Facets of Feyrie Box Set, page 61
part #1 of Facets of Feyrie Series
“Where are your clothes?”
“The armor tore most of them, the rest I’m not entirely sure. Once I started fighting, I kind of hyper-focused.” Finally, giving in to the creature that wants to assure itself she is safe, I step forward and pull her into my arms. For several seconds she stands there, stiff, but then melts into me, wrapping her arms around my waist and tucking her head under my chin.
“You stink.” I say into her smelly hair, then ask, “How did you acquire transportation?”
“I had a return ticket for the bus. I told them I had slaughtered dozens of vampires and needed to get home to my angry boyfriend,” she leans back and smiles up at me, “I’m not sure they believed me because they let me on the bus after the driver laughed so hard he about wet himself. They thought I was playing some sort of prank.” She sighs and continues, “I will tell you that the lady I sat next to didn’t appreciate my fragrance. She sprayed awful perfume in the air every ten minutes. It was a long ride.”
“You should have waited for me.” I don’t want to word it in a way that will make me come off as her master, because that’s something I’ll never be, but I want her to understand the chance she took going alone. There’s also the fact that it pissed me off.
“Probably, but I survived, so don’t worry about it.”
“Did you find out anything useful?”
“Well, I found the vampire, but she ran away like a fucking coward. There were so many of her lackeys that I couldn’t bust through to get to her. I did manage to rescue the prince twit though, so he should be coming along soon. He had to go fetch his daughter in his pink sweatpants.” Her face lights up, and she steps back, out of my embrace. “I found him tied upside down, naked, in a hotel chair. Then when he started running his yap, I considered leaving him, but these stupid Magiks wouldn’t let me.”
“He sounds like a winner.” She laughs at my sarcasm and then turns and walks away. I know where she’s going, the bathing pools are a beacon in her mind. She can’t stand the smell of herself anymore. Several minutes pass, while I wait for her to slide into the hot water. My mind conjures images of her lathering soap over her pale skin as the water runs red around her. Then as she stands to rinse and wash a second time I’m walking before I complete the thought, and when I get there, I’m not disappointed. She’s the most stunning creation in existence. Standing, the water sleuthing off her muscular body, her hands run slowly up and down her sides, then her stomach and my eyes follow them like a starving man.
“I’m going to tell them tonight that I’m sending the Sidhe and everyone in it, away.” The seriousness of her voice pulls me out of the more lascivious thoughts I’m having about her. If I pursue them, while she’s having such a highly emotional moment, it’ll make her angry with me.
I need to stop letting my baser instincts control me around her. It makes me no better than Jameson.
“Most of them won’t react well.” Mainly her circle of children.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s happening whether they like it or not.” I want to argue with her again, I want to beat it into her thick head that she’s putting herself in danger, but I don’t. It’s a pointless argument and will only put us on the outs again. We need to be a unit, not divided by this kind of stupid shit.
“You still don’t agree, do you?” she asks quietly.
“No, but I don’t think that will stop you.” She shrugs and starts to wash again. Iza is straightforward about some things when her mind is made up, and there’s no changing it.
I study her a moment, her sweet scent pulling on me, all of me. As the water touches my bare feet, then climbs farther up my calves, I move closer to her. Her breath hitches, and her heartbeat increases, her pheromones filter into the air. This will ease her heat; it’s what her body is demanding what mine is demanding.
Her smile, slow, and full of fire is all the invitation I need.
Chapter Ten
After our bath, that left her much calmer and her heat temporarily sated, she calls everyone into the dining area of the Sidhe. A hum of tension projects from the Sidhe and fills the air. Boomeranging into the inhabitants and returning in full. It’s so thick that if I wanted to, I could reach out and cut it with my claws. They know something terrible is coming, something I still can’t agree with her on.
