by Angel Lawson
“I’m fine.”
“You need to feed. Let me prepare the feeder downstairs.”
“No.” I tugged the shirt over my head and grimaced as it rubbed against the sore wounds. “Release her. I’m done feeding on others.”
Ms. Graves lifted a judgmental eyebrow. “Nadya has not agreed to this.”
“Nadya has no choice, but I won’t force her. There is an army coming after her and I have only killed the first soldier. To fight them she and I must unite.” I walked across the room and studied the bruising on my cheek. I’d had worse, but Ms. Graves was right. If I didn’t feed soon it would take longer to heal, making us both vulnerable. Even so, my loyalty was to Nadya now that she knew about us. I would never feed from another again.
Ms. Graves sighed. “Let me prepare some food for when she wakes.”
“Thank you. Oh, and notify her father that she is with me and safe.”
“I already have.”
She left and I opened the door adjoining the rooms. A fire blazed in the stone fireplace, and to my surprise Nadya waited with her back to the headboard on the bed. “You should still be sleeping.” I’d given her enough mystical juice to knock out a 200 pound man, at least until the following day. The fact she was already awake rattled me.
“What time is it?”
“Late afternoon. You’ve been asleep since last night. How do you fee—“
“You’ve kidnapped me?” She cut me off. I smelled the tinge of fear again. As much as I approved of all her scents, this was my least favorite.
“You are not a captive.”
“So I can leave?” Her legs slid off the bed.
“No. Not until it’s safe.”
She crossed her arms but remained seated. Her jaw set and it made her lips pucker slightly, which caused a barely controllable attraction. One that made my wounds ache as well as the rest of my body. Being in her presence was increasingly challenging.
“Liam, I need you to explain what happened back there. Everything.”
“Fair enough,” I said and gestured to the seat next to the bed. She nodded her approval, as though she had much choice. I supposed it was good to make someone feel like they had choices even when they had few. “Our kind, the Sidhe, have existed since the beginning of time, and your mother’s people have always been the gatekeepers of the portal. It is a very noble and important position between our worlds. In general our worlds maintain peace, but there are those that cause harm in their quest for power. It is my job to make sure those people are not successful.”
Nadya nodded and said, “Are my mother’s people good?”
“Very much so,” I told her. “Operating the portal requires honesty and integrity, but it is also a very powerful position, which made your mother a target.”
“How?”
“Groups are always looking for any reason to target a powerful person,” I said, uneasy about continuing. I wished she would leave it at this but the look on her face confirmed that wasn’t enough of an explanation. “When your mother mated with a human and then bore a half-breed that was enough to gain the attention of detractors.”
“Did you just call me a half-breed?”
“Uh, yes.”
“Whatever,” she mumbled, pulling the blanket over her legs. “So they killed her because of me.”
“Because they wanted power; you were just the excuse.”
“So what happened? Why do we still have control even though my father is human and I’m a,” she made a face, “half-breed?”
I leaned forward in my chair. “It is my duty to protect the Sidhe. I failed your mother. It became my purpose in life to protect the portal and you. As long as you are alive, the portal is still in your family’s control. They cannot take away your birthright even if you are only half Sidhe. Even so, the dark fae that want to rule the portal have not stopped their efforts.”
“Holy shit. Is that who came after me tonight?”
Finally, she understood the significance. “I have fought these dark fae for years. The only reason you remained undiscovered is due to a spell of protection. As long as you were unaware of your heritage and your Sidhe abilities were suppressed then they could not locate you.”
“What broke the spell?”
Ah, here was the question she’d wanted to ask all along. She just didn’t know it. “You and I broke the spell, Nadya. We are bonded. And when that that bond was reestablished they were alerted to your presence.”
“Holy shit,” she said again. She settled in the plush pillow on the bed and looked at the ceiling. “So this bond, what does that mean?”
I stood and moved to the bed, sitting gently on the edge. “Our bond makes us strong—incredibly so. We can heal one another. When we feed from one another it makes us more powerful, whereas if a Sidhe feeds from someone that is not their mate the result is one-sided. One person is drained. That will not happen to us. We will both grow more and more powerful. This is another reason there is a target on your back. They’re afraid of you.”
Nadya scooted closer and my heart hammered erratic against my chest. She touched her fingers to my cheek, where the soldier left a bruise. A warm heat tingled across my skin as the cells repaired. “It worked.”
“Yes.”
“Anything else?” A glint of curiosity flashed in her eyes.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I want to try this.”
I stood and lifted off my shirt. Slashes of red crisscrossed my chest and abdomen from the sharp claws of the soldier. They had healed slightly, enough to stop bleeding but they were still raw and sore. Nadya lifted to her knees and placed her hand over the wounds, but not touching my skin. “This is crazy.”
“Please,” I asked, overcome by her proximity. I took her hand and laid it flat across a wide strip of red. I closed my eyes at the feeling, the surge of energy and hope. “I’ve waited so long.”
“Because I’m yours?”
