Realms of Fire and Shadow: Fae Witch Chronicles Book 3

by J. S. Malcom

  Suddenly, I realize why Cade has shown such a keen interest in me, and why he's taken such seemingly unnecessary risks. That moment of when we first crossed over into Faerie comes back to me, when that man Brevlane asked if he should tell Dabria that he and Cade had encountered each other. I remember Cade's defeated response when he told Brevlane that it might be better if Dabria didn’t know. What I heard in his voice at that moment was pure sadness and futility. What had Cade said when I asked if the Seelie had taken someone from him? They keep someone from me.

  As Kezia crosses the room to put the book away, another thing occurs to me and I give words to the thought. “But if it's true that one of Sativola’s descendants somehow holds the key keeping her spell alive, couldn't that same key be used to break the spell?”

  Kezia turns when she gets to the ladder. And this time, when the ghost across the room looks up, she keeps her eyes on me instead of her still living wife.

  “I suppose that's entirely possible,” Kezia says. “So, I would imagine that this person—whoever he or she turns out to be—would be well advised to stay away from Faerie. I can’t imagine anything the fae might want more than to discover who it is.”

  CHAPTER 5

  We trek back across town as a million thoughts swirl through my mind. There's no doubt that Cade was right about that book in Kezia’s library being a real eye opener. If even half of that stuff is true, it still explains a lot. Such as why the Seelie are seeking a certain kind of magic using changelings. Namely, the kind of magic that could potentially open the veil between the fae and human realm.

  Is that the kind of magic I displayed in being able to visit Faerie? I'm far from convinced that's the case. As far as I know, other witches might be able to do the same. In fact, it might even be possible that all veil witches can, and that ability has nothing to do with keeping the interdimensional door locked. On the other hand, if Autumn has been experiencing anything like that she definitely would have told me. I'm not proud of it, but of the two of us I'm the one usually keeping secrets. Most of the time, that’s done to protect my sister, but they're secrets all the same.

  Okay, so it's probably safe to assume that, of the two of us, I'm the only one who's been accidentally popping up in Faerie. It also seems suspicious that my visits to that other realm coincided with a seemingly increased presence of changelings within my own. All the same, that still could be nothing but a coincidence, something catching our attention that wouldn’t have before. Presumably, changelings have been poking their noses into human affairs for hundreds of years and we just didn't know. And by ‘we’ I mean humans, since obviously the half-bloods have known all along. So, there's another secret I'm now holding, although it's not one I intend to keep.

  “Doing okay?” Cade looks over at me, and I realize I've barely said a word since leaving Kezia’s house.

  “You know, it really could just be coincidental,” I say. “I mean, there's weird stuff going on all over the place. Maybe it's just the magical imbalance that allowed me to cross into Faerie to begin with.” I'm not sure even I believe that, but I sure as shit don't want to believe I'm carrying some sort of magical implant. Not to mention carrying the load of being Cade’s only hope.

  “I don't know,” Cade says. “I mean, I guess.”

  Right, he's not buying it either. This sucks. Like I haven't been kicked around enough by magic in my life. Starting with being sniffed out by the Vamanec P’yrin as a little girl when they sensed my presence.

  Oh.

  Remembering that definitely doesn't help, since it only serves to underscore something else I was wondering about. If Autumn and I are possibly both descendants of some super powerful veil witch who had a thing for banging faeries, wouldn't Autumn be just as likely to carry the same magical code, message, key, or whatever the heck it is? I mean, genetically we're nearly identical. Hell, we even look like twins.

  But there's always been a difference between us, hasn't there? I've always been more magically powerful, and magic has consistently found me first, starting with when we were just kids. In fact, I've always functioned like some sort of magical beacon, making my presence known to other supernatural entities without even trying.

  We get back to Cade's apartment, he lets us in, and I rear back in terror as a giant, furry black form flies across the room roaring and baring its teeth. Damn, Hellhound freaks me out every time. Thankfully, Cade is the target for his affection, displayed like most predators going for the kill. He knocks Cade to the ground and stands on his chest growling and whipping his stubby tail back and forth.

