by Ellis Logan
Chapter 27
I was running through the woods again, but I wasn’t scared. I was happy.
Alec was following me, and again, we were racing through a forest, laughing and vaulting over and around obstacles.
After a mile of cross-country parkour, I stopped and waited for him to catch up. I was out of breath, but I could tell he wasn’t even winded. As he approached, his bright emerald eyes held mine entranced. He tucked an errant strand of my hair behind my ear, returning his gaze to mine. The violet rings around his pupils expanded with desire as he lowered his eyes to my mouth and caught my chin in my hand, gently running his thumb over my lower lip. As always, my body hummed merrily in response to his touch.
“It’s time for dinner,” he whispered.
A knocking sound in the trees startled me.
“Siri! It’s time for dinner, can I come in?” Amber knocked on the door again.
“Yeah, sure, come on in.” I called out, sitting up and stretching as she flicked on the lights. I felt totally refreshed. Better than refreshed actually. My body was still humming, all my nerve endings singing happily still from my dream. I blushed, remembering the heat in Alec’s eyes. I mentally instructed my body to simmer down. I had zero interest in Alec, guardian extraordinaire. Rowan was my dream guy. I didn’t know why Alec kept popping up in my visions, but it was going to stop.
A pile of clothes showering over the bottom of the bed brought me out of my head.
“What’s all this?”
“I saw that little backpack you had with you, and figured you must have had to leave behind most of your clothes. And hey, a girl’s gotta dress the part, right? We keep a ton of clothes here for missions, gear in every style for every occasion. These are the ones that looked like your size.”
“Oh wow, thanks. I have a few outfits with me, though, I don’t really need all this.”
“Nonsense.” She sniffed, and started digging through the pile. “My job, so far as I see it, is to make sure you are properly taken care of. I figured you could probably stand to let off a little steam, so we’re going dancing after we eat.”
I glanced at the dark windows. “What time is it, anyway?”
“It’s after ten.” So much for exploring the city, I thought as she went on, “I guess you really did need the rest. I sent the guys out to grab some Poutine, you can’t come to Montreal without having it, it’s, like, a law or something.” She held up a shirt against my skin and shook her head, tossing it over her shoulder.
“If you say so. Sounds like something you’d find in a portolet.”
“Ew, no! Poutine, it’s fries and fresh cheese and gravy. Trust me, it’s the perfect pre-dancing food.”
She held out a silky forest green camisole with delicate silver edging and a sequined leaf on the front. “Hmm, this will look great with your shoes and these pants.” She threw some gunmetal vinyl pants at me.
“Um, I don’t know if vinyl is really my style, no offense, and don’t you think the shirt is a little too, I don’t know, girly?”
“Just try them on.” She bossed, bouncing up and down on the bed. I could see that Amber was a non-stop whirlwind of energy. I doubted I’d even be able to get the pants on, but I could tell she wasn’t the sort to take no for an answer so I stripped down and tried everything on.
“Oh, it’s perfect. Now the shoes!”
I sighed and laced up my vans, surprised at how comfortable the pants actually were. I doubted the cami would be warm enough for a night on the town in Canada, though. “Is there a jacket somewhere in this pile? Or should I just wear my hoodie? What do you think?”
“Ew, a hoodie? No, no way. No hoodies allowed where we are going, not with me around. Here, try this on.” She tossed a cropped black jacket at me. “That should do it.”
It fit perfectly. I shook out my hair and walked over to the mirror hanging on the closet door. My nap had infused my face with a natural blush, replacing the tired look I’d been wearing for days with a fresh glow. The pants looked great, I had to admit. And the top, paired the way it was, looked more edgy than girly.
“Okay, you can dress me every day from now on,” I said, laughing as I turned around to check out the view from behind. Not bad at all.
“Great! I haven’t had a girl to hang out with in ages, and Ewan gets so stuffy sometimes. Here, hold still, you just need some mascara.” She dabbed some of the pearlized black makeup on my lashes. “Perfect.”
