“You’ll just give up on her?” Rhys’ face flushed and his voice echoed through the woods.
“I’ve given this a lot of thought. I cannot turn my back on my duty. Nor can I ask Abagail to leave her world behind. What would you do, Rhys? I will ensure her happiness and fulfil my other responsibilities. Besides, you were the one shoving duty down my throat last night,” Kaelen snapped.
“All I’m saying is give her time to adjust. She’ll make a lovely Queen, my Prince, one we would all be proud to serve.”
Kaelen’s throat clamped shut, making speech impossible. He nodded curtly and started back towards the house.
“Contact me as soon as all is ready.”
“Of course, my Prince.”
Chapter Seven
Kaelen entered the house to find music on the air. His love sat at her piano, pouring herself into her music. Preoccupied and absorbed, she didn’t notice him enter and sit down.
He could feel every emotion churning in the notes she seduced out of the instrument. The fear. The unease. The worry. All of it surrounded him, choked him.
She stopped and sat, ramrod straight, fingers hovering over the keys as if she wasn’t sure what to do next. Or perhaps she sensed his presence as true mates do. She turned towards him, no surprise on her features, and smiled.
“That was beautiful, Abagail. Like you,” he said softly.
“Thanks.” She rose from the bench and came to sit next to him.
“You love your music. That much is obvious when you play so passionately.”
“Thanks,” she said again. “It’s always helped me through everything.”
Kaelen closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He didn’t know where to start. How was he going to tell her? Opening his eyes, he found her frowning at him.
“Is everything okay? You didn’t find anything bad when you went out there, did you?” She reached over and grasped his hand.
“No, there was nothing out there. We just need to talk. About something important.”
“Okay.” Her hand tightened on his as if she was trying to reassure him. What a laugh, he thought. Pretty soon she’d want to be as far from him as she could get.
“I need to tell you about myself. There’s a lot you don’t know. You must be curious.”
“I’ll admit to being a tad bit,” she grinned. “But, Kaelen, I trust you. I had a good feeling about you from the beginning, and I know to trust my gut.”
“You aren’t making this any easier.”
She laughed. “What could you possibly say that will make me not want you here? Are you a drug dealer? Serial murderer? Prison escapee?”
“No, of course not. It’s nothing like that, but what I have to tell you is going to be hard to believe, hard to accept.”
She licked her lips and gazed at him intently. “So just say it. Like ripping off a Band Aid; quick makes it less painful.”
“Right, a Band Aid.” He nodded. “All right, Abagail, I’m a faery.”
She blinked rapidly, her mouth opening and shutting several times as she stared at him. “Uh, if you’re trying to tell me in a horribly non-politically correct way that you’re gay, I’d have to say, you’ve proven that one wrong.”
“No!” he yelped. “I’m not gay. By the Goddess, is that really a term for gays?”
“Uh yeah, not a pleasant one I’ll grant you, but what did you mean if not that?”
“I mean I’m a faery. One who likes women, by the way. A faery. The Fey.”
“A faery,” she repeated. “Like little beings with wings that flit here and there?”
He groaned and rolled his eyes. Damn humans and their tales. “Not exactly, but it’s a step in the right direction.”
“And you think you’re one of these creatures?” she asked, speaking slowing and clearly.
Great Goddess, she was speaking to him like a child or an idiot. Soon she’d be calling the mental ward and having him carted away in a straight jacket.
“I don’t think I’m of the Fey. I know I am. Abagail, I’m not crazy or delusional; I know what I’m saying.”
“I don’t think you’re crazy,” she assured. “I just know that you’ve recently had a head injury. Maybe this is an after-effect or delayed reaction.”
“No, it’s not,” he stated firmly. “I know who and what I am. I understand it’s difficult for you to accept, but we need to talk this through.”
She patted his hand. “Of course we’ll talk about it. When did you first think… uh, know you were a faery?”
Despite the cold heaviness settling in his belly, Kaelen laughed. “You think I’m crazed.”
“No, of course not.” She pulled her hand from his and pushed both of hers though her hair. “Well honestly, Kaelen, I’m still not sure what to think. This isn’t a situation I find myself in everyday, you know.”
“I know. All right, when did I know? I always knew. I was born and grew up in the faery realm. In fact, I rarely ventured into the human world unless it was an emergency.”
“What type of an emergency would bring into this world?” Curiosity was still winning out over fear apparently.
“We are connected with nature, in both worlds. If we are needed to heal the earth here, we will come and do so. Human stories of faeries come from our work with nature. We have to concentrate our powers, our gifts. We become healing light and warmth. Usually very small and condensed. Hence, the little faeries flitting around,” he said with a laugh.
“What went wrong this time? Why were you in my woods and not back at your home?”
“This time was different. For you to understand, I’ll have to start at the beginning.” He waited for her nod before continuing. “One night while sleeping, I was transported into your world. I didn’t understand, as I do not possess the power to do such a thing. I was on a cliff and a man was dragging a woman towards the edge. Two children ran after them, trying to pull their mother from the man.”
“My dream,” she whispered, eyes wide.
