by Jana LaPelle
(Alaric)
I watch her sleep. Tonight she has slept peacefully for the first time in a week, and I hate to wake her. She needs her rest. I’ve noticed how easily she tires now and my protective instincts are at war with what needs to be done. I must wake her so we can begin our search for The Stone of Fál. We should be ready just before sunrise when the wards are lowered. I sit on the side of the bed and caress her silky smooth cheek, I trace her jaw and move to tuck her wandering hair behind her ear, her ear twitches, and I smile at her response. I could sit here and just watch her sleep for an eternity. My heart and soul belong to her. I realized that quickly when she had been taken from me. I’m nothing without her. She is stronger than I give her credit for, but still, I worry. The Morrígan is raising the stakes. If she can attack Ashlinn’s subconscious mind from afar through the wards and get past her talisman, then what will happen once we leave? I lean in and gently kiss her lips and sit back and watch her wake. Every time I see those warm, whiskey-colored eyes come to life, I melt again. They flutter open and focus on me. A gentle smile graces her lips as she blinks the sleep away. I can’t help myself as my hand traces the dip in her waist and back up to her hip before I cup her ass pulling her toward me. By the gods, I love this woman.
“What time is it?” Her voice is low and husky as she moves to stretch, much like her panther.
My voice sounds rough and growly as I respond, “We have about an hour and a half before sunrise. You have time to prepare for our journey.”
“I know that tone. What’s wrong, Alaric?”
The sigh that escapes me is not lost on my kindred as I rub my hand over the stubble on my face and back up through my hair, mussing it, “I just want to keep you safe, and once we venture outside of these wards, you will be anything but. The three of you are my top priority. Nothing else matters.”
“Elf-Man, my kindred, you will keep us safe. I have the utmost faith in your abilities. Not to mention that my abilities are coming along just fine. Now, I want to take advantage of the shower while I still have one.”
She slips out of bed and pulls me in for another kiss before pulling away, and I watch her tantalizing naked form move to the bathroom. I’m tempted to follow her, and her heart shaped behind. I can’t seem to get enough of her. Instead, I move to continue packing our bags as I work at restraining my baser instincts. After her shower, Ashlinn slips into her new black leathers, the soft as butter material hugs all her alluring, and now much more generous curves. She dons a clingy long sleeve, scoop neck, tee shirt and pulls on her matching leather vest that dips low in the front and pulls her collar up before smoothing it out and pushing her sleeves up to the elbows. Thank the goddess she chose to wear the tee shirt, or I would have had to cover her up. She looks entirely too enticing in that getup as she straps on her weapons of choice. There’s a short sword at her back; daggers strapped to her hips, and multiple throwing knives concealed within her vest and strapped to her legs and her arms. She’s my petite, little badass, princess. A crossbow is in our bags just in case she needs it, but now that she can wield the fire element it has become more of a recreational sport, her aim is deadly.
Soon we are all gathering in our outer chambers; the tension is palpable. No one knows what we will find. I can’t wait for this leg of our journey to be over so that I can take Ashlinn home. I miss having her safely hidden away from everyone in the Realm. My thoughts encourage a deep growl from within my chest in agreement from my inner beast.
“Stop it.”
I sigh, “I can’t help it.” I say roughly.
“Everything will be okay. I know you’re worried, and so am I but we have to trust that this is our path. Can you put your faith in that?”
“Well you have been right so far, and I know that will come back to bite me. All right mo grá. You know I trust you implicitly, I’ll just have to deal,” I say smiling, pulling her to me, nuzzling her neck before placing a lingering kiss on her lips, never wanting to let her go.
“Yes, you will, my handsome Elf-Man. Now, let’s do this. Come on everyone. Time’s a wasting, and the sun’s a rising!” She says, motivating the entire group, and we head out.
