Six Times a Charm

by Deanna Chase

  I didn’t like it. What did Sebastian mean “unchallenged”? What was Cheney going to do?

  “Are you recovered?”

  I nodded.

  “Good. Have you tried to use your telekinesis on a living creature?”

  “Nope.”

  “Make me stand,” he said, scooting his chair back from the table.

  I had no idea how to do that. I tried imagining him standing and focused on that image, but nothing happened. I tried pulling his foot up—still nothing. Frustration settled in—then, finally, something occurred to me. I knew it wasn’t what he wanted me to do, but it would teach him to be more specific. I lifted the chair he sat in and shook him out of it. Sebastian tumbled to the floor in shock, then climbed to his feet.

  “You’re standing,” I told him with a smile.

  “Very funny. What happened?”

  “I couldn’t do it. I’m not sure how to make something that has its own ideas and thoughts do what I want it to do.”

  “It might not be possible. I was curious about that.” Sebastian sat back down in his chair and pulled a pen and paper from the air. “You should get some rest. I’m going to work on new training schedule for you and new tests.”

  My head thumped dully, and I was worried about Cheney. I went into the small, musty bedroom with faded pink walls and curled up on the squeaky bed. As of right now I hadn’t ruined everything for Cheney—he could still just walk in and see his father. Leaving no longer seemed like such a far-fetched course of action. Cheney’s life had to be easier without me in it.

  Chapter 25

  “Where’s Selene?” The sound of Cheney’s voice pulled me from sleep. The bedroom door opened and the old mattress groaned under the extra weight as Cheney curled against me, his lips brushing the side of my neck.

  “I was worried about you,” I whispered.

  “I wasn’t in any danger.”

  I bit my lip. “Only when you’re with me.” I didn’t want to put Cheney or anyone in danger.

  Cheney made a wary sound. “I see you’ve been thinking.” He brushed the hair from my face. “I’m here because there’s nowhere I’d rather be. Remember that.”

  I met his eyes. “Think how much easier your life would be without me.”

  “I don’t need to imagine it. I’ve had firsthand experience. I never want to do it again. Come on, no time for meltdowns. We need to have a meeting.”

  I followed Cheney out of the bedroom. There was no time for my pity parade. Both he and Sebastian were putting themselves on the line for me. I couldn’t let them down. I took a chair near Sebastian and waited for Cheney to start.

  “My meeting with Father went pretty much as expected.” Cheney took my hand, making my stomach twist with worry. “I informed him you were not going back to the rebels and that you would help us, but he was unmoved. His mistrust runs deep, and he refuses to believe you will not turn on us in the end. There’s no common ground. He wants you gone and I won’t stand for that.”

  My mind still wanted to separate myself from the Selene his father knew and hated. I wanted to believe if he met me, he’d like me more.

  “Did you discover how he found us?” Sebastian asked.

  “No. And he’s also not calling off the bounty.”

  Sebastian sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Did you tell him she’s your wife?”

  “No.” Cheney squeezed my hand, making eye contact with me briefly. “If we’re going to make the move for the crown, I need to retain my title as prince.”

  “Wait a second—you aren’t seriously considering usurping your father?” I spoke louder than I intended, pulling my hand from his.

  “What choice do I have, Selene?” He gave a helpless gesture.

  “Don’t destroy your relationship with the only family you have left. We’ll find another way.”

  “There is no other way.”

  “He’s right,” Sebastian said.

  “Why does this have to be decided right now? Isn’t there already enough to deal with? Let’s focus on the rebels. Then we can worry about Cheney’s father. I’d like to speak with him at least once before you throw down the gloves.”

  Sebastian glanced at Cheney, who shook his head a little, enough for me to notice. “You’ve met him, Selene,” Cheney said gently.

  “But not like this. I want to meet him again.”

  “He’ll feel the same way about you.”

  “But at least we’ll know we tried everything.”

