by G. Bailey
“What exactly are the artifacts?” Zander asks.
Narah straightens up shakily in her chair. “I had the mirror… It showed me Corvina before she was conceived, but it could only grant one vision of the future before it was destroyed. It was said to be made with the blood of a thousand dead fae, and to be a weapon against the gods,” Narah says, her voice as unstable as she looks.
By Selena, Eva has ruined her. What did she do? I never thought I’d see the Dark Fae Queen’s spirit wounded like this.
Ambrose narrows his eyes on her. “It makes sense now—why Corvina is so powerful. They commanded her existence.”
“What?” I say for everyone.
“The artifacts were indeed used against the gods, and the mirror could only be used by one person at one time. It then destroys itself and goes back to its home, waiting for the next person to use it,” Ambrose coldly states. “The mirror, the sword, and the necklace are the only weapons powerful enough to injure the gods since it’s their blood-filled magic that created them.”
“Why would the gods create weapons to make them vulnerable?” Sage asks, taking the words straight from my mouth.
“They were to be used against each other,” Ambrose explains, “but the artifacts soon had other ideas. You see, the Zorya artifacts are alive. They think for themselves, they want for themselves. Dangerous magic,” Ambrose all but growls and Narah nods, her features turning paler. “The mirror wanted Corvina alive so it tempted the queen with the prophecy, knowing it would come true. Now I believe the artifacts are our only hope in the coming war.”
“You want to use the mirror?” I question. “How is a vision of the future going to help us?”
“It won’t,” Ambrose agrees, “but the Sword of Tears is powerful and deadly. It will boost your power and make you unstoppable and strong. Strong enough to kill Titans and send them back to their cage.”
“Why can’t one of us use it? Not Corvina,” Pitch demands, his arms crossed tightly.
Ambrose shrugs. “There is a test for the sword like there is for the mirror and the necklace.”
“This sounds like some sword in the stone bullshit,” Sage grumbles and I grin at her.
Narah says quietly, “The mirror demanded many lives and talked to me when I was close to its hiding place. It said only royals deserve to communicate with it.”
Great. Talking mirrors and swords. Just what we need.
“I’m a royal as well, therefore I should be able to get the sword,” Pitch argues and though Ambrose nods, his eyes stay on mine. We both know that the sword isn’t going to want Pitch when I’m there. Dammit.
“Where is this sword said to be?” Gage asks, the muscles working hard in his face. He’s not pleased about this situation either. I can’t really blame him. It seems to always be me who gets lumped with these quests.
“Near the dragon kingdom, on the edge of their sea,” Ambrose answers, “the water looks flat and waveless even though the ocean around it moves. You can’t miss it. It’s about a day or so’s walk from here if we aren’t interrupted on the way.”
“We should pack and leave,” Jonah interrupts and looks at Jane. “Will you watch the queen while she continues to heal?”
“Yes,” Jane agrees, her eyes flickering to me. “But do not get yourself killed for anyone.”
I avert my gaze. I won’t be letting anyone die for me, especially not those I love.
I turn to Sage and David, asking them, “Will you stay with Jane and Narah? And Echo? I don’t think—” I halt as Echo lands on my shoulder, his big doe eyes staring at me, making me feel guilty for leaving him behind. “Fine. You can come too, Echo.”
I’m sure he grins at me but Sage catches my attention.
“We’ll stay. I’m still weak myself and need to rest,” Sage says, taking David’s hand and smiling at him. She looks back at me. “But be careful, okay? Don’t get lost in the magic. It will tempt you.”
“And I will tempt Corvina back to her home,” Pitch growls, rising from the table. “No magic is going to steal her from me.”
Zander, Gage, and Jonah look at me all at once with worry, but we all know there isn’t really a choice anymore. We get the sword, or we die at Eva’s hand. Personally, I’d prefer to go with the talking sword.
Once we’re packed and ready to go, Sage pulls me into a suffocating embrace. David has to pry her away from me as I struggle to breathe. Dang, Sage’s hugs have gotten stronger since she became a fae.
