Faery Realms: Ten Magical Titles: Multi-Author Bundle of Novels & Novellas

by Rachel Morgan

  Normal... Boring... Uninspiring normal...

  I couldn’t feel anything. I went numb. I knew my heart had to be beating that I must be breathing, but I couldn’t feel any of it. Shouldn’t I be able to feel something?

  Kieran pulled me to him, crushing my head against his chest. I could hear the steady thump of his heartbeat directly under my ear and bit by bit the feeling came back to my limbs. I wrapped my arms around him, resting my hands flat against his back. I could feel the subtle movement under my fingertips as he breathed in and out.

  He’s breathing... I’m breathing... It’s going to be okay...

  His hands were on my face, forcing me to look up at him. I stared up into his emerald eyes, almost losing myself in the way they glistened in the dim light from the streetlights.

  “I meant what I said,” he whispered looking down at me. “In another time, I could really see a forever with you.”

  I closed my eyes as he brought his lips down to my forehead. I inhaled the scent of his skin, savoring the closeness of him. I tried to tell myself that this was enough, that I could live my entire life on this one moment.

  But it’s not enough... It’s not...

  Suddenly my arms around his neck and I was kissing him. I pressed my body up against his, molding myself to his contours.

  His hands were in my hair, and he was kissing me back, bruising my lips with his. I didn’t care if it was right or wrong; I just wanted him closer, surrounding me and consuming me.

  In the back of my mind, I could hear my grandmother's warnings about men and ending up just like my mother, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t my mother and I wanted Kieran.

  I reached behind myself and opened the door. Without saying anything, I pulled him inside and pushed him against the wall.

  Again, I brought my lips up to his and kissed him deeply. I peeled his shirt from his body, exposing his broad chest. I let my lips travel the hard plane, relishing the taste of his skin until he moaned with pleasure.

  I then led him up the stairs, silencing any of his reservations with my lips as I took him into my bedroom. I forgot all about my grandmother’s warnings as I pulled him down onto the bed with me.

  “I cannot ruin you, this is not the traveller way.” He protested even though I could feel his excitement through his jeans as I straddled him.

  I pulled my own shirt off and brought his hands up to my breasts.

  “I’m not a traveller,” I said and then brought my lips down on his again.

  Chapter 17

  The bright light of the morning sun woke me. I could feel the heat of it coming through the window and onto my naked skin as I looked at the clock on my night table.

  Seven o’clock.

  I stretched, feeling the hairiness of Kieran’s leg next to mine.

  It wasn’t a dream...

  Turning over, I looked down at his sleeping face on the pillow next to mine. He was even more handsome asleep, his face relaxed and somehow even more youthful.

  I was amazed that he was next to me, naked in my bed. I had never done anything like this before. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine being with a man I met a little over a week ago.

  Kieran’s eyes fluttered open, glowing light green in the early morning light. His lips twisted into a delicious smirk as he looked over at me.

  He reached across the pillows and pulled me close, kissing me hungrily. A flutter of desire spread over me until even the tips of my fingers tingled.

  How could I ever give this up?

  I buried my face into his chest, smelling his hot skin and the feel of it under my cheek. I loved the way that his arms came up around me and his hands felt on my back.

  “Harmony?”

  “Yes?”

  Kieran nuzzled his lips into my hair, “What would you say to forever?”

  “What?”

  “I’ve waited a lifetime to feel this way,” he said softly. “I don’t want to lose it.”

  I lifted myself up so that I could look down into his face, trying to read what I saw there.

  “What are you saying?” I asked.

  Kieran brushed my hair back from my face, “I want you to come away with me, to go with me when we leave.”

  Yes... Yes... Yes...

  I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

  “I can’t,” I said without hesitation.

  His face fell, “What?”

  Even I was surprised by my response; I couldn’t believe what I was saying.

  “I can’t,” I repeated simply. “My grandmother spent her life building all of this for me. I can’t just walk away.”

  He sat up, sliding out from under me. “You would chain yourself to a failing business in an old house full of memories, rather than for a chance of happiness with me?”

  “I can’t just walk away,” I argued. “My life is here.”

  “What life? You’re not living... You’re just existing.”

  “It’s all that I know.”

  “Well,” he said as he got up and began getting dressed. “There it is then.”

  “Kieran,” I pleaded as he kept his back to me. “Please try to see this my way. Two weeks ago my life was normal, and my grandma dies, you and your family come to town, and suddenly magic is real and you’re asking me to go away with. Do you know how crazy that is? I still can’t believe it all.”

  “What about me?” Kieran asked in a tight voice. “Can you believe in me?”

  I reached out and touched his arm, “I want to. I want so badly to.”

  “But you can’t.”

  “I can’t.”

  Kieran turned, his eyes shining with unshed tears. He reached out and stroked my cheek.

  “You’re going to regret this,” he said.

  I could feel the tears welling up in my own eyes, “I already do.”

