by Bonnie Lamer
She stares at me for a long time. I start eating again just so I can look in a direction other than hers. She’s making me self-conscious. Finally, she says, “If I can get you into the Daityas village and to Ellu’s home, do you think you could take it from there?”
Whoa. What? “Um, I thought you were Devas.”
She looks down at the floor as blood rushes to her cheeks. “I am.”
“Then, how could you get me into the Daityas village? And why would you do something that could cost you your life is Dagda found out?”
She raises her eyes to mine. Are those tears? “I have my reasons.”
Is this a trap? “You don’t even like me, why would you help me?”
She takes a deep breath. “I know that I am risking my life by saying this, but I have not met a Fairy I liked. They tend to be arrogant and headstrong beyond reason, and ready to show their superiority at the drop of a hat. Using magic instead of their wits or physical skills.”
I laugh, which I can tell surprises her. “Yeah, I can see why you would say that. I’m only half Fairy, but I guess I’m the same way. So, again, why would you help me?”
“Because I believe you may be different. You believe yourself to be wronged by Ellu, yet you are the one arguing the strongest for a diplomatic approach.”
Aw, she’s the first person to think I’m diplomatic. I can’t help but feel a little warm and fuzzy on the inside towards her. “So, how could you get me into the village?”
She bites her bottom lip, probably second guessing her offer. “Will this go any farther than you and me?”
If I want her to trust me, I have to be honest with her. “I don’t keep secrets from Kallen.” Even if he’s kept a few from me in the past.
“He truly is as a husband should be to you.” It’s a statement, not a question.
That husband word is getting thrown around a lot. I’m not comfortable with it. I know what she means, though, so I say, “Yes.”
She pushes away from the counter to collect my dirty plate and the food I couldn’t finish. I’m stuffed. “Then, if you are serious in your quest for diplomacy, come back here after the rest of the house is asleep. I will be waiting.”
I was kind of hoping for a good night’s sleep. I guess that’s not going to happen. I’m still not sure if she’s serious, but I really don’t want a war. If there’s any chance of stopping it, I’m going to take it. Strange how I feel almost Zen about the whole thing. I hate to admit it, but I’m usually all about getting pissed off and using force. Like all the other Fairies Breena described. “Okay.”
“I hear Quinn coming down the stairs,” she says. “I will see him out.” Her lips are pressed tight as she leaves the kitchen. I guess I should at least try to take a nap since it seems an entire night’s sleep is a luxury I can’t afford right now. I turn to leave the kitchen, as well.
I about jump out of my skin when a gnarled hand clamps down hard on my arm. For an old man, he has quite a grip. I’m pretty sure I’ll have a bruise. “No war, just get rid of them.”
“Um, I’m not really a believer in genocide.”
His old eyes have a clarity in them that surprises me. “They come back. They always come back.”
What do you say to crazy? “Okay, I’ll get rid of them.”
“You’ll need this,” he says, reaching into the pocket of his gray cardigan sweater. He pulls a small box out and presses it into my hand. “You can’t do it without this.”
“Thank you,” is all I can think of to say. He nods his head and goes back to murmuring to his soup. I escape the kitchen as quickly as I can.
Chapter 17
When I reach the room I’m staying in, I’m disappointed that it’s empty. I was hoping Kallen would be waiting for me. I take my time getting ready for bed, grabbing a pair of pajamas out of my suitcase that has been brought up here from the carriage. After taking a quick shower and brushing my teeth, the room is still empty but there’s a knock on the door.
I barely get the words come in out of my mouth before the door opens and Alita flies at me. She wraps me in a hug. “We were so worried about you!”
“I know. I’m sorry you guys had to go through that,” I say, trying to get oxygen in my lungs again. Alita lets me go when she realizes she’s crushing me.
Kegan’s leaning against the doorframe smiling. “She’s been dying to see you since she got back here.”
“Got back here, where were you?” I ask her.
“I was with some of the Giants, searching for the use of black magic,” she says, but she’s starting to pale.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
She puts a hand to her head and stumbles a bit. Kegan is by her side in a flash with a hand under her elbow. “Alita, what is it?” His voice is dripping with concern. I’d bet money on the fact that there’s love there, too.
“I need to sit down,” she says. “Xandra’s making me sick.”
I put my hands on my hips. “And here I thought we were friends,” I tease. I’m pretty sure I know what she really meant.
She gives me a weak smile. “Not you personally, but you are ensconced in a cloud of black magic.”
“I took a shower,” I say.
“I am pretty sure that hot water cannot wash away black magic,” she says, looking a little better now that she’s across the room from me.
I’m getting worried, now. “Am I under some kind of black spell?” I’ve already had my body hijacked once. I don’t want anyone else to have control over me.
