by J. L. Weil
“Let me guess, you feel more aware of the power inside you?” He seemed more at ease than he had in weeks, regardless of the greater risk of being out in the open.
“That’s part of it,” I agreed, but there was more to it.
“The roots of this world are based on magic, and the power inside you is unleashed here. In the mortal world, our abilities are diluted—a restriction to level the playing field in a way.”
It still wouldn’t be a fair fight to pit a mortal against a fae. “It feels as if my senses have been dormant this whole time and just woke up after years of sleeping. Everything is so vibrant and pulsing with an energy I can’t put into words.”
The brick path twisted around the biggest tree I’d ever laid eyes on, our shoes clattering on the speckled pavers. Devyn glanced up and up into the branches of the tree when we were underneath it, and I wondered how many times he’d climbed it as a boy. “In a way, that is exactly what happened. You’ve been living in your mortal body for eighteen years. The moment you crossed worlds, your fae heritage became dominant in your human body. There are many demi-faes in the Second Moon, just none of royal blood,” he informed me.
This got me thinking about his family. They’d been raised here. I wanted to know more about them. “Where is Holly’s father?” I asked.
His lips thinned, but not in the same way as when Kai’s name was brought up. It was difficult for me to judge how he felt about his stepfather at that moment. “He is often gone for weeks at a time in Thornland. Draven is a regiment commander for the Conclave. It was how he met my mother. He is a decent man, even though his son is an asshole.”
The Conclave was made up of the royal faes who represented each family line, including those who ruled over the five kingdoms. There were seven royal fae bloodlines still in existence, including mine. “Have you and Kai always been at odds?”
Devyn plucked a leaf from one of the trees lining the pathway. “From the moment we met. He has the soul of a trickster and a heart filled with darkness. I don’t trust his magic.”
Beyond the open field behind the house was a forest with trees that reminded me of mushrooms clustered together. The canopies of the trees formed a perfect dome that interconnected one to the next. “Doesn’t legend often portray a Kitsune as a trickster?” I asked.
“Mortals and their myths.” He snorted. “A fae is measured by their soul and how they use their magic. You might share an ability similar to Kai’s, but that doesn’t make you an untrustworthy person. What you do with that power will define you, and I’ve never met a fae or human who has a purer heart than you.”
I chewed on my nails. “I don’t know how to feel here or what’s expected of me. What if having a queen that is half mortal is not what this world needs?”
His mouth twisted to the side as he mulled over my doubts. “Come on, let me show you something.”
“Okay,” I replied with suspicion as he grabbed my hand and led us off the path and into the field and the trees bordering his land.
It was darker in the woods. The leaves blocked most of the sunlight, and I was grateful for the warmth of the cloak. There was an eeriness to the interlocking branches overhead. I found them beautiful, but they also made me want to shift, to run over the rocks and dodge trees, to free myself from my human form. “Where are you taking me?” I asked after minutes of our feet crunching over dry leaves and fallen branches.
He didn’t turn to look back at me. “You’ll see. Trust me.”
I rolled my eyes. Of course, I trusted him. It was myself in this place I didn’t trust.
I tested out my fae senses as we walked, the smell of pine and moss tickling my nose. We reached the top of a plateau that revealed a misty field below. Devyn threw me a glance, and although his features were partially hidden by his hood, there was no mistaking that the Shaman was up to something.
Oak trees bordered the field, but as we hiked through the long wild grass and came closer to those trees, I noticed a cluster of six that were barren. Not a single leaf hung from their branches. Nothing but twigs blew in the howling winds.
“What happened to them?” I inquired, reaching out my hand to the naked trees.
“It’s the sickness,” he said, crouching down to take a handful of soil in his palm, allowing the dry crumbles to pass through his fingers. “Hold out your hand,” he instructed, tilting his toward me. The sun shone in his face, causing him to squint. I bent down beside him and did as he asked, extending my hand. He sprinkled some of the earth into my open palm. “What do you feel?”
My eyes met his with question. Feel? Was I supposed to feel anything but dry dirt against my skin? He seemed so sincere in his request that I played along, closing my fingers around the soil, expecting to be disappointed.
It wasn’t disappointment at all.
I felt pain and suffering. Sadness too. The earth itself was weeping, begging to be saved from the disease that ate away at its life source, stealing the nutrients from its core. Save me, it pleaded.
My eyes sprang to Devyn’s, looking to see if he had heard the cry, but his face showed nothing. Sinking to my knees, I shoved my fingers into the soil under one of the dead trees and let my eyes drift shut.
The familiar tingles of power swam through my veins, shimmering with a soft glow of warmth. Magic flowed from my fingertips in a soothing song. Soon, my power murmured. Soon I will set you free. Soon you will flourish again, my power promised.
I opened my eyes to see Devyn staring at me with a mixture of wonderment and approval. “You will make a formidable queen. The land already seeks your guidance.”
What was he talking about? All I did was run my fingers through some dirt. It didn’t exactly qualify me to oversee a kingdom.
A fierce grin full of pride was on his lips. “Look,” he said, tugging on the end of my braid and nodding his head upward.