To everyone’s surprise, Jasmine has remained in her larger faerie form, and Camoryn has remained steadfastly glued to her side since yesterday. Her wings are now retracted in this form, and she appears to be more elflike than faerie or sprite. Her face is stoic but has an otherworldly sparkle. Where Ash has a golden sheen to her sparkling complexion, Jaz is an alabaster, and I have to admit that she is stunning. We soon meet up with everyone that will be crossing outside of the wards today. I also agree with Ashlinn, if Jasmine and Darius are kindred he is acting like a stupid ass, but I have no idea what the situation is that is waiting for him at home. All I know is that nothing could keep me from my kindred, nothing and no one.
We seem to be the last to arrive, and once the tiny male sprite sees Jasmine in her faerie form, he all but freaks out. He is fluttering about in agitation and insists on her accompanying him back to The Otherworld before another female intervenes.
“Darius, brother, you have made your choice.” An enchanting looking red-headed sprite attempts to pull him back to their group; her face is grim.
“No! She cannot go with them. She needs to come back with us. Where I can make sure-“
“What?!! What are you going to do Darius? You have made your choice! Now you need to live with it. Ashlinn, Lexie, and the guys need me and want me on their quest. I’m going to live my life to the fullest extent, with or without you. You may be my kindred, but you have no say in what I do or whom I do it with. You have your chosen mate that is waiting for you unless you have something that you want to tell me? Have you changed your mind?” Jasmine’s anger is evident in her demand. I can tell by her posturing that she already knows the answer to her question, but needs one last confirmation.
“Jasmine… Please…” Darius looks defeated as he responds to her ire, “I’m sorry. I cannot. It’s not that I don’t love you. I do. But my chosen mate and I have been together for years, and I love her as well. This is all so complicated!” Darius bites out.
“The sun is about to rise, Darius. We need to take our places. The distance between us will be good. I can’t come back with you, and you shouldn’t expect that of me. I won’t subject myself to watching you from afar while you live your life with another female, knowing that you choose her over me. You may be my kindred, but you have rejected me, and now I reject you. Not because I want to, but because I need to if I’m going to survive this. I can never see you again, Darius. I want nothing but the best for you and the path that you have chosen… Goodbye, Darius.” Jasmine’s quiet dismissal hangs heavy in the air as Darius’ sister directs him away from us and back to the sprite coven. He puts up quite the fight for all of two minutes, and I shake my head at how things have transpired.
Camoryn is beside Jasmine and has not left her side. I, like Ashlinn, believe that there is a lot more there than either wants to admit just yet. Jasmine is delicate, and Cam seems to have a way with her. Jaz may never complete the binding to her kindred, but she may have found her chosen mate in Cam. The two of them would be something else. Ashlinn and Lexie are quick to offer comfort to Jasmine and fuss over her for a bit before we have to make our way outside of the wards.
The Dagda, Danu, Rhespen, and a large contingency of my men are heading back to The Otherworld, and taking our horses with them, so we say our goodbyes before climbing into our waiting vehicles. I take my time with Tempest and whisper my commands to him. He is now well aware of my thoughts and direction before we part ways and I hope to see him soon back in Faerie. Tarron has acquired five Range Rovers for us to travel in that should accommodate our not so small party of nineteen, along with our belongings. He has insisted on accompanying us with Ashlinn’s Fab Five and Morgwais and her protégé. Nemus has, once again, cast a glamour over us all so that we
appear normal to any humans that we may encounter.
As the wards drop, our cavalcade moves forward, out into the world waiting for us. I can sense as the wards go up, I look around to see a dilapidated old manor behind us noting that we are now outside of their protection, the wards doing their job. I’m assuming that the others will make it to the portal by sunrise as we make our way away from the safety and protection of Tarron’s compound, and my anxiety has begun to escalate, so I take Ashlinn’s hand in mine. Just holding her hand has the ability to calm me.
The sun has just peaked above the horizon, and we are twenty minutes into our travels, “Stop! We need to stop the vehicles!” Ashlinn demands beside me in a quick and deliberate tone.
