Once inside, I place the napkin on my dresser as I pull out my pajamas. This has been a long day, physically and mentally. I’m glad that we got a few things figured out. Though, I am still clueless on where to find this witch or why she took my father.
Starting the water in the tub, making it as hot as I can stand. I undress as the water level rises, swiftly going back to my bedside table to retrieve my book before returning to the bathroom. Turning off the water flow, I climb in and relax.
Closing my eyes and resting my head on the edge of the tub, I work on just clearing my mind. So much has happened in a such a short amount of time, I haven’t had the chance to reflect on it at all. I just want to clear my thoughts, I want to enjoy my book, and have a moment of normalcy.
I grab my book from the little stand next to the tub, and admire the cover. A chiseled male chest with a tattoo and beautiful purple hues. I open the book and dive in.
Lost in the words I am reading, I let everything slip away until I hear a cough. I look up from my book, and there is Anton, staring at me.
Shit, I’m naked.
I hand him my book. “Please place a bookmark for me here. I’m going to hop in the shower, as this bath water has gotten cold.”
I go to stand, and he doesn’t move, a wicked grin creasing his face.
“What Anton? Are you just gonna stare, or can you please exit the bathroom, so I can shower?”
“As much as I’d like to stare, I will leave. We have to discuss the interesting chat with Jaime.”
“Oh, really? Not talking about me, I hope.”
Anton turns, and I can see his whole body shake as he laughs.
I summon a water ball and ping him right in the back of the head. That stops his laughing. Turning, he looks at me wide-eyed.
“That is for laughing at me.” I stand and exit the tub, pulling the chain to let it drain. Ignoring Anton, I walk naked and confidently to the shower.
Once showered, I wipe the fog off of the mirror, I can see the effects of training are starting to show. I can almost see abs, and my arms and legs are more toned. I guess I should’ve worked out more before now. Sighing, I pull on my pajamas and head to my big, old comfy bed.
Anton is waiting for me, shirtless and in my spot, asleep. I can hear his light snores, and I take a moment to admire how beautiful he really is. Climbing in next to him, he wakes as I settle in and get comfortable.
Rolling to face me, a smile fills his handsome face. “So, Jaime had some interesting news.”
“Oh, yeah,” I huff.
“What? I was just a little surprised.”
“What did she tell you?”
“You know . . .,” his voice trails off.
“Oh? Is my hybrid getting shy now?”
Clearing his throat. “No, she said you were a virgin.”
There he said it, it’s out in the open.
“I didn’t realize that it made a difference. If you wondered, you could’ve asked.” I shrugged.
“It doesn’t matter to me, it just made me realize we have more to learn about each other.”
“Yes, it's been a whirlwind. Maybe once we stop Deezy and his witch and rescue my father, we will have more time to get to know each other. I’m just glad I didn’t lose you. I don’t want to think about what would’ve happened if you didn’t come back to me. So, the million dollar question. Are you a virgin as well?”
I can see a little blush in his cheeks, it’s almost sweet to see him a little embarrassed.
It also makes me wonder if it’s because he is or because he isn’t a virgin.
Finally, he lets a out a breath and replies, “I am.”
I play slap him on the chest, “Was that so hard?”
“A little bit, it’s not something I advertise.”
“What? It’s me! If you can’t tell me, who can you tell?”
“You’re right, I’m sorry.” He kisses me on the nose and rolls onto his back.
I guess he’s done talking. It doesn’t take long for me to fall asleep, curled into his arm, against his chest and with the rhythm of his light snores sounding in my ears, relaxing my body into his.
I am awoken by loud snoring in my ear, and a warm body pressed against me. Anton’s spot is empty, and I’m a little disappointed. As if on cue, Kalli enters my room.
“Yes, mother, I'm awake.” I joke.
I struggle to get Callum’s weight off of me. Free at last, I pop out of bed. Kalli has my clothes for the day ready and helps me dress.
“What’s on the agenda for the day?”
“Another busy day of training and meetings.” Kalli says.
“Yay, sounds like fun,” I say with a sarcastic tone.
Breakfast is dull, the council members have joined us. They are talking about trivial things like the crops and the weather. I can’t believe they are acting like nothing is wrong. We have more important things to talk about, rescuing my father, stopping that dumb witch, and the creepers.
Clearing my throat, they all stop their talking and look at me.
“Could we possibly talk about more pressing matters? We don’t know where the witch has taken my father, or how to stop Deezy and his creepers. Do you have any leads? Any sightings? Anything? I can’t just sit here and talk about the weather with my father missing and Deezy and the witch on the loose.”
Callum enters the dining hall as if on cue.
“I know a voodoo priestess, we can go back to my pack and see if she’s still around? She was always mixing potions, and she was handy with medicines. May be worth it to check out and see if she could help us.”
As he takes a seat next to me, I slap his muscular thigh.
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“What? I just remembered,” he says with big puppy dog eyes.
“We will leave right after breakfast, we need to see if she’s survived. She may be our only hope.”
I am out of my seat and headed to my room. A list of things to pack, things I need, clothes to pack. Lost in my head, I don’t notice Evans enter, until he speaks up.
