Fae Magic: A Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (Forsaking the Fae Book 1)

by A. M. Hardin

  Levi shakes his head, clearly taking point on this mission because he’s the one that knows me best. “Your mother, father, and sister have all expressed that they want you back home with them.”

  I purse my lips. He didn’t mention himself. Is that because the others are here or because he didn’t ever really give a shit about me? “I would believe my sister wants me back before I believe my mother and father do,” I tell him honestly. “Not that that’s really all that believable either. It doesn’t change anything, because I’m not interested in going back.”

  “Crystal,” Levi groans, “I’ve been promised that things will be different this time.”

  I raise an eyebrow at him and work to keep the condescending smile off my face because he is not and has never been that naïve. He doesn’t believe that shit any more than I do. “So, they promised things will be different. They claim to want me back home. Give me a good enough reason to go back and I’ll consider it.”

  Chapter Three

  Levi

  I study Crystal for a long moment, taking in the cold look in her bright blue eyes—that is completely different from the Crystal I watched grow up—and the tensing of her shoulders with the clenched jaw. She’s angry.

  The thing is, I can’t even be upset about that because she has every reason to be pissed off.

  She was always soft-spoken when she was young. Mainly because of how her family treated her for being the second born. She rarely spoke and when she did, it wasn’t anything that could ever be used against her. If she didn’t speak, she was able to keep herself invisible to her family until attention was called to her.

  She trained herself to keep her thoughts to herself and back down from her family’s intensity. It was painful to watch as the bright, confident, and happy little girl turned into a watered down, unhappy version of herself. The life in her eyes slowly draining away until they were dull and begging for an escape that wouldn’t come. She never spoke out of turn. Every word out of her mouth was carefully chosen.

  It seems that she’s still careful in how much she says or how she says things. She’s vague without seeming vague. She’s giving information to us, but it’s all empty information.

  Ezra and Maxwell seem to realize this, but they don’t call her on it. They really can’t without worry about backlash, honestly. Crystal may have come into her abilities later than most, but the truth of the matter is she is a dark fae, and a royal. Maxwell is a dark fae as well. However, to confront a royal of whatever secrets they are keeping when they’re not being held for treason of some kind and especially as nothing more than a royal guard? That would end in their deaths. I’m able to get away with it, for now, because luckily Crystal still views me as a friend.

  Even if she tries to deny it herself.

  She arches a brow at me, waiting for my answer to her question. “Well?”

  I sigh. “It’s being kept quiet for now, but a week ago, your mother fell ill,” I explain. “They wish to see you. Your mother wishes to see you.”

  A brief look of shock overcomes Crystal’s face, quickly followed by disbelief and wariness. “She wished me dead the last time I saw her, Levi,” Crystal says softly as she stares at the wall behind my shoulder, lost in thoughts of the past. “I don’t believe that’s the only reason she wants me home.”

  I nod, ignoring the tensing of Maxwell and Ezra off to the side. Yeah, they didn’t know about that, either. No one did. Crystal notices and rolls her eyes. Apparently, her attitude is back, as well as the backbone. Good. “I understand your feelings, Crystal, you know I do.” Her expression softens just a bit, losing some of the coldness in her gaze. “Your family doesn’t believe your mother will last long, and she said that she wanted to make things right before she passed.”

  To be perfectly honest, I don’t believe that’s the only reason that they’re summoning Crystal home. I just have no idea what would make them do it.

  She’s been gone since she was seventeen.

  Six long years.

  And she’s still the only one that can get me as frustrated that I’ve been tonight. She was always stubborn as hell when it was just the two of us. She changed into a completely different person when her family and strangers were around. She turned into the perfect daughter. I preferred her as she was when she was with me. She got a little bit of that spark of life back when it was just us.

  I watch Crystal huff out a breath as she crosses her arms over her chest as she looks down at the ground. After several quiet minutes I start to grow tense and see the others are, as well.

