed by me causing more tears to leak out my eyes.
I feel Brooks get closer to my side, crowding me.
“I said,” the small man snarls at Collette, “unhand her.”
Collette, in my opinion, very wisely lets go of my hand. She moves slightly so her back is towards me instead of her side. Effectively putting herself between me and the raging small man.
“Excuse me?” voice calm, betraying no emotion, she asks him.
Not taking my eyes off the scene in front of me I lean into Brooks and whisper, “Where is Ian?”
“He went after Roland,” Is his scary reply.
Oh God.
Oh my God.
I start to panic, my breath coming in quick pants, my chest rising and falling with each breath I take. No longer concerned about my own humiliation I’m consumed by worry over my… boyfriend?
“Shh… calm down. Riley went with him. I’m sure they’re fine.” Brooks quickly assures me.
Riley went with him? That made one more person I had to worry about.
Before I can reply the small man cries out, “You were hurting her!”
“I was not,” Collette, still calm, tells him.
“You were. She’s crying!”
Damn. Damn. Damn. This little man seems to have quite the flare for drama.
I reach up with my hand and franticly swipe at my cheeks, trying to wipe away the evidence of my stupid body’s betrayal.
“She is mate to our true King. How dare you put your hands on her,” the small man shouts in outrage. “How dare you!”
“Holy fuck,” Brooks whispers in shock. “Is this really happening?”
I want to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming but I’m too afraid to make any kind of movement with the enraged man so close to us.
“I was not harming her,” Collette snaps back, calm a distant memory, “I was trying to get her out of here before any harm could come to her.”
“You mean,” says another small man, stepping through the ever watchful crowd, “before we could harm her.”
“Do not put words in my mouth,” Collette replies, still snapping.
“What is going on?” Riley demands, coming out of the crowd to stop next to the small men.
“Where is Ian?” I ask him. More like demand to know.
“Why are you crying, Shayne?” he gently asks me.
“I--” I start but get no further.
“My Prince,” the first small man says, cutting me off and gesturing wildly towards Collette with his hands, “this Vampire has harmed her.”
“Collette, is this true?” Riley asks in a quiet, deadly voice, gentle a memory.
Collette’s already pale face grows paler as she blanches.
Shit.
I need to put a stop to this before Riley does something awful to Collette. A Collette who is simply trying to protect me.
“I’ve done nothing to harm her, I assure you, my Prince.” Collette hurriedly tries to explain herself to Riley. “I promised your brother I would keep an eye on his mate and this is what I am doing. Roland is gone and I thought to get her out of here just in case the people riot. I wanted to get her safely out of here, that is all.”
I believe her. She loves Ian and if something were to happen to me it would crush him and she would feel that pain. When you love someone the way Collette loves Ian and Riley you feel pain right alongside them because it hurts you to see them hurting. She would do anything to keep me safe for her King.
How no one else saw this I did not get.
“If this is true,” the small, angry man who spoke first puts in, “then why is she crying?”
Unable to let this go any further I boldly tell the man, “I’m not still crying.” Thank goodness this was true because I hadn’t really thought before speaking, I just needed something to say, anything really.
His muddy brown eyes move to me, his hard features immediately soften, and a gentle look spreads across his face.
Despite the softening of his features I cannot help but feel uneasy now that I’ve seem to have gained his full attention. Two seconds before he’d been practically snarling at the Vampire and now he’s looking at me with what appears to be rapt adoration mixed with concern.
Holy crap, these people were freaking crazy and perhaps Collette had been right in trying to get me the heck out of here when she did.
Too bad we were still here.
“If I may be so bold, young lady,” he says taking a step towards me causing Brooks and Collette to stiffen, “as to inquire about the markings at your neck. How did you come about receiving them?”
Oh my freaking god.
I cannot believe this little person just asked me this intrusive question in front of a room full of silent onlookers.
Heat makes its way up my throat and I can actually feel my face start to flame.
How unbelievably rude.
When I find Ian I’m going to kill him for doing this to me, for putting me in this ridiculous situation.
To my right Riley leans forward at the waist to hiss at the small man, “You know damn well how she got those marks on her neck. They are the markings of a mate and they were fucking put there by my brother. You need to close your mouth because,” his arm shoots out to the side and, adding further to my embarrassment, he points a finger at me and continues speaking, “As you can see you’re embarrassing her and making her uncomfortable. She is human, and as such, is not accustomed to the ways of our people.”
