Faerie Kissed

by Jaliza A. Burwell

  “Laikynn is taking my magic,” I said, needing clarification.

  “He is.” Alder motioned me closer. The cold water was to my knees, feet sinking into the mud, my shoes making it harder to move. “There is enough.”

  I froze and waited to see what Alder would do. If it meant that this exhaustion disappeared, then I’d do it. I wasn’t going to let Laikynn win.

  A low humming came from Alder, growing deeper and rumbly the longer he continued. I had to wonder if he breathed while doing it. It was one long drawn out mournful sound that hit deep in the heart

  The water responded to his song, swirling around my legs. There was a pulse of magic as it began to glow, growing in intensity the deeper Alder’s voice went. It rose in a stream of magic around my entire body.

  “Shit,” someone muttered.

  The water wrapped around me, pressing against my body, its coolness seeping into my skin, chilling me. The magic in the water entered me, clung on to the taint, and severed it, breaking the spell that had been so well hidden inside of me. There was a punch, a feeling of something snapping. Then the flood came. My magic rose, and I took in a huge breath, realizing that I hadn’t taken a full one since Laikynn spelled me.

  “Josie?” Jason asked.

  I tilted my head up and laughed, the elation needing to be released. I didn’t realize how cut off I had felt until I had it back again.

  “Are you okay?” Foster asked.

  “I’m good. I’m really good.” I grinned big. “Alder, you are amazing.”

  “You are Friend,” he replied, as if that explained it all. To him, it probably did.

  I was about to ask him more questions when rustling and mumbling caught our attention. “There he is,” a low raspy voice said. “Bring him and we will be given all we want.”

  “Show yourselves.” I whipped my magic out and uncloaked the fae. Five of them stood there, all gaunt, clearly going through withdrawals. They looked desperate. And every single one of them were looking at Alder.

  Shit.

  “Berry,” I whispered. He growled, his fur ruffling. “Get them.”

  With pleasure. I am hungry.

  He grew into his battle form, eyes glowing, black fur standing on end. His magic rippled through the air, dangerous blades against the skin. A deep growl rumbled from him before he bounded forwarded toward the fae. I should have felt bad, but the threat was clear.

  They wanted Alder. I wasn’t going to let them touch someone so pure and innocent.

  One of my guys swore, but I was too busy preparing for battle to look over. This had become exponentially dangerous, and if I made a wrong mood, not only Alder would be hurt, but so would my guys.

  I reached down to my bracelet and activated one of my charms, already stored with a ton of magic. It responded to me instantly, the power zapping through my fingers, down my arm and through my chest, its warmth wrapping around me like a cozy blanket.

  Berry slammed into two of them, taking them down in a moment. By the time he was finished with them, they weren’t getting back up. Two charged toward me, eyes still on Alder, their magic gathering for an attack.

  “Back off.” I knelt down and touched the ground, allowing my magic to flow through the life that existed in it. It was reluctant, not happy to be controlled by Faerie magic, but I was too powerful, and it relented, giving in to my demands. Normally, I’d try to be gentle with a move like this, but I didn’t have time to coax Nature’s magic. Action needed to happen now.

  The ground rumbled as the roots rose, creating a barrier. The fae released an attack that hit the barrier and deflected, instead, veering off to the side.

  It happened too quickly, in a way I did not expect. My heart froze as I watched the attack head straight for Jason. Foster saw it, eyes widening and reacted, grabbing him and trying to tug him away, but it wasn’t going to happen fast enough. They were going to get hit.

  My small barrier shattered as I tried to divert my magic to protect them. “No!”

  It wasn’t going to make it in time. I wasn’t going to.

  There was a deep humming sound before the ground itself rose between the attack and my guys. It reached up almost as tall as the guys. The attack hit it and the dirt absorbed it, dust flurrying into the air. Once it was clear they weren’t under imminent danger, the wall went back to the ground.

