"What the rotten kelp is happening?" Macey cursed, shoving Cam off her before he squeezed her to death. It felt like the Staran had deposited them against a glass wall, but it was too misty to see anything.
"Hello?" Cam shouted, hammering against the barrier.
Guards! A muffled noise came from the other side and hurried footsteps approached the barrier.
A bang against the wall vibrated through Macey's body. Who's there? How did you get in? a rough voice shouted in their minds. Well, that at least answered the question whether they were in the right place.
"Get in? We're not really in," Cam muttered.
"My name is Macey, Princess of the Kelpies. I am here to see the Crown Prince, Muahwa. Can you let us in?"
More shuffling, then another knock against the barrier.
Macey? Is that really you?
Suddenly, the barrier dissolved and they fell into the room, Cam landing once again on Macey.
"Get off me, you ogre," she grumbled, the wind knocked out of her.
"Wraith, not ogre. We smell better." He shot her a grin and helped her up.
Princess, we welcome you.
She turned to see Muahwa, his bright blue skin glistening in the light of the glowfish placed above the glass ceiling.
He bowed formally, but then, without warning, he flung himself at her, hugging her tightly.
"Ehm..."
Macey was speechless, but Cam cleared his throat, pulling the na firm ghorma off her. Muahwa looked a little sheepish and a dark blue spread over his cheeks.
You healed the Staran. The storms have calmed. We are in your debt.
The prince bowed again, back to his normal formal self.
Was it the sìth? he asked, and Macey remembered how the storm kelpies had suspected the seelie of messing with the Staran.
"No," she shook her head, "it was something else. The same reason why we're now here. Could we talk to the king, please?"
The blue blush on Muahwa's cheeks spread.
You're talking to him.
Macey took a step back. "What?"
My father died last month. I'm the king now.
She noticed her mouth was still hanging wide open and quickly closed it. She hadn't expected that, not at all.
"Long live the king," Cam muttered and to their surprise, the guards standing at the door on the other side of the room repeated the phrase in their minds.
"I'm so sorry," Macey said gently, noticing the sad look on the blue man's face. "How did he die?"
He tried to travel on the Staran. We all told him it was too dangerous, but he wouldn't listen. He was torn apart.
Muahwa opened his giant mouth and made a strange sound. It touched something deep inside of Macey and almost made her cry. It was probably the saddest sound she'd ever heard, made by a being that didn't use their voices to talk.
"I am sorry," Macey repeated.
It can't be undone. But why are you here? I'm sure you didn't come so I could thank you?
"No..." She didn't really want to ask for help now that she knew that his father had died, but there was no other way. They needed the support. She sighed and quickly explained what had been feeding on the Staran and how the Mahoun was a relative of that evil creature.
So this devil is stronger than the being you already defeated?
Macey nodded. "Yes, we think so. He's managed to reach and affect so many people, and he's been scheming for a long time. He's also got my brothers and I don't know if they're still alive."
She pressed a hand over her mouth. She hadn't intended to say that. Macey didn't want to make it sound so personal. She wasn't just doing this for herself and for her family. She really did want to defeat the Mahoun so that the entire world would be safer again.
The na fir ghorma put a blue hand on her arm.
I understand. We will help.
"Really? I am... we are grateful," she stuttered, distracted by how sad the blue man's eyes were. As if he wasn't just sad for his own, but also for her loss, and that of everybody else. She no longer found him ugly like she had when she'd first met him. Yes, his giant mouth was creepy and his skin was... well, blue, but that didn't matter. The inside mattered.
We won't be able to leave the sea for long. We will need to stay close to the Staran which connects us to our home. If you fight far away from it, we won't be able to follow, but we can secure a path of retreat, should it be necessary.
"Hopefully not," Macey muttered, before lifting her voice. "I thank you, King Muahwa. We are in your debt."
Not at all. You calmed the storms. Our home would be in danger without you.
She smiled at him. "Let's just agree that we're doing a good job helping each other."
He nodded. I will prepare my warriors. Where shall I send them?
"We're gathering at the prophet Malan's house. Do you know where that is?"
The blue man nodded. The Staran will show us the way.
"Good. We better get back and see where the others are. How do we get out of here?"
Muahwa laughed in their minds. I'll lower the barrier. Next time, just knock and I'll let you in.
As if it was that easy. She shook her head in amusement and stepped into the Staran, holding Cam's hand. They'd completed their missions. How were the others faring?
Chapter 22
Chaos awaited them. Malan's front garden, usually a quiet and almost boring place, was full of people. Macey waved to some of her father's kelpie mages who lifted their hands in greeting in return. The na fir ghorma stayed close to the mists they'd stepped out of, sceptically looking at the other assembled people.
A group of kabouter were sitting in the garden and Macey had to hide her grin. They looked suspiciously like garden gnomes. Jared was amongst them, talking to Jerimiah and another kabouter that looked very similar. His brother, maybe?
When the incubus met Macey's glance, he got up and ran towards her, hugging her as soon as she was in reach.
"Good to see you," he muttered against the nape of her neck, his breath hot on her skin. His incubus powers were pushing against her nerves and she could feel the arousal tingle through her.