  “Get off me, you big idiot!” Cade laughs and struggles his way out from beneath his dog, waving his hand through the air to make the lights come on.

  Meanwhile, Hellhound advances on me. “Hi boy,” I say, backing up a step. “Good boy.”

  Hellhound leaps, knocks me over and pins me to the floor, this time slapping my face repeatedly with his giant tongue. Finally, Cade drags him off.

  “Sorry, he gets excited if I've been away,” Cade explains, himself now being head-butted against his stomach until he backs into a wall. Cade vigorously massages Hellhound's massive head until the combination of dog and grizzly bear starts to calm down. Cade then heads toward the kitchen. “Come on, boy. Let's get you something to eat.” Hellhound follows at his heels and a moment later Cade calls out an admonishing, “Hellhound!” Presumably, Hellhound has knocked over the table again, but for all I know he may have eaten the refrigerator.

  I climb to my feet, pulling my t-shirt up to dry my face. Gross. Thankfully, this time I at least prepared by packing a quick bag so I can change later. Although, I'm beginning to wonder if I should start leaving a few things at Cade's place. Okay, that's a weird thought.

  Cade emerges again and says, “Glad to see Isaac and Sloane have been letting Hellhound in. Although, it might work out better if they let him into their apartment.”

  “Well, he is your, um, dog.”

  “I like to think of Hellhound as everyone's dog.”

  Hellhound continues to pant and stare up at him, suggesting he might have a different opinion on the subject.

  “By the way, are Sloane and Isaac a couple?” I guess it doesn't really matter, but I'm just curious.

  “God no,” Cade says. “That would be disastrous to a partnership like ours. It's stressful enough wondering who's going to make it back alive, without that someone being your significant other.”

  Which begs the question, “Have you ever considered possibly not stealing from the fae?”

  “Seelie fae,” Cade corrects me. “And with any luck I can retire soon.”

  I decide not to pursue that cryptic response, since I think I know where he's going. I'm not up for having that particular conversation. I only stopped inwardly freaking out a few minutes ago.

  “Come on, let's go upstairs,” Cade says. “I hope you brought Sloane's amulet.”

  *

  As we climb the stairs, you can hear Isaac's and Sloane's raised voices out in the hall. If I was to guess, I’d say they're continuing the same argument we heard at the gathering of Silvermist occupants earlier tonight.

  “I just think we need to do something!” Sloane says, her voice raised in pitch as well as volume.

  Isaac counters with, “And I think there's way more at stake here!” What he feels to be at stake, we don't learn in that moment since Cade says, “See what I mean? Definitely not a couple.”

  At least not a happy one, I think, as Cade knocks on the door.

  Their voices cut off and a moment later Isaac calls out, “Who goes there, friend or fae?”

  I can't help but crack a smile, even though Cade says, “It really does get old after a while.”

  We enter the apartment to find Isaac where we found him last time, sitting on the sofa polishing his guitar. Sloane stands at the window with her back to us, her raised shoulders signaling that she's still tense from the conversation we just interrupted. Beyond her, a spark of light s
treaks through the sky.

  “Everything okay, guys?” Cade says.

  “So, you're alive.” Isaac's casual tone suggests that it's not that unusual for one of them to disappear for a week. Or maybe, given what they do, downplaying their worry is just part of the game. Like Cade just said, they can never be sure that one of them will make it back again.

  “Still kicking,” Cade says. “Remember Cassie?”

  It's really just his way of letting Sloane know he didn't come alone. She turns from the window and her expression softens as her anger fades. She offers me a smile.

  “Hi, Cassie. Nice to see you again.” She turns to Cade. “Sure, everything’s okay. But Isaac here thinks we should just ignore the situation in Faerie and go on with business as usual.”

  Isaac shakes his head and sets his guitar down with a thunk against the rug. He speaks softly, not looking at any of us. “That’s not what I said.”

