The Seduced

by Cheyenne McCray

  The women giggled when they saw Copper with Garran, but otherwise smiled, chatted, and laughed among themselves, despite the fact that almost all of them wore collars. Garran explained that every woman who wore a collar served a master.

  Just the thought irritated the hell out of Copper.

  One of the chambers that Garran led her to was obviously his bedchamber. It had a huge bed in the center with a soft-looking mattress placed within what appeared to be half of a round carved-out piece of black granite. The room was enormous and lavishly decorated.

  As she looked at the bed she wondered what it would be like to have Garran as a lover. He was handsome and powerful.

  Even if it was a possibility, there was something missing. Almost like her heart was waiting for somebody she would probably never meet

  “This is where you belong,” Garran murmured in her ear, and she shivered.

  “As if,” she responded and raised her chin.

  He laughed as she started to back out of the room. But something caught her eye. Without consciously realizing it she moved toward a table at the foot of the bed and Garran followed.

  “Have you changed your mind, sweet one?” Garran said from behind her.

  “Keep dreaming.”

  On the table was something that was most definitely not of this world. It was a brown plastic clock with the day of the week and big, illuminated, green numbers. According to the clock it was nine in the morning on a Wednesday.

  Copper’s gaze swung back to meet Garran’s. “Where did you get this? It’s from Earth, not Otherworld.”

  “There are many Otherworlds, sweet one. Earth is merely one of them.”

  Copper picked up the clock and looked at the bottom of it before placing it back on the table. “Made in China? Give me a break, Garran.”

  The Drow looked unconcerned, an expression that seemed forced. “It was a gift from a human, long ago.”

  Hair prickled at her scalp as she picked it up and checked the battery compartment. “If that’s the case, how is it that the batteries are still working?” she asked as she set it back down, her gaze meeting Garran’s again. “Why does it look brand new?”

  Garran gave a shrug of his great shoulders in an obvious effort to look nonchalant. “Drow magic.” He went to her, put his arm around her shoulders, and guided her from the chamber. “Now I will show you where we mine.”

  Copper didn’t want to let him off that easy, but she was pretty sure she’d get nowhere with him. Where could he have gotten the clock? What human would he have met, and when? And why would he even begin to need one?

  She set aside her questions after he guided her out of his bedroom to the Drow mine. They entered a tunnel that smelled of dark earth and minerals.

  When they walked out of the passageway, she had to blink until her eyes adjusted to the dimness of the place—then she caught her breath in surprise.

  It was like they stood on a platform in the middle of a huge crystal-gray cavern—the dirt actually sparkled and it was studded with veins of gemstones and ore. Overhead hung stalactites that shimmered in the low lighting of the mine. The lighting was created by some kind of lichen on the stalactites and stalagmites.

  Her scalp prickled and goose bumps broke out on her arms. “It’s so dark,” she murmured as she took in the view. And creepy.

  “We have little need of light,” Garran said from behind her and a shiver trailed down her spine.

  A pathway had been carved along the walls of the mine so that the trail circled lower and lower until finally reaching the floor of the cavern, which Copper could barely see. When she squinted she saw more stalagmites springing up from the cavern floor.

  Drow were working around a hole at the very center of the great chamber. The hole looked relatively small from where she was standing. Huge mounds of earth, gemstones, and ore were piled throughout the expansive cavern, some so high they were like mountains.

  She saw some Drow sifting the gemstones and ore from the excavated earth. Against one wall stood multiple pickaxes along with buckets and what looked like shovels.

  Copper glanced up at Garran. “What are you digging for?”

  He reclined against the side of the tunnel they had walked through, his arms folded across his broad chest. “Digging is what we do.”

  No straight answer.

  She turned back to the mine and the Drow busily pulling up bucketsfuls of earth. “What do you do with all the gems and stuff?”

  Garran gave what sounded like a humorless laugh. When she met his gaze again, he said, “Before we were trapped, we traded with the Fae, Shanai, Mystwalkers, and Elves.”

