Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
CHAPTER FIFTY
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
COMING NEXT
OTHER BOOKS BY GAYLE PARNESS
CUT OFF
ROGUES SHIFTER SERIES BOOK 7
GAYLE PARNESS
Copyright 2014 Gayle Parness
To my fellow SVRWA members. Thank you.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
CHAPTER FIFTY
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
COMING NEXT
OTHER BOOKS BY GAYLE PARNESS
CUT OFF
CHAPTER ONE
There was nothing.
No light. No scents. No sounds.
I felt nothing against my skin, not clothing, bindings or even a whisper of wind. Although I sensed that I was still in solid form, my body refused to obey the commands of my mind. My brain told my eyes to blink, yet there was no sensation where I imagined my eyes to be. If my fingers did indeed wiggle, I couldn't feel the muscles move or the joints bend. My mouth could not—or would not—enlist the help of my lungs or vocal chords to call for help.
Was I standing up or lying down? Perhaps I hung suspended from a ceiling? There was no way to know. Sensory deprivation at its worst.
What I remembered from the night before was curling my body around Jackie's as she drifted off to sleep, her lovely scent and steady breathing comforting me as only hers could. When I knew she was deeply asleep, I'd moved away so my soon much cooler skin temperature wouldn't chill her. Then I'd closed my eyes and allowed my resting phase to take over.
Frustration roared through my unresponsive flesh, as I realized that I had no memory of how I came to be in this state. Had I been drugged into hallucination or could this be death? Was I now a spirit judged soulless and banished to a universe of nothing but my own thoughts to keep me company? My mind and memories were all that remained. How long before I went mad?
I tried to connect to the magic of the ley lines, but I was blocked. I reached out to my love with my mind, but our precious link was severed.
There was nothing.
Nothing but the hunger. The thirst.
CHAPTER TWO
My eyes sprung open, my instincts telling me there was danger. I sat up, throwing the blankets away from my body and pushing the remote to open the shades, simultaneously pulling in magic so I could defend myself and my resting mate. But the mid-day light illuminated more than just the room.
Garrett wasn't in the bed.
Lord Caelen stood by the window on the right, and I knew without his saying a word that Garrett was gone. Not dead, though. Not dead, but somehow not in my world. Which left only Faerie or the Demon Realm, neither scenario good. I rubbed my arms, shivering, my heart empty in a way I hadn't felt since before Garrett and I'd first shared blood over sixteen years ago.
"Jacqueline." Caelen's face was grave, pale. I opened my mouth to respond, but couldn't speak. "I've received news."
Aedus appeared next, then Liam. Three fae gods were standing in my bedroom. Any other time, I might have laughed, teasing them about already being taken, thank you very much, but not today.
The bedroom that I shared with Garrett wasn't a fit place for this sort of discussion. "In the kitchen, please. Two minutes." Short phrases were all I could manage. I splashed water on my face, then dressed in clothes I could move easily in, adding soft boots and then finally, my arcane dagger, its sheath fastened to my belt. If we were going to war, I would be ready.
A moment later, I was in the kitchen standing across the table from Caelen, too wound up to sit. "Tell me."
"A few minutes ago a body was delivered to our ceremonial field. He was a young fae, only one hundred and sixty years old. His name was Jerillin. He was one of mine." Caelen's voice cracked as his knuckles whitened on the chair back.
He sucked in a long breath before continuing. "In his satchel he carried a note from my sister, Fionna, the queen. I will translate."
Brother,
I hope you enjoy your gift.
Your undead ally is held prisoner at court. If Jacqueline wishes to take him safely home, she will accompany you to court, along with her son, Charles. Charles will be exchanged for the vampire and will stay at court with his true fat
her, our brother, Kennet. Charles will be housed in the royal wing and will continue his training as a magic user.
You three will attend me in the throne room at eventide three days hence. The exchange will take place there. You will encourage the cheetah to obey me in this, or the Sidhe of Cascade will lose more of its people. I do not make idle threats.
Her mate will be held unharmed and released upon your arrival.
Fionna
I had no words. As my friends waited for me to find my voice, my hand went automatically to the handle of my dagger, my other hand clenching and unclenching by my side. Somehow my heart continued to beat and my lungs took in air, but nothing made sense.