The research I left to do wasn’t as helpful as I hoped. No matter how far back I went in the history books, spell books, even storybooks, I found no answers. The Sidhe is too unknown by everyone. It wasn’t created by any of the ‘gods’ because it existed before they did. When my ‘awakening’ happened, there were already other lifeforms existing in many, many worlds. The Sidhe was one of them. Floating around, from place to place, looking for its anchor.
Back then, I didn’t have thoughts in the way I do now. Everything was instinctive and borderline preprogrammed. There were intentions but not actual words to go with them. One thing I knew then that I still believe now was that there was something before Life and me, and Light. Before the three of us were. The Sidhe also came from that unknown entity. The Sidhe was already old when I was still young, but different from it is now. Whatever that may be.
It simply is.
There’s nothing other than vague references and useless folklore about it or what made it. I dislike being uninformed, but this time there’s no choice. The information doesn’t exist to find. We have a small chance that she won’t suffer any ill effects, but I’m not holding out for that. Things are never that simple in our lives. There are endless complications and plans going wrong at every corner we turn. Fate is against us, and that is a fact.
One day I’ll hunt down those old bitches that meddle in fate and eat them.
The room falls silent as Iza straightens from where she leans against the wall, moving to stand in front of the confused mass of people. Slowly, she looks around at the faces of those gathered, keeping her own carefully blank. I see the truth of it; those sparkling eyes of hers are brimming with emotion. Her thoughts are dark and angry, and even a little sad. She hates this but truly feels like it’s the best way to protect them.
“Two Feyrie have died senseless deaths, deaths that I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t fight what killed them, because I’m failing as your Shepherd. I don’t know who our enemy is. I don’t know if I can defend you against them. The only thing I do know is that there are only a few things I can do to delay—to hide you from them. Tomorrow morning, I’m sending the Sidhe and all of its occupants away.”
The room erupts in noise and shouts, several louder than others. Knox, among them. He’s standing now, in the front, yelling at Iza for all he’s worth. Her shoulders stiffen, but she doesn’t look directly at him. If she looks at him, she’ll give in to the guilt that’s threatening to overwhelm her. It’ll eat her up, make her doubt herself—cause her pain.
“Enough!” My shout instantly silences the room. In a more normal voice, I continue, “It doesn’t matter if you agree with her decision, because it’s her decision to make. So shut up and allow her to explain what will happen next.”
Iza doesn’t hesitate, and she jumps right in. “You’ll all be leaving in the morning. Once the danger has passed, then I either join you where you are or recall the Sidhe here. It will be up to the circumstances at the time.” Other than the ones she’s leaving to be safely separated from the others. Unfortunately, her Knox is among them.
“I hate you!” Knox yells and runs from the room. Pain flashes in her eyes but is quickly hidden.
“Don’t try to leave me because I’ll follow you wherever you go,” Michael says, sounding much more mature than he did when she first found him. He too then turns and leaves the room. Ruthie looks at Iza with bright eyes and then follows suit without saying a word.
“My lady, we cannot allow you to go on this journey alone, it is our—”
“Auryn, I appreciate it, I do, but that little bundle in your arms is way more important than I am, and I need you to keep them all safe. You and Licar will be doing something super important for me.” Her eyes steadily hold Auryn’s who after a few seconds, nods.
“Take Adriem, at least,” I say quietly into the room. If I told her through our minds, she’ll ignore me. This way calls her out, and the dirty look she shoots at me lets me know she’s aware of it.
I know she wants to argue, and even if I couldn’t read her mind, the intent clearly on her face. Her quick agreement makes me instantly suspicious. Her mind was full of arguments before I found myself blocked off from some by that obnoxious blue wall of singing creatures. It makes me want to hunt down whoever created them and rip their fingers off one at a time.
‘Temper. Temper, Phobe,’ she teases, instantly calming my brewing irritation.
‘Why do you insist on always hiding things from me? It fucking annoys me.’
Of course, she doesn't reply, instead of continuing to answer the questions of the Feyrie. Most revolve around their welfare, something I find unsurprising. They aren’t thinking about the sacrifices she’s making, they’re thinking of the ones they need to make. Something they’ve not had to make since they came here.
