Keeper: Book 3 A Realms of the Otherworld Book (Realms of the Otherworld Book Series)

by Jana LaPelle

  Upon hearing that she practically bounces up and down and she smiles a scary, toothy grin, “So ye be willing to succumb to the wisp to save the púca?”

  “Uhmm… Not exactly, something a little less self-sacrificing. I want you and your clan to travel to The Horde King and seek an audience with him. Tell him that his solas has sent you to him and that you seek refuge until which time I can determine what can be done for your kind. Tell him that if he refuses to follow my wishes I will be very angry with him and he will not get to visit with his niece and nephew until I grant him leave. That should do it. But you have to promise me that you will not…”

  I’m interrupted by their screeches of dismay. Where there were just six or seven, we are now surrounded by quite a number of these tiny dark fae, their teeth gnashing together in their anger, their posture aggressive at not getting what they want. I know now that there will be no talking to the púca or their will-o’-the-wisp, they want what they want, and we need to hightail it out of here. I squeak, “Alaric.”

  “Trace, Jaz!” Alaric demands, and the next moment we are back to the point where I parted ways with everyone. “Run… Everyone, run, we need to get the hell out of here now. Follow Tolin!” Alaric shouts.

  Jasmine flies by as fast as her little wings will carry her and yells, “The púca clan is after Ashlinn.”

  Alaric has me in a death grip, I know that he will not let go of me if he thinks I’m in danger, so I turn, molding myself into his hold to make it easier on him as we dash through the stone forest. He clasps me close, and I look over his shoulder to see a horde of púca. I thought she said their numbers were dwindling?! What a lying little wench. How the hell did they get here so fast? My anger bubbles to the surface at being seen as a prize possession. As we race through the stone outcroppings with me wrapped around Alaric, I turn to my enemy and begin to volley fireballs in their direction which does not have the desired effect. They easily side step my attempts to keep them at bay, and I notice just how freaky fast they are. I cling to Alaric as he races through the stones following in everyone’s footsteps. That’s when I call the fire element to rise up as a wall behind us. That should hold them for a bit.

  Through our link, Alaric says, “Their too fast. We need to shift. Are you ready?”

  “Yes, I’m ready. Now Alaric!”

  In one seamless motion, I’m no longer in Alaric’s arms. He has launched me high into the air, and I allow the shift to my panther form to wash over me. I flip in mid-air to land on all four legs. One glance to the side of me and I see that Alaric’s shift is complete. I look behind me to see that the firewall I created is overrun with púca and has all but dissolved. It did not deter them in the slightest. I shift my attention to following Tolin and the rest of my group dodging stone pillars this way and that as I catch up to everyone ahead of us. I see that the stone pillars are thinning and not as tightly grouped and there is more light coming from in front of us. My feline muscles bunch and flex and instinct tells me that we’re almost clear of this wicked place but before we can celebrate my panther is overrun by more than a handful of púca and their sharp gnashing teeth, their will-o’-the-wisp swirling around us as they cling to my panther hide, trying to pull me back into the depths of their accursed domain. My panther roars in outrage and turns to swipe her claws and bat the offending little creatures away from us. Instinct takes over, and my panther lets out a mighty roar before clamping down on another of our attackers, slinging them to the side. I watch as the púca slams into one of the stone pillars with a sickening crack, and it lets out an agonizing screech of pain. With every bite they take into my hide, my strength begins to fail me. Chuffing, we continue to lope toward the desert that awaits us. Now that we are on the outskirts of the forest my Guardians turn, drawing their weapons and their attack on my assailants begins. From the corner of my eye, I see Tolin morph into his berserker form, and he lets loose a battle cry that should have the little demons quaking in their skin.