“Promise me you’ll come back in one piece, Buzzie?”
“I promise. And you’ll promise not to worry?”
“But I never worry.” She glares playfully at me. “Ever.”
“You’re always worrying,” David comments as he tugs her into his arms. “My little worrywart.”
Sage crosses her arms stubbornly. “I don’t worry. I obsessively overanalyse every minuscule detail until I reach a satisfactory conclusion.”
“Because that isn’t worrying at all,” I hear David mutter as I turn to face Narah.
She takes a deep breath and visibly steels herself. “Make haste, Corvina, and stay in the shadows.” Despite her bravado, the fear in her voice is mirrored within her weary eyes.
An unexpected lump swells in my throat as I stare at her. Do I bow or hug her? It’s not like we’re exactly close, but when it comes down to it, I am worried about her. She is my birth mother at the end of the day, and if things go wrong out there, this may be the last time I ever see her.
Before I can make a decision, Narah takes me into her arms. She whispers something in my ear that I struggle to catch. When she pulls back and holds me at arm’s length, her eyes are pure black and the smell of dark magic lingers in the air.
“It’s just a protection spell,” she explains, her eyes turning back to their original colour. “Our blood binds our magic. Use it should you need to. It will not affect me.”
I blink at her in surprise, touched by her concern. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Perhaps when this is all over, you might call me mother, and truly mean it this time.” She smiles at me, tears glazing her lashes. “I would like that very much if it is something you’d dare consider.”
This time, words fail me and I can only nod and smile at her before moving on to the last person.
Jane.
She opened up her home to me in spite of everything. I don’t ever see us being friends, but I owe her my gratitude and will remain in her debt for the rest of my life. I part my lips to say thank you but Jane rolls her eyes and I clamp my jaw shut.
“Just go,” she says, looking away, “and keep my brother alive.”
Well, that was pleasantly awkward.
I nod and lift my cloak hood over my head. With a backwards glance at my best friend and mother, I follow the guys out of the cottage. Echo flies off Zander’s shoulder and into my arms as we walk down the path. I hug and kiss Echo, grateful for his affection.
“All things considered,” Zander says, “that went rather well.”
“You could’ve cut the tension with a knife,” I counter dryly.
He chuckles. “True. But one thing’s for sure, Jane’s starting to like you.”
I gawk at him. “Really? She could’ve fooled me.”
His arm falls around my waist. “Give her time. I think Echo’s glad to be back outside.”
Echo’s wings vibrate against my arm and one of his legs twitch like a dog as I rub his belly. Zander chuckles and boops him on the nose. Echo sneezes a puff of smoke that I fear will set the ground on fire. But then I remember his collar and how it’s helping to keep control of his magic. I still hate the idea of collaring him, which is why, when Zander isn’t around, I always take it off.
“Stay back,” Ambrose warns ahead of us. “There’s something dark nearby.”
“Is it a monster?” I ask, and Echo squeaks frantically in my ear, his fur standing on edge. “Echo seems to think it is. Perfect. Just what we need.”
; “He wants to help us,” Pitch says, nodding at Echo. “Take the collar off and see what he does. If anything can fight off another dark creature of Zorya, it’s a Shade. Those things are lethal.”
“And if Echo fails,” Jonah adds with a grin, flexing his biceps, “we’ve always got these guns to fall back on. Never failed me yet.”
“Yeah, right,” Pitch grumbles, summoning a black fireball just in case.
I would laugh at Jonah if not for the monster about to kill us.
Putting Echo on the ground, I take off his collar and he immediately flies into the shadows. When we reach him, he’s growling at what can only be described as a furry stegosaurus with green jagged spikes running down its spine to the tip of its tail.
The creature roars and stomps its hooved-foot into the soil. Now that I know what Shades are capable of, I’m not surprised when Echo mimics the creature. He turns into a similar version only bigger and fluffier and bright pink.
Oh my gosh, he looks so adorable and yet terrifying at the same time.
