by Zoe Parker
“Shut the hell up! Where are those morons? Can no one do anything right?” Then she surprises me when she pulls a gun out of her pocket. She can barely hold the thing up, but it’s still pointed right at me.
Guns are illegal in Faerth. The penalty for owning one is death.
Ciar’s face jerks up.
I can do a lot of things but there’s no way to stop a bullet, not when they’re made of iron and burrow right through any kind of magical shield that we might throw up in time. Instead, I use one of the two magical abilities I know I have.
Pushing as hard as I can, the magic finally cooperates, and the gun blows up in her hand. Squealing in agony, she screams obscenities at me while cradling her hand close to her chest.
“Your whore of a mother should’ve done the job right and killed you the first time. Instead my life is hinging on your death. You have to die!”
Something in me snaps, I’m sick of it. The crap my mother did. This stupid mess with Lucinda, who I thought was my friend… all of it.
The whistle lights her fate up for me in her aura. Grimacing I let the notes fade and sigh. Her fate was sealed the minute she raised that gun.
“I’ll keep trying, Keri. I’ll kill your stupid handsome friend like I did Mark. I’ll go after that new loser sniffing around you too. They’ll all die.” She stomps her foot like she normally does in a tizzy. “Why are you whistling? Will a dog come running out of the bushes to save you?”
The violin materializes in my hand and without looking I put it under my chin and play with the bow that appears in the other hand. A note leaves the temperamental instrument and then another and soon I’m playing a sad song about lost love. Because really, that’s what made her finally lose her marbles, the mess with Mark.
She couldn’t bear that he didn’t love her.
If only she knew. Ciar meets my gaze, sensing what’s happening, he’s waiting patiently for me to finish. Owning a gun is outlawed in all Faerth, sworn on by magic and the Hunt.
The minute she drew the weapon she called on a different magic than mine. I’m only hastening it along a few hours.
Ciar smiles a shark’s smile and then moves.
“What are you doing? What is that magic coming from you? Why—oh!” Ciar grabs her none too gently and throws her over his shoulders. Pausing only for a second, he blows me a kiss and then vanishes as the need to hunt calls.
She’ll be turned loose in the forest, prey for the Wild Hunt, it’s how the Hunt works. Although her clan protected some of their own, Lucinda isn’t afforded such protection.
She’s a throwaway child to her parents, the one who didn’t bloom. It’s all kind of sad.
“Are you feeling sorry for the woman who tried to kill you multiple times?” Rime asks.
“Uh… maybe?”
“Gods you really are a big bag of moosh aren’t you?” he teases, patting my shoulder. I don’t say anything. I’m waiting for the backlash, for the brand that I know is coming.
It’ll be similar to the Elf assassin’s brand. Her fate was due to happen regardless, tonight in fact, but I still called it and there’s still a cost. Then it hits me, the burning of it first appearing on the skin of my calf. Moving the torn skirt aside I look at the rune for deception that appears on my calf. It’s smaller than the other two, about half the size and not as painful as any to date.
Rime kneels and touches it with his cold hand. “This worked last time so let’s try it again.” It instantly eases to nothing more than a little twinge.
“How did you know it worked before?”
“The bond.” Oh duh. I’m tired.
Ciar will be gone for hours and I’m ready to go home. I just have no idea how to get there. “Rime, do you know how we can go home?”
“Actually, yes. Ciar left a phone number for me to call.”
Ciar is my hero and will always be. Sitting on the concrete bench, still cool from the night air, I let myself relax a bit. Rime talks briefly on the phone and then joins me on the bench.
“Troll service incoming.” He leans back and studies me, I can feel it. “Fate Caller huh?”
“I guess.”
“Even I know that’s rare.”
“Not as rare as being Jack Frost.”
“You’re not the first person to call me that. Do you know why?” He’s got me there, so I say nothing. I honestly have no idea why, we can ask Zag… tomorrow.
When I sense someone staring at me I look up and, on the balcony, overlooking the courtyard we’re in, is the Duke and he has a smile of absolute satisfaction on his face. With a small wave he turns and walks out of sight.
“Fudge.”
“What?” Rime is tense and ready to defend me, I can see it in his posture.
“Where’s the bird?”
“No idea, he flew off when the fun started. Are you okay?”
