Faeswyn [The Maidens of Mocmoran 2]

by Wynette Davis

  His lips were on hers immediately. Kissing her, not with sexual need, but with love. “You’ve entangled me in a web of love, Faeswyn. A web that I never want to come out of. Something’s happened. Here,” he said, pointing to his heart. “I can’t explain it.”

  “Don’t try to,” she said, caressing her hand to his face. “The goddesses have a plan. My vaedra had a plan. I wanted to release my aura to heighten your pleasure, but the goddesses have connected us, Naihr. I feel it, too, baby.”

  He was nodding and smiling. “I can’t move,” he said with a soft laugh.

  “Yeah,” she said as she kissed him lovingly. “I suppose that’s another thing I should have warned you about. Stay here until you regain your strength. Draedon and Glywyn should be on their way back soon.” She reluctantly stood, pulling her clothes back together, and stepping into her panties. Then she tugged his pants up, and fastened them as he continued to lay limp, exhausted, and happy on the quilt.

  She was smiling as she walked out of the barn, closing the door behind her, and walked to the back of the property to feed the rest of the animals. Her heart was happy. She was happy. She finally felt what she always wanted to feel. Love. Not just love, but a connection that went beyond pure pleasure. It was a connection that transcended all thought and being. She knew in her heart that it was all foretold. Everything in her life had led her to that moment.

  She realized she was standing in the middle of a group of chickens, smiling as they pecked at the ground around her. She hadn’t realized she’d walked there. “Okay, okay,” she said to the chickens, walking over to the feed pail and grabbing a handful. “Take a little feed, and stop looking at me like that.”

  Chapter Six

  Naihr was smiling when he walked into the house ten minutes later. He looked around to see where Faeswyn was, seeing only Draeis coming down the hallway toward him.

  “Hey, man,” Naihr said. “How’re you feeling?”

  “Amazing. I feel like myself,” Draeis said, standing in the doorway to the living room. “I can’t believe it. Whatever Glaeonawyn did, it worked.”

  “Have you seen Faeswyn?” Naihr asked.

  “Yeah, she popped her head into the back bedroom to check on me a few minutes ago. She said something about having to go into town for supplies?”

  Naihr nodded. The smile he wore before played at the corners of his mouth. He looked up from where he’d been staring at the floor to see Draeis staring at him knowingly. “Oh, really?” asked Draeis.

  “Oh, shit,” Naihr said, walking closer to Draeis. “I’m sorry, Draeis. You told me how you felt about her. I wasn’t thinking.”

  “Naihr, I’m happy for you. Yes, there’s something I feel for Faeswyn. What man wouldn’t? But”—Draeis took a deep breath—“I don’t even know if I’m the same man I was before all of this shit happened. Faeswyn deserves a man that can give her everything a woman needs and wants. I might not be that man.”

  “You don’t know that, Draeis. Give it time.”

  Draeis only smiled at him with a slight nod. He patted him on the shoulder, walking past him into the kitchen. “It’s been almost two weeks, Naihr. It may not happen. I’m prepared for that. But right now I need to prepare for the day or two I’ll be gone. Are you sure you’ll be all right here alone?”

  “Yes. It’s better for me to stay than you. You’re still recovering. Feeding and looking after this place may be too much right now. A short trip to Yaesdrah, and then back. It’ll be fine.” They both stared at each other, hoping the words rang true.

  Later that evening, they were prepared to leave. After several tries, Faeswyn was surprised to finally be able to glamour Glywyn. But perhaps practice was the key. Glywyn continued to kiss Theoch as if she wouldn’t see him in the few hours he would be in Yaeltaran before joining them on their way to Yaesdrah. The documents Glaeonawyn’s son Aiolidahr created for them were amazing. They entered the information into the registration database. All they had to do was get in the car and leave, if Glywyn’s lips could become detached from Theoch.

  Faeswyn walked over to stand in front of Naihr. “You’ll be all right here by yourself?”

  He nodded as their eyes remained riveted on each other. “I think I can manage it.”

  Faeswyn closed the small distance between them. “I asked Glaeonawyn to stop by to feed you.”

  “And to keep an eye out for me? You don’t trust me to stay here? Is that—?”