“Yes, your dream was of that night. I fought the man, realising his intent to kill the woman and probably the children as well. The woman was with child and bleeding heavily. I killed him. That much of your dream is true,” he acknowledged. “But I did not harm the woman and children. Never! I comforted the children and healed the woman.”
Abagail’s face shone stark white in the sunlight slashing through the windows. “I knew you weren’t a killer.”
“I was banished for my deeds.”
“What?” she cried out. “For saving them?”
“No, for interfering in human lives. It is strictly forbidden. I was lucky. Normally it is punishable by death, but the fact I broke law to save lives and that there was evidence that this had been a manipulation of some kind, I was let off easily.”
“Easily? Banishment is easy? So you can’t return to the faery world?”
“There are conditions that must be met if I am to return. After twenty-seven years, I had given up hope.”
“Twenty-seven…” She looked at him in horror. “Just how old are you?”
“A couple of centuries. The exact number isn’t important.”
“Oh no.” She waved her hand in front of her. “A few centuries covers it; why bother with the pesky decades and odd years, after all?”
“Sweetheart, breathe.”
“I’m breathing, I’m breathing,” she gasped before violently inhaling.
She lowered her head between her knees and loudly sucked air into her lungs. Kaelen moved closer and rubbed her back in long, even strokes. Relief swamped him when she didn’t pull away from him.
Turning her head to the side and pushing the hair from her face, she stared at him.
“You’re totally serious, aren’t you? This is the truth?”
Her voice was so quiet he had to strain to hear her.
“Yes, it’s all true.”
“Oh, boy.” She closed her eyes.
“Abagail, I know this is difficult, but you had
to know the truth, especially after what happened today.”
She straightened and leaned back against his arm. Eyes still closed, she questioned, “What about today?”
“The man you saw today, the man from your dream, is my cousin.”
“Your cousin?” Startled she shot a look at him.
“Yes, the man you described is Darrick.”
“And why would he be in my dream or at the grocery store? What am I to him?”
“I believe it was Darrick who manipulated my actions those years ago. And he has reason to believe that you could end my banishment.”
“How could I end it? I have nothing to do with your world.”
“The Queen, when setting my punishment, claimed that if I found my mate and she loved and accepted me, I would be restored to my place within the realm. Darrick obviously fears I’ve found that with you.”
“And why would he care if you were restored or not?”
“Because with me gone, he is next in line for the throne.”
“So,” she said slowly. “You are next in line?”
“I was, yes. My aunt is currently Queen.”
“So he messed things up for you back then. He wanted you dead?”
“Yes.”
“Well, her simply banishing you, with a way back no less, must have been a bite in his ass.”
“Exactly. Now he’s trying to intimidate you so you won’t be with me.”
“I see. Kaelen, I’m sorry, but this is so bizarre. I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. You have no reason to fear him. I would never allow him to hurt you. Rhys, the others, and I are planning something to expose him and end this.”
“Rhys and the others? Oh God, they’re probably faeries too, aren’t they? And all those stories they told when they were here…what, were they lying about your childhood? It sounded so normal.”
Kaelen chuckled. “It was all true. A bit edited, yes, but true. We’ve been friends our whole lives.”
“So they’re a couple centuries old too. Hmm, well, it’s not every day I meet people old enough to be my ancestors.”
“I will protect you, Abagail. Darrick will not harm you. I love you, regardless of what happens after today.”
“You love me?” she cried, hysterical laughter edging her voice. “We need to work on your timing, bud.”
“Abagail, there is only one—”
A knock on the door cut off his attempt to explain his love and their mating.
“Damn it!” she blurted and jumped up.
Kaelen stood and watched her open the door and admit two couples into the house. Two horribly loud couples. No, just one woman was loud; the others looked sheepishly resigned.
“Abagail, we were so worried about you. We called and called and couldn’t get a hold of you so we dashed on over.”
One of the men put his hand on the arm of the woman who was bellowing. He smiled at Abagail.
“Hey, sis.”
“Hi Rob. Tom. Darla. Kim.” She acknowledged each of them with a nod. “You didn’t need to come out here. I just talked to you last night,” she pointed out to Darla.
“Yes, but I called all morning and nothing. Who knows what could have happened to you way out here alone.” Suddenly her gaze zeroed in on Kaelen.
He raised his eyebrow at her. By the Goddess, she was obnoxious.
“And just who are you?” she demanded. “Abagail, I didn’t realise you still had a friend here.”
“This is Kaelen.” She looked at him with apology in her eyes. “Look, this isn’t a good time. I’m sorry you came all this way…”
The woman bowled right over her. “Nonsense. We’ll all have a nice chat. We need to discuss the sale of this place anyhow.”
Abagail clenched her jaw. “Sit down, then, I’ll make coffee. We’ll settle this once and for all.”
She left them standing at the door and rushed past Kaelen into the kitchen. Love for her and annoyance at the situation flooded him as she brushed her hand over his arm as she passed him.
One of the men stepped forward. “Kaelen, is it? I’m Robert, Abby’s brother. Let’s sit down and I’ll make the introductions.”
