“Do you think we’ll find any pixies in Karga?” Blossom asked from her perch on Sabine’s shoulder.
Sabine tightened her grip on the reins and pulled hard to the left, forcing the thontin back onto the path they were following. The giant lumbering beasts might be beneficial in transporting heavy objects, but they were easily distracted. This one was determined to dig around in the sand for the parasites that were their primary source of food. It didn’t matter he’d spent the entire morning doing the exact same thing. The creature had a one-track mind.
Riding the thontins, with their scaled, leathery skin and extremely wide torsos, was uncomfortable and somewhat hazardous. She’d nearly fallen a few times, until Malek realized her elevated seat mount had been designed for a much larger individual. He’d insisted on trading with her, but the new one wasn’t much of an improvement.
“I suppose it’s possible,” Sabine replied, tugging again on the beast’s reins. How these creatures could tolerate the oppressive heat was beyond her. She shifted in her seat, trying to keep her clothing from sticking to her skin.
Blossom grinned and clapped her hands in delight. “If the Fae used to live here, there might be enough magic still remaining to sustain a colony. They’ll know all the good spots to forage.”
Malek glanced at her. “Is that all it takes to attract a colony of pixies? Just a source of Fae magic?”
“Lots of plants too,” Blossom said, fluttering off Sabine’s shoulder and onto the top of her thontin’s head. “I like sweet flower nectar best, but fruit is really good too.”
Malek’s brow furrowed. “Do you eat Fae magic?”
Sabine laughed. “I wouldn’t say she eats it, but it’s the same as a plant might need soil to grow. It’s nourishment of a sort.”
Blossom nodded, swinging her legs idly. “Yep. Sabine’s magic has an extra kick to it. She offered enough magic so forty-two of my brothers and sisters could live in Esme’s garden. She was even going to let me bring more of my aunts and uncles to Akros, but we had to do it in secret so no one in Faerie knew.”
Malek’s eyes widened. “Forty-two? You have that many siblings? Is that common?”
Sabine smirked. “You’ve heard how prolific rabbits can be? Pixie families put their numbers to shame.”
Malek laughed. “I had no idea.”
Blossom grinned. “That’s not even all of them. I have sixty-seven in total.” She perked up. “Hey! You could come to our next family reunion! They’d love to meet a dragon.”
Malek chuckled. “I’d be honored to meet your family.”
Pulling on her reins, Sabine directed her thontin to avoid a tumbleweed. On the surface, the tumbleweeds appeared harmless, but Malek had warned her they sometimes contained tiny parasitic insects which could inject toxins into anyone who came into contact with them.
There was a strange and alien beauty within the desert, but she missed the cooler forests of her home. Even Akros wasn’t this bad. The novelty of seeing cacti and the large rock formations which peppered the sand dunes had waned fairly quickly, especially once the temperature started rising. If they didn’t find some shade or water soon, she was inclined to cut open her hand and summon a storm. At least the Wild Hunt would bring a little shade with them when they sought her out.
“Oh, look! There are more of those blue flowers.” Blossom pointed at an area off the side of the road.
Sabine turned in the direction Blossom had indicated, and her eyes widened. It was a sizable valley with dozens of dark-green plants covered with splashes of blue. She hadn’t thought anything like these plants could survive in such an inhospitable climate.
“I want to check it out,” Sabine called over her shoulder as she navigated her thontin off the path. She glanced back to make sure Malek was behind her. He nodded at her to let her know he would follow her lead.
They made their way down one of the ridges and into the valley area. Throwing her leg over the side of the thontin, she slid off his back. Her legs were stiff and sore from remaining in the same position for so long, and she relished the opportunity to stretch and move around.
Patting the gentle beast’s neck, she stepped around him while he went back to digging in the sand. Blossom flew off, a colorful blur darting from flower to flower, collecting or feeding from the plants.
Malek tied the reins to the saddle so the animals wouldn’t get tangled. “Do you think you can recharge your magic from these?”