“Liauna, where do you think you’re going?”
He wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me to him. He kisses my neck, sending sparks through my body.
“As good as that feels, I really must pack, Callum and I are going to see this voodoo priestess he knew when he was in the pack. She may be a lead on how to stop this witch, and, hopefully, she can do a tracking spell to find my father. It’s a long shot, but I have to try.”
“Where you go, I go,” he replies simply.
Twisting in his arms, I face him, “Oh, you think so, huh? Well, you’d better pack and make sure the guards are ready to defend our people.”
Letting go, he replies, “It will be done.”
As he heads to the door, I reply, “I can get use to being in charge. No one questions my orders.”
I hear him laugh as he closes the door. After fifteen minutes my bags are packed and I’m changed into my camo tank and jeans. I’m ready for this run, instead of supplies, its for a person.
Once I arrive at the front doors, I’m greeted by my three guys, bags on their backs. Kalli and Zach as well as the council are also there to bid us farewell. I will teleport us as close to the pack’s camp as I can. Callum showed me on a map, I pray that my teleporting abilities will allow me to use that as a guide on where I need to land.
“Callum, you’re first up, ready?” I bat my lashes at him.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He smiles.
Walking up to him, I wrap my arms around him and wait till he does the same. I take a deep breath, close my eyes. I picture the spot on the map. Just before we teleport, Callum leans in and whispers in my ear, “I trust you completely.”
It is just the boost I need. Opening my eyes again, we are back in the mortal realm. This place doesn’t look familiar to me, I look at Callum, and he gives me a small nod. We walk into the first decent-looking store we can find, and clear it of a
ny creepers. I kiss Callum on the cheek and head back for Anton and Evans.
Chapter Five
Once all four of us are together again, Callum takes the lead. We check all cars we pass for keys or a full tank, after a few miles we are in luck. I find a pickup truck, keys in the ignition and the gas gauge all the way on F.
Callum slides in the driver’s seat, I hop in the middle to be near Callum. Evans and Anton jump in the back, that way if trouble pops up they can jump out and cut them down.
We drive out of town, heading into the middle of nowhere. Callum seems confident in the route we are on, it would be a beautiful day if it wasn’t all dead. It is barren just like at home, the trees are just barely clinging to life. Soil is all that is where the grass use to be. Houses are few and far between, they are thinning the longer we drive.
“So, how much longer until we make it to the pack’s camp?” I ask hopefully.
“Just a few minutes. I hope some of them survived, I shouldn’t have left them. I should’ve stayed and protected them.”
Placing my hand on his, I say, “You had just taken care of your family. You can’t blame yourself, they wouldn’t have let you leave if they needed you. I just wish that Jaime had that elixir ready, so we could’ve brought some to the survivors.”
Driving the rest of the way in silence, it’s not long until I see a wooden fence stretching at least a mile long. The sight of it gives me hope that there are people protected behind those fences. It also brings back memories of home and our struggle to get the fences in place.
“Dad, help me, I can’t lift this by myself,” I call.
The weight of the panel was more than I could lift, I was struggling to keep up. I hated feeling weak, but I wasn’t too stubborn to ask for help. My struggle lessens as I see Kyle on the other side, shouldering the weight. He gives me one of his famous smiles as we set the panel and get it secured into place.
I move onto the next without a second thought, Kyle helps again. Before I move on to the next one, he grabs my arm to stop me.
“Liauna, I told you to leave this work to the men. You don’t have to overwork yourself. There are enough men that we are capable of finishing this.”
“Kyle, I know I’m not the strongest one here, but I will pitch in where I’m needed. Woman or not, this is for all of us. I will do what I want.”
That was the moment I knew it was over with Kyle. I know he wasn’t meaning it the way the words came out, but I had made up my mind to help, and damn it, I would do just that.
It took two days to complete the perimeter. The last thing installed was the front gates, Once they were up, I felt a little safer knowing that a random creeper wouldn’t be walking the street with us unaware.
Callum’s voice brings me back to reality.
“Liauna, we’re here. I’m going to park the truck and walk to the gate. I don’t know what it’s been like since I left, I would feel better if I talked to them before I introduce you.”
“Fine, but take Anton or Evans with you. I don’t want you going alone.”
The pout on his face is adorable, but won’t sway me.
“As cute as you are, that pout will not change my mind. I almost lost Anton, I will not have that happen to you. Your choice, my asshole Fae or my hunky hybrid.”
“Cute nicknames, what’s mine?” he asks playfully.
“Come back to me unharmed, and I might tell you.” I wink.
Huffing, he exits the driver’s side, slamming the door behind him. So much for a quiet entrance. The passenger door creaks as Anton slides in next to me, looking out the front window I see Evans jogging to catch up with Callum.
“Evans and I agreed that a Fae was the better choice to meet the shifters then a vamp hybrid. Some shifters don’t take kindly to my kind.” He shrugs, smiling weakly.
“Well if they judge you for what you are and not who you are, it’s their loss. You are a wonderful half-bloodsucker,” I joke.
