by Linsey Hall
I swallowed hard, exhausted. “I am. I don’t know if I can do this.”
“I believe you can do it.”
A tiny noise escaped me. “I don’t know what to make of that. I don’t know what to make of us. It was complicated before The Oracle delivered that prophecy. Now…”
“Now it seems impossible.” His blue eyes darkened as he repeated her last words. “Doomed to fail.”
“She meant our relationship, didn’t she?” I asked.
“Do we have a relationship?”
I gave an almost bitter laugh. “A dysfunctional one.”
“What if I didn’t want it to be dysfunctional?”
“I don’t know how we fix the past.” That was where most of the true problems came from. I’d spent most of my life running from him. How was I to forget that and move on?
“What if we worked on the future, instead?” he asked.
“How?”
“I don’t know. But first, we’ll save your kingdom and defeat the darkness that is plaguing our realms.”
“I think it’s partially responsible for what’s happening here. I don’t know how, though.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
I nodded, liking that I had something active to focus on. I needed that. Needed a job to keep my mind off the vision I’d had in the flames.
“We have a few hours to rest,” he said. “But first, I’m going to give you more power.”
“But you need it, too.”
“We both need it. We’re stronger together. And I’ll have some time to rest and recoup some of what I give you.”
I studied him, uncertain but knowing that it was the wisest thing. “All right.”
The slightest bit of heat flared in his eyes, and his hand moved to my lower chest, right where my ribs joined together. His big palm pressed against me, and magic flowed from him into me.
Warmth and energy filled my chest, along with a connection that was impossible to deny. I could feel him through his touch. The flow of magic gave me insight that was impossible to ignore, and a surge of emotion followed.
I cared for him.
Despite all the terrible stuff in our past, I cared for him.
It was impossible not to when we had a connection like this. I could see into his soul. Into the heart of who he was.
All he’d ever wanted was to protect his people.
And now he wanted to protect me.
He was tormented by our past and what he’d done to me.
As his magic flowed into me, I glowed with strength and light. It swirled around us, drawing us closer together. Soon, I could see only him. Feel only him.
My world became the two of us in this tiny room, and the tension was too much to ignore. It bound us together, making me aware of every rise and fall of his chest. Of every bit of heat and cold that flowed from him.
I raised myself up on my tiptoes and kissed him, pressing my lips to his and falling into the sensation of being with him.
He groaned and kissed me back, his lips plundering mine.
I didn't know what the future would bring, but I wanted this night together. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him tight to me until his chest was pressed against mine. Both of his hands came up to cage me in against the wall, and I reveled in the hot press of his body.
He kissed me like his life depended on it. Right now, it felt like mine did.
When his lips dipped to my neck, I tipped my head back and gasped. His scent filled my head, the smell of a sea at storm—rough, powerful, beautiful.
His strong hands moved to my waist, gripping me tightly to pull me against him. I tightened my arms around his neck and jumped up enough that I could wrap my legs around his waist.
“Caera,” he moaned. “The things you do to me.”
His teeth sank gently into my throat, the slight pain making pleasure shoot through me. It was almost more than I could take.
“The bed.” The words came out on a gasp.
“Yes.” He carried me toward the bed, and my mind raced with all the things that could happen.
This could make me fall for him.
I couldn’t let that happen.
It was too dangerous.
My people needed me. My focus needed to be on them, not on this. And I didn’t want to be mated—swept into some fate bond that I didn’t have a say in.
We were supposed to undo the ceremony, and I couldn’t deviate from that path. Especially given what The Oracle had said. This was meant to end in disaster.
“Wait.” I pulled my head back, meeting his eyes. They were stormy blue with desire, his cheeks slightly flushed and his lips full. Heat streaked through me, a lust so strong that I almost forgot all my convictions.
Finally, I blurted out, “No sex.”
“Whatever you want.” He put his knee on the bed, still supporting me with his strong hands. His voice was rough when he spoke. “What do you want?”
“Something,” I blurted. I definitely wanted something. There was no denying it. I wasn’t a freaking machine. I couldn’t stay like this—couldn't fall asleep like this.
“Something what?” he asked. “You’re going to need to be specific.”
“Take off your shirt.”
“I’m fine with that kind of specific.” He laid me on the bed and I scrambled up onto my knees.
He threw his cloak off and drew his shirt over his head, revealing strong, tense muscles and broad shoulders. I tore my own jacket off and followed it with my shirt, then threw myself at him, dragging him down on the bed with me.
He settled over top of me with a groan, his hands going to my waist. “Let me make you feel good.”
“Yes.” I tilted my head back as his lips hit the sensitive skin there.
He ran kisses down to my chest, and heat flared within me. I wrapped my legs around his waist and moved against him.
Pleasure flared deep within, and a low groan escaped him.
This could work.
We could definitely get off this way, and if we left most of our clothes on…
It wouldn't be sex. Not exactly. And I could keep myself from falling for him.
Iain began to move over me, a perfect rhythm that pressed his hardness against me, making pleasure streak through me in electric waves.
