Seduced by Magic

by Cheyenne McCray

  It was hard to believe she’d left this place only three days ago. She thought she’d never be back.

  This time the grass was beneath her jogging shoes instead of her bare feet as she walked up to the apple tree. She pressed her hand up against the trunk. It felt rough against her palm, yet surprisingly comforting at the same time. Birds twittered from the tree as if telling her to leave their home alone. When she looked up she saw among the leaves and apples a nest with two bright red birds perched on its sides. She had never seen birds in the meadow before. That had to be a good sign.

  Even though she was in the one place she thought she’d never want to be in again, somehow it felt like home. At least one home that she had come back to visit, but definitely not to live in again.

  She continued to look around her. The rock outcropping was there—well, she’d just walked out of it, duh. The water from the small waterfall tinkled into each basin before flowing back into the ground.

  So much emotion swirled through her.

  Her throat ached and she felt the pain of her mother’s death as fresh as when she had first learned of it. This was where she had been told her mother had passed on to Summerland. The rush of pain was harsh and the back of her eyes felt as though they were being singed from the hot tears that wanted to flood her cheeks.

  And this was where she first met Tiernan.

  Copper swallowed and tried to turn her mind to other things. Her gaze rested on the meager shelter that she had shared with Tiernan before they left, and her chest seized. This place was where she had fallen in love with him.

  Copper forced her thoughts away from him. She stared at the part of the rock outcropping she had just walked through. Her friends. Where were they? Zephyr buzzed his concern, too.

  The bushes at the Faerie mound were still, no Faeries were collecting nectar, and no Faerie children were playing tag among the flowers. No Pixies, no Brownies, not even the Undine was there to greet her.

  It felt so incredibly lonely.

  Copper sighed.

  She dropped her pack beside the apple tree and walked to where she knew the shield had always been. Holding out her hand, she took a step forward, then another step, then passed right through where the barrier had stood. She continued to walk around the meadow, testing the air for the barrier. It wasn’t there!

  A huge rush of relief left her chest and she grinned. She bounced up and down on her toes, her earrings jangling. She’d done it! Before she left she really had set them all free!

  She whirled around to head back to the tree and came to an abrupt stop. The Faerie queen, Riona, along with several other Faeries, a few Pixies, and a couple of Brownies, all of whom she recognized, were gathered around her backpack. They were all looking at her as if expecting something. To her side she saw the beautiful Undine rise from the water.

  Riona flitted away from the others, the lavender dust from her wings sparkling in the sunlight, and the scent of roses accompanying her. “Welcome back, Copper.” The naked Faerie perched on Copper’s shoulder, crossed her legs, and swung her foot. Zeph gave a buzz of greeting from Copper’s ear.

  She smiled at the Faerie queen. Copper went over to the odd group of creatures that normally didn’t have a patient cell in their bodies, but now were uncommonly still—maybe Riona had cast a spell on all of them. With the Faerie queen on her shoulder, Copper knelt and settled on her haunches in front of them.

  “It’s good to see you,” she said and did her best to smile. It was so hard when the situation was so dire.

  The Faeries bowed, the Pixies jumped up and down and clapped their little hands, and the Brownies made little grumbling noises. It occurred to Copper that she could offer them all a little treat as they’d done for her so many times.

  “I’ve got something for each of you.” Copper retrieved her pack from between a Pixie and a Brownie who had been shoving one another, then dug out the paper bag of sugar cookies.

  The cookies were slightly warm, and huge compared to the Pixies and the Faeries, but the Brownies handled them all right. As a matter of fact, they munched down on the treats so quickly that in mere moments all that was left of their own cookies were crumbs. They even made sure to lick the crumbs from their fingers and to snatch them up from the grass. Copper gave them each another cookie, which they took with greedy little hands.

  Copper kept glancing at the rock outcropping, hoping to see her friends walk through. Had they been transferred somewhere else?

