Realms of the Otherworld Box Set

by Jana LaPelle

  ​"We'll head back with you. It's time to start putting some of this behind us and start moving on to tackle what's coming. It turns out that there are four realms that may need our help. Who knew?" She says cheekily, "We also need to start in on our training and education of the other realms, so you're right there's lots to do." She says, and I watch Declan stiffen next to her.

  ​“Declan? Thank you for being there for Alexia, I really appreciate the attention you have given her. I just want you to know that it’s not gone unnoticed. I appreciate how protective you are of her because she’s worth protecting.” I say watching his reaction.

  ​He shifts closer to Lexie and places his hand on the small of her back, “Yes, she’s worth protecting. I would give my life in order to keep her safe.” He says as Lexie jerks her gaze toward him. And there you have it.

  ​“Well let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I kind of like your brooding presence.” I say with a smirk pulling Alaric with me. I turn so that we can make our way towards the house and say over my shoulder, “So who wants to wager that they can beat either me or Lexie in target practice? Alaric how good are you with a bow? Declan? I think today we can allow the men to go first, what do you think Lexie?”

  ​“Absolutely, men first, it’ll be our treat.” She says jokingly even though both the guys appear to be on edge.

  As the house comes into view through the trees, I realize that I'm famished. "Who's ready for a late lunch? I'm starved." About that time my stomach grumbles loudly, laughing I say, "Let's get something to eat and then we'll have an afternoon at the practice range." With that, we head into the kitchen to see what we can find.

  Chapter 16

  (Alaric)

  ​After a late lunch, we make our way out to the practice range that's located between Ashlinn and Alexia's houses. All the while Jasmine is fluttering about murmuring to herself and anyone else that is listening that it's time for the girls to kick some Neanderthal ass. Surprisingly, we find a large weapon's shed with a variety of bows and arrows ranging from recurve, to compound, to crossbows. All of which are more sophisticated than what we have in Faerie. The guys and I pick our bows of choice, only after the girls get their bows. It's immediately apparent that they're very familiar with their weapons of choice and that maybe this is even a hobby for them.

  ​I make my way out to the first target. Four targets are set up on the range. Declan takes his stance next to me and then Tolin and Torin. “So what are the rules?” I ask with a smirk, directing my question to Ashlinn.

  ​"Okay, big boy, each of you will have three chances to hit the bull's eye, at your own pace. Once completed Lexie and I will have three tries to best you. Any questions?” She asks. It’s at that moment that I begin to feel like I have just stepped into a trap. I shift on my feet uneasily as I look at their smug faces. Okay then, game on.

  ​I test the weight of my bow and take aim. After a few moments, I let my arrow fly, and it hits the target just to the left of the bull's eye. I assess my first shot and then attempt to correct my first error, then let my second arrow fly and it hits just slightly right of the bull's eye. I'm frustrated with my aim thus far. I take my time with my last arrow, and I hit the bull's eye dead center. With a smug smile, I turn to Ashlinn and think that there's no way that she can best me. She and Lexie wait for the others to finish while I assess the others targets, not one of us hit the bull's eye all three times and I determine that we are all fairly evenly matched. As my guard and I stand together, we are feeling pretty cocky about our chances of besting the girls.

  ​Jasmine begins to chant, "Go, Ash! Go, Lexie! Show these Neanderthals what you got!"

  ​Ashlinn and Alexia stepped up to the targets that Declan and I had utilized for this exercise. The two of them share a quick smirk. Then in rapid succession, they fire off three arrows that hit the bull's eye dead center splitting the other arrows in their wake. Declan and I look at each other brows raised, stunned. Then they step up to Tolin and Torin's targets and take aim, and again in quick succession they both attack the bull's eye in rapid succession. Their accuracy is stunning. I let out a low whistle under my breath as I look at the guy's reaction, Declan looks as stunned as me, but Tolin and Torin both just laugh out loud. All the while Jasmine is doing these acrobatic somersaults in midair and hollers, "Now that's what I'm talking about, you go girls."

