by J. L. Weil
“Mom,” the little girl whined. “Kai is turning the shadows into monsters again.”
Rosetta sighed and thumped Kai on the back of the head as she strolled by. “Stop teasing her. We have a guest, so try and act a tiny bit civil.”
Kai shot me a sinister grin that had color staining my cheeks. “We’ve already met.”
Rosetta and Devyn both frowned in a similar fashion at Kai who continued to stare at me as if I was the main course for dinner. I averted my gaze, trying not to think about that Devyn’s stepbrother had seen me nearly naked.
The little girl jumped out of her seat when her eyes settled on Devyn, and she flung her arms around him. “You’re home,” she beamed, pure joy radiating off her pretty features.
Devyn returned the embrace, the lines on his face softening. “Did you shrink while I was gone?”
In response, the little girl put her fist into Devyn’s gut. “If I was any shorter, you’d be on the ground groaning.”
A snicker escaped my lips. I liked this girl.
Devyn whooshed out an exaggerated breath of air, his hands clutching his belly, but there was no real pain in his sparkling eyes. Only humor. I was more concerned with the little girl’s hand. She had packed a punch. “Someone’s been practicing,” he said, his eyes trailing after his sister who resumed her place at the table, her hair bouncing with her movements.
“You’re lucky she didn’t throw your ass to the floor,” Kai said from where he lounged in his chair.
“Take a seat where you can find one and excuse my ill-behaved children. I’ve given up.” Although Rosetta’s tone was filled with exasperation, there was no mistaking the love in her eyes. “We’re pretty informal around here. Your timing is impeccable. We were about to have dinner.”
I recalled Devyn mentioning that time in the Second Moon was different than the mortal world. Night was in full bloom outside the kitchen window, whereas at the motel where we’d been not long ago, it had been just past noon.
Devyn slipped past me, ruffling the little girl’s hair who watched me with interest before he pulled out a chair for me on the other side of her. “Thank you,” I replied, sitting down. Devyn strategically took the seat across from me, his dark brows furrowed at Kai. Every maneuver the Shaman made was in some fashion for my benefit, even in his own home. It didn’t go unnoticed by his family, and I thought something akin to pride beamed in Rosetta’s eyes.
“I’m Holly,” Devyn’s little sister said in a sweet and bubbly voice.
She had the kind of smile that demanded one in return. My own grew into a grin in response to her unabashed nature. She had the same eyes I dreamed about often—Devyn’s eyes.
Holly was aptly named with pine green eyes, dark brown hair, and cherry cheeks. She was Christmas incarnate. Joyful. Bright. And a bit mischievous.
“I’m Karina. It’s nice to finally meet you, Holly. Such a pretty name.”
“Mom said she named me after her best friend’s favorite holiday. We don’t have Christmas here, but I’m dying to know what it’s like.” Her lively chatter was refreshing and so like Belle’s.
I swallowed. Belle. I prayed the pixie was okay in the mortal world. “It’s quite magical,” I assured Holly.
“You’re very pretty for a queen.”
A short laugh bubbled out of me. “Thank you, but I’m not queen yet.”
“You will be,” she said matter-of-factly. “That’s why Devyn went to find you. He’s your Shaman.”
This little pip-squeak knew more about the world I was supposed to lead than I did—a frightening thought for the fae race. Perhaps they should crown her. She definitely had spunk. “Your brother is quite good at keeping me safe.”
“That’s because he’s the strongest Shaman in—”
“Holly,” Rosetta scolded. “Eat. You can pepper Karina with your excessive questions after dinner.” She placed a plate in front of the little girl and gave another one to me.
I glanced down, relieved to see familiar foods and not some weird fae delicacy. Steaming potatoes, a green veggie buttered and seasoned similar to asparagus, and a slice of meat pie with a golden flaky crust filled my square plate. I was starving, and my mouth watered at the sight of the home-cooked meal. It had been weeks since I’d had food like this.
