We finish our forms, Jacob picking up our training weapons for today as we begin. “So I’m getting the super secret Shaolin secrets?” I tease as Jacob strikes and I block. “Does that mean if Lysette wants to strike-”
“She’d have a fight on her hands,” Jacob reassures me. “The Vale Guard would be fighting from defense, with superior numbers and equipment, and are tough fighters in their own right. Most importantly, they would be fighting to protect what they love. That adds strength to anyone’s arms.”
“Oh, and here I was thinking it was just you liked my ass,” I tease, distracting Jacob as I land a hard blow on his leg with my wooden sword. Jacob jumps back, rubbing his leg and growling. “You okay?”
Jacob nods, shaking his head before smiling. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
Still, he’s limping, and I set my sword aside, walking up next to him. “You sure? I forgot, that’s where you took the fire.”
“It is, but healing well. Deara has a healer that is quite skilled,” Jacob replies, grinning when I growl. “Jealous, Princess?”
“If she touched you I’m gonna kill the wench,” I joke, grabbing him by the light tunic he’s wearing and pulling him against me. “You’re mine, and while I’m not ready to get down and dirty with you here on the grass in front of everyone, you better believe I will if I have to.”
“Mmm, rough. Don’t tempt me, Princess,” Jacob whispers, pressing himself against me. “But you have nothing to worry about. Like I told you, you have me. Besides, why do you think I’m training you? I want to make sure you’re around for a long, long time.”
“I will be,” I reply before kissing him on the cheek. I can feel his cock pressing against my belly through his pants, and I smile as I lick his ear. “But no one touches what’s mine. Spread the word, or else.”
“Or else what?” Jacob asks, grabbing me and spinning me around. “You’ll spank me?”
“No,” I reply, dropping back as I plant my boot on his inner thigh and flip Jacob over my head neatly. We roll to our feet, and he’s grinning broadly. “If you don’t, I won’t spank you. And I won’t let you tie me up either.”
“You’re filling me with all kinds of ideas,” Jacob teases, picking up his wooden training weapon again and tossing one to me. “But let’s see what our fearless leader’s been wasting his time teaching you recently.”
We keep going, working up a good sweat, and as we finish up, I feel a temporary break to the chill that’s coming over me ever since I unleashed my power. It’s not that I haven’t been getting better, I have. It’s that I feel like this is a tremendous waste of time.
I see the Dark Rider everywhere, and more frequently than ever. Waking up this morning in Cole’s arms, I could see the Dark Rider in the courtyard, looking up at my window, the blank face of his armor impassive as he turns and walks through the wall itself. Once, during our discussion about what our plans for the day would entail, I even saw him sitting in a chair at the end of the dining hall, his legs stretched out in front of him as he casually watched us eat our meals.
No matter how good I get with a sword, it’s not going to help me with this particular problem.
I haven’t told my Guardians anymore about my visions, there’s no point. There’s not much anyone can do. But with each glance I get of him, it’s another whisper that this is all for naught. Either Lysette’s going to bring Cassina’s forces through the Winter’s Pass and try to take me by force, or some other disaster is going to descend upon us. That, or I need to learn quickly how to use my powers.
Still, the exercise with Jacob helps, and seeing Tyler and Noah approach the training field helps more. “Well, he’s still standing,” Tyler says in greeting, smiling and giving a little more light to the day. “You must have been taking it easy on him.”
“We had some of the Vale Guard watching us,” I explain, grinning and giving a Tyler a little kiss on the lips. “I didn’t want your reputations to be too dinged up.”
“You are too kind,” Noah replies, receiving a kiss of his own. “But we’ve come to ask if you’d like to uhm . . . go on a date with us? There’s a little tavern just by the gate that is supposed to be popular. And it’s got a great stew, according to the shopkeeper who told us about it.”
“Hmmm . . . and how would we pay for all this?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
Tyler chuckles. “Compliments of Cole’s family. Seems Cole’s mended enough fences to give us a small allowance . . . and weapons.”
