Shadows of the Past

by Brandy L Rivers

  “Will you take me home now? Our home?” she whispered.

  He smiled back at her. “Our home.”

  Chapter 22

  Amethyst stood against a tree, staring out over the lake as a light summer breeze swept her hair around her. It was a week since she had chased Izackarus into the Abyss.

  A part of her missed Preston, and his little teasing texts, or phone calls that always seemed to come at the right time to cheer her up. She always would, and she hoped they could get back to the way it was before.

  She was happier than she’d ever been, but she felt guilty because Preston wasn’t. Clint and Hayden had helped her move her stuff to Hayden’s the day after, and she was settled into her new life. There was just a little part of her that felt empty.

  Her eyes closed as she tried to force back the tears that threatened to leak down her face. She should be enjoying the barbeque and she knew it.

  “Hey,” Fallon said brightly.

  Amethyst managed a smile as she looked into her green eyes. “What’s up?”

  “Preston won’t be gone forever. He promised to come to my wedding.” Fallon nudged her shoulder. “Which reminds me, I need a maid of honor. That would be you. If you’ll do it. Please, say yes.”

  Her mood brightened. “Me? Really?”

  “Mmhmm. Of course, you.” Fallon rolled her eyes. “I love Jess and Jamie, but you’re still the only person I can tell everything to. Just don’t tell them that.” Fallon cast a secretive glance toward the twins who were across the yard.

  “My lips are sealed, and yes. Of course I’ll be. Just don’t put me in some hideous dress that will clash with my coloring,” Amethyst teased.

  “I’m letting you pick. You don’t think I’m actually going to let the twins dress me, do you? I want simple, and Brody just wants our friends and family here, so it’s perfect.”

  A real smile spread on Amethyst’s face. “I’m so happy for you.” She hugged her tight. “Really, Fallon. I’m ecstatic. Brody’s perfect for you.”

  “Yeah, who’d have thought I would wind up with Mr. Perfect?” Fallon laughed and glanced over at Brody who returned her cheesy grin.

  They were ridiculously adorable together. “It works for you both. You deserve it.”

  “Yeah, and you should see you and Hayden. You two have chemistry that’s through the roof. Although, I swear you need to post a sign or something when you two are in the lake. So we don’t wander outside, or maybe call and warn us so we can go out or something.”

  Amethyst blushed and swallowed hard. “If I could cast that handy sound spell you do, I would take care of that.”

  Fallon snickered. “Yeah, somehow I don’t think that would help you. Just wait until you two have kids and you have to be quiet.”

  “Oh, don’t go there. Unless, wait… are you?”

  Fallon shook her head, but one corner of her mouth lifted. “We’re going to try though.”

  “I can just see you as a mom.”

  “I never thought I could, but Brody really did change all of that.” Fallon sighed and looked out over the lake. “What about you and Hayden?”

  “Oh, I’m not ready for kids. Not yet.”

  “You are still just a kid,” Fallon teased.

  Amethyst gave her a sharp look but then leaned in and whispered. “You do know Hayden and I won’t have any sort of formal ceremony, don’t you?”

  “Don’t only royal Fae have big weddings?” Fallon honestly looked curious.

  “Usually just the royals, and anyone in line to a throne. That’s neither of us.”

  Fallon glanced over at Hayden. “Something tells me that if you wanted a big ceremony, Hayden would make it happen.”

  “Honestly, I don’t care about a wedding. I know what Hayden and I share won’t ever go away. I’m finally happy in my own skin, with all of my gifts.”

  “Good, especially after everything you did.”

  * * * *

  Hayden watched Fallon and Amethyst talking. Opal walked up to him with Gabriel at her side. “Hello Opal, Gabriel.”

  Opal studied him a moment and one brow arched. “I see her magic all over you. You really are bound together, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, we are.” He looked back at Amethyst who looked up and smiled at him. A grin spread across his face. “I will do anything and everything to make her happy.”

  Gabriel squeezed Opal’s shoulders and looked Hayden in the eye before saying, “You do. It’s plain to see.”

  “It is. I just never thought she would wind up with an Earth Fae.” Humor danced through Opal’s iridescent white eyes. “It’s funny though. You two complete each other. It’s good to see.”

  “Yes,” Amethyst wound her arm around his waist and he pulled her closer. “You and Gabe do the same for each other.”

  “Mmm, we do.” Opal took her daughter’s hands. “I’m proud of you. You know that, right?”

  Amethyst nodded. “I do.”

  “Good. I’m going to miss you with you being all the way up here. We need to get back home though, and it looks like this is your home.”

  “I love you Mom, Dad.” Amethyst hugged them both. “I’m sure we’ll be down to visit.”

  “Oh, I’m sure we’ll be back up here from time to time,” Gabe told her.

  “Of course we will,” Opal wiped at her eyes.

  “I’ll walk you out.” Amethyst took her mother’s hand and started toward the front of the house.

