by A. M. Hardin
I look at the unconscious fae on the ground not far away and fight not to show my surprise. Miranda isn’t even recognizable now. She has to have several broken bones; her face is bloodied and black and blue. Actually, it’d be more accurate to say her entire body is black and blue.
“I need to get out of here,” I rasp, staring at the body. I’m not even one hundred percent sure if Miranda is alive right now. I just need to get away from all the gawking. “Celeste, please.”
I see her nod in my peripherals. I don’t even need to say it for her to understand. “Of course.”
In a heartbeat we’re back at the lake we had gone to when Ezra found us before.
Jade and Celeste let go of me and I immediately begin pacing. “Why didn’t you step in sooner?” I ask quietly.
“Because these people need to know that you’re not powerless. They need to understand that the girl they broke is gone. In her place is a strong, capable female who is able to wipe them all out in a blink if she so desired,” Celeste explains.
“I didn’t want them to know that, Celeste. I didn’t want to lose control.”
Celeste sighs. “I’m sorry we didn’t step in sooner—”
“I’m not,” Jade scoffs, interrupting.
Celeste glares at Jade then looks back at me. “—however, I will not apologize for doing what needed to be doing. It was a lesson they all needed to learn.”
I sigh. “I know, I understand why you did it. I didn’t kill her, did I?”
“I don’t think so,” Jade says with a shrug. “Although, if I’m honest you really should have.”
Celeste shoots her another narrow-eyed look before shaking her head. “She was still alive.”
I puff out a breath. “We need to get the fuck out of here.”
They smile. “That’s the plan, isn’t it?” Jade asks.
“Yeah, but how are we going to get around the freaking restrictions my parents put on the portals?”
Celeste hums thoughtfully. “We would have to sneak to one of the portals that aren’t restricted. Unfortunately, that can take a bit to get to.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.” I turn sharply as a twig snaps behind us. Jade and Celeste are at my side in an instant, but we all relax as my guards appear, followed by Julian. What the hell?
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask, aiming for casual.
Levi shakes his head. “We’re supposed to be guarding you, remember? We can’t do that if you keep disappearing on us, Crystal.” He studies me from head to toe, his eyes lingering on the scrapes I have from the damn pebbles being slung at me during the fight. “You alright?”
“I’m fine,” I bite out. I look at Julian, suspicious. “And why are you here?”
Julian’s lips curve just a bit. “I wanted to be sure you were okay. Your guard said he might know where you went.”
I purse my lips as I look at Ezra. “Lucky guess,” I mumble.
Ezra smiles. “Glad you’re alright, your highness.”
I groan, annoyed. “Damn it, I told you to drop that.”
Maxwell’s lips twitch a bit and amusement dances in his eyes.
“So,” Julian says casually, “you’re a dark fae.”
“What of it?”
“So much makes sense now, that’s all,” he responds breezily.
“Mhm, I’m sure,” I mutter. “How pissed are my parents?”
My guards tense almost as one. “They’re pissed,” Levi admits after hesitating for a long moment. “Your mother has demanded that we bring you back immediately and that your friends go back to Earth.”
Both girls snort at that. “We aren’t going anywhere,” Jade says, waving a hand in front of her. Celeste nods her agreement.
Levi’s expression says that he expected that response. “If you plan to stay, it would be best for you to keep a distance from Crystal. At least while her parents are around.”
Celeste raises an eyebrow. “Why?”
Levi’s mouth quirks. “So you guys don’t keep disappearing with her. They’re convinced that you are able to spirit her away to the human realm.”
“I fucking wish,” Celeste murmurs, sounding put out.
I chuckle. “I do too.”
* * *
We chat for a few minutes longer before we all split up at the edge of the forest. Julian goes one way while my friends go another. I head inside with my guards, knowing I can’t stay away for long.
A half hour later, my bedroom door slams open and my parents glare at me, shutting the door behind them.
“Your friends will go back to the human realm tomorrow,” my mother spits.
“Why?” I ask, although I already know the answer.
“Because I don’t want them here, filling your head with nonsensical bullshit, that’s why. They don’t need to be here any longer since you won’t be leaving here to go back to the human realm in the first place.”
I take a deep breath, tamping down my anger and frustration. “With all due respect, mother, my friends are here as guests. It would be rude to cut their stay short,” I point out, knowing my mother’s and father’s feelings on appearances. If it was discovered that they purposely cut a visiting fae’s—originally banished or not—stay short, it would look bad on them.
My father sighs and places a hand on her shoulder. “She has a point, dear.”
Mom’s teeth grind together so hard, I can hear it as she glares at me, her eyes calculating. “Fine. Then we will have a chat with your friends. They are not to use their abilities any longer. Especially the one with the ability to teleport you away.”
My lips purse as I think about that. On one hand, that’s pretty shitty of my parents to restrict them this way. On the other hand, they’re used to it, since we had to do it in the human realm. Plus, they’d do it if that meant they weren’t forced to stay away from me while they’re around. They wouldn’t like that at all.
“I’ll let them know.”
