by Leia Shaw
“A bonny lass.”
“A right beauty for your arm.”
Aila mingled with noble company, shook hands, smiled when she was supposed to. She even ate with the correct forks. But her heart grew heavy. Was this what her new life was to be? A trophy wife to be admired on the prince’s arm? Here she was, finally safe, heavily guarded by the royal court. Most likely she would never have to face a werewolf or fae death threat again. A week ago she would have sighed in relief, perfectly happy never leaving the castle walls. But why now did she feel utterly dissatisfied?
“Do you miss him?” Kieran asked as they walked to the balcony for some fresh air.
She gave him a nervous laugh, knowing full well who he referred to. “Like a fish misses water.” When he gave her a funny look she winced then cursed under her breath. She’d meant to say “like a fish misses air”.
Was it true? Had she left a piece of herself with the vampire? She couldn’t deny something was missing. There was a void that no amount of riches or fine food or history lessons could fill.
She’d argued and debated with herself as she tossed and turned in bed the next night. At least Kieran had graciously provided her with her own bedroom, instead of insisting she sleep in his bed. No, only pushy, shameless vampires did that sort of thing.
Over and over she told herself the fae were her people. They loved her, accepted her, wanted her. This was her destiny. Then why did it feel so wrong?
And now, on the evening of the fourth day, Aila and Kieran wandered leisurely through the gardens bordering what the fae called the “Outerlands” – and what Aila called “the rest of the world.” The gardens were enormous, a vast expanse of rocky paths winding through plants of every color, some so exotic they looked like they belonged on another planet.
Kieran grasped her hand and held it as they walked. It surprised her that she liked holding his hand. She felt at ease. Not passionate. Not in love. Not held in place only by his touch because her head was soaring a hundred feet off the ground. No, the only time gravity had ceased to matter was when she’d kissed the vampire she’d left behind. Her body may have left him but, she acknowledged woefully, her heart had not.
“I want to show you my favorite spot in the kingdom,” Kieran said, stepping through a flowery trellis. “This is where I come to meditate.”
He held out his hand gesturing her in front. The path circled a small pond where water lilies floated on the surface. A stone statue, blood red in color, smooth and shiny, stood behind the water feature. It was a woman swathed in cloth with a fox creeping at her side.
“I seem to do my best thinking here,” Kieran explained, taking a deep breath of the night air. “My theory is that there’s some magical ability having to do with the fox.”
“The fox?”
He nodded. “The fox is a symbol of wisdom.”
She gave him a sideways glance. “Isn’t the fox known for trickery?”
He laughed. “I guess it depends on the origins of the folklore. Some of the first generation fae were foxes.”
“Really?”
“Remember meeting Daly?”
“He’s the military strategist, right?”
“Yes. He’s also a fox.”
It hadn’t occurred to Aila that the first fae created from animal spirits might still walk the earth. But now she was insanely curious.
“So…” She eyed Kieran speculatively.
“I already know what you’re going to ask,” he said. “No, I’m not first generation. I’m fourth generation.”
“So, like, instead of asking a human what their heritage is, I would ask you what your mammalitage is?”
Kieran burst out laughing, throwing his head back, his small but pointy fangs flashing white against the dark night. “That’s good, Aila. You’re very funny.”
She perched a hand on her hip. “Well?”
“My great-grandfather was a lion. My great-grandmother on the other side was a wolf.”
“So you’re half lion, half wolf?”
“Yes.”
“That explains a lot.”
He cocked his head to the side. “It does?”
She shrugged. “You’re a natural leader. You’re more powerful than you let anyone know but you’re also good with people. You could win them over with your personality just as easily as with brute strength. All in all, you are a very dangerous package.” She gave him a sly smile. “A lion and a wolf. It fits.”
With a sideways grin he chuckled. He reached out and, before she could step away, he fingered a strand of her hair, a dreamy look in his eye. “You are something else, Aila Quinn.” She’d seen that look before. He wanted to kiss her.