His lips returned to mine as his hands pinned mine to the pillow near my head.
“All I want is you.” His words were rough against my lips.
Need coiled tight within me, binding me closer and closer to him. His lips pressed to mine, and pleasure exploded within me, raising me up on a wave that went on and on. A low groan tore from his throat as he shuddered against me, and I clutched him close, wanting to never let go.
16
The sound of nuns chanting woke us with the dawn. The sky was still dark, but the faintest tinge of gray had crept over the horizon.
Iain’s chest was warm and strong beneath my cheek as I raised my head. He made a sleepy noise in his throat. For some reason, it tugged at my heart. It was just so normal. Considering that our life was currently insane, I wanted some of that.
The thought shocked me awake.
Normal was not for me.
Not right now.
Not when my people needed me and my soul was empty without my own magic.
Iain’s power surged within me at the moment, but it wasn’t mine.
His.
It was his.
Had this connection made me want him so badly last night?
As much as I wanted to believe that, I knew I couldn’t. I’d wanted him because I wanted him—it was simple as that. Fated mates or not, I’d always want him.
I just needed to ignore it so that I could do right by my people. I stood, shivering in the cold air of the castle. I hadn’t taken off my bra or jeans last night, but I still needed to find my shirt.
I grabbed it and yanked it on, then tugged on my jacket and put the SoulStone in the pocket. “Come on. We need to go.”
He was already climbing out of bed and pulling on his shirt. He dipped lithely to the ground and grabbed his cloak, then swirled it over his shoulders.
I turned from him, heading toward the door. As I passed, he gripped my shoulder, pulling me back to him and spinning me around.
“We don’t have time for this,” I said.
He pressed a quick kiss to my lips, strong and warm. I wanted to lean into it, but I resisted. Barely. Instead, I pulled back and reminded myself of The Oracle’s prophecy. Of the dark vision I’d seen in the flames last night. For some strange reason, that vision grew only more powerful as time went on.
Whatever that black mist was… it was evil and it was responsible for the curse that had frozen the Sea Fae. It was responsible for more than that, I was sure of it.
And I was worried about what it had planned for me, because I was pretty sure that the vision last night had shown it possessing me.
“Are you all right?” Concern radiated in Iain’s voice, snapping me out of my haze.
“Yes.” No.
But I had to ignore it. I could feel us running out of time. My people needed me.
“Come on.” I turned from him and headed to the door, the SoulStone clutched in my fist.
He followed on silent feet, and we descended the stairs to the courtyard. All of the Daughters of Danu waited for us, over two dozen of them standing silently in the courtyard.
Olena strode toward us, her dark gaze serious. “Are you ready?”
I nodded, looking toward the rest of the nuns. “We get an escort?”
“Of course. This is one of our sacred duties.”
“Thanks.”
She nodded, then turned. “Follow me.”
We did as she asked, and she led us through the castle gate and across the drawbridge. The moat still shimmered with a faint white light, and I remembered her command to avoid looking directly at it.
I diverted my gaze, looking toward the woods in the distance. Through the early morning darkness, I spotted a tiny white spot sitting amongst the trees.
Puka.
I gave her a small wave, then followed Olena around the castle toward the back. The Daughters of Danu followed silently as we walked.
A small grove beckoned, the trees sturdy and strong. Olena led us up to the edge of the trees, and then stopped, turning to us. “In the middle, you will find the heart of the grove. There, you can request that the spirits repair your SoulStone and yourself.”
“Should I offer them anything?” Uncertainty suddenly flared. There was so much riding on this, and I had no idea what I was doing.
“That is up to you.”
Damn it. I wanted a detailed list of directions and clearly wasn’t going to get it. I nodded, trying for a serene expression and knowing that I barely succeeded. “Thank you.”
She inclined her head. “Best of luck.” Her gaze met mine, suddenly deep and dark. “And remember, the fire speaks true.”
Fear pierced me. Was she referring to what I’d seen in the flames and smoke last night?
That was not good.
But I couldn’t worry about it right now. I just had to put one foot in front of the other.
She disappeared, rejoining the Daughters of Danu as they walked back toward Restormel Castle.
Iain asked, “Ready?”
“Yeah. Let’s do this.”
He nodded, and we started into the grove.
“If this works, we’ll go directly to the Tor of the Ancients,” I said. “I don’t think we have any time to waste.”
“Agreed. I can transport us there using the blue locater charm that The Oracle gave you.”
At least we had a plan. Nerves thundered through me as we walked between the trees in the forest. All around, the ground was uneven and I had to carefully choose my path.
Massive trees had fallen, and moss now covered their forms. More trees grew from the fallen logs, and suddenly, I understood why this was called the Grove of Life. I’d once read about nursery trees—those that fed others after their death. That’s what these fallen trees were—each one had multiple trees growing from its long, fallen trunk.
Magic pulled me forward, and we kept going, our footsteps silent. As we neared the middle of the forest, fairy lights began to flit through the trees. When we reached the center, a strong sense of calm drifted over me.