Alita shakes her head. “No, I do not believe so. I believe I am detecting the residue of the magic.”
Great, now I just need to figure out how to scrub off black magic residue. Maybe with a loofa? Alita’s still looking a bit green around the edges. “Kegan, maybe you should bring her to her room.”
He nods. “I believe that would be a good idea.”
Alita doesn’t protest when he slides an arm around her waist and helps her stand up. She leans heavily on him as they walk towards the door. I wish I could help her, but since she’s not really sick or injured, I can’t heal her.
Once they’re gone, I close the door and flop down on the canopy bed. I always wanted one of these when I was little. I thought it would make me feel like a princess. Now, it makes me feel too much like a princess. Ironic, huh?
I try to stay awake until Kallen comes back, but my eyes refuse to cooperate. I don’t think even toothpicks could hold my lids open right now. By the time Kallen comes to bed, I’m fast asleep.
He wakes me up with butterfly kisses on my neck. “Mm, I like that,” I murmur. He’s snuggled against my back, his body pressed tight to mine. He moves my hair back so he has better access to my neck.
I shift so that I’m lying on my back and can bring my lips to his. I’ve missed his touch. Apparently, he’s missed mine, as well. He shifts so that he’s on top of me and his lips are hungry and demanding. Our hands are eager as we touch, not being able to get close enough to fill the need within us both. He starts to unbutton my shirt, tugging roughly at the buttons.
Tugging at the buttons? Um, he doesn’t need to do that. He could make my shirt disappear. And then it hits me. It’s always the little things. His kiss is similar, but not quite the same. His hands are smaller and his body lighter. Oh, crap, this isn’t Kallen.
Drawing magic, I send whoever this is flying across the room. I will the lights on and I see the Kallen imposter in a heap on the floor, just as the door bursts open. There’s the real Kallen, and he’s dragging someone by the arm. Someone who looks an awful lot like me. Okay, exactly like me.
He turns to the guy on the floor, and then looks back at me. “It is good to see that we can both feel the difference of another’s touch.” His words are cold and concise, but calm. The swirling circle of magic around him is anything but calm. The room is starting to shake and dust is falling from the ceiling. His magic is out of control. This isn’t supposed to happen to him. Only mine goes wonky. The sudden
crack in the wall belies the truth in that statement.
“Kallen, you have to get it under control,” I say, drawing my own magic, ready to fight his if necessary to keep the house from falling down.
He shoves the clone of me into the room. Standing in the doorframe, he puts his hands on either side and pushes against them, visibly trying to get his anger under control. Deep breaths don’t seem to be helping. His magic is still swirling in a rainbow in front of my eyes.
“Kallen, tell me if you need help.” I’m hesitant to push my magic against his. It’s hard for me to stop when I get going, and I don’t want to hurt him.
Slowly, the whirling magic starts to settle. His knuckles are white from squeezing the doorframe, but I can tell he’s almost there. A few deep breaths that help now, and he’s about ten times calmer. Finally, he opens his eyes again and looks at me. His eyes are such a bright green, I’m pretty sure they could glow in the dark. I get off the bed and walk to him. I slip my arms around his waist and hug him gently. Slowly, his arms come down and wrap themselves around me.
“I’m the real Xandra, I promise,” I murmur against his chest.
“I can tell,” he says, anger straining his voice and making it deeper. “I fear I must apologize.”
I frown and look up at him. “For what?” Is that shame or embarrassment on his face? Or both?
“Because I let that woman touch me, for I believed it was you.”
Jealousy floods through me and I’m furious with him. Until I remember I’m guilty of the same thing. Crap. My emotions shift quickly from anger to the same half shame/half embarrassment of not immediately knowing it wasn’t him. “Um, me too.” And I thought his eyes were bright before.
“Kallen, stop it,” I warn as he starts pulling magic again.
He nods and does his best to push as much magic as he can back down. When I’m sure he’s under control, I turn to the imposters. The one I threw across the room is conscious again. Oddly, they’re both smiling. “Why are you so happy?” I ask.
The other me responds. “Tales of your power have not been exaggerated.” Looking at Kallen, she adds with a hungry grin, “Neither have the tales of your love.” If she licks her lips like that again, I’m going to forget all about that no killing policy I’ve been trying to stick to.
There she goes again. Pulling magic I fling it forward, determined to make it so she can’t lick her lips anymore at all. To my surprise, my magic hits a wall she has thrown up. Now she’s grinning from ear to ear. No way. I push harder and I can feel her wall bending and stretching like a rubber band that’s about to snap. She’s not smiling anymore. The other Kallen moves to her side and helps her reinforce her wall.