* * * *
As coffee brewed, Abagail, leaned against the counter, hands over her face. What next? First, her lover turns out to be future king of the faeries, and then it’s the invasion of her family. Just how much more was she expected to take?
She thought of everything Kaelen told her as she pulled mugs down. It was truly unbelievable, so why did she accept it so readily? Because it was him, she admitted to herself, and because she knew there were things in this world that couldn’t be easily explained. Hell, her mother had believed in magic. Had talked of it often. Apparently she’d inherited that.
Well, what the hell was she going to do? She inhaled sharply and focused. Well, first she’d serve coffee and deal with her psycho sister-in-law. At least with her brothers there she should be able to get the matter dropped once and for all. Then she’d find out how Kaelen planned on dealing with his psycho family member.
“Abagail, who is that man, and what is he doing here?” Darla stormed into the room, hissing.
“He’s a friend, and it’s none of your business. Will you grab the creamer out of the fridge, please?” She set the mugs and carafe of coffee on a tray and walked back into the living room.
Placing the tray on the coffee table, she perched on the arm of the chair Kaelen sat in. She sighed as he wrapped his arm around her waist. Faery or not, she was glad he was here.
Darla stomped in the room, slammed the creamer on the table, and sat next to her husband.
Robert winced and attempted to smooth things over with conversation.
“So Kaelen, how did you and Abby meet?”
“She was kind enough to rescue me in my time of need. I had the misfortune of running into a group of thugs who used me as a punching bag and then dumped me not too far from here. Your sister stumbled across me.” He laughed. “Literally. And she nursed me back to health. You have one amazing sister.”
Abagail groaned inwardly at the four shocked faces. Did the man have to be so freaking truthful?
Tom recovered first. “Yes, she’s amazing. Lucky you. Not that you were beaten up, of course, but that she found you.”
Darla narrowed her eyes at him. “And just how long ago was that?”
“I’ve been here long enough to get to know Abagail, if that’s what you’re wondering. As you can see, I’m all healed now.”
She was impressed at how deftly he avoided the answer while still sticking to the truth.
“And what is it you do exactly?” Darla continued, not deterred in the least.
“Regarding what?” Kaelen asked innocently.
“For work,” she snapped. “You do have a job, don’t you?”
“Darla, enough.” Abagail glared at her.
“You really are too naïve for your own good. There are plenty of men out there that will take advantage of a generous young girl like yourself.”
“Kaelen isn’t taking advantage of me! How dare you come into my home and insult him? And me!” Abagail stood, prepared to throw the vile woman out, family or no.
“It’s all right. I’m sure Darla meant no insult. She’s merely looking out for you.” He grasped her hand and pulled her back down, this time into his lap. “To answer your question, I work in government. I’m on vacation at the moment.”
Abagail seethed. How could her brother stand being married to such a bitch? Truly the man was a saint in her opinion.
“Now that you’re reassured of my safety and honour,” she sneered. “Why don’t we come to the real reason for your little visit. I’ve told you numerous times that I’m not selling this house. I want the subject closed and never brought up again.”
“You’re not selling?” Robert asked, a frown furrowing his brow.
“No, I never intended to sell and hardly think that is what Mom had
in mind when she left it to me.”
Robert looked at his wife, questions in his eyes. “You said Abby wanted to sell.”
Darla lifted her chin. “Well, I thought she’d come to her senses. She should sell this place and divide the money between you three kids. I don’t think your mother would have wanted her to become a hermit and hide out in this place.”
A deep flush spread up Robert’s neck into his face. “Damn it, Darla, leave her alone. If she wants to live here, that’s her choice. Mom left it to her.”
“She is being selfish,” Darla insisted in a holier-than-thou tone. “She isn’t thinking of the good of the family; only of herself. As usual.”
A thought invaded Abagail’s mind. “Do you need money, Rob?”
He grimaced. “No, Ab, things are fine.”
“No, they’re not! We need the money, and she’s holding onto this place. It’s her duty as a family member to think of everyone,” Darla asserted defiantly.
“Be quiet! This has nothing to do with her, and you will not guilt her into anything. Certainly not out of her inheritance.” Robert glanced at his sister. “I’m sorry, Abby. Forget all about this. It won’t be brought up again.”
“Rob, what’s going on?” Abagail hated the thought of her brother being in a financial bind.
Tom broke the tense silence. “Rob and I invested in a new company. State of the art stuff. It will be a while before we get a return on the investment. It isn’t anything for you to worry about.”
“Right, we’re fine. We aren’t headed for the poor house, sis.” Robert glared at his wife, daring her to disagree.
She turned away from him slightly with a snort.
Abagail studied the faces of her brothers and their wives before speaking, “I’m not selling the house, but if you need money, I have some put away…”
“Oh, so you can feel charitable,” Darla sneered. “How condescending.”
“And manipulating your sister-in-law isn’t?” Kaelen spoke up, quietly.
Abagail turned in his lap to look at him. His tone was seriously dangerous. Her stomach clenched at the set of his jaw and the glint in his eyes. Heat pooled between her thighs and she shivered. Holy crud, what was wrong with her that she wanted him desperately at that moment? Yep, she was warped.
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