Echo charges after the creature. That is when I see how considerably taller Echo is. He swipes his tail and the spikes attached to the end shoot out like daggers into the creature’s skull. It lets out a pained roar, shaking its own tail, but it isn’t as effective as Echo’s. Aw, diddums.
With a loud popping noise, Echo transforms into an enormous pink rabbit whose floppy ears brush the tip of the trees. I press a hand to my mouth to smother my giggle, but it escapes when Echo leans forward and eats the monster in one gulp. He sits back and lets out a deafening burp that sails around us like a gust of wind, lifting my hair. My giggle turns into aching laughter that hurts my stomach.
Transforming back into his original form, Echo flies back over and lands at our feet, looking positively delighted with himself. Zander bends down and scratches him on the head.
“It’s official. Pink is definitely Echo’s favourite colour,” he says.
Tears stream down my face from laughing so hard. I really needed this after everything that’s been going on. I feel as though a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. With Echo at my side, I pity any monster, god, or fae that stands in my way now.
“This will do for the night,” Zander suggests, patting Ambrose on the back. “Good find, man.”
“If there’s one thing I’m familiar with, it’s empty dark caves.”
The two of them grin at each other like long lost friends while Pitch merely glares at them. Jonah and Gage couldn’t care less as they start investigating the cave and I follow them in, Zander and Ambrose’s laughter bellowing behind me. Echo jumps onto my shoulder, purring and rubbing his head against mine as the cave grows increasingly dark.
I clap my hands together, whispering a spell under my breath. Three magical spheres float into the air above us, spinning ever so softly to cast light around the cavern. The sleet walls narrow towards the top, and at the back is a small pool of water we can use to drink. My aching feet demand that I sit down since we’ve been walking all day. I find a rock near the water and rest for a while as the guys make plans to get wood for a fire and cook some food. Above the water is a tiny tunnel shuttered in darkness. Most likely I could just manage to fit into it. Before I can blink, Echo flies into it.
“Echo, no—you don’t know where it goes!” I chase after him, using my wings to fly over to the tunnel.
“Vina, where are you going?” Pitch shouts as I stare down the tunnel.
“Echo went on an adventure. I’ll get him and come back,” I tell my guys, each of them staring up at me.
Gage mutters a spell under his breath and then he runs, jumping in the air, and magic pushes him higher than a normal jump would until he lands next to me on the rock.
“Need a sidekick?” He grins at me.
I chuckle and get down on my hands and knees. Halfway through the tunnel, I notice a soft pink light from the other side, shining brighter than the light I made. Gage and I spend a good ten minutes crawling through the tunnel. Dirt covers and sticks to my hands as I push myself through the other end and nearly gasp at the sight. A tiny room lays on the other side of the tunnel and every inch of it is covered in glowing pink flowers. Petals float around me as I walk into the middle of the room, staring around in awe. This place is truly beautiful. I have to take some flowers for Sage, she would love them. They match her hair and eyes.
A memory of a fae history book Sage once read comes to mind. I’m sure they said caverns around the Enchanted Forest were blessed with eternal flowers and only a fae couple in love could find them. I wonder if this is one of these places as I swoop down to grab some of the flowers.
A hand cups my cheek and I look up to see Gage in front of me before he kisses me. I vaguely spot Echo flying back through the tunnel, returning to the others, but Gage has my full attention now.
Wordlessly both of us tug at each other’s clothes, dropping them onto the floor until we are both naked and pressed against each other. Gage picks me up and lies me down on the soft ground, covering my body with his. I roll us over and start kissing down his chest to his stomach and finally to his cock. Running my tongue over the tip, he groans and there is just something so sexy about being in control, having all the power, and I’ve missed being alone with Gage.
Slowly, I take all of Gage’s cock into my mouth, swirling my tongue around him as I go. The deep rumble of his chest turns me on and I flick my tongue over his slit, making him gasp in pleasure.
