by Laney Powell
“He was aged looking from when I’d seen him bring Mother to their room. There were lines I’d not seen before. And his face was hard and stern. ‘Caspian,’ he said. ‘You must end your association with this siren. She may be a siren, but she is human, and not fae. And if the Concilium is seeking her mother, it means that they have a reason to.’
“I told him,” Caspian said. “I told him that we knew the Concilium sometimes acted in a manner that served no one but themselves, and that we couldn’t condemn anyone on the basis of their actions alone. But it didn’t matter,” he leaned into me again. “He told me that if I didn’t give you up, and not only that, come back home and leave school, that he would banish me.”
This time, it was my turn to gasp.
“I asked him, Is Mother all right? He didn’t reply, only told me that I’d frightened her so badly she fell into a vision sleep, and there was no telling when she’d wake. He asked me if I’d heard her words, and I told him of course I did. Honestly, I will never forget them,” he said, and a shudder worked its way through him.
“Then he asked if that wasn’t proof enough to stay away from you and Matty and Jake and Silas. I said no, that I’d pledged myself to our bond. My father said if that was so, I had chosen my fate. That he would not support me against the Concilium, that he could not risk going against them, and because of that, I had to leave. I couldn’t stay and endanger everyone else that he was responsible for.”
The whistling of the tea kettle made me jump. Mom hurried to pull it off the stove, and I heard her getting out cups.
“What did you do?” I remembered Silas telling me, at some point, that the fae had an uneasy peace with the Concilium. I could understand Caspian’s father’s concern… but this was crossing a line, in my opinion.
Caspian looked at me then. “I packed up my bags and I left. My father wouldn’t see me again, nor would he let me see my mother.”
“Oh,” I said, wrapping my arms around him. He put his head on my shoulder, and buried his face in my neck. I looked at Mom and Dad and shook my head.
They got the message. Mom made tea for them both, and they retreated into their room, closing the door behind them.
The click of the door made Caspian look up. “I didn’t mean to send your parents away.”
“You didn’t,” I said. “I did. Why don’t we go outside?”
“Why?” Caspian asked.
“Because you do better outside,” I said.
He let me take him by the hand, and lead him through the doors to the deck. As I closed them behind me, inspiration struck. “Hey, we can sit in the greenhouse. Why don’t you go in, and I’ll be there in a minute?”
Caspian didn’t argue, but went through the greenhouse door. I pulled my phone out.
What happened? texted Matty.
Update! from Silas.
Need help? asked Jake.
Caspian is in bad shape. His parents booted him. He’s staying here tonight. Text tomorrow, I sent. Then I turned my phone off. I pulled the cushions off the sofa, and dragged them to the greenhouse.
“What are you doing?” Caspian’s voice sounded listless.
My heart ached for him. “I’m bringing in something to sit on,” I said. “I don’t want to sit on the floor. Take this, please,” I handed him one of the long cushions.
While the greenhouse was small, it was large enough for me to lay the two long couch cushions side by side. I dropped down into the middle of one. “Come sit with me,” I said.
Caspian sat down gingerly. He reminded me of the war movies I’d seen where people came back and they were out of sync with everyone around them.
I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and my legs around his waist. “Now tell me whatever you want to say,” I said. “No judgement. Just talk. You need to get this out.”
“What will I do?” he whispered. “With my father sending me out, no other fae will offer me help, shelter, nothing. It will be as if I have died.”
“Not to me,” I said. “Not to us.”
“I know,” his hand came up to curl around the back of my neck. “I am grateful.”
“I don’t want your gratitude,” I said. “We have chosen to be together. That means even when everything is crappy. I don’t cut and run,” I finished.
“No, you don’t,” he looked at me then, and I was pleased to see something other than a dead stare in his beautiful silvery eyes.
I kissed him then. I hoped he would be receptive. What he needed was to be with someone who—who loved him.
And that someone was me.
I loved him.
I felt a warmth blossom in my chest, spreading outward like the sun coming up over the horizon, its rays gradually filling the entire sky. I wanted to tell him, wanted to shout it out into the night—but he’d just been tossed out of his house because of me. This might not be the best time.
Caspian turned to me, his lips hard and demanding, holding me to him like a drowning man holds a life ring.
My hands went around his neck and into his hair. It was loose tonight, the way I loved to see it best. Well, okay, I loved it when he pulled just the top back and had the whole Legolas thing going on. I couldn’t deny it. But his hair was thick and creamy blond, and I loved the way it smelled of an herb garden. I’d woken up with his hair all around me and just laid in bed, smelling him. Given how much he’d sniffed me in the beginning, I figured it was fair that I return the gesture.
Caspian’s hands were on my face, and I scooted around so that I could settle myself into his lap. I felt his hardness, and then an answering wetness between my legs. One of his hands tangled into my hair, the other went around my waist, bringing me even closer to him.
His lips trailed down my jaw to the base of my neck. My head tilted back. I always felt very exotic when I was with him. Something about his practically ethereal beauty made me feel very dreamy.