  He brushed his hands over his eyes, kissed my forehead and left. I heard him on the stairs and then I heard the sound of the front door opening and then immediately closing and I was alone.

  I fell back onto the bed. I clutched his pillow to me and cried. I cried so hard, as if the sobs were being ripped for my body.

  I wanted to scream. I wanted to run and hide. I wanted my grandmother. I wanted someone to tell me that I didn’t just make the biggest mistake of my life.

  My eyes were still red and swollen when I finally forced myself out of bed. I took a quick shower, got dressed and went next door to the feed store as if it was any other morning.

  As I unlocked the door, I glanced back across the street just long enough to see that the main tent was already down and that the vendors were closing up their trailers. I turned back to the door, cringing as a stab of pain shot through my very soul.

  I shoved the door open and went inside, wiping at the disobedient tears from my cheeks. I breathed in the hollow air of the empty store, feeling the weight of responsibility crushing down on me.

  I had a chance at romance and adventure... And this is what I gave it up for...

  I shook my head, telling myself that it was the right decision. I told myself that it hurt so badly only because it was new and exciting, it wasn’t love and in a few days I forget all about him and my life would go back to normal.

  The bell on the door rang; I took a deep breath and told myself that it was time to get back to reality. I turned just us three large men came into the store. All of them had the same brown hair and bright blue eyes.

  “Can I help you?” I asked, thinking there was something vaguely familiar about each of them.

  “I hope so, love.” The largest said as he stepped forward.

  That accent...It was just like Kieran’s...

  There was a loud click as one of the others locked the door. When he did, the entire atmosphere of the room changed.

  Seriously... Again?

  “What do you want?” I demanded. I took a few steps back, eyeing the open box cutter on the edge of the counter.

  They stepped forward as well, spre
ading out in front of me. I wondered if I was fast enough to make it past them. My feet tingled with anticipation, but I stood my ground.

  Behind me I heard the back door open and shut; it was all I could do to hold in the sigh of relief. That could only be Alec.

  Alec would save me. Alec was here and everything would be okay.

  Sure enough, Alec came out of the back limping loudly to where we all stood.

  “No one’s around back,” he said as he moved past me to join the men. “We’re in the clear.”

  I watched him join the three men, all of them smiling and nodding at him, and I felt my stomach flip.

  “Alec?”

  He didn’t even look my way. He hobbled over to the elder of the group, the one that looked to be in his late thirties, and stood next to him.

  “So, what do we do now?” He asked the man.

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, “How could you? My grandmother gave you a job when the rest of the town just felt sorry for you! This is how you pay her back? By helping rob the place the first chance you get!”

  The eldest of the men laughed, “Oh you are a fiery one, but don’t be cross with him, he’s just helping his old uncle out. Besides, you’re the one keeping company with devils.”

  “What?”

  “Oh, I think you know what I’m talking about,” he said as he crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. “Why don’t you just go ahead and make it easier on all of us?”

  I rested my hand on the counter, moving it slowly to the box cutter. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, really I don’t.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  Feeling the handle of the box cutter at my fingertips, I grasped the tool and whipped it out in front of me. “Now all of you, get the hell out of my store.”

  They all laughed, amused by my attempted bravery rather than intimidated.

  Alec’s uncle step toward me, right up against the blade that I held in my hand.

  “Not so fast girly,” he said. “I want to talk to you about the Tuatha de Danann.”

  I felt myself pale, but I tried to keep my face unreadable. “I don’t know anything about them.”

  Another ripple of laughter spread through the group, making me self-conscious a little afraid.

  “Really?” He said with a smirk. “So you didn’t entertain one of them in your bed last night?”

  Damn...

  I blushed, feeling Alec watching me. I could feel all of them looking at me and imagining what all took place between Kieran and I last night.

  “You have no idea the company you keep.” The uncle said, shaking his head. “The Tuatha de Danann are unnatural parasites on the land. They are a hateful race that must be exterminated lest they rise again.”

  The man to the left nodded, “They are as disgusting as the pikeys they run with.”

  “You don’t understand a thing about them,” I hissed.

  “Well,” the man said as he glanced back at the other men. “My family has spent centuries hunting them down. What do you have? A few lies spoken in the bedroom?”

  “Shut your vile mouth and get out of my store.”

  “Not without you girly.”

  “What?”

  “Sorry love,” he said. “But you’re the bait.”

  All of them moved in, rushing at me from every direction. Someone, I’m not sure which one it was, struck me between the shoulder blades. I fell to my knees as pain mixed with the scary numbness went through my body.

  I lay there on the dusty floor, gasping for air with the room spinning in a sickening way.

  So this is it... This is how I die...

  Alec moved closer to me. I was eye level with his dirty sneakers, but unable to utter any sort of plea for help.

  “You never said anything about hurting her,” he accused.

  His uncle dismissed him immediately, “We have to do what we have to do.”

  I could see Alec’s shadow on the floor, shaking its head.

  “This isn’t a right,” Alec argued. “I won’t hurt her.”