She took a step back then cleared her throat. “I wonder what my mammalitage is.”
“I don’t know.” He followed her retreat. “But I bet you’ve got some feline somewhere in you.”
“Lazy, moody, and doesn’t play well with others?”
“I was thinking curious, independent, and always lands on her feet.”
She narrowed her eyes and her lips curled up on one side. He isdangerous. She needed a distraction before he charmed her into doing something she would regret. “So what kind of stone is this?” she asked, gesturing to the fountain.
“Red Jasper.”
“It’s beautiful.” She stooped down next to the pond and dipped her hand into the cool water.
“It’s said to give protection from fears of the night.”
She snapped her head to look at him so quickly she heard it pop. “Really?” She stood up and wiped her wet hand on her pale blue halter top dress.
He looked like he bit back a laugh. Instead, he shrugged. “That’s what they say.”
A subtle movement behind him caught her eye. Up against the vine covered fence, a small woman’s shape began to emerge. With pale hair and stormy gray eyes, she stared at Aila with an intensity that stopped her breath. Then a slow smile crept onto her face as she put a finger to her mouth in a silent gesture. Parts of her body, dressed all in black, remained hidden in the shadows of the vines, while her face was as clear as the moon in the cloudless sky above. She reminded Aila of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. Intelligent, mischievous, and just a little bit creepy.
Kieran must have noticed her unusual reaction because he narrowed his eyes then turned around, scanning the area. But by the time his gaze reached the fence, the girl had slunk back into the shadows of the vines and disappeared.
He swung back around and eyed Aila suspiciously but didn’t say a word. She had a feeling he knew exactly who was behind him. She smiled inside. Kieran has an admirer?
Finally, he spoke. “I know this experience must be overwhelming for you. I’ve showed you everything I know. You’ve seen the kingdom, met important people, learned about our culture. What do you think? Could you be happy here?” He stepped closer – close enough that she could feel his breath linger on her forehead. “Could you be happy with me?”
She stared down at her feet adorned by a pair of strappy sandals selected to match her dress. She was in love with the dress. The way it flowed around her body would have been lovely to spin around in. If she hadn’t been under a microscope by the Unseelie, she would have tried it. The warm night air tickled the bare skin on her shoulders.
“I…I don’t know,” she answered and saying it felt like rocks in her mouth. She was defying not only the kingdom’s expectation and Kieran’s desire, but her own birthright as well. And to her surprise, it stung. She didn’t want to disappoint the fae. She didn’t want to hurt Kieran. Technically there wasn’t anything wrong with living in Méadú ar Neart, but deep down inside, she knew this life wasn’t hers.
“This place is beautiful. This life is…perfect.” She avoided those emerald eyes, knowing she’d be lost once she looked into them. “You’re a wonderful man, Kieran.”
“But?”
She sighed. “I don’t think it’s for me.” Her cheeks flushed with shame.
With tender patience he grasped her hands then kissed each one. “What do your instincts tell you? Instinct knows where you belong. Deep down inside, you know where you belong.”
Marcelo. The thought slammed into her head like an anvil. Now what the hell is he doing there? Before she could explore the thought further, Kieran’s lips were on hers. Soft and patient, but with gentle determination. She kissed him back, just to see what would happen. She opened her mouth for his probing tongue. His kiss was sweet, his lips smooth and soft. It was perfectly…nice. But her body didn’t want nice. It wanted an aggressive claiming of her mouth. A kiss she felt all the way down to her toes.
“Kieran,” she said, pushing him away. “It’s not here.”
He looked confused. “What?”
“You told me to trust my instincts. It’s not here that I belong.”
It’s with the vampire. The untrustworthy, betraying, prone to violence, vampire. He wouldn’t leave her heart. He wouldn’t stop haunting her mind. Somehow, he’d tied them together irreversibly.