  Without saying a word, Crystal uncrosses her arms, waving a hand in a flourish of movements. I blink at the beautiful black and red butterfly that appears in a puff of black smoke as it perches itself on Crystal’s hand.

  What the hell? I’ve never seen her do that before.

  Even Maxwell and Ezra are shocked.

  Maxwell finally speaks for the first time tonight. “You’re a dark fae,” he says flatly. No emotion. No tone. Just fact.

  Crystal raises an eyebrow at him, looking entertained at their shock. “You weren’t sure before now, huh?”

  Maxwell smirks. “I had a feeling that you weren’t an ordinary light fae, but only dark fae can summon those kinds of butterflies and only if they’re strong enough will those butterflies heed them.”

  “Ordinary light fae?” Crystal asks, seeming amused. “How would I not be an ordinary light fae?”

  “There are very rare instances where if a light fae and a dark fae come together their child will be both light and dark. I thought you might have had a dark fae in your bloodline somewhere to give you the ability to use dark fae magic. Based on what you said, I thought that you were a light fae with one or two abilities of a dark fae,” Maxwell explains.

  “There hasn’t been a dark fae in my family in centuries. I’m the first born in that amount of time. My family was and is very disappointed,” Crystal says without feeling but not adding anything else.

  The butterfly flutters through the kitchen and into the living room, towards the window behind me. I watch as the butterfly moves right through the glass instead of needing to be let out like a normal butterfly. After a moment it disappears from our view and I turn back to Crystal seeing a soft smile on her face as she continues looking toward the window.

  “Is my mother really sick?” Crystal asks after a long heavy silence.

  “If she’s not, she’s a better actress than I originally believed,” I tell her honestly.

  Crystal’s lips purse, drawing my attention to her full, carnal lips. I force myself to look back toward her eyes. “I don’t believe in being where I’m not wanted, Levi. Not anymore.” She meets my eyes. “You’re absolutely positive that they want me home?”

  I nod once. “Yes. I’m sure, Crystal.”

  She puffs out a breath. “Fine. I’ll go. But I’m not staying for long, and I need to tell my friends before we go, so you guys are going to have to wait until tomorrow at least before we can go back.”

  Honestly, I’m just pleased she’s willing to go back, even if I’m also disappointed because I know the reception she’ll get from her family. It won’t be any different. Her family knows no other way to be. They may claim that things will be different this time around, but it’s highly doubtful that it will be.

  Chapter Four

  Crystal

  Against my better judgement I let Levi, Ezra, and Maxwell stay in my apartment last night. I’m regretting that this morning.

  “Damn it, Levi!” I snap, snatching my towel off my bed and wrapping it around my naked body. “Haven’t you heard of fucking knocking?!”

  “Sorry, I thought that you were done getting ready,” he says apologetically, although his expression says that he’s totally not sorry at all. His eyes trail over my body with excruciating slowness and making my body warm from his gaze.

  “Levi,” I say, calling his attention back to my face. “What did you come in here for?”

 
“I think your friends are here,” he says with a smirk.

  My eyes widen. Fuck. They weren’t supposed to be here for another half hour!

  I groan and rub a hand down my face. “Fuck. Fine. Just give me a second to get dressed, please. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  His eyes scan me one more time before he meets my gaze and nods. Without another word he leaves my room, shutting the door behind him.

  Holy fuck.

  I put my hand over my racing heart and automatically know that my face is flushed. Levi’s never looked at me like that. I wanted him to, but he was fifteen years older than me. He was eighteen when he got assigned as my guard. We spent nearly every moment together. When he wasn’t forced to work for whatever other mission that my parents would put him on, anyway.

  When I was fourteen, I started seeing him in a different light.

  By fifteen, I loved him.

  By sixteen, I wanted to escape to get away from the abuse that continued to escalate shortly after we discovered I was a dark fae not long after I turned fifteen, even if that meant dying.