Jacob grins. “Shall we?”
Before the tavern, we stop by the armory, where Tyler equips himself with a beautiful recurve bow that has silver inlaid in the wood to strengthen the enchantment. Armed with a quiver of two dozen arrows, their broadheads gleaming in the daylight coming through the window, he looks dashing.
Jacob’s like a kid in a candy store, picking out blades left and right. Each time I think he’s finished, he finds something else, and I realize just how light he’s been traveling as he secrets the small arsenal around his body. Two fighting knives, backups, multiple types of throwing weapons . . .
“Hey Jacob?”
“Yes, Princess?”
“You sure you have enough? I think there’s a seam or two of yours that isn’t filled with steel, silver, or gold yet.”
“You know my most impressive steel has nothing to do with this armory,” he teases back. “But I suppose it can be enough for now.”
Noah’s next, his staff as thick as my wrist and also inlaid with carvings as he twirls it, giving it a test, the tips leaving trails of light in the air. He nods before he and Tyler accept backup weapons, and I see them fully equipped for the first time since they first appeared in New Haven. They’re impressive, and my hopes for my survival tick up a few notches.
“My lady,” the armorer says as he sets my items on the table. “These are especially for you. Compliments of Lady Lorelai.”
I gasp as I look at the beautiful weapons laid out before me, a courtsword that’s got a slightly thicker blade than my previous one. The matte steel is engraved in gold runes, two bracers that glow with their own inner light, and a parrying dagger that-
“Is that star stone?” Jacob asks, reaching out to touch the almost totally clear blade. “I’ve never heard of a blade being constructed of it before.”
“What’s star stone?” I ask as I lift the blade carefully, looking at the silver handle with gold pommel. “I can barely see it.”
“It’s found only in the Fae realm, akin to a diamond,” Noah says softly, his own eyes wide as I lift the dagger and drive it down into the wood of the armorer’s bench. Even though I barely use any force, I bury the dagger all the way to the hilt, my fist thumping to the wood. “It’s capable of very strong enchantments.”
I withdraw the dagger, carefully sheathing it before setting it down. “What about the bracers?”
“The Lady left me a message to give you,” the armorer says. “Quote: they won’t hold anything back, but they will stop something coming in. And they’ll help you focus what’s inside. She did not say what that meant, however.”
“That’s okay, I understand,” I reply, taking the weapons and attaching them to my belt. “That sword is beautiful,” I point at the huge sword sitting on the table in front of us. “Who’s is it?”
The armorer lifts a huge sword, easily five feet long and a foot wide, the triangular tipped blade lightened by four cutouts that twinkle like diamond in their settings. Gold and silver etch runes in the blade, and even though it looks like it weighs a ton, when he offers it to me, it handles nearly as easily as my courtsword. “This is Lord Cole’s. It is his by birthright, the sword for the Commander of the Vale Guard.”
We give our thanks and head off to the tavern, laughing and joking along the way. It feels good, but my mood turns sour as we come to the door of the Tavern. I see the Dark Rider standing off to the side, watching us. His arms are crossed over his chest and his head is tilted so that he looks almost amused at my action
s. Like he’s saying Have your fun now . . . but it’s not going to last.
“Eve? Hey, Princess?” Tyler asks, and I blink, shaking my head to look at him in confusion.
“Yes?”
“You coming?”
I nod and enter the tavern, determined to enjoy the day.
Chapter 29
Eve
It feels strange to be approaching Lorelai’s chambers again, although this time not under guard. For the past three days, she’s spoken with all my Guardians, but not me. Each time they come back, telling me she’s researching, asking questions about them and me, and reassuring them that she’ll do everything she can. Still, walking down the hallway, I can feel her power pulsing through the air and the evil side of me starts to feel nervous.
Stay away from her. She’ll hurt us.