  Sloane narrows her eyes. “That’s what I heard.”

  I get one of those strange tingling feelings on the back of my neck, the very sensation Julia has told me to watch for. A sudden itch on the lobe of one ear, or the side of your nose. A strange spasm at the side of your eye. Most people think these are just random physical occurrences. Meaningless inconveniences to be ignored. Psychics know otherwise. Those are signals, the more deeply attuned part of yourself trying to gain your attention. Julia even swears that the different locations on your skin carry different meanings. The problem being, this time I’m not sure what just gave me a psychic ping.

  “What was your take on the situation?” I ask Isaac.

  His eyes meet mine, and then he looks toward Cade. Again, he speaks quietly, when what we heard climbing the stairs was a much more forceful exchange. “I just think we have bigger fish to fry.”

  Cade, having become the recipient of that vague response, shakes his head. “What do you mean?”

  Isaac picks up his guitar again and cradles it in his lap. “Obviously, we can’t ignore the situation in Faerie. I wish we could. I just think there are much larger stakes at play here.”

  I get another tingle on the back of my neck. “As in?”

  This time, I see an unexpected anger in Isaac’s gaze. “As in the human realm. The place where we were born. That’s what we should be worried about, not Faerie.”

  Sloane leaves her post at the window and walks toward us, her attention focused on Isaac. “None of this is affecting that realm. It’s only here that shit is going on, and in Faerie from what we hear.”

  Isaac mutters, “Right, but isn’t it only a matter of time?”

  Again, he looks at everyone but me, and now I think I know why I just got those psychic signals. Maybe it’s something Cade told Isaac before I met them, or something Isaac and Sloane discussed after I did. I just don’t know. But the feeling I get is that Isaac is worried about the same aspect I brought up back at Kezia’s house. What if all of this has been about the Seelie searching for the magic keeping them locked out of the human realm? Is it possible that they’ve been searching for hundreds of years? The answer to that, I believe, is yes. That they started searching as soon as Sativola closed off the realm to them, and that they haven’t stopped since.

  “That might be a stretch, but whatever,” Sloane says, clearly trying to break the tension. She turns to Cade. “So, how did it go? I’m assuming you must have struck out.”

  Cade stares back at her, a mildly smug expression on his face.

  Sloane’s eyes widen, and then her jaw drops as she draws in a sudden breath. “No freaking way.” Her eyes pivot to me. “You actually did it?”

  My face grows warm. Still, I can’t help but feel a little proud. “One of them.”

  It’s strange to realize that, going in, I thought first and foremost about rescuing Julia. And, if possible, liberating Ellie. But my list has grown since then to include Helen, Lily and Mitch. How many more are held there, though, and for what reasons?

  “A changeling,” Cade says.

  Sloane does an excited little dance. “Are you kidding me? No way! Seriously?”

  “Yeah, seriously,” Cade says.

  I can’t help but notice that Isaac doesn’t seem nearly as excited. He’s smiling, but his expression seems a bit forced.

  Cade notices too. “Don’t you think that’s amazing?”

  Isaac nods. “It really is. Congratulations. Hey, why don’t I go get us something to drink? I think we still have some wine. How does that sound?”

  Cade cocks his head. “Sure, that sounds great. Thanks, Isaac.”

  Isaac goes into the kitchen and Cade speaks softly to Sloane, “What’s up with him?”

  She shakes her head, and speaks just above a whisper. “Not sure. I guess all of this just has him freaked out.”

  As soon as she says it, the building around us trembles. I sway on my feet and clutch Cade’s arm to keep from stumbling.

  “Earthquakes are part of it,” he says. “Revlen says it’s been bad on their side.”

  “What a mess,” Sloane says. “But I guess it stands to reason. I mean, something is bound to go haywire if you keep trying to hog all of the magic.”

  “Oh, right.” Cade digs in his pocket and produces the amulet I gave him as we came upstairs. It just would have been weird if I returned it to her, when she was hesitant loaning it to Cade in the first place. He grins at Sloane and hands it over. “Speaking of hogged magic.”

