The Changeling Soldier

by Shona Husk

  He was familiar with it, the anxiety that built from sitting around base and not doing anything, like a thunderhead waiting to break and then when an attack came, it was almost a relief. He was waiting to get to Annwyn and leave this world behind. The only person who would miss him had already given him up for dead.

  “At the boundary of life and death, usually cemeteries there are other places though.”

  He frowned. “People don’t wander across?”

  “Very rarely, and they are usually changelings.”

  “I’ve never crossed.” He was sure he’d know it if he had, and as a kid he’d played in the local cemetery with the few kids who didn’t think he was a freak. There weren’t that many other places to play, and hanging around town had only earned suspicious glares from the shopkeepers.

  “You didn’t know what you were looking for and that isn’t your gift. Some changelings can walk across the worlds, to Annwyn and into the afterlife and back.”

  His fingers tapped the steering wheel then stopped when it made the burns hurt more, while waiting for the lights to change. “Will I be able to leave once I’m there?”

  “Yes, but without a soul you’ll be the equivalent of a banished fairy, only weaker. You’ll wither and die quickly. Are you having second thoughts?”

  He shook his head. “I like to know as much as I can before jumping in.” Except this time he’d already jumped because he trusted his visions. Would he have still jumped if he’d seen his own death?

  “You were brave.”

  “I did what I had to, to make sure everyone got what they needed.” Including him.

  “I didn’t need a soul, Isaac. But I wanted you.” She placed her hand on his thigh. The cool of her skin seeped through his trousers as her words sunk in. It was a little odd, already knowing where this relationship was going. He was going to fall for this fairy. He glanced at her again and heat flowed through his body. “You have a good heart.”

  He gave her a small smile. “Do you intend on looking after that as well as my soul?”

  “You already know the answer to that, don’t you?” She tilted her head as if considering what to say next. Her hand remained on his thigh and his thoughts started straying from Annwyn to bed. Their little flirtation in the doorway seemed so long ago. He didn’t really know her and yet he’d eventually love her, and she him. There was a very big gap between his present and his future. But maybe some things were best discovered in the proper sequence. He didn’t know how to tell her that part of his vision.

  When he didn’t answer she sighed and glanced out the window. “We’ll go tonight when there are fewer people around and I can cross the veil without needing to be carried.”

  He understood her need to not appear weak and was quite happy to hold on to his soul for a few more hours. This was the end of his life in the mortal world. And while there was uncertainty he didn’t feel sad. It was as though he’d made his peace with leaving the mortal world a long time ago, even before he’d known that would happen. He’d never really belonged here. Never fit in—and he’d been aware of that from the time he started school.

  An hour later they were across L.A. and into the concrete jungle. It didn’t seem to suit Ella. He pulled up outside an apartment block. “Here?”

  She nodded. “It’s easy to get lost among a lot of people. Plus I prefer to visit clients rather than have them come here.” She paused and then glanced at him. “You’ll be the first person to see my place.”

  His heart skipped a beat at the implication. She was letting him into her life, the part she never showed anyone. And he wasn’t sure what to say. He didn’t want to believe she cared about him, not yet, but she’d promised to take care of his soul and to guide him through the dangers of Annwyn. And he knew where it would lead. Part of him felt as though he’d been cheated of discovering their relationship in his own time. The rest of him was reassured that everything would work out and he’d be happy. More than happy. He’d finally be where he was supposed to be and with the woman he loved. When he held her after the battle that was what he felt; joy that she was in his arms.

  They got out of the car, and he grabbed the bag. They took the elevator up five floors. A spare key was stuck above the door. It seemed too obvious. Then he realized he was seeing through the glamour. No one else would be able to find her key. He reached up and pulled it down then handed it to her with a smile.

  She opened up her apartment. He wasn’t prepared for what greeted him.

