I barely managed to hold in my laughter. “That’s very thoughtful of you Fergus.” I turned to Lochlan who stood speechless. “Lochlan, I’ll be outside in just a moment, I’d like to talk to Fergus about some work things before we leave.”
Lochlan narrowed his eyes at me but acquiesced and left the office.
“What was all that?” I asked my boss in surprise.
“Did I ever tell you about my years with the Royal Shakespeare Company?”
“No, you must have forgotten to tell me about it. So, the magic didn’t work on you, right?”
“Of course not! What kind of druids would we be if the Fae could mess with our memories like that?”
“Well I don’t know but you sure made it convincing—you about had me fooled.”
“Pshh, I was just having fun. Now you be careful over there and come back to us safely.”
I gave Fergus a warm hug. “Thank you so much for understanding, I hate to disappear like this.”
“Nonsense, we can’t have an army of nasty Fae monsters loose on Earth. You go do whatever’s needed and we’ll be here when you get back.”
“Will do. You be safe too, and take care of Cat while I’m gone.”
He waved me out of the room and I hurried downstairs with a goofy smile plastered on my face.
“Enjoyed that, did you?” Lochlan asked wryly as I bounded down the front steps toward him.
“Oh my God, it was priceless. You really should call him, don’t break his heart.”
With a slow shake of his head, Lochlan lowered himself into the car and we sped off on our way to the Faery portal.
St. George’s Church was built in the early 1800s and was the oldest Church of Ireland sanctuary in Belfast. Although not nearly as large as the museum, the building was constructed with the same white sandstone, stately columns and large multi-paned windows.
“There’s a portal inside the church?” I asked with surprise.
“The church was built on the site where the original portal was located. Portals are only opened in specific geographic locations, many of which were marked with stone circles originally. They became known as holy sites so some of them had churches placed in those locations. This is the only one inside the city, most are more remotely located.”
“I just visited the Beltany stone circle. The guide said the site was used during the Beltane celebrations at the start of summer to help protect the cattle and crops.”
“I’m sure the locals developed their own beliefs about the stones but they were first used to mark sites for portals. Beltane along with the equinoxes and solstices are times when the veil between the worlds is the thinnest, which is why Morgan plans to attack on Beltane.”
I stalled on the steps of the church, mouth gaping at Lochlan who continued up obliviously. “But Beltane is on May 1st!”
At my exclamation Lochlan finally turned back to me. “Actually, the specific date is May 3rd this year, but yes. That’s why we need you to learn quickly,” he offered casually before turning to open the front doors.
“How do you know she’s planning to attack on Beltane?” I asked as I followed him up the remaining steps.
“Ronan told us when we interrogated him.”
“You’ve known this whole time when she would attack and you’re only telling me now?” I demanded loudly as we walked into the church. My booming voice echoed off the cathedral ceilings as I scrunched up my shoulders with a grimace.
In a soft tone, Lochlan replied. “You get stressed, I didn’t want you to waste time worrying.”
“I’m a big girl, Lochlan, I think I could have handled it. Don’t you think it would be important for the person who is supposed to fight Morgan to know when the crazy hag was planning on making her move?” I chastised him in a harsh whisper. There was little I could have done differently over the past months, but that didn’t mean he had any right to keep information from me. Especially something as crucial as when Morgan planned to attack.
His eyes cut over to me but he said nothing and his face was blank of any indication of what he might be thinking as we continued inside to the main chapel.
Damn Fae brute. Beating my head against a wall would have been more effective than arguing with him. Relaxing my clenched jaw, I followed him into the main chapel.
The room contained rows of pews that were separated from the raised dais by a partial wall of columns. The back walls surrounding the dais were covered in colorful murals and vibrant stained-glass windows that captivated the eye. I would have loved to have spent more time appreciating the intricate elements of the church, but as Lochlan had just informed me, we were running out of time.
We closed ourselves inside a small study room just off to the side of the chapel. The room had a small desk against one wall and a set of bookshelves but was otherwise empty. Lochlan pulled out what appeared to be sidewalk chalk and drew out a complex symbol on the old stone floors. He stepped back and softly murmured a series of words I couldn’t make out. The air before us shimmered and blurred until we no longer looked at the opposite wall, but instead a circle about the height of a man showed a window into what looked like a stone mausoleum.
Looking through the spatial distortion was disorienting. It was like looking at a high definition television screen displaying an image of another room and my brain fought to accept that the image was reality and not just a 2D projection.
Lochlan stepped into the portal one foot at a time and peered back at me expectantly.
My heart pounded in my chest and my eyes were wide with uncertainty. I had been through a portal before but I had been unconscious so this time through was essentially an all-new experience. I took a steadying breath and stepped over the barrier from one side of the portal to the other. Walking through itself didn’t feel like anything, but once I stepped fully into Faery, energy and power swelled inside of me. It felt like coming alive as my skin tingled and my muscles buzzed with the need to move. Lost in the sensation, my eyes fell shut and my head dropped backwards as I soaked up the vibrant energy.