  He had a faraway look in his eyes when he added, “Now we dig for other reasons that you would not understand.”

  Copper raised one eyebrow. “Try me.”

  This time his laugh was more genuine. “Come, sweet one, it is time for you to entertain me.”

  She scrunched up her nose as she followed him out of the cavern and through the passageway. What on earth did he mean by that remark?

  Copper found out soon enough. It took a while, but she finally negotiated her release.

  All it had taken was one sexy dance and spell-mending some of their broken drilling tools with her wand. Boobs and hardware—men were easy, no matter what the species.

  Yet the trip had given her a feeling of something being off—not right. Especially because of the clock. And then there was Garran’s comment—that they now dug for reasons beyond her comprehension. That little remark certainly had not set well with her.

  When she’d shaken off the eerie feelings her trip had given her, she spoke with the Faerie queen and shared with her all that she’d learned. It fascinated Copper to now know what lay in the realm beneath her feet

  Riona listened, her perfect features expressionless. “I will have to think on this,” she said when Copper finished talking. And with that she fluttered away, back to her Sidhe.

  Copper shook her head. Wand in hand, she headed to the center of the meadow. It was time to try again.

  She took a deep breath and stood with her feet shoulder width apart. She gripped her wand tightly in her fist and the pentagrams at her ears swung in the breeze that continued to grow stronger and stronger.

  Something about this moment was special. She could feel it in her gut.

  Mist began to form around her ankles, obscuring the grass that felt cool and damp beneath her bare feet

  Her heart pounded a little harder. She’d never had mist gather around her when she’d gotten ready to perform a spell. She’d done hundreds of spells—at least—over the time she’d been in this Otherworld prison.

  Every day she tried a new spell. Any more than one a day seemed to drain her and make the next spell more difficult.

  Copper took a deep breath and gripped her wand tighter as the clouds roiled overhead and the breeze lifted her hair from her shoulders. The air smelled of the oncoming storm and apples from the nearby tree.

  This was it! She knew it had to be. This would be the magical time she could return home. Her scalp prickled and goose bumps rose along her forearms.

  Zephyr zipped around her head before landing on her earlobe. Positive vibes and a surge of magic came from the familiar that added to her elation.

  She quickly cast a circle, thanking the goddess for her assistance. She called to the Ancestors and the Elementals, asking their aid in freeing her and every other being trapped within their Otherworld prison.

  When she finished her preparations, she closed her eyes and raised her wand to the east. She slowly turned clockwise in a full circle, keeping her eyes closed. A spell spilled from her lips that she hadn’t practiced before.

  “God and Goddess, hear my plea.

  Heed me, Elementals of earth, fire, air, and sea.

  Use your great powers to bless this spell.

  Ancestors, grant my request and wish me well.

  I conjure with my magic thanks to thee.

  For the go
od and true, so mote it be.”

  Copper held her breath as she kept her arm straight, the wand pointing again to the east. Her mind spun, her skin prickled, and she could see a bright red glow through her eyelids.

  She opened her eyes and gasped as brilliant gold light flooded the meadow, blazing from the end of her wand. She held her hand steady as the light blossomed so brightly it nearly blinded her.

  Copper’s blood thrummed in her ears. Zephyr gave a distressed buzz. She started to shield her eyes with her forearm.

  Yes. Yes. This is it. Isn’t it? Please. Please!

  She held her breath, praying she was right.

  Something large and powerful came through the light.

  It slammed into her and she whirled through the air.

  7

  By the time he had spoken with Airell’s mother and father, and his own parents, Tiernan’s head ached and his muscles were tense.

  To keep Airell and Urien from facing judgment and subsequent punishment, Tiernan had simply stated that his obligations in the San Francisco Otherworld would detain him. The handfasting date would need to be rescheduled for another six weeks. Neither his parents nor Airell’s had been pleased by his announcement

  Once he finished his immediate tasks, Tiernan found himself in the forest again. The ground was damp and the air smelled of recent rain and pine trees.

