by Conn, Claudy
The nerves in her body still throbbed, but they were no longer wildly out of control, and she felt a state of composure take over her frazzled mind. Something else disturbed her, something that wouldn’t let go. It wasn’t only her hearing; it was everything she was.
She felt magic exploding in her veins, like fireworks on the Fourth of July. It didn’t hurt; it felt … empowering. Super-charged power rippled through her blood, and she felt different inside, as though her organs had somehow blossomed into something else and shifted inside her.
She eyed him and said, “It isn’t only hearing—did I have some kind of a reaction to that awful stuff—is that what is happening to me?”
* * *
He choked on the strange constriction that took over his throat when he thought of the moment in which she had died. He couldn’t think of it without hurting. It was still too fresh in his mind.
Now, he was going to have to tell her. Humans were unpredictable, and though she was no longer human, her learned and natural behavior would still be so.
He said on a heavy sigh, “You could say that.” He reached for her chin. “You have to listen to me and not get yourself worked up. There isn’t time for hysterics, and I know what I am about to tell you might, in fact, elicit such human behavior—”
“Trevor, just tell me what you have to tell me, or I will get hysterical before you say another word.”
“Yes, right, very well,” he said, feeling miserable. “As I said, I have something to tell you, and I am not certain you will be able to comprehend it all. You are, however, a Fios, which might help you understand. You were to begin with not quite human, so you should be able to comprehend it all, as you were aware of Fae abilities and culture. Indeed, it might not sound all that strange to you—”
She reached up, grabbed his mouth with her fingers, and pinched his lips together. “Shut up and tell me already.”
* * *
He took her fingers off his lips and then brought them back to kiss them. She felt her entire being react to his touch, and her eyelashes fluttered. Hot dayum, she thought. She wanted him more than ever!
He said softly, “I will start by telling you where we are.” He eyed her hopefully before proceeding. “The Dark King, as you know, created a habitat for his consort, Crystal, called the Retreat. We are in Crystal’s Retreat. This structure is almost like a living thing and responds only to her. However, she has allowed us to remain here while we continue our mission. In fact, she created this room especially for you to be comfortable in when you … came through the first part of your … transition.”
“Transition?” Jazz didn’t like the sound of that. In fact, she was getting a sick notion that the career she had planned as a marine biologist was a lost hope.
“Yes, I found some reading material she left for me about the process you have gone through and what must be done next. I have made myself acquainted with what to expect,” Trevor said and took her hand. “We will work through this together.”
“Work through what?” Jazz asked as that awful feeling grew.
“You died, Jazmine Decker. You died.”
She stopped and considered him, thought out in step-by-step clarity what he had just told her. Well, people died, and then they used a defibrillator to shock them back. She was certain that was how it was done. She had seen enough movies to know that was how it was done. That was what he meant, right? Sure, she decided and asked, “Huh, how did you get one of those defibrillators here? Amazing. So you are saying you shocked me back?”
“No, it wouldn’t have worked even if I had had one of those human inventions on hand at the time. You were gone and just about to cross over. I had no choice, so I used something else, something we Seelie Fae are forbidden to use, forbidden …” His voice trailed off.
She had died came through loud and clear. Trevor had told her that she had been gone and that he had been aware she was about to cross over. Did that mean she would have gone to heaven? As pleasant as that might have been, she wasn’t really ready to go yet, so thinking about this she was damned grateful he had broken the rules.
Her mind, her brand new, expanded mind, wrapped around everything he had just said and was oddly at peace. Why would he think she would be hysterical? The knowledge of what he had done for her superseded all other considerations. And that overwhelming truth, the one that spoke the loudest, was that he had turned his back on everything he believed to save her. “Ah, Trevor … just what did you do?”
“I used my blood to bring you back. The giving of Fae blood is very different than the healing power we have. You see, our healing ability works off our energy, but even a Royal’s science and magic cannot bring back a human that has died and is about to cross over.” He shook his head and paused before saying, “The use of Seelie blood will revive a human from death, yes, but it also changes that human. The act cannot be taken lightly. That is why it is forbidden—because it changes the human.”
“You … you used your blood?” She was, in spite of the fear that came with this information, impressed. “How—you mean in a transfusion?”
“My veins would not have stayed open long enough for a transfusion. I did two things. I poured some blood down your throat … and then later, I made an incision directly into your heart and opened my vein again and poured some into your heart as well. Your body took to my blood immediately, almost as though it had been waiting for it all your life.” He paused and frowned. “Our queen believes in the dictates of fate, and in that moment, I did wonder if that was your fate—our fate.” He held her hands now, both of them tightly in his own.
“Your Fae blood, down my throat, in my heart. You made a hole in my heart?” Jazz looked down at her chest but found no scar to indicate that he had cut her to receive his blood. “You could have killed me … I could have died … again.”
He smiled sweetly and touched her face. “No, you already had Royal Seelie blood working inside you. You wouldn’t have died, and what I did sped up the transition for you, made it simpler.”