  Sebastian sighed. “Your sentiments are good, Selene. But you haven’t fully grasped the situation. Cheney’s father has made his position on the mixing of the races clear. He will not yield—yet the old race must unite with the younger generations or we will fall. We have to stand as one. There’s no other way. Not only that, but we have to work with the other groups of fae. Unrest is everywhere; people are no longer willing to follow the old laws without question. Cheney’s father cannot continue his rule. Revolution is before us. This is much bigger than you.”

  It was a relief in many ways; this problem existed with or without me in the picture. Cheney stared off into space for several minutes. Neither Sebastian nor I said anything further.

  “Selene’s right. I don’t want to forcibly take my father’s crown. I don’t even know if I want it.” I nodded. How could he want to fight with his dad like that?

  “However, Sebastian’s correct about the current state of the Abyss. I also don’t want to abandon my people—elves or fae.” Cheney ran his fingers through his hair, messing it further. “I’ll take Selene to my father’s court, and she can have a chance to speak with him. We’ll announce our marriage and let the pieces fall. If father tries to take my title, I’ll challenge for the crown. If he doesn’t, we’ll discuss the needs of our people.”

  “You need to build support. If we go in just the three of us, you won’t be taken as seriously.”

  “How many are you thinking?” Cheney asked.

  “As many as we can get.”

  “It will raise suspicion.”

  “If we don’t, we’ll appear weak.”

  Cheney strode around the small room. “Fewer but powerful supporters will be more inspiring than hundreds of weak.”

  “I’ll make lists.”

  “I bet Sy would help,” I offered.

  Sebastian raised his eyebrows. “He would be an excellent addition. But what makes you think he will get involved?”

  “Well, he’s my cousin, right?”

  “Selene, Sy has managed to carve out an important position for himself in the Abyss. He might be the most influential half-elf around, but he has never gotten involved in politics.”

  I shrugged. Maybe Sy didn’t get involved because no one ever asked him to. “It couldn’t hurt to ask.”

  Both guys shrugged. “And we’ll want the human coven as well,” Sebastian added, scrawling on his list.

  “No, I’m not involving them,” I said immediately, shaking my head.

  “It will not only demonstrate our open mind, it will also show we wield human magic as well. It’s a necessary component.” Sebastian didn’t even look up at me.

  “I won’t risk their lives.” I stood up from the table. This was a line I wouldn’t cross.

  Sebastian’s silver eyes were cool, his jaw hard. “Not even if it will save the lives of many elves?”

  “No. I’ll do whatever you guys want me to do, but not them. They’re my friends.”

  “That’s the wrong answer, Selene,” Sebastian yelled, standing up.

  I’d never seen him so animated.

  “Sebastian—” Cheney started.

  “No. She has to understand.” He pushed past Cheney. “You know who and what Cheney is. He’s the future king of my people. Do you know what that makes you?”

  He couldn’t possibly—that couldn’t possibly mean—no, I couldn’t be queen. Princess was bad enough. I looked to Cheney. “Cheney?”

  “The decision is yours, Selene. They’re
your friends. I’ll support whatever choice you make. But Sebastian is right. If I’m king, you’ll be queen,” Cheney said diplomatically.

  “But I don’t know if I can do that.”

  “You need to decide. I’m not going to do this without you.” Cheney looked back at Sebastian. “Start making a list of people who will be strong allies. We’ll meet back up tomorrow and discuss prospects.”

  “What about Selene’s training?”

  “There isn’t time.”

  “But we don’t know what she can do.”

  “A couple days more at most,” Cheney relented.

  Sebastian nodded and disappeared. Cheney leaned back in his chair, staring off into nothing, a thousand miles away from me. I couldn’t imagine what was going on in his mind. Lord knows my own was chaotic with conflicting emotions, lost memories, new loves, untapped talents, and now the endangering of my best friends. But no matter how bad it was for me, the path in front of him was so much worse. I walked over and stood behind him, wrapping my arms around his neck, resting my head against his.

  “I’m sorry you have to make this choice,” I whispered.

  “There are many difficult decisions ahead of me.” He kissed my arm.

