By the Magic of Starlight (The Forbidden Realm)

by Serena Gilley

  But it was important she remain undetected now, and Swift was her first concern. He was coming her way! What if he walked into her, or noticed her pressed up against the wall as he came by? She held her breath and tried desperately to calm her racing heartbeat.

  She got lucky, though. Instead of walking right into her, Swift stopped at the very door opposite her. She scooted sideways just a bit so the green fairy’s wings didn’t accidentally brush against her and clue him in to her presence. He seemed fully intent on his duty, though, and paid her no mind as he rapped sharply at the door.

  It opened a moment later and she saw Dorn’s assistant appear. Dorn’s voice called from inside.

  “Well? What is he saying?”

  “Not much,” Swift replied, remaining where he was outside the doorway.

  “Well, he’s got to know these charges won’t simply go away. This is a serious accusation, Swift. Who’s been assigned as his advocate?” Dorn asked.

  “Pimma.”

  “Hmm. Yes, good. She’s brand new at this, fresh out of training. Still, keep an eye on her. Keep her in line. We cannot risk Kyne being freed, especially not now.”

  “Sir? What if he’s telling the truth?”

  “You know what’s at stake here! Does it really matter if he is guilty or not?”

  “But, sir, we can’t very well convict an innocent man.”

  “He’s not innocent. Don’t get your wings in a self-righteous buzz, Swift. We all know what sort of fairy he is. Someone’s working with the humans and he’s the most likely suspect we’ve got. He knows something; you just have to find out what it is.”

  Despite the nature of his words, Dorn sounded fully confident. Swift, however, shifted and flicked the tips of his wings in barely stifled agitation.

  “Sir, perhaps we should discuss this. Behind closed doors, perhaps.”

  Dorn dismissed the suggestion. “Bah. Who do you have out there with you?”

  “No one, sir.”

  “Exactly. And there’s nothing more to discuss. Now what busywork do you have that advocate—Pimma, is it?—handling right now?”

  “She’s speaking with Kyne, sir.”

  “What? You left them alone?” Dorn boomed. “By the Clouds and the Sunrise, Swift! Get your wings back there and take her out. Put her on some errand; make her research something or other. The last thing we need is for Kyne to convince his little advocate to help him deny charges. She’ll take up his cause and get him released before morning.”

  “Er, isn’t that what an advocate is supposed to do, sir?”

  “Not this time. We need Kyne here in our custody. We need these charges to stick, so he’ll have no option but to tell us what he knows. Then you’ll see Fairy Law at work, Swift. You’ll see that the ends often do justify the means.”

  “But sir—”

  “Go. Now.”

  Dorn’s order was loud and unmistakable. Raea found herself nearly shaking, whether from fear or from anger she wasn’t quite sure. Most likely both. What on earth was going on here? The way Dorn spoke… well, nothing he said supported Fairy Law as she knew it.

  Swift, too, seemed confused. But he nodded and stepped dutifully back as Dorn’s assistant shut the door in his face. For a moment or two he just stood there, then slowly turned and Raea wondered if he had heard her breathing and suspected something.

  He stared past her, though, fixing his eyes on a spot beyond her. If he’d been conflicted about whether or not to follow Dorn’s order, clearly his sense of responsibility to the council won over. He marched right back to the door at the end of the corridor and pulled it open.

  “Pimma, you’re done for now.”

  She must have protested—not surprising—because his next words were sharp and demanding.

  “No, you can finish your interview later. Right now I need you to help me. I want to see every case file involving fairy-human interference for the past five cycles.”

  By now Pimma was in the doorway, and she sounded a little dubious about leaving her client just now. Swift was in charge, though, so eventually she gave in and met Swift in the doorway. She assured Kyne she’d return to him and Swift pulled the door shut as she joined him in the corridor.

  “What is this all about, Swift? My client assures me you have no grounds whatsoever for your wild accusations,” she said angrily.