The conversation never lagged as Devyn and his family reunited. I did my best to listen while forking food into my mouth and responding when appropriate. After I was positive I couldn’t eat another bite without throwing up, I set my fork down.
“So, are one of you going to tell me how you ended up here?” Rosetta asked, looking for answers now that we’d had a moment to collect ourselves and catch our breaths.
Devyn leaned back in his chair, crossing his right ankle over his left thigh. “We’re not entirely sure, but I believe Karina can void.”
“A girl after my own heart,” Kai said, his long legs stretched out under the table.
Devyn’s jaw tightened. “Do you have to make everything about you?”
Rosetta ignored the two of them, pressing on as she worked through our sudden arrival out loud. “Why here? It shouldn’t have been possible. She’s never been to the Second Moon.”
I had a very vague understanding of what it meant to void, but it seemed to be an ability with parameters. The whole concept was iffy to me and went beyond what my mind was able to comprehend or accept, regardless that the truth of it was staring me in the face. It shouldn’t be that far of a stretch really, considering all the other impossible things I could do—manipulating time, for example.
“Her connection to me,” Devyn said. “I was thinking about home, and the next thing I knew, we were cloaked in darkness.”
Rosetta frowned, her eyes volleying between her son and me. “I’ve never heard of a Kitsune who could void another fae.”
Fabulous. I couldn’t even be a normal fae.
“Kai, have you?” Rosetta posed the question to her stepson, her eyes shifting to him on the other side of the table.
“I have a feeling our little queen is special.”
“Perhaps it is her mortal blood that changes the molecular makeup of our fae magic. What were you doing before the void?” she asked Devyn.
The Shaman and I both shifted in our chairs, which made Kai’s wry grin widen. But he didn’t say anything. He just watched us squirm and enjoyed every second of it.
“We’d just come back from a run. It had been raining,” Devyn added as if to explain why I was wearing his shirt.
“It’s their bond,” Holly piped up. I’d forgotten she was beside me, but Devyn’s little sister was on to something, the smart cookie. No one but me was surprised by Holly’s suggestion. “Don’t you sense it? Even across the table, the link between them reaches for the other as if they can’t stand to be apart. It’s what pulled Devyn to her when she left the mortal realm.”
I blinked. Who is this little girl? I stared at Devyn, and as if I’d spoken the question out loud, his mouth twitched in a response. Later.
Rosetta pursed her lips in thought. “I’m guessing it didn’t matter that you were raised in different worlds. The connection has always been there, waiting for you to find one another, but you’ve arrived during dark times, I’m afraid. The sickness has just reached the borders of Ashland, and it has sent the Conclave into a frenzy. Until you are ready to claim your kingdom, nowhere is safe.”
Up until the last week or so, my sole purpose had been to save my mom, and I was intent on that path, but somehow my task had shifted to also include becoming queen. Devyn had informed me of my royal heritage, and yet, it hadn’t really sunk in. Since the encounter with Imogen, my grandfather’s royal guard, the word “queen” seemed to surround me at every turn.
What if I didn’t want to be a queen? To lead a kingdom? To be the source of life for a land? To be thrown into a political game I knew nothing about? To give up my life back home? To give up Devyn?
In reality, it didn’t matter what I wanted. It was t
he only choice I had, and I needed to remind myself why I was here, why I’d left home.
“We won’t be staying here long,” Devyn assured his mom.
His mother was having none of it. “You’ll stay in my house until you figure it out.”
“Mom, I don’t—”
“There is nowhere safer than this house besides the capital, and you know you can’t take her there. Not yet. She isn’t ready.”
Devyn let loose a breath, and I could already see the wheels turning behind his eyes. “We just need a bit more time. She can do it. No one has ever earned the powers she has in such a short time.”
“That may be so, but time isn’t going to be easy to come by. Not when the blight is moving so swiftly over the land. Ryker and Talin are desperate, as are the other lords. If they find out she is here . . .” She didn’t need to finish the statement. We all knew how it would end.
“We’ll figure it out,” he said again. The scraping of wood against the floor filled the kitchen as he stood up from the chair. “It’s been a long day.”