  “So you have no stomach for it,” one of the others barked. “You forget your roots and where your loyalties should be.”

  “Let him stay in town with the women then,” the eldest one ordered.

  I gathered all of my strength and began crawling. If I could just get to the door...

  Someone grabbed me and lifted me to my feet. I told myself that this was it. It was all or nothing.

  I turned on my captor, scratching and biting, hitting and kicking. He tried to fight me off, swearing as I clawed at his eyes.

  “Get this wildcat off of me!”

  A hand clamped down on my shoulder and spun me around. At the same time, a fist struck me square in the face. I fell backwards with my eyes burning and my ears ringing.

  The room was spinning when they took my arm and dragged me out store and into the blinding white light of the day. I caught a hazy glimpse of Alec’s worried face him and then world went black.

  Chapter 18

  In the distance there was a hum. At first, it was far away and low, and then it came in close and was high pitched before fading away again.

  So this is what it’s like to be dead... Where is the white light and the angels?

  Suddenly the pain came, sneaking into the darkness. I didn’t really feel it because... Well, because I was dead, but it was there, knocking at the door in the blackness.

  So what happens now?

  The hum came again, lower and softer than before, but there nonetheless. It faded again and I thought it was gone for good, but then it came back faster and higher. Just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, the hum slowed to something resembling voices.

  “Still no sign of anyone?”

  “No, I don’ think we were followed.”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  “Stop fretting. If anyone saw us, the police would already be here.”

  Wait... Those were voices... I’m not dead...

  I remembered the pain then, the reminder of what life felt like. Where was the pain? If I wasn’t dead, where did the pain go?

  Pain meant that I was alive, that I wasn’t dead, and that the voices weren’t just some memory that I carried into the next world.

  Focusing, I tried to find something in the darkness where I was stuck. Where was the pain? Could I find it? Could I find any sort of feeling to prove that I was indeed alive?

  There it is...

  It was small and it was distant, nothing more than a dull ache in some faraway place, but it was definitely there

  I concentrated on the pain. The more I did the further away the hum moved and gave way to actual words.

  “When do you think they will come?”

  “I don’t know, it will be dark soon.”

  I ignored the voices and tuned into the pain. Little by little, the feeling began to come back in my limbs. At first, it was just a tingling and then it grew to a soreness like I had run or exercised too much.

  Okay... I can feel my arms... I think I can feel my legs... I know they’re there... So why can’t I move them?

  I began to realize that the pain I was experiencing was radiating from my head. As the rest of my body was slowly waking up, I could feel my head all big and swollen hanging on my neck.

  I tried to lift my head, but it was so heavy. No matter how hard I tried, my head just kept rolling from side to side.

  This shouldn’t be so hard...

  Taking a deep breath, I tried again, focusing all of my energy on the muscles in my neck.

  I can do this... I can do this...

  I lifted my head slowly, actually shaking with the effort. My eyes ached as I struggled to open them. I blinked a few times and squinted against the blurry bright.

  “Well, well, look who is waking up.”

  I snapped to attention, realizing that I was not alone. I felt the scratchy burn of the rope over my skin and saw that I was tied to a chair.

>   “Let me go damn you.”

  My words sounded so loud in my head, but they came out as barely an audible mumble.

  Out of the blur of brightness came a stinging slap to the side of my face. My head fell the side and I tasted the salty coppery taste of blood.

  A voice came at me, “You need to quiet down and just be a good girl.”

  I turned back to the voice, blinking until the world came back into focus. I seemed to be in an old wooden barn somewhere and across from me stood one of the three men from the feed store.

  “Who are you?” I asked.

  Another slap rocked my head again. I felt my eyes roll in for a moment the world spun in a sickening way.

  Suddenly he was there beside me, touching my face and kissing my cheek that still stung from the slap. I tried to turn my head away, he was too close and taking my air, but he held me there.

  “Are you going to be a good girl now?”

  He moved his hand down my throat, squeezing my neck. He stroked where my neck met my shoulder, that little bit of skin that was pulled tight my arms were secured behind my back.

  Get off me... Don’t touch me...

  I froze, too afraid to even whimper. I wish I could go back to that nowhere place where I was separated from my body.

  Unfortunately, instead of fading away, the world was just getting more and more real as his hands moved down to my chest.

  “Adam!”

  The voice came from somewhere behind me. I held my breath as a hand came around and pushed the man away.

  I turned my head and saw that it was Alec’s uncle that came to my rescue. He pushed the other man out the door that was somewhere behind me.

  “I’m ashamed to be your father!” He said as he pulled the door shut again, stirring up dust a little bit of straw.

  I let out my breath, going limp with relief. I was muttering some form of a weak thanks when he turned back to me and I had to wonder if I wasn’t in even more danger.

  He walked back over towards me, actually coming close enough to kneel by my chair. I cringed away from him.

  “Don’t worry,” he said as he reached for my wrists. “I’m just going to make you a little more comfortable. I have to apologize for my son; I swear I raised him better than that.”