  ​Apparently, the demonstration is far from over, and the girls asked Nemus to clear the targets of arrows while they exchange their recurve bows for the compound bows that Declan and I had used. Both of the girls begin testing the weight of the bows making a few adjustments. Then practically stepped up to the targets in unison, it's becoming increasingly evident that this is something that they are very proficient in, and for the first time I take in the three fingered shooting glove that each of the girls is wearing along with the tailored quiver that each has donned. They talk among themselves, and then each of the girls takes aim, and once again in rapid succession, they shoot off arrows that appear in vertical and horizontal lines in the bull's eye of the target. I'm floored at their accuracy, and just a little turned on by how confident Ashlinn is in her ability. This is an entirely different side to her that I haven't seen until now.

  ​"Give us a minute, we're going to switch to my favorite, the crossbow," Ashlinn says, as she steps inside the weapons shed. When she steps back outside, in the late afternoon sun, she has a brown leather holster strapped low around her hips that travels down her right thigh and is strapped snug around her mid and lower thigh, over her dark skinny jeans. The crossbow is slung over her left shoulder. Lexie follows her out, but I only have eyes for Ashlinn. Damn, if that look isn't smoking hot. She lifts those amber eyes to me, and I take all of her in as her golden brown skin sparkles under the attention of the sun. All that beautiful hair cascading down her back, at that moment she looks like a warrior goddess, and I can imagine her having a short sword strapped to the other thigh and daggers readily accessible. I come to the conclusion that this is happening. She and Lexie will begin their training in the defensive arts tomorrow.

  ​"Okay, okay, I get it. You know what you're doing with these weapons." I say surprising myself. "We begin your training tomorrow." I drag my gaze over her again, and when I get to her face, I catch that wicked smirk and damn if I didn't just get caught checking her out, again today.

  ​I'm pulled out of the moment when Declan stubbornly says, "That's fine for Ashlinn, but I'll not have Alexia putting herself in harm's way." His brooding stare challenging Lexie, daring her to say anything.

  ​Quick as a snake Lexie swings the crossbow around, takes aim, and fires the small crossbow dart toward Declan. We're all too stunned to react. I whip my head around to see the eight-inch dart lodged in the tree just behind Declan, right above his head. I hear Lexie launch into a tirade directed at my friend, "You get no say in this! I will not be some defenseless damsel in distress just waiting for my knight in shining armor to come to my rescue! I will learn to defend myself, and I will become proficient at it!" She fumes, "You say it's your duty, but what happens when your duty to protect Ashlinn leaves me vulnerable? What happens then? I'm only human after all, right? Right? Isn't that what you keep saying? Ash is fae and a demigoddess, at the very least, but I'm nothing more than human, and your duty is to Alaric's guard, and that's to Ashlinn. Not me! I will not be the weak link here because you are afraid that the puny human can't hold her own!" She whips around and fires two more darts at the target to her left hitting the bull's eye both times, anger rolling off of her in waves.

  ​I look back at Declan, I can see that he is at a loss for words. That's my cue to have our private conversation. Before I can say anything, Ashlinn looks over at me and says quietly, "I think we should wrap it up here, and head back to the house. Why don't you take this opportunity to try to talk some sense into Declan? For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen her this angry. We'll meet you both there. Guys, can you all help us tidy up here?" She gives me a
tight smile and turns toward Lexie.

  ​“Come on Declan. Let’s give her some time to cool off.” I say heading back down the path to the house and look over my shoulder to see if he’s coming. He reluctantly follows my lead, and as he catches up to me I say, “I get it, she’s your kindred, isn’t she? “ We make our way back to the house together.

  ​“Yes, I knew it the moment I looked into her eyes when we walked into that hospital room. She doesn’t understand my need to keep her safe.” He says, his dark eyes flashing at me daring me to disagree.

  ​"No, she doesn't. Have you bothered to explain why? She probably has no idea why she feels drawn to you and wants to kill you at the same time."

  ​“She’s too young.” He says adamantly.