“Not sure, but I think there’s something here.” Sabine walked down the ridge where several of the flowering plants were growing. She scanned the area, but there wasn’t any sign of a river or spring. These plants shouldn’t be able to survive without a source of water nearby.
“What are you looking for?” Malek asked, following her.
“I’ll show you,” Sabine said and knelt in front of one of the plants. The leaves were dark green with silver veins. Clusters of blue flowers burst at the end of each stem, and their alluring perfume filled the air. Sabine smiled and trailed her fingers over the leaves. It was just as she’d thought. These flowers were identical to some found near Faerie, but she’d only seen them in shades of purple and red. It had been more than ten years since she’d last seen their equal.
Sabine motioned for Malek to join her. He crouched next to her, and she reached over to take his hand. Carefully, she showed him how to caress the delicate leaves without causing them any harm. “Do you feel the moisture in the plant?”
Malek’s brow furrowed. “How is this possible? There’s no freshwater near here, and we’re in the middle of the desert.”
“Underground springs,” Sabine said with a smile. “This area wasn’t always a desert. Thousands of years ago, my people had crystal cities all over the world. These flowers are usually grown near our temples, although I’ve never seen any this wonderful shade of blue.”
“I thought your people lived in homes built around the trees.” Malek caressed the leaves of the plant, making Sabine wonder what it would be like to have him touch her the same way.
“Not exactly,” she admitted, breathing in the light floral scent to help distract her from Malek’s closeness. “Our forests protect the heart of Faerie, but it’s not where we live. Inside our cities, you would find wonders no longer existing anywhere else in the world.” She smiled and sighed dreamily, remembering her home. “Treehouses towering up hundreds of feet, crystalline buildings so delicate they catch the sunlight and spin them into rainbows, thousands of plants and flowers of all different colors and scents… The magic is so potent, you can’t walk without breathing it in.”
“You miss it,” Malek murmured, watching her thoughtfully.
“Sometimes,” she said in agreement, looking down at the plant that represented so much of her past. She released the leaf she’d been holding and sat back with a sigh. “The dwarves designed complicated plumbing systems to draw water from underground. We still use them to supply our fountains and bathing pools. There must be an underground spring here, which is why these flowers are still thriving.”
“This is incredible,” Malek murmured, scanning the area. “I don’t see any other signs of a settlement. If it weren’t for you, I never would have guessed such a thing was once here. Is it possible for you to use these flowers to recharge your magic?”
“Not the flowers, no. If we’re standing near an old temple, there might be another way. Give me a moment.”
Sabine pulled off her boots and stood, the heated sand warming her feet. If it weren’t for the underground spring and the traces of Fae magic still lurking in this area, the sand would have been scalding. She walked around the area, guided by instinct alone. A flicker of awareness passed through her, subtle and cloying. She paused and closed her eyes, focusing on the connection with the land and the water deep below the surface.
She crouched and dug her fingers into the sand. She sent her awareness outward and across the landscape, searching for the source of Fae magic in this area. For a second s
he felt something, but then it was gone. Sabine opened her eyes and muttered a curse.
“Are you all right?” Malek asked, approaching her with concern in his eyes.
She nodded. “Yes. I just don’t have enough magic to connect with the land.”
“Can I offer you more of my power?”
Sabine gave him a small smile and shook her head. “Using more of your magic might have the opposite effect. The land won’t recognize you.” She stood and brushed off her hands. “I can try to offer a blood sacrifice, but I run the risk of alerting my family to my presence. I’m not sure if they’re aware the Wild Hunt was unsuccessful in killing me.”
“Ah,” Malek murmured, closing the distance between them. “Bane said I can probably block anyone from sensing you. That’s what he and Dax did for you, right?”
Sabine tilted her head to consider him. She wasn’t sure it would work, but her Beastman protector had believed it to be possible. Dax and Bane relied upon their fire magic to shield her, which was similar to Malek’s power. “I suppose we can try it.”