“We’re back!” Ewan called from the hall, a door slamming behind him. “Come and get it!”
Amber squealed and rushed from the room, yelling for me to follow. I laughed, shaking my head. Who would have thought such a tiny girl would have such an appetite for cheesy fries?
Ten minutes later, licking my lips appreciatively, I had to concede. These had been no regular cheesy fries. Poutine was divine, artery-killing goodness, fresh fries and cheddar cheese curds drenched in homemade gravy. God bless the Canadians. Even Miko looked totally blissed out, eating his share while he sat by the window.
I caught Alec watching me. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, and it made me nervous. He hadn’t said a word since he’d returned, just looked me over and dumped the bag of food on the coffee table and gotten straight down to the business of eating. Actually, the whole group had fallen to eating their containers of poutine with near-religious fervor.
I wasn’t sure what I had expected. It’s not like I had dressed up to impress him or anything. But when he returned I had felt a flood of relief, like I had missed him in his absence and not even known it. The feeling was irksome.
While we wrapped up eating, Amber started hounding the guys about going out.
“Come on, I know you guys said you were just going to hang out and play Skyrim,” she rolled her eyes at the mere thought of playing a video game instead of dancing, “but you really owe Siri a good night on the town.”
Ewan huffed and went over to the Xbox, clearly determined to ignore her.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Alec spoke up. “After all, the Shades are after Siri, it’s not safe, even here in Canada. We’re in.” Alec stood up and dusted some imaginary crumbs off his pants. “I’ll just go change. Come on, Ewan.”
“What? Aw, come on, you promised.” It was funny to see such a large burly man reduced to whining. He followed Alec reluctantly down the hall, grumbling all the way.
After a while they returned and stood by the couches, allowing Amber to circle them. Apparently everyone had to have their outfits approved by Amber, not just me.
“Not bad,” she told Ewan, eyeing his light gray slacks, some classic black and white Adidas sneakers and the white v-neck tee that hugged his shoulders. It was simple, but it was a definite step up from the lumberjack vibe he’d had going before. Amber masked it quickly, but I could see a gleam come and go in her eyes as she circled behind him.
Moving on to Alec, she made a small noise of approval. Clad entirely in black, from his jeans and military style black boots to his tight black tee, Alec looked lethally hot. Amber quirked her lips in thought, and reached up to run her fingers through his hair, effortlessly mussing his fine dark locks so that it looked like he’d just gotten out of bed. Annoyance stabbed through me, but I wasn’t sure if it was because she’d touched him or because he had the gall to look like something that stepped out of a Calvin Klein ad.
He caught my look, and grinned back at me like he knew what I was thinking, a dimple glorifying his left cheek. Jerk. My fingers twitched, itching to slap the arrogant smile of his face. Suddenly I couldn’t wait to get out of there and get dancing.
Amber followed his gaze and looked back over her shoulder at me. “What do you think, Siri, do they make the grade?”
I swallowed and struggled for nonchalance. “Yeah, they’ll do.”
“Okay,” she flashed a brilliant smile at everyone. “We approve. My favorite DJ is spinning tonight at Zora, so let’s get a move on. I wanna get there before the first set ends.”
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She pushed the guys out the front door, holding the door open for me and waiting so she could lock up. As I brushed by her she whispered in my ear, “Oh, by the way, Alec’s favorite color is green.”
She locked up and tucked her arm in mine.
“What was that supposed to mean?” I hissed at her.
“Oh, nothing,” she sang quietly. The guys were ten feet ahead of us, but I was glad she was keeping her voice down. Subtlety didn’t seem to be Amber’s strong suit. “Just, you know, in case you wanted to know. I thought maybe I sensed something between the two of you. I’m a Water Fae, I can sense changes in people’s emotions. Affect them, too.” She winked at me.