"Power it down a little?" she asked in something that was close to a moan.
"Sorry." He grinned. "I was just a little worried. Did the storm kelpies give you any trouble?"
Macey looked back at the small group of blue people. It was mostly men, but there were three women as well. "Nope, they're harmless. Long story, but Muahwa is now their new king, and he was very happy to send some of his warriors to help us. Did everything go okay with the kabouters and kludde?"
Jared grimaced. "Kabouters, yes, they sent two dozen people and more are on their way. The kludde... not so much." He sighed deeply. "Their powers are out of control. Wilg said it wasn't safe for any of them to come and help. Not even he himself felt like his magic was stable enough to be of much use. He did show me a vision though."
His expression darkened. "I'm not allowed to tell you about it until the time has come."
"What time?" Macey asked in confusion.
He winked and pretended to zip his lips shut, but his eyes stayed sad. "No chance. Not telling you. Amber and Izban just returned, shall we check on them?"
She was very aware that he'd brazenly changed the topic, but the look in his eyes made her stop asking any more questions.
They walked over to the other side of the grassy area where Amber and Izban were standing by themselves. Rónán had disappeared. When the beithir saw them approach, she waved, but it was a weak gesture.
Macey increased her steps. "What happened?" she asked as soon as she was close enough for them to hear her.
Macey shrugged. "No water, no ceasg. Having Rónán with us didn't help, she just said she couldn't assist us."
"And Fedelm refused to come as well. She said she was needed somewhere else," Izban said with a drawn-out sigh. "It was a waste of time."
Several stones dropped into Macey's stomach. Somehow she'd hop
ed the ceasg would be able to join them. She'd seemed like a good ally to have, but she didn't seem to be able to shift and walk on land like her and the selkies did.
"Salty seaweed," Macey muttered in frustration, but Cam started to laugh.
"What did you just say?"
"Salty seaweed," Macey repeated with a pout. "It's a well-known kelpie curse."
Jared snickered. "Seriously? It's a bit tame."
Izban didn't smile like the others. "Have you seen the others? Rónán went to get some food, but I've not spotted Flint."
Wait, wasn't Flint supposed to be with Jared?
Macey turned and looked back at the crowd assembled behind them. The incubus was walking towards them, deep in conversation with Jerimiah.
"Jared!" Macey called. "Where's Flint?"
"He said he was preparing a surprise!" Jared shouted back. "He should be somewhere in Malan's house."
"And the seelie?"
Jared shook his head. "Two of them talked to us in front of their city walls, but they didn't even let us in. We waited for a bit to see if one of the sìth who helped us last time would come out, but they didn't."
"Another waste of time," Izban muttered darkly.
"What kind of surprise?" Macey asked. A strange feeling was overtaking her, the urge to run and search for Flint.
"One of the seelie gave him something." Jared shrugged. "A present for you. He didn't let me see it, and he went straight inside when we arrived back here, letting me deal with the kabouters."
"One doesn't 'deal' with kabouters," Jerimiah corrected. "One is honoured to get the attention of kabouters."
Macey smiled but it didn't reach her heart.
"I'll go look for him," she said, already on the way to the house. She could feel her men follow her, but she didn't look back. Something was wrong.
The door was wide open and a clutter of kabouters was standing in the entrance hall, nibbling on biscuits Malan had apparently provided. She'd not seen the prophet yet, but right now, she didn't care.
Instinctively, she turned to the right and ran up the stairs. There were five doors on this floor, but she knew exactly which one to take.
She opened it and cried out.
Flint was on the ground, blood pooling around his hand which was clutching a fiery red stone. His eyes were wide open but unseeing, rings of flames burning around his pupils.
"Flint!" Macey shouted and fell to her knees by his side. He didn't react. Tears were streaming down his face, his expression was torn in agony, but he didn't make a sound or even move.
A smell of burning came from his hand and it took Macey a moment to see that the stone that she'd thought was red was actually burning with tiny flames. It was like a piece of white-red coal but much sharper and definitely not natural.
This was magic, bad magic.
His skin around the stone was blistering, but Flint's grip on it was tight.
"Flint!" She shook his shoulders, but he didn't react at all.
"Use your water!" Cam shouted from behind her and she stretched out an arm, shooting water at Flint's burning hand. The water turned into steam the moment it hit the stone, filling the air with an acrid smell.
A blast of air dispelled the steam. The stone had stopped burning, but Flint was still keeping it gripped tight in his fist. Carefully, Macey reached out to touch his hand, but before she could, the stone suddenly glowed again, a strange white-silver that blinded her and judging from the shouts, all the others too. She shielded her eyes with both hands until the light lessened.
The stone was gone. All that remained was Flint's empty, burned hand, the blisters black and ugly in several places.
He was beginning to stir and Macey put her hands on his chest.
"Flint, can you hear me?"
He groaned and the sound tore at Macey's heart; it was that full of pain.
"It hurts," he whispered, his eyes still open but looking into the distance, not seeming to see Macey. The flames around his pupils had extinguished, but his eyes looked darker than they usually did. Like embers after they'd been quenched.
