Sleeper (Rise of the Fianna Book 1)

by Amy Brock McNew

  “Kenna, look at me.” She met his steady, worried, gaze. “Focus on me and breathe. Nice and slow.” He tugged her hands away from her ears, caressing her pulse points. When she protested, he shushed her. “It's okay, I promise. You can handle this. Just breathe. You're in control. They answer to you. They are you. You just have to take charge.”

  She made a face. “How─?”

  “That's not important right now. You need to take control. You have the power, now use it. Dig deep. Feel it?”

  Staring deep into his eyes, the wolf from last night stared back at her. Instead of being frightened, she latched onto it. The wolf had been safe. Familiar. It offered peace and security. She wanted that more than anything now.

  Trusting him even though she wasn't sure why, Makenna closed her eyes again. She searched within herself, seeking whatever power it was he thought she had. The reasons could wait. For now, she needed to be able to breathe without feeling like she was being torn in half.

  Not knowing what she was looking for, she delved deeper. There it was. Like a ball of bright red light. A force way down inside, bouncing and pulsing. She latched on, letting it consume her.

  The light washed over every part of her. Eyes flying open, she watched as it emanated from every pore, lighting the darkened room and casting a mystical glow over both her and Rhys. Calm descended as the light faded. The noise receded to a dull roar. The pain ceased.

  For once, every force contained in her being seemed at peace. It wouldn't last. There were more battles to come. But for now, she could breathe freely. She could hear herself think.

  Now, it was time for those answers.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Fire and Ice

  Makenna pulled away from Rhys and stood, back to the wall. No quarter. No excuses. He would give her the truth.

  “Explain.”

  It was the only word she could muster out of the rising tide of rage bubbling up again.

  Rhys' shoulders sagged as he stood in front of her, wisely keeping his distance. “Kenna, I wanted to tell you before, but I had to be sure.”

  “Sure of what?” Her words were clipped. She was way too close to the edge.

  “I had to be certain you truly didn't know. That you weren't working with Kylian.”

  “Who the hell is Kylian and what does he have to do with what's happening to me?” This was getting tiresome. She straightened, squaring her shoulders and eying the blades on the wall. Just in case she needed to convince him to get to the point.

  A voice inside her said that was a good plan.

  Probably noticing the change in her voice and demeanor, Rhys held up his hands. “I'll tell you everything. But you might want to sit down first.”

  “Get on with it.” Patience nonexistent, she glared at him. Her skin started to itch.

  He sighed heavily and paced in front of her. “How much do you remember about your aunt and uncle, or any other family you had?”

  “Not much. I was four when they were killed.” Because of her. She gasped as memories suddenly rushed in.

  Flashes of people tearing apart the house as she watched from behind the air return vent where her aunt and uncle had hidden her.

  Screaming. Someone yelling for her. Someone she knew wished to do her harm.

  Her uncle claiming she wasn't there while her aunt chanted.

  Then blood. So much blood.

  Her eyes flew wide. It was true. They'd died because of her. Just like her mother. They'd told her her mother wasn't her fault, but she knew better.

  She'd been toxic from birth.

  “No.” Rhys rushed forward and grabbed her shoulders. “It wasn't your fault. None of it was. It was Kylian’s. He killed your aunt and uncle. And your mother.”

  Sadness leaked from him into her. Makenna slid to the floor, leaning against the wall to hold herself up. Rhys went with her. She searched his eyes, hoping against hope she hadn't been the cause of death for the only people she'd ever loved.

  She finally croaked out a question. “How do you know all this? Who are you really?”

  The look on his face told her she wasn't going to like his answer.

  He released her and started pacing again. When he stopped and faced her, there was determination in his steely gaze. “First, I must tell you who you are. You are Makenna Rianne Callahan, and you're very special.” He knelt before her. “You are one of three sisters born to royal blood every third generation. All are warriors, though each have separate talents. There is the mediator and the mage. Then there is you. You, Makenna, are the queen. The incarnation of an ancient warrior goddess.” Rhys smiled. “You, love, are destined to be the most powerful being of this age.”