Mom narrows her eyes at me before stiffly nodding then storms out of the room, leaving my father behind. My father stares at me for several heartbeats and I see something in his eyes I’ve never seen before.
Fear.
Fear of me? Fear of my powers? I don’t know. But it’s a little disconcerting.
I never wanted anyone to be afraid of me. That’s not the kind of person I am.
Without a word, my dad leaves the room, glancing briefly at my guards who tensed the moment they came in. Once he’s gone, they lose their tension.
They each turn their gazes to me, and I fight not to squirm under their scrutiny.
“I’m going to go for a run,” I announce, not giving them a chance to question me. I immediately move to my dresser and grab some sweats and a t-shirt to run in. I also grab my socks and shoes as I make my way to the bathroom, ignoring the guys completely.
Once I’ve finished dressing I frown as Levi walks into the room with his own running clothes on. “You’re not coming with me.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You need at least one of us with you at all times, Crystal. You know that.”
I groan, knowing he’s right. They’ll never let me go alone. “Fine. Just, stay out of my sight, please. I need to at least pretend I’m alone.”
His expression softens. “Alright. If that’s what you want.”
I nod once, then lead him out of the room, tossing a smile and a wave at my other guards who’ve taken to playing chess at my little table in the corner of the room as we leave.
Ignoring the stares and whispers is harder than usual as we make our way out of the palace. Determined to show them nothing, I keep my face blank and my head held high as we go. As soon as we’re outside, I inhale deeply, letting the cool, brisk air, soothe my fraying nerves. Without acknowledging Levi, I start a steady jog, needing to work off my tension.
I can hear him running behind me, but instead of making me chafe, it’s sort of comforting. Knowing he’s there for me if anything happens. I force Levi out of
my mind, force my other guards, Julian, my parent’s, and my sister out of it as well.
We run for a while before I finally come to a stop at one of the many gardens my father had put together for my mom. Her gifts are predominantly nature based, so she’s always loved flowers. When he married my mom, my dad had all these gardens put together as a wedding present.
The wind rustles my hair and I sigh as I feel my eyes burn. Tears quietly slip down my cheeks as I stare at the statue of one of our former rulers. I hear Levi stepping closer to me.
“Did you know?” I ask quietly, my voice cracking slightly. Ezra said they didn’t, but that doesn’t mean that Levi didn’t know what my parents had planned.
He’s silent for a minute before answering. “I didn’t know. I did suspect they were hiding something, but I didn’t know what they could possibly be hiding behind their reasoning for wanting you home.”
“Right,” I whisper as I make my way to one of many benches placed throughout the garden. I pat the spot beside me. “Sit, please.”
Without a word he sits beside me, placing his hand over mine. “I swear, I didn’t know what they had planned, Crystal.”
I look up at him and nod once. “I believe you.” I turn my gaze to the flowers dancing in the breeze and lean my head on his shoulder. “Why did we stop being friends, Levi?” I ask quietly.
He puffs out a breath as I feel his cheek touch the top of my head. “You started pulling away from everybody shortly before you asked me to take you away from here the last time. I knew it was happening, but I didn’t know what to do to close that gap that you had started putting between us.”
I press my face against his shoulder for a moment. “I’m sorry. I’ve missed having you around, Levi,” I admit quietly.
Levi’s hand trails up my back slowly before he cups my nape, massaging gently. “I’ve missed you too, you know. It hasn’t been the same around here without you.”
The sadness in his voice pricks at my heart and a lump forms in my throat. “I never had the chance to thank you for taking me away, did I?”
He chuckles softly. “You really don’t need to thank me. I would have ended up taking you away from here sooner or later, even if you didn’t ask.”
I smile a little at that. “In any case, thank you. You could have gotten in a lot of trouble for helping me. I won’t forget that.”
His mouth curves for a heartbeat then flattens as his eyes zero in on something across the garden. His entire body tenses. He stands, his gaze focused on our surroundings.
“Levi?”
Without saying a word, he grabs my hand and forces me to follow him as he leads me away from the garden.
“Levi? What is going on?”
Disembodied laughter echoing around us is the answer I get in return. To be fair, that is kind of all the answer that I need to understand what the hell is going on. Several pairs of running footsteps joins the sound of laughter.
How many are there?
Levi curses under his breath as his grip on my hand tightens while he pulls me close into his side. “Stick close to me,” he murmurs, just loud enough for me to hear. “You’re fast enough that you can keep up.”
I nod once to show that I heard him. That must have been enough to satisfy him, because without another word, he runs, pulling me with him, his hand clasped tight around mine.
I hear the footsteps and laughter following us, although it’s faded slightly. They must not be able to catch up to us if we’re moving this fast.
Levi leads me into the forest and before I know it, he’s stopping before a giant ass tree. I frown as I look from the tree to Levi. “Why are we stopping?”
“I want you to hide here,” he whispers harshly. “I’ll lead them away from here, but I need you to stay hidden.”
I frown. “Where exactly do you expect me to hide? In the tree? They can find me easily that way. It’d be the same if I were to try hiding in the brush.”
