“I wanted to,” Arthus responded honestly. Holding out his hand so I could see the gift he’d chosen for me.
It was a deep green swirling stone that had been cut into a rough triangular shape with polished edges. Threaded through the top of the stone was a long silver chain. Silver like Arthus’ eyes. Deep swirling green like Marlen’s eyes...
“Green and silver, to represent each of your suitors,” Arthus confirmed my unspoken theory and I felt myself tearing up a little. He lifted the chain over my head as I undid my scarf and pulled my curls out of the way. The chain was long, the stone sat in my cleavage and I sort of loved that I could hide it. It was too personal to share with the world.
“I love it, thank you,” I said softly, gently stroking Arthus’ face, never sure how he’d receive my touch. Arthus’ relief spilled through me and he leaned into my hand for the briefest second. My heart melted that he would let me touch him like this. I doubt many people had gotten the privilege.
I wrapped myself up in my scarf again and we grabbed Briallen and headed back through the crowd to the city walls. Arthus walked close enough to me that our hands brushed together — from him that was a huge amount of physical contact in public. We sat close to each other the whole carriage ride back to the Academy as Briallen listed all the other market towns within a few hours flight or ride that we had to visit.
For a brief moment, I felt like the normal young human woman I’d always wanted to be, hanging out with her boyfriend and best friend after a day of shopping. But the moment passed and I was glad for it. I was fae. I had two boyfriends — suitors — whatever. I had multiple friends. My life was so much richer than what I could have ever dreamed for myself.
I leaned slightly more into Arthus and smiled like a goofball as I listened to Briallen making plans for us. Blasting Kayden out the window had been the best thing I’d ever done.
◆◆◆
As I undressed that night to pull on my pajamas, Marlen’s hand shot out and he gently grabbed the pendant around my neck. I startled, not sure how he’d feel about me wearing a gift from Arthus even though Arthus had considered Marlen when he chose it.
“Um, Arthus got it for me. It has silver for him and green for you, see?” I said awkwardly, pointing them out like he couldn’t clearly see the only two colors of the pendant for himself.
I didn’t sense any jealousy from Marlen but his insecurity crawled over my skin and his sadness constricted my throat.
“Marlen?” I asked cautiously. “Does it bother you that Arthus got this for me?”
“Not at all, foxglove,” Marlen exclaimed. “I’m just a little upset I can’t do things like that for you. You deserve beautiful things like this,” he added sadly.
“Do you really think I care about things like that? I grew up with nothing,” I chastised. I gripped his chin, forcing him to look at me. “It was really lovely of Arthus to get this for me, but I don’t expect gifts from either of you. I haven’t got you anything.”
Some of Marlen’s insecurity eased. “Aderyn didn’t come shopping with you because we both send most of our stipends home to our parents,” he admitted. “Our family is one of the poorer families at the Academy, the coin really helps them…”
“You need to stop feeling bad right this instant, Marlen Ferris,” I commanded. “That is incredibly sweet and generous of the two of you to do that for your family. I wouldn’t care if you were from the poorest family in all of Avalon, your riches are soul-deep.”
I startled as an emotion I’d never felt before wrapped around my heart, spreading like fireworks to every nerve in my body. It felt warm, tingly, fluttery, light and heavy at the same time. It wasn’t like the usual affection Marlen felt for me, this was something… more.
It was probably something I should unpack… later. I wasn’t ready to analyze this sensation or what it meant for us just yet.
Marlen leaned forward to capture my lips in a deep, intoxicating kiss. I felt his hand move toward his belt and hoped this kiss was leading to even more fun places but he pulled away and I realized he’d been reaching for the dagger he kept in a scabbard that hung from his belt. I watched with fascination and a small degree of apprehension as Marlen sliced the pad of his index finger and squeezed until blood welled up.
“Um, Marlen? What are you doing?”
He gave me a cheeky smile and held the stone of my necklace in one hand, bringing his bloody finger up to it with his other hand. The blood didn’t smear over the stone like I expected it to — it seemed to absorb straight into it like the stone was sucking the blood off his skin. The pendant briefly glowed a bluish hue before returning to it’s rich, swirly green tones. It felt different now though… it felt like Marlen.
“What did you do?” I breathed.
“I don’t think it was a coincidence that of all the green crystals Arthus could have chosen, he picked malachite. It’s the best crystal to absorb healing magic. Now you have some healing magic, enough to heal a small injury or tide you over if it was something more serious. If you use it up, I can give you more. You’ll always have some of my healing gift with you now, foxglove,” Marlen said, his pride evident in his voice.
I pulled his head down into the crook of my shoulder and hugged his head tightly as his arms wrapped around my waist. I didn’t think it was a coincidence that Arthus had chosen that either and I made a mental note to figure out how best to show him my gratitude. If it involved him tying me down and having his way with me, so much the better.