  There went all the air from her lungs.

  Then it came rushing back with a force that had her choking. Rhys rubbed her back, whispering soothing words she didn't understand. But she didn't want soothing words. Before she could wrap her head around any of this insane tale he was weaving, she needed all of it.

  When she could speak, she pushed him away. “Tell me all of it. I know there's more.”

  “Yes. Much more.” He sat back. “I'm not sure where to start. Kylian was powerful among our people, but never in line for the throne. That didn't work for him.” Rhys’s gaze hardened, and his fists clenched until knuckles cracked. “So he killed my parents. They were the current rulers of our people, the Fianna, and the only thing standing between Kylian and the future king. The incarnation of Fionn, a great warrior.” His eyes met hers and she sucked in a breath at his tortured look. “Me.”

  The world stopped. Makenna froze for half a second before her brain kicked back in. “Wait, you're the king. And you said I was the queen. Does that mean we're...?”

  “Yes. We are destined mates.”

  “Mates. Like, husband and wife? You're saying we have some kind of arranged marriage thing?” Makenna jumped to her feet. He'd obviously lost his mind. Poor man was crazier than her. “You're confused. I'm nobody's queen. I'm not gonna be moving to Ireland or wherever it is you're from and getting hitched and helping you rule some people I've never heard of.” She brushed off his hand and headed towards the door.

  He grabbed for her again, this time not letting her shake him off. “Kenna. I'm not confused. And there's more.”

  “Of course there's more.” She pried herself free and crossed her arms. “Fine. You've got five minutes to finish your little story and then you're out of here. After that, we're done.” She couldn't deal with his kind of crazy.

  No matter how strong of a pull she felt to him.

  No matter if that voice in her head told her everything he said was true.

  And no matter how it ripped her soul in two to imagine being without him.

  She stared him down. Calm. She'd stay calm and then she'd get him out of here. After that, she'd move. Far away. Where she'd never have to see him again.

  Makenna ignored the howl in her head.

  “We'll never be done.” His shoulders slumped, then he seemed to collect himself. He met her head on. “We're not from Ireland, though that is where we originated. We've migrated all over the world, wherever humans needed protection.” He ignored her gaping mouth and the choking sound that emerged from it, continuing. “This area is rife with beasts and magic you can't imagine, and we keep that world from spilling into the human one as much as we can. Though for the past decade, defeating Kylian has been our primary focus.”

  She jumped in, trying to find solid ground. “Human? Rhys, we're human.” She intended to laugh, but it came out more of a gurgle. There was no humor in insanity of this magnitude. “I can't listen to any more of this. I thought you might actually have some real answers for me, but you're just making up crazy shit. What the hell is wrong with you?”

  Rhys' eyes narrowed. “I'm not making shit up, Kenna. You need to hear what I'm telling you. We are not human. Things are happening to you, right? You feel like you're being ripped in half. Like there are things inside of you trying t
o get out?” She stared, frozen by his words. “It's because they are. They are parts of you. Your aunt and uncle cast a spell when you were young. That's what was in that box.” He pointed to the trunk. “They knew Kylian would be looking for you. So they bound your powers, making it almost impossible for him to sense you. They weren't nearly as powerful as you, so they couldn't contain all of your abilities.” He inched closer. “You've always been stronger, faster. Your senses sharper. And you've probably had premonitions. To you they may have seemed like instinct, or just something you knew. Am I right?”

  She nodded numbly. Her knowings, the things she could do, could it be true? Was there really a reason? Did she have a purpose? Was she actually important? Hope and the need to mean something to someone overrode her anger and disbelief for a moment, suspending her between the two.

  “And then there's the blood lust. The need to fight.” She nodded again and took a step back when he tried to touch her. “That's because you are the warrior queen, love. War is in your nature. You're meant to protect and defend your people, to lead them into battle.”

