by Lynn Landes
Contents
Book One- Fae Queen
Book Two- Shadow King
Book Three- Kiss of the Herald
Followlynnsthread.com
Amazon Author Page
The Fae Series
Lynn Landes
Fae Queen
Book 1
Lynn Landes
Fae Queen
By:
Lynn Landes
Published by:
Lynn Landes
Edited by:
Shane Landes
Cover art by:
http://amdesignstudios.net/
Copyright © 2014 by Lynn Landes
[email protected]
http://followlynnsthread.wordpress.com/
All rights reserved.
Other titles by Lynn Landes:
Dust & Dreams
Stolen Dreams
Perilous Dreams
The Angels Covenant
Covenant Breakers
Blood Covenant
Shadow King
Serenity’s Song
Arctic Moon
Secret Friends
Kiss of the Herald
Dragon Singer
This book is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, and events portrayed in this novel are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
License Notes:
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, recommend them to the Kindle website where they can purchase a copy.
Thank you for respecting the author’s hard work, and please enjoy.
Chapter 1
Caderyn hangs up the phone with a huge smile on her face and laughs.
“A secret fairy garden for a child!” She leaps from the chair and does a dance around her small studio. After college, she worked for a large landscape design company for five years, building contacts and learning the ropes. The beauty of her face, porcelain skin, lush lips, and long dark brown hair often meant that the contractors she worked with underestimated her. At five foot three, her lush curves frequently caused a problem. They wanted to either treat her like a fragile flower or bed her. Her granddad used to call her his ‘Tiger Lily,’ because of her strong personality. Caderyn’s fierce determination empowered her to start her own company and Secret Garden Designs was her baby. To save on overhead, she works long hours from a studio in her home. Hopefully, someday she will be able to expand but for now, she is content.
This new client is offering several landscape designers in the local Virginia area a chance to bid on the job. If she gets the contract, it will enable her to compete with the big boys! With resolve in her chocolate eyes, she stands.
“Five days to come up with a plan that will knock their socks off and decimate the competition. I can do this!” Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she walks to her desk and gets started on a basic layout.
Two hours later, she has a simple plan sketched out, but it needs some pizzazz. She taps her pencil on her teeth while she thinks. The client wants a life-sized fairy garden, for a six-year-old little girl, which, Caderyn thinks shouldn’t be that difficult. Up until now, she has only ever seen fairy gardens in miniature… a huge smile spreads; she knows just what to do. She will design a 3D miniature fairy garden filled with all the elements they are looking for and give them a design which will grow with the child. The model must be perfect. No one else will think to bring an actual model that will double as a gift.
Caderyn goes to the internet to search for miniature garden supplies and finds a shop in a small town just outside of D.C. After a phone call and discussion with the owner, she decides to go shopping.
“Fairy Mary’s Cottage. Seriously, Fairy Mary?” Grabbing her keys, Caderyn slips on a jacket and heads for the door.
An hour later, she pulls up in front of Fairy Mary’s Cottage and jumps out of her jeep. Sketchpad in hand, she’s excited to see the stock they carry. Before her hand touches the door, it opens, and Caderyn is greeted by the oldest fairy on the planet.
“Well, hello down there!” Fairy Mary says.
Fairy Mary stands elegant, at six feet tall, in a flowing silver dress that blows in the breeze. Flower clips hold her long silver hair up on the sides, allowing the beauty of her face to be seen more clearly. She smiles, and her green eyes sparkle with mischief, as she steps out into the sun. Caderyn is shocked speechless, by the large butterfly wings on her back. They flutter in the afternoon breeze, and the sun glints off the purple, silver, and blue colors! Her wrinkled eyes laugh at the shocked look on Caderyn’s face.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Please excuse my attire; I’m hosting a birthday party later. Fairy Mary could not show up without her wings!” She says with a laugh.
“No, you are stunning. I mean, wow! I was not expecting to see a real-life fairy. Excuse my shock, please. I’m Caderyn, we spoke on the phone,” she holds out her hand.
Mary takes her hand and says, “Of course you are, come in.”
The sound of soft music greets her ears. A harp plays softly in the background, and stepping into the room, Caderyn is transfixed. The cottage style shop is set up with miniature gardens of every kind. Butterflies and dragonflies made of chiffon, hang from the ceiling and dance in the breeze. The sound of a waterfall soothes as it trickles over rocks and under bridges. Fascinated, Caderyn is drawn to one garden in particular. Lured by a bright, cobalt blue sparkle. It catches her eye and walking towards it, she reaches her hand out to touch the tiny gazing ball in the center of the garden.
“Please, don’t touch.” Fairy Mary says sharply.
Caderyn jumps, “I’m sorry. It’s just so beautiful.” Caderyn looks closely at it, and her eyes widen in surprise. “I thought I saw smoke swirling inside of it. I have used many larger versions in my garden designs, but I have never seen one with movement inside.”