“The natural occurrence of magic is much higher in Faery. We don’t have to feed as often to sustain our magic here and more powerful spells can be performed,” Lochlan commented as I opened my eyes and watched the portal close behind us.
“Won’t the people at the church notice your markings?”
“Part of the rune that I drew makes the markings essentially burn up after the portal closes.”
I only vaguely listened to his answer as my attention was snagged by the two Fae warrior women standing guard at the door of the tomb-like room we were in. They were exceptionally tall for women and had golden blond hair with hard blue eyes staring at the opposite wall. While their eyes never strayed to us, I was confident they were clocking our every movement. Both were solid muscle and wore fitted hunter green uniforms that were not bulky or armored but still looked battle-ready. In their hands each held long staffs with gleaming spearheads on the tips.
Lochlan paid them no attention, walking past without so much as a ‘hello.’ I followed him but had trouble taking my eyes off the fascinating women.
“I assume they are some kind of guards?” I asked after we had exited the stone building and began walking through tall green grass.
“They’re Valkyrie.”
“As in the warrior women from Norse mythology?” I asked with surprise, not that I should have been surprised at that point.
“As in the Seelie queen’s Fae warriors who guard the city. There are always two Valkyrie on guard at the portal to make sure no one attempts to open it and leave Faery.”
“What if someone tries to open the portal from Earth? There were no guards on that end.”
“There shouldn’t be any Fae on that side of the portal to open it, aside from members of the Hunt. Anyone who is on that side of the Portal got there against the queen’s command and certainly isn’t going to come back.”
“I suppose that makes sense.”
“I’m glad you approve,” Lochlan returned wryly.
As we emerged from a cluster of trees, a city skyline could be seen in the distance. Like Dorothy approaching the Emerald City, lost in the splendor of the shimmering buildings, I was in awe of the sight before me. So far everything I had seen in Faery appeared remarkably similar to Earth, which is why the fantastical looking buildings in the distance took me by surprise. There were no billboards or highways or any signs of civilization, just sprawling trees and greenery aside from the single cluster of buildings surrounded by a solid wall. As we grew closer I realized that most of the buildings tall enough to be seen over the wall appeared to be part of a single structure—the queen’s palace. It reminded me of a sand castle, with turrets and spires, all built of a material that glimmered in the sun.
“Is that Avalon?” I asked as we trekked through the gently rolling hills.
Lochlan glanced over at me questioningly. “How did you know?”
“When the queen abducted me she told me I was in her palace in Avalon. You said we were going to stop by the palace, so it only made sense.” It was a surprising change of pace to actually know what was going on, and I gave myself a mental pat on the back for paying attention.
We walked a mile or so to the city gates where we were offered a mount by the city guards to ride to the palace in the center of the city. They only had the one horse idling at the gate so we would have to ride together, me up front with Lochlan plastered to my back.
As I approached the majestic black beast he began to whinny anxiously and prance in place, his brown eyes bulging wide. I was no horse expert, but it was plain that the horse did not want me anywhere near it.
“Stop upsetting the horse,” Lochlan said as he walked up to the agitated creature and took the reins, stroking the behemoth’s neck while cooing softly at him.
“I’m not doing anything!”
Lochlan grunted and then without warning swung me onto the saddle as I squealed like a five-year-old girl.
“Stop your screaming, you’ll upset the horse more than he already is.”
“I couldn’t help it, you startled me. Next time let me know before you throw me onto the back of an angry animal.”
Lochlan lifted himself onto the saddle behind me and his lips lowered to my ear. “Do you have any idea what that sassy mouth does to me?”
His words sent a shiver down my spine and my eyes danced over the crowd. I felt like surely anyone who could see me would know immediately how affected I was by the man behind me. Three of the guards talked among themselves while the other two stood atop the wall watching off in the distance. A woman walked past with a full cart of flowers and a nearby shop owner wiped down his front window. Not a single person looked our way.
Lochlan gave the reins a tug and with a tap of his heels on the horse’s sides we ambled onto the cobbled city streets. Without the technology of Earth, the Fae lifestyle was similar to Western Europe in the 1800s—cottages lined the cobbled streets with simple glass paned windows and flower boxes in bloom. Women wore long dresses and men sported colorful suits as they got in and out of carriages or shopped at street vendor stands.
As the horse strolled through the winding streets, my ass rubbed against Lochlan and his masculine scent enveloped me. I should have leaned forward and limited our contact as best as I could, but instead I found myself leaning back slightly into his chest. With the constant rubbing of the saddle against my sensitive parts and Lochlan’s all-encompassing presence behind me, my hormones rocketed into overdrive. At one point I was aroused so intently that I wiggled to attempt to relieve the ache and received a rumbling growl in response.
His lips lowered to the shell of my ear as he murmured, “Do that again and I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”
His guttural voice made my breasts feel heavy and my head became light from my shallow breaths. I eventually leaned myself forward, but only after an extensive argument between the voices in my head.