But this was the first time that I’d been able to have alone time with any of the guys since venturing into the Mother’s cave. Even though I’d managed to calm my reactions to stimuli, in this, with a man I loved, I was hanging on to my control by my fingertips.
And then, I said, the hell with it, and let that control fall away. I loved him, and I would trust him with my everything. He was safe for me to be open with.
Immediately, I felt the shift. Every brush of his skin, his shirt, his hair, against me made me gasp with little shocks of desire.
His hands moved under my tee shirt, and pushed up my bra. Caspian had long hands, and I loved the way they cupped my breasts, squeezing them and teasing the nipples with small pinches.
“Oh, goddess,” I breathed. I looked up to see him smiling at me—the first real smile I’d seen from him in over a week.
“I love to give you pleasure,” he whispered.
“I want to give you pleasure,” I replied. “Let me, please,” I added. Pushing myself up, I stood, and slowly, keeping my eyes on him, stripped off my clothes.
“There truly is a light within you. You are glowing like the sun,” he said.
“Then I’m perfect for you,” I said as I knelt down in front of him, reaching for the button on his pants. I undid it, and pushed his jeans down.
“Why?” he asked, his voice hoarse.
“Because you’re the moon,” I said. I’d always associated him with the moon, from practically the first time I saw him.
His lips claimed mine, fierce and hungry. Between kisses, I pulled his shirt over his head, wanting to feel his skin next to mine.
Caspian stood, and kicked off his jeans. His cock was hard and I marveled at how truly lovely he was.
And he was mine. And I loved him. “Please come back to me,” I said.
“I will never leave you,” he whispered, moving as though to cover me with his body.
“No, wait,” I said.
He stilled.
“Sit back down again,” I said.
His eyes on mine, he sat. I eased back into his lap, r
ubbing myself against his cock.
Caspian groaned. I felt myself getting wetter, needing him more, but still, I moved against him slowly, teasing us both. I pushed up just a bit, and then moved slowly down over him, taking him within me.
He thrust up with his hips unexpectedly, burying himself to the hilt.
I gasped. He was so warm, and so hard, and I thought I might come right out of my skin. It was absolutely glorious.
Slowly at first, and then moving faster, we moved together, in and out, eyes locked together, experiencing every small movement, every gasp, every breath.
Caspian leaned forward to take one of my breasts into his mouth, sucking at the nipple hard. My head fell back, allowing a different angle for him to drive into me.
He cupped my butt in his hands, his fingers squeezing and creating pinpoints of a mixture of pleasure and pain, and I rocked my hips against him, wanting more. He pulled me closer, seeming to know what I wanted.
Then he began to move faster, and I thought I just might die. The sensation was so wonderful, and so overwhelming—I could feel everything—from the moment he drove into me, to the tips of his fingers on my hips, his breath coming in pants next to my shoulder, and the brush of his hair against my arm. Everything, regardless of large or small, sent me higher into a fervor of want and need for him.
“Please,” I whispered. “I need you, I need more.” Even as his slightest touch drove me wild, I wanted more. I lifted myself up so that I could drive down onto him, both of us slick with sweat. I loved the feel of his body against mine, our bodies moving together.
And then I could feel it. My release was close. I thrust my hips at him more, my rhythm becoming unsteady but I could not stop. I didn’t want to stop.
Caspian threw back his head and drove upward into me as I brought myself down on him hard, and I felt his release, hot and intense. The way that he sighed was so damn sexy that it brought me to my release, and for a moment, I couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything but cling to him as waves of pleasure slammed over me.
When it was done, I was still unable to move. My body shuddered as I let my head fall forward and rest against his, our foreheads touching.
Caspian spoke first. “I needed you.”
“I know,” I said. “I needed you.”
“When I came here, there was a hole in me. My father’s words blasted a hole within me. But now, here, with you, I think the hole can heal.”
My eyes glistened with tears, and his words made my throat ache. “It can,” I said. “And it will.”
He smiled, and kissed me, gently this time. “I love you,” he whispered against my lips.
“I love you, Caspian.”
A smile spread across his face. He kissed me again, and again, and I felt him stir within me. Before I realized it, we were rocking together, slower, less frantic this time, and when we came, it was close together, and then we were still.
Later, although how much later I had no idea, we lay together on the couch cushions. His hand stroked my hair. I knew that he loved it. He’d told me it was like a raven’s wing, both black and blue in the light, and full of mystery. His way of speaking, his use of words—I adored it.
“We should probably go in,” I said. “They haven’t come out, but I really don’t want them to get an eyeful of us like this.”
His laughter rumbled in his chest. “No, that might impair our relations. And I don’t need to impair any more than I have.”
“That’s not on you,” I said, propping myself on my elbow so I could look at him. “That was your father’s choice.”
“What if I fail?” His voice was heartbroken. ‘You have a chance. Only one. Miss that chance, and all is gone. You will be lost. They all will be lost.’ That’s what she said. What if I miss it, and all of you are lost?”
“You won’t,” I said. “Because together, we are capable of everything.” I kissed him.
As we dressed, I could see that his brow was still furrowed, a sign that he was stewing.