  ​“Do you think that Ashlinn is too young for me?” I ask.

  ​"No, I know what you are going to say, but Alexia is human, Ashlinn is an old soul and has stepped into her role with the grace of someone twice her age. Lexie is… fragile." He says hesitantly as if not sure of his words.

  ​"Do you really think she's fragile? And her being human should not be a handicap. Deck, I swear, are you even listening to yourself? No wonder she's pissed off, you're acting as if she's some fragile doll that needs to be kept in a cabinet to be admired. Not the strong, confident young woman that she is. You need to open your eyes and see what the rest of us see. I know the bond is messing with you, making you a little irrational. Take it from someone who's had to stand on the sidelines and watch from the cover of glamour, not to be seen, while my kindred grew up in another realm. Do you understand now why I have been so unbearable? Why I would disappear for months on end? What I have learned is that bond or no bond my kindred is headstrong and determined, and she will not allow me to sit her on the sidelines. We're a team, and we'll be stronger together. Do you want some advice from someone who is still figuring it out?" I ask.

  ​Declan just gives an almost imperceptible nod as we walk up the front steps of the house to the porch and enter the front room to make our way back to the small library. "Okay then, first of all, you need to apologize to Alexia for being an ass. Secondly, you need to talk to her and explain the mate bond. Lastly, you need to allow her to train along with Ashlinn. I know that it goes against your need to protect her, I get that, but did you see them out there? It was incredible. The two of them together will be a force to be reckoned fault with, but only at a distance. They're right. They need hand-to-hand combat training. They need to know that they can handle themselves when the time comes and not be a liability. If you want to work this out with Alexia, and I know you do, then you will have to concede on this." I advise.

  ​"I don't know if I can do that, what you're saying sounds logical but then I think about her getting hurt, and I go all crazy inside. How am I supposed to shut this need to protect her off, because it's riding me hard.”

  ​"The answer is that you don't shut it off. You open it up. When Ashlinn explained herself to me this morning, I began to see things from her point of view, and in doing so, I was able to understand that my need to keep her safe, secure, and protected also applied to her emotional wellbeing. I could not ignore the fact that by keeping her physical person safe I would be putting her emotional safety in jeopardy. You need to talk to her and allow the bond between the two of you to grow. Until you do so, both of you will be miserable." I reason.

  ​Declan rubs his hands over his face and breathes out through his nostrils, then running a hand through his short hair, he stands and turns toward the door. Turning back toward me he says, "Thank you for your advice; I'm going to go down by the brook out back to collect my thoughts. When Alexia gets back can you send her to me? You're right on all counts. I've been acting like an overbearing brute."

  ​“What are you going to do?”

  ​"I'm going to apologize, and if I have to, I'm going to grovel. Can you make sure that everyone else steers clear of the fire pit back there? I need to make this special for her, and I don't want any interruptions." He says.

  ​"I think that can be arranged. Good luck. You may need it. I certainly hope she puts that crossbow away. I thought you were a goner for sure." I chuckle. "You should have seen the look on your face."

  ​"I'm just glad I didn't wet myself. Man, that would've been embarrassing. She was seriously pissed, wasn't she? I'm not sure I want to be on the receiving end of that again, but damn if that wasn't the sexiest thing I've ever seen. All that fiery red hair and glaring green eyes, she was a sight to behold." He says with a smirk as he walks out of the room.

  ​Once he's gone, Ashlinn's comment at the waterfall comes back to me. I think she's right. Boy, are the two of us in trouble when it comes to the two of them. I shake my head and with a stupid grin on my face, I stand up to make my way to the back of the house to the sitting room to watch some TV and wait for everyone else to get back.

  Chapter 17

  (Ashlinn)

  ​I watch as Alaric and Declan walk away and disappear into the trees on their way back to the house, and then turn my attention to Lexie, man is she pissed. I’ve never seen her so mad before. Alexia has always been the calm, levelheaded one of the two of us and to see her lose it like that was, well, kind of eye-opening. I watch as she takes aim and continues to shoot dart after dart into the targets, pacing up and down the field. I let her blow off some steam. It's then that I catch Nemus studying her, not like Declan, it's like he's trying to figure out a puzzle or something. Strolling over to TNT I overhear Tolin saying, "Did you see that? That was some kind of crazy. I got to give Declan props, though, he didn't even flinch."