  Riona fluttered to Copper’s hand and broke off a small handful of cookie and delicately ate an itty-bitty piece of it. “This human food—delicious,” she said. “We will take our portion back to our Sidhe to share with the others of our kind.” She waved her hands like a maestro conducting a symphony and all of the Faeries’ cookies disappeared, along with the Faeries who had greeted Copper. Queen Riona stayed.

  Riona stood on Copper’s backpack as they watched the Pixies vanish into the greenery with their own cookies. The Brownies trundled away, looking pleased and full.

  Copper pushed herself to her feet and carried a sugar cookie to the Undine who graciously took it with a bow of her head. “It is good to see you again, dearest Copper,” she said in a voice like water trickling over stones. She sank down into the shallow basin of water and disappeared, cookie and all.

  When Copper made it back to the apple tree to wait for her friends a little longer, it was just her, Zephyr, and Riona. While Zeph went to pollinate a few flowers, Copper sat cross-legged on the grass beside the Faerie queen. Riona was perched on the smooth rock that Copper had sat upon so many times before.

  “So everyone was able to go back home?” Copper asked.

  Riona was still delicately nibbling on the remaining cookie. “The barrier went away the moment you went back to your world. We still live nearby, but we are free to come and go as we please.”

  Copper smiled and felt another swell of relief in her chest. “I’m so glad.”

  But then that smile and relief disappeared as it hit her again that she was alone. None of her friends were coming through the barrier. And worst of all, Silver was in danger.

  Riona braced her hands on the rock to either side of her and looked up at Copper. The queen’s black hair was lying over her shoulders, covering her perfect little breasts. Her amethyst eyes were wide and serious.

  “Your friends . . .” Riona started slowly.

  “You know what happened to them?” Copper said. “Why didn’t they come through with me?”

  The queen delicately cleared her throat. “Balor blocked their way. He wants you alone, without the defenses of your companions.”

  Copper’s body went limp and she slumped against the apple tree. “Oh, goddess.”

  “Although your sister is in trouble, you cannot go by yourself,” Riona said softly. “It could mean your death, as well.”

  Copper dropped her hands to her lap. “Excuse me?”

  “Our seer . . .” Riona shifted on the rock. “Suffice it to say that we know some of what would lie ahead of you if you made this journey alone. I wish we could be of assistance, but as you know, the Fae cannot tolerate being deep within the earth. It would kill us.”

  This time it felt as if Brownies were nipping at the inside of Copper’s belly, hard. “Are you saying that Silver is in danger, but that you don’t think I should go after her?”

  Riona sighed. “She will soon be at the door. We do not know if she will be injured enough to die, or if she will survive.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Copper jumped to her feet. “You’re telling me my sister could die and I’m not supposed to do anything about it?”

  The Faerie queen stared solemnly at Copper. “You could die, as well.”

  “It doesn’t matter what happens to me.” Copper got back down on her knees and grabbed her backpack. “What matters is that I save my sister.”

  “There is no one who can help you.” Riona’s voice was pleading. “The Mystwalkers cannot
live far from water, the Shanai and the D’Danann are too far away for us to contact in time. I can send word, but the only way they could make it is if they use the Elvin transference point, and the D’Danann and Elves do not speak to one another. As for the Elves assisting you, those of pure Elvin blood cannot go belowground or they will become Dark Elves. And as I said, none of the Fae can help. Only the D’Danann could if they were near enough. But as it is, I doubt they will be here in time.”

  Riona fluttered beside Copper while Zephyr zipped to her ear as she stood and slung her backpack over one shoulder. She headed to the side of the rock wall that she had always dreaded going to.

  “Please.” Riona’s voice was urgent. “Do not do this alone.”

  “I don’t have a choice.” There was no one to help her, and there was no way in hell that she was going to let her sister die. “I’ve got to find her, and I have to save her. I will save her.”