Malek nodded. “All right. What do I need to do?”
Sabine hesitated. “I’ll try to explain, but the mechanics might be a bit different since you’re not a demon.” When he nodded, she continued, “Distance is usually a factor. We’ve found skin contact works better. Dax and Bane usually touch the back of my neck and surround me in a type of shield using their power. It masks most of the effects of a blood sacrifice, confusing anyone who may be searching for me.”
“That sounds simple enough. Shall we try it?”
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Gods. This man had a way of twisting her into knots. She didn’t know how she was going to manage the next several days alone with him, especially if the thought of his touch sent her heart racing.
He slipped off his warding medallion and then moved to stand close enough that she was forced to look up at him. Taking a steadying breath, she moved aside her hair and he placed his warm hand against the back of her neck. She shivered, disconcerted by his nearness and the intimacy of what they were about to attempt. No one other than Dax or Bane had ever done this with her, and it was strange to have someone else put her in such a vulnerable position.
“Is this okay?” he asked, his voice husky and almost right in her ear.
“Yes,” she whispered and withdrew her knife, trying to focus on her task. “Go ahead and surround me with your power. Whatever happens, let me know before you lower the shield. If the blood sacrifice is successful, I’ll break contact with you when it’s safe.”
Malek’s heated draconic power wrapped around her, trailing over her and causing her skin to prickle in awareness. This wasn’t on the same level as the magic she’d performed on the ship, but it was still a risk. She took a steadying breath and cleared her thoughts of everything except her desire to connect with the land.
Gripping the knife in her hand, she pricked her fingertip and allowed three drops of blood to fall onto the sand. Almost immediately, the blood disappeared. The sand slowly fell into itself, creating a deep hole. A second later, water bubbled up from the ground.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Malek muttered.
Sabine laughed and knelt, breaking their contact and ending his magical shield. Using her hands, she moved some of the sand away as a tiny oasis formed. Malek crouched beside her and did the same. Water continued to bubble upward, growing larger by the minute.
Blossom flew toward them, her eyes wide with excitement. “Are you going to make a forest? We could grow lots of stuff here.”
Sabine shook her head, wishing it were possible. “No more than I already have by summoning the water to the surface. Any forest I create with my power will act as a beacon to my family and alert them to my presence. Perhaps one day, we’ll return here and see the effects of our new oasis.”
With her hands cupped, she scooped up some of the cold water and took a long drink. Power flowed through her, and she closed her eyes, drinking deeply of the magic. The tiny embers of her Seelie and Unseelie magic flared to life, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Sitting back on her heels, she said, “Blossom, go ahead.”
The pixie squealed and lay down on the sand, drinking from the Fae spring. Sabine lifted her head and found Malek watching her with wonder. “Would you like to try some?”
He arched his brow and replaced the warding medallion around his neck. “Is it just water or something else?”
Sabine beamed a smile at him. “Both, but you have my word it won’t harm you.”
Malek nodded, and she scooped up more of the water. Holding out her hand, she offered it to him. He cupped his hands around hers and held her gaze as he took a drink. He swallowed, and his eyes widened in surprise. “That’s incredible. It tastes like water but also something… more.”
Sabine nodded, staring at the bubbling oasis. “Among my people, we call this the Gift of the Fae. Finding a place where the old magic still remains is usually a time of merriment and celebration.” She turned back toward Malek and put her hand over his. “I’m glad you’re here to share it with me.”
Malek lifted her hand and kissed it. “I’m honored you trust me enough.”
“So, so good,” Blossom said and took another long slurp. She hiccupped and Sabine laughed.
Scooping up the pixie, she teased, “You’re drunk already?”
Blossom giggled and rolled over, leaving a smear of glittering pixie dust on Sabine’s hands.