Yes and no. I’m not sure. Am I? Shivering, I wrap my arms around myself. A warm jacket smelling of fresh snow wraps around me. Odd that it’s warm, considering.
Saving me the effort of trying to have a conversation with the suddenly talkative Rime, a large basket is deposited on the concrete in front of us. Our ride is here. Flicking a brief glance at the Troll, I stand up and climb into the passenger basket. The seats are surprisingly soft and cuddling down into one I decide a little nap won’t hurt.
The rocking of the basket keeps me in a light doze for most of the trip home. I only wake up because Rime pulls me closer to him to rest my head on his shoulder. When the basket is put down in front of my house, I stand and stretch.
Gertie stands in the open doorway, the light casting a long welcoming glow towards us. I’m so glad to be home. Her eyes take in the torn dress and she schools her expression to a neutral warm smile.
“Come on in for hot chocolate and marshmallows. I decided that you needed something warm before bed after such a busy night.” Trudging inside I go upstairs first to change and fight tears as I see the condition of the once beautiful dress. Still I carefully place it in its bag and hang it in the closet. Maybe one day I can have it repaired?
With my feet feeling like blocks I walk back downstairs and to the kitchen. Inside there’s friendly chatter from Bis and Zag who alights on my shoulder and nuzzles me, and Gertie and her family.
The only quiet one is Rime, who’s watching me like I’m going to fall apart any second. I’m not, no matter how much I want to.
I feel bad, there’s no way around it. I thought, flawed or not, that Lucinda and I were on the way to being friends. And to have to call the Hunt on her… I don’t like this part of it. I don’t like how I feel afterwards.
‘And that’s why she chose you.’ Rime’s voice in my head startles me so hard I knock my hot chocolate over. Gertie starts cleaning it up immediately and pushes my hands away when I try to help.
“Did you just talk in my head?” I demand.
“Yes, it took some figuring out but… as you can see.” He spreads his hands in supplication. Now this will take a little getting used to but really, I’ve had someone in my head most of my life, what’s another voice? Feels kind of like he belongs there anyhow.
“You can read minds all the sudden?”
“No, but you were thinking so hard without any filters I caught that bit of it.” That’s good to know. He’s not telepathic like Ciar but he can talk to me this way. “You love him, don’t you?”
“Who?”
“Ciar.”
“Yes, I think I’ve always loved him.” I answer, honestly.
“Do you think,” he pauses and runs his finger around the rim of his cup, “that you will ever love anyone else?”
Studying him, I put thought into my answer. I’m aware of what he’s asking me, maybe even more so than he is. What I see is a man who’s been crapped on a lot. Penelope, the most recent example.
“When I love, it’s forever—there is no ‘love them for now’ in me. And from what Ciar says, I have a lot of love in me to give.” He smiles at
my answer and takes a deep drink of hot cocoa.
I can’t help but smile back, especially at his huge chocolate mustache and solitary piece of marshmallow stuck to the tip of it.
If we opened our minds to enjoyment, we might find tranquil pleasures spread about us at every side. We might live with the angels that visit us on every sunbeam, and sit with the Fairies who wait on every flower.
~Samuel Smiles
No matter how many times I switch positions I can’t find sleep. When I feel Ciar’s presence wash over me I know why. On silent feet he slips into the room and, after pausing a moment next to the bed where I’m pretending to be asleep he crosses to the bathroom.
The shower turns on.
Realizing how much I worry when he’s gone, regardless of the surety he’s safe, I climb to my feet and creep to the bathroom stripping as I go. The light is off, he can see in the dark after all, so I don’t have to worry about turning on the lights.
As quiet as I can possibly be I take off the last bit of my clothes and step into the shower behind him. He’s got his face in the spray and maybe the pounding of the water on his head blocked out the noise.
“Can you wash my back, monster girl?” Nope, he heard everything. Smiling I grab the loofa and lather it up super thick and start scrubbing. The skin is smooth and unblemished, he heals radically fast, and I can’t help but slide my hand down his back. Down his soft skin, carefully over the ridges of his muscles.
I love this man.
Turning towards me he tosses the loofa gods know where and pulls me into his arms. Holding me close he buries his face in my hair and stands there, lending me his warmth, his strength.