Her hands explored my chest, touching each cut and stroking every scar I’d gathered over my lifetime. I swallowed hard and ball my fists, fighting base instincts as every molecule in my body wanted to claim her. I struggled because it was too soon and if I let loose, gods knew, what would happen. Instead, I inhaled, taking in her scent and relishing the feeling of her hands on my body.
Recharged, I confirmed, “Because you’re mine.”
Chapter 9
Nadya
I stood in front of the large gilded mirror and took in my flushed cheeks and bright eyes. The energy Liam took from me bounced back, making me feel amazing.
“Because you’re mine.”
Those words echoed in my head long after Liam left. Creepy? A little. Hot? For some reason, yes. It went against every feminist bone in my body, but it wasn’t the words, not exactly. It was the feeling. It was watching the wounds heal on his body. The scars faded back to smooth, perfect skin. It was the power that coursed through my veins. Being Liam’s didn’t take away my power; it only made me stronger, and there was a warm tingling spreading through my chest that told me I was right. For the first time after the pain and hollowness of my mother’s death, I felt safe again.
“All dressed, dear?” Ms. Graves asked through the door.
“Yes. You can come in.”
She came in quickly, business-like and eyed my pants. “Those are a little large. Would you like me to take them in?”
“No,” I said, rolling over the waistband of the soft gray pants. “I’m just glad you had something for me to change into. Thank you.”
“We’ll get the rest of your things tomorrow.”
She offered me a hairbrush and comb, as well as a small pack of other items. “How long do you think I’ll be here?”
“I can’t answer that, although Mr. Caldwell will make sure everything is safe before you return home.”
“How hard will this battle be? Do you think he’ll win?”
The older woman gave me a hard look. “I don’t know. Mr. Caldwell will se
cure the portal and eliminate any threats to your life, but this is only one group, Nadya. Surely there are others out there.”
I swallowed. “Groups that want to kill me?”
“You’re an anomaly of our kind. No one knows what to do with you, and you’ve been hidden for many years. Some will want to test your abilities while others will want to eliminate them.”
That information was enough to make me want to pack up and run away, but where to? I didn’t want to encounter another soldier on my own. Liam claimed I had my own powers, but even if I did I had no idea how to use them.
“I don’t mean to scare you. I just believe in honesty.”
I smiled. “So do I; thank you.”
“It’s one of your identifying traits and why your people monitor the portal.”
I ran the brush through my hair and looked at her through the mirror’s reflection. “Can I ask you something else?”
“Of course.”
“What do you know about this bond thing, Mr. Caldwell says we have between us? Is it real?”
Wrinkles creased across her forehead. “Does it not feel real?”
“It does, but I’ve never had a relationship with any boy—or man. I don’t know what is normal or not.”
“It’s real, Nadya, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to learn to protect yourself and your heart.”
“What do you mean?”
She hesitated and looked toward the door. “Mr. Caldwell has waited for you for a very long time, but he is a man of quick temper and impatience. His life has been solitary and singularly focused—on protecting you and the portal. I anticipate your transition into our world will be difficult. I can’t imagine how you two will manage the complexity of romantic entanglements while fighting for your lives.”
With that she left the room, leaving me with more questions than before.
***
Still attempting to wrap my head around everything, I declined dinner with Liam that night. My stomach was full from the late afternoon meal Ms. Graves had provided, and I felt a distinct but conflicting need to be away from and with Liam at all times. For the sake of my own sanity, I chose away. The information from the last forty-eight hours was a bit more than I could mentally handle.
Ms. Graves nodded when I said no thank you, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. She found me amusing, like a pet or something they’d rescued from the street. At least she was honest with me.
I climbed into the enormous bed and settled in the thick blankets that were so soft they must have cost a fortune. The mattress was heavenly. The sheets smelled like flowers. The pillows were soft and plush, but no matter how hard I tried to sleep it was useless. I’d slept more than half the day and admittedly, with every passing moment my obsessive need to know everything about Liam Caldwell was coming to a head. I was in his house. We were “bonded,” whatever that meant (I sort of thought it meant hot for each other but that seemed to undermine the situation). He knew everything about me and I still had limited information on him.
I slid off the edge of the bed and my toes sunk deep into the carpet. Quietly, I opened my door to the hallway and peeked outside. Nothing but a long hall, framed artwork mounted to the walls and five closed doors, including a set of double doors at the end. Crap. I stepped back in the room and looked around, my eyes finally settling on the dark wooden door that Liam had come out of earlier in the day.
I walked across the room and grasped the brass knob. The door opened easily, and immediately I knew this room was much more interesting. The room, a study or office I determined from a fast glance, held everything I needed to know about Liam Caldwell.
Shelves lined the walls with ancient books stacked neatly and in clearly in some sort of unrecognizable order. The lettering on the sides looked like hieroglyphics and the bindings were all cracked and torn. I ran a finger across a set and I would’ve sworn they shivered under my touch.
“It’s just a book, Nadya. Just a book,” I muttered to myself, but the Sidhe world was unfamiliar and there was so much I needed to learn.
