by Brenda Trim
“Throw the bitch through,” I called out to Sebastian over the sound of wind whipping through the small building.
Bas chuckled and approached the portal then threw what looked like a mummified husk through. I winced when it landed on the grass. It instantly started smoking and turning brown. When the acrid smell started replacing the sweet floral scent, I closed the portal.
Turning, I brushed my hands together and walked out of the mausoleum. “We need to regroup before you guys head home. I desperately need a shower, but I can see grams isn’t going to let that happen.”
The ghost of my dead grandmother was glaring out the window with her arms crossed over her ample bosom. She wore one of the hideous tops covered in flowers that she loved to wear. The v-neck kept the fabric away from her throat.
I recalled being a little girl and asking her why she wouldn’t wear the cute lavender sweater I’d gotten her for her birthday. She told me there was no way in hell she was putting anything on that would constrict around her waddle. She explained that the fabric would choke her, get caught on her chin hairs, and put the extra skin on display.
My hand rose to the skin that was just starting to loosen on my neck. Some days I wish I was that naïve young woman again. When my finger hit something hard and prickly, I lowered my head. I had to at least go to the bathroom and pluck the ugly black hair that had a magic all its own.
Seriously, how was it I would rip the little shits out one night and the next morning it was back and nearly three inches long!
Bas held the back door open for me. Grams floated in my direction immediately. “What the hell happened out there, Fionna?”
“Not now Grams. I need to use the restroom.” I fled up the stairs and slammed the door the second I entered the bathroom connected to my bedroom. Opening the top drawer, I grabbed the tweezers and thrust my chin toward the mirror.
Gah! I couldn’t believe I was fighting the Fae Queen looking like the bearded lady. My grandmother floated into the room when I was gripping the second hair between the metal.
“You cut me off to pluck your chin hair?” My grams couldn’t be louder or sound more irritated.
In my rush to shut her up, I tugged hard than necessary then lifted my eyes and sent her a glare. “Would you be quiet? I don’t need the entire house hearing I need to shave like a man.”
Grams rolled her eyes. “Whatever just happened is going to alert any supernatural across both realms. I want to know what the hell went down out there. I couldn’t see anything from the windows.”
I yanked the remaining hair out and washed my hands. That’s what had her up in arms. I imagined it was difficult for her not to be able to get involved with their battles. Grams had never been shy or one to sit idly by. Part of the reason I was so fierce was because I was her granddaughter.
“I’m sorry about that, but it couldn’t be avoided.” I opened the door and descended the stairs to the first floor. The house was large for a cottage in the countryside. And it was open for being built centuries ago.
The familiar creek of the sixth step and the family pictures on the wall at the base of the stairs helped center and calm me. Everyone was in the kitchen. “You are a Goddess,” I praised Violet for making a pot of coffee.
“You never did develop a taste for a proper cuppa.” Grams’s usually complaint was another comfort. This was why I chose my magical new beginning here in this house. I was surrounded by history and family that helped ground me in any storm. It was also why I fled her right after Tim had died years ago. The three weeks the kids and I spent here helped me face life without Tim.
“You taught me to enjoy tea, but there are times I cannot survive without the blessed dark brew and this has been a rough night.” I inhaled deeply, savoring the roasted coffee bean scent.
Grams had her arms right back over her chest and one hip cocked to the side. Emotion clogged in my throat with the sight. For longer than I could remember, my grandmother had needed a hip replacement. She’d fallen in her garden and broken it when she was seventy-eight and it never healed quite right.
To see her sass back as she took her demanding pose was fantastic. “What the hell happened out there? Why did I feel this wave of dark magic ripple through the house? There was no real power behind it, so it made no sense.”
I was right back to my childhood and shuffled my feet like I used to when I was trying to avoid telling her that I messed up. “Well, remember when I told you about absorbing that Fae’s power? I kinda killed the Evil Queen and her powers floated into me. My blood turned to champagne in my veins and energy buzzed through me then spread out to Aislinn and Violet,” I told her and continued to describe how her body withered and we tossed her back like she was a fish we didn’t want to keep.
Grams’s blue-white shape solidified enough that I could no longer see the sofa in the background. “You’ve landed in another mess, Fiona. Vodor will not let this go. Thelvienne was his life.”