  At seventeen, Levi finally helped me leave because I was constantly begging him to get me out of there. Away from the people who claim to be my family.

  I shake my head, pulling myself away from those memories and instead move to my dresser to grab some clothes. Once dressed in a pair of skinnies and a black long-sleeved top that shows about three inches of stomach, I smirk at the little fairy belly-button ring, dangling from my naval. My parents would be horrified to know that I have this. It’s honestly part of the reason I did it. As if I were showing myself that they weren’t in control of me anymore.

  I quickly call my boss and let him know that I have a family emergency, so I won’t be in for the next couple weeks. Thankfully, he already knows who I am, due to his being a dark fae himself, so I don’t have to argue if I’ll have a job. He just tells me to take as much time as I need and if needed Celeste and Jade can take off with me since he has more help than he really needs the next few weeks. It’s been super slow at Fortune since a new club opened a few weeks ago.

  Not as much of a need of waitresses or bartenders if there aren’t a lot of customers. Last night was the first busy night in weeks.

  Once I’m off the phone with him I wander into my living room and frown at Celeste and Jade who are smirking at me from the kitchen counter.

  “You didn’t mention you had a little party here, last night, Crys,” Celeste purrs, a wicked gleam in your eye. “I wouldn’t have wanted to go out if I had that stud buffet waiting at home for me, either.”

  My eyes widen, my cheeks flushing as my gaze collides with a smirking Levi. Is he seriously amused right now?

  “Not like that, and you fucking know it,” I grumble, moving into my kitchen for the coffee. Thank Gods one of the girls started it, so I don’t have to wait.

  Jade snickers. “Don’t mind her, she didn’t get laid last night like she was hoping to.”

  I laugh as I pour coffee into a mug. “Struck out, huh?” I ask with a smirk. I turn to face my visitors and take a sip. Too damn tired to be dealing with sugar and creamer right now. I need coffee straight up to get me through this shit. I catch all three guards looking me up and down, but I quickly turn my attention back to what Jade said.

  I frown as I glance at Celeste. “Wait, how the fuck did you strike out? Fuckers wouldn’t leave me alone last night. There were plenty of desperate guys out last night.”

  All three guards shift their positions in the living room slightly. Tensing, or just moving, I’m not sure, but I’m pretty sure it’s because of what I said.

  Celeste sighs. “The one I picked tried drugging me.”

  I gape at her and Jade snickers. “What the hell?”

  Celeste smirks. “I did have a lot of fun making him pay for that, though,” she assures me.

  “Is he still alive?” I deadpan.

  She snorts as Jade outright laughs. “Yeah, he’s alive.”

  The guys all shift again, and a small smirk pulls at my lips. They don’t know how to handle girl talk.

  It’s kind of funny.

  “What’d you do?” I finally ask, a grin spreading across my face. Knowing her it had to have been epic.

  Celeste grins evilly. “Just a little stomach virus, maybe a little something special for down south,” she says cryptically.

  I choke on my drink of coffee as Jade and I burst out laughing. Celeste has a habit of shrinking a man’s dick if they piss her off enough. It’s the most random ability that I’ve ever heard of but it’s fucking perfect.

  “Princess,” Levi says, walking toward us. “Maybe you should tell them why they’re here,” he suggests.

  Jade snickers. “Princess. She sure as hell don’t act like a princess,” she says with a smirk.

  I raise an eyebrow at her, flipping her off, before nodding at Levi. “Impatient much?”

  His mouth curves just a little bit. “Not necessarily impatient, but I know they will be.”

  I grind my teeth at those words but otherwise don’t react before turning to my friends. “I have to go back to Faerie,” I tell them.

  They both tense and glare at the guys before turning their glares to me. “Why?” Celeste clips.

  “Why the fuck would you want to go back after the way they treated you?” Jade demands, pointing her finger in the guys’ direction.