No. First off, there is no us. There’s you, and there’s me. And soon, I’m getting rid of you.
But you need me. Who else is going to protect you?
Besides myself, I have four men that love me that will protect me.
That’s something a weakling would say. Depending on a man to be protected. You don’t need anyone.
Just because they’ll protect me doesn’t mean I can’t protect myself. And once I’m rid of you, I’ll protect them too.
Then why are you so afraid of me? Of the future? Remember Eve, I can see all the way inside you, and I know you’re worried about it.
My inner voice tries to say something, but I shut it up, knocking on Lorelai’s door.
“Lorelai?”
I’m not sure if my voice can be heard through the thick wood, but the door swings open immediately, and Lorelai’s sitting in a comfortable looking chair, waving me in.
“Hello, Eve. We’re here to discuss your exorcism, so to speak.”
“So it is a demon inside me?” I ask, feeling relieved. “Did Joe Gonzalez, or whatever his real name was, curse me?”
“No, it’s been with you since birth,” Lorelai says. “I suspect your father, whoever he might be. Which leads us to the intersection of the problem, Eve. I can remove the compulsion to destroy and kill . . . but I cannot remove the darkness.”
“Why?” I ask, misery sweeping over me. “I’d do anything-”
“I can’t remove the darkness because it is part of who you are,” Lorelai says, her voice going a little hard to make her point. “Eve, you must face the fact that you are not human at all, except in appearance. And that, I suspect, will change as you use your power. Judging by your teeth, it has already started.”
I run my tongue over the tips of my tiny fangs, shivering as I think of how good it felt to deeply kiss each of my Guardians over the past few days. I suspect that after this is complete, I’m going to have quite the oral fetish . . . not that Jacob will mind.
“Do you mean the more I use my power, the more I’m going to look . . . demonic?”
“If you use your demonic powers, I suspect that could happen. But like the Fae, demons have some control over their appearance. No matter what though, your future is going to lie in your hands, and you must take control of it. The amount of power you possess could bring disaster if you don’t. But you should realize that things aren’t as simple as Fae are light, demons are dark. Of course, they are, but light and dark are not synonymous with good and evil. Both can be creative, and both can be destructive. Think about it, if you focus the sun’s rays on one spot for too long, what do you have?”
I think, guessing she’s talking about using a magnifying glass. “A fire?”
“And a fire can burn down your house. So is the light inherently evil? No, it’s the will of the one who focuses it. That same fire can warm you on a cold night, cook your food, or even cauterize a wound. Darkness is the same way. Darkness can cool a fevered brow, relieve tired eyes, or give young lovers a cloak to explore their love away from watchful eyes. Darkness can also hide the assassin, or starve crops in the field if it persists too long.”
“So I’m going to be the controller ,” I whisper, rubbing my hands over my bracers. “Lorelai, I understand what you’re saying, but I’m going to be honest, I’m scared. It sounds impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible, and you won’t be alone. It is why I have spoken with my brother and your other friends.”
I tilt my head, confused. “Are you saying that they are important to my learning? What about you?”
“We will all play our part. I will remove any external demonic influence, and yes, teach you the mechanics of magic, you might say. They will teach you what each of them are, their love will show you ways to guide and control your power. The noble, the philosopher, the rogue, the healer. All of them warriors, all of them lovers in their own way. They’ve had centuries to learn to be one, a unit with one shared heart. They are brothers, and they all love you completely, even if they show it in different ways. I need a few more days to prepare, and to take advantage of the full moon. However, in the meantime, prepare. Make love with your men, train your warrior’s skills, they teach you control as well. And keep an eye to the south.”
“Do you mean Lysette?” I ask, and Lorelai nods. “What do you know about her?”
“That not all evil beings are from Hell. Lysette is just as evil as any demon, and she’ll have at least a battalion of troops at her command. They’d be coming with our without Lysette, but I fear for all your good intentions, you made a mistake in letting her live. Beware of her. She has the power of fanaticism inside her, and a fanatic is someone who is very, very dangerous.”