“Well, there’s nothing going on with us. I have a boyfriend.”
“Another fae?”
“Yeah, although I didn’t know that until recently. I met him last month. He’s really sweet. He’s the one who helped me get to Vala’s.”
“And he didn’t mind you taking off with Al?” she whispered dubiously.
“Actually, he did mind. But he couldn’t come, so, there wasn’t much he could do about it. He’s really worried about my mom and me, though.”
“If he wanted to come, why didn’t he?”
“His family works with the Shade Council,” I whispered. Amber gasped. I rushed explain, “But he’s good, like I said. Sweet. He wants to choose the Light when he turns eighteen.”
“Well, that’s good, I guess.” She didn’t sound convinced.
“Anyway, how about you?” I asked, changing the subject. “I saw the way you looked at Ewan earlier. Are you guys together?”
“Pfft, no. He thinks I’m too young and pure to sully with his elderly self. He says I need to live a little, make sure I’m not going to change my mind. Rumor has it he was burned pretty badly when he was young. But I’ve never felt the surge with anyone like I do with him. Plus, I just really like him, you know?”
“He seems like a big sweetheart. I still can’t believe he’s thirty four. How old are you?”
“Nineteen,” she sighed. We walked in silence for a minute, each of us thinking about our relationship difficulties, no doubt.
“What’s a surge?”
“Oh, you know, that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you touch another fae, times like a hundred. Sometimes, with the right guy, or I guess girl if that was your thing, it’s like both your bodies light up. Like the sun is shining through you, you know?” She sighed again, this time more dreamily. “But you must know. Didn’t you feel that way with your guy?”
“Sort of. I always feel really comforted by his touch. But my stomach goes kind of wild, too, and not in the best way.”
“Oh,” Amber’s face clouded, “right. That’s because he’s a darkling you know that, right? I mean, if he chooses Light that effect will go away, but until he does, his Dark DNA casts that feeling. It’s your body’s way of warning you. It’s even worse when they are full-fledged Shades.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s what Miko said.” This time, we sighed together. The guys had stopped and we practically ran into their backs, which made Amber and I crack up.
“Whoops, sorry!” Amber apologized when she could catch a breath. Then she looked up. “Oh, we’re here!” She tugged Ewan’s bare arm and dragged him inside an unmarked door to a large commercial building with blacked out windows. I watched, bemused. Right now, her bare hand was transmitting the surge through her body, and most likely Ewan’s, too.
Alec looked at me, his hands in his pockets. “After you.”
The others were already at the door, and when they opened it I could hear the unmistakable sound of thumping tribal bass trickling out the door.
Excited, I hurried up the stairs after them. They must have soundproofed the building, it was so quiet out on the street. Once inside, I could hear the music, but it was still muted. We’d entered a long hallway that ran parallel with the outer wall. I checked my jacket and walked down the hall to the small line by another inner door. No wonder it was so quiet outside. The club was virtually invisible, I wondered how people even knew it was here. Even the typically long bouncer lines would be indoors here, rather than on the street.
“Is this place a private club or something?” I asked Alec.
“Zora? Nah. Anyone can come here, although it is a something of a favorite for all the local Light fae, more than any other club. The owners are fae, and most of the employees, too. There are quite a few of us in Montreal, since it’s so close to an Aeden portal.”
Amber’s long pigtails bounced as she bumped and wiggled to the music.
“Hey Amber, what’s up?” The huge bouncer’s face lit up when he saw her. “Tribe is spinning something fierce tonight. Ewan, Alec. Go on in.” The bouncer barely looked at us, waving our group in through the door. Apparently drinking ages were for mortals, not fae.
Once inside, the loud, thumping music washed over me in waves. Native American pow-wow singing blended with a strong bass and fast beats. I itched to dance.
“I’ll get the first round,” Ewan yelled over the music. Amber grabbed my hand and dragged me along, pushing her way through the crowd of dancers.