  “They are Friend Joslyn’s. They will not be harmed.” Alder rasped out at my back. “I am not built to fight. I am built to protect. They will not come to harm as you do what needs to be done.” There was something in his voice, dark and sinister. Not so innocent.

  “Then I will make this fast,” I said, focusing back on our attackers. They were as dumbfounded as I had been. I recovered quicker than they did, already sprinting at them. By the time they realized it wasn’t going to be as easy as they hoped, I was on the two of them.

  I swung my leg and connected with the tallest’s head. It snapped back as he flew on his back. Landing, I moved into my next move, pivoting and driving my fist in the second fae’s gut.

  He grunted, doubling over. I brought my elbow down hard on his back, using every ounce of my anger and strength to take him out. He went down hard. There was the sound of a click, all too closely resembling a gun.

  I whipped my attention to the final man. He was big and burly, a long gun up to his face, scope at the end of it.

  “Shit.” I swore again, sprinting to him.

  Berry was still grappling with the other two. They were stubborn to go down. Or Berry was messing with them. Either way, he was too distracted with them to notice.

  I snapped out my magic, sending it the fae’s way to delay him until I could reach him. The air around him shimmered as my attack crumbled into nothing. A barrier.

  He fired.

  A buzzing noise drone through the air and the bullet’s heat brushed against my cheek as it passed by me. Alder grunted.

  I refused to look behind me as I reached the barrier. Unwilling to let it slow me down, I had gathered my magic together and the moment I touched it, it exploded outward, shattering the barrier.

  The man’s eyes widened in terror as I loomed over him. I snarled, grabbed him by his throat, and slammed him down, his gun falling uselessly to the ground. He scratched at my arm, trying to get me to let go, but I had experience on my side. He wasn’t moving. I may have been smaller and weaker than a male, but my magic made up for it.

  “Still,” I demanded. The compulsion had him frozen, only his eyes shaking as he stared at me as his panic and terror settled deep into his body. I eased up on my magic and he took in a deep breath. “Why are you after Alder?”

  “He wants him. If we get him for him, we get more. I want more.”

  I frowned, gripping his shoulders tightly, my nails digging into his shoulders. He didn’t acknowledge the pain even as I drew blood. That was how lost he was in his need for the Faerie high.

  “Why? Why does he want him.” Laikynn. Of fucking course.

  “Ancient.” The fae licked his lips, hunger darkening his eyes. “So much ancient magic.”

  “It’d be enough,” I whispered and reeled back. I glanced at Alder. He was holding his side, a green goo seeping through, but he seemed fine. Magic was flittering around him, telling me he was healing himself. Taking in a deep breath, I tasted the magic, felt a heavy cloak of it across my tongue and flinched. It was heady. Potent. Ancient. Layered. I dug through those layers.

  It wasn’t that Alder was born with a lot of power. His kind didn’t get that powerful. My senses told me he wasn’t, at least not the scale I was used to using. I never thought about age though. His age made him more powerful. Every year, ever decade, adding another layer of magic to what he already had.

  Like the rings of a stump.

  Alder was very good at hiding how his power got stronger, only using enough magic so that his smaller rings, the younger magic was what he showed. I glanced at the green goo. His healing magic was forcing him to show his hand, br
iefly, but enough to let me know.

  Alder tilted his head to the side. “Friend Joslyn?”

  There was a tone to his voice, a dangerous one. He knew I was figuring it out, and he was waiting for me to make my move. I could feel it in the way his magic turned sharper and his massive frame stiffened.

  If I went toe-to-toe with Alder, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to win.

  I turned back to the fae underneath me. “That doesn’t matter. You nor Laikynn get to have him. Ever.” I reached down, gripped his head, and twisted. The snap of his neck was satisfying, the sound loud in my ears.

  I stood up slowly, my body feeling heavy. Berry was at my side, licking my hand. Two bodies were torn to pieces off to the side, where he had been fighting them.

  “Josie?” Foster asked.

  “Call Judah. We need to relocate Alder.”

  “No,” Alder said. “I will not be run from my home. Not again.”