The silent ones are concerned for Iza, worried about what she’s taking upon herself. These are the people she’s genuinely doing this for, putting herself in danger—hurting herself, it’s all for them. As I skim their thoughts, they’re centered on how they’re going to sneak and help her anyhow. Some are planning on gathering others to provide support in any way they can while still seeming to obey her commands because they’re loyal.
Subconsciously, her gaze skims over some of those silent people, and I watch the resolve harden in her eyes. Yes, these are the people she does this for. The ones she gets stupidly emotional for. That’s why I hold my silence. I can’t fault her for having honor. It’s not something I possess in any measured amount, but it means a lot to her, and I’ll respect her beliefs.
This time.
“For those of you that think you’re going to ignore my orders and remain, your loyalty is appreciated, but I can’t allow it. The Sidhe will make sure you go.” Her words start up a clamor of denials and arguments.
“Does this mean you’re going to leave Jameson to rot because you selfishly want to run away?” The voice cuts through the murmur of voices like a knife. Iza’s head snaps up and focuses with steady ire on the tall form of Nika.
Why is that dragon so determined to piss her off? I try to skim her thoughts and find nothing but anger over the lack of Jameson’s presence. Nika is a rather shallow creature who, for the most part, is good and capable of great compassion. There are times when her thoughts are full of nothing but her desires, ones that Jameson doesn’t share for the woman. Her passions are unhealthy and moments like this demonstrate it. She doesn't love the imp. She obsesses over him.
And it’s not just about being a dragon.
“I don’t see you out there hunting for him, lizard.” Iza’s eyes flash black and then back to her regular undulating purple. Nika wisely keeps her tongue in both circumstances. “Now, I suggest everyone severs any connections to the town in preparation for leaving.” With that, she turns and leaves the room. Every head in the place turns to watch her leave and then turns to look at me.
I shrug and follow her. They want an explanation that I will not give them. My version is not one they’ll like.
* * *
I’m not surprised about her destination. Without pause, she travels to the exact spot where the dragon died. Snow has fallen again and covers most of the evidence of destruction, but you can see the bones of it poking out through the mostly undisturbed white powder. There are only a single set of faint tracks circling the area, her tracks. Why is she allowing her unnecessary guilt to draw her back to this place?
“You’re arrogant to believe this is your fault,” I say into the silent snowfall.
Without turning, she says, “Maybe, but that doesn’t change anything. He still died because of whoever is chasing me.”
“Iza, whoever is chasing you is directly related to all of them. If you want to cast blame, lay it at the feet of the one who murdered him. Not at the feet of the one who tried to save him.”
She turns to me. “You sound like you mean that.”
“Trivial words aren’t something I bother with.” Leaning against a tree, I watch her walk around the clearing, squatting near the place that Rido met his end. “Your plan has a mile wide flaw in it.” The wall of annoyances has fallen, and I see bits and pieces of the scheme she’s cooked up in her head, one that will fail.
“Every plan has flaws, they’re useless when it comes down to it, but it isn’t the plan that matters—it’s the planning.” Tossing a piece of branch onto the ground she says, “You know there was a time that I dreamed of something as simple as getting married and having a dozen kids.”
I have no idea what makes me ask, “Do you still wish for those things?”
“I’ll admit I’ve daydreamed a time or two of a wedding with a certain monster,” she says. She’s trying to hide the fact that she more than dreamed of it, Iza has planned the entire thing out.
Her thoughts unfold for me like a colorful painting of white dresses and bright purple flowers. This is something she uses to keep her heart happy when the world is pressing down on her.
This is something that I can truly give her.
“Give me a few moments, please. They’re too loud in my head.” She suddenly stands, and after giving me a long look, takes off into the darkness. My muscles automatically tense to follow her, but I stop myself. She wants time alone, and she’ll have it. I know something new that I had no idea about it, and it leaves me with much to think on.