Sabine looked at Malek and said, “We should probably get Blossom away from here. Between sipping flower nectar planted by the Fae and drinking from the old temple spring, she’ll be out of it for a while.”
Malek’s lips twitched in a smile and he burst out laughing. “I didn’t realize pixies could even get drunk.”
Sabine laughed. “Oh, they sure can. This one used to get into honey-sipping contests with her brother, Barley. Once, I had to fish them both out of Esme’s pond because they forgot they knew how to fly. Their sister thought it would be funny to push the leaf they were sitting on out in the middle of the pond.”
Malek burst into laughter again, shaking his head.
“Sooo-hic-ooo good,” Blossom slurred and gestured toward the flowers and oasis. “Bar’ley ‘uld ‘ike th—hic—is.”
“What did she say?”
Sabine grinned. “She said, ‘Barley would like this.’ You’ll begin to decipher pixieisms soon enough.”
Malek stood and helped her to her feet. “You know, I feel pretty good too. Lighter and more complete somehow. Was it the water?”
Sabine nodded. “It’s rejuvenating but completely harmless. The Fae who lived here infused it with power, which is why I was able to sense it. We should feel the effects for a few hours.” She caught sight of her mark on Malek’s wrist. “I think you may also be feeling the effects of my magic being replenished. You can sense me through the modified mark.”
Malek paused and then murmured, “You’re right. I hadn’t realized this would be possible, but I can feel you. It’s as though you’re part of me.”
“It’s different for everyone,” she replied and bit her lip, hoping he wasn’t regretting the decision. “Bane can track me through his mark or tell if I’m hurt. Part of that is the nature of his magic, combined with the binding. We won’t know how your mark will work yet. It may never evolve beyond its current purpose.”
Blossom rolled over in Sabine’s hands and began snoring. Sabine smiled at the tiny pixie and asked, “Do you have anything I can use to carry her?”
Malek nodded and walked back to his thontin. He rummaged through one of the bags and pulled out a small decorative box encrusted with gems. “Will this work? It’s one of the items I was planning on selling.”
“It should. Would you hold her for a moment?”
Malek arched his brow at the sleeping pixie. “I won’t hurt her?”
Sabine smiled, touched by his concern. “No. She’s not nearly as fragile as she a
ppears. Just be careful of her wings.”
Sabine gently eased Blossom into his outstretched hand and walked back to the flowers. Using her knife, she cut several stalks, making sure not to cause irreparable damage to the plants. Walking back toward him, she said, “Blossom likes you quite a bit.”
“I’ve grown rather fond of her too.” Malek cradled Blossom carefully and studied her wings. “I never had a chance to take a good look at her because she’s always in motion. She looks like a miniature Fae, only with wings and without the markings on her skin.”
Sabine lined the cut flowers on the bottom of the jeweled box. They should give Blossom a bit of comfort and allow the pixie to speak with her family through the magic contained within them. “You should tell her when she wakes up. Some pixies might not appreciate such a comparison, but Blossom would consider it a compliment.”
“Did you really make her human sized?”
“Yes, and she’s been asking me to do it again ever since. One of these days, I probably will, but a giant pixie would draw too much attention.” Sabine picked up Blossom and carefully placed her inside the container. The pixie mumbled something incoherent and cuddled against the flowers.
After fastening the box to the saddle of her thontin, she filled her flask with the water from the oasis. The pool was still growing larger and would likely end up forming a small lake. In a few weeks, this area would be teeming with life. It was a shame she couldn’t remain to help foster and cultivate it. Her magic wanted to be used the way it was intended, but it was too dangerous.
Turning toward Malek, she said, “If you hand me your flask, I’ll fill yours as well.”
Malek offered it to her, and she bent down to fill his container. Brushing her loose hair away from her face, she handed it back to him. “That water will go much further than regular water. We won’t need to drink nearly as much.”
Malek gestured to the small oasis. “The water’s still bubbling up from the ground. Should we stop it?”
By Blood and Magic Page 10