Well, I had been embarrassed and uncomfortable but thanks to Riley I’m now a whole lot more so. I know he was only trying to help me out, but unfortunately it had the opposite effect. By pointing out the fact that I’m human, unaccustomed to their ways, and already embarrassed about something they seemed completely comfortable with, he’s separated me from them as a whole. And I was already the freak on the outside. Him pointing it out didn’t make it any better for me.
“If you do not mind, my Prince, I would very
much like to hear it from her.” His arm sweeps out to the side of his small, compact body, and he gestures to the room at large. “As I’m sure would everyone else in the room.”
Murmurs of agreement ring out all around me.
Wonderful.
I would have gladly stayed behind with Caleb if I had known what lay ahead for me.
But I was here now and I had to do something about this situation before it gets even more out of control.
“Shayne,” I tell the small man in an attempt to break the mood.
“Excuse me?” his bushy eyebrows raise half way up his forehead in what appears to be confusion.
“You don’t have to do this, Shayne. We’ll find Ian and get you out of here.”
Looking at Riley I can tell he sincerely means this. But his sincerity doesn’t change the fact that he was wrong. I did have to do this. Ian and Riley had risked everything and put it all on the line to come here, to put things to rights and lead their people. Ian wanted me here with him. Enough for him to permanently mark me. If these people accepted him as their King and he stayed here to rule them than I needed them to accept me as well because I want to be where Ian is going to be. Simple as that.
So I would do what I have to do, even if it did make me extremely uncomfortable. Being able to be stay with Ian would be worth a little discomfort. Ian was worth everything.
Stepping around Collette and shouldering Brooks aside, I step forward with my hand outstretched. “Shayne. It’s my name. And who might you be?”
His bushy eyebrows stay up in the middle of his forehead as he studies my outstretched hand.
Oh dear.
Perhaps I’ve done something wrong here.
I’m surprised when I’m about to pull my hand back and an overlarge, calloused hand takes hold of mine. He doesn’t shake it like I expect him to, but instead squeezes gently, turns my hand over, and lowers his lips towards the top of my hand.
My eyes bug out in shock and I gasp when his lips gently caress the top of my hand.
In this moment, the entire room stills and I can actually feel the air hum with energy. Freaking electric energy.
Soft, muddy, brown eyes bore into me.
“I am Neelan, and I am most pleased to meet you.”
Neelan. What an interesting name.
Slightly weirded out about his kiss, but very pleased with him offering me his name, I’m still left curious. What in the heck is he?
Shifters. Vampires. Fairies. I’ve met them and this man clearly does not fit into any of those categories.
Could I be as bold as this man standing before me?
Dare I ask?
He didn’t seem to mind asking me personal questions in front of a room full of people so why was I hesitating to do the same?
Fuck it.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And it’s not like these people don’t already think I’m a freak so what do I really have to lose?
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Neelan. What, um, exactly are you? If you don’t mind my asking.”
Please, please, don’t mind my asking, or the fact I was extremely rude because I asked in the first place. Please, don’t make me out to look like even more of a jackass.
To my extreme relief, instead of showing offense at my intrusive question he grins at me.
“You’re human?” He asks, not answering my question.
“Yes, of course.” I immediately reply.
“Yet, you have uncontrolled telepathy,” he murmurs. “Intriguing.”
This conversation was way worse than the original one. I most certainly did not need him to bring up the fact that I have some type of telepathy in front of these people again. I didn’t want him drawing more attention to it.
Up until a few days ago I kept my secret, well, secret. I told Ian about it, of course, but that didn’t mean I’d opened up about the subject because I haven’t. All my life I had been taught that hearing the thoughts of others made me evil. That it was wrong.
And a part of me, a small part, had always believed it to be true because I’ve never had someone to tell me it wasn’t.
I couldn’t just let those feelings go in the blink of an eye. It had been beaten into me for years that it was unnatural. That I was unnatural. A few days of Ian telling me different wasn’t going to change my mind. It’d probably take years of intense therapy to swing that miracle.
“Can’t you see,” Riley growls stepping up beside me, “that your questions are making her uncomfortable?”
He really was doing me no favors here. I did not want to come off as some timid, scared, girl who needs her hand held every step of the way because that is not who I am. I’ve always been on my own with no one to fall back on, no one to step in and protect me. Now that I have that I really don’t want to need it.
And, more importantly, where in the hell was Ian?
