by Tamar Sloan
The Fae have done their bit, although it seems they generally don’t have a lot of money. Like Avery, they spend all their resources on the planet they are so deeply connected to. It seems if there’s a piece of land which can be used to connect people to Mother Earth, the Fae have been the ones to make it happen. Avery has his sanctuary, one guy has established a community garden, while another Fae woman has created an education center for recycling. They’ve contributed what they can, and although it isn’t much, it means we’ve come to this auction with just over a million dollars.
In the dark space of my room, our hands and bodies entwined, Eden and I acknowledged that Alexis has the advantage. Her connections are all human, and humans have the power of numbers and influence. It’s just that they are the least likely to care what this land could mean to someone else.
But time does what it always does, and seeing as it doesn’t wait for man, it certainly hasn’t waited for Were or Fae. As we arrive at the auction I see that Alexis’ car is already here even though we’re early.
We sit in our car—there seems to be an unspoken agreement that we don’t need to rush out. We registered to bid two days ago, including providing proof that two young adults had the dough to be bidding on this land.
I stare out the windscreen, it doesn’t look like many people are here, which is a good thing. “I can’t believe how much you’ve done in just a few days. When we win this auction, it’ll be because of the money you raised.”
Eden’s hand covers mine. “And yet it was you who found the other half of this puzzle. We wouldn’t have the extra money we do without the Fae.”
I can’t help but smile. “It seems we make a good team.”
“It appears so.” The smile that graced Eden’s face settles as she looks at me. “Thank you for bringing me my father.”
“Did you speak this morning?”
Eden shakes her head. “He was already gone. He’s looking stronger and stronger every day. Being here has been just what he needed.”
“Or maybe it’s being with his daughter.”
Eden glances away and when she looks back her green eyes are a whirlpool of conflicted emotions. “He told me about Alexis, and how she used to be.”
I nod. “She must’ve been a very different person.”
“He also said he realizes the Fae have been doing things wrong. It’s working together that brings change.”
“United we conquer, huh?”
Eden smiles. “Pretty much.”
Holding her hand, I sense her sadness. Is it grief at time lost with Avery, at the mother Alexis could have been, or at the fractures that no-one knows how to heal? “What are you going to do?”
“After everything that’s happened, I’m mostly sad that he has regrets. I get why he did it.” This time Eden’s smile is tremulous. It makes my heart tremble in a way that almost hurts. “I’m looking forward to talking to him, to telling him it’s okay.”
I angle across and kiss this brave girl. As is her tendency, she’s left me speechless again. When I lean back, I figure it’s time to lighten the mood. The seriousness we’ve been carrying lately can’t be healthy. “To be honest, when I went on my field trip, I was just looking to find out what Kurt’s been up to.”
Eden rolls her eyes. “Well, Dana would have told him what she saw.”
Changing Seth back to Were. Another wonder of the world that makes Eden. “Well, he’s found out that even when we’re apart you don’t mess with the Prime Alpha. This Prophecy is bigger than any of us imagined.”
“Let’s hope he’s realized this is a fight he’s not supposed to win.”
I glance at my watch; it’s time. I lean into Eden, keeping my voice low. “Ready to own the most sacred space to all Weres?”
Eden’s smile is resolute. “We can’t afford to lose, can we?”
We climb out and meet at the front of the truck, hands entwining and hearts thumping. Armed with the knowledge that we’ve raised a formidable amount of money, we move forward.
The auction is being held in the clearing where James tried to buy this all last time. The land has lain fallow since it all went pear shaped. The Glade is tucked not far away; a sacred haven the humans here know nothing about.
And yet are wanting to own.
When I see another car pull up, I’m glad we talked the others out of coming. The more this looks like a low-key auction the better. A bunch of tense Weres wouldn’t help, no matter how much they want to be here. As two people climb out of the car I realize Seth obviously didn’t get the memo. Or he ignored it.
He approaches us, face taut with the seriousness of what this auction means. The moment he reaches us he engulfs Eden in a hug. Eden holds him tight for a moment before releasing him. She knows just like I do that this is where his mother died last time we were protecting this land.
They pull back and Seth comes forward to shake my hand. “I had to come. I need to know that it wasn’t for nothing.”
I nod, there are so many reasons it’s bloody important that we win this auction. “I understand.”
Emily looks at us both. “I just wanted you to know, I won’t ever speak a word to anyone.”
Eden pulls her in for a hug too. “Thanks, Em. Believe me, I know it’s a lot to take in.”
Emily’s look is wry. “It all kind of makes sense now. Including how good you were with all those cranky cats.”
Which shows where we’re at. Fae are no longer the world’s best kept secret. I nod at Emily. And Weres are no longer unknown to humans. I have no idea what that could mean.
A movement catches my eye and I turn to see Alexis and James walking toward us. Grabbing Eden’s hand we smile a goodbye to Seth and Emily. Securing the Glade is going to have to come first.
Alexis is dressed in some sort of power suit which seems to match James' outfit. It curls my stomach to see them coming at us all dressed to kill.
Alexis’ eyes are steady as she takes us both in. “I didn’t think you’d actually go through with this.”