  “Is this what you want?”

  “Irrelevant. It’s the path before me.”

  I ran my fingers through his hair, loving the soft texture and odd angles. “For what it’s worth, I think you’ll make a wonderful king.”

  “From the girl who barely remembers me.” Cheney laughed. “Just last night I was prepared to walk away from it all. Now I’m planning a hostile takeover.”

  “That’s because you’re too good of a person to walk away from people who need you.”

  “Thank you.” He sounded a little sad. “Do you want to go out?”

  “I don’t think now’s really the time for a date. Shouldn’t I be hiding?”

  He smiled recklessly and pulled me into his lap. “Why? I’m sick of hiding. I don’t want to hide what you are to me.”

  “Cheney—”

  “Don’t you dare say this is going too fast. Nothing about our relationship has been fast. Besides, this isn’t a date. I’d like to speak with someone before I dive into all of this, and it’ll be easier to get to her if you’re with me.”

  “Who?”

  “Olivia Martin.”

  Why did that name sound familiar? Suddenly it dawned on me. “I have her phone number.”

  Cheney raised his eyebrows. “Do you?”

  “Yeah, that bounty hunter, Femi, gave it to me. She said she’d help me because I’m part human.”

  A bright smile lit his face. “Well, this might be easier than I thought. Do you mind calling her?”

  “I guess not. Where do you want to meet her?”

  Cheney put a hand on either side of my face and kissed me. “Let her choose.” We stood up.

  “I don’t have my phone or anything to wear,” I said, looking down at my blood-spotted workout clothes.

  Cheney handed me my phone and smiled. “I’ll get your stuff.”

  “And my iPod,” I called after him as he vanished. I scrolled through the address book where I’d saved her number and pressed send. A soft female voice answered on the second ring.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, um, you don’t know me, but Femi gave me your number.”

  “Selene? Sy’s cousin? Femi said you might be calling.”

  “Yeah.” I didn’t know what to say. “You know I’m half-elf right?”

  Her laugh made me smile, but I didn’t know why. Suddenly I felt lighter, less overwhelmed. “What can I help you with, Selene?”

  “Um, I’m really not sure. Cheney said—well, you see there are things going on. Complicated things. And Cheney said he wanted to meet with you before we carry on with our plan.”

  “Okay. And who is Cheney?”

  I expected her to know who he was. I frowned. “He’s an elf.”

  “Ah. Well, I’m happy to talk to you guys. Holden and I are a package deal, just so you’re aware. Where do you want meet?”

  “Anywhere you want.”

  She laughed again. “I would say the Office, but Sy would probably murder me. How about The Horse’s Head in Chicago? Will tonight work for you?”

  I wasn’t sure where we were, but it was probably a long way from Chicago. “Sounds great. Thank you so much.”

  Chapter 26

  “So why do we need to talk to Olivia Martin?” I asked Cheney as I changed into jeans and a white cowl neck short-sleeved sweater.

  “Have you heard of guardians?”

  “Like what I call to when I cast a spell?”

  “No, these are people who work with angels to help humans. To guide them.” I nodded. It certainly wasn’t the strangest thing he asked me to believe. “Well, they’ve recently undergone a rather big change and Olivia instigated it all, if rumors are true.”

  I pulled my hair back into a ponytail. “So you want to talk with someone who has done what you’re thinking about doing?”

  “That—and she would be an incredibly strong ally.”

  “Do you think she’ll help?”

  “I won’t know until I ask. Hurry up.”

  Olivia sounded nice on the phone. Maybe this was promising. “Okay, let’s do this.”

  Cheney took us to the outside of a crowded bar, buzzing with people who I had never seen the likes of anywhere. A huge steel horse head hung over the bar’s entrance, but there was no other sign.

  “Are you ready for your first paranormal bar?” Cheney asked with a grin.

  “What makes it paranormal?”

  “This bar is completely in the Abyss. No humans can see it.” He took my hand and led me to the door. “Just keep your head down, in case someone recognizes you.”

