by Dyan Chick
Whatever horrible magic she had created to lure me in seemed to be gone. I wondered what she would throw at me next. I knew Tiana wouldn't play by the rules, if there were any rules in magic.
I balled my hands into fists, preparing to hit her if she got too close to me. Without some time for my magic to recharge, it was all I had. It wasn't much, but at least I could go down trying to defend myself.
A screeching sound punctuated the empty landscape, vibrating so hard that I could feel it in my bones. Then, the sound of something ripping echoed through the night. It was as if a huge piece of fabric had been pulled apart.
Just beyond Tiana I saw the sky begin to split. It was as if it were tearing open. Where there had been starry sky and moonlight I could see smoke pouring out into our world from an opening that hadn't been there before.
That must have been what the lantern was for. Tiana created a tear to the Under. How many of these had she made? How many of these would she continue to make? How could she do this to Faerie? Jaw clenched, I looked back at Tiana. "You are a monster. You belong in the Under with all of the rest of them."
"You were raised in the human world. So you know better than anyone that we're all monsters here. Capable of terrible things. That's all this world is. A realm of monsters. The only difference between us and the creatures of the Under is our magic."
Growling came from the tear. I tensed, terrified to find out what Tiana had released on me. I took a few unsteady steps backward, seeking more distance between myself and the creatures.
My magic simmered below the surface, springing back to life without warning. It tugged and pulled as if it wanted me to go closer to the tear. That didn't make any sense. I knew how dangerous the creatures that lived in the Under were and I knew how much harm they could cause. Yet, the opening seemed to call to me.
"Come on out, darlings." Tiana was facing the tear, ignoring me.
My nostrils flared as I glared at her. She didn't see me as a threat and she wasn't going to take me down herself. She was waiting for something to come and finish me off. "You're a coward."
She turned to look at me, one eyebrow raised. "What was that?"
"You are a coward. You're sneaky and manipulative and you're taking the throne in a cowardly way."
Her upper lip curled as she bared her teeth. "You don't know what you're taking about. You aren't even a real Fae. You should have stayed in the human realm where you belong."
"Then face me yourself. Why let the monsters do the deed for you? Are you such a coward that you can't even take down a nearly human girl on your own?" I knew the words were dangerous. I was playing with fire. But as I stood there, watching her face contort as she considered my insults, I felt my magic growing.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Yellow eyes flashed at the tear, growling low and guttural. The sound set my nerves on edge, but I couldn't back down. Whatever was coming through from the Under couldn't be any worse than Tiana.
Again, magic tugged at me, drawing me nearer to the tear. I ignored the pull and focused on the Fae in front of me. She waited, hands at her sides, as if calling to the monsters that were emerging behind her.
For a second, I focused on the movement behind her, catching my first full glimpse at the creatures she'd summoned. My heart pounded harder as my gaze fixed on a massive wolf. The creature was three times the size of a wolf in the human realm, its ears nearly the size of my head. The beast pulled back its lips, snarling in my direction. Sharp canines dripped with saliva as the monster growled again.
"Get her," Tiana called.
"No," I said on reflex. "I'm not going to harm you."
The wolf's ears flattened against its head, its black fur standing on edge, raised almost like a mane around its sharp face.
"I summoned you, beast," Tiana said. "You belong to me."
"No," I said again. "You are your own creature. You belong to no one. You don't have to listen to her. This isn't your fight."
My magic flared as I spoke, shooting through me as if I'd lit an inner flame.
The wolf took a few steps away from the tear, walking slowly toward Tiana. I swallowed down my fear and felt for the thread that connected me to the magic inside me. I focused on holding onto the feeling, keeping my magic simmering below the surface, ready for me to grab hold of it if needed. I didn't want to hurt the creature if it wasn't trying to hurt me. The monster Tiana had summoned wasn't a poisonous Sodalis, it was too similar to the wolves that prowled the woods in the human world. I knew the wolves were dangerous only when provoked. I didn't intend to provoke it.