  His stride was long and purposeful as he headed toward the transference point where he was told the Great Guardian would aid him in returning to San Francisco. He must return at once to aid his fellow warriors in stopping the Balorites and Fomorii from releasing Balor’s body and soul.

  He still had difficulty pushing the image of the two lovers from his mind. Somehow, someway, he would come up with a solution.

  A minuscule spark of light flickered in the forest, catching Tiernan’s attention. It was directly in front of him. The Great Guardian’s essence, perhaps?

  No. He frowned as the spark hovered in the forest. It was unusual in its energy patterns—neither Fae nor Elvin created. As he watched, it grew into a small bubble of golden light, suspended over the leaves and dirt of the forest.

  Tiernan pushed his long coat aside and rested one hand on the sword sheathed at his side. He moved closer to the now dancing glowing orb. It glittered, causing leaves to sparkle and surrounding rocks to glow.

  He approached the orb slowly and his gaze narrowed. He didn’t know why he had to get closer to the golden light, except that his gut told him to.

  A sudden flare nearly blinded him.

  Tiernan stumbled toward it—as if something shoved him from behind.

  He struggled to regain his balance and back away, but the light surrounded him, gripping him tight like a lover’s arms.

  With a jerk it yanked him forward and snatched him from the forest.

  A mind-bending sensation shot through Tiernan. A force thrust him forward, faster than he could ever have imagined flying. Colors in brilliant shades of the rainbow flashed by.

  In the next moment the force flung him into stormy skies.

  He hurtled through the air—toward a petite figure at the other end of the light.

  Tiernan braced himself for the impact.

  He grabbed the being in his arms. It gave a cry as he slammed into it. He twisted in the air and came down hard on his back.

  Air whooshed from his lungs and his head struck the ground. He maintained his grip and managed not to roll over again, despite the power of his momentum.

  When he could focus, he took in the being on top of him—the woman in his arms—as she raised her head. Shock coursed through him like wildfire as he recognized her.

  “Ask and you shall receive,” she murmured before he could say a word. “I wished for a gorgeous man and I got one.” She rose and sighed as she straddled him. “Sorry to break it to you, but I really would rather have gone home.”

  “Copper Ashcroft?” Tiernan managed to get out despite the fact that the air had been knocked from his lungs.

  The woman placed her palms on his chest, pushed herself out of his arms, and slid off him. “You know me?” Her cinnamon eyes were wide and disbelieving. “Who are you?”

  Tiernan eased himself to a sitting position so that he was looking directly at Copper. Her hair was mussed and her Faerie kisses stood out against her now pale complexion. She looked dizzy, as if she might faint

  He steadied her by grasping her shoulders. For a moment he couldn’t speak, and she remained silent with her lips parted.

  She had an amazed and shocked expression on her features. She looked almost exactly like her picture except that her hair was longer and she was even more beautiful—the picture had truly not done her justice. She smelled of apples and cinnamon.

  “Okaaaaaay.” Copper’s heart pounded so hard her breasts actually ached. “Try telling me what’s going on. And who are you?”

  The man’s grip was so tight on her arms that she was sure he was going to leave bruises. “Tiernan,” he said in an Irish brogue, his features composed as if he slammed into women every day. “I am Tiernan of the Tuatha D’Danann.”

  The extra jolt of her heart sent blood rushing to her head and she wondered if maybe her magic had backfired so badly that she was imagining things.

  “D’Danann? The Fae warriors?” She shrugged away from his grasp. “This is nuts. Where did you come from?”

  She tried to catch her breath as Tiernan held up his hand and gave her a sign to slow down. She took a deep gulp of air that somehow didn’t want to move past her pounding heart.

  “I know your sister,” the man called Tiernan said. “Silver has a picture of you that she keeps in her home.”

