Gerall took off down the drive running faster than he thought possible. He whipped his tunic over his head and continued onward. He breathed deep, barely catching her scent on the wind. He had to find her. Find her and make her his.
Chapter Fifteen
Eloa pulled away from her father. “What’s come over you?”
“Don’t you understand?” he said. “They kill dark fae. If you’ve become dark, we have to run.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Did anyone see? Does anyone know?”
“The Gwyns and Queen Cinder, but they won’t tell.”
“You can’t take the chance. I can’t take the chance. We must leave.”
“Leave and go where?” she asked. “We have no money, no family, nothing.”
He licked his lips. “There’s a place.”
“What place? You always said you had nowhere you could go.”
“A place for fae like us.”
Eloa’s heart thundered. “You mean... dark fae.”
He nodded. “After I ran from Ville DeFee a second time, I found them. Or rather they found me. They will take us in. Now come, pack only what you need. We must hurry.”
He moved about the hut grabbing a small bag and stuffing various items into it.
“Papa, where are they? The dark fae?”
“It’s too complicated to explain. Gather your things, and I’ll tell you on the way.”
Panic swept through her watching her father’s frenzied actions.
“I can’t go with you,” she said.
“Of course, you can. “They don’t care that you are only half-fae. They will welcome you as they welcomed me.”
“No. I mean, I won’t go with you. Gerall needs me. We’re to be married.”
Her father scoffed. “Married?”
“Yes. Before he... fell ill he asked me to marry him.”
“But you said he was poisoned. Surely, he’ll die soon. Better you leave him to his fate and come with me and secure yourself another who will provide for you.”
“I can’t. I... I love him.”
Her father stared at her for a moment. “And are you willing to die for that love? Because that’s what they’ll do when your dark fae side takes over, and you can’t control it. They will kill you.”
“You don’t know the Gwyns. They’ve changed.”
“Humans never change. Fae never change. Why do you think after all these years I’ve still had to stay hidden? Because people don’t change.”
Gerall wasn’t like that. At least, he wasn’t before. Now she didn’t know what he would be.
“I’ll help you pack,” she said. “But I’m not leaving with you father. I’m sorry.”
“Eloa—”
“You heard her; she isn’t leaving.” Gerall stepped into the hut. His skin had taken on an alabaster tone making his eyes that much brighter. His jawline had chiseled, and his glasses were nowhere in sight.
Eloa took him in for a moment. The air that surrounded him humming with power and strength.
His gaze traveled to her, and he held out his hand. She tentatively took a step toward him.
“No.” Her father yanked her back. “He’s been turned. He’s a vampire.”
Eloa slipped from her father’s grasp, her gaze never leaving Gerall’s face. “I know.”
She walked to Gerall and slid her hand into his cooler one. He gripped it tight and drew her into his side.
Half a dozen horses stopped and whinnied outside. Gerall sniffed the air and his eyes trained back on Eloa’s father.
“We’re leaving, and I suggest you do the same. My brothers have just arrived with Cinder.”
Her father looked past Gerall, then ran to his bed and dragged a large object out from under it. Eloa stared in disbelief. She’d never even known he stored anything under the bed. Her father whipped a sheet from it and pressed a red stone at the top.
“Home.” Without waiting, he jumped into the mirror.
“No!” Eloa ran at the mirror.
“Abirious!” a voice yelled from inside.
Gerall grabbed her around the waist and rolled her away, shielding her with his body as the mirror exploded, raining glass over the room.
The door burst inward, and the Gwyns stood weapons at the ready, staring at the scene. Eloa’s breathing came in erratic bursts. Gone. Her father had jumped into a mirror and vanished. He’d left her. She looked up at Gerall, who gazed at her sympathetically but strained.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Eloa sucked in a shuddered breath and hugged him tight. His cool skin permeated her body.
“Gerall,” said Erik. “Let her go.”
“You think I would hurt her?” Gerall’s arms wrapped around her tighter.