  “There are a few things you don’t know about your client in there,” Swift replied. “But I guess you can be trusted. I’m going to authorize you to have a look at our special files.”

  Pimma frowned, but followed Swift as he led her back up the corridor toward Raea. For a moment or two the mention of something called “special files” occupied Raea’s mind, but then she realized she might be in danger of being discovered again. The passageway was barely wide enough for Swift to be near her without bumping her. How in the world would she keep hidden from two of them as they passed by? The ceiling was too low to fly, and if she tried to use Sizing Dust to make herself smaller, they’d notice the sparkle. Ducking into a door was no good, either. They’d see it open and close. What could she do?

  Just before she fell into complete panic, they stopped two doors down from her. Thank the Skies. Swift pulled an actual key from a pocket at his belt. Raea could see that Pimma was just as surprised by this as she was. Since when did magical creatures like fairies need to start using keys?

  “Locked with a key?” Pimma asked.

  “They are special files, I told you,” he said. “Do you have any dust on you?”

  “In my pouch.”

  “Give it to me. The pouch.”

  She frowned, but complied, pulling a conservative little blue pouch off her belt and handing it to Swift. He took his own pouch off his belt, then reached up to a row of hooks affixed to the wall beside the door. He hung the pouches there. They dangled, tiny bits of dust glittering from the sudden movement.

  Pimma seemed confused by his actions.

  “What in the Clouds…”

  “This room is enchanted. No magic. If we take our dust in, it’s ruined.”

  “If there’s no magic, how will I monitor my client while we’re in there? It is his right, after all, to maintain contact with his advocate during his entire time in custody.”

  She touched the oval stone that hung at her neck. Raea had heard of these, Watcher Stones, but she’d never actually seen one. How interesting. So even alone in a room all the way at the end of the corridor, Kyne was under surveillance. Well, this was good to know. Raea listened closely for Swift’s answer.

  “Your stone won’t work in the room; nothing magical will. Leave it on the hook and come on.”

  Pimma seemed doubtful. “But if I can’t monitor my client…”

  “He’ll be fine. It’s late; hardly anyone is here. Now quickly, the faster we go through the files, the faster you can get back to your client.”

  Swift opened the door and helped her remove her Watcher Stone. Then he ushered Pimma inside and the door shut quietly behind them. Raea could only wonder exactly what these special files were. Did they contain information about Kyne? Probably, or why else would Swift drag the advocate in there to look at them? Given the secretive, high security nature of the room, it was very likely that the council had quite the collection of damning information there. It was bad enough to realize her own people might keep a room like this, but to think that they might actually be prepared to use it against one of their own… it was incomprehensible.

  Poor Kyne. Did he have any idea about this? She wondered what they’d done to him already. Pimma’s stone dangled against the wall from its little hook, so Raea moved closer to get a good look at it. Yes, she could see the image of Kyne. It was like she was spying on him through a tiny window with frost on the pane. He was very much alone in the holding room, sitting quietly in a chair, his fists clenched and his face set in anger and frustration.

  What questions had they been asking him? Did they actually have a case? If only there was somethi
ng she could do. She needed to get to him, to find out how she could help.

  It seemed easy enough; the hall was practically empty and Pimma did not have her stone to see what might be going on in that holding room. The only thing between Raea and Kyne was a simple door. He wasn’t actually locked up in a cell or anything. She could just let herself in there to talk to him. It would hardly take any effort at all.

  It would take time, though. There was no telling how long Pimma and Swift might be, so she’d have to move quickly. She waited just a heart’s beat to make certain no one appeared, then she hurried to the door at the end of the corridor. She tried the handle and it opened easily for her. No lock. Kyne wasn’t being held here, simply being questioned. That was a good sign.

  She pulled the door open slowly, hoping Pimma’s Watcher Stone was the only remote monitoring device being used.