  She swallowed hard. She must be as crazy as him if she was even entertaining any of his bullshit story. Though, something in it rang true down to her bones.

  “These people, the Fi─Fianna? Wh─what are they? You said they, we, weren't human. What are the other parts of me?” Her words emerged as a whisper, fear quieting her voice.

  Rhys's shoulders went back and pride crossed his features. “Our people are the Fianna, yes. They are immortal warriors, incarnations of the ancients. And they are wolf.”

  The word dropped like a loaded barbell in a quiet gym.

  Wolf.

  She couldn't let it settle. She had to ask now before she lost her nerve.

  “You said they are wolf.” She paused, her breath coming in pants. “Then us, Rhys, what are we?”

  He moved closer and this time she let him run a gentle finger down her jaw. She leaned into it, needing the comfort, desperate for something familiar. Something real.

  Rhys lifted her chin. “You and I, as king and queen, are blessed with being both wolf and raven. Well, you are both. I won't gain my raven form until we are fully bonded.”

  Still under the spell his words had cast, fed by her lifelong loneliness, she stared at him. Unsure what to say, no idea what to do or what to believe, she remained frozen.

  He watched her attempt to digest the information, softness and patience on his face. Then he reached a hand to the mark on her neck. He ran his fingers over it tenderly and she shivered.

  “This mark, it's only the beginning, love.”

  Her gaze drifted to the smaller mark she'd made on the juncture of his neck and shoulder.

  The mark that hadn't faded.

  The other night forced its way back in. The muggers. The fight. The blood.

  She'd taken someone's head off without a thought, without hesitation. So had he.

  Oh God.

  Reality filtered back in as the vivid pictures, the memories, danced in her head.

  Makenna backed away from Rhys. His smile ran away, replaced by a frown that held pain. She didn't, couldn't, believe any of this. It was too ludicrous, too far-fetched.

  But if it was true…

  Her fists balled at her sides. She clenched her teeth, hardening her jaw as her breath came faster. The gurgling river of lava inside rumbled to life again, this time threatening to spew over as one crystal clear thought penetrated what was left of her daze. She paced in short spurts, taking a few steps and then turning around.

  “The marks. The other night when we made love.” She grabbed her head. It was about to explode. “The lights, the floating. Oh shit. We didn't. Tell me you didn't let it happen, Rhys. Tell me we aren't...”

  If it was all true, then that meant what'd happened that night, what had occurred in her bed, was real. But surely he wouldn't allow it when she had no idea what she was truly doing, would he?

  His expression told her before his words did. Guilt, pure and simple, was written all over him. “Kenna, love, it wasn't supposed to happen like that. Not until you knew. But what we felt, what we feel, it took over. We're meant to be together, but I never meant for─”

  “Shut the fuck up!” Her roar rattled the walls, shocking him to stillness and silence. “No more lies, no more stories about wolves and ravens and kings and queens and things that can't be real. Just stop!”

  “Please, let me explain.” He waved his hand and light pulsed in the room, then was gone.

  Not knowing or caring what that was, she shoved at his chest. “I. Said. No. More!”

  The wolf, the raven, whatever the hell it was inside her, maybe just that primal part of herself she didn't want to admit to, fought for control. Makenna gave it the driver's seat without hesitation. She was done. Her mind shut down, unable to process what she'd been told, what was happening.

  The beast emerged, taking charge of her body. Strength flowed through her as the light of the moon warmed her skin through the open curtain.

  She lunged.

  Tackling Rhys, she sent them both sailing into the kitchen table. Shards of wood flew as they fell to the floor with a mighty boom. She swung at Rhys' face, no longer caring about her feelings for him or what they may have shared.

  She was set to destroy mode.

  He blocked the punch, still catching a graze on the chin that sent his head snapping back.

  She smiled, blood trickling from the lip she'd split in the fall.

  She wasn't done.