With a deep sigh, she finally admitted the truth. She wasn’t made for this perfect life. She wasn’t made to live in luxury, ruling the fae at Kieran’s side. When had her life ever been perfect anyway? She needed her vampire. As imperfect as he was, she missed him. Their life would never be like Kieran’s, surrounded by beauty and culture and refinement. But, she admitted in defeat, she would follow Marcelo anywhere. She had fallen for him like a smitten school girl.
If his face was any indication, Kieran hadn’t expected her answer. He looked appalled. “But…but this is where you belong! You are fae. You are one of us, Aila. I don’t know how else to convince you. You’ve seen it. We’ve opened our arms to you. Embraced you.”
“I’m sorry. Really, I am. But I can’t be what you want.”
His shoulders sagged as he stared off into the garden. With a crease set in his brow his lips formed a grim line. He nodded his head in a slow surrender.
“Kieran,” she pleaded. She didn’t want to hurt him. “You know it too, don’t you? I’m not really who you want.”
He didn’t answer, just gave her a small consolatory smile.
“Trust your instincts,” she said with a mischievous grin. She placed his hand on his chest as he’d done to her just a few days ago. “Feel it. Right here. Admit it.”
He arched a brow and smiled, all hints of bleakness gone. “Admit to a woman that I don’t want her? Please, I’m not suicidal.”
She chuckled though her heart trembled with fear. She had to go back to Marcelo and ask for forgiveness. Maybe Kieran would let her have the jasper statue for protection. Vampires counted as fears of the night, right? And if reason failed to tame his temper, she could always whack him over the head with it.
Chapter 15
As soon as Aila stepped through the door to the Underworld she was hit by a choking wave of heat. Thick, dirty air drowned her lungs in soot. Once she adjusted to the temperature change and could breathe again, she scanned her environment, first sweeping for any threats. She sensed nothing but she didn’t trust herself on that account so she kept her bow at her side.
The Underworld didn’t look as foreign as she had expected. Bare trees were bent in odd shapes but the ground was solid dirt with grass on top, though dead in most places. There was no fire and brimstone. No demonic creatures gnashing their teeth. Well, not yet.
The terrain was flat and sparsely wooded, reminding her of a wicked fairytale scene, like she could come across the witch’s candy house from Hansel and Gretel any minute.
Then she spotted the red sky. “Oh, boy.”
She turned in a full circle, looking for signs of Sage’s castle. “I don’t suppose there’s a yellow brick road.”
It had only been a day since she’d rejected Kieran. He’d been concerned about her entering the Underworld alone but respected her decision. He’d only insisted on a change of clothes and a healthy meal before she left, which gave her ample time to contemplate what she’d say to Marcelo. A few hours later and she still had no idea.
Kieran had opened a portal with the door-making device and said a reluctant goodbye. There had been an unspoken understanding that they would see each other again soon. But for now, they had to part ways.
The old Aila would have been scared out of her wits trekking alone through unknown territory, facing the uncertainty of another dimension. But this new Aila, the fae warrior with a strong backbone and a mean archer’s arm, could handle it. Oh sure, she was scared, but Marcelo had been right, she needed to stand on her own two feet for once.
It had only been six days since she’d frozen in fear when the werewolves had attacked her and Marcelo. What a long way she’d come since then. Now…now she would have faced them with courage instead of cowering behind a man. Her head would be held high, bow in hand, strength down to her feet rooted on the ground. Yes, she was fae. She would never run and hide again.
Just then a giant snarling ball of muscle, fur, and teeth lunged at her from the trees. Oh, the irony.
Before the giant wolf landed on top of her, it yelped as it went sailing to the right, collided with a large tree and fell to the ground. Its body sagged for a moment, then, recovering its strength, it stood up to face its assailant. Aila followed its gaze.
Black mist blew in circles around her, faster and faster it twirled until it began to take shape, finally ending as a man. Instinctively, Aila placed an arrow in her bow and aimed it at the mysterious being, a menacing glare set on her face.