Eden’s gaze narrows. “I told you this was important to us.”
James pulls up a jovial smile, like we’re at some cocktail party somewhere. “Are you sure you don’t want to change your mind? We actually hoped this would be a peace offering of sorts.”
I have to hold my eyebrows down. Alexis was trying to throw out some sort of olive branch? “The best thing you could do is step down so this doesn’t have to happen.”
James is already shaking his head. “We have too much invested in this to do that.” He looks at Eden. “This was Alexis’ way of ensuring she didn’t have to move again.”
This time I have to hold my jaw up. Alexis was definitely looking to build some bridges.
But by being stubborn she could be doing the most damage she’s ever done.
All of a sudden, an alien tinkling sound creeps in amongst the tension and James pulls his phone out. He looks at the screen and then at Alexis. “Our last minute investor.” She nods and he takes a few steps to the side.
I can feel Eden’s anger building, so it doesn’t surprise me when her next words fly out. “I’ve met my father.”
Alexis gasps, her whole body recoiling. “You’re lying.”
“You know I’m not. My guess is you knew he’d come back at some stage. He loved me too much.”
Alexis looks like she’s been slapped. I open my mouth, wondering if this is the time for all this history to spill out, but Alexis is recovering. Her face looks like a storm has just exploded across it.
“Yes, he did,” she hisses. “And look where that got you.” Her lip curls, the red lipstick now a twisted arc across her face. “And me.”
Eden pulls back, and I feel her reign in the hurt and the anger. “Maybe the loss was worth the gain in the end.”
“I couldn’t understand why you can’t let this go,” Alexis seethes. “But now I do. You want to hurt me for what you think I’ve done.”
James returns, holding out the
phone to Alexis. “He wants to speak to you.”
You can almost see the ice pouring down Alexis’ body. She straightens, face composing as she turns and takes the cell phone. Without looking at us she pushes it to her ear and walks away, her back straighter and more inflexible than ever.
I lift my hand to massage Eden’s neck. Her frustration is palpable, and I try to work some of it out of her muscles. I never actually hoped that Alexis would back down, that would have been stupid—I just never considered she’d become even more determined. Not that it changes anything. We came here to buy the Glade, no matter how she feels about it.
Alexis speaks calmly into the phone, even smiling once or twice. Just like that, the ice queen is wheeling and dealing again. With a hard smile she hangs up, looking at James. She nods and he winks.
The auctioneer clears his throat and everyone stills. Everything feels tight in my chest. It’s show time.
“We have a fabulous opportunity here, folks, just looking for the right developer.”
My teeth ram down.
“Acres of pristine pine forest easily accessible to nearby towns. This land has the potential to be a central place for many a soul seeking what Mother Nature has to offer.”
My jaw is starting to ache. I want to shout that it already is.
“Shall we start the bidding at four hundred thousand?”
The tightness loosens. That’s lower than we were hoping. Eden and I stand still. We’ve discussed our tactic—wait and see what we’re up against.
From what I can see there are about five interested parties. My guess is that along with the power to change the date of the auction, Alexis and James made sure this wasn’t a widely publicized sale. That’s fine by me, having less competition works in our favor too.
A middle-aged man raises his hand, nodding at the auctioneer.
“Wonderful. Do we have four-fifty? Anyone? Four-fifty?”
This time a red-haired woman raises her hand. An older looking male behind her takes a step back. Probably some guy looking to see if he could grab a bargain. Well, he’s underestimated what this lands means.
The auctioneer is warming up now. “Five hundred, folks. Who’s willing to bid five hundred?”
The middle-aged man raises his hand again. The red-haired woman crosses her arms. I feel Eden shift beside me and I glance at her. Two down.
“Five-fifty.”
This time Alexis raises her hand. Eden’s eyes narrow. Her mother has jumped in the fray.
“Five-fifty to the lady that looks like she means business. Six hundred, do we have six hundred?”
The middle-aged man lifts his hand again, although this time he’s not so quick or looking quite so sure.
“Six hundred thousand, thank you, sir.” The auctioneer is sounding a little excited, which isn’t a good thing.
Alexis raises her hand like some bored queen.
“And we’re at six-fifty!” The auctioneer looks to the man, who wavers for a moment, then shakes his head.
I can feel Eden’s hope rising. That’s the only other serious bidder out.
“Six-fifty folks. A great price for a great piece of heaven. Surely we can do better.”
Raising my hand like I know what I’m doing, I call out. “Seven hundred.”
The auctioneer smiles. “Seven hundred from the young man with a mission. Do we have seven-fifty?”
Alexis has her I-sucked-a-lemon face on. “Seven-fifty.”
The auctioneer turns straight back to me. Eden doesn’t miss a beat. “Eight hundred thousand.”
Alexis goes from sour to stormy. “Eight-fifty.”
Tension twines between us. We’re getting close to our maximum. “Nine hundred,” I call.
Alexis pauses, and I hold my breath. James steps beside her. “Nine-fifty.”
The tension dial turns up another notch. We can’t let Alexis know this is our last bid, all we can do is hope that our last call is more than she’s willing to pay.