  We walked into the rabbit hole. Everything inside was askew. The floor seemed to lean and dip at impossible angles, a gigantic chandelier overhead swayed with the music, and the walls were no more than a series of funhouse mirrors. But the strangest part was the people—tiny winged faeries buzzing around, a section of patrons who looked like children only with cigarettes in their mouths and drinks in hand, a deformed monster group, an attractive, brooding, emo section, and so many more I got disoriented trying to see them all. Cheney pulled me through the room without pausing.

  “Not this room; it’s for the tourists.” He winked as he pulled me through a mirror into a stairwell. We followed the stairs down and walked into what could have been a neighborhood bar. None of the noise from upstairs filtered down. The bouncer at the door gave Cheney a once over and nodded, letting us through. The room was dark and music played in the background loud enough to prevent conversations from carrying but not so loud you couldn’t have them. Cheney and I made our way to the bar. He ordered our drinks as I looked around the room with curiosity.

  It was pretty empty. In one booth sat four pale, eerily pretty people who moved with an unnatural grace. In another booth, two elves with bronze colored skin watched Cheney with interest. A pretty woman with white hair and eyes and blue skin sat reading a book, and tucked away in a back corner booth was the most attractive man I had ever seen. My heart belonged to Cheney, but my eyes had a mind of their own. He had a face that could have made Michelangelo weep, rippling muscles that couldn’t be hidden under clothes, and an expression that was both bored and predatory—and he looked human. He met my eyes for a moment, then looked away in utter indifference.

  Cheney handed me my drink, nodding toward the first booth. “Vampires,” he said. I could’ve guessed that. “Desert elves,” he said, giving them a nod. “And a deva—they’re rare.”

  “Who’s that?” I asked and nodded toward the man in the back.

  “He’s the other half to the person we came to see and coincidentally why I wanted you to come with me.”

  “Holden?” I forgot to tell him what Olivia said about Holden being there too. “I don’t think I’m his type,” I said dryly.

&nb
sp; Cheney smiled. “You’re not. If the rumors are true, he only has eyes for one. You’re here so he knows I’m not interested in her,” Cheney said, nodding toward the woman who just walked into the room.

  She was medium height with reddish brown hair that softly waved around her shoulders. Her face was pretty enough, but her truly striking features were her clear blue-green eyes. As she walked toward the stony man with a vibrant smile, something about him changed. All the bored indifference melted away, and he returned her smile, making him even more handsome than he had been moments earlier. She took his hand and kissed his cheek, and the most amazing thing happened. Her skin literally glowed. It was as if she had swallowed the moon and couldn’t keep the light from pouring out of her.

  “Shall we?” Cheney asked, taking my hand. The closer we came to their booth, the more nervous I became. They already appeared to be in deep conversation though neither of them spoke, and the last thing I thought we should do was disturb them. However, Cheney had no such qualms.

  “Hello, I’m Cheney, prince of the hunt. I’ve been meaning to introduce myself to the two of you for some time,” he said, extending his hand to each of them. “And I believe you have spoken with Selene.”

  Olivia smiled and shook his hand. “Yes. I’m Olivia. It’s nice to meet you.” The man shook Cheney’s hand but made no comment or introduction. “This is Holden. It’s nice to see you in person, Selene. Please have a seat.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said immediately, holding my hand out to her. “It’s very nice to meet you, too.”

  Her eyes glazed over as our skin connected. “So many emotions,” she said before she blinked away the faraway look. Releasing my hand, she smiled sheepishly. “Sorry about that. Drawback of the job.” Holden took her other hand, giving us both a look that made me want to turn around and walk in the other direction.

  Olivia rolled her eyes good-naturedly and elbowed Holden. “Try to be nice.” He curled his lip slightly but stopped looking at Cheney like he might do bodily harm. “You know what? This might go faster if I talk to Selene alone.”

  Cheney began to protest, but Holden interrupted him with a dismissive wave of his hand and stood up. “It’s no use. Her mind’s made up. Prince or not, no one changes her mind.”