My Kallen has now thrown his magic at their wall, as well. It has become a magical tug of war. One that I have every intention of winning. Pulling even more magic, the house is shaking as if an earthquake is opening deep gorges in the ground around us. I hardly even notice that all of the walls are cracking. I’m paying too close of attention to the fact that their wall is paper thin now, and they’re going to be mine in about ten seconds.
I start counting down with what I’m pretty sure is a wicked smile on my face, when a third person appears on the clones’ side. My magic almost stutters when I realize she’s one of the nymphs from the woods.
“Xandra, you are certainly a force to be reckoned with,” she says and her voice is soothing, almost hypnotic.
Too bad I’m too pissed to be affected by it. “Who are you?”
She smiles as if we’re having tea on the veranda. “My name is Rhamba. I have come to collect my friends.”
“You can’t have them,” Kallen growls.
Rhamba laughs. “Fairies are so serious. I will have my friends.” Turning to me, she says, “I look forward to the next time we meet. We have much to discuss.” Then she’s gone. And so are the other two. Well, that sucks.
I turn to look at Kallen as I struggle to push down my magic. “What were they?”
He shakes his head as he’s having his own struggle with magic. “I do not know.”
“Are the two of you done trying to cave the house in?” Radella asks dryly from the door. “You could have killed everyone else here.” Glad she’s so concerned about our safety.
I tilt my head to the side. “Sorry, we were kind of busy fighting off magical creatures who can impersonate whomever they want. Maybe we should make sure that you’re not an imposter.”
That makes her look nervous. “What are you talking about?”
I scrunch my brow up. “The three people who were just here, you couldn’t have missed them.”
“No, there was no one here except you two. Are you sure your concussion is not affecting your ability to think clearly? Seeing people who do not exist is a sure sign of mental instability.”
Why is she trying to mess with us about this? “Right, you really didn’t see the three people we were fighting?”
“Radella, stop this at once,” Kallen says, his voice stern as if he’s her father.
She puts her hands on her hips. “You two are the ones seeing imaginary people and you tell me to stop?”
I look at Kallen. “You really did see them, right?”
He nods jerkily. “I pushed one into the room, remember?”
Oh, yeah. The one that looked like me. That he kissed. A surge of jealousy tries to rise again, but I squelch it before it can get very far. “Then why didn’t she see them?”
“See who?” Kegan asks from behind Radella.
“Oh no,” Alita says from behind him. She drops to her knees with her hands on her head.
Kegan crouches down in front of her. “What is it?”
“This whole area is filled with black magic,” she says. And then she faints. At least, I hope she fainted. I don’t have time to check before Kegan scoops her up and trots down the hall with her to get her away from here.
“Whoever those people were, they definitely use black magic,” I say. I’m queen of stating the obvious. Kallen just nods thoughtfully.
“You two really saw others in the room?” Radella asks. I think she’s starting to believe us. Having Alita faint because of the amount of black magic surrounding us probably helped.
“Yes,” Kallen says. “Two were posing as Xandra and me, and the other was here to retrieve the first two.”
Looking at me with her hands on her hips, she says, “You are supposed to be this all powerful being. Why did you not stop them?”
Who needs magic when you can just punch someone in the face? I take three steps before Kallen catches on and grabs me by the arms. “This is not going to help,” he says in my ear.
“Maybe not, but I’ll feel a whole lot better,” I growl. A few days ago, I think Radella would have egged me on. Today, she backs up the three steps I took towards her. “Instead of insulting me, you should do your job and figure out how you’re going to keep Dagda safe if they come back. Because if my magic wasn’t strong enough, do you really think yours will be?”
That gets her to stop and think for a minute. It’s almost comical watching the realization hit her that she will be rendered completely useless if these magical people, creatures, whatever, decide to go through Dagda to get to me. She turns and practically runs away from my door. I’m assuming back to wherever she left Dagda.
But, that brings me to another question. What do they want with me? If they truly wanted me dead, as Dagda suggested, then the one who posed as Kallen could have killed me in my sleep. There’s a happy thought. I run my hand through my hair like Kallen does when he’s upset about something. My fingers catch on snarls, of course, since my hair was wet when I went to sleep earlier. Not as satisfying as I hoped it would be.
“Kallen, there’s something I have to do. You probably aren’t going to like it, but I would really like it if you came with me. I’ll understand if you don’t want to.”
He puts his hands on my shoulders and turns me towards him. “If you think you are going anywh
ere without me, you have not recovered fully from your concussion.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me what it is?”
He shakes his head. “I am not.”
Wow, that’s a lot of trust. I have no idea how to respond to that. Kallen comes to the rescue by dipping his head and kissing me lightly. Leaning his forehead against mine, he says, “Xandra, I do not care if you are about to commit murder. The last two days of not knowing where you were, or even if you were alive, would be worth any darkness on my soul from helping you commit any number of atrocities.”