The most unladylike snort left me. “I cannot believe she was anything to him but a pain in the ass. They fought constantly and word on the street was they hated each other.”
“Hate and love are often intermixed. I have no doubt he didn’t like her but being with her allowed him to strip creatures of their power. He would never willingly give her up. His need for her was so great that he overlooked the fact that she was in love with Sebastian and pined for him for centuries. No man in his position would be able to do that if he could live without the woman.”
Hearing about Bas’s previous girlfriend made my stomach twist into knots. I knew it was ridiculous, but I couldn’t change it. I was barely able to hide that fact from my expression.
I chanced a glance in Sebastian’s direction and noticed he was scowling at my grams as he sipped from a glass of amber liquid that was no doubt scotch. “I need to check with the council and see if they have any insight.”
Camille set her glass in the sink and turned back to the group. “I’ll go with you, as well. I’d like to hear what they have to say, too.”
In the end Finarr ended up joining them which left me, Aislinn, Argiess, Violet and my grams in the kitchen. When the coffee was done burbling and pitting out liquid gold, I poured myself a cup and added plenty of sugar with a splash of cream.
“D you have any idea how we should handle the King, Grams?”
My grandmother floated to the window over the sink and looked outside. “There is nothing safe for you three to attempt. Vodor has too much power. You might be a nicotisa but you are still learning your craft and what you’re capable of. I tried to find as many books and scrolls on the topic as possible, but all there seemed to be were cautionary tales.”
“We can’t sit around while he kills innocent Fae, Grams. Besides, we won’t be facing him alone. Argiess and Bas’s parents are part of a massive rebellion in Eidothea.” I implored her to listen to reason, but she only shook her head which sent her silver hair flying around her shoulders. I looked like waves crashing around her body.
Argiess opened his mouth to say something when my internal alarm system pinged me. Groaning, I took another sip of my coffee then set the cup down. “I’ll be right back. I’m being paged.”
Grams was in front of me in an instant and was red around the edges like when she was angry. “You will not go out there, young lady.”
My mouth fell open and I stared at her for several seconds. This was so completely out of character for her and I was at a loss for words. My grams was serious about her role as the Portal Guardian. So much so that she set up a spell so I could bring her back from the other side.
At the time I had no idea how any of it was possible, but I’d learned enough through various conversations that it wasn’t simply a matter of having unfinished business. Grams had to cast spells on herself that went soul deep. That’s what I ended up calling back was her spirit.
That was nearly unheard of. The rebellion in Eidothea had been hunting for centuries upon centuries for a way to c
ast a spell on a soul. That was the way they felt they would beat Vodor. Their realm was losing its magic and would soon enough be out entirely. No one wanted to think about that possibility.
“Why would you say that to me? I have to answer the summons.”
Grams had her hands on her ample hips as she narrowed her eyes at me. The look made me feel like I’d disappointed her. It was something I had never handled well. Anytime I got that look I tripped over myself to make it better.
“You just killed the second most powerful being in the Fae Realm and you want to go say Hi? I thought I taught you better. You got sucked through last time you tried to repel a dark Fae.”
Her words stung and my mouth immediately wanted to snap You didn’t teach me shit. That’s why it’s been one battle after another since I discovered my magic. I bit that acerbic comment back and took a deep breath.
“You taught me to never shirk my duties. I’m the Portal Guardian now. What if it’s someone like Kairi who is being hunted by the King’s men? I have to go see who and what it is.” I softened my tone, hoping she heard the respect I had for her and her opinion.
Grams’s chest heaved as if she was panting, but she made no noise that indicated she even breathed. “I have been doing this a very long time, Fiona. Whoever is trying to get through means us harm. And you would know it if you paid attention to your summons.”
“Fair enough. How can I tune into intentions without being face to face?”
Grams lifted her head and smiled at me. “Follow the summons back to its source. You know it’s the portal because of experience, but you can trace it back and discover more.”
Closing my eyes, I tried to do exactly what she said. Nothing happened which didn’t surprise me at all. The intricacies of performing magic hadn’t come naturally to me. Once I figured something out though, I was able to cast the spell or access the source with ease, so I tried again. The second I latched onto the trail energy blasted through it and slammed into me.