My eyes followed his to the tree above us, and I gasped, unable to believe what I beheld. Flanked by two barren trees, the one in front of me was no longer near death but now had lush green leaves on its strong branches.
“You did that,” he whispered in my ear. “And this is just the beginning of what you’ll be able to do. You haven’t had the chance yet to properly test your limits, and when your powers are full, you’ll be able to heal the sickness that plagues this land. It’s okay to be worried, but don’t doubt yourself.”
“I’m not worried,” I lied.
Devyn studied me, no judgment in his eyes. He accepted me for who I was—a clueless Kitsune whose life was a hot mess. “You’ve been dumped face-first into a world you couldn’t even imagine a year ago. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Things will get better, and in the meantime, own who you are.”
Sound advice, if I survived that long. “Easy for you to say.”
“Don’t be like that. Would I lie to you?”
No, he wouldn’t lie, but it was hard at the moment to feel any hope. I took a long breath.
His knuckles were cool as he brushed the back of them over my cheek. “Think of it this way. You get to live a life people only dream about in your world or read about in fantasy books. You get to make a difference. You’ll be able to save people, save your mom. And rule with goodness and justice. People will look up to, love you, and support you as the rightful heir to Katsura. This is your birthright, and it was granted to you.”
I blinked, my heart swelling in my chest. “Wow. Do they teach you how to give motivational speeches in Thornland as well? I needed that, and it is enough that you believe in me.” The weight on my shoulders lightened, even if only a fraction.
He tweaked the end of my nose. “Anytime, Kitten.”
Days passed, and not all of them sucked. In fact, I rather enjoyed the time I spent with Devyn’s family. They were intense and devoted to each other. A family born of swords, honor, magic, and military skills, but also love. I was fascinated by them and the world of fae. Even Kai with his flirting and shadow magic was a puzzle I wanted to solve.
>
Unfortunately, I had many other puzzles that took precedence, like how I was going to get home and attain the last four powers.
Devyn spent most of his time devising the best way to get me back to the mortal world, and I tried to stay out of trouble, but the seclusion of being locked up in the house was testing my sanity.
I stared out the window in the study, watching the golden lights of a city twinkle on the horizon. It seemed so far away. Too far for any human to see.
“What if staying here is the better option?” I mused, turning away from the window and the call of the wild that sang in my blood.
Devyn tapped the spine of an ancient book housed in a bookshelf that would make any bookworm sigh in appreciation, his jaw set in concentration. No warmth graced his face. “If we knew more about your magic, about how the powers are granted to you, we might be able to calculate a time line, but without that knowledge, your uncles have the skills and the militia to hunt you down here. Sending fae to the mortal world isn’t simple. It takes resources and keys, which aren’t easy to come by. We’ve only had to deal with a handful of faes at a time. Here, they could send hundreds to find you.”
I glanced out the window again, my shoulders sagging against the wall. Silence descended while Devyn thumbed through book after book, looking for answers. An hour might have gone by when something in the air changed, something that had me drawing in a deep breath. What was that?
My nostrils flared, sniffing the air. Sweet. Tart. And enigmatic. My Kitsune wanted to seek out the source, to uncover what it sensed in the distance, approaching.
I stared at the early evening dusting the horizon, scanning the trees for the source. My hair prickled, and I rubbed my arms to chase away the sudden chill in the room. Who or what is out there?
A dash of red blurred out from the shadows of the woods, taking flight, and my heart pounded in my chest. A beautiful chime rang in the air as I zeroed in on the ruby red spot in the sky, letting my Kitsune senses take over.
It was nothing more than a bird.
But the hair on the back of my neck still prickled in warning. The bright-winged creature stood out against the violet and light gray sky.
Not a bird, I realized. A fae.
Just as the revelation occurred in my mind, the bird let another chirp ring through the air like Sunday morning church bells before diving toward the ground. In a flawless motion, the little bird shifted into a womanly figure as her feet sunk into the grass. She wore a ruby red cloak the same shade as her feathers. The material danced behind her as she strode with purpose toward the house. My nose was pressed to the glass, and I gawked at the women who approached. She smiled at me—a snake’s smile. I was mystified and mesmerized before I remembered myself and who I was.
No one could know I was here, and this stranger had seen me. It was imperative that my identity stayed hidden, which meant as little contact as possible. I only hoped she hadn’t seen enough to recognize who or what I was.
I cursed and jumped off the window seat, spinning around to where Devyn sat at the far side of the room. He had his back to me and lifted his head at the colorful words leaving my mouth. “Devyn, we have a problem,” I said. His eyes snapped to mine, picking up the traces of panic in my voice. “Someone’s coming.”
He stiffened, and his glare shifted to the window behind me. “Shit.”
Chapter Ten
“Stay here,” Devyn instructed me, getting to his feet from the plush chair he’d been lounging in. “Keep out of sight. I’ll handle her.”
A chill scurried down my spine, my fae senses tingling as the woman drew closer to the house. “She’s already seen me,” I countered.