  When Copper reached the Drow door, she took a deep, deep breath. Then without any further hesitation, she stomped on the door five times.

  While Copper waited for the door to open, Riona gave her a feather-light kiss on her cheek, then moved to hover in front of her and sighed. “I will send word to the D’Danann, but I do not know if it will make a difference.”

  Copper sucked in a breath. “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”

  “Good luck, Copper Ashcroft.” Riona fluttered her wings so that Faerie dust sprinkled over Copper’s head and shoulders. “May the goddess be with you.”

  The door began to screech open at Copper’s feet. The Faerie blew her one last kiss, then was gone in a blink of an eye.

  That horrible nails-scratching-chalkboard sound grated along Copper’s spine as the stone door moved. She shuddered when it finished and the door was finally open. The steps leading deep into the darkness were barely visible. She withdrew her wand from her pocket with her free hand and the crystal at the end began to glow its golden light. She hitched the pack up a little higher and started down the stairs.

  Twenty-two

  It was dark by the time the messenger arrived to tell Darkwolf that he had met Garran at the pier. The messenger, a demon in a young man’s shell, handed Darkwolf a parchment filled with magic. Darkwolf closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Yes . . . the magic-infused paper would lead him directly to the door.

  Triumph filled Darkwolf as he opened his eyes, but much of that triumph was forced through him by Balor’s eye. Part of him was reluctant, because of what he would have to do with Silver. He would ensure she would not be killed, but he feared harming her.

  He pocketed the parchment, which was of no use save for the transfer. He dismissed the messenger just as Junga approached. She had changed out of Elizabeth’s elegant suit and was wearing functional jeans, a gold jersey with SAN FRANCISCO 49ers emblazoned across it, and walking shoes. The shirt was all she’d been able to find at the last minute that would fit her while she was in her human shell. The jeans were tight as hell on her, and they made her ass look good enough to fuck.

  When Darkwolf walked into one of the guest bedrooms to retrieve Silver, he stopped for a moment at the doorway. She was holding one palm against her belly, and she looked vulnerable and tired. Very tired. It was something he had never seen in her before.

  In that moment, he was Kevin Richards again, the former white witch who longed to be human again. A human who might have been able to win the spirit and the love of such a woman. This woman.

  What if she could save him? Return him to the life he once knew?

  The moment she sensed his presence, she straightened her spine, dropped her hand from her belly, and raised her chin. The hatred in her eyes brought him back to reality. He belonged to Balor now, and this woman would never love him. He could keep her, always his captive, but she would never love him.

  Silver looked beautiful despite her day of captivity. She had bathroom facilities within the room she had been relegated to, and she had eaten all that he’d placed in front of her through the powerful shield. Although it had looked like she was forcing herself to eat. Her hair hung long and loose around her shoulders and she had a soft flush to her cheeks.

  He loved that fire in her gray eyes, her spirit, her beauty. Something about the unguarded moment he had just caught her in concerned him. Something beyond being held captive was disturbing Silver.

  Sara walked into the room and sidled up to Darkwolf as she met Silver’s gaze. Sara had once belonged to the same D’Anu Coven as Silver, before Silver was kicked out and before Sara had been seduced into the Balorite fold.

  With no hesitation, Sara reached up and kissed Darkwolf, slipping her tongue into his mouth. She tasted sweet and when she rubbed his cock through his jeans, he wanted to fuck her, right in front of Silver, to show her what she was missing.

  He heard a low growl behind him that he knew was Junga. After deliberately extending the kiss, he physically separated himself from Sara. She gave him the sensual pout that she was so good at. Her nipples were taut beneath her low-cut blouse and he was certain her pussy was wet, waiting for him.

  Junga growled again, but he ignored her. He tweaked one of Sara’s nipples and she gave a satisfied smile. “No time now.” He pinched her other nipple and she moaned a little louder. “I’ll give you a good fucking when we get back.”