Somehow, she managed to find a relatively clear spot, and turned to face me, grinning widely. She let out a wild scream and started to move. I hadn’t been to a good club in months, and it didn’t take me more than moment to follow her lead, losing myself in the deep tribal beats. She hadn’t been kidding, this DJ was amazing.
I lost track of the time as we danced. All my cares and worries dissolved, shaken out of my system as I moved. It felt so good to be free like this, and the energy of the crowd was contagious. Amber was the most amazing dancer I’d ever seen, like a prima ballerina hip hop artist rave girl, all rolled into one. I tried my best to keep up, knowing that my moves were rougher, more primal, but not really caring.
I’d forgotten how good of a release dancing was. I should tell my mom, maybe we could work it into our training program somehow-
I’d forgotten. Just like that, the world came crashing back down. I couldn’t tell my mom, because my mom was a prisoner of the Dark. The music receded and the room turned dark.
Join us, or die.
I froze. I couldn’t tell if the voice was real, or just a memory.
Someone put their hands on my arms and I whirled, ready to fight. But it wasn’t an enemy. It was Alec. He pulled me to him, holding me protectively with one arm, scanning the room for danger. Amber was still dancing, oblivious.
The cold seeped from my body, replaced by a thrumming stream of energy that set my body on fire. It started in my arm, where Alec’s hand was resting, and flowed through my entire being like a ray of sunshine. I felt like a sunflower – I would follow that ray anywhere, it was like chocolate for my soul.
The surge.
I leaned my head against his chest, taking advantage of his preoccupation with my safety while I tried to steady my senses. But it was a mistake. All at once I felt enveloped by the forest, by the scent of freshly crushed pine needles and a hint of coriander. He smelled the same as the sheets in my room, and I leaned back, peering up at him in a daze.
“What detergent do you guys use?” I asked. Hello, random. Had I really just said that?
“Huh?” He looked down at me, confused. “Some generic brand, I think. I don’t know, Amber does all the laundry. Are you okay? You looked…”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” The first set had just ended and some psytrance was just starting to ramp up, slow, yearning beats straining under a haunted melody. I started to sway, the surge taking hold of me again, driving me to move and release and invest all that gorgeous pure energy flowing through my body.
The violet rings within Alec’s eyes fluoresced brightly under the blacklights. He was still holding me, and had no choice but to sway with me. He moved his hands down to my hips, pulling me against him roughly as we moved in concert. The sudden lack of skin-to-skin contact was like the sun going behind a dark cloud. Alec growled in frus
tration and brushed his thumbs up under my camisole, gently rubbing the smooth skin above my belt. Overwhelmed, I leaned into him, resting my head against his chest.
“What is this?” I moaned. The music continued on, slow and hypnotizing, while my body soared.
Alec’s breath hitched. A tremor went through him and suddenly he set me away from him. The loss of contact was stunning.
“I need a drink,” Alec ground out, that muscle in his jaw jumping again. “Come on.”
He spun on his heel and stalked off the dance floor. Well. Alrighty then. Maybe it wasn’t the surge after all. And even if it was, I had Rowan, and Alec had…well, Alec had an attitude problem.
I thought about staying on the dance floor with Amber, because who did he think he was, but when I looked around I saw she was already cavorting at the bar with Ewan. The same bar that Alec was fast approaching. I licked my lips. Well, I was thirsty. I supposed I could use a drink.
I walked up behind Amber, who had her arm around Ewan and was giggling. Alec was already nursing a beer on Ewan’s other side, glaring morosely down into its depths. Yeah, I didn’t need to go there. Whatever was going on between us, I really wasn’t up for the drama. I squeezed up next to Amber, pushing aside the guy on her other side who had clearly been trying to get her attention. Good luck with that one, buddy, I thought.
“Hey, girl,” she exclaimed. “Here, we’ve been saving these for you.” She pushed two amber shots towards me, and a tall glass of water. I eyed the shots warily. I wasn’t much of a drinker, and I usually stayed away from hard alcohol.