“We’re here.” Iain stopped and spun in a circle.
I mimicked the motion, taking it all in. We stood in a clearing formed by a ring of the fallen trees. Dozens of living trees grew from the bodies of the fallen ones, creating a sort of arena.
The dawn sun broke over the horizon, shooting beautiful rays of golden sunlight through the trees. Birds sang and the fairy lights danced wildly.
A feeling of calm suffused me, strength and certainty following in its wake.
“Everything is in perfect harmony here,” Iain said.
“We’re going to disrupt that.” It was impossible not to, if we hoped to gain life from this place.
“It will only give what it can afford. Nature understands balance and always seeks it. And don’t feel guilty. You are asking, not taking.”
He had a point there.
The sun glowed brighter as it ascended higher into the sky. We had only minutes before this magical time was over and the window closed.
Uncertain of what to do, I walked to the center of the grove and dropped to my knees. I was Fae, though I hadn’t lived with my own kind in years. But I could still remember our core values.
Harmony with nature was one of the biggest ones.
I drew in a deep breath and gripped the SoulStone in my hand. I pressed it to the soft green moss at my side, allowing the stone to make contact with the earth. I sank my other hand into the dirt, trying to make a connection with the life all around me.
Magic flowed from the earth into me, feeling like life itself. My breathing became easier and my muscles lighter. Everything felt more at peace, and my mind calmed.
“Please help us.” The words came quickly and easily. “I seek to save the Fire Fae. To save Dartmoor. But I’ve broken the SoulStone.”
You’ve broken nothing. The strange voice nearly made my eyes fly open, but I kept them shut.
I didn’t need to see. I needed to feel.
All is as it should be.
The words didn’t necessarily comfort me. It was possible that bad things were meant to be, after all.
“I seek to repair the SoulStone and recover its missing magic. To recover my missing magic.”
They are one and the same.
I was sick of hearing that. What did it even mean?
In my mind’s eye, the voice came from an ephemeral figure that glowed with a faint white light. Maybe it was my imagination, or maybe it was real—I would never know.
“Please. What do I need to do?”
Prove yourself.
The world faded around me. I blinked, trying to bring the trees back, but they disappeared into mist.
The figure was gone. So was Iain.
I was alone.
Slowly, I stood. My hearth thundered as I spun in a circle and inspected my surroundings. The mist surrounded me on all sides. One spot appeared to be faded, a darkness appearing on the other side.
Cold sweat broke out on my skin as I stared at it. My head roared.
Was that the dark evil that had cursed Iain’s people?
Everything in me screamed to run away. I couldn’t face that. I wasn’t strong enough. It would consume me.
My muscles strained, as if trying to break away from my bones and make me run. But I couldn’t move.
If I did, all would be lost. This was my only chance, and I couldn’t run from the only answers I might get.
Prove yourself. The figure’s words echoed in my head.
But how?
There was nothing else here. Just white mist and emptiness. The only thing I could do was walk toward the evil.
But I really didn’t want to. It f
elt so real. It probably was real.
I drew in a shuddery breath and shoved my fears aside, forcing my limbs to move. Slowly, I walked toward the mist. I was tempted to draw an ax from the ether, but how would I chop up something like this?
I couldn’t, and my bronze security blanket wasn’t going to help me do it. I clenched my fists and walked faster toward the mist. It reached toward me, the first tendrils beginning to curl around my limbs. Icy cold shot through me, followed by a sickening terror.
No.
I had to resist.
All I had was the little bit of Iain’s magic that he’d given me. I conjured a flame and created a wall around me. It burned bright and high, the warmth a comfort that drove away the dark.
But only for a moment.
The dark mist crept through the fire, seeping through my barrier. It reached for me again, and my heart thundered.
Drive it away.
I called upon more fire, stronger and fiercer. If I used it all, I’d have nothing left to fight with at the Tor of the Ancients.
But I had no choice.
I forced more of the magic out of me, blasting the evil with the heat of my flame. It drove the mist back, forcing it to retreat. I gave it everything I had, going to my knees.
The evil faded, and my flame flickered and died.
Once again, I was in the forest. Exhaustion tugged at me, weakness making my muscles feel like jelly. Adrenaline raced through my veins, a remnant of the all-consuming fear I’d felt when I’d forced myself to approach the evil.
You’ve done well. The figure’s voice echoed softly in my head. You’ve proven yourself willing to face the darkness.
“Will I beat it?” the words—the fear—burst from me.
I had to know—would this be successful? Or would I die trying to defeat the evil that threatened us?
I do not know, but I will help you repair what you have broken.
It wasn’t the answer that I wanted, but magic began to flow from the earth, into me. It radiated warmth and power and light, driving away the fear and darkness within me. A blissful smile stretched across my face.
This was working.
The earth was repairing the SoulStone and me. I could feel the stone vibrating with power in my hand and could feel the same strength surging through my muscles, through my bones. It filled my soul, replacing the emptiness with magic.