Feeling lightheaded, I leaned against the wall for support. I must have looked shaky, because Liam took the lines to get to my side quickly, then led me to a chair. With a gentle hand on my shoulder he urged me to sit. He asked in his most soothing voice, "Do you need water?" I shook my head. "Jackie, where's Charlie?"
The microwave clock read just before noon. "He spent last night at Kyle's. He should be at the movies now with Aislin, Jay and Grady." I was surprised my brain worked well enough to figure that out and then communicate it so clearly.
"I'll have Aislin bring them back."
"No!" That was louder than I'd intended. I needed to get a grip.
The three fae stared at me in shock. "He is in danger." Aedus said.
I shook my head and held up a hand. "He has Aislin and no one knows where he is. First we need to make a plan."
Caelen answered, his tone clipped. "There is nothing to discuss."
"Really?" I bit my lip before I said more. Although Caelen had little to do with his twin sister, the queen, I couldn't help but feel he should have somehow prevented this from happening. "How did she get past our wards?" I asked.
"I can only guess. Fionna is foolish enough to use the spell that stops time. When she does, she's able to slip between the wards. The spell takes a great deal of her energy, so she will need a few days to return to her full strength."
"Why didn't she kidnap me instead or Garrett? Or both of us? I was sleeping right next to him."
"Taking you would seem logical, but Fionna is impulsive and not often prone to using common sense. I am guessing that she came for Charles, and when she saw he was not here, she had to come up with another scheme on the spur of the moment. She chose to leave one of you behind to escort him to court." Lord Caelen frowned. "She must have thought you'd be more malleable than Garrett, more easily influenced by me. She does not know you at all."
I ignored the jibe, especially since it wasn't far off the mark. "How do we get Garrett back and keep Charlie safe from Fionna?"
"Today we will take Charles to Cascade where he will be protected, and then we will do what has to be done to bring Garrett home."
Too vague for me. "And what specifically has to be done?"
"There are diplomatic procedures that you needn't concern yourself with." Huh. Caelen was used to giving orders, but I wasn't used to taking a back seat.
Aedus began to pace. "We'll do all that we can to get him home soon." The tall fae's eyes were streaked with an angry gold. I knew how he felt. Garrett was his friend, plus the young fae's death was an enormous loss to their sidhe. Like his father, he must be taking the attack personally. His deep voice rumbled through the room. "Jacqueline, please bring Charlie home now so we can take him to safety. Cascade is the only option. You may accompany him, of course. Philly and I would welcome the two of you into our home." He smiled, the warmth in his eyes urging me to agree.
I smiled back to reassure them that I wasn't going to collapse in a lump on the floor, even though that's what I felt like doing. Liam had brought me coffee, so I took a sip and forced myself to think about this logically, the way Garrett would.
If Charlie and I stayed in Faerie, I'd be giving them complete control. I'd be handing over my son to the fae, a friendlier set, but still the fae. I would have no power there, unlike Fionna, who'd already proven she was capable of breaching Cascade's wards as easily as mine.
I asked Liam, whose hand rested again on my shoulder, "Do you agree with them?"
He sent to me, mind-to-mind, breaking through my locked-down shields as if they were wafer thin. Normally I'd be pissed off, but Liam was a rare friend. We were honest with each other, brutally at times. I knew what he'd say before I heard his response. "If you feel he can be kept safe from Naberia, take him to Isaiah. Cascade is no longer secure from the queen's vengeance."
That advice would cost him. His father and brother would be furious, but in my heart I knew it was the same advice Garrett would have offered up. I kept my face frozen and nodded toward Caelen with respect. "Thank you for sharing your council. I'm very sorry about the young male who was murdered. I'll need to take care of a few things and then I'd like to meet again later, if that would be acceptable." I had no doubt Aedus would be pounding on my door as soon as he heard what I'd done.
Before they had a chance to respond, I flashed out to the movie theatre to retrieve Charlie and take him to the Demon Realm.