“Forgive me, they are very fragile. This one came from Europe. It would be impossible to replace. The design gives the viewer the impression of movement.” Fairy Mary replies, watching her with a thoughtful expression.
“It’s lovely. Your shop is amazing! I have never seen anything like this.” Caderyn says with a smile.
“Thank you, I must say I am excited to work with you on this project. I have many clients that would love a life-sized fairy garden, as you can see, the miniature versions are elaborate. Fairy gardening unleashes the inner child and brings a fairy tale to life in one’s own yard. It’s in that spirit that I opened my shop.” Fairy Mary says.
“I understand perfectly. I love landscape design because I’m limited only by my imagination, and of course the budget.” Caderyn smiles gently, feeling like she has met a kindred spirit.
“Let’s go this way.” Mary walks to a sunroom towards the back of the shop, and Caderyn follows. She smiles in delight when she sees a tea service set up for two.
“Would you join me for tea, Caderyn, while I look over your design?” She asks, gesturing for her to have a seat.
“That would be wonderful, thank you,” she sits down with a contented sigh.
“Caderyn is an unusual name; tell me how you came by it,” Mary asks as she pours her tea.
“I was named after my grandmother, she was Welsh. It means battle king. My grandparents raised me after my parents died.” Caderyn looks away, as a wave of pain rushes over her. Six months ago, both of her grandparents died within weeks of each other, leaving her truly alone for the first time in her life.
A soft
hand touches hers, and looking up, she sees sympathy in her green eyes. “It is a gift to be given the name of one’s ancestors. Such a strong name must be given carefully.” She says caringly.
Not sure what to say, Caderyn sips her tea and enjoys the music. She reaches into her bag and retrieves her sketchpad, handing it to Mary. “Here’s the design, please be honest.” Fairy Mary looks at the design and then up at her in delight.
“This is lovely; you have a great eye for detail. It looks so real. I can almost imagine walking down the path and stumbling across the garden. We should get started!”
Two hours later, Caderyn loads her jeep with her purchases and hugs her new friend goodbye. “Thank you for your help, Mary. This is going to be perfect! I will send you pictures if I get the contract.”
“I know you will, they would be foolish to let you get away. If you need any more help, please; feel free to call me.” Fairy Mary watches until the jeep slips out of view, then spins with her butterfly wings flapping, and flutters off to greet her party guests that have arrived.
Chapter 2
Caderyn puts her packages on the kitchen table of her small bungalow and decides to make coffee. It’s going to be a long night, she thinks. The phone rings, and she looks at it the caller id and smiles.
“Hey, you!” she hears her best friend, Jazmin say, “All work and no play, bores me to death! Go out with me tonight,” she begs.
“I can’t. Jaz you won’t believe it, I met a fairy!” The next twenty minutes she spends telling her about Fairy Mary and the contract. Best friends since college, Jaz has always supported her dreams. She works as a travel agent during the day and sings in clubs every chance she gets. She has a smoky, sexy voice, and the body to go with it.
With a loud sigh, Jaz says, “I guess I understand, but you are twenty-six now. How are you going to find prince charming if you never go out?” She demands.
“Prince Charming? Jaz, I stopped believing in him a long time ago. When you find him, let me know, okay?” She teases with a laugh and hangs up. She did date, occasionally. Her time has been consumed the last six months with getting her business off the ground. This job is the perfect opportunity to make her mark.
Unpacking her supplies, she sets each piece aside to organize later, and she finds one miniature that she did not buy. Wrapped in white tissue paper and tied with a note that says:
“Please accept this piece to begin your journey into the world of Enchanted Fae Gardens.” It’s the blue gazing globe from Mary’s garden.
Holding it at eye height, she looks at the three-inch-tall piece and is amazed at the intricacy of the design. The pedestal is a swirled resin design, painted white and resting on top is a perfectly flawless, cobalt, blue crystal gazing ball.
“Beautiful!” she says as she sets it on the fireplace mantle. This will be a perfect inspiration she thinks with a smile. As she turns away to get busy, she does not see the smoke swirl inside the marble-sized sphere.
Chapter 3
Caderyn sleeps as a blue mist seeps from the sphere and wraps its way around her mind. She dreams of two shooting stars, dancing across heaven. They spin, twirling and circling each other. One blazes red with fire and laughs as he chases the cool mist of his sister’s trail.
Singed by the intensity of her brother’s heat, she changes direction and hurtles towards the Earth. She hears it, the call of her soul. The music beats a rhythm luring her home, and she dashes towards it. Her brother watches as she races away and joins in the chase.
When she tries to enter the Earth’s atmosphere, her light begins to fade. He speeds up and begins whirling around her, enveloping her in his protective heat. As the inferno surrounds the blue star, she whispers, “Faster brother, faster!” Together they burst across the night sky.