Fi
We had another day off from classes and I was eager to get off campus for a few hours. I felt like I saw Saffir’s smug smile everywhere I went, and it was doing terrible things to my blood pressure. Marlen had suggested a walk to the field where the vast Avalon Fair would be held in a few days. Apparently, there were all kinds of inhabitants from every corner of the realm in attendance, and watching them set up was a great chance to people watch. Fae watch? Creature watch? Whatever.
Arthus had immediately volunteered to accompany us, and walking through the forest with my two suitors felt surreal. Marlen had my hand tucked in the crook of his arm, guiding me around logs and rocks. Arthus walked close by and told me all about the different birds and plants only found in Avalon. He was still physically keeping his distance in public, but the fact that he was here, just hanging out with us, felt like a huge step forward.
We paused to look at a for-sure-magical orange bird perched on a branch above us. It was as big as a turkey but flitted from branch to branch as if it were no bigger than a sparrow. Marlen was on my left and Arthus on my right when I felt a powerful blast of air magic, forcing the three of us apart. Before I had a chance to get back on my feet, I found myself being dragged upright, and my hands quickly bound with rope while I was heaved onto the back of a waiting griffin. We took the sky before Marlen and Arthus could reach us, both shouting my name and screaming profanities at my captors.
I was being held uncomfortably between two men, older than myself, half dangling off the side of the griffin. I tried to calm myself down enough to get a read on their emotions and was surprised to find both of them feeling determined and perhaps a little protective? Of what, me? Now that I was focusing on it, I realized the man holding onto me was being careful not to hurt me. However, his emotions held a touch of resentment that the man in front of me didn’t have.
A tugging my chest pulled my gaze behind me, where Arthus had lost his shirt and was gaining on us, his glorious fae wings on display. They spanned a couple of feet either side of them and looked like enormous butterfly wings, reaching all the way down to his knees and above his head. The edges of his wings and the veining down the middle were an inky black but the center was the same brilliant mixture of steely grey and silver as his eyes.
I turned back to ask my kidnappers who they were and found the air magicked right out of my throat before I could get the words out. Well, that was a neat and terrifying trick. Not sure I’d be asking Master Drysi about t
hat one.
We flew for what felt like hours, but I doubt the griffin could have carried three adult fae for much longer than one hour. Only when we landed did I realize I’d been here before. This was the meadow Bryn and I had arrived in via the portal. Were they going to take me back through it? Were these men responsible for hiding me in Albion in the first place?
I was helped gently off the griffin right next to the pond where the portal to Albion was. My wrists were still tied and someone’s air magic swirled at my ankles, keeping my feet suctioned to one spot on the ground. Clearly, they didn’t trust me not to run. Smart call, really.
The griffin hung back and both men stayed close to me, crowding into my space but they didn’t seem to be threatening me. I’d never been kidnapped before but I assumed the captors would have ill intentions. These two were a confusing combination of relief, sadness, resolve, and longing.
“I’m Galvyn Laisren,” said the man who had been in front of me, directing the griffin. Both men had fairer skin than me but Galvyn had the same distinctive amber eyes with gold flecks that I did…
“You once called me Father.” Well, okay. Family reunion it is.
“This is Attie Laisren. You used to call him Papa.” Attie, who had been carefully holding on to me throughout the flight, tipped his chin to me in greeting. He stared intently at my face, and I felt so much sadness bursting from him... I felt like I was drowning in it.
“Ah, okay. I’m Ffion?” I didn’t mean for it to come out as a question, but the realization that perhaps ‘Ffion’ was not the name I was born hit me mid-sentence. It was written on my arm when I was found outside the orphanage, but I have no idea who wrote it.
“We know lass, we named you. Ffion Laisren.” A hint of Galvyn’s amusement tickled behind my ears though his face gave nothing away. This guy would give Bryn a run for his money in the blank expression department.
“Your mother wrote your name on your arm when she transported you to Albion.” There was no amusement from Attie, just a tinge of bitter resentment on top of his despair.
For the second time today, I was hit with a large gust of air magic. Galvyn and Attie went flying in opposite directions, landing sprawled out along the grass. I stumbled back as the air magic released around my ankles, but strong arms immediately circled my waist, pulling me into a hard chest.
I inhaled Arthus’ fresh, icy scent as if I were taking my last breaths. Galvyn and Attie didn’t seem like they were planning on hurting me, but they definitely felt determined to get me out of here. Arthus’ wings curved around us in a protective embrace, the tips of them trailing lightly over the fabric of my shirt. It made me shiver. He immediately reached his arms around me to untie the rope on my wrists, throwing it to the ground in disgust.
“Can’t say I think much of your choice of suitor, daughter,” Galvyn grumbled, brushing debris off his clothes as he stood. “I would have never been so disrespectful when I met your grandfather.”
Fortunately, Arthus had the presence of mind to respond. I was speechless at his casual use of the word ‘daughter’ and the mention of a grandfather I didn’t know I had.
“Yes, well, I imagine you didn’t meet him right after he’d kidnapped your girl,” Arthus drawled, unperturbed. His bored tone didn’t reflect the white-hot fury he was experiencing. It was coursing through my veins and making it hard for me to look at the situation objectively.