  Hayden walked over to Brody and Tremaine, who sat at a picnic table. He took a seat. Brody couldn’t tear his eyes off of Fallon, who was no doubt talking baby stuff with Danika and Adam. Tremaine watched Liz, who skillfully avoided Clint’s advances. Although, he knew Liz occasionally went home with him.

  “Why is it you’re sitting here watching her, instead of being with her?”

  Tremaine sighed and met his gaze. “I suppose my story is a little like Preston’s. I’m too old, and she’s already in love. They just need to find their way back to each other.”

  “How is he doing?” Hayden asked.

  “He’s diving into work to forget. Don’t worry, he has Robert for company. They’ll both figure their shit out one of these days.”

  Hayden remembered Robert and Liz together over twenty years ago. That was a long time, even to mages. No matter how good they were together, Robert’s family tore them apart.

  “I don’t know what to say, other than Robert’s not stepping up to the plate, so why don’t you?”

  “She hasn’t let him go. She never will.”

  “Man, Trem. Just talk to her about it. I’ve seen her watching you. She may still have feelings for Robert, but she has them for you too. Just talk to her.”

  “Look, I appreciate the concern, but it’s complicated.”

  Simons and Stacey stopped by the picnic table. Stacey looked up at her husband with a blush before sending a smile Brody’s way. “Sorry to eat and run, but we….” She looked up at Simons again and wet her lips.

  “We need to get going,” Simons finished. He threw Stacey over his shoulder and carried her away. He called back, “Thank you for dinner. We’ll see you later.” The big werewolf stalked off around the building with his wife in his arms.

  Brody turned to Hayden, and asked, “So, Amethyst agreed to be Fallon’s Maid of Honor. Does that mean you’ll be my Best Man?”

  Hayden’s brow arched. “Me?”

  “Yes, you. You’ve been a great friend.”

  “Then yes.” Hayden grinned.

  Amethyst made it back to the barbeque and her face lit up when she found Hayden. She nodded toward their house. He was up and on his feet in a second.

  Hayden didn’t look back at Brody as he said, “I’ll help you clean up later if you call, but my woman beckons.”

  Brody laughed. “Yeah, I think I’m afraid of what Ame might do if I interrupt anything over there. I’m sure we can handle it.”

  * * * *

  Amethyst didn’t wait for Hayden to
say his goodbyes before she took off down the trail at a run. She wasn’t too proud to beg, but she knew Hayden would never make her.

  She made it inside and hurried to his office as she pulled her silk slip dress over her head and set it on his desk. She threw open the second drawer and snagged the silver cuffs she’d purchased the other day.

  Her little fantasy changed a teensy little bit, but she had every intention of letting him play if he wanted, just later. Right now, she wanted her way. Hayden strode in. His mouth popped open when she stepped behind him and clicked the cuffs around his big wrists.

  “Am I in trouble?” he asked in a husky voice.

  She moved in front of him and slowly opened his jeans, and then pushed them down his powerful thighs. “Sit down. I’ll ask the questions.”

  “Mmm, ask away.”

  “I said sit.” She swatted his butt and he groaned low before taking his seat awkwardly.

  “Comfortable?” She smirked as he settled into the deep chair and caught her in his smoldering gaze.

  “I feel really overdressed right now.” His voice was a low growl.

  Amethyst smirked as she grabbed her dress and moved behind him. She wrapped it around his face, making sure his eyes were covered and tied it in a knot.

  “Oh, my naughty little nymph.”

  Leaning down, she took his earlobe between her lips and trailed her fingers across his chest to unbutton his shirt. “Do you like it when I’m naughty?” she whispered.

  “I love you all ways.”

  “That’s not what I asked, baby.” She pinched his nipple hard and his hips jerked, his erection bobbing.

  “Yes,” his voice was strained. “I do.”

  She slid his shirt off his chest before walking around him.

  His big sculpted body was hers for the taking. She knelt before him and licked him from balls to crown. Hayden’s head fell back.

  “What do you want?” she asked.

  “You, please. Just you.”

  “How?” she whispered. Her tongue circled his head.

  He sucked in a breath. “Ame, I need to be inside your sweet little body. Every touch is torture. All I can do is feel, but I need you, now.”

  She climbed into his lap and threaded her hands in his hair as she leaned in to kiss him slow. Teasing him, she ground her slick heat over his throbbing shaft.

  “Please, please, please,” he begged.

  She reached between them to stand his length up before easing down on him. “I love you, Hayden,” she whispered against his lips.

  “I love you, too.”

  She kissed him again as she made love to him, riding his body, his pleasure.

  “Forever, Hayden, I love you forever, with everything.”

  The chain snapped and his hands came up to cup her cheeks. She tore her dress from his face. His molten chocolate eyes locked on hers. “Forever, little nymph, I’m yours.”

  About Brandy L Rivers

  Brandy L Rivers is the author of the Others of Edenton Series. She has an Others of Seattle series in the works and will likely release one and then the other once the first one is ready. As of right now, Robert’s book Falling Into Place is the next one planned.

  As an avid reader, Brandy has always loved writing. She became serious about it as a stay-at-home-mother. She has a file full of manuscripts she plans to edit and put out there eventually.

