Warrior Fae Trapped: A DDVN Book

by Breene, K. F.

  Charity dropped her sword and threw out her hands with a scream.

  A jet of pure white light shot from her palms, coalescing to form a thick, buzzing ball. It smashed into the vampire. The razor-sharp claw barely grazed Devon’s fur as Vlad jolted back. Devon yelped in pain.

  Vlad burst into flame, apparently too old and powerful to explode, as she intuitively knew a lesser vampire would. The flames engulfed him, wild and vicious. Clothes tore as he turned into his monster form. He howled, his body now a bonfire.

  The flaming vampire took off running, screeching as he did so. The other vampires followed, their hands held above their heads to ward off Charity’s sunlight. The demons, what was left of them, joined the retreat.

  The shifters ran after them, clearly wanting to kill whatever they could.

  Charity swayed, feeling like she’d run ten miles in concrete shoes underwater. Her vision started to waver. Large arms caught her and picked her up. Her head lolled on a thick shoulder.

  “What about Devon?” she asked hoarsely.

  “We’ll look after Devon,” Roger said softly, carrying her into the house.

  She tried to struggle, but everything turned black.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  “How’s the girl?” Steve asked, stalking into the room like he was looking for prey. Wolves always had a light-footed predatory thing going, but the big cats were ridiculous for it. You’d think they were constantly in a game of hide-and-seek.

  Roger leaned back from the desk in Devon’s sparse office. For a guy who went to school, he didn’t seem to use the place much. If Roger hadn’t known for a fact the kid was getting excellent grades, he would have stuck his nose in.

  “She’s fine. She’s sleeping it off.”

  “I hear she threw you through a window.”

  Roger glared at Steve, not pleased that the story had gotten out. Steve met the stare for a beat before lowering his eyes, just shy of a challenge. It was another irritating thing about cats—always trying to push their independence.

  “She woke up as weak as a kitten and demanded to see Devon,” Roger explained. “I said no. She listens about as well as you do. It took the last of her resources, but…”

  Steve started laughing in big, body-racking guffaws. “The only one to challenge you and win, huh?”

  “She’s a warrior fae. I can’t teach her a lesson unless I want her whole posse on my back. I figured it was easier letting them heal together.”

  “I hear those two bicker a lot.”

  Roger snorted. That was an understatement. “They’re twenty-somethings—barely adults. Life for them right now is all about fire and passion and wild mood swings. Charity probably doesn’t know if she wants to slap him or wrap her legs around him.”

  Steve bent forward, chortling. “I remember those days. Had a girl that drove me mad. The best was when she slapped me as she was wrapping her legs around me.”

  Roger smiled. The young alpha and the Arcana had formed a tight bond. Charity had proved that today by, yes, using her damned power to toss Roger through a window so she could get to Devon’s side.

  Devon had proved his devotion, too. He’d gone for Vlad. The young alpha must’ve known it would be his death. But he had distracted Vlad long enough for the vampires and demons to lose focus as a group. They’d fallen out of sync, allowing Roger to break through the outer barrier and put a crew around Charity. Without a strong leader giving constant, clear orders, lower-tier demons and younger vampires were mindless killing machines, easier to take down. Devon had tried to sacrifice himself to buy her time, something that had surely saved her. In so doing, he’d also created a win for the whole pack.

  It was a big day for that sub-alpha. He’d earned a promotion. It would make him the youngest alpha in history to rise so quickly, beating out Roger by ten months. He’d made that leap in part because of Charity.

  Steve gazed at Roger thoughtfully. “You’re sure, then, huh? That stuff she did, that is normal warrior fae behavior?”

  Roger nodded slowly. “Except for that ball of…light? Energy? I couldn’t get a good reading on that. No one has heard anything about it. The beta is checking it out.”

  Steve leaned back and crossed his ankle over his knee. “Whatever she is, she’s useful. Hacked through a bunch of vamps. Pretty sleek, too. She knows how to handle that blade.”

  Roger clasped his fingers together. “That was the first time she’s used it. Her control over her magic is largely instinctual, at present. She’s had no training, and I would bet she hasn’t yet realized her full power.”