"Kill her," Tiana said through clenched teeth. Her frustration was obvious as she pointed to me while turning to look at the wolf. "Do it now."
I kept my hands at my sides and spread my fingers wide, trying to show that I was holding no weapons. "I don't intend harm."
"I am your mistress," Tiana said, desperation seeping into her voice.
"Send the creature home," I said. "This isn't her fight. It's between us. Why bring her into it?"
"The creature is a servant," Tiana said. "Like all lesser creatures, it must be told what to do."
The wolf snarled, turning toward Tiana, haunches ruffled in irritation.
"Animals are not here to serve us," I said. "Send her home. Close up the tear. Then face me yourself, you coward."
I took a step closer to Tiana, ignoring the wolf. I knew she wouldn't attack me now. I could feel her emotions intermingling with mine. She seemed to instinctively know how to draw the magic out of me, connecting us in a way that I couldn't explain. Whatever it was, I knew I was safe from the wolf. The only real danger here was from Tiana.
"You need to stop this," I said. "Turn yourself in to the Queen. End this now."
"You don't get to choose how this goes," she said. "And you certainly don't get to command me. You shouldn't even exist."
She pulled a dagger from somewhere in the folds of her dress and charged me. I dove to the side to avoid the weapon and landed in a heap on the hard snow. Pushing myself up, I extended my hands out in front of me, prepared to disarm her as best I could.
Before I could make a move, the wolf leaped into the air, coming down on Tiana in a blur of fur and a flash of teeth and claws. The wolf growled. Tiana screamed.
My pulse raced and my eyes widened. A surge of power raced through me, intense and overwhelming. I cried out as I felt the rush of the fight, the energy of the attack, the feel of the kill.
When the wolf bit down on Tiana's throat, I could taste the coppery blood as if I'd bitten down on her myself.
Tiana grunted then there was only silence.
The wolf left a trail of bloody paw prints across the frozen snow as she padded away from her kill.
Tiana lay on the frozen ground, unmoving. A slow moving stream of crimson blood spread from her body like a river of death. I could smell the blood sticking to damp fur as if it were on me. I looked down at my hands but all that was there was scrapes from where I'd hit the ground.
I looked over at the wolf. She was licking her bloody paws.
I sank to my knees, exhausted as the connection between myself and the wolf shattered. Somehow, the creature and I had formed an alliance that went beyond the loyalty of a typical human or Fae bond with an animal. I had felt like I was inside the wolf, feeling what she felt. And she knew the threat that Tiana was to me. She'd read my emotions and protected me.
Slowly, I lifted a shaky hand into the air, extending it toward the wolf as a peace offering between the two of us. Whatever magic I had tapped into was long gone so I wasn't sure what would happen. I was too grateful for her help to walk away without showing her how much I appreciated her.
The wolf stopped licking her paw and turned to look at me. Her ears went back again and she sniffed the air. Then, she walked over to me, her claws making clicking sounds on the frozen earth.
She stopped in front of my outstretched fingers and sniffed my hand.
"Thank you," I s
aid.
She took a few steps closer to me and I cautiously placed my hand on her neck, gently patting her. "Thank you."
The wolf leaned in to my touch then sat on the ground. I laughed. She was just a like a larger version of a dog someone might keep as a pet. I scooted a little closer and scratched her behind her ears. "I guess there are some wonderful things that can come from the Under. Just like there are some terrible things that can come from here."
With a sigh, I lowered my hand and looked at the tear that was still sitting open. I had a feeling whatever came through there next might not be as sweet as the wolf. I couldn't stay here.
With a grunt, I pushed myself to standing and turned to walk away from the tear. I didn't know how to slide and I had no idea where I was. I had no choice, I had to call to Ethan.
The sound of claws on snow trailed behind me and I turned to see the wolf was staying behind me. "Are you coming with me, then?"