I set my napkin on the table, reading the look in Devyn’s expression. “Thank you for the meal,” I said to Rosetta. “And for letting me stay. I don’t want to put your family in harm’s way.” If anything happened to them, to Holly, I’d never be able to forgive myself. This was Devyn’s family, and I would protect them as I would my own.
“The honor is ours. Your mother meant a great deal to me, as I’m sure you can understand.” Her eyes darted to her son before reclaiming mine. “You’re family, Karina.”
“Does this make her my sister?” Kai asked in that smart-ass way of his. His lips hooked in a lopsided grin that said he definitely didn’t think of me as a sister.
Devyn snarled.
“I’ve always wanted a sister,” Holly said, oblivious to the tension between Kai and Devyn. She was probably used to it, seeing as it didn’t appear these two had ever gotten along.
Rosetta collected the plates on the table, piling them on top of one another. “I’m sure you’re tired and could use some rest and a hot bath. I’ll have the spare room made up for you.”
“She stays with me,” Devyn stated flatly, leaving no room for argument.
Kai snorted, and Devyn shot him a glare of murder. I held my breath, afraid Devyn was going to leap over the table and strangle the smirk off his stepbrother’s smug face.
My cheeks burned, but the truth was, I didn’t want to be separated from Devyn. We’d been together for weeks, and I wouldn’t be able to sleep without his presence in the room.
“I need to be close in case . . .” He swallowed.
“Of course. It’s been too long since I’ve had the responsibility of protecting a royal.” Rosetta shifted her attention to me, a stack of plates now in her hands. “If there is anything you need, Karina, do not hesitate to ask. You will be safe here. I promise you that.”
How could I not be in a house full of Shamans? This was probably the most secure home in the Second Moon. Although I wasn’t too sure that Kai qualified as safe. He might just as easily feed me to the wolves.
After a long soak in the round bathtub, I sat by the window, letting the balmy evening breeze that carried faint traces of something sweet and floral tickle my face. Shadows of lush trees swayed with the wind, their branches sweeping over the ground. High in the sky, two moons washed the world in soft light. One to the east, the other to the west—mirror images of each other.
This place was magical. From the blades of grass covering the ground to the ageless stars decorating the midnight sky, the vibrancy of it rippled through my blood as if it was calling out to my powers saying, Please come play with us.
The door to the bedroom creaked open. Devyn had returned with extra pillows and blankets, which he set on the bed. “You should be asleep,” he said.
I wanted to ask him if he’d be staying with me in the bed—his bed. “Is this awkward?” I inquired instead.
“Having you in my room? Should it be?”
I moved away from the window and slipped onto the mattress, biting the inside of my cheek. “I’ve always wondered what your room would look like. The apartment in Seaside Heights wasn’t really yours, just a place you used.” My eyes swept over the grand space of ivory, gold, and gray, taking in the little details of his life from the wall art that depicted scenes that looked like fae history to the carved figures scattered on the dresser.
“And is it what you imagined?” he asked, genuine curiosity lacing his voice.
Tugging my knees up to my chest, I smiled. “Not really. I thought there would be more swords and daggers.”
A low laugh rumbled through his chest. “Don’t go through the dresser. You might slice a finger on a hidden blade.”
“Your sister is adorable.”
A snort escaped him as he climbed onto the other side of the bed, making sure to keep enough space between us so our arms didn’t touch. I tried to hide my disappointment, because more than anything, I wanted him to hold me. “Adorable isn’t a word I would use to describe the little heathen.” The statement was said with affection. It was clear how much he cared for her.
“Is she like you?”
He turned to face me. “Holly isn’t a Shaman, not like me or my mom. Her father (Kai’s father) is an Unseelie. His blood gave her the gift to see auras and manipulate them when she wants to.”
I knew a little about Unseelie fae from Devyn’s car lessons. They were fae with darker magic, but that didn’t necessarily make them evil. “She can change the way a person feels?”
He nodded. “She is a skilled fighter as well, so don’t let that face fool you. Holly isn’t like most girls her age.”