“Oh, is that an invitation?” He grins with a little fang showing.
“Maybe, but now is not the time, we need to see if this voodoo priestess is still around. A distraction would be nice, but I need to stay focused. I hope you understand?”
“Of course, my Princess, save the world first, so we can be together after. I will wait until that day, happily fighting by your side.”
“I’m grateful to have you by my side. I was so scared that I lost you. It felt like a part of my heart died with you. I didn’t know how I was to go on without you in this world. Yes, I have Callum and Evans, but it tore at my heart to watch you die.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that, I’m thankful that your tears healed me, so I could get more time with you,” he replies, cupping my face with his hands.
Pulling me in, he greedily kisses me, I return pulling him even closer. We jump apart as we hear a knock on the window. Callum has a wide grin on his face, and Evans is laughing.
Anton unlocks the passenger door, exiting and holding a hand out for me as I slide towards him.
“Shut it, you two are just jealous that I got a moment alone with Anton.”
“Well, you’re not wrong.” Evans replies.
“Hell, I am jealous, I never get a moment with Anton alone,” Callum laughs. “All joking aside, she is still here and has agreed to meet with us. Let’s not keep her waiting.”
“Oh, before we go, Kalli gave me your rings, will you wear them?” I ask as I slip on mine. “I think it will help show we are a united front. Plus, I don’t want any of these shifters trying steal any of you.” I wink.
They all slide the rings on their finger and a smile crosses my face. I start walking towards the gates as the three of them trail after me. Most of the trees are inside the gates, the rest of the land looks sad and lonely. Brown is running rampant in the terrain, not much greenery is anywhere to be seen. The leaves are losing their color, rot and decay can be seen even from in the distance.
I slow my pace, seeing the gate is lined with shifters. All eyes are on my guys and me as we approach. They even sent out a welcome party; three handsome and buff shifters in jeans and white tanks stand guarding the entrance.
Callum and Evans take a few steps in front of me, for my protection. Can’t be too careful these days, Anton is still trailing a few steps behind.
As we near the gates, the guards come to intercept us.
“Sorry, no weapons are allowed on the packs lands,” The tallest one says.
I take a few steps towards them, “I am Princess Liauna of the Western Fae. We are here to talk to the Priestess, we mean no harm, but we will not give over our swords. They will stay on our belts, unless there is a creeper attack, these would never be used to harm you or your people. As you can see, Callum wears my ring. He is my soulmate, I hope you will believe my word that we came here as friends.”
The middle guards steps aside, “Welcome, Princess Liauna. It is a pleasure and an honor to have you visit our camp. You all will be treated with the same respect as any of our guests. As long as your weapons are attached to your belts we will have no issues. ”
“Thank you, I am honored to be here, as are my companions.”
The gate is closed behind us, and a beautiful woman walks up to greet us. Her long black hair sways with her every move, and she has great cheekbones and amber eyes that almost match Callum’s. She is simply dressed in a black tank top and jeans. A smile crosses her face as Callum comes into view, rushing over to hug him. Jealousy washes over me as I watch the exchange until I hear one word, ‘cousin,’ then I feel like an idiot.
Breaking apart from their hug, Callum grins and turns towards me.
“Liauna, I want you to meet my cousin, Jaylin. Jaylin, this is my soulmate, Liauna.”
She smiles at me, “Thank you for bringing my cousin here safe. I’m glad to see that he didn’t fall to the same fate as my aunt and cousins.”
“Thank you for having us, this is Evans and Anton, my other two soulmates.” I add.
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br /> The look of shock only lasts a moment on her face.
“Yes, it was quite a shock to us as well, we are still figuring this all out. We have come to see your Priestess, we need her help.”
“She has been ill for a while, I will take you to her tent. I will see if she’s up for visitors, I’m sorry that is the best I can do.”
“No problem, that’s all we can ask. Thank you.”
Jaylin leads us through their makeshift village, some have houses, while others are in tents. The pack peeks out the tent doors and peers through the windows. Some of them are children, once they see me wave, they vanish back inside.
“How have things been?” Callum asks Jaylin.
“It was rough at first, we didn’t realize that a bite or scratch would spread the virus. We got the panels up fast enough, but people were turning behind our walls. Then we figured it out, from then on anyone that left the safety of the walls were to be inspected on return. If they refused they were banished. It was a hard thing to do, but we had to protect ourselves and the kids.”
She stops and holds up a hand, “Wait a moment, let me check on her.”
We wait as she disappears inside the tent, after five minutes she exits with a frown.
“She will see you, but not until tomorrow, she asks you to stay the night and visit her first thing in the morning.”
“As she wishes, we will head back to the town. We will find a place to rest. We will not overstay our welcome,” I tell Jaylin.
“Oh no, it is too late in the day to travel, the sun will be down soon. We have a spare tent you are welcome to. You will have to put it up and please take it down in the morning.”
“Of course, cousin, I will make sure the land is just as it was when we leave. Please show me where it is and where you want me to set it up. Evans, come with me, please?” Callum says.
Redemption of the Fae Page 3