I moved on a grand apothecary desk sitting on one end of the room. Tiny drawers covered the front, all labeled neatly in script. I tugged on one of the handles but it didn’t budge. Locked. Liam was smart.
On top of the wooden cabinet, three jars held what looked like a cluster of feathers and small bones tied in a bundle. Then, I spotted something I couldn’t believe I missed in the first place. A glass case filled top to bottom with shiny trinkets, displayed with the utmost care. I approached the cabinet and felt a hum—a warm vibration in my limbs. The charms were made of silver or gold, some etched with intricate designs. There were even two crowns and a ring, mounted with a magnificent green stone sat in the middle. I’d never wanted to possess a piece of jewelry so badly in my life. I reached for the lid but another ripple of energy shivered across my body.
“Rule number one,” a voice said from behind. I spun to find Liam standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe. He wore an untucked button down with jeans and a pair of dark boots. I’d never seen him dressed so casual before. “Never touch something that belongs to a Sidhe without testing it first.”
“Why is that?”
“Nothing is ever as it seems. Drinks can be spiked, ingredients charmed and jewelry is most susceptible to spelling.”
“Spelling?”
“All Sidhe or fae can cast magic. It just depends on the nature of the person whether or not it’s good or bad.”
“How do you tell?” I asked. I followed his every movement. It was almost too good to be true, having him here amongst his things.
He opened the case and plucked out the ring. The light glinted off the green stone. “There are a variety of ways. Other spells, the occasional liquid. Many of us have a heightened sense of smell.” He sniffed the ring and held it out to me. He nodded and I sniffed too. Man, everything about this was weird. “What do you smell?”
“Metal? But I guess that’s obvious. Maybe a hint of dirt.”
“Dirt?” he asked.
“Yeah, like the ground after it rains.” He nodded again and placed the ring back in the case. “Was I right?”
“You weren’t wrong. Curses tend to leave behind a foul odor—like sulfur or something rotten. A basic spell, which isn’t as harmful, but still annoying, is usually sweet—sickly sweet like—“
“Cotton candy,” I interjected. “It always makes my head hurt when I smell it.”
Liam stared intently at me—too intent. I felt exposed. He didn’t have x-ray vision did he? He placed the ring back in the case and shut the door. “Were you looking for something in particular?”
“No,” I said, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. “If you want the truth, I was snooping.”
“On me?”
I shrugged. “Pretty much.”
“You could always ask.”
I skirted around him, focusing on the shelves that surrounded the room. On anything but him. Liam had many paintings and the occasional photograph mounted for visibility. “You’re not the most forthcoming person I’ve met.”
“It’s a lot of information for you to take in all at once. I don’t want to overwhelm you.”
“You’re hiding things.”
He tilted his head. “Like what?”
“Like whatever this is between us.”
“The bond? I’ve told you it joins us and combined it made us very powerful. You’ve seen the healing abilities.”
“There’s more than just that. I feel very…intense. It’s something I’ve never experienced with someone before.”
His eyes had never left me, not once as I moved around the room. I stopped in front of him and tentatively placed a hand on his chest. The current ebbed and flowed between us. He swallowed and said, “It’s a unique connection.”
Just being this close to him made me feel bold—powerful. My muscles tensed and something inside, confidence maybe, bubbled beneath the surface. God, I wanted
to kiss him. I tilted my head upward and asked, “If we’re to challenge this group coming for the portal, what do we need to make ourselves strong enough?”
“Nadya, you’re not ready to fight in this battle. It’s too dangerous and it’s too soon to test your abilities in a situation like this.”
Normally, I would have fought him. I had no interest in taking a backseat in this fight, not when I could feel the change inside of me, but even I knew needed more information, and I needed Liam to let down his guard. “Then what can I do to help you become stronger?”
His jaw tensed and I felt his hands move restlessly on either side of my body. His eyes would not meet mine. “I will become stronger if I feed on you.”
“How? I’m assuming that does not actually mean eating me, since you know, you’re not a zombie.” The truth was that I felt the hunger myself, churning deep in the pit of my stomach. I wanted to consume him. Taste him. “I already did the healing thing. Isn’t it like that?”
“No,” he said, without humor. “It’s a way of passing energy to one another. It feeds our souls as well as our body. It happens every time our flesh meets.”
With that information I took his hand and spread his fingers wide with my own. Warmth flowed between us. “Like that?”
“Yes.”
I reached behind his neck, brushing against the soft skin just below his hairline, before working my fingers into his hair. Liam dropped my hand and pushed the hem of my shirt up, grasping the flesh above my hip. A tingling sensation rolled across my skin. His other thumb grazed my lip, leaving a trail of heat.
“More?” I asked, licking my lip, seeking his taste.
He bent down slowly, painfully so, and pressed his lips to mine. Liam’s touch was gentle but firm. Hunger tested my will and I deepened the kiss, parting my mouth, feeling his tongue on mine. The air between us turned warm and to my shock, tinged with the colors gold and blue.
“What the—“ I said, pulling away to see what was happening. A trail of visible light passed between us and I was overcome, mind and body, with the intense feeling of euphoria. “That’s not normal is it?”