  Sara smirked at Junga and looked down her nose at Silver, who had a horrified expression on her face. She obviously was shocked at how easily Sara had embraced being a warlock, and her relationship with Darkwolf.

  “Let’s get the witch and go,” Junga said in a harsh voice that sounded much like a command.

  Darkwolf turned to Junga, ice in his eyes. It was not her place to give him orders. He wore Balor’s eye. He had the power of the god. However, the demon queen would never quaver before him, despite the fact he was certain he could kill her through Balor’s magic. He brushed aside his irritation. He looked from Junga to Sara. “Prepare for the transfer.”

  His gaze returned to Silver and the shield around her that had been multiplied by the strength of Balor. She hadn’t been able to penetrate this shield no matter how many times she’d tried. He had watched her, amused at her attempts. The shield was in front of the bedroom door and covered the curtained window so that she could not break through it, and she had no means of communication.

  He frowned. Unlike the fraction of time she’d had to use her cell phone. Her guard had been down, though, and he’d been able to use his magic to retrieve it from her.

  Just how much did she know and how much did she tell her friends? The D’Danann and witches had not appeared at his door, so he was certain she hadn’t been able to relay their location. No doubt there was nothing to worry about.

  When Silver had noticed Darkwolf, her hands were immediately prepared to fight him the second he removed the shield. Instead of releasing it, he wrapped the shield snug around her, like a lover, the way he wanted to wrap his arms around her.

  “It’s time.” He stepped closer to her now that she was confined to one small space with his magic.

  She reached up to touch the barrier, then snatched her hand back. “Time for what?” She dropped her hands to her sides and clenched them into fists.

  Darkwolf sighed. He truly didn’t want to do this, but he saw no choice. They would need only a little of her blood—Balor had promised this when he’d spoken to Darkwolf through the stone. He would have to take her to the door itself, now that the location of the door had been made known.

  He slipped his hand into his pocket, pulled out a small vial, and opened it. Careful not to breathe in the contents, he pushed the open bottle through his shield and splashed it on Silver before she had a chance to react. He briefly caught the scent of poppy seeds, chamomile, and his own special ingredient.

  Darkwolf let the shield drop just in time to catch Silver before she collapsed and fell into a deep sleep.

  Twenty-three

  Copper’s heart pounded as she descend
ed the stairs. She had no doubt this was what she was supposed to do—this was her destiny. The Drow were trying to open that evil door, and she had to stop them.

  She wished she had her witch friends with her, or the D’Danann, or the PSF—well, all of them—but everyone and everything had been blocked from her for one reason or another. She was forced to do this alone. And she was determined to save her sister and her unborn child.

  Unlike the other two times Copper had walked into the recesses of the Drow stairway, torches did not automatically flicker to life as she made her way down. Once the door screeched shut above her, the light of her wand was all that lit her way.

  Her shoe slipped and she barely kept from falling by bracing her palm against one rough wall. She steadied herself and held her wand tightly in her other hand. The journey seemed to last much longer, and her heart was pounding harder by the time she reached the foot of the stairs.

  “How am I going to confront Garran about this, Zeph?” she asked, more to herself than the familiar. She wasn’t afraid of Garran, she knew in her gut he wouldn’t hurt her. He wanted her and he wouldn’t let any harm come to her.

  She believed that, despite the fact he had betrayed her and all the Fae in the meadow by not telling them he could travel in and out of their prison, belowground. Not to mention the fact that he was apparently in league with Darkwolf and trying to open the door that separated evil from Otherworld, and perhaps her own.

  Oh, goddess. Was she a total freaking idiot to trust him at all?

  Surprisingly, in the absolute dark, no guards were there to greet her at the foot of the stairs. Or rather, it would have been completely dark if she didn’t have her wand light. She was in the main chamber with its polished granite floor. All the debris that had fallen when the Drow and Tiernan had battled the giant had been cleared and the floor shone once again.