“So, I have Fae blood inside me.” Jazz’s thoughts were clear. She wasn’t a fool. She had already assimilated the fact that something was different inside her, and she had accepted it. She loved life, and what was more, she loved this big hunk of Royal Fae. She couldn’t, would never, forget, that he had broken rules he held dear for her. Did that mean he loved her? Perhaps he cared for her, but did he love her … the way she loved him, above all else, all others, above herself?
“Not just Fae blood—but Royal Fae blood,” he corrected. “It is forbidden because, well, allow me to explain.”
She nodded and smiled encouragingly. “Yup, explain.”
“In the days when we Fae walked amongst humans in Ireland and Scotland, we were worshipped as gods. Your people called us the Children of the Light amongst other names indicating their affection for us.” He frowned. “Something went wrong. Perhaps some of our Fae went too far … at any rate, there came a time when your ancestors wanted us off the land we loved.” He shook his head. “Fios warned their villages of our warriors coming, and bands of your human men would attempt to fight us and died during their show of defiance. It wasn’t until the Milesians arrived that humans were at last able to stand against the Seelie Fae.”
“Yes, I know some of this,” Jazz murmured. “Go on.”
“Gossip came to light about some Fae, not Royals but Seelie Fae who had taken on human lovers, some of whom had been killed during battle.”
“Ah, those Fae healed their lovers with their blood?”
“Yes, but only one or two of those humans survived the process. Most humans cannot cope with the transition, and Seelie blood lacks the Royal gene that tempers that transition. Seelie Fae blood works spontaneously. As a result, those that did not survive transition went mad and killed themselves. Thus, this was a forbidden tool.”
“I am happy, Trevor, that you took the chance—happy,” she reassured him.
“Mine is Royal blood, a
nd I am not repeating this out of immodesty, only to indicate how very different it is in many ways. Yes, I knew that I was taking a chance and depended on you, what you have inside you both as a Fios and as one of the bravest female humans I know I will ever encounter. It was Crystal, the Dark King’s consort, who appeared and told me to use this method, implied that you would do well with my blood, and helped me along.”
“The Dark King’s consort—darn, I didn’t get to see her.” Jazz’s reaction to this was disappointment. The thing she kept telling herself was that she felt great. It was difficult to be upset when one felt fantastic.
He chuckled. “Indeed, she is quite stunning.” He sighed then and said, “You are still human as far as your mindset, but you are no longer really human, not your organs, not your blood—only the human traits that were learned over your lifetime. You will have to cope with that during your training, as they will get in the way. You will have to overcome them,” he said and stroked her long blonde hair. “Your human will interfere with who you must be.”
“I kinda like my human traits and don’t mean to give them up.” Jazz cocked a brow at him and tried to assimilate everything he had told her and put it in context with the fact that she had been dead and now was not. “Does this make me a zombie?” she teased to lighten the moment because he looked sick with concern.
He laughed. “No, you are not the walking dead. Zombies are not really the ‘living dead’ as you humans like to call them. They are dead and without any directive of their own. They walk, they eat, but they are still dead.”
“Are you telling me that zombies exist?” She was temporarily diverted.
“Never mind them. What you are is quite vibrantly alive. You are … changed and have skills and magic, and you must be trained to use those things.” He eyed her tentatively and said, “Let me show you, so that you may fully understand.” With a flick of the wrist, the mirror that hung over one of the wall tables was in his hands, and he held it up for her.
Jazz leaned forward. Remembering she was naked under the covers, she hurriedly held the satiny quilt up to her neck and gazed into the mirror.
Her blonde hair seemed thicker, sexy and full around her creamy skin, whose texture was unexplainably different. However, it was her eyes that held her in place. Blazing royal blue eyes sparkling with a myriad of stars stared back at her. Her eyes, though not alien, not Fae, were definitely not human.
She scooted backwards from the image of herself and hugged the covers tightly around her body as though to ward off what she had seen. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “No—that wasn’t me.”
“Yes, it is, it is you, but, Jazmine Decker, you are and will always be the person you have always been. Nothing can change that unless you allow it, but now, you are also immortal.”
~ Fourteen ~
BRESLYN, PRINCE OF Dagda, stood in the Council chambers, his massive arms folded across his tattooed and muscular chest. His dark blonde hair was tightly braided and tied with leather at the nape of his neck. He looked prepared for battle.
His mate, Princess Ete, the queen’s Daoine cousin, stood at his side, clothed in warrior leathers, an indication of what they expected.
Beside them were Danté, eldest Prince of the House of Lugh, and his half-human, half-Daoine Fae mate, Radzia, at his side, also clothed in warrior leathers. Breslyn looked them over and smiled. He could see that Z was in full temper.
Radzia, known by all as Z, was ever impulsive, and she was at that moment furious as well. She threw her dark hair over her shoulder, stepped forward, raised a wagging finger at the Council, who had called this meeting, and rebuked them. “How dare you! All of you who sat back and watched while our queen, your queen, worked and fought to aid us in the war against the traitor Gaiscioch.” She shook her head. “I don’t get it. I don’t get any of you who have called this meeting. It is a total waste of time. Your warriors—us in fact—have been working to rid Tir and the Human Realm of the threat from the Dark Prince, his brothers, Morrigu, and his monster army. Just what is wrong with you?” She clucked her tongue. “You are so quick to forget. Our Queen Aaibhe is beauty and wisdom and power, and she has taken you to a time of peace out of the ashes of war. You destroyed Danu with just this sort of temperamental bulldookie. Your Seelie nation was floundering through the most horrendous times, and she stepped up, ignored her personal needs, and put the needs of her nation ahead of her own. She helped you create a world of music and art, harmony and peace. She kept you safe in times of war and showed you how to maintain the peace most of you have always wanted. Some of you here—some of you—call yourselves her friend. So I ask you, how dare you!”