  His words were cut short when Faeswyn tiptoed up and kissed him deeply, winding her arms around his neck, and plundering his mouth with her tongue. He kissed her back just as passionately, sobering quickly when she stopped, and he saw the look on Draeis’ face.

  Faeswyn looked over to where Draeis’ gaze was targeted on them. “It bothers you that I kissed you in front of Draeis? And if I were to kiss Draeis in front of you?”

  Naihr watched Faeswyn walk over to where Draeis was standing. She kissed him just as deeply. He knew he should be jealous. That’s what he thought he should be. But there was no jealousy. A small smile played on the corners of his mouth as Draeis smiled down at Faeswyn. She walked back over to him.

  “I told you before,” she said softly. “I’m vaedra, and for me, one man will never be enough. Did that bother you?”

  Naihr shook his head. “I thought it would, but no. And that’s really weird. I think it should.”

  Her hand caressed his cheek. “We’re connected, Naihr. The three of us. I felt it from the beginning.”

  “I don’t think Draeis will believe that, Faeswyn.” He took her hand from his cheek and kissed the inside of her palm.

  She stood up on her tiptoes again, and kissed him sweetly. “He will.” She walked back to the car, getting into the back with Draeis. Naihr waved to them as they drove away from the house.

  * * * *

  Faeswyn sat in the back of the car next to Draeis. Glywyn glanced back at her from time to time. She knew what Glywyn was thinking. She was thinking that Faeswyn was playing a game. Glywyn stared at her as if she were about to do something stupid with Draeis. And as she sat next to him, feeling the heat of his body caress her, she wanted to.

  “I freaked you out, didn’t I?” Faeswyn asked Draeis.

  “Yeah,” he said, turning to look at her. “Why did you do it? Because I don’t play games with—”

  She put her finger to his lips to quiet him. “I’m not playing games, Draeis. I told Naihr, and now I’m telling you. I’m very attracted to you both. I feel connected to you. Are you going to tell me that you feel nothing for me? Don’t forget, I was on the receiving end of all of your gazes and glances. Your intense perusal of my body?”

  Draeis took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “No,” he said, looking down. “I can’t say I’m not attracted to you. But”—he looked back at her—“you deserve a man like Naihr, Faeswyn. I may not be the same man I was before. You deserve a man that can give you everything you want. My…I might not be able to—”

  She put her finger to his lips again. Mainly because she liked the way his lips felt, but also because she wanted to relieve his fears about his possible—maybe—impotence. “You talk too much,” she said softly. “I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you save any judgement on your lack of performance until you can perform, and…um…let me be the judge of that?”

  Glywyn started coughing in the front seat. “I think I choked on some slobber,” she said, glancing back at Faeswyn.

  Faeswyn only smiled slyly at her. It wasn’t a game, she thought to herself. Each time she looked at either Draeis or Naihr, she felt an invisible tether to them drawing her toward them. That tether had finally drawn her into Naihr’s arms. It had been something amazing and right. It felt right to be with him. She knew that he was hers, and that she was his. Her aura had melded their hearts and their essence together. But she also felt the same for Draeis. In time, she thought.

  With Glywyn fast approaching her eighth month, she slept a lot. So halfway through the trip,
Draedon and Draeis switched places, letting Draeis drive as Glywyn lay in the back with Draedon. Soon, the soft sounds of her snoring could be heard throughout the car.

  “Thank you again for doing this,” Faeswyn said to him. “Coming with me. You didn’t have to. We’ve only known each other for a short time. It seems longer for me, though. I feel like I’ve known both you and Naihr for so much longer.”

  “Is that why you… Why you and Naihr…?”

  Faeswyn smiled softly, staring at him. “Why we made love? Is that what you’re trying to say? You don’t have to tiptoe around it. Yes, Naihr and I made love. And it was amazing. And I’ll be doing it again. We’re connected. I feel that same connection to you, but Naihr told me you would have a hard time believing that. Do you?”

  “I-I…” He took a deep breath before slowly letting it out. “From the moment I first saw you, you seeped into my pores. Do you have any idea how beautiful you are? How sensual and fuckin’ sexy you are? What man wouldn’t feel something for you?”