I rubbed my temples and tried to clear my head. Gods, all I wanted was a walk off-campus with my two suitors. This whole afternoon had really gone to shit.
My dads had made their way back to each other’s side, standing with arms crossed and identical scowls.
“Give me a minute,” I said to them, holding a finger up. I turned in Arthus’ arms, acutely aware that this was our first cuddle and it was happening in front of my two pissed off fathers, right after they’d kidnapped me.
“Arthus,” I crooned in my most soothing voice, standing on tiptoes so I could speak into his ear and balancing my hands against his chest. The small amount of contact seemed to break him out of the haze of anger he was in, at least a little. He looked away from my fathers down to my face, seemingly scanning for any sign of injury.
“I’m okay,” I whispered. “I want to hear what they have to say. Please, Arthus. I need you to calm down for me, I can’t focus when you’re this angry.”
His demeanor immediately changed, his shame prickling down my spine. I could it bothered Arthus when he lost control, he had been so upset with himself when he stormed out of my cabin a few days ago. Now the rage had cleared, I took a deep breath and leaned forward to give him a quick, reassuring peck on the lips. I never wanted him to feel ashamed of his emotions.
“Thank you,” I murmured against his lips, turning in his arms to face my dads again.
“Attie, Galvyn, this is Arthus. One of my suitors. Arthus, these are my fathers, apparently. Attie and Galvyn Laisren. I’m hoping they were just about to tell me why they’ve brought me to the portal.”
“To return you to Albion, of course,” Galvyn scoffed.
“Fi isn’t going anywhere,” Arthus growled, the rumbling from his chest traveling through my back where I was still held tight against him. I felt the distinct tug of two more mating pulls in my chest, growing closer.
“Would you prefer her dead in Avalon or alive in Albion?” Attie snapped.
“I’ve spent 17 years watching over her in Albion, glamouring her, keeping her safe. She was never supposed to come back here,” Galvyn gritted out.
She was standing right here, feeling increasingly irritated. Men.
“Ah, it was you then,” Bryn said, strolling out from a copse of trees at the edge of the meadow next to an uncharacteristically pissed off Marlen. How the hell had they got here? “You’re the illusionist. That’s how she had such a strong glamour and why I couldn’t track the magic on the wardrobe.”
My heart dropped at the now obvious realization that Bryn had nothing to do with those messages.
“How were you getting on campus?” Marlen asked conversationally, his body language tense. It was strange feeling Marlen’s fear chilling the blood in my veins while Bryn’s anger cut through it like lava. It didn’t feel as agonizing as it could though, they were trying to keep their emotions in check for me.
Bryn and Marlen and circled around us so they were standing either side of me. It was quite the show of unity.
“Three suitors, daughter?” I registered Bryn and Marlen’s surprise at that last word, they must not have overheard that revelation.
“Two,” I rasped awkwardly and Bryn’s irritation chafed uncomfortably against my skin. What was he expecting me to say? He was literally courting someone else. There was a beat of silence and I could have sworn he muttered “for now” under his breath.
“How were you getting on campus?” Marlen asked again, irritation seeping into his tone.
“We weren’t. Your roommate planted the messages for us,” Attie replied.
“Kelvyn?” Marlen confirms, surprising spiking in all three guys.
“Nothing personal. We know his parents, knew he was at the Academy. He did it for the coin,” Galvyn said with a shrug.
It all made total sense now, in hindsight. The messages on the wardrobe and the grass had both been burned in, Kelvyn had a fire affinity. He’d be able to track my whereabouts easily by following Marlen. And he’d been creepy as all get out when we met, assessing me like I was a project. Or a job. Which I guess I was.
“You gave him a cloaking amulet,” Bryn guessed.
“I have an illusion gift,” Galvyn confirmed. “Though not a powerful one. I mated with your mother for love, not for magic. My abilities never grew because her magic wasn’t strong enough to balance them.”
My mother? Parents that loved each other? I blinked back the tears that burned behind my eyes. This was really not the time for me to lose it. As if they could sense my distress, Marlen and Bryn moved in closer at my sides and Arth
us’ arms tightened around my waist. I drew strength from their support, allowing myself a moment to indulge in the comfort they were offering me.
“Is she here…?” I asked hesitantly, dreading the answer when Galvyn and Attie’s combined heartbreak clawed agonizingly at my chest.
“Your mother, Rhedyn, took you to Albion to hide you. She wanted to keep you away from Avalon and those who would capture you for your abilities. Those same people killed her for her taking you to safety. You can’t be here, Ffion. We’re taking you back.”
* * *
Thank you
Thank you, reader! The Terrible Gift is my first book and has been a labor of love. I have really enjoyed writing it and I hope you have enjoyed reading it.
I would also like to thank my wonderful husband. Without him, this book would have never happened.
Fi's story isn't quite done yet, watch this space...
Colette x
BOOK 2: THE UNWANTED CHALLENGE
Coming soon...
The Terrible Gift (Empath Found Book 1) Page 20