CHAPTER THREE
Fionna was pacing, tossing aside her long blonde hair each time she reversed direction. The train of her scarlet gown flowed dramatically in her wake as she swept back and forth across the stretch of floor below the stairs leading to the dais. Perched there were two elaborate thrones, hand carved from the finest woods and metals, glistening with an ambient magic left behind by several powerful monarchs. Fionna had never been interested in the history this room embodied. When she sat on the throne at all, it was only to ensure that all eyes were pointed in her direction.
As soon as she noticed my arrival, she asked, "Do you think they've read the note?"
"Yes. We'll have a reply from Caelen soon, no doubt." I lowered my body into the chair usually occupied by the queen's consort and stretched out my legs. They still troubled me from my time spent as Isaiah's prisoner in the Demon Realm sixteen years ago.
Fionna noticed me rubbing my knee. "Do you still not heal?"
"The pain has lessened."
"Isaiah should be drawn and quartered." She snapped.
"He exploited an old injury. Do you recall how I would sometimes limp as a child? After Father left court, my mother became quite proficient in the use of the cane, targeting the back of my knees. Korwyn was close to death on two occasions. You see, she blamed us for Father's departure."
"Father was at fault. He made my lady mother angry."
Saying that Queen Aine was angry was the understatement of the ages.
Unlike most fae, Finvarra was fertile beyond imagining, impregnating the queen within weeks of his coming into power. After Caelen and Fionna were born, the queen discovered she was unable to bear more children. She magnanimously sent Finvarra out to impregnate other females so that the court, which had been decimated by many battles, would be reinvigorated with new life. Each chosen female gave birth to at least one child, my mother to two.
Problems arose when Finvarra revisited these females and their children, perhaps because he loved them as he loved his queen. Aine's time alone with him grew shorter, a situation she abhorred, but she was a queen with incredible power and knew just how to solve this dilemma. She proclaimed the females to be traitors and murdered them by her own hand. It was quick and clean and done in secret. Father could do naught for the dead, except to make sure no other fae died because of her madness.
Because my mother was ill from iron poisoning, she was spared, hanging on to her ugly life until just after my sixteenth birthday. No one at court besides myself knew of her final hours, and it would remain so.
Fionna twisted her mouth in disgust. "You should not allow ancient memories to distract you from our plan to bring Charles to court. Your mother is long dead." She waved her hand dismissively.
"Your mother left you without a backward glance."
She winced at my dig, then tightened her mouth. "Perhaps your mother was right. Perhaps y
ou were to blame."
"I was ten years old when Finvarra left, my sister only eight." She straightened her perfect hair in the gilt mirror, ignoring me. My voice grew louder. "Your mother was losing her sanity. She was killing female fae in violent rages brought on by jealousy. She was turning her gaze toward the children of those unions. Father took her away to protect us."
"Caelen and I were in no danger." She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes appearing black in the glow of fae light.
"Queen Aine might have one day considered even you, her daughter, competition for Finvarra's attention."
Ironically, every fae at court had wanted the king's attention. Finvarra was generous and kind to his subjects, ruling his people with intelligence and honor. He was a warrior so skilled he could cut down dozens of attacking unseelie without incurring one wound, and an artist so masterful, he could bring everyone to tears with a sweetly sung song.
But those weren't his only talents.
If the former king wished to unleash his unique magic, Finvarra could cast a magnetic spell onto whomever he chose, even an entire group. Under this charismatic sorcery, we wanted to please him, needed to please him, begged him to allow us to please him. Fae with bloodlines as long as his, who had always prided themselves on their dignity, would sometimes fall at his feet in rapture when he spoke to them. We would compete to make him smile, that gleam more radiant to us than a dozen suns. His females made him smile most often, but Queen Aine had not smiled to see it.
It was only later that I understood the true nature of the power he wielded, since, of all his children, I had inherited a similar gift myself, one much more suited to my temperament. I had no interest in gaining followers who would throw themselves at my feet in adoration. Instead I breached their shields, entered their minds to take away free will. Controlling their bodies as their minds lay imprisoned.
The last day I'd spoken to him had been in this very room. Each moment was branded into my soul, the pain still real.
"Father, why are you sad?" Father was usually in a jovial mood when he was with me, although lately, that had changed.
"The queen and I are leaving the Faerie Court. We journey to Tir Na NOg."
"May Korwyn and I go with you?" My ten-year-old self stretched out a hand, attempting to grasp his arm.
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