“No, I don’t. I just think that this is new for everyone and we’d all feel a little bit better if you came home with us.”
“Not without, Eloa.”
“Of course not.” Snow stepped between her brothers, pushing them out of the way. “As long as Eloa is comfortable with that, no one is going to keep her from you.”
Snow’s gaze connected with Eloa’s, and she could see the question in her eyes.
“I have nothing holding me here anymore.” Eloa linked her fingers with Gerall’s. “Let’s go home.”
He took a step forward, and the brothers backed up. Only Snow stood her ground.
The group walked out of the hut. The brothers tense and unsure, Snow confident and at Gerall’s left side, with Eloa at his right.
All around them, Westfall slept as they made their way toward the street where the horses waited like grim reapers of the night.
Hass and Ian arrived from between two houses. “We couldn’t find Adrian.”
“He might have already gone back to Wolvenglen.”
“Let’s get Gerall home and then we’ll send someone to make sure.” Erik pulled his steed forward. “You and Eloa take my horse. I’ll ride with Jamen.”
Gerall nodded and took the reins. He helped Eloa onto the horse and then turned it around. He looked around the village and breathed deeply.
“Come,” said Eloa. “I’m exhausted.”
Gerall put his foot in the stirrup and then heaved himself up. He went to flip his leg over the horse and stopped. His head whipped around.
“What is it?” she asked.
Gerall jumped from the horse in a flash and ran flat out toward the church.
“Shite.” Erik and Jamen jumped from the back of their horse and chased after Gerall, but Snow moved fastest. A scream rang out in the church, then another, and another. Hass and Ian raced for the church as a chill swept over Eloa. Lights turned on in several huts behind businesses that lined the streets.
Not good.
Gerall grabbed the magistrate from where he hid in Father Ohana’s storeroom and flung him into the chapel. Magistrate Jopin scrambled away on his hands and knees.
“You tried to kill me,” Gerall said.
“My Lord, I promise you I did not.”
“Charlie said you gave him the poisoned blade that he stabbed me with.”
“I... I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
Gerall’s anger flared deep inside him. He leapt on the magistrate, pinning him to the ground.
“Please, stop!” the magistrate’s wife cried.
“I can smell your fear. Your lies are like burnt ash on my tongue. Tell the truth, and I might let you live.”
“I- I- I did give Charlie a knife, but I didn’t know it was poisoned. It wasn’t mine. It was given to me.”
“By whom?”
“The man who wants the Gwyns out of Westfall told me if I helped him, I would be able to take your place as Lord.”
Gerall grabbed Jopin by the collar. “Who?”
“He’ll kill me.”
Gerall’s fangs descended into his mouth. “I’ll kill you if you don’t.”
Eloa rushed to Gerall’s side. “Gerall, let him go.”
<
br /> “For the sake of the gods tell him,” yelled Mrs. Jopin.
“It was—”
A flash of light burst into the room blinding Gerall. He dropped the magistrate to the ground and covered his eyes. A strangled scream emanated, and then the light dimmed. On the floor, Jopin and his wife writhed in pain.
Eloa tugged Gerall away. “What is it? What’s doing that?”
Cinder pushed through the crowd. “Magick.”
The Jopins foamed at the mouth. Cinder ran to them and placed her hands on their chests. The couple’s eyes bugged out of their heads, and then their tongues turned black.
“Can you do anything?” asked Gerall.
Cinder closed her eyes and concentrated. “I… I can’t stop it. It’s not fae magick.” She opened her eyes and looked at Erik. “It’s mage magick.”
Finally, the Jopin’s forms shriveled, and they lay still on the floor. Dead. Cinder stood and backed away from them.
Silence permeated the room.
Finally, a shriek rang out, and the group turned to find a crowd of villagers standing in the doorway. Murmurs and fearful whispers spread across the throng.