  Steve’s eyes widened.

  Roger nodded. “Exactly. This is just the beginning. Untrained, brand new, she is worth two experienced shifters in battle. Maybe three. If paired with Devon, constantly bucking his natural tendency to dominate, she’ll be even better still.”

  “Think she killed that elder?”

  “Vlad probably isn’t dead. Burnt to a crisp, surely, but his minions will get him blood fast enough to save him. He’s too old to be taken down that easily.” Roger braced his elbows against the desk.

  “Well…” Steve drawled, making a show of twiddling his thumbs. Roger kept his irritation from showing. Barely. “As soon as the warrior fae learn you’ve got one of theirs, they’ll come looking. Luckily, they’ll knock. If the elves find out…well, they don’t knock.”

  “Thank you, Steven, for this fascinating glimpse at things I already know.”

  Steve grinned. “You’ll have to take her to the warrior fae, eventually. Or else, if you don’t care about forming an allegiance with the fae, you could always let the elves take her. They’d give a handsome reward, I imagine, especially if she’s really an Arcana.”

  “If you plan to turn traitor, Steve, I’ll kill you before you can make it to the portal.”

  Steve threw up his hands, still sporting that irritating grin. “That’s not what I’m saying, boss. All I’m saying is that the trek from the castle to the Flush can be dangerous. Elves don’t police it as closely as they should. Could be you need someone that is excellent in defense turned offense.”

  Roger snorted. “And I assume you mean you?”

  “You don’t have anybody better.”

  “Why would I entrust her safety to a guy that would drop everything for a nap in the sun?”

  “I’ve always wanted to travel the Realm, and I’ve always wanted to bed a fae. This is my chance to do both.”

  “Travel the Realm on my dime?”

  “All good things to those who wait.”

  Roger stared at him for a moment. Steve was right: he was the best in defense turned offense. Male lions, by nature, didn’t put themselves in jeopardy if they could help it, but once they decided to engage, they were a force to be reckoned with. Steve would require a powerful alpha to keep him in line, however. Devon had promise, but he wasn’t there yet.

  “Worst-case scenario,” Steve said, “The girl pushes me around, right? She can throw me through a…tree.”

  Roger shook his head. “It’s all up in the air right now. First, she and Devon need to heal. After that, I’ll see.”

  Steve got up slowly, half stretching as he did so. He scratched his stomach with a grin as he said, “All I’m saying is, if you need bodyguard detail, I’m your man.”

  Roger huffed out a laugh as soon as Steve was out of the room. He was a handful, plain and simple, but he was a good guy. More importantly, he was a pack guy who could navigate the wilds. Tempting.

  Roger stared down at his papers, thinking.

  There was no way he was going to present Charity to the Flush unless they were a hundred percent sure of her heritage. Right now there weren’t many other options, but still. He’d hate to make a fool of himself. That meant taking a trip to Charity’s family house and trying to locate her mom.

  He had no doubt of what they’d find—he’d seen her fight out there—which led him to his next problem. How would he get her back if they sent her to the Flus
h to train? She’d suddenly have family, money, and a real sense of community. How many girls turned down a chance to be a princess?

  Roger scratched his chin in irritation.

  She had the bond with Devon. The best-case scenario would be if that bond turned into love. Given what Roger had heard of the warrior fae and their inclusive community, possibly the only thing that could tear a princess away from her throne was the man who held her heart.

  He hoped Devon was up to the task.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Devon stirred, followed by a wince. Every part of his body seemed to hurt. That old vamp had beaten the hell out of him. Devon had held his own against a mid-level, but…well, now he knew his own limits.

  He flexed his toes, followed by his fingers, making sure everything worked. It was then he felt the small, delicate hand clinging to his.

  In a moment of panic, he thought it was Yasmine. She was persistent, and a girl like her would absolutely sit by her alpha’s bed to stake her claim and get in good with her desired mate. Marry the same girl, though, and she’d turn distant in a flash, having gotten what she was after.