  Kyne must have heard a sound. He looked up quickly, then simply stared at the door, his face furrowed. He was not happy to see her and it took her a moment to remember why: he couldn’t see her. She laughed, then darted inside.

  What a relief to see that he hadn’t been mistreated or handled roughly, from what she could tell. She would hold off from throwing herself into his arms, though. She wanted to help Kyne, and giving in to more forbidden passion was not the best way to do that. She needed a clear head and full use of her faculties.

  “It’s me,” she said quickly, so he wouldn’t be confused. “I’m invisible.”

  She pulled the door carefully and it latched softly behind her.

  “Yes you are,” he replied. “And now you’re locked in here with me.”

  “Is it locked? I didn’t notice any locks. No matter. I have my dust.”

  “Will it work in here?”

  “Did they let you keep your dust when they put you in here?”

  “No.”

  “That means dust still works in this room. Do you have any idea how much longer they’ll keep you here?”

  He laughed. “What’s the standard hybrid human-fairy lifespan?”

  “Be serious, Kyne. Pimma must have some idea how to get this cleared up.”

  “I’m pretty sure they didn’t assign her to me to get this cleared up. No, I hate to tell you, but somebody is determined to keep me here for a long, long time, Raea.”

  “No, the charges are bogus. Come on, tell me what I can do.”

  “You should probably leave,” he said, his eyes shifting as if trying to settle on her. “Go now, Raea, before you get messed up in this.”

  “I want to help you. There must be a way.”

  “The best thing you can do is take care of yourself.”

  It was sweet that he’d worry so much for her during all this, but enough was enough. They were going to figure this out. Together.

  “Stop being stubborn,” she said. “I will not let you just sit there and do nothing.”

  “I hate to tell you, but that’s pretty much all I can do right now.”

  “It is not! Get up, Kyne, and let’s talk this through,” she ordered.

  He stared at the wall slightly off to the left of her. “I can’t, Raea. That’s what I’m telling you.”

  She would have scolded him again, but something in the tone of his voice stopped her. And then he moved. He shifted in his chair as if pulling against something heavy. His arms moved only a fraction of an inch, his hands waving helplessly at her while his wrists remained firmly on his lap. It seemed his elbows were stuck to his sides. His wings hung limp behind him and he bobbed slightly back and forth, but did not stand. She realized the trouble.

  He was trapped!

  “By the Skies, it’s a confinement suit,” she announced.

  “Yes. Apparently I pose some sort of threat.”

  She cursed softly. They’d dragged him here and put him in a confinement suit! A nearly invisible field of magic covered his torso, restraining his arms, binding his wings, and holding him fast to the chair they’d put him in. She’d been right—there weren’t any special locks on the door. The council didn’t need locks if they kept Kyne magically confined to his chair. The nerve of Swift and his superiors! Something was very, very wrong about this whole thing.

  “Let me see if I can get you out of that,” she said, coming to inspect the situation.

  “I’m sure it’s secure; probably immune from standard magic.”

  He was most likely right. She leaned in close to him, studying the glittering, glowing field. It was like nothing she’d seen before and she had to admit she really didn’t know what to do. Reaching out, she felt the tingle of magic as her hand passed through the field and rested on Kyne’s warm skin. His muscles were taut, tense and nearly bursting with pent-up energy.

  He’d not been exaggerating when he said someone was intent on keeping him here. That’s why he’d been brought in at night when no one else was around. That’s why the charges had been so extreme. That was very likely why he’d been given a young, inexperienced advocate. This wasn’t a matter of misunderstanding; she realized that now.

  Dorn’s attitude, Swift’s determination, confinement suits, a magic-dampening room with special files… it all added up to one undeniable truth. Kyne was in a whole lot of trouble and he wasn’t getting out of it any time soon. It wasn’t all going to be sorted out in a matter of hours. If she truly wanted to do anything to help Kyne, it was going to take a whole lot more than thinking up talking points.

  She was going to have to help him escape.