The sob comes out of me with force. Loud, it catches me off guard and I push my face harder against him. Another sob racks me and he tightens his hold on me.
“I love you, monster girl. I’ve always loved you and I always will love you. Now let that big heart of yours grieve,” he kisses my neck, “and then shave those hairy legs of yours.”
The sob turns into a choked laugh and a piece of me relaxes a little. Ciar is here, Ciar will make it all better.
Ciar passed out after we showed each other exactly how many positions you can do that thing with your tongue in. Unable to sleep I wandered downstairs. Rime is asleep on the couch, one leg thrown up over the back, the other with his foot flat on the floor. His mouth wide open.
Hopefully nothing crawls in there.
I cover him with a blanket and move on to check on Fluffy, who’s still sleeping the sleep of change. Resting my hand against it I find it warm to the touch and know he’ll soon wake up. Zag is still upstairs, snuggled against Ciar’s butt. I’ll make sure to tell my proper lizard tomorrow that he slept next to a butthole and see how he likes that.
My wandering takes me to the backyard to the fountain where I first saw the frost from Rime. The water gurgles happily and the Water Flies—including my festival prize—swim around it, happily coming to the surface in the hopes of a treat.
I don’t have anything this time, but I promise them I’ll bring something next time. A blue feather floating in the water catches my attention. I pluck it out of the water and stroke it. Another one floats by, then another. Curious, I follow them.
Kneeling, I find the blue raven, lifeless on the ground. This can mean a lot of different things, but two things jump immediately to mind. Either the creator is too far away to give it life or… they’re dead.
“Bit pessimistic, yeah? Jumping straight to dead.” The accented voice pulls me to my feet and turning, knife in hand. The man standing before me has the prettiest cyan colored eyes, bright in his pretty face. His hair is a soft brown that looks reddish in the moonlight.
But that accent… he’s definitely not from this part of the world.
“How’d you know, Trick?” It’s a guess, but I’m pretty sure it’s a good one, because the thread we share is telling on him. It’s starting to wake up. The suitcase at his feet is a good indication he’s staying or hoping to stay, too.
“You’re clever, aren’t ya?” The bond between us flares brighter.
“Mm, are you planning on staying?”
He laughs, and I get a shiver. “There isn’t a force in the world that can move me from here.”
“You can go pick from the two rooms left on the second floor. I’d suggest you not wake the sleeping Puca, he gets grouchy.” Trick smiles again and this time I look away, so I don’t react.
Since you can read my flipping mind, Trick.
“I’m your anchor, clever girl. I have to be able to read ya.” He has a valid point there, but I still start working on the shields I’ve been lax at keeping up. For now, they need to go up. He might be sure of his place, but I’m not.
He turns to walk into the house. “By the way, there’s some official looking gits heading this way—I’d expect them in the morning.”
“How official and how do you know they’re coming here?”
“Mark of the king identifies them as his men and I may have borrowed an identity or two to have a look about.” With that said he walks into the house without another word.
Are you serious? I need a fucking vacation.
To the wonderful reader of this book-
Thank you for coming on this journey with me!
I want to thank the Savage Squad, you all make me laugh during some hard days.
Kelly, Vicki, Amy, Brandi, Samm, Heather—thank you for always being there.
Jason—hump-muffin, I love you. More than I’ll ever be able to show you in this lifetime. You’re the main reason I get through well, EVERYTHING, the tears of frustration and the daily crap that constitutes life. Wanna wrestle?
Felicia and Korah, what a wonderful miracle. Love you both!
Vicky…there’s no hurry—take the dog back. (inside joke!) I love you ! I’m so proud of the person you are!
Thanks for my fantastic Beta Team… I wasn’t sure I had a book at all, but you got me there!
Last but not least, thank you reader—for joining me in this journey. I do believe in Fairies, do you?
Writing is as important to me as breathing. I don't think I'll ever stop writing. As a child it was my solace, my adventures. As an adult... still the same things. In these worlds, I can fight for the poor dragon, I can cheer for the black knight. I can make the little guy strong enough to toss cars, and if you allow it, I'll drag you right along with me. I do believe in fairies, do you?
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Also by Zoe Parker
Elusion Facets of Feyrie Book One
Ascension Facets of Feyrie Book Two
Deception Facets of Feyrie Book Three, coming this summer!
Only on Amazon!