  Her place was draped from floor to ceiling in fabric. Drawings of dresses were pinned everywhere. There was a sofa but no TV, a kitchen the size of a postage stamp and through a doorway what he guessed was the bedroom and bathroom. The apartment was also immaculate. He brushed past silks and velvets in all the shades of the rainbow. While he couldn’t tell his pink from his fuchsia, he could appreciate a beautiful dress on a beautiful woman. “You really love what you do.”

  “I always have. There’s no point in doing something you hate.” Her fingers traced along his arm and she drew closer. Her fingertips skimmed his chest then she leaned in and brushed her lips across his. She tasted sweet like ice cream and her mouth was just as cool.

  His fingers pushed into her short hair to cradle her head. For a few heartbeats, nothing else mattered and nothing else existed. While the love he’d feel for her in his future wasn’t awakened, there was definitely attraction. The idea that he did come to love her, and she him, wasn’t as terrifying as it should be. It was almost reassuring. That despite everything that had happened, and would happen, everything was going to be okay. He drew back and looked at her, his thumb brushing her cheek.

  “I’m going to bathe…did you want to join me?” she murmured.

  Desire burned in his blood. He knew what she was implying. The temptation to join her was there. One last time with a soul. Would sex feel different without one? Would he feel different without one, or would he be so overwhelmed by Annwyn and the battle that he wouldn’t notice? He forced the lust down.

  She’d said she wanted to rest, regain her strength. She’d been locked in a basement and weakened by iron. Did she really want sex? Sex should be the last thing on his mind. But it wasn’t. “I’m not sure you should wet the burns.”

  “They’ll be almost gone by now. I heal fast when not hindered.” Her body was pressed against his. There was no way he could prevent himself from responding and no way she could fail to notice. “You won’t hurt me.” Her hand skated over his hip.

  Maybe not, but he barely knew her. He was relying on his visions too much, giving in because it was inevitable. He needed a moment alone. “I’ll join you in a minute.”

  Ella didn’t ask again, just left him standing in the living room surrounded by the pieces of her life.

  His mind was still a tangled mess and even though he wanted to put his human life behind him, he wasn’t quite ready to fling himself across the boundary and into Annwyn. Just because he knew something was going to happen didn’t make it any easier—at least not at first. And this was all happening so fast.

  Then there was the sting of Melody’s betrayal. He felt like a fool for not seeing it coming. Not in reality or his visions. His trust and love had been absolute and it hadn’t been enough. He needed to put that behind him. It should be easy after what she’d done. He should be happy she’d get her deal and have it turn sour. Yet he was mourning for the girl she’d once been. He took a breath. He’d lost his sister years ago without even realizing.

  Isaac listened to the running of water. He could imagine Ella taking her clothes off and stepping under. The water stopped and a quiet filled the apartment.

  Was she done already? In that moment he realized he did want to join her. Moving forward was so much better than dwelling on the past. He hesitated for one more second and then walked toward the bedroom. In the doorway he stopped and drew in a breath. He knew this room; the bed with its pink sheets was familiar, as he’d seen it in a vision. He turned and saw t
he bathroom.

  “This place has a bath?” He hadn’t expected that. A place this small should have only a tiny bathroom, but this was open and almost part of the bedroom.

  Her head rested on a towel and her feet were up on the other end of the tub. Her milky-pale shoulders were visible, but the rim of the bath hid everything else. His imagination helpfully filled in the blanks. She opened her eyes, the gold was lit with heat. Her gaze skimmed over him. “It’s one of the reasons I like it.”

  He glanced away, sure he shouldn’t have been caught looking. Lust slid through his body and hardened his flesh. It would be impossible to resist her.

  “Join me.” She sat up, her breasts just above the water line. The water teased her nipples in to hard peaks.

  Slowly he unbuttoned his shirt and let it fall to the floor. Then he opened the fly of his pants. Ella licked her lower lip, her gaze unblinking. She was watching and waiting. He shoved his pants and briefs down in one move and stepped out of his shoes and clothes.

  She beckoned him forward, her lips curving.