I raised a brow. “Do you mean here or on Earth?”
“Both.”
“I guess we have something in common.”
His lips twitched. “You do.”
“What about Belle?”
“The pixie can take care of herself.”
He was probably right, but it didn’t stop me from worrying. I didn’t want her to think that we had run out on her, but of course, being who she was, perhaps she already knew what had happened, given she could see the future.
My fingers toyed with the silver chain around my neck as I glanced at the rumpled bed, and the memory of us being tangled together in those sheets made my cheeks burn. “Do you think your mom knows?”
I didn’t need to explain what I meant. For a moment, his green eyes flared. “She knows. Even if you weren’t wearing one of my shirts, she would have picked up on it seeing us together. Not to mention, my scent is all over you.”
I swallowed. Faes had excellent senses.
Shit.
A faint warmth bloomed along my neck. “I’m guessing a bath won’t help me.”
He chuckled, and it was a reassuring sound in the midst of our dire situation.
Chapter Nine
I was wide awake before dawn, my body not used to the time difference in the Second Moon. Burying my face into the pillow, I inhaled Devyn’s scent, and the Kitsune magic within me murmured. My eyes drifted closed again at the shift summoning me. My Kitsune wanted to run, to play in this new world and explore all that it offered.
The mattress dipped at the edge of the bed, and I peeked out from the covers, seeing Devyn holding a cup of something hot. “I thought you might need this.”
My hands wrapped around the mug. “Good morning,” I mumbled before taking a sip and frowning, forcing myself to swallow the unsweetened beverage that tasted of weeds and herbs. It took all my control not to spit it all over his face. I winced. “No coffee?”
His eyes sparkled at the revulsion in my expression. “Sorry. Coffee isn’t a thing in this world. This was the closest I could get.”
“You’re kidding.” How was I going to live without my lattes?
“We have plenty of other delicacies you might like,” he offered.
But no coffee. The one drink I needed in the morning to keep myself from
becoming a raging lunatic. “Are we going somewhere?”
Devyn was already dressed in a dark tunic with a silver tree that had twining roots stitched over his heart. The fine clothes were cut close, showing off his disciplined body and the numerous weapons sheathed under the material—warrior clothes. “I was thinking you might like to see a bit of Ashland.”
The prospect of going outside nabbed my fox’s attention. “Is it safe?”
“We’ll stay on the grounds, and besides, you’ll be with me.” He made it sound like that would be enough. “I want to show you what you’ll be ruling over. You’ve only seen the dark side of being fae. Let me show you that it can be wonderful as well.” That’s when I caught it: the excitement beaming under the cool exterior. “At least a small slice of it before we must leave.”
If we found a way to leave, and even then, I had to come back whether I ended up hating or loving this world. A smart queen would learn everything she could about the kingdom she was to inherit.
I wanted to be a smart queen and so much more. I wanted to be just, to love those in my kingdom, to be fair and generous. There was so much I didn’t know, so much for me to learn.
Today was as good a day as any to start.
I quickly dressed in borrowed clothes from Rosetta, nursing the lukewarm cup of fae tea (as I dubbed it), and braced myself for what lay outside the house. I followed Devyn through the silent corridors and then outside.
A tender breeze skidded along my arms and cheeks, causing little tingles of magic to prickle under my skin as we stepped out from under the porch. White star flowers budded on the ivy that clung to the front of the stone house, weaving its way up the pillars. The morning sun kissed my face.
Devyn pulled the hood of my dark blue cloak up over my head—another item borrowed from his mother. “Just to be safe,” he said, tugging up his own hood to conceal part of his face and beginning to walk down the brick path.
I followed alongside him, watching him from the cover of my cloak. Here, Devyn moved with such an unearthly grace. My Kitsune ears picked up swishing blades of tall grass, a trio of birds singing in the trees that lined the property, and the steady beat of Devyn’s heart. “Why does my magic react differently here? I noticed it yesterday.” If I tried, I was sure my senses could stretch out for miles over the land.