  I step in between her hand and Levi. “It wasn’t these guys, Jade. None of them had anything to do with it. Levi’s the one that helped me leave, remember?” I ask, pointing at Levi with my thumb over my shoulder.

  Immediately the death glares leave their faces, but they’re still not convinced this is a good thing. Honestly, I’m not either. This is just going to get worse before it gets better.

  “My mom is sick, and they don’t know how long she has,” I explain softly. “Levi said they promised things would be different this time. Mom wants to see me before she passes.”

  Jade and Celeste exchange looks as I feel Levi’s hand on my bare back between my shirt and jeans.

  “We’re going with you,” Celeste announces.

  I gape at them. “But you always said you would never go back.”

  Celeste shrugs. “Maybe, but you need us. You’re family, Crystal. We’re going with you.”

  Jade nods. “Damn straight. And if anyone tries to be dickish, we’ll try to be nice when we tell them to fuck themselves,” she says with a sweet smile.

  Choked laughter sounds from behind me and Levi and I even hear Levi clearing his throat, like he had to stop himself from laughing.

  Levi finally speaks, but my heart sinks a little at his words. “Crystal, it’s not a good idea,” he says softly. “Your friends were banished here. We can’t bring them back with us.”

  I turn and face him, shocked at the apologetic expression on his face. “If they don’t go, then I don’t.”

  He opens his mouth to speak, probably to disagree with me, before his eyes search mine and he lets out a frustrated breath. “Fine.” He lowers his voice so much that I barely hear him mutter, “Always so stubborn,” as he turns and walks back to the other two guards.

  “Shall we kick the boys out for the night so that we can have a girls’ night?” Jade asks, grinning.

  I snicker. “I don’t think they’d go very far,” I admit.

  Celeste waves her hand. “Let them hang out or just let them hang outside like creepers,” she says with a shrug. “Doesn’t matter to me.”

  I snort and shake my head. “Whatever.” I look over at Levi, an eyebrow raised. “You guys staying for girls’ night?” I ask with a smile.

  He chuckles. “I think we’ll stay in the apartment but maybe not the same room.”

  Thank Gods. The last thing we need is for any of these guys to say something that’ll set off my friends. It wouldn’t be pretty.

  Chapter Five

  Crystal

  Celeste, Jade, and I are all quiet as the guards lead us to t
he park down the street from my apartment. I don’t know exactly why they’re so quiet, but I can probably guess. It’s most likely because it’s been so long since they’ve been in Faerie. There’s a nervous energy buzzing around all three of us. I’m quiet because my mind keeps racing through the way my family treated me in the past and trying to imagine things being different.

  It’s honestly harder than it should be to imagine the difference. I’m also not really holding out too much hope that it’ll be different. You can’t exactly change hundreds of years of experience and beliefs overnight.

  I’m extremely glad that we had a girls’ night last night before doing this because I don’t know if I’ll be able to relax like that again while we’re in Faerie.

  Levi leads all of us through the woods surrounding the park, taking us deep into the trees until we come upon the portal between Earth and Faerie. It looks like an ordinary tree with one of those giant holes in the trunk. When I say giant, I mean giant. This is the biggest tree in the entire area. The hole is the size of a large male so they can fit through it.

  It’s not an easy thing to hide without using magic, but thankfully there’s magic protecting the portal so that no random humans come traipsing into the portal by accident. Any humans that come this way immediately want to leave or don’t see the tree in the first place.

  Levi and Ezra enter the portal first, leaving Maxwell with us.

  He gestures to the portal. “Ladies first,” he says in his low, rough voice.

  “After you, princess,” Jade says with a sly grin.

  I roll my eyes and walk through the portal, letting the weird cold feeling wash over me as I go through. I don’t like that feeling any more now than I did six years ago when I first went through.

  I step into an open field of nothing but green grass and blue sky. There are flowers and trees up ahead but not anywhere near us. And just beyond those trees is the castle. The prison that I grew up in.