  Copper couldn’t stop another rush of questions. “Is she all right? What’s happened? Ohmigoddess. Did she summon you? Why would she take such a risk? Where is—”

  Tiernan put his finger to her lips and shushed her. “There are only so many questions I can answer at a time.”

  Copper nodded and bit her lower lip, trying to keep from grabbing him, shaking him, and begging him not to talk so blessed slow.

  “Your sister is doing well,” he said, his deep blue eyes focused intently on her. “Silver summoned me and my brethren to assist her and the D’Anu Coven in battling the Fomorii.”

  On hearing this, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. “The ancient sea gods? The demons sent to Underworld?”

  The infuriatingly calm man gave a single nod. “There has been a battle—or better to say several battles—in your city of San Francisco.” When she nearly busted out with more questions he held up his hand and she bit her lip again. “But we defeated a good number of them.”

  “I had dreams,” Copper let spill out. “Of what must have happened. I didn’t know for sure if they were just dreams, but they must have been visions.”

  Tiernan wondered just how much information he should give her. Copper’s mother was dead, and no doubt that was something she didn’t know. It should be up to Silver to tell Copper once they returned to San Francisco. News like that should come from a family member with those Copper loved surrounding her.

  Buzzing came from around Copper’s head before Tiernan caught sight of a honeybee. He swiped at it, trying to knock it from the air.

  “What are you—” The bee landed on her nose.

  Tiernan raised his hand to flick it off, hoping it wouldn’t sting her.

  But instead Copper’s eyes nearly crossed as she looked down at the honeybee on her nose and she smiled. She brought her finger up to the bee, which crawled up and onto the back of her hand.

  “This is Zephyr,” she was saying. “My familiar.”

  He frowned. “A bee familiar?”

  “Yup.” The bee flew off her hand and buzzed angrily around Tiernan’s head before flying to her and coming to a rest on the curve of her ear.

  She wrinkled her nose as she looked at Tiernan. “He’s a little ticked at you right now.”

  “Great,” he muttered. “But if he
stings me, he’ll die like any other bee.”

  “Ah, that’s where you’re wrong.” Copper pushed her hair back behind her ear, and Tiernan could see the bee more clearly now. If bees had an expression, the damned thing wasn’t too happy at this moment.

  “As I said, Zeph’s a familiar,” Copper continued. “Familiars always have some kind of magic. He can sting multiple times, and he never loses his stinger.” She gave Tiernan an impish grin. “It’s best not to piss him off.”

  “Terrific.” A fat raindrop splattered on Tiernan’s face and he looked up at the swirling clouds overhead. “Do you have shelter?”

  “More or less.” Copper pushed herself to her feet and tugged down a strange tunic that reached her thighs. It appeared to be made of vines and leaves, and caressed and clung to her body in ways that made his gut tighten. “But I have to take down the circle before we go anywhere.”

  He forced himself up to a standing position as more raindrops splattered both their faces and their bodies. She looked up at him and he realized how petite she was—more so than even Silver.

  Copper picked up a copper and crystal wand and pointed it as she moved counterclockwise in a large circle around them, murmuring a short, singsong chant.

  After she reached the point where she had started, and finished her chant, she grasped his hand with her free one and led him toward an outcropping of rock. “Come on.”

  The instant her hand touched his, he felt warmth spread throughout his body and a tingling sensation that went from his head to his toes.

  The witch didn’t seem to notice as she tugged on his arm, and he followed her to a low shelf. He frowned at the sight of it, unsure whether his bulk would comfortably fit beneath the overhang.

  “It’s all I’ve got, but it’s been home for what seems like forever,” she said as they reached the meager shelter. “Come on.”

  She crouched and crawled beneath the overhang and he almost groaned at the sight of her body that was barely covered by the vine and leaf tunic.

  What in the gods’ names was wrong with him? He had just shot through the Veil to Otherworld, found Silver’s sister, and he was having erotic thoughts about her?