  Alaric’s panther is at my side, and he bites down on the vicious little demons clinging to my back, causing them to shriek in pain before shaking them off. All the while I continue to lurch toward the barren land at the edge of the stone pillars. I’m vaguely aware of the driving rain now that we are no longer sheltered by the rock giants. Alaric’s roar has some of the púca releasing their grip on me. Our pace begins to slow and my panther staggers, feeling lethargic and its then that I realize that there has to be venom in their bites, enough to immobilize my ass. We struggle to keep our wits about us as we stumble toward freedom. In one mighty roar, we break free of the confines of the stone forest, that nightmare of a place. As soon as we break free the púca release their hold on my panther and scramble back to the cover of their domain, screeching in anger and outrage as I slip from their grasp. My panther collapses on the wet ground panty heavily. Our vision swimming and through a drunken-like haze, I blink trying to keep the rain out of my eyes, and I make out Tolin, Camoryn, Dray, and Nemus brandishing their swords as they fight off what is left of the vile little creatures. Alaric’s panther staggers toward me blood dripping from his maw and collapses next to me, and my vision begins to fade. The last thing I feel is my shift from my panther form and then the driving rain and hail pelting my overly hot flesh.

  (Ashlinn)

  My body is a raging inferno, and I’m completely paralyzed. I can’t even open my eyes. If I could scream in agony, I would, but my suffering is relegated to mental anguish. The rain continues its assault, thank the gods, I’m thankful for its cooling touch. I sense that we are moving, but I’m not sure how. I also sense that Alaric is not yet conscious and in my state of paralysis he is the only one that I can communicate with. The only thing that makes sense at this point is that the púca’s venom is burning through my system and if that is the case then Alaric is suffering the same fate as I am. The only thing that I can do at this point is to try to concentrate on what is going on around me as I suffer in silence. Tuning into my surroundings I can hear a conversation taking place below me, that’s odd. Then I hear a snort that reminds me of Dray’s dragon. He must have shifted, and that is how Alaric and I are being carried. We must be on his back, and with that realization, I can now vaguely feel his ambling gait.

  “I’m worried. They’ve been out for a couple of hours now. Maybe we need to trace back to the Keep.” I hear Camoryn say, “Hell, they haven’t even moved so much as an eyelid, and they’re burning up with fever.”

  “I’m with Cam on that, neither of them look very good, they’re both a pasty gray color. I’m sure if the rain were to let up they would be wringing wet with sweat.” Tolin chimes in.

  “Gah, there is nothing more miserable than walking in soppy wet shoes, thank the goddess that the hail let up.” Jasmine quips, “Guys, I’m sure that Nemus would let us know if we need to take them back to the Keep. I really don’t want to chance us tracing out of here, only to realize that Lugh’s domain is warded and we can’t get back to this point. Ashlinn and Alaric would kill all of us if we made her go back through the púca’s territory again. We should take our Druid’s counsel.”

  Nemus’ deep voice joins in on the conversation, “As I have explained, there are various stages to how the púca’s venom works. The first stage is to knock the victim out, and that could last several hours or half a day or more. Did you see how many bites each of them bore? It could be hours yet before their bodies work through the first stage. The next stage is a state of paralysis. The victim will be conscious but unable to move any part of their body at all. We will have no way of knowing if either of them has made it to that stage. The fever is completely normal as their bodies fight off the venom in their system, but be aware, from what I’m told it can be quite painful.” Nemus concludes.

  If I could scream my agony to the heavens, I would, but I’m locked inside my body with no way out. If your body feeling like it’s on fire accompanied with what feels like thousands of tiny razor-sharp stabs is considered painful, then y
es, this stage is quite excruciating. I would like nothing more than to go back to sleep and unconsciously allow my body to fight this battle but how can I get that message to my companions. That’s when it hits me, the blood majic binding spell. Just maybe I can use it to nudge Jasmine to my wishes for Alaric and me. I call out to her mentally, “Jaz, please hear me. Jasmine!” I mentally shout. By the goddess, this has to work.

  “That’s weird,” I hear Jasmine say.

  “What is it?” Cam’s voice rings with concern.

  “Nothing, it’s just been a trying day, and we haven’t even been gone all that long.”