“One million dollars.” Eden’s voice is sure, telling her mother we’re not backing down.
Alexis’ eyes narrow as she takes us in. She hadn’t banked on our determination. She underestimated how far we’d go.
Without breaking the gaze she has locked on us, Alexis raises her hand. “One point two.”
There’s a gasp, maybe the red-headed lady, but I’m not sure. Eden’s shock slams through me at the same time mine does.
“No,” she breathes.
“One point two million, folks.” The auctioneer is practically crowing. “And worth every penny too.” He looks at us, two teens, clearly not expecting us to keep going. “Do we have one point three?”
My hands ball up. There’s no way I’m letting Alexis win this.
I turn to Eden, knowing I don’t have much time. “Dad said he’d put the house up for sale.”
Her eyes widen. “What?”
“I know, it’s a big ask. But this is important.” Eden studies me for precious seconds. She knows we don’t have a choice.
I raise my hand. “One point five.”
The auctioneer looks like he’s dancing the dance of the rich in his head. “One point five million,” he practically shouts. He turns to Alexis, looking to see if that was the final nail in this godawful coffin.
Alexis glares at us as James leans in to say something in her ear. She doesn’t acknowledge what he whispers, in fact, she seems determined to cut us down with her grey gaze. Eden’s hand squeezes mine and the sensation of victory tingles between us. Alexis turns back to the auctioneer.
“Two million dollars.” Alexis’ voice is loud and hard, her words falling like a guillotine.
The auctioneer blinks, but being the professional he is, quickly recovers. “Two million dollars.” He looks around. “Do we have anyone else?”
He knows his question is rhetorical. No one has the capacity to beat that.
Breathless, painful seconds pan out as the silence of defeat fills the air around us.
“Going once.”
I draw in air through my tight throat.
“Going twice.”
It catches, wanting to gain voice, but knowing it can’t.
“Sold, to the lovely business woman who is now the proud owner of this parcel of potential.”
The knowledge that we’re out, that we’ve lost, hits me hard in the solar plexus. For seconds nothing moves. The breath that I just lost doesn’t come back.
My shocked gaze finds Eden’s. She looks like something has just died.
I open my mouth, trying to find air, maybe some words. But I can’t.
Because something has died.
Hope.
Chapter Twenty-Two
As we run through the trees, Eden cradled low on my back, I can’t see her tears, but I can feel them. Not in the drops of saltwater pain that the wind whisks across her face, but in the deep ache that has opened up in her chest. And there’s nothing I can do because my own hollow wound is radiating through my body.
With the auction done, the land lost, we’d both known we needed to get out of there. I couldn’t even face the call to my family before we’d disappeared into the trees. The moment I could, I’d shifted. Eden had pressed her forehead to mine, our connection communicating nothing but sorrow, before leaping on.
We’d powered through the trees, heading to the place which we no longer have a right to be at.
Flashes of what just happened hit me faster than the wind we’re slicing through. Seth, standing ramrod straight, Emily holding his hand tightly at his side. James and Alexis hugging and smiling, the auctioneer pumping their hands in congratulations. Eden, face pale and eyes wounded.
We arrive at the Glade and Eden slips off. I shift back to human, wanting to comfort her, needing the assurance of our connection. She sinks into my arms, the tears now gone.
We stand there for long minutes, lost and holding onto our anchors—each other. When Eden pulls back to look at me, her eyes mirror everything I’m fe
eling. Confusion blurs the green in her eyes as she looks up at me. “Noah, how do we…”
I close my eyes because her pain is compounding my own. “I don’t know.”
We were so sure we’d figured this out. But the reality is, neither of us knows how we fix this.
“Eden?”
A voice we hadn’t expected to hear slices through our grief. We turn to find Avery standing beside the Precept Rock.
Eden straightens. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been coming here to heal. I thought it would be a good place to wait.”
Which explains his rapid return to health. Except that, very soon, this place will no longer be around to heal.
Avery takes a step forward then pauses. “Something is wrong.”
I stride forward, all of a sudden angry. Something is wrong all right. I head straight past him to the rock which stands behind him. The cryptic messenger has certainly grown since the last Precept arrived. It sits there, so proud, the words on it seeming so simple. Raw fury pumps through my veins, spurring an urge to turn this thing into rubble.
“Noah.” Eden stands there, arms wrapped around her middle.
I look at her, torn between anger so raw it hurts and pain so hot it burns. “What else does it want from us?”
Her face is pinched and pained. “I don’t know.”
Avery comes to stand beside me. “We did not win the auction.”
He says the words as a statement. They sound like a sentence, a sentence that just condemned Were and Fae.
I turn away, too much energy pulsing through my system.
Avery looks between us. “I didn’t think Alexis would do this.”
I practically growl. “Well, you underestimated her anger.”
Avery seems to sag. “She was so full of light and love.”
I bite my tongue, almost literally. Avery doesn’t need to hear that she’s now full of bitterness and hatred. The proof that the land we stand on is about to be desecrated is evidence enough.
When I hear the sound of something slicing air, I spin around, confused. There’s no wind, barely a breeze.
The cry that follows answers my question.