  Any doubts he’d had melted away. He wanted her the way he’d never wanted any other woman. And maybe his future was messing with his present, but for once he didn’t care.

  He stepped into the bath and sat down. She moved toward him, kneeling so she could lean forward and kiss him. Her tongue flicked over his lip and he opened his mouth, letting her take what she wanted. The kiss was slow and deep until he could almost feel reality starting to slide away and this felt like a dream.

  But he knew it wasn’t. This was the start of his new life.

  His hands skimmed over her hips and cupped her butt, drawing her closer until she was in his lap. He was hard and aching to have her. She moaned against him, her hips rocking.

  “I want you,” he murmured.

  “I can tell.” Her arms were wrapped around his neck, her lips touching his with every word. “Tell me what you saw.”

  “I saw us in bed.” He wasn’t ready to admit that he’d seen how close they were in the future. For the first time he was worried that it would change and she’d slip from his grasp.

  She laughed, her nipples brushing his chest. “I guess that’s later. Remind me what it’s like to be loved.”

  He wasn’t sure he could remember. There was a big difference between making love and getting laid. “I’ll try.”

  He wanted to make it good for both of them, well aware that she’d probably had more lovers than he’d had hot dinners, and yet also aware that it was him she grew to love. She saw something in him that was worth loving. No matter what she’d said he didn’t believe that she was a cold-hearted fairy. He’d seen the concern in her eyes when he’d agreed to give up his soul and become fairy.

  As they kissed his hands learned the feel of her body and the way she moved as he touched her. Her skin was like silk, smooth, creamy and cool—as if she couldn’t get warm. The look of fragility was replaced by desire. Her hands were on him, caressing and teasing. Her mouth claimed his with a hunger that he met.

  Right now he needed her as much as she needed him. It didn’t matter that there was so much he didn’t know about her; he knew enough to know this felt right.

  He lifted her on to him and let her sink lower, inch-by-inch. She took her time, but her gaze never left his and he lost himself in the gold of her eyes and the sound of her breathing. Gradually each breath became a moan and her eyes closed. His fingertips pressed into her hips, but he still didn’t try to control her movements. Not until she came, her core clenching around him, then he pulled her down hard. Lust tightened its grip on him and he drew in a sharp breath as he let go.

  When Ella woke, it was dark. She was curled in Isaac’s embrace. The heat of his body was luxurious against her back. She snuggled closer, her body warm and relaxed. Their lovemaking had gone a long way to helping her feel better. Isaac had a calmness about him that she hadn’t realized she’d been craving. But it was more than that…he wasn’t afraid of the future he’d seen the way some people would be. He was willing to fight in a fairy war, and he was willing to fight for her. She couldn’t remember if anyone had ever done that before. She sighed and tried to go back to sleep, but something was wrong. She didn’t feel quite right.

  Then she realized that while there was cold in her blood, there was no magic. She went still. What did that mean? Was she too late? No, if she were she’d be dead. But something had changed in Annwyn and she didn’t want to linger in the mortal world any longer. She turned and glanced at Isaac…she’d hoped to give him a little longer to adjust to what was going to happen.

  He kissed her shoulder. “Is it time to go?”

  She turned to face him. “It is.” She hoped he was ready and had made peace with leaving the mortal world. She knew what it was like to leave everything behind and start over. In some ways that was exactly what she was going to have to do in Annwyn. “The magic has stopped flowing from Annwyn. We can’t delay any longer.”

  They were running out of time to get home. And yet she didn’t regret taking that one last client. If she’d never met Melody, she’d have never met Isaac. She’d always liked changelings and he was no exception.

  She got out of bed and dressed in clothes that were more suitable for Annwyn. Winter clothes, a long dove-blue dress with her fleece-lined leggings and boots. She pulled out her black coat and added a scarf and gloves to the pile.

  “What side should I fight on?” He was up and moving, heading for the bathroom. He stepped into the shower without even flinching at the running water. How could he do that? Probably because he hadn’t been brought up to fear moving water like a fairy.