  Desperate, I try again, “Jasmine!” I think as loudly as I can and then project the thought of Alaric and me in pain.

  “Ashlinn? Guys, is it possible that Ashlinn is trying to reach out to me? This is the second time in as many minutes that I have felt as though she is trying to communicate with me. Nemus, I think she’s conscious and in a lot of pain. We have to do something.” Jasmine says in agitation.

  Before anyone can react, I project as loudly as I can to Jasmine, “Healing sleep.”

  Jasmine is fluttering right above me when I hear her say, “Nemus, they need to be put into a healing sleep. Why didn’t we think of that?”

  The next few moments sound like a flurry of activity, and then I hear Nemus begin his druid chanting and sleep pulls me into its inviting embrace, and I welcome it.

  Chapter 15

  (Alaric)

  I’m jerked awake as tremors wrack through me. My entire body aches and I just lay here on my back, which is throbbing, and take stock of myself and then my surroundings. There’s water nearby. I hear it lapping against the shore. Ashlinn is lying beside me, and I sense that she is well. She’s just exhausted and in a healing sleep. I have no recollection of anything after leaping out of the stone forest to get to Ashlinn. The last thing I remember thinking was that Ashlinn was hurt and I needed to get to her and then I collapsed in my panther form beside her as the rain and hail beat down on us. After that… it was lights out.

  The simple act of sitting up is enough to elicit a groan. I slowly look around and see that it’s just before dawn and everyone is getting some sleep except for Dray, who is in dragon form and keeping guard. He gives a brief snort acknowledging me and then lays his massive head back down again. The weather is mild, and we appear to be camped under the stars, which is odd to me because I remember it being a torrential downpour. Standing, I stretch to try to work out the kinks in my back and shoulders, my clothes still damp.. There is a dull throbbing ache coming from multiple places across my back, shoulders, and neck which is probably the leftover remnants of the púca bites. Vicious little creatures, Tarron and I are going to have to have a talk about that particular dark fae race. Their desire to acquire Ashlinn’s essence is not something that can go unchecked.

  In the distance, I can see storm clouds, and it would appear that we are in what looks to be the eye of the storm. The light of day is beginning to bleed into the star-filled sky above. Not much can be seen on the horizon due to the storm clouds in the distance.

  Lorcan steps up to my side, he is an elf of few words, and for a moment we just stand there looking out over the enormous lake before he speaks, “You can’t see it just yet, but the water in the lake is a brilliant pink. I’ve never seen anything like it. I think Ashlinn will be amazed by the sight of it. I know I was.”

  The start to our conversation takes me by surprise, “Pink? You say?”

  “Just you wait.” He pauses before continuing, “Glad you’re awake, we were really worried about the two of you, even though Nemus assured us that your bodies would eventually burn through the venom.”

  “I have the foggiest memory of feeling as if my blood was boiling and my body was on fire, but I can’t be sure if that was a dream or what. How long were we out?”

  “Just the rest of the day yesterday, after we escaped the stone forest, the púca and their wisp, Dray shifted and was able to carry you both on his back while we trudged over a barren and rocky terrain. You really didn’t miss much. Except for Jasmine complaining about having to walk in wet shoes, for a water sprite you would think that wouldn’t be an issue.”

  About that time I hear someone else behind me, and I turn to see Tolin striding this way. His long hair is a mess, and he’s busy pulling it back and up into a top knot to get it out of his face. I turn to check on Ashlinn and make sure that she’s comfortable. I also want to see how her bites are healing. Before I get to my mate, Tolin claps me on the back making me wince.

  “My bad, A, I thought you were healed up and as good as new. Maybe one of us should take a look at your back and see how you’re healing. I don’t mind confessing that we were really worried about the two of you. How is it that someone so tiny can find such big trouble?”

  “I have no idea, T, but if she keeps getting into scrapes like yesterday, I’m going to lock her up in an majic infused tower and throw away the key. I’m not sure how much more I or my panther can handle,” sighing, I slowly shrug out of my vest and ask, “How does it look?”