“Whoa,” the mist man said with a patronizing smile. “Don’t slay me yet little fae warrior.” He paused to furrow his brow. “Or is it warrior-ess? Hmm…I’ll have to work on that.” Focused back on her, he continued, “I am Gethin, guardian of the Underworld. And you just passed through my gate without permission.”
The wolf whined and scratched a paw in the dirt. Gethin gave him one look then commanded, “Down.”
Immediately the wolf obeyed.
Gethin turned back to Aila with an expression that stated, clearly, “Look at me. I have power. Do what I say.” Then he eyed her bow with an unspoken threat.
She lowered her arm. She had no idea what he was; only that he was the most dangerous thing she’d ever seen. Though his appearance didn’t say much – short blond hair so light it was almost white and a wide but fantastic smile with perfect teeth – something about his eyes was deeply disturbing. Light brown one moment then flickering yellow the next. Not quite human, not quite animal. Something altogether unique.
But it was his presence that was most unsettling. He reeked of power and magic. It smothered her, swept the air from her already heavy lungs. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Instinct screamed to run. She forced herself to stand her ground but couldn’t stop a shudder.
He gave her another look. “That’s right. Fear me.”
No problem there. She cleared her dry throat and said, “Umm…sorry?”
He chuckled with amused arrogance. “Rest easy. I’ll let you pass.”
She arched a brow. Did she have “gullible” written on her forehead?
“For a price,” he added.
Ah, there it is. She positioned her bow over her shoulder. “I have no money.”
“I don’t need money. What I need is for you to deliver a message.”
“To who and what’s the message?”
“The goddess of night.” His tone changed from condescending amusement to anger. “Nyx is her name.”
“A goddess? Wouldn’t she be in heaven?”
He laughed lightly but there was no humor in it. “Nyx was cast out of heaven. She was a very naughty goddess. She stole something from me and I want it back.” His eyes flashed yellow and glowed under the red sky. Combined with his feral smile, Aila backed up a few steps. “Here’s a lesson you can take to the bank…”
She furrowed her brow but didn’t have the balls to tell him he got the saying wrong.
“Never steal from a d
ragon. You won’t get away with it and it pisses us the fuck off.”
Dragon?
“Anyway, right now Nyx wreaks havoc in a little place called Las Vegas. I need you to take this to her.” He held out a dark metal cylinder about a foot long. It was covered in mysterious symbols and one side contained a row of letters that spun like a combination lock, protecting whatever was inside.
“What is it?”
“Sermo sermonum tenet. The thing which holds my words. The combination is the only way to open it.”
“What’s the combination?”
He laughed, low and deep in his throat. “You’re funny.”
She shrugged. “Nyx knows it?”
“She’ll figure it out.”
He held the cylinder closer but she was wary. “Why can’t you take the message yourself?”
Gethin’s gaze roamed her body, far too bold for a human. He slowed at her breasts, his smile widened as he licked his lips. If arrogance had a face, it would be his. Blown up to billboard size. With flashing neon lights.
“So curious,” he said softly. “I will answer you this once. But in the future, try to remember, it’s best not to ask too many questions. The more you know, the more vulnerable you are. There are beings that would torture even a little thing like you for information you wish you did not possess.”
She didn’t doubt that.
“I cannot enter Las Vegas. Nyx, the thieving bitch, is in possession of a device that makes it impossible for me to enter the city. And since she never leaves it,” his voice was a growl now, “I must resort to passing notes like school children.”
Suppressing the urge to ask why, she said instead, “How will I find her?”
“I’ve no doubt your vampire friend can help you.”
“And should I tell her you gave it to me?”
“You won’t have to.” He grinned. “Now, little fae creature, do we have a deal?”
Aila looked from the scroll back to Gethin then nodded. She’d deal with this later. One mission at a time.
“Wise decision.”
The wolf whined catching Aila’s attention. “Thanks, for that.” She waved a hand towards the now passive creature that had tried to rip out her throat only moments ago.