“Hey,” I said, “take one of these, will you?” I picked up one of the cushions, and went out onto the deck.
He followed me, and we replaced the cushions on the couch. He made to go back into the house and I stopped him. “Nothing is lost. You are in control of what you do. We will not miss our chance.”
He looked at me for what felt like a long time. “You give me hope, Olivia.”
“That’s because I love you, and you love me,” I said.
He wrapped his arms around me like he would keep out the entire world. And for that moment, he did. “I love you fiercely,” he said.
“Let’s get you some sleep,” I said. “It’s going to start getting better tomorrow.”
He looked unsure, but didn’t argue. Arm in arm, we walked back into the house. Together.
Chapter Ten
Caspian
I stretched, and rolled out of the bed. After the amazing night I’d spent at Olivia’s house, I’d gone to Silas’ the next day. I would have loved to stay with Olivia, but I knew it wasn’t wise. So did she. “They’ll catch us stark naked one day if you stay,” she said, giggling.
The idea that someone as amazing as Olivia loved me staggered me. I was so fortunate that I’d met the seer nearly two years ago, and she told me to be on the lookout for the path that would take me either to the dark or the light. At first, I’d thought that it meant a path of good or evil, but when I first met Olivia at Nobledark, I recognized that it wasn’t good or evil at all. Olivia was small, and had creamy skin, with hair like the dark blue of midnight. It was beautiful. The woman I was expected to marry, Selyria, was tall, with cool blond hair. I’d chosen the dark path, but my heart knew that it was the right one for me.
Selyria, my mother told me when I’d first come home from school, was engaged to one of my cousins. I wished them well. After meeting Olivia, even though it took me a while to decide I wanted her in my life, there was no one else for me.
I’d been here most of the summer. We’d been meeting in parks all over New York city to practice, and now, at the end of the break, we had a good framework for our team efforts. Olivia’s spell was what she called the hot water bomb. As an air elemental, I sent a rush of air that was similar to a tornado. Matty, also a water elemental like Olivia, sent a hard jet of water directly at an opponent, with the idea that if you try to drown someone, even a magical someone, if they can’t breathe, they can’t fight you. Jake, who’s element was fire, could catch anything on fire. That might not be the best defense against a demon, but against everything else, he was lethal. He was working to increase the intensity of his flame. And Silas, as the earth elemental, brought roots from the ground to wrap around the arms and hands and mouths of an enemy.
As with our first attempts in using Olivia’s spell, the spells—all of them, without fail—worked best if the other four began it and the originator of the spell stepped in last.
We had no clue as to why, but since it worked, I was of the mindset, that if it wasn’t broken, don’t fix it.
We met twice a week to practice, and then after practice, Olivia and one of us would go off together. We’d all noticed that if we didn’t spend time together, both in and out of our clothes, it was harder to concentrate, harder to keep up a positive manner.
While Olivia hadn’t seen her mom since the week I’d been banished, she spoke with her grandmother via video chat. It was her grandmother who told her that she was officially bonding with each of us, and that our bond was growing stronger.
Not seeing or hearing from Iliana was taking a toll on her. She didn’t talk about it much, but we all knew it bothered her. And that also meant that she had no idea where Violet, her sister was.
Olivia talked with her other sister, Raven, once a week as well. It might have been more, but she kept those talks to herself. Raven, like Olivia, had more than one boyfriend. Only they were out in the open at her school, at Darklight Academy, also known as the Academy of the Underworld.
&nbs
p; And now, it was nearly time to return to school. I sighed and went to go through my bags.
When I’d left my father’s house, I’d packed all that I could. About two weeks after I’d moved in with Silas, a trunk had arrived for me. I recognized my father’s hand on the address label.
He’d sent me the rest of my things. I didn’t come out of my room for a day. That was it. I was banished. I would never be welcome in the fae realm again, unless my father lifted my banishment.
“You sorting through your stuff?” Silas came into the room and leaned against the door.
“Yes,” I said. “I have written to Madame Karathos, telling her that I will be unable to stay in the traditional fae quarters.”
“That’s pretty shitty that you’re entirely cut off,” Silas said.
“It’s our way. I knew that, I’ve always know it,” I said.
“Doesn’t make it any less shitty,” he said.
Silas’ mom, Morag, had been horrified to hear what happened to me. “I fight with my kids on the daily,” she said. “I disagree with them all the time. I stomp out, irritated, and then it’s over. I would never throw them out of my house and home. Is there family you can go to?” she’d asked.
I shook my head. “Once you’re banished, you are really out.”
Her face softened. “I understand there are rules, but if you cannot work to help your people live within them, why even have a people?” Morag shook her head. “You are welcome to stay with us as long as you wish, Caspian. That includes during between terms, and any breaks.”
“I don’t wish to impose,” I said.
“You’re not,” she replied simply. And like that, it was done.
While I’d been unsure about this arrangement when it began, I knew now that being here, being able to be with Silas, and seeing Matty and Jake, and of course, Olivia—had saved me. Fae were not meant to be solitary. It’s why banishment was such a severe punishment.
“At least we’ll be able to see her every day,” Silas said.