  Devon let his head fall to the side. An ethereal beauty marred with cuts and scrapes lay next to him. Her hair fell around her face in thick brownish-red waves, her lower lip was swollen, and her cheek was black and blue. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in his life.

  He squeezed her hand, willing her awake. Her breathing was deep and heavy, not like her. Usually, she was an extremely light sleeper who’d stir if he so much as shifted.

  “Don’t worry. She’s fine.”

  Devon’s gaze snapped to the door. His neck protested painfully at the sudden movement.

  Roger stood in the frame dressed in a T-shirt that strained at the shoulders and hung loose at the waist. He didn’t bother coming further into the room.

  “How do you feel?” he asked in his customary calm tone.

  “I hurt, for the most part, but I’ll be fine. That old vamp was something else. He was… I’ve never seen anything move so fast and react so savagely.”

  “Puts hair on your chest.”

  Devon wheezed out a laugh. “Exactly. I should be as fuzzy as you.”

  Roger’s gaze drifted to Devon and Charity’s entwined fingers. “Girls like to know how you feel about them. They like to know where they stand.”

  Relationship advice from his boss? How’d Devon get so unlucky?

  “Got it,” Devon said absently. Then, because he didn’t know what the hell he was doing, he added, “But she doesn’t ever bring that stuff up. I’d feel like an idiot saying anything.”

  Roger shifted, getting more comfortable. “Well, you’re a ladies’ man, and she’s smart. She probably doesn’t want to feel like a fool. You have to suck this one up.”

  “Nice pep talk, coach.”

  Roger grinned. “Take it from a failed pro. She’ll eat it up.”

  Devon shook his head and looked back at Charity. “She saved my life.”

  “You saved hers.”

  “Nah, I was trying to give her some time to run. Or give you an opening to force her away. But she went and saved me. For the second time.”

  “I did try to force her away. I also tried to keep her in her room to heal. You’re alive, and she’s next to you. A smart man knows what that means.”

  “When have I been a smart man?” Devon whispered, drinking in the sight of her.

  “When it counts.” Roger straightened up. “I’m keeping her in your pack. I’m also pushing your pack up a level and adding some members. It’ll mean you have some older, more experienced, and possibly unruly pack members under your command, but it’ll give you a chance to show what you’re made of. I wouldn’t be giving you this role if you didn’t have her by your side. She gives your pack more power, as warrior fae did in times of old. In the event someone stronger than you defies you, remember that fighting is awfully hard when you’re being flung through a window.”

  With a grim face, Roger gave him a slight nod and stepped away.

  Apparently Roger had heard about Devon and Charity’s fight. It had been a sliding glass door, though.

  He sighed as Charity stirred against him. She issued a little feminine mew before running a hand up his chest and hooking it around his neck. She squeezed a little as her eyes fluttered open.

  “Hey,” he said softly.

  Her eyes darted up to his, and supreme relief crossed her expression, followed by a beautiful smile.

  “Hey,” she said, and turned a little, covering more of his side. “How are you feeling?”

  “Good.”

  Her smile burned brighter. “Liar.”

  It hurt to chuckle.

  “I hear you saved my life,” he said. “Again.”

  She shrugged and winced. “You tried to sacrifice yourself so that I could get to safety. Again. I think we’re even.”

  He pressed his lips against her forehead. When that wasn’t enough, he tilted her chin up and kissed her sweet lips.

  “I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” he whispered.

  Moisture caught in her thick lashes. “Thank you. For everything. I know I haven’t made this easy on you, but you never backed down. You’ve always been there for me. It means more than I can express.”

  He smiled and kissed her again, rolling just a little so he could feel more of her body. Feeling his ardor rise, and the pain of movement rise with it.

  It still hurt to chuckle. “Making love to you is going to have to wait, but…you’re more…than a duty to me, Charity. I care about you.” Talking about his feelings hadn’t gotten any easier, or less awkward, but in this he would listen to Roger. “So much. I want you to know that. That I have feelings for you.”

  Her eyes were large and open, inviting him all the way down to her soul.

  “I like you too. A lot.”

  Her smile was just for him, wrapping around his heart and squeezing.