  “Raea… you should go,” he repeated.

  “No. I want to help you get out of that thing.”

  She felt him shudder as her hands ran over his chest, the magic from the suit zinging through her and making her dizzy.

  “You’d better not,” he said, warning filling his voice. “The combination of your hands all over me with this magic wrapped so tight… It’s making me kind of hot for you.”

  She felt exactly the same way. Her body buzzed as the familiar hum of desire burned through her. She wanted him. It was wrong, it was foolish, and it was completely beyond her control. Realizing the danger of their situation here only made her that much more aware of him. At any moment someone could come through that door and rip him away from her. Each touch could be their last, so that made every nerve in her fingers demand even more. She ran her hands over the powerful contours of his arms and up across his shoulders.

  He smiled. “That feels nice.”

  By the Skies, she was getting carried away. They couldn’t do this! She pulled her hands back. “No. This isn’t the time. Right now we just have to concentrate on getting you out of this place.”

  As she spoke, she went around behind him to investigate his wings. She touched them, too, and felt the magic that kept them inert. As she brushed them, Kyne groaned with pleasure and she watched him shift in his seat.

  “By the Skies, Raea, I swear if I wasn’t tied down in this thing, now would most certainly be the time.”

  She felt a quiver dance up her spine to realize that he shared her desire. If only Swift hadn’t shown up tonight, they’d be miles away from here, happily engaged in… but she couldn’t let herself think about that just now. She needed to keep her mind on their business.

  “You cannot possibly be thinking of such things now, Kyne.”

  “I can’t help it,” he said.

  “I only just now walked in the room. You can’t even see me.”

  “But I can feel you. By the Skies, if you don’t stop touching my wings I’m going to break out of this suit and give everyone a good show. No doubt they’ve got me under observation.”

  “No, they don’t,” Raea said and purposefully stroked the full length of Kyne’s beautiful left wing. “I heard Pimma and Swift in the corridor. They went into some room where magic won’t work. Pimma’s stone would be damaged in there, so she didn’t take it with her.”

  “I’m not under surveillance?”

  “Not for right now.”

  He shifted again. “
You shouldn’t have told me that. Now all I can do is think of all the things I’d love to do to you while no one is watching.”

  His wings flapped once, twice. He lifted a hand to try to find where she was. She could tell he moved more freely than he had before. Was something happening to the suit? Was it losing its magic?

  “I’m over here now,” she said, moving to his right side.

  He reached for her, this time his hand raising enough to actually contact her belly. She stood still for him, let him feel his way up until his fingertips brushed over her nipples. Now her body was reacting to his. If only things were different… if only they weren’t here…

  “The suit is loosening, I can feel it,” he said.

  She could tell it was true. But what could possibly be draining its power? Was there something in the building dampening magic? She reached into her pouch, fingered her dust. No, the magic was strong. She felt the usual tingle. So what was happening to the confinement suit?

  “It’s you,” Kyne said, obviously wondering the same thing. “What you do to me. Look, I can move my arms, spread my wings now.”

  “But how—?”

  “Come closer. Let me try something.”

  She obeyed, moving to his side. He was able to touch her with both hands now and the feel of his skin against hers had the usual effect. Passion flared into flame inside her and she knew they had to stop this now before the heat overwhelmed them both and they did things to regret.

  “It’s the passion,” he said. “It’s releasing the magic.”

  “But we’ve never noticed that before.”

  “Neither of us has ever been bound in a confinement suit before.”

  He seemed to be a bit more intrigued by the notion of that than he should have been. She ignored him.

  “So… what do we do?”

  “I think you know what we do.”

  Oh yes, she wanted to do exactly that! But not here, not now… not when council officials could walk in on them at any moment. Swift and Pimma were just up the hall, and as soon as Pimma left that special room she’d collect her Watcher Stone again. She would see Kyne, see Raea and… but no, she wouldn’t.