After only a few seconds, Gage has had enough and effortlessly pulls me up on top of him, still leaving me in control. Positioned perfectly, I easily slide down onto his cock and incredible pleasure overtakes me as he fills me. I roll my hips, once, twice, and again and again as his cock hits just the right place inside of me. By Selena, Gage was made for me. There’s no doubt in my mind.
His thumb finds my clit and I drop my head back as the pleasure builds up. I’m inches away from coming and that’s when I notice we’re flying in the air. My wings flutter hard behind my back and Gage leans up, kissing my lips as we literally have sex in the air. The danger and the incredible feeling of Gage inside me sends me spiraling into an orgasm and Gage comes with me, kissing me hard at the same time. We both crash to the flower bed as I forget to keep flying and I can’t help but laugh as I sit up and Gage laughs with me.
“Maybe we need to practice that one a little more,” Gage suggests, picking me up and sitting me on his lap, his cock still hard against me.
I grin and kiss him. Oh, hell yes we can practice this again. And again. And fuck it, again. I couldn’t think of a more beautiful place to do it.
The usual cold air from the Enchanted Forest has been replaced by the smell of the sea. With every breath, I taste the salt from the water. The trees here look healthier, brushed away from the seafront, and sand mixes in with the fallen leaves that crunch under my feet. Echo flies in circles above Zander, happily floating away on his back. Pitch squeezes my hand tightly and I smile up at him.
“Remember that time we went to Devon?” he asks, and a fond smile tilts my lips up. It’s one of my favourite memories.
“Everyone thought you were a mad kid talking to yourself.”
I snort in laughter. “I will never forget the Keeper’s face when she found me talking to you on the beach. For years, she really did think I was insane.”
“When this is all over, I’m taking you to the beach and I’m fucking you on it,” Pitch declares like it’s a done deal, and every inch of me is completely on board with this plan.
It was three years after the beach that Pitch first kissed me, and the memory stays glued to my memory even to this day. Kissing your soulmate feels like coming home. It’s a feeling I’ll never get tired of.
“We’re here!” Jonah shouts back to us from the front of the group.
I rush to his side, staring out at the rolling sea stretching before us. Ambrose bumps my shoulder, a big smile on his face. He was right that we’d reach our destination within a d
ay. Right in the centre of the glistening green sea is the mountain the dragons live on, and as we stare, at least five dragons fly out of the water and around the mountain in a clear formation.
“Is it true that only people with dragon blood can go into the city?” I question, turning to Zander. His eyes lock onto mine as he knows what I need to ask him.
“Ask it,” he mutters. “I know you’re dying to.”
“Zander, I need my uncle to help win this war. Even when I have the sword, I don’t have an army, and the only army left is his. I can’t go to him and ask, but you can for me. Will you?”
I hate asking this of him.
I hate that it has to be Zander since all he’s ever done is hide from his dragon side.
When Zander grits his teeth and turns from me, I add hurriedly, “But I understand if you can’t. I won’t force you to or guilt you into it. I just know we need help, and he’d be a good ally.” I turn to my other guys. “Can you leave us alone for a moment?”
Jonah, Gage, Pitch, and Ambrose awkwardly look between us before nodding and heading into the forest. Echo flies after them. I step closer to Zander, wrapping my arms around his waist. “You’re braver than you know, Zee-Zee. I would never ask this from you if I didn’t know you could do it.”
His silence and the fact he doesn’t laugh at my nickname makes me worry. Maybe I pushed too far by asking this of him?
“I’ve never belonged to the dragons or the magics of this world, Vina,” he whispers, his hand cupping my cheek and lifting my head at the same time. I almost gasp when I see his dragon-like eyes glowing as he looks down at me. “But I belong to you and you are my mate. For you, I will go there and demand help.”
I lean into his hand. “Tell them you’re my mate and will help lead the fae courts. Tell them we offer peace and much more in return for this debt,” I softly say. “And tell my uncle that if he hurts you and hides away in his mountain while his family needs him, I will burn the mountain down and destroy his kingdom if it’s the last thing I ever do.”