  Lorcan just whistles but Tolin’s grimace tells me all I need to know before he says, “It looks like the púca were trying to have you for their mid-day meal. I never knew they were so vicious.”

  Shaking my head, I say, “Neither did I, I need the two of you to keep your attention away from Ashlinn and me. I need to get her out of her top and vest so I can see to her wounds.”

  “Will do, we need to wake everyone else anyhow.” Tolin and Lorcan move back to their sleeping pallets and begin packing up while everyone else begins to stir.

  Kneeling beside Ashlinn, I quickly remove her vest and top and gently roll her onto her stomach. My jaw clenches as I grind my teeth together, and my hands ball into a tight fist at the sight of the many bite marks up and down her back. My anger quickly abates. I have a lot of work to do. Venomous bites are tricky and what is left of the venom in both of us is pumping through our bloodstream. It’s not as easy as closing the wounds. That can only be done once the venom has been filtered from the bloodstream and the wound is free from infection. Laying my hands on her back, I allow my healing majic to direct me, closing my eyes I’m able to detect the venom and direct it to the kidneys. Once the venom has been filtered from her blood and is contained, it will soon be expelled. I then move on to the wounds which I see are beginning to set up infection. My hands warm and each of the wounds begin to weep as the infection is forced out. Now that the infection has been dealt with, my hands warm again, and I’m able to visualize the knitting together of the ragged flesh of her wounds. Sitting back, I take a look at the now smooth, flawless skin of her back and breathe a weary sigh of relief.

  Jasmine kneels down on the other side of Ashlinn, and with a cloth and water, she quickly washes her back. Together we dress her and roll her over to her back before she begins to stir. I cup her cheek in my hand and brush my thumb over her lips as her eyes flutter open. “I do so love your eyes Ashlinn. Welcome back, mo grá.” I say and lean down to capture her bottom lip in my own and gently suck and swipe my tongue across the seam of her mouth. Ashlinn moves to deepen the kiss and throws her arms around me, and I flinch as she comes in contact with the open wounds on my back.

  Pulling back, she narrows her eyes before growling, “Let me see your back. How long have you been awake?”

  “Ash, it’s nothing to worry about, I’m just healing a little slowly.”

  “You don’t flinch, ever. Turn around for me, please. I want to see what those little demons did to you. Now, Alaric!” She demands, now fully awake, her panther near the surface.

  I sigh as her tone does not leave much room for any argument. Honestly, I’m too worn out to attempt the verbal banter. I know she’s going to be angry when she sees my back, just like I was to see her wounds. I turn slowly to face the rest of our companions as they continue about their business. I hear Ashlinn’s sharp intake of breath before her gentle fingers ever so lightly t
ouch the tender flesh around the wounds. My flinch was involuntary, even the lightest touch causes the wounds to throb.

  “Alaric, why did you not heal yourself?” She asks as she steps into my view, “Don’t you dare say that you had to heal me first, I was in a healing sleep. Once Nemus cast the spell I was no longer in pain, I would have healed.”

  “Ash, it would have taken far too long for you to heal and wake, time we don’t have. I healed you because we need to get moving and because your wounds were becoming infected.” I realize what she just said and ask, “What do you mean, no longer in pain.”

  She groans and rubs her hands down her face and says, “That’s neither here nor there.” Sighing, she relents, “Stubborn Elf-Man,” she mutters. “You need to heal yourself now.”

  “Ash, I used up most of my energy reserves to heal you, it will be a while before I’m able to take care of my own wounds. It’s okay, I’ll manage.” Turning to put my vest back on and intending to put this conversation behind us, I don’t anticipate Ashlinn thumping me on the back of the head.

  “Listen here Elf-Man, you don’t get to walk around with open wounds on your back not knowing what we will face next. Now take the energy from me that you need to heal.”

  Damn, she’s cute when she gets mad like this, and I can’t help the grin that tugs at the right corner of my mouth.