Within the city wall there was a separate wall encircling the Seelie palace. As we were escorted through the gates, I became entranced with the grandeur of the royal residence. The enormous structure was smooth with curved facades and numerous spires—straight out of a Disney movie. Rows of guards stood at attention in green livery on the cobbled road as we approached the large double doors of the front entrance.
Inside the great hall I was reminded of the old-world opulence that I had seen in the palace on my first visit. Two of the guards led us back to the throne room where Lochlan had explained we would need to greet the queen. Courtiers in formal gowns and suits were grouped throughout the room talking quietly. We walked side-by-side down the length of the long room to the throne, garnering little attention as we passed.
The last time I had been there I had been impressed with the queen’s dining chair, going so far as to think of it as a demi-throne. However, the glorious work of art that she called a throne made me realize that calling the dining chair a demi-throne was like calling a Swarovski crystal a diamond—the crystal was lovely, but it was not the real deal.
Silver metal molded into intricate vines made up the body of the throne, and tendrils curled in all directions off the top like a living crown. Glittering jewels were artfully placed so as to accentuate areas but not overwhelm the piece. Queen Guin sat perched upon the masterpiece conversing with several men.
Her ethereal beauty was just as breathtaking as it had been before. Long red hair fell in waves down her lithe torso and her pale skin was highlighted with a scattering of freckles. But her most enchanting feature was her penetrating green eyes. In contrast to her delicate frame, she carried herself with a commanding strength, sitting aloof above her subjects.
As soon as her eyes caught sight of us she lifted her hand slowly to halt conversation. “We will finish this discussion later.”
Each man swiftly bowed his head and scuttled off the raised platform. Lochlan dropped to a low bow so I followed suit with a curtsy, hoping I had performed the task adequately.
“Lochlan, it’s been quite some time since I’ve had the pleasure of having you here.” Guin’s seductive voice was breathy with innuendo.
Bile rose in my throat at the image of them together, which her words had clearly implied. I ground my teeth together and attempted to calm myself since I had no grounds to be upset.
“Guin, I believe the pleasure has been all mine.”
His tone may have been neutral but his words fanned the flame of my fiery temper. My lips pursed together and my eyes narrowed. But the real kicker came when Lochlan glanced my way again giving me a knowing smirk, amusement in his eyes. He was toying with me. The exchange lasted a matter of seconds, but it was enough to make me furious. The power in my veins pulsed and I could feel the subtle shift of my eyes turning black.
“Rebecca, I see you’ve made progress with your powers.” Guin pulled my attention away from Lochlan and I took two deep breaths before responding.
“Not much, actually. That’s why we’re here.”
“You still believe there’s a war brewing?” she asked sounding genuinely curious.
I looked to Lochlan but his face was blank—clearly I would get no guidance from his direction. “Yes, and I’m doing everything I can to prepare. I hope you’re doing the same.”
Her head tilted just slightly as she eyed me appraisingly. “I am always prepared, but I am still not convinced of this war. I hear that young Morgan may have a vendetta against me, but her tantrum is of no concern. She cannot get inside my realm,” she said with a haughty lift of her chin. “You will stay the night here and join me for dinner this evening.” And with that she turned to signal over the men she had been talking to when we had entered. We were dismissed.
“Come this way, I’ll show you to your rooms,” mumbled a man with downcast eyes. He wore a servant’s formal uniform and before I got a good look at him, he quickly turned and sped off toward the doors.
“Was something upsetting you
?” Lochlan asked quietly as we followed the man.
“No. My emotions just seem to be close to the surface here in Faery, perhaps it has to do with me adjusting to the magic,” I shot back at him in a hushed tone.
Lochlan merely slid his eyes in my direction with a knowing look.
We wound our way to the staircase that I had descended in the purple gown that I had worn to my first dinner at the palace. Not far from where I’d stayed the last time, we were shown to adjacent rooms. The extravagant style of the bedroom was similar to the one I had been given before, but the layout was different. This room held a bed, chest, and a small sitting area along with bathing facilities. Unlike the last room, this one contained what appeared to be a door to the room next to mine. Lochlan’s room.
The rooms had been close together, but it was entirely possible the door simply led to a closet. My curiosity got the better of me and I listened at the solid wood door but heard nothing so I slowly turned the metal knob and cracked open the door. When I peeked inside I was treated to a delicious view of Lochlan’s naked back. Definitely not a closet.
He had removed his shirt and was running his hands through his short hair, offering up his rippling back muscles on display. I needed to shut the door and walk away, but I couldn’t even make myself blink. He was the statue of David and I was helpless but to appreciate the fine contours of his sculpted physique. His shoulders bunched, his lats pulled outward like wings, and the indentation down his spine led to the mouthwatering curve of his firm backside. Even his smooth skin was flawless—not too pale or overly tan, just the right golden shade to make a girl want to lick every square inch. Damn him. Why did he have to be so gorgeous? I had seen him shirtless any number of times when we trained but never did I have a chance to ogle him so unabashedly.
Twilight Siege: A Dark Fantasy Novel (The Fae Games Book 2) Page 14