  Softening my expression, I said, “Temporarily. To keep you safe. Judah cares for you. He will make sure you are comfortable and safe. Once the situation with Laikynn is taken care of, you will be able to return.”

  “Promise me in the way of the fae.”

  I didn’t hesitate. “I, Joslyn Naevana, promise that once Laikynn is no longer a danger to you, you will be able to return to your home here. Magic be witness.” The magic coated over me, and I shivered as the promise settled deep into me. Alder didn’t react, but I knew it had settled over him too. I could feel it between us.

  I softened my voice. “Friend Judah will take good care of you. I can feel that he will. He respects you.”

  If Alder was an ancient, there was no telling how long he had lived and what he had gone through. I never pushed to ask why he was here in a park in the middle of a city, but it felt like his choices had become very limited for whatever reason.

  “Very well.” He finally relented and focused back on himself.

  “Are you well?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  I left him at that, going to the men to check on them.

  “What the fuck?” was Jason’s first words to me once I got close enough.

  “Everyone is unhurt?” I asked.

  “Yes, we’re fine,” Foster said. His gaze dropped down my body. “You?”

  My smile felt a bit wobbly. “I will be fine. No injuries. Some bruising, but it’ll heal soon.”

  “What the fuck was that?” Jason asked. “What is going on? Why did that wall appear before us?”

  Jason kept going on like that, barely giving me time to answer. He only shut up when Judah showed up with his fae, but only after Foster shoved his elbow into his gut.

  Judah introduced each of the fae to Alder, one by one, until Alder met and approved of each one. I doubted they were elevated to Friend status, but at least he wasn’t hostile toward them. Judah said something that had Alder rumbling with laughter. With that, I knew it was going to be okay. Judah would take care of him.

  Judah must have sensed my thoughts because he looked over at me and nodded. It said everything I wanted to hear. That he’d handle Alder and he’d keep him safe.

  “Come on,” I said. “Let’s head back to the hotel. I need a shower.”

  I want a bath too, Berry said.

  “Only if you promise not to get me all wet,” I said.

  No promises.

  I sighed. Berry was going to make it as difficult as possible to clean his fur out of all the blood and bits he managed to get matted into it. If he didn’t have a compulsion around him, no doubt people would be running from him screaming, and men with guns would show up thinking he was rabid and needed to be put down.

  I kept my mouth shut. Otherwise, he may release the compulsion just to see the reactions.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  All of Thursday and Friday were spent searching for Laikynn. We scoured the campus. Even checked other colleges. Judah had his men find similar setups at two other colleges in the city, and no doubt there were most likely more.

  By the time Friday evening arrived, I was exhausted and annoyed. Waylon and Jason were giving me a wide berth, not wanting me yelling at them again. Foster didn’t react or care about anything I said to him. He refused to leave me alone. He had always been like that.

  “I’m ordering food, do you want anything?” Foster asked, phone in his hand.

  I glared hard at him as an answer.

  “Right.” He turned away and mumbled into the phone.

  I kept pacing around the room, glaring at all the maps. There was something there we were missing. I could feel it in my gut.

  There was a knock on the door, and I glanced at Foster. The other two were dealing with their jobs and had left about an hour ago. They weren’t expected to be back for another hour or so.

  “Is room service that fast?” I asked.

  Foster frowned and shook his head.

  I went to the door and peeked through. Maybe one of the guys forgot something and had to come back, but forgot their key cards? I doubted that.

  The eyehole was dark, whoever was out there covered it up. A chill ran down my spine and I tried to reach out with my magic. All I sensed was a human. I glanced at Foster, my expression saying it all. He moved just out of sight, pulling out his gun, ready.

  Keeping the chain on, I opened the door and peeked out. “Yeah, how—” I cut off as shock drove through my gut.

  On the other side of the door was a young woman, almost a replica of me, except she had adopted Mom’s light brown eyes and I had adopted Dad’s. I blinked, wondering if I had fallen asleep at some point.

  No way. There was no way Addie was here. That had to be impossible.