Caderyn runs with her bare feet skimming the dewy grass, and she tries to keep up with the stars. With her face lifted to the heavens above, she smiles watching them as they break through. The concussion sends a shock wave, echoing through the night and blowing Caderyn from her feet, just before she reaches the Vale.
The Fae are ready. They’ve waited a millennium to meet the new Fae Queen. They watch in awe as the stars separate and race towards their people. A hush falls over the crowd as the twin souls try to enter the Vale. Never before in the history of time, have a King and Queen been sent at the same time! Her brother senses the danger and just before they strike the mist, he wraps his soul around hers, protecting her from the poison. She breaks through the barrier, screaming in agony as she feels his soul ripped from his body. The Fae fall to the ground in reverence, and then watch as she runs and captures his spirit in her hands. She turns intending to save her brother’s body, but she’s too late. His last act of protection was to prevent her from crossing through to the other side. She stands with her long red hair flowing around her shoulders, the color of the flame that protected her. The sorrow in her soul rips through the crowd and they all rise and join her in grief.
He steps from the darkness, laughing at the sorrow on her face. The Fae Queen stands with mourning in her purple eyes and watches as the betrayer picks up her brother’s body.
“I offer a trade, Fae Queen. Pardon me! Let me come home, and I will give you your brother’s body. He will rot without his soul. Although, I’m sure I could find a suitable replacement. There are always shadows, in need of a body.”
Caderyn moves silently to the cover of a large tree. She stares at the body and feels the pain radiating from the Queen. He was protecting his sister, and now he’s a pawn in this sick game, played by this monster.
“BRADWR!” The queen rages and her purple eyes flash silver as she attacks him through the Vale. She cannot pass through the barrier, but her magic can. With a flick of her immortal wrist, the orb of light hits him like a cannonball, blowing him from his feet.
From the shadow of the tree, Caderyn watches the Queen strikeout, and the Kings body falls to the ground skidding to a stop only a foot from where she stands. Caderyn sits in shock, looking at the beauty of the fallen King. His long blonde hair covers his face, and she finds her hand reaching out to touch him. Her fingers itch to explore his muscular body, but just before she makes contact, a roar of fury splits the night air. Her heartbeat is pounding faster now, and she prays the monster cannot hear it. If only she could pull him to safety, but she knows she’s not strong enough. The King is motionless as he awaits his fate, and she is powerless to help him.
“You dare call me Betrayer!” He screams at the Queen. “I shall keep his body as a reminder of how truly cold the Fae are. You shall watch as his spirit dies, may his death be on your conscience forever, Fae Queen!” he spits at her.
In silence the Fae stand, joining their queen and turn their backs on the betrayer. What was to be a celebration of life, has now become a funeral. The Queen’s eyes meet Caderyn’s just before she turns. Panic fills Caderyn’s mind as the shadow closes in on the Kings body. She has to save him!
“How, how can I save him!” she thinks. When the creature picks up the body and begins moving away, she follows slowly, one step at a time. Careful not to make a sound, she inches her way through the woods, guided only by the light of the moon.
He moves quickly, and she loses sight of him. Her cheeks are damp with the tears of failure, “I can’t lose him, he needs me!” she tells herself. Determined to find him, she starts to run and trips falling to the ground. Caderyn jerks awake as she falls to her bedroom floor. She does not move for a moment, trying to clear the confusion from her mind. Her hands and knees sting from the impact, and she stands slowly. With a hand to her pounding heart, she feels the tears on her cheeks and tries to convince herself it was only a dream. As she gets into the shower, the blue mist returns unnoticed to its resting place.
Caderyn moves all her supplies for the miniature garden to her greenhouse. The house was small, but the back yard is her oasis. She added the greenhouse after she moved in and surrounded it with an overgrown secret garden. Sh
e added a gravel walkway, with multiple paths lined with roses and hydrangeas. In the center of her yard is a small waterfall. A river runs along a meandering path with a bridge leading to a private gazebo. It was one of her favorite spots. No time to play, she thinks as she walks inside quickly and heads to the workbench along the back wall.
A sound from behind her has her spinning in fear. With a spade in her hand, she moves to check it out. Caderyn pushes open the door and steps outside, when a shape to her right catches her eye, she jumps screaming and raises the spade to strike.
“CADIE!” Jaz screams! “What the hell! You scared two years off my life!”
With trembling hands, she lowers the spade saying, “Oh my God, I think I need to sit down!”
Jazmin moves quickly, noting the paleness of her friend’s skin. She guides her to the table and chair in her gazebo. She hands her a water bottle. “Here, drink this and take deep breaths, I swear if you pass out on me, I will kill you!” She says with a nervous laugh.
“You scared the hell out of me, Jazmin! You should have seen your face!” Caderyn says, starting to laugh.
“Mine, you’re as white as a ghost!” Jaz asks indignantly. They both start laughing, and when the moment passes, her friend asks in a serious voice. “Are you okay, Cadie? You are not usually so jumpy.”