  ​“Yeah, well, I think he was too surprised to react at first. We all were.” I say joining in on the conversation. “Do you guys mind tidying up here? I'm going to see if I can talk Lexie down from her anger induced target practice. There are a couple of crossbows you may want to check out in the shed, if you want?" I shrug as I walk over to Lexie. Jasmine has been hovering over my shoulder. "Come on. Let's see if we can't talk her down. Come on Lexie, let’s go somewhere where we can talk, just us girls. Do you want to go back to your place?” I ask.

  ​“Not really, can we go for a hike back over to the falls?” She asks.

  ​“I think Jasmine would love that, have you been over to the waterfall?” I ask Jasmine, “It’s not exactly big, but it’s secluded, I think you would like it there.”

  ​“Remember I stayed with Lexie last night. I prefer to sleep near the water. Is it far from the house?” She asks.

  ​"Fifteen-minute walk tops, come on girls, let's make tracks." I call over my shoulder, "We'll meet you guys back at the house in a little bit." Directing my attention back to Lexie as we take a separate track to the fall, I say, "That shot you took at Declan, wow, I never saw that coming. Want to talk about it?"

  ​Jasmine pipes in, "Did you see the look on his face? That was priceless. By the goddess that was spectacular!" She is fluttering about animatedly with her pretend crossbow, shooting imaginary darts and Lexie and I both crack up laughing at her antics. About that time we come upon our own private little waterfall for the second time today. It's late afternoon, and the sun is beginning to set, so I know that we won't have but about thirty minutes of light before we have to head back.

  ​"Lexie, I know that you are feeling left out and trying to find your place in all of this, but you should know that so am I. I never asked for any of this, but I wouldn't dream of doing any of it without you. You're my best friend. We've been more like sisters our whole lives. You're not just human, and if Declan can't see how strong you are, then he doesn't deserve you." I say very seriously.

  ​"He infuriates me! I don't understand why he has become so possessive and wants to order me around. Telling me what I can and cannot do. From the moment I laid eyes on him I have felt drawn to him, just being near him brings me comfort. What's up with that? I've only known him for two days! Don't you think that's strange? Then there's you and Alaric. From the moment you woke up, you
've been attached to his hip. Believe me, I get it, he's hot, but I think it's more than that. What's going on Ash?" She implores.

  ​"Jasmine may be able to explain that somewhat better than me," I say, looking pointedly at Jaz.

  ​She has been listening as she flutters about the water in the pool next to us, making tiny little water funnels. Then she comes to sit on a large rock beside us as she says, "What Ashlinn is having trouble explaining is that in Faerie there is a connection that can be found in another when you've met your kindred. Here in the Mortal Realm, you would call this a soul mate, but in Faerie, the connection is known as a bond or mating bond, once a person meets their kindred soul, that's it. There will be no one else for either person. The longer you are in the presence of your kindred the stronger the bond will become, and the pull becomes irresistible. Until which point the bond will demand to be completed, and a unity between the two takes place to cement the bond, making the two kindred souls one. It is a sacred unity, and not everyone will find their kindred soul mate. Those that do are thought to be blessed by Clíodhna the goddess of love and even Danu herself. I have lived for two hundred years, and I have yet to find my kindred." She smiles sadly, and says with a tone of longing, "The two of you have been blessed to find your kindred soul at the tender age of eighteen."

  ​I jump in where Jaz leaves off, "I believe that you and Declan are kindred souls Lexie. That's why he's acting like an overbearing ass. He can't help wanting to keep you protected. I'm not saying that how he's acting is right. I'm just saying that there's a reason for his caveman like behavior." I say with a smirk.

  ​“So… you’re saying that you think Declan and I are soul mates?” she asks.