“Move aside, please. Move aside.” Father Ohana pressed into the church. He looked between the dead bodies and the crowd inside. His gaze finally landed on Gerall.
“Vampire,” he said. “You did this. You killed them.”
“No,” said Gerall. “I didn’t.”
Father Ohana looked at Snow. “And you, a vampire as well.”
Snow stood soundly, not bothering to deny it.
He turned on Cinder. “A fae. And that one, Eloa, the baker’s daughter, a dark fae.”
Gerall wrapped a protective arm around Eloa’s shoulders.
The murmurs grew louder around the villagers.
“All of you,” said Father Ohana. “Abominations to the Lord. When I buried your brother Kellan in a secret ceremony, I knew there was something off with the Gwyns, but I never imagined that you had fallen so far.”
“That’s enough,” said Erik. “We are the Lords of these lands, and you have no right to speak to us so.”
“I have every right. I speak for the people of this village. For my parishioners who look to me for guidance. What have you done for Westfall?” He looked to the crowd outside. “Look what has become of the Gwyn family and decide for yourselves. Do you want to be ruled by immortal men who have fallen from grace, or do you want to be ruled by the gods’ words?”
Erik advanced on Father Ohana. “You are done in Westfall. As of this day, you and your church are no longer supported by the Gwyns. Your church will be closed, and you are to move on.”
“No,” said someone in the crowd. “You can’t do that. You can’t remove the gods from Westfall.”
“The gods left Westfall a long time ago,” replied Flint. “What this man peddles is no more than falsehoods and slavery.”
“Blasphemy,” said someone.
“Blasphemy,” cried another.
Soon the entire crowd chanted the word, louder and louder with Father Ohana standing smug as ever.
It’s him, thought Gerall. Father Ohana is the one behind all of it.
“Enough,” Erik yelled. “We are Lords of this land, and if you wish to stay here, then you will go back to your homes and forget this false religion. Otherwise, you may leave with him.”
Snow stepped forward and lay her hand on Erik’s arm. “Brother, maybe we should think about this.”
Erik pulled away. “I am Lord Gwyn of Westfall and as I say, so shall it be. I will not be ruled by peasants and charlatans.” He turned to Father Ohana. “You have until morning to leave. We will be back to make sure you have.”
A series of screams pulled their attention to the door. The crowd scrambled outside as Erik and the others pushed their way through to the street.
In the middle stood two enormous wolves. The larger of the two limped slightly as he made his way toward the emaciated looking gray wolf.
“That must be Fendrick,” said Hass.
“Doesn’t look so good,” finished Ian.
Fendrick spotted the gathering crowd and growled. He bared his teeth and the hairs on his neck raised. Adrain moved forward, and Fendrick’s head swung toward Adrian as if Adrian had said something.
“We should do something,” said Gerall.
“Yes,” announced Father Ohana. “Do something.”
“Kill them,” someone yelled.
“Get a pitchfork,” called another.
“No!” Erik commanded. “Leave them be.” He stepped between the crowd and Adrian.
“So you Gwyns are the reason there are wolves in our town. Look at them, ready to tear us apart,” Father Ohana continued.
“Shut it,” yelled Jamen. “King Adrian would never hurt anyone.”
“Another friend of yours?” someone yelled.
A large man with a club stepped forward.
Gerall pushed Eloa behind him, and she grabbed onto the sleeve of his tunic. Gerall tensed, and his gums ached. The scent of so many people had his throat burning and ready to drink them all dry.
“Everyone should go home,” said Erik. “We can handle this.” He tried to motion people to disperse, but no one moved.
Adrian continued toward Fendrick who looked between the man with the club and Erik.
The man with the club took a step forward and raised the club above his head. “You can’t protect us anymore. Only the gods are on our side now.”
Others in the crowd agreed, and Father Ohana began to recite a verse. Fendrick growled as the group moved slowly forward.
“Stop!” commanded Erik. Jamen, and the twins, as well as Snow, formed a barricade between the crowd and the wolves.