(Ashlinn)
I’m running on pure instinct now, and after much research, I feel that we need to make our way to the largest lake in Ireland, Lough Neagh. I felt it after the wards came down that Alaric, Lexie, Declan, and I need to confirm my thoughts. The feeling persisted, so I ask that the three meet me outside of the vehicle. There are no humans around to see what we are about to do on the gently rolling hills of the ridge. Our surroundings are a lush green even though it’s December with rocky outcroppings and as the sun continues to rise the clouds take on the look of cotton candy in their pink and lavender coloring.
“Lexie, I need for you to cast a spell to find someone that is lost, in particular, The Lady of the Lake. We will come together like before to boost your majic.”
As Alaric and I join hands, I feel the majic in our binding flare to life, and our binding marks begin to tingle as I allow the light inside of me to shine and come to the surface. Our markings are glowing and pulsing as I take Lexie’s hand in my own allowing this majic to course through us to the other couple. I watch as Lexie’s eyes become veiled, a milky white, as she taps into her Druid majic. The four of us would be lit up like a Christmas tree with twinkle lights if you could see through our clothing, but all that can be seen of our binding marks are on our hands as we stand together lending our strength to Lexie as she cast her majic in an ancient tongue. As her chant comes to an abrupt halt, I feel a pull, and the four of us swing our gaze to the east and slightly north. I was right. We’re heading to Lough Neagh.
I can take little comfort in that fact because we suddenly find ourselves being attacked by crows. My instincts kick in, and I quickly use the air element to beat them back followed by conjuring fireballs to lob in their direction. My dreams are coming to fruition as the birds start dive bombing our group. All I see are black feathers, talons, and black beaks stained crimson with blood, our blood. They’re relentless in their attack, and I feel one tangle in my hair. I screech trying desperately to dislodge the winged creature from my tresses. It’s clawing and pecking at me in its vicious attack. I spin around and around in a fruitless effort to dislodge the harbinger of ill will. That’s when I see her… Daria. Tarron’s sanctimonious, little bitch. I knew she was going to be trouble. She’s standing on a knoll about two hundred yards away; her smirk is displayed for all to see. I still, as I turn to face off with the dark nymph. My panic has abated, and I calmly reach around to pluck the offensive creature out of my now disheveled hair, not caring that it takes a good bit of hair with it as I toss it up and away from me and watch it take flight, wings spread wide against the darkening clouds that are rolling in. That bitch has just pissed me off. My protectors have now vacated the vehicles in an effort to help us in our predicament as I hone in on my nemesis.
Daria’s smile slips as I stalk toward her direction. I embrace the air element, and I call it to me. It surrounds me, embracing me like a lost lover, and lifts me up to carry me toward my enemy, my arms outstretched. My control over the air has officially been conquered in my rage. My hair is swirling about me, and in my wrath I sense that the crow attack has abated as my hands and arms begin to flicker to life, bathed in flames. I know that my eyes are glowing and that my markings have come to life as well. For the first time, I feel the pull to give into a dark, incessant need to obliterate my opponent, but I reign in the desire as I swoop down on her leaving about ten yards of distance between us. She is but a pawn in this war. The panther within me stirs and demands that I end her existence, but I refuse as I demand, “What does she want!”
Daria tilts her head, feigning innocence, “Who pray tell are you talking about?”
“Stop playing coy, Daria. You are now in league with The Morrígan. I warned you that you were going to end up on the wrong side of things. Now, what does she want?”
“Your head on a silver platter… Savior. As do I. What a fucking joke. You are no one’s savior.” She snarls, derision dripping from her tone. “She will never bow down to you or anyone else. She is a queen, a goddess, and you are nothing more than a thief!”
Disregarding her taunts, I ask, “Why does she send you in her stead?” My voice sounds different, deep and Otherworldly as if I’m channeling a being other than myself.
I sense as my team comes to flank me. But I do not need them at this moment; I can stand on my own. I cock my head assessing Daria; she stands unafraid, and that is the first of her tells, she is not alone. The Fomorians that have her back, silently emerge from the backside of the hill that she stands upon, flanking her. Daria’s eyes shade to a solid black as another voice erupts from her throat, heavily accented, “Do you think you can thwart me, daughter of Danu? You insignificant little twit. Danu could have done better. Should have done better. She could have mated with a god, but no, she chose a mere shifter in which to complete the task. She was always one of His favorites, but for the life of me, I can’t understand why. Danu has always been so short-sighted and lacking in her vision for greatness.” Her cackling laughter rings out. “You are nothing! You will never succeed! You are weak.”