Breslyn’s eyes were alive with amusement as he watched the Council members’ reactions.
A lovely Fae, not a Royal but gentle of demeanor, cast a thoughtful glance over Z and said softly, “Respectfully, as I know how much you worked and fought with all our warriors against the Dark Ones, but I still must tell you that you are not part of this Council and have no business here. However, I will address your statement. We dare, because it is our right. Having said that, I must make a note to my fellow members that I am in agreement with everything you have pointed out and against this meeting, and I find the matter being addressed here today, at best, repulsive and, at worst, very near traitorous. I should like my objection to be noted for the record.”
Breslyn inclined his head. “Thank you, Council Member Ruthla. It has been so recorded.”
Two male Council members stood up at that point and displayed they were in accord with her by reservedly clapping their hands and added their own objections as well.
Breslyn studied the remaining four members that Banzar had swayed to his side, as he had needed five members to call a meeting. Breslyn noted to himself that he could see one of these Council members was obviously uncomfortable and ready to cast his vote against Banzar.
Today, he knew the vote would not go against Aaibhe, but matters were now dire. He had not expected Banzar to gain so many to his side so quickly.
Banzar stood up and said grimly, “I would also like it noted for our records that the queen has taken in a Fios child and has been seeing to her training!”
Ruthla’s lovely brow went up as she cast him a withering glance. “It is the right of the Seelie Queen to hold, as our guest, any and all Fios in Tir that she finds and deems necessary to detain here. No rule, ethical or otherwise, has been broken, Banzar. It does not need to go into the record.”
“Indeed, but since when do we train them to use their skills?” Banzar pursued.
“The child is being taught and trained to fight with us against the threat of the Dark Princes.” Z once again took a step forward, her lovely face a mask of fury. “And besides, she is just a kid. You seem to be looking for a fight, mister, and if you want a really good one, I am happy to oblige …”
Danté pulled his impulsive mate back to his side and eyed her, but she shrugged and said on not such a whisper, “He is a jerk.”
Breslyn chuckled but stepped in front of her and said, “Let’s get this over with.” He, Danté, and Ete were Royal members, and though they could only cast one vote each, what they said and did would most definitely sway the others.
“The first thing I request is a secret ballot.” Banzar stood and addressed the seated members, ignoring Breslyn and the other Royals.
“No. You wanted this meeting, so be it,” Breslyn pronounced. “First, for the record, Banzar has called this meeting in order to start a movement to overthrow the queen.” He glared at Banzar, and his lip curled. He spoke to all the members, though he looked only at Banzar. “You cannot wish to overthrow our queen and remain anonymous. That would appear cowardly and, as Ruthla mentioned, on the verge of traitorous. We will have a show of hands. Let us be open about this. What is the nature of your objection to our queen—why have you instituted this meeting?”
“Our queen cavorts with the Milesian leader and for such traitorous behavior should b
e deposed,” Banzar said with contempt.
“Where is the crime?” Breslyn said quietly, but a threat seemed to linger in the air, and behind his words. No one in the room could doubt that he wanted to step forward and land a blow to Banzar’s face.
“I have it on good authority that she wishes a legal union with Morgan LeBlanc! It was not enough that she condoned the union of Chancemont LeBlanc and Princess Royce—apparently, that was not enough. She wishes to unite our two worlds by taking Morgan LeBlanc as her consort.”
“Again, I ask you, where is the crime?” Breslyn found he could no longer contain himself and took a threatening step towards Banzar.
“It is written that our queen may not take as consort an enemy leader.”
“The Milesians and the Seelie Fae have been at peace since the signing of the Treaty!” Danté said calmly. “Where is your enemy leader? Your point does not apply.”
“We Seelie Fae do not wish such a union with the Milesians whom we have held in contempt for centuries. It is our belief that the queen has lost her sense of direction and should be deposed before she leads us down the wrong path,” Banzar growled, evidently not willing to back down.
Breslyn strode hard and looked Banzar up and down before walking to each seated member and staring at them. “Despicable—all of you who stand with Banzar, who is a Council member by the good graces of our queen! Mark me on this, all of you—when this absurdity is at an end, I shall have your seats. If you stand with Banzar on this today—you will lose, and in the end you will lose everything!”
“There ya go!” Z said with approval. She turned to Danté. “Right—I am a Daoine Royal. I think you should replace one of them with me.”
Danté pinched her cheek. “We have four Royals already as members.” He looked at the opposing members. “Princess Royce is with her Milesian as we speak, working to shut down yet another portal the Dark Ones have attempted to open. However, you may rest assured she has authorized Breslyn to cast her vote.”