  She had a hold on his vitals, and he didn’t ever want her to let go.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Charity heaved a sigh as she lugged her backpack higher on her shoulders. The thing felt like it was full of bricks. She paused in between the buildings, angling her face up toward the blessed sunshine.

  It had been two weeks since the battle, and no one had seen hide nor hair of her BFF. In fact, the vampires in the area had made themselves scarce. Word was that they didn’t trust a woman who could rain down sunshine on them in the middle of the night.

  Charity would take it. She wasn’t totally sure how to control her power, but if she had them running scared for the moment, she’d count her blessings.

  “What’s up, Charity?” Andy walked toward her with a welcoming smile, Rod at his side.

  “What’s for dinner?” Rod asked by way of hello.

  “Really, dude?” Andy put out his hands and frowned at Rod. “It’s the middle of the day, you haven’t seen her since last night, and the first thing you do is try to get something out of her?”

  Rod gestured at Charity angrily as they stopped next to her. “She likes cooking! I’m discussing one of her hobbies.”

  “Oh sure, yeah. That was your master plan. Discussing hobbies.” Andy rolled his eyes for Charity’s benefit. “That big blockhead on your shoulders must be hard to lug around.”

  “Shut up, dick. She knows I’m always around to help.” Rod pulled Charity in for a one-armed hug. “Hi. Good to see you again.”

  Andy stared at him.

  “What?” Rod asked.

  “I was waiting for you to double down and ask what was for dinner again.”

  “Shut up.” Rod stepped away. “Like you don’t want to know.”

  Charity laughed at their antics, starting forward. “Roger is staying for dinner, I think. He’s bringing that crew to fix the ward and read our fortunes or something. I don’t know; I stopped listening when Devon started to fuss. Anyway, I’d planned to do a—”

  “Ah crap.” An
dy blew out his breath and stared at Rod for a moment, who stared back. He shook his head. “I forgot all that was happening tonight. I’m out, bro. The joy of eating Charity’s food will be totally sucked out of the room with Roger lording over everything. Then there’s Alder. Whenever he looks at me, I get the feeling he wants to cut my ear off.”

  “What?” Charity asked, unexpectedly spitting out laughter. “Why—”

  “Yeah, I see that,” Rod said, nodding seriously. “Or some other extremity.”

  “You guys are crazy.” Charity pulled her backpack strap a little higher, trying to stop it from digging into her shoulder.

  “Here.” Rod grabbed the top strap and peeled it off her back. “I got that.”

  “First useful thing you’ve done all day,” Andy said.

  “You’re going to get a thump if you keep it up,” Rod shot back.

  They took a turn around the path, and the area opened up. Charity spied Devon off to the side, sitting on a bench with his head down over his phone. Her stomach flipped before it filled with butterflies. Her core pooled with heat. Two weeks since they’d told each other they had feelings, and still she got nervous when she saw him. Nervous, and desperate for his touch.

  Her chest constricted as they got closer and he looked up. A smile flashed across his handsome face, and two passing gals slowed to gawk their approval.

  A rush of jealousy filled Charity with fire. She took a deep breath to quell her raging magic.

  Devon’s smile burned brighter. He thought her possessiveness was hilarious, mostly because she thought his jealousy absurd. Logically, she knew jealousy stemmed from trust issues, and she didn’t have those. At all. But she couldn’t control herself. If a girl flirted with Devon, stared too hard, or even stood too close, magic dumped into Charity’s body and she wanted to cut a bitch. Then burn her house down. Then pull up her flower bed and plant cactuses. It was ludicrous. Absolutely nuts.

  And yet it would not go away.

  It wasn’t the only thing that wouldn’t go away. She flew off the handle a lot. Something triggered her, or nothing triggered her, and suddenly magic flooded her, urging her to reach for the closest sharp thing. It couldn’t be natural, something she kept trying to tell Roger. She could regain control with effort, but it was getting harder, the magical surges stronger. Sometimes, the only outlet that helped was sparring with Devon. The furniture had all been broken and glued back together by now. Thankfully, the bed was sturdy, or that would’ve broken in the naked aftermath of her magic-fueled temper.