  “But you still find it hard to believe that a woman—me—that I would want to experience immense pleasure with a man because women aren’t supposed to want that, I suppose? Is that it? I’m not supposed to voice that I love sex. That I want it, and I’m definitely not supposed to go after it, right?”

  Draeis glanced at her before continuing to look out on the road in front of him. They’d been driving for most of the night. It was late. Theoch had misted to the kingdom of Yaeltaran to inform the king of their plans. He was to mist back to them, taking over some of the driving duty, while Draeis slept. But as he continued to look over at her in the dim light of the car’s interior, she didn’t see weariness in his eyes. She saw need, want, and that same look that Naihr had given her before that first time together.

  “No,” Draeis said finally. “That’s not it at all. That’s something I like about you. But as you said, you and Naihr—”

  “Oh,” she said, interrupting him. “I understand. You can’t love a woman—the same woman—as Naihr loves? You would feel jealous?”

  She saw him frown at that. She knew why. It was because of the connection she knew they already had. It had already been planned by the ancients. She felt it with Naihr, and she felt it each time she looked at Draeis. Their hearts were already entwined. It was why Naihr felt no jealousy when she’d kissed Draeis. She’d seen it on his face. That small smile he gave to her. He knew. He didn’t fight what he knew was foretold. Draeis hadn’t come to that understanding yet. But he would.

  Faeswyn looked into the backseat, noticing the mist that began to gather to the side. She nudged Draedon’s leg with her hand. “Theoch is about to mist in. Make some room.” In the next few seconds, Theoch appeared in the seat beside Draedon.

  Theoch smiled down at Glywyn sleeping with her head resting on Draedon’s lap. “Was she snoring?” he asked with a smile.

  Faeswyn nodded. “For the last hour.” She stretched with her arms above her head, looking at Draeis as his eyes glanced over at her bosom, then quickly away. “Why do you do that?” she asked.

  “Do what?” Draeis said, looking intently out to the road.

  Theoch started to laugh along with Draedon. “I believe she’s asking why do you look at her breasts and then look away?” said Theoch. “Vaedra women aren’t ashamed of their bodies, Draeis, or so meek and demure that they don’t want a man to notice their…assets.”

  Faeswyn only sat, smiling at Draeis, as he finally smiled back at her with a nod of his head. “Understood,” he said.

  Theoch took over the driving detail until they were on the outskirts of Yaesdrah. It was just before dawn. They had pulled over to the side of the road so the men could discuss, once again, what they were to do once in Yaesdrah. Faeswyn stood outside the car stretching her body out from the long ride. Theoch had misted into Yaelvoch soon after their stop to inform King Lavaerion of their distance from the border. He was to wait there until about eight that morning, unless there was some drastic change to the border crossings. King Gaeldos could close the borders at any time, and they all knew that. But until they knew otherwise, the plan was for Draedon and Glywyn to enter the border of Yaeltaran, and fulfill what was foretold.

  Faeswyn stared at Draeis as he stood talking to Draedon. “You really feel something for him, don’t you?” Glywyn asked, walking over to her from the other side.

  Faeswyn nodded. “Yes. It’s this invisible draw. I can’t explain it, Glywyn. I feel it for both of them. Naihr and Draeis. It was there from the day they came into the house.”

  Glywyn nudged her with her shoulder as they stood together with their backs against the car. “I know. I wanted you to be sure. I know you are, now. There’s nothing you can do about it either. It just is.”

  Faeswyn nodded to her. “I know. I feel it. Naihr feels it, but Draeis…”

  “He will.” Glywyn glanced at the ground. “I wish you were coming with us. I mean, I know I’ll have my parents in Yaelvoch, but I’ll miss you, Faeswyn.”

  “I’ll miss you, too, but you’ll have Theoch and Draedon, your baby, your parents…a life, Glywyn. But I’ll come and see you. I promise.”

  Draedon looked over to where they were standing. “Let’s get going.”

  They all piled back into the car, and made their way down the highway into Yaesdrah. As they neared city limit, Faeswyn prepared to glamour them. It was to be an easy in and an easy out. And as Faeswyn sat in the back of the car with Draeis, something in her gut told her that something was about to happen. She didn’t know if what she felt had to do with Glywyn and Draedon, or with her and Draeis. All she knew was that there was a tightening in her gut that she couldn’t ignore.