  “I don’t think I can make that choice for you. You’ll know when you get there.” That did worry her more than a little. The side he fought on won, but was that the Prince’s side or the usurpers? If Isaac could trust his visions, she needed to as well. But she knew he wasn’t telling her everything he’d seen. Sometimes when he looked at her it was as if he was trying to work out how the pieces of a puzzle fit together.

  She wanted to help him figure it out, but if he wasn’t ready to share she had to wait.

  Ella didn’t have to tell him to hurry up. He sensed the urgency and moved quickly, drying off and dressing. He pulled a jacket out of his bag and slipped it on without doing it up, then shoved gloves and a beanie into the pocket and shouldered his bag. His movements were short and tense. “I’m ready.”

  He might be clothed appropriately but she wasn’t entirely sure he was ready. However there was nothing she could say to ease his fear of the unknown, or hers. Sometimes it was better to just act. “So am I.”

  She gave her apartment a last look. She hadn’t collapsed her life here, and she didn’t want to take the time to do it now. Ah well, one more missing mortal woman. She doubted the police would look too hard into her disappearance. Life as Ella Aaron had been good while it had lasted.

  For all her griping about L.A. she’d had fun, and she knew humans would never go back to the lush courts of Europe she’d once inhabited. Maybe in a few years she’d visit again, but that was all it would be. It would be a long time before she ever lived in the mortal world again. With a new Court coming to Annwyn, perhaps it would be fun to try her hand at fairy politics and see what kind of position she could claim.

  “It’s only a short walk to the church.” That was the other reason she’d selected this apartment block. She liked to be within running distance of a doorway in case things went bad.

  The night air was warm as they walked down the road. They were overdressed, but there weren’t many people around to notice. They passed a cop car and Isaac stopped.

  For a second he didn’t move. “Oh, God.” He turned and watched as the car parked out the front of her apartment. “They’re looking for you.”

  “Already?”

  “They’re going to pin it on Mel.” He took a step toward her apartment. Then stopped himself.

  Ella laid a hand on his arm. “She
wanted to be famous.”

  “I know.” But he stood there and watched as the police entered the building. After several moments he drew in a breath and turned around. “I told her fairy deals don’t end well for humans.” There was caution in his eyes as he looked at her as if he were considering his own fate.

  “You didn’t make a deal with me Isaac, You gave your soul to me so she could have her fame.” She wouldn’t hurt him. She wanted to get to know him better. It would be fun to be sharing Annwyn with someone. To watch the changes brought about by a new ruler. It would be like the ocean washing a beach clean, ready for someone else to leave his or her footprints. Everyone would get a chance to reinvent themselves.

  He shook his head. “No. I gave my soul to you because I need to be in Annwyn for the battle and I knew I could trust you with it.”

  “You’re trusting a fairy?” Curiosity plucked at her nerves. She wanted to know what he’d seen that made him trust her implicitly. Not even fairies trusted other fairies completely. Annwyn was a place of deals and double deals, plotting and scheming.

  “I’m trusting you.” He took her hand and started walking toward the church.

  “I know you rely on your visions to guide you.” His grip on her fingers tensed. “But fairies have no magic in Annwyn.”

  “No more visions…that might be nice.”

  She glanced at him; his face half hidden in shadows. “I know you’ve seen something.”

  He nodded and kept walking. “Not much, but enough. You’ll know after the battle.”

  It wasn’t that long to wait, not really.

  He smiled and squeezed her hand. In that moment she knew it wouldn’t just be his soul that he trusted her with, but his heart. Hers gave an extra beat in surprise.

  What would happen in Annwyn that she let herself fall for him?

  However, it wasn’t hard to imagine. Already she was worrying that he’d be hurt in the battle even though she knew he lived. He’d told her that.

  They stopped on the footpath out the front of the church. She closed her eyes for a moment and reached out to see if the doorway to Annwyn was still there. A small sigh of relief escaped. While it didn’t feel strong or even complete it was enough for them to cross the veil.