Turning, I walk back to the Sidhe, taking my time with it. I can hear the voices of those outside, gathered in wait for Iza. Perhaps this is why she needed time to herself, to gain her composure. She pulls off the social interactions, but I know it costs her. Iza was isolated most of her life, and she’s no better in most social situations than I am. Her fake persona only goes so far.
At the lead are her three children, Ruthie, Michael, and Knox. Knox’s mind is unavailable to me, but he’s standing silent, wringing his hands nervously. His green eyes are steady on the path in front of him, sad and still wet from tears. The immeasurable love he has for Iza is shining like a beacon in them. I’m not surprised that the anger he reacted with was short-lived, and now he wants to be reassured by the woman he looks at as a family.
Ruthie is mostly thinking about Michael. The looks she’s casting at Iza aren’t the friendliest, but her thoughts don’t mirror them. All I can glean is that she’s staying because he’s staying. None of her thoughts are about Iza’s welfare or what’s in the near future. She isn’t even concerned about her safety. That’s odd but not too out of character for the emotional teen.
Michael is nervous and worried, wondering how he’ll follow if Iza leaves without him. The kid genuinely cares about what happens to the woman he looks at as an older sister. His love is much stronger than his anger, to him she’s his family, and he refuses to lose another one. Michael will grow to be a strong man one day soon.
As I skim the other’s thoughts, finding a broad variance to them, I keep my gaze on Knox. Is that what it is like to have a child of your own? One minute they hate you and the next they love you so much that it can move anything with the strength of it? Is this why she aches for the loss of one? I’m not sure that this is something I’ll ever understand, but it’s why I will one day find those responsible. That scar on her soul is more than enough encouragement.
It’s not something I need to share with her when I do, because, in her way, she’s made peace with it. Upsetting the precarious balance inside of her isn’t something I’m willing to do, but I have no issues making them pay what’s due in her place.
Moving off the darker thoughts, I end up studying Ruthie again, who, for the most part, has been rather silent about everything. Skimming over the thoughts about Michael, I push a little deeper and strike gold. She’s pissed off that Iza is keeping him from going with her and the rest of the Sidhe. Her anger at Iza is deep-seated and hidden by the shallower thoughts of a typical teenage girl.
Something inside of her has changed concerning Iza. Pushing to go even deeper, I stop when she looks around in confusion, very perceptive of her. She’s furious with Iza for leaving, for causing this issue between her and Michael. A fight they had that isn’t Iza’s fault.
They had their first lover’s quarrel. She also mad that Iza is leaving this place and making her lose her home again. A perfectly acceptable reason to be upset for a child that’s had everything taken from her. From the memories I possess, I know that a lot of teenage girls are highly unstable in their behavior; it’s considered normal behavior for them. In Ruthie’s eyes, everything will be Iza’s fault. Until eventually she’ll realize how big of a shit she’s being and they’ll bond once again.
It’s unfortunately not as easily remedied as Knox’s issues. Since I can’t go deeper into her mind without causing her harm, only time will tell. She goes on the list of suspects. The fact that she feels so much anger at Iza seems misplaced in the scheme of things. I can understand some anger, Iza is sending them away—or trying to—and it can potentially cause a rift between Michael and Ruthie. Then again, females are incredibly complicated when it comes to their thoughts and emotions, so the logic I’m using could end up being completely useless as Iza teaches me again and again.
There are no Magiks around her, no taint of something that I can see. That is enough to temporarily satisfy my suspicions, but she will stay on that list, as a precaution mostly.
When Iza enters the clearing, it feels like feathers tickling across my skin. My awareness of her has quadrupled over the years, and now I can’t deny that I… like that feeling. Dipping into her mind, I discover she’s not overwhelmed any longer. There are tinges of sadness swirling inside the churning mass made up of her conviction and stubbornness to continue down her path. One can’t help but admire her tenacity, even if she’s doing something stupid.