  Chapter Seven

  Faeswyn stared out the window at the sea and the red-roofed houses dotting the coastline. It was serene and beautiful. She opened the window slightly, smiling at the scent of the salty sea air and cool winds. It was everything she thought a seaside town should be. She only wished they were there for another reason than to say good-bye to her best friend.

  Once in Yaesdrah, the plan was to drive straight to the border bridge. That had been the plan, but they didn’t get in to Yaesdrah until midday. People were gathered along the streets and sidewalks in droves. The crowds that had amassed were unbelievable, making the task of getting to the bridge seeming impossible. It was so crowded, that many of the people trying to get into Yaeltaran were queued in a line to the side of the bridge or grouped in a crowd at the entrance. Faeswyn hadn’t expected that. Her glamour could only last so long. Not long enough for Draedon and Glywyn to stand in a line for an hour or more.

  “Shit,” Glywyn said out loud. “What are we going to do now, Draedon?”

  He shook his head. “I have no idea. Draeis, park over by that shop. I say we go and ask the guards if it’s necessary to stand in the line. Maybe that line is for something else.”

  They all got out of the car, walking together with Glywyn nestled in the middle of the small group. There were six guards on the gate. Three on each side. They were definitely Morhais royal guards, standing tall and muscled in front of the massive iron gate. In the distance, Faeswyn could see the other side of the bridge. The Yaeltaran side. Sanctuary for so many.

  “Hey, I can’t hold the glamour for too much longer,” Faeswyn said to them as they stood in front of a small shop. “We need to go and find out what’s going on.”

  Draedon nodded. “How much longer do you think we’ve got?”

  Faeswyn only wished she knew definitively. Shit, she thought. The last thing they needed was for her glamour on them to wear off and be standing in the middle of the street as Draedon, Draeis, Glywyn, and not a plain and commonly farmer family, as she stood cursing to the goddesses about her weak gift.

  The door to the shop behind them opened and a curvaceous woman with dark auburn hair peered out of it. “Get in here,” she said, looking around suspiciously. “Hurry the fuck up, and get in here before your glamour wears off already.”r />
  Faeswyn only glanced once at the rest of them before she hurried into the shop. The woman quickly closed the door and locked it, turning a small sign around to read “closed” on the door window. She held her finger to her lips and motioned for them to follow her as she walked to the back of the shop.

  “Are you nuts?” the woman asked them finally, turning to stare at them sternly.

  Faeswyn looked around her, taking in their surroundings. The shop seemed to be a novelties shop for tourists, selling collectibles and postcards of Yaesdrah. The back of the shop was filled with boxes and inventory for the shop, with a wooden staircase positioned to the side wall.

  “Who are you?” asked Faeswyn.

  “Oh,” the woman said with a shake of her copper hair. “Yeah, sorry. I’m Eielawyn, clan Nelglis.”

  “Eielawyn?” asked Glywyn. “You’re dead.”

  Eielawyn turned to look at the homely, round woman that spoke. “Glywyn?”

  They all gasped, since Faeswyn’s glamour was still cloaking their true appearances. “How the hell do you see that she’s Glywyn?” Faeswyn asked, unconsciously backing away from her.

  “Don’t get freaked out. I’m a Mocmoran vaedra, like you both are,” Eielawyn said, hitching her chin at them. “I can…sense you. Plus,” she said, shaking her head, “your glamour is beginning to wane.”

  “Shit!” said Faeswyn as they all began to show their true forms.

  “Looks like I got you in here just in time.” Eielawyn seemed to take a deep sigh of relief.

  “But you’re supposed to be dead,” Glywyn said again. “By the goddesses, I remember you. We all thought you died.”

  “Nope. But it’s nice to know that everything I did to make it look as though I had worked.” Her gaze quickly went to Draedon and Draeis. “You’re part of the royal guard. I’m going to guess that you’re Draedon, son of Gaeldos, since you look like the pictures they’ve been flashing on Tru-View. And you’re either Naihr, Draeis, or Theoch. Am I right?”