  Sloane laughs and displays a mock-indignant expression. “That wasn't hogged magic. That was saved magic. There's a difference.” She gives the pendant a shake, and then holds it up to the light. “About six months’ worth. Half of which appears to be gone now.”

  I wince. “Sorry about that.”

  “Don't be,” Sloane says. “That's just my way of reminding Cade he owes me.”

  Cade grins. “Now that I gave it back, do you mind if we borrow that again?”

  “Seriously, you’re going back already?”

  Cade shrugs. “We pretty much have to.”

  He holds his hand out, and Sloane hesitates. Then she hands the amulet back with a sigh. “Sure. Whatever. At least it went to a good cause last time.”

  Cade drops onto the sofa. “A very good cause. After all, we've now proved that a changeling spell can be undone. Well, at least we've proved that Cassie can undo a changeling spell.”

  Sloane and I both sit as well. Sloane shakes her head, as if still in disbelief. “And what about in our realm?” Seeing our blank expressions, she adds, “I mean our other realm. Are the number of changelings still increasing there?”

  “I wouldn't doubt it,” Cade says. “The Seelie have definitely been ramping up their agenda.”

  It's a good question, and something I've been wondering about too. I didn't see anything in the news last week, but that doesn't really mean anything. Presumably, most people don't report someone they know starting to act different. I've also wondered more than once if the man who tried to kill me might have been a changeling. What other explanation can there be? But if it was a changeling, who was controlling it? And if I carry the magic within me both to keep the veil locked, or to open it again, what would it mean if I died? My guess is it depends on how the spell was cast, but it's always easier to open the door when you have the key.

  “And what was with the psychic thing?” Isaac says, returning from the kitchen with a bottle of wine and four glasses. “Did anyone figure out that connection?”

  He takes the remaining chair and starts filling the wine glasses. He seems fine now, so maybe he just needed a moment to get past his argument with Sloane. To be fair, we didn't exactly arrive at the best moment.

  “I have a theory on that one,” I say. “Well, maybe more of a question, but what if they're setting up some sort of network?”

  Isaac maintains eye contact this time, that guarded defensiveness from before seeming gone now too. “A network…”

  “Right. Maybe they're not just looking for something. Or someo
ne. But they're using psychics to create some sort of connection.”

  Sloane gasps. “Oh, my God. That makes sense! It's long been suspected that the Seelie have some sort of magical connection going on. No one understands how it works, but it's like first they somehow locked most of the magic down, and then found a way to keep it channeled between them.”

  “So, you're thinking they're using those psychic kids more like objects than people,” Cade says. “Is that it?”

  “Wow, imagine that,” Sloane says. “The Seelie using someone like an object.”

  I think of the night Fashenan led me to discover that secret alcove in Luchtane's study, and that luminous globe that rose spinning into the air. It's an important part of this whole thing, I’m sure. Possibly crucial to determining just how the Seelie are controlling the power of the ley line. My heart starts beating fast, and I'm just about to tell them what happened, but then my eyes go to Isaac again as he waits to learn more. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I can't forget that psychic ping from before. Especially since I get another one now.

  “Like I said, it's just a theory,” I say. “Who the hell knows what they're up to?”

  CHAPTER 6

  The idea is to cross over into Faerie while it's late at night, hoping that we'll find things to be quiet with the city kingdom mostly asleep. Peaceful isn't exactly what we encounter. Instead we find ourselves immersed in chaos.

  We no sooner emerge into the Unseelie neighborhood than a platoon of Seelie soldiers charge by on horseback, encircling a crowd that’s taken to the street. I shield my eyes against the light of an inferno as a nearby building burns. Acrid smoke stings my nostrils. Suddenly, there's another flare as the man leading the charge unleashes an explosion at the crowd's feet with a thrust of his arm. He has bone white skin, platinum hair tied back flat to his skull and a jagged scar running down his face. Vintain.