"What hurts?" Macey asked softly. Behind her, people were running and shouting, hopefully getting a doctor.
"My magic." Suddenly, Flint moved his head and looked straight at Macey. "It's gone. He's taken it."
* * *
THE END
Within the Flames
Chapter 1
Macey paced back and forth outside the bedroom, wanting answers but so far having received none. The kelpie physician had been in with Flint for over an hour and she was starting to worry.
“He’ll be alright,” Jared assured her, rubbing his hand up and down her back.
“Sure,” she muttered. She was even more worried than she was trying to let on. Flint’s magic was gone. Which, on the surface, wasn’t that big of a deal, but it definitely was. It didn’t just mean that one of them had less of an ability to defend themselves, but it would mean the Warden magic itself wouldn’t be at full strength.
What worried her most was the lack of similar powers to Flint’s fire. If her or Izban were out of action, they could do their best to cover for each other. Same with the Air Warden inside of her; she could be replaced by Cam’s wind magic. It’d be more difficult for Amber’s lightning or Jared’s earth, but Macey was sure both would be easier to compensate for than actual flames.
The door creaked and one of the kelpies emerged, a grim look on his face. “I don’t think there’s anything we can do, Your Highness.” He nodded his head in reverence, making Macey scowl. What was the point of her having a stupid title if it didn’t help her get things done?
“Thank you,” she acknowledged. Even if they hadn’t done quite what she wanted him to do.
“If you forgive me for being so bold, Your Highness, I believe you won’t find anyone who can help you here. Fire beings are rare, and there are none I’ve heard of in these isles.”
“Do you have any idea where I will find some?” She crossed her fingers behind her back, hoping he’d have at least some idea of what she should do.
Indecision crossed the physician’s face. “I’m not sure, but while I was a young kelpie, I travelled Europe. I heard tales of lampads while I was in Greece. I’m not even sure if the nymphs are real, but legend says they used torches to accompany the goddess, Hecate, on her travels.”
“The gods aren’t real,” Macey pointed out.
“Maybe not. But I’m sure you’re aware there’s some truth in every legend by now, Princess.”
“That is true,” she admitted, thinking over the various people assembled here and what she’d thought of them before they’d actually met.
“You might need to do some research first. Though the legend is Greek, I doubt that’s where they are now.”
“Thank you, Jerome. Your insights have been invaluable.”
“You’re welcome. I hope to see your husband back in full powers soon.” He dipped his head and left the room.
“Husband?” Jared raised his eyebrows.
“Yes. According to the kelpies, you’re all my husbands.”
“A little greedy, don’t you think?”
“You’re the ones who encouraged me to be with you all,” she countered.
“You didn’t have to go with it,” he murmured, leaning forward so their lips nearly touched. “But I’m glad you did. The sexual energy you let off could keep me sated for years.”
“I hope it doesn’t,” she teased.
Jared laughed softly, not breaking the intimacy of the moment. “I’m starting to think you’re insatiable, little kelpie.”
“Only when it comes to the four of you.”
“Unless you go and add another one to your collection.” He smirked, a glint in his eyes that had her questioning just how serious he was. Maybe he did want that after all.
“I think four is enough for me.”
“You said that about three.”
“And I meant it.” But she couldn’t feel
bad when four had brought her Rónàn. Her selkie was just another compliment to their group, even if he wasn’t a Warden.
“Are you going to kiss me?”
Instead of answering, Jared pressed his lips against hers and kissed her chastely. It’d be a disappointment if she wasn’t aware of Flint lying in the next room.
“Go to him,” Jared said once they’d broken apart. “I know you need to.”
“Thank you.” She kissed him quickly, before tearing herself away and retreating to the room Malan had assigned them.
“Hey,” he croaked at her.
“Hey,” she whispered. “How are you feeling?” She stood completely still, unable to move either way into the room. It was just too painful seeing him lie there without any way of helping.
“Empty.”
Macey swallowed the guilt she was feeling. She’d sent him off to deal with the Seelie and this was what had happened. She wished she’d been able to do more, but hopefully she could rectify that.
“I’m going to try and make things right,” she told him.
“I know,” he replied.
“How much time do you have?”
A thoughtful look crossed over his face. “I don’t know. I’ve never been without my magic before, but as far as I’m aware, I don’t need it to live.”
“But?”
“But nothing,” he defended.
“No, not but nothing. I could hear it in your voice.” She crossed her arms under her chest and gave him what she hoped was a stern look.
“But nothing.”
“Flint.” She gave him a stern look, and he sighed.
“I’m pretty sure I’m human right now.”
“As in…”
“I don’t have any magic, so I’m a little bit more…vulnerable.”
She gave him a blank stare, not quite knowing what he was getting at.
“I could die, Macey. Pretty easily as far as I can tell. Some of the things we’ve been through together, I wouldn’t be able to survive at all.”
“Fuck.”
“My thoughts exactly,” he joked.
“What can I do?” she whispered, closing the gap between herself and the bed, taking his hand in hers.
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