She caught up to me and kept pace next to my side. I reached over and patted her head. "Alright, then."
Having the wolf by my side made me feel safer as I walked away from the tear. Silently, I called out to Ethan, hoping he would find me soon.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ethan wasn't alone when he found me. Dane crashed into me, lifting me off of my feet as he pulled me close.
The wolf next to me growled. I pushed away from Dane and turned to her. "It's okay, these are my friends."
Ethan set his hands on either side of my face. "Are you hurt?"
I shook my head. "I'm alright."
"Cormac's not even at the palace," Ethan said. "He was sent to take care of a tear. Whoever came to get me wasn't Cormac. We came as soon as we could."
"It was Tiana," I said, gesturing behind me. "And she left a tear open."
"Is that where your new friend came from?" Dane asked, eyeing the wolf suspiciously.
"She saved my life. I was no match for Tiana," I said.
"Where is she now?" Ethan asked.
"Dead. Near the tear she opened," I said.
"Get her somewhere safe, Dane," Ethan said. "I'll take care of the tear."
"We'll be at my place," Dane said. "She can contact the council from there. If Tiana managed to infiltrate the Autumn Palace I don't trust their security."
"Tiana knew every detail about that place, I'm sure it's safe," Ethan said.
"No," I said, remembering Sasha's words about my impending doom. "I don't want to go there. I want to go anywhere but there."
"Take her to the Academy," Ethan said. "At least it's neutral territory."
Dane offered his hand. "Come on, let's get you somewhere warm."
The wolf whined, looking up at me with pleading eyes.
"Don't you want to go back to your family before Ethan closes the tear?" I asked her.
Sadness, deep and longing pooled in my gut as I looked into the creature's eyes. "You're alone."
She whined again, then pawed at the ground in front of me.
"Can we bring her?" I asked.
"I don't think we can slide with a wolf," Dane said.
"I can bring her with me, if she'll consent to allow it," Ethan said, inclining his head toward the wolf.
She cocked her head to the side as if considering the offer.
"You can trust him," I said. "He can bring you to me."
The wolf shook her head, her thick fur rustling. Then, she trotted over to Ethan and sat next to him.
I smiled at her. "I'll see you soon. Keep him safe for me, will you? He's important to me."
I wasn't sure how I'd connected with the wolf, but I knew she understood me. Feeling better about leaving Ethan now that he had some protection, I accepted Dane's hand. "You both better come back safe to me."
"We will," Ethan said, offering his hand to the wolf for her to sniff. She rubbed her head along his hand, accepting his offer of friendship.
Dane squeezed my hand and this time, when the blackness took hold, I let out a breath of relief, relishing the sensation. I was safe with Dane. I had finished the third trial and Tiana was dead. The risks on my life were winding down. Now, all I had to do was get through the next part and survive whatever it was that was supposed to cause my demise at the Autumn Palace. But that didn't matter right now. Right now, I was with Dane and I was going somewhere that wasn't part of Queen's Trial.
I squeezed Dane's hand tighter just as the darkness faded. Before I could adjust to the new surroundings, Dane had me in his arms again, pulling me down with him.
I landed on top of his firm chest and he rolled so I was on my side facing him, strong arms circled around me. I let myself sink into his embrace, and took in the warmth of the room we were in.
The two of us were on a small bed, barely large enough for someone Dane's size, let alone a partner. Gray blankets and white pillows completed the bed, showing no signs of the riches or luxury I'd grown used to in the Fae realm.
Not caring where we were, I nuzzled into Dane's chest and breathed in his clean, rosemary scent. My skin tingled as I adjusted to the warmth of the room and the male who still had me wrapped in his arms. I never wanted to leave. "Can we just lay like this forever?"
"I wish we could." He kissed the top of my head. "I was so worried about you."
I pulled away from him enough to look up into his eyes. "Thank you for coming to help me."