His mouth twitches as he places a hand over the large tree. Within seconds the tree shimmers and a large crack forms down the middle. I tilt my head as I watch. Once the tree’s trunk is opened wide enough for me to go inside, I shake my head frantically, already seeing where he’s going with this little plan of his.
“Nope. Nuh-uh. Not happening. This is a big no go.” Especially after being trapped in fucking Miranda’s earth trap not so long ago.
He sighs. “Crystal, it won’t be for long. I will come back. I promise.”
I look from him to the tree for a moment. “You’re planning on shutting me inside a fucking tree, Levi,” I hiss, my heart racing. “That will essentially trap me there since I don’t have the same ability you do.” My eyes dart around us frantically as the thought of being trapped again makes my breath catch until I’m not breathing at all in an effort to get some sort of control over the panic.
He grips my arms—hard enough to shock me into breathing again, but not hard enough to hurt—and forces me to meet his gaze. “Calm down. I swear, I will come right back for you. I won’t be gone longer than ten minutes.”
“You don’t know that,” I snap quietly, hearing someone call out my name tauntingly.
Levi’s eyes trail over my face for a heartbeat before his hands move from my arms to cup my neck. “I promise, I will be back for you,” he swears. The next thing I know his mouth is covering mine in a blistering kiss as he walks me backwards a few feet. Before I have a chance to even think about kissing him back, he’s pulling away. His thumb brushes my bottom lip before he drops his hands. “I’ll be right back, Crystal.”
I stare at him, completely bewildered. He just kissed me. Levi just kissed me! What the hell? Before my brain can fully catch up to what just happened, the tree’s trunk closes, blocking my view of Levi.
That fucking asshole.
Chapter Seventeen
Crystal
Shockingly enough, there’s still some light shining through the trunk so it’s not completely dark in here. Thank fuck. That’d make it a billion times creepier.
I don’t know how long I’ve been in here now, but I know the time that Levi gave me has come and gone. And he’s still not back yet.
I stopped hearing my name being called a while ago. Unfortunately, I can’t get myself out of this damn trunk without letting go of my control again. I don’t want to do that. Especially so soon after the last time.
I shift against the trunk, welcoming the distraction of the bark biting into my back. It’s helping me to stay in the now and to keep the panic at bay.
I can’t believe Levi essentially tricked me into the damn tree.
“Fucking asshole,” I mutter under my breath.
A chuckle on the other side of the trunk is quickly followed by Levi’s voice. “Now that’s not very nice.”
“Well, it’s what you are,” I snap. “Now let me the fuck out of here.”
The trunk opens to reveal Levi standing there with his mouth curved into an amused smirk. “I told you I’d come back.”
I narrow my eyes at him as I climb to my feet and shove past him so I can get out of the cramped space he left me in. “You told me you’d be back long before now,” I point out unnecessarily.
He sighs, regret burning in his eyes. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry. There was a complication.”
“What complication?”
He shakes his head. “I’ll tell you later. For now, we need to get you back to your room.”
I ignore his words and stare at him, my lungs burning and my eyes stinging. “Why couldn’t you have picked somewhere else to hide me?” I ask, my voice shaky.
His expression turns pained as he watches a tear trail down my cheek. “Crystal—"
“You know! You know all about what they did. You had a goddamn front row seat to all of it!” I snap as I push against his chest, the tears falling faster. He stumbles back a step, even though I know he could have stopped himself. “And you still put me in a fucking tree, anyway. Despite the fact that you knew ho
w that would make me feel.”
His expression tortured, he reaches out to me and pulls me into his arms, one arm wrapped around my waist while the other hand rests at the back of my head. I bury my face in his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist without a second thought. This was exactly how he used to hold me whenever I was upset or having a panic attack.
I didn’t realize until now how much I’ve missed it. I close my eyes tightly, attempting to fight off another wave of tears.
“I’m sorry, Crystal,” he mutters against the top of my hair. “There really wasn’t any other choice. There is nowhere else to hide you around this area. I’m so fucking sorry, baby.”
I clutch his shirt tight in my fists but otherwise don’t say anything.
He pulls away from me and then his hands are on my cheeks as he stares deep in my eyes. “Please say you forgive me. My only thought was to keep you safe. I didn’t think of it until after I realized that it was the only place I could hide you.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, overwhelmed at the sincerity and the pleading in his tone and expression. “I forgive you,” I whisper, a lump in my throat. The tension leaves his body as relief fills his expression a moment before he places a chaste kiss on my lips.
He clears his throat as he pulls back, and before I know it, he’s back to being captain of the royal guard, his expression blank and body language closed off. “We should get back to your room.”
I sigh and nod once. “Fine. Guess it’s back to being a prisoner.” For now, anyway.
“Your parents will want to know about this,” Levi says as we make our way back to the castle.
Yeah, I’m not really all that surprised about that. “What will you tell them?”
Levi’s quiet for so long that I start wondering if he will even respond. “There’s not a whole lot to tell. You weren’t hurt, but you were the target.”
“Did you kill them?”