Laughter bubbles up from deep within me as my anger stills, “And you are a coward! You send a puppet in your stead? Your representative will run at the first sign of a fight. I would know, I’ve watched her backside as she ran from me. But what should I know? After all, I’m just an insignificant little twit. You really should have chosen better. The almighty Morrígan has just shown her hand. For some reason, you cannot reach me by your own accord. You opt to make a statement instead, by using a turncoat. Whatever it is, make no mistake, I will figure it out. You either cannot or will not leave the Realm. This I know, you and I will not meet face to face in any other Realm but in the Otherworld… or maybe the Underworld, you have no power here!” My words spill from me like a force to be recon fault with.
“Enough! I have had enough of your incessant ramblings, Daughter of Danu. Your journey ends here!” As those words spill from Daria’s mouth, her eyes return to normal, and the crows that surround her and the warriors at her side fly away of their own accord no longer influenced by the dark queen. Daria stumbles at the abruptness of The Morrígan’s presence leaving her physical body.
As my power recedes, I sense Tarron stalking to the forefront of our group. “Daria, you wretched little witch. You will never more, set foot inside my court. I cannot forgive you this act of betrayal! From this point forward you are banished. The Horde has no place for someone of your insolence.” Tarron’s voice booms across the knoll.
Daria’s face turns several shades of red, bordering on purple, as her rage takes hold, twisting her exotic good looks into a mask of anger, as she sputters, “But I did this for you! So that we could be together, like before she came to us. I told you that she was no good for you, but you were blinded by her. You could not see beyond her. We are meant to be together. She has poisoned you against me!”
“No Daria. You did that all on your own. You knew your place, and it was never to be my queen. You were my consort and nothing more.” As Tarron concludes his smack down on Daria, the Fomorians that stand at her side unsheath their weapons, the sound of metal sliding from leather encasings rings loudly across the ridge.
Alaric and Tarron step in fron
t of me as we prepare to take out the dark queen’s minions. Lexie and I know that we are better suited to participate in this battle from a distance. Jasmine comes up from behind me with a crossbow and quiver full of arrows and says, “You go girl. I’m getting ready to go all Super-ninja-Tinkerbell on Daria’s little friends. See you when it’s all said and done.” With that, she smirks and winks at Lexie and me, and in the blink of an eye, she is sprite sized, wings beating furiously, and heading toward Camoryn. I guess she was able to sort the whole size shifting thing out.
Everyone is so very methodical, as we square off on what is about to become a battlefield. This is not like our other run-ins with the dark queen’s followers. I watch as The Morrígan’s warriors hulk up and take on their berserker forms. They are massive and monstrous in this form and would be intimidating if not for my knowledge of my Guard and Tarron’s appointed Sentries and their abilities. My guys take their stances. We have four berserkers to their twelve, and they spread out amongst my guardians. We are evenly matched in number but not in size. This battle will come down to skill; their brute strength can and will be outmatched.
I look for a vantage point behind our warrior’s line of defense. Ēolieus and Khatar, my light and dark elf defenders, stay behind with Lexie and me to provide cover from afar. They are excellent shots with their recurve bows. Garrik, Dorlan, and TNT go berserker. Ferg refuses to be outdone and stands with the Fomorians in our little battalion. The rest of the males move into formation behind Tarron and Alaric, backing them up before Nym and Alaric shift, the movement is seamless. Their panthers are massive and will allow them the speed they need along with the claws to take down our enemies.
I look to Nemus, and he just shrugs and says, “The charm worked so well for Alaric that I charmed Nym as well.”
“Thank you Nemus, when this is all said and done; I would like you to charm me as well,” I say with a mischievous smile and add, “All the shifters in The Realm will want a little bit of that majic.”