"Always," he said. "I just wish I'd left when I first felt your fear."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I'm not good with this kind of stuff," Dane said.
"What kind of stuff?" I asked.
"Love stuff," Dane said.
My cheeks heated. "You mean?"
"I knew you were special, Cassia," Dane said. "From the minute I first saw you, I wanted you. I just didn't realize it was going to be so different from the way I wanted other females. I can't stop thinking about you. Even after I had you. And trust me, that's not typical for me."
"Dane." I pulled one of my arms free and set my palm on his cheek.
"Honestly, I never thought I'd feel a mating connection to anyone, let alone a future Queen."
I opened my mouth to speak, but Dane moved too quickly, his lips on mine before I could respond. I moved into the kiss, forcing my feelings for him into the movement of my lips. My tongue found his and we explored each other as the kiss deepened.
Dane's hand moved behind my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair. Our bodies pressed tighter together and I could feel his hardness against my thigh.
His hand slid down my back to my hips before dipping up under my tunic. His bare hand on my skin sent a chill through me and I moaned into his mouth.
Dane pulled away from the kiss, a smile on his lips. "How did I get so lucky?"
I bit down on my swollen lip and stared back at him, breathless from our kiss. "I love you, Dane."
It didn't feel like enough to describe the bond that screamed between the two of us. The words felt inadequate, too human to express what the Fae mating bond was like. Alone here with Dane, I felt the intensity of our bond. It was just as strong as it was with the others, but what we had was different. He made me feel like everything was on fire and I wanted to lose myself to the heat.
I scooted out of his embrace, careful not to fall off the bed. With a smirk, I lifted my tunic over my head.
Dane's hands were on my breasts immediately, a strong, calloused hand cupping each of them. He caressed them gently, then leaned forward and pulled the right nipple into his mouth, sucking on it until it came to a point. Then, he moved to the other nipple.
I moaned as arousal traveled lower, making my undergarments damp. I needed him.
Feeling brave, I loosened Dane's belt, then reached my hand down his trousers, finding his erection. Carefully, I moved my hand up and down the velvet skin, enjoying how it grew even larger at my touch.
Dane shuddered slightly, his hands frozen in place on my breasts as I distracted him with my touch. Seeming to regain his control, he lifte
d my hand away from his trousers before sliding them down his hips.
I reached for it again, but he stopped me. Before I could object, he was pulling my skirt down. I lifted my hips to help him remove the clothing. He finished undressing and the two of us stared at each other for a moment before he lifted me on top of him.
Dane was sitting on the bed and slowly, he lowered me on to his lap. I sat on my knees, his erection brushed against my soft folds. Gently, Dane guided me down so he could enter me slowly.
I gasped as the tip found its way inside me, then held my breath as he lowered me more. My insides stretched to accommodate him, filling me completely.
Dane guided my hips, lifting his until we found a rhythm. I moaned as the pleasure grew with each thrust. My chest was pressed against his and I wrapped my arms around his back, digging my fingers into his firm muscles as the pleasure escalated.
Hands still on my hips, Dane increased the speed. I gasped as little shockwaves rolled through me. He pressed his lips against mine, pulling me into a hungry kiss as the pressure mounted. I moaned into his mouth, then broke away from the kiss, tossing my head back as an explosion worked its way through my core. I screamed in release just as Dane finished.
Exhausted and content, I leaned forward, resting my forehead against Dane's chest. I could feel the thumping of his heart, our breaths in time with each other. Dane wrapped his arms around my back while I remained pressed against him. He was safety and strength and love. And I couldn't believe how lucky I was to have him.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
As much as I wanted to lay with Dane until I fell asleep, I knew we'd be interrupted soon enough. And for once, I wanted to be in my clothes when the knock at the door came.
Cormac arrived just after I laced up the borrowed boots Dane found for me. Dane held his hands out in front of him. "Hold on there."