  “Josie?” Foster asked behind me.

  Addie frowned. “Josie?” Her voice was exactly how I remembered it. Warm and soft, and everything good in the world. “Josie?” She blinked back tears and sniffed. “Is it really you? Please tell me it’s really you. I didn’t believe them when they came to see me and I tried to get away as fast as I could, but...” She took in a sharp breath. “Josie, it’s me, Addie. Your baby sister.”

  I shook my head. This couldn’t be right. This couldn’t happen.

  Tears fell down her eyes. “Do you not recognize me? I’m Madeline. I know I’m older, but I’m still me. Your baby sister.”

  “What’s going on?” Foster moved passed me. Things happened not the way I wanted as he pushed me back and opened the door.

  “Madeline,” he said, voice low, sounding distant.

  They both looked at me, Foster with concern, Addie with anxiety.

  I blinked furiously as my heart shredded apart at seeing my baby sister. “Addie,” I tried to say and had to pause. After clearing my throat, I tried again. “Addie. What are you doing here?”

  “What do you mean? Where else would I be? Why didn’t you tell me you were here? Why didn’t you contact me for so long? Do Mom and Dad know? Have you talked to them yet? I think they’re in Egypt right now, but if you call them, they’d definitely come back right away. We missed you so much.”

  She kept rambling on, stepping closer and closer. Once she was within reach, she grabbed my shirt. I could tell she wanted to hug me, to hold me close. I wanted to do the same. But I was afraid to say anything. This was too delicate. All that work I put into keeping her safe was about to crumble underneath my feet. The more questions she spilled out, the more unraveled the magic around her became.

  “Why did you leave me?” she wailed and threw herself at me.

  The magic shattered.

  Addie gasped and crumpled to the ground.

  “Addie!” I kept her in my arms, holding her close, all the memories of her crashing forward, all feeling like it was just yesterday and yet so long ago.

  “Oh my god. Oh my god.” She wailed and squeezed me hard. “I am so sorry, Josie. I’m so sorry. I should have known. Why was I so stupid? Oh my God. Josie. What have I done to you?”

  She squeezed harder, bawling her eyes out so
hard, I thought she was going to hurt herself. The sounds of her cry tore at me.

  “I remember it all. Why didn’t I remember before? What happened to you? You’re here now.” She kept rambling and crying. My shirt got soaked by her tears and I was sure her snot too. She had always been a messy crier. Addie tried to draw in a breath, but it shuddered as another bout hit her.”

  “Sh,” I said, feeling a bit numb, trying to process what was going on. I met Foster’s gaze. It was twisted in a grimace as he frowned at my sister. Guilt had weaved its way through his body, and it took me a moment to figure out why.

  Then it clicked.

  He knew.

  He fucking knew.

  My gaze hardened as fury swept through me. Only Addie in my arms kept me from doing anything about it. I was forced to swallow my rage, the only space it had was within me. And it hurt.

  It hurt so fucking much.

  I wanted to lash out. To destroy him.

  And the others? Did they know too?

  They had to.

  I squeezed Addie tighter to me and kissed the top of her head. It was foreign to me, only a distant memory, but it also felt like riding a bike as I comforted my sister like I did so many times in the past. She had always been the passionate one in the family.

  “Come on,” I said and helped her to her feet. “Let’s go sit down.”

  She took in another shuddering breath as we relocated. Berry came over, cautious as he sniffed her.

  Almost smells like you.

  “Berry, meet my sister. Addie, meet Berry.”

  She stared at him. “He’s a big dog.”

  I am not a dog!

  “Careful, sister. He’s from Faerie, so he’s more than you think. He’s my familiar.”

  “Oh.” She reached out hesitantly to pet him.

  “Be nice,” I warned him.

  I hate you for this. He let her pet him.

  She smiled, her expression radiant. It also relaxed her enough that it got her talking. I got to listen to stories about her, her relationships, our parents, other family, old friends. It was like she was giving me a report on everything I had missed over the last ten years.