  Rhys grabbed her wrists, attempting to restrain her. She knew he was trying not to hurt her. She didn't care. As they struggled to their feet, she twisted hard, thrust her hip out, and tossed him over her shoulder. He landed with a crash in the pile of splintered wood.

  “Kenna, please. Stop!”

  Makenna ignored him.

  She shivered, her body rebelling against what she was about to do. She fought it. Rhys had made it to his knees when she grabbed his head, bringing his face into her lifted knee. Blood flew. Tremors rippled through her body. Pain screamed from both of them and most of it not physical.

  She was hurting herself as she unleashed on him. But she was too far gone.

  He'd done this to her. He'd dragged her into this world.

  If he cared, he would've left her alone.

  This was on him.

  Tears streaming down her face, she met those dark eyes. Eyes dripping with blood she'd drawn, but that still whispered “It's okay. I forgive you.” Eyes that told her he wouldn't fight back. That he believed he'd earned the punishment.

  Her heart shattered, the shards slicing into her soul.

  Still she fought. The part of her that didn't want to believe her new reality, that couldn't cope with the changes, raged against the world.

  He was her target.

  Barely able to see through flooded eyes, Makenna let a soul deep cry erupt from her lips. It shook the walls, shook their bones. Rhys flinched and bowed his head, but not before she saw the glistening tears run down his cheeks.

  His tears didn't matter. She couldn't let them. All that mattered was the rage in her that had nowhere to go but in his direction.

  With a battle cry that came partly from her and partly from the creature within, she grabbed his shirt and yanked him to his feet. Their gazes locked. He silently begged her not to do it. To stop. To accept his apology. To embrace everything they could be.

  To take him in her arms and bring them together, the only way to heal the gaping rift that had been torn in their souls.

  She couldn't do it. Not yet. The wounds were too raw.

  Shoving emotion aside, she grabbed his shoulder with one hand and his belt with the other. He made no move to stop her. He placed himself in her hands. Before she could talk herself out of it, she lifted with a strength she didn't know she had, couldn't fathom.

  Rhys sailed through the air. Hitting the door, his massive body kept going. Through the wood, he hit the opposite w
all in the hallway.

  Makenna stared. Numb. Her tears dried. Her brain shut down completely. A shell of her former self stood staring as the man she loved picked himself up off the floor.

  His tortured gaze held hers. “I'll give you time, Makenna, but this isn't over.” He waved his hand and that odd light he threw from his hand earlier appeared again. Before her eyes, her front door repaired itself. In a few seconds, it was once again on the hinges in one piece. He braced his hands on the frame. “You’re mine and I'm yours. There's no changing it. Now we have to deal with it. We have to find a way to come together and save our people.”

  Even his pleading words couldn't penetrate the wall of ice forming around her heart. He'd lied. Destroyed her entire world in one fell swoop. Everything she'd known, everything she'd believed, lay in ashes around her feet.

  Whatever they'd had, could've had, had burnt to a crisp with the rest of her world.

  When she spoke, her voice was empty, cold. “I'll find a way to undo what you've done, Rhys. I'm not yours and I never will be. You saw to that. Now go.”

  Ignoring the agony making the very air bleed around them, she slammed the door in his face before he could say another word.

  As his presence ebbed, so did her strength. The beast and whatever entity thrived within her seemed to have been zapped as well, neither able to muster the ability to fight her anymore.

  Makenna sank to the floor, sliding down the door.

  She breathed, not knowing how.

  Her heart beat, but the sound was hollow.

  Tears and pain were absent, but they'd return.

  For now, she'd live in the silence, rest in the calm, because everything in her told her this was just the beginning.

  The beginning of true hell.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Everybody Wants to Rule the World

  Rhys slammed his fist through the wall beside his front door.

  He'd fucked up.

  Everything was going to shit, and it was his fault.

  Makenna hadn't known a damned thing.

  Yet he'd accused her of lying. Pushed her to the point her wolf had almost been born in her rage. Until she was two seconds from taking his head.