I felt my body fly through the air at the same time dark energy scalded my veins. It hurt like a bitch and made me cry out. My eyes snapped open and I saw the island pass below me. My heart struggled to beat, and my lungs wanted to shut down. Before my mind could catch up with what was happening my back hit a corner and a loud crack filled the room.
Argiess was somehow in front of me and catching me before I hit the wood floor. Tears streamed down my face as I tried my hardest to suck in a breath. My lungs felt like deflated balloons in my chest.
Grams was in front of me and Aislinn and Violet were shouting something. Argiess carried me from the kitchen and to the living room. I cried out with every step he took. “I’m sorry, Fiona. Hang in there until I can set you on the couch.”
“She’s bluer than you are, Isidora. What do we do?” That was Violet’s frantic voice.
“Join hands and cast a spell to force her Fae side ascendant. It will heal her lungs before she dies.”
I heard my friends shout, “Ascendant Fae.” Warmth surrounded me at the same time Argiess set me on the soft cushion. It caused sharp pain to slice through my chest. I swear my heart stopped for several seconds.
Thankfully within seconds the pain lessened enough, and I was able to take in small gasps of air. Violet and Aislinn knelt in front of me with Argiess and Grams behind them. It took an eternity for me to suck in a full breath. The pain was horrendous, but it no longer threatened to make me black out.
“What…the…hell…was that?”
Grams had a frown on her face. “It was a trap like I was worried about. Vodor is powerful indeed if he was able to hit you through a source, he shouldn’t even be able to access.”
Sweat covered my body and nausea churned in my stomach while the pain receded at a snail’s pace. I was entirely too old for this crap. And unprepared for this magical twist. Even if I wanted to go back on my promise to help fight Vodor it wasn’t possible now.
He could reach me without ever leaving Eidothea. Guilt rose to join the party of nausea, agony and bile. He was likely making innocent Fae pay for me killing the Queen as I laid there struggling to stay alive.
“I’m sorry for questioning you, Grams. I don’t think I would have survived if I’d gone into the crypt.”
“You might not survive the night. He managed to take out most of the protections Pymm’s Pondside that have been built by countless generations of Shakletons.”
I sat up so fast I couldn’t even stop myself. Black spots danced in my vision and I lost my battle with bile, throwing up all over my lap. A decade later after the heaving died down, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
“Looks like we need to rebuild those first. I’ll just need a minute.” Or a year. That would work much better, but I didn’t think the Evil King would allow me the opportunity.
Authors’ Note
Review are like hugs. Sometimes awkward. Always welcome! It would mean the world to me if you can take five minutes and let others know how much you enjoyed my work.
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Never allow waiting to become a habit. Live your dreams and take risks. Life is happening now.
DREAM BIG!
XOXO,
Brenda
OTHER WORKS BY Brenda TRIM
The Dark Warrior Alliance
Dream Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 1)
Mystik Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 2)
Pema’s Storm (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 3)
Isis’ Betrayal (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 4)
Deviant Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 5)
Suvi’s Revenge (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 6)
Mistletoe & Mayhem (Dark Warrior Alliance, Novella)
Scarred Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 7)
Heat in the Bayou (Dark Warrior Alliance, Novella, Book 7.5)
Hellbound Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 8)
Isobel (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 9)
Rogue Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 10)
Shattered Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 11)
King of Khoth (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 12)
Ice Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 13)
Fire Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 14)
Ramiel (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 15)
Rivaled Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 16)
Dragon Knight of Khoth (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 17)
Ayil (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 18)
Guild Master (Dark Alliance Book 19)
Maven Warrior (Dark Alliance Book 20)
Sentinel of Khoth (Dark Alliance Book 21)
Araton (Dark Warrior Alliance Book 22)
Cambion Lord Araton (Dark Warrior Alliance Book 23)
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxsets:
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 1-4
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 5-8
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 9-12
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 13-16
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 17-20
Hollow Rock Shifters:
Captivity, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 1
Safe Haven, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 2
Alpha, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 3
Ravin, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 4
Impeached, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 5
Anarchy, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 6
Midlife Witchery:
Magical New Beginnings Book 1
Bramble’s Edge Academy:
Unearthing the Fae King
Masking the Fae King
Revealing the Fae King
Midnight Doms:
Her Vampire Bad Boy
Her Vampire Suspect
p; Brenda Trim, Mind Over Magical Matters: Paranormal women's Fiction (Midlife Witchery Book 2)