“I don’t know if our caretakin’ duties extend to gettin’ the faeling drunk, luv,” Ewan admonished.
Amber protested, and irritation swept through me.
“Well, I think I deserve a little fun.”
I downed both shots, one after the other. The liquid burned, making me cough. Over Ewan’s shoulder, I could see Alec’s mouth twitching as he restrained a smile. Was the conceited ass laughing at me? Annoyed, I waved the bartender over.
“Another round for all of us.” I held up the shot glass, and gestured to the four of us. The guy nodded and grabbed a bottle of high-end Tequila, pouring out four more shots.
“Siri, I don’t think—” Alec started. I threatened him with a look and grabbed one of the tiny glasses.
“Cheers!” I said, smiling sweetly at him with a wink, and downed the shot. This time, I didn’t cough. Alec watched me, amusement dancing in his eyes even as he tried to school his face into a look of disapproval.
The DJ announced the start of his second set and Amber grabbed my arm. “Hold on!” I yelled over the loud house music that was gearing up, gulping down my water in several long swallows. “Alright, let’s go.”
I allowed her to drag me back onto the dance floor and let the music pound into me. I let everything go, all my frustration, my anger, my confusion. Soon, Amber and I had attracted several guys over to us. Whenever one got to handsy I would dance out of reach. Eventually they all got the message and kept their paws to themselves, although Amber didn’t seem to want to discourage her admirer. She leaned back against him, allowing his hands to roam over her waist, dancing suggestively behind her while she kept her eyes on the bar. I glanced behind me, and saw Ewan watching her from his stool, stoic.
Finally, his eyes narrowed and he marched over to her, pulling her away from the guy she’d been dancing with.
“Hey!” The guy protested. Ewan ignored him, focusing only on Amber.
“You’re playing a dangerous game here, luv.”
“Yeah?” She tilted her head and batted her eyelashes up at him. “Think I’ll win?”
I held my breath while he just stared at her, his face unreadable. Suddenly he reached down, threw her over his shoulder, and stalked off toward the exit. Amber didn’t seem to mind. “See you later, Siri!” Her laughter echoed through the club while people watched, bemused. In my heart, I wished them both luck. I wasn’t sure who would need it more.
The guy she’d been dancing with shrugged and got back down to business, eyeing me and closing in. Apparently, I was a good runner up for his attentions. I let him approach, but danced away when he tried to get too close. I made my way up near the DJ stand where a group of girls my age were dancing and edged into the group. They didn’t seem to mind, all their focus on grabbing the DJs attention. I set my mind and body to dancing, and forgot everything else.
My muscles were rubbery and I’d worked up a serious sweat by the time the music wound down. Last call had flown by unnoticed, the girls around me had all left. There were a few stragglers at the bar arguing with the bartender for just one more drink. The clock over the bar showed three o’clock. I didn’t see Alec anywhere, and wondered if he’d left me.
Thirsty, I sat down and got one last glass of water from the bartender. What now? I hadn’t paid any attention on the walk to the Zora and I doubted I’d be able to find my way back to the safe house.
Still brooding, I felt someone drape a jacket over my shoulders, and the slight brush of a hand against my arm left a warm tingle that confirmed it was Alec.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded, finishing my water.
We walked in silence back to the house. Several times he looked like he would say something, but never did. That was fine by me. I wasn’t sure that any conversation between us at the moment could have a good ending.
We separated at the door and I peeled off the vinyl pants, collapsing straight into bed in an exhausted heap. Yet when I closed my eyes, I couldn’t sleep. All around me, the scent of pine and coriander teased. It’s just detergent, I scolded myself. Nothing to get worked up about. I forced myself to think about Rowan, about citrus and spice.
But when I finally drifted off to sleep, it was visions of the forest that chased me through my dreams, laughing green eyes running on my heels.