“Why ever would you be uncomfortable?” Neelan asks sounding genuinely curious. “These are your people and this is where you belong. Many of the people amongst you, right here in this very room, hold within them the gift of telepathy among many other gifts. There is no shame in this, it is a gift. Hmm… I wonder, are you sure both of your parents are human?”
No. No. No.
Out of all the things he could have asked and he had to pick the subject of my parentage.
My stomach rolls and I’m instantly nauseous.
Sick. I’m going to be sick right here in this beautiful room filled with supernatural creatures. How humiliating would that be? I would never be able to live something like that down.
Please, please, don’t get sick in here.
“I need fresh air,” I wheeze out.
My stomach rolls again violently, threatening to climb up my throat and spew out my mouth.
“I can help you to feel better, if you wish.” The pastel haired fairy steps forward with concern in her eyes and her hand out, stretched towards me.
She had helped with my migraine and the voices has since, thankfully quieted down. But this is different. This was me making myself sick by thinking of having to explain to this entire room how I was conceived.
Call me a coward, I don’t care, but no freaking way am I going to stand here and announce to a room full of strangers that my mother was raped and I’m the result of said rape. And, then it gets better. She left me at the hospital and disappeared.
Yay.
Yeah, I don’t think so.
So I needed to exit. Pronto.
Right, fresh air.
“Riley,” I mutter, ignoring the sweet fairy, “please, I need to get out of here and get some air. I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Sick?” Neelan questions. “Are you with child?”
That does it. I gag. I can’t help it.
Oh my god.
“She must have her ceremony as soon as possible if she is with child. The sooner the better.” Someone whispers.
Oh god.
Ceremony?
They think I’m a pregnant freak and they want to perform some kind of ceremony on me? Figures.
I have the worst luck.
“Please,” I beg Riley.
“I will take you, my Queen,” Neelan steps forward and offers.
Fuck, what have I really got to lose at this point?
Stepping forward, I take hold of his hand. Not bothering to check whether or not the others choose to follow I walk through the now parted crowd hand in hand with Neelan.
“I’m not pregnant,” I confide in him.
For some reason I find it’s important for me to tell him this. I certainly don’t want him to think I’m some loose floozy without a working brain who isn’t smart enough to use contraceptives.
Then it hits me. Did Ian use a condom?
Oh my god, I don’t think he did.
I did not need this on top of everything else. For all I know he had used one and everything was peachy and worrying would be pointless.
“Dwarf,” Neelan mutters
dragging my attention away from my horrible thoughts.
“What?”
“You asked what I am. I am a Dwarf.”
My eyes grow round inside my head and I completely forget about feeling sick to my stomach.
“A Dwarf?” I breathe in wonderment. “How cool.”
The grin on his face slides off as horror fills his eyes and his face pales.
“Get back to the throne room,” he screams at me and, roughly, shoves me behind him.
Stumbling, I fall to my knees on the hard marble floor. Sharp pain shoots up my thighs and an angry hiss escapes my lips.
“My Queen, ru-” Neelan’s words are cut off with a thump and his wet, in draw of air can be heard.
Panicked, I scramble to my feet and try to run like he told me to. I don’t make it far. I barely gain my feet when an arm snakes around my middle and I am lifted off my feet entirely.
Struggling to break away I open my mouth to scream. Before I can get any sound out a rough, sweaty, hand covers my mouth.
Something cold and hard smacks into my temple. My head explodes in pain and my vision goes hazy.
As I’m dragged away, the last think I see before I black out is Neelan. The Dwarf lay sprawled on the marble floor with a shiny silver sword sticking out of the center of his chest.
Then everything fades to black.
Chapter 23
Ian
Something’s wrong. I can feel it. In my head. In my chest. Everywhere. Shayne. Something’s happened to Shayne. That has to be it.
Stepping into the throne room I scan the crowd looking for my mate. She’s nowhere to be seen.
Son of a bitch. Where in the fuck is she?
I left Brooks with her to keep her safe. Then when my Uncle disappeared I sent Riley back to keep an eye on her. They would not be so stupid as to allow her out of their eyesight. Not when, as far as we knew, the place could be crawling with traitors, people who support my Uncle’s claim to the throne. Or worse, people who wish to challenge me for mine.
“Help. We need help over here.”
The blood pumping through my veins turns to ice. Everything around me seems to freeze as if time stands still. My beast inside roars to be let out, to locate our mate and make sure she’s safe.
I had to get myself under control, my beast under control, before I completely lose it, shift into animal form, and go into a rage. A rage that would do nothing to help Shayne.