Chapter 30
Noah
“Noah, if everything is written in Fae, how am I supposed to read it to even learn anything?” Eve asks as they enter the massive hall that is the Castle Vale library.
Noah chuckles. “Good question. One of the side effects of our bond that we’ve formed is that you have been learning Fae subconsciously. You don’t even realize we’re speaking it. Although some of these are written in the old dialects, but I’ll see what we can do about that.”
Noah leads Eve over to a book on a pedestal, opening it. “Every library worth their salt keeps a Book of Common Spells front and center,” Noah says turning the pages. “The book was standardized two centuries ago, and for everyday use it has what you need. Cure a cough, mend a torn shoe, blood stains, flatulence-”
“Wait, there’s a spell for farts?” Eve asks, and Noah shakes his head, smirking.
“Just kidding on that one,” he says, smiling as he turns to the right page. “Okay, here we are. Discerning unfamiliar runes . . . little old-fashioned, but it’s what we need. Now, stand here.”
Noah reads the spell, then places his fingers on the sides of Eve’s face just as the spell instructs, looking into her eyes. It’s tender, almost a caressing cradle of her beautiful heart-shaped face in his hands, and the words of the spell slip out in a soft whisper, a lover’s poem to the one woman that has a place in his heart.
He repeats it three times, before leaning in and kissing Eve tenderly. She melts into his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and letting him lift her into the air, holding her close as his heart swells with affection for her before setting her down.
“Wow,” Eve rasps, biting her lip when he steps back, “great way to finish a spell.”
“Oh, that wasn’t part of the spell. That was just how you make me feel,” Noah admits. His body yearns for her, but there are other things they need to accomplish first. “You were just so beautiful, I couldn’t resist.”
They head into the rows of books, Eve selecting titles on Fae magic as Noah finds a book on the history of Cole’s family. Interested, he sits down as Eve starts her work.
Noah notes that Eve’s consuming the information at a rate even faster than he could, and he wonders if she realizes that after a little more than two hours, she’s read five thick tomes of magical theory and practical spells.
“How goes the education?” Noah asks as she closes the fifth book. “Understanding more?”
<
br /> “Yes and no,” Eve replies, sitting back. “I have a basic understanding of the society of the Fae realm, I’d call you guys a medieval feudal confederation if that makes sense, although different kingdoms seem to have varying levels on certain things.”
Noah nods, closing his history book and setting it aside. “A good analogy I suppose. Never really thought about it to be honest. What else have you learned?”
Eve nods, and Noah can almost see the wheels turning in her head as she forms her words. It’s one of the things he thinks has been a good change for Eve. When they first met, she was from the hip, as Jacob says, speaking first and sometimes considering the meaning of her words later. Now, she still speaks from the heart, but on important matters she takes the time to make sure she’s saying exactly what she means. Instead of answering the question, she says what’s on her mind.
“Noah, what do you see for us after this? I mean, say Lorelai does this exorcism or whatever it is, does her teaching me magic thing, and we figure out a way to prevent Hell from taking over the three realms. Then what? How do we even do it, and where do you see us afterward? Assuming we survive, of course.”
Noah hums, chuckling as the image from his dreams floats into his head. “You’d just laugh.”
“No, I’m serious,” Eve says, turning to look at him. “Where do you see us?”
Noah sighs, pursing his lips. “There’s a reason we call you Princess, as we’ve said. For me, I’ve had dreams of you sitting on a throne, the four of us as-”
“Princes?” Eve finishes, lifting an eyebrow.
Noah huffs, amused. “Hardly. I’m no prince. And could you see Jacob as a prince? There’d be a revolution within a month. No, I saw the four of us just as we are, your advisors, your men, your . . . your Guardians. I could live a very happy life just like that.”
Guardians of Hellfire (Guardians of the Fae Book 2) Page 15