Cinder marched forward. “Do not do this. Don’t you people have any decency? Your Lords have given you a command.”
“Are they your Lords?” asked Father Ohana. “Are these heathens the ones you want ruling your country?”
The man with the club tensed and then ran straight at Erik. Gerall flew to Erik’s side, grabbed the man, and tossed him across the road. Fendrick growled as the man with the club landed near him and then jumped to his feet. He took a step toward Fendrick, but Adrian snarled and lunged at the man, and the man turned and ran at Adrian. He swung at Adrian, and Fendrick jumped on the man’s back, knocking him to the ground. A woman screamed, and the crowd backed up as Fendrick ripped the man’s throat out. Suddenly the air around Adrian shimmered, and in a flash, he resumed his human form. He grabbed Fendrick around the middle and lifted him off the downed man.
“Fendrick, stop. Stop!”
Fendrick clawed and gnashed at Adrian.
Erik tried to step in, but Adrian warned him to stay back. Adrian fell backward, still holding on to Fendrick and then rolled on top of him.
“Fendrick, calm yourself. No one is going to hurt you. I’ve come to take you to Hanna.”
The wolf stopped thrashing.
“Hanna. You want to get back to Hanna and your children.”
Fendrick whined.
“Let’s go home. Brother. It’s over. You’re safe.”
Fendrick’s shape shifted and elongated into a man. “Mmmmmmy…. Ccccchhhhhildren.”
“They’re safe. The men didn’t hurt them.”
Fendrick’s body shook as he began to sob.
Erik turned to the crowd. “Magistrate Jopin and one of his constituents kidnapped this man from his family. They brought him here. Beat and starved him. Do I know these men? Yes. They are close friends of our family and Fendrick did what was necessary to protect his brother and king, Adrian. You here tonight can spread the word. The Gwyns have friends all over Fairelle. Friends that will not hesitate to defend us from any threat to our position.”
Gerall scanned the crowd for Father Ohana and spotted him toward the back of the group, looking on,
“Gwyns have ruled Fairelle for over one hundred years, and we won’t be bullied or removed from our duty by a few power
-hungry ruffians. All the protection payments will stop, as well. If anyone in Westfall is seen pressuring shopkeepers for money, they will be hung for treason.”
A murmur sounded around the crowd, and several people clapped. Gerall kept his eyes on Father Ohana as he crept back toward the church.
“Go now,” said Erik. “We will take care of this. But spread the word. There will be no more falsehoods. No more charlatans. No more shake downs. No more bribes. The Gwyns will not tolerate any more oppression of those in our charge.”
Gerall held out his hand to Eloa who had huddled near Cinder. She raced to him, and he kissed her head as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
The crowd slowly dispersed and Jamen walked to Adrian, draping a cloak around his shoulders. Hass pulled off his tunic and held it out to Fendrick.
“No… thank you. I don’t need it.”
“You run home,” said Adrian.
“You… you aren’t coming?”
“I’ll catch up in a minute.”
Fendrick licked his lips and looked at the dead man on the ground. “I… didn’t mean to… He attacked you and I just couldn’t-”
Adrian touched his forehead to Fendrick’s. “It’s all right brother. You saved me.”
“Hanna won’t like it.”
“She will understand. You hurry back to her. You’ve been gone so long, and she is desperate to have you home.”
Fendrick nodded. “Hanna.” He transformed in an instant and flipped to his feet. Adrian let go of him, and Fendrick took off toward the woods.
“Where did you find him?” asked Erik.
“Under the magistrate’s garden in the storm cellar.”
“Was there a girl there? A vampire girl?”
Adrain shook his head. “I’ll be able to find out more in a few days when Fendrick has calmed down a bit.”
Erik nodded.
Adrian handed the cloak back to Jamen. “I should go. I don’t want Fendrick getting any ideas of coming back to get revenge.”
Gerall's Festivus Bride Page 14