In two strides, he was at the window and swore again, low and viciously. Holly appeared suddenly in the doorway, her eyes meeting her brother’s in a silent exchange before Devyn turned those brutal eyes to me. “Stay close to Holly. Do you understand? This woman cannot know your true name.”
I followed him out into the hall. “Devyn, who is she?” And more importantly, why had his expression turned murderous at the sight of her?
He threw open the front door, and a flurry of air rushed through the opening. “She’s an old . . . friend,” he settled on as if he couldn’t find the words to describe the woman sauntering up the path.
I stayed behind the door, watching her approach through the crack when something slithered around my neck. Before I could inspect what it was, a piercing bite went through the flesh at the nape of my neck. “Ouch,” I hissed, lifting my hand to investigate, but when I touched my skin, nothing was there.
“Don’t be alarmed. It was Fury masking your scent,” Devyn muttered as I caught a glimpse of a scaly tail disappearing around his neck. “I needed something stronger to hide your essence.”
“One of your snakes just bit me?” I was horrified and a shudder rolled through me.
“They will not harm you. In fact, both Wrath and Fury are quite fond of you.”
“I guess I should be flattered.”
He kept his face forward, his eyes trained on the woman. There was a tightness in his jaw, and his muscles were coiled. “You should be. They aren’t friendly creatures by nature, and they’re not pleased by our unexpected guest. Now hide,” he ordered.
My attention returned to the woman who was almost at the doorstep. Her hourglass figure was wrapped in shiny, black leather pants and a skin-tight white halter top that crossed in the front, which did nothing to hide her full breasts. Her face was artfully done with makeup—a rosy dust on her golden cheeks. Her dark curls hung loose and tousled over her shoulders, giving the impression that she’d just returned from the beach.
I didn’t want to run and hide, but Holly slipped her small hand into mine and tugged me into the next room. How could I refuse such a sweet face as Holly’s? And damn if that girl didn’t use it to her advantage.
Every bone in my body wanted to pace the room as restlessness prickled under my skin, but I forced myself to take a seat beside Holly on the couch—a position that allowed me to see Devyn while still keeping me shielded from the mysterious shifter.
“Are my eyes deceiving me? Kai said you were back, but I didn’t believe him,” the mysterious woman greeted Devyn. She might have looked young, but her voice was sultry and aged as if she was years older than her pretty face indicated.
Beside this friend, as Devyn had called her, I paled in comparison, and I despised the moment of insecurity this woman made me feel.
At the mention of his stepbrother, Devyn ground his teeth. “Madeline,” he said in return as if he had more important things to do than say hello to an old friend.
The sound of Devyn’s voice saying her name sent a streak of anger through me, hitting me out of nowhere. I didn’t like it, and neither did the fox inside me. It was perhaps a snap judgment, but Madeline rubbed me the wrong way, especially the familiar way she spoke to him.
“I was surprised you didn’t come to see me and that I had to hear about your return from Kai of all people.”
Devyn’s lips pressed together in a thin line. “A lot has changed since I last saw you.”
“And some things are still the same. Like Kai. Like how I feel about you.” Her feminine hand snaked onto Devyn’s shoulder.
Talk about getting straight to the point.
Jealousy raced through my blood, hot and vicious. God, even the sound of her name made my claws come out—a skank name if I ever heard one. “Just how good of friends is she with Devyn?” I whispered to Holly. My gaze burning a hole in my Shaman’s back.
Holly rolled her eyes. “Madeline is always throwing herself at Devyn. It’s embarrassing.”
“Did they ever date?” I was grilling a nine-year-old for information.
She shook her head. “No, not seriously. My brother is too smart to date someone like Maddy, but it doesn’t stop her from trying. Plus, my mom would kick his ass.”
My stomach twisted, but I couldn’t help but be amused by Holly. She was exa
ctly what I would have hoped for in a little sister.
“Kai mentioned you have someone staying with you,” Madeline purred.
My blood froze.
“Kai talks too much,” Devyn snarled, the muscles in his back quivering with barely controlled anger.
“You know, no one expected you back so soon. Is she here with you?”
A damp mist swept in through the door. “No one is here. You of all people should know better than to trust Kai.”
“Are you going to invite me in so we can catch up?” she said.
Devyn’s voice was firm. “Now’s not a good time.”
The hand on his shoulder slid down his arm and out of my view. “I remember you being more fun.”
My nostrils flared, and I glared at where Madeline’s hand had been casually placed on his arm. If she touched him one more time, I was going to rip off each of her fingers one by one with my teeth. How many other girls had Devyn caught the attention of?
“Be careful with those. If you hurt yourself, Devyn is going to skin me alive,” Holly warned.
I glanced down at Holly to ask her what danger I posed. I didn’t have any weapons, so what was she—
My hand! My nails had extended into sharp claws, my fingers curled for a fight. A simple thought born of rage and jealousy had transformed me.
I tugged my arm from hers. “I’m so sorry,” I apologized. “I didn’t mean to . . .”
She shrugged, not in the least bit intimidated or frightened by my loss of control. “Your powers are easier to call upon here. They respond to your thoughts, your emotions, your instincts.”
Frightening.
And powerful.