  She lives in Western Washington with her husband and three kids, where she is already working on the future stories in the series.

  If you are interested in receiving emails about future book releases, please sign up for her email distribution list by visiting her site at: www.brandylrivers.com

  You can also find her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/brandylrivers

  And at Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandyLRivers

  Reference Guide

  Abyss -Faerie version of hell. It is a dark, desolate wasteland.

  Air Faerie – A fae descended from the Air Kingdom in Faerie. They mostly cast air or electricity based spells. Some can dematerialize, scattering their cells to travel without form. They can watch without being detected in this form, and travel great distances rapidly.

  Alpha – The leader of a werewolf pack. Usually the most dominant wolf in a group.

  Awakening - Faeries come to age after their first sexual release with another faerie. This process brings their power to the surface, it will strengthen what might have shown as a weak power, or produce new ones to the individual Fae.

  Bond - Faerie’s can form a bond with another. It is similar to werewolves mating. The two Fae’s magic mingles, strengthening each other. It is a slower process but once it forms it can’t be broken

  Brownie - Fae that takes care of a family or house. They tend to have brown hair, skin and eyes. They are typically very secretive.

  Compulsion - Sirens and nymphs can force a suggestion on someone during sexual release.

  Dales – Group of vampires and dark mages that run an illegal fighting ring for Others. The majority of the competitors are Others that have been abducted and forced to fight either through blackmail or mind control. They were a problem ten years before but disappeared until recently.

  Dark Mages – Usually rogue mages who have lost their connection to their magic and now draw power from other magical beings. Also used as a slur toward any mage that leans toward darker or misunderstood magics such as necromancy, or blood magic.

  Druids - Humans who possess mostly nature magic. They aren’t as common as mages. Most tend to stick with other druids. They cast mostly earth and air spells, though most can manipulate fire and water. Druids can shift into most animals with practice.

  Earth Faerie – A fae descended from the Earth Kingdom of Faerie. Their powers include superhuman strength and super sensitive hearing, smell and sight. Most can manipulate the earth itself, or create compounds of rock from dust or dirt. Some are able to communicate with animals.

  Enthrall - Sirens and nymphs can force a suggestion on someone during sexual release.

  Fire Fae - A fae descended from the Fire Kingdom of Faerie. Many have visions. Their magic is generally heat and fire based.

  Iron – Certain types of faerie have an aversion to iron and other metals with iron content.

  Mages – Humans who possess elemental magic. They can either sling spells like weapons or heal, though it is rare for a mage to be a healer.

  Magistrate - Somewhat like the Silver Council’s Sheriff, though their territory is larger than just one city.

  Mana-blades – Enchanted swords or daggers that are tattooed into the skin. They can be pulled like a normal weapon, but only by the one with the tattoo. Most people cover the blade with another tattoo to hide the magical weapon. The blade itself does more damage than a normal blade, and depending on the creature it cuts, can do even more specific damage.

  Mate – Werewolves, and some other creatures sometimes create a bond with their soul mate. The bond is nearly impossible to break unless one party dies. The bound couple will sometimes feel what the other is feeling, or sense the danger the other is in.

  Necromancer - A mage whose magic revolves around the dead. They are usually mediums, and often have other forms of magic.

  Nymph - There are water nymphs and wood nymphs. The water nymphs originated in Faerie near lakes, oceans and rivers. Wood nymphs originated in the oldest forests. Most of their magic is powered by love, lust and similar emotions, and enhanced through orgasm. Some nymphs have other forms as magic as well. Unlike most faerie, they have no glamour and are stuck with their unusual coloring.

  Others- Any being that isn’t quite human. Werewolves, vampires, shaman, druid, mages, witches, warlocks, fae are just some examples.

  Pack – Or werewolf pack is a group of werewolves in an area. The size of the pack determines to size of the region. Werewolves in a pack have a hierarchal structure based on the creature’s innate dominance. Usually there is an Alpha who is the leader, and seve
ral enforcers who enforce the will of the leader, and then the rest of the werewolves. Every pack is run differently.

  Pack Enforcer – Werewolves high in the pack hierarchy who carry out the alpha’s orders or discipline.

  Satyr – Fae creature with a goat’s legs and hooves. Fur covers their bodies from the hips down. They have horns upon their heads. They are known for their insatiable sexual behavior and known to be well endowed.

  Silver – Wereanimals have an aversion to silver. It burns, and wounds caused by silver weapons or bullets are much slower to heal than a normal wound.

  Siren - Sometimes called mermaids. They do change forms in water. Fine scales cover their skin, and they develop gills behind their ears. Their coloring often changes with this form. They have similar forms of magic to nymphs.

  Shaman – Humans who possess nature magic. Similar to druids, but not the same. Most shaman can shift into a specific animal.

  Silver Council – Organization of mages. They are the governing force of most Others. Not everyone recognize’s them, but they try to police all Others. The Silver Council is mostly made up of formally trained mages. They occasionally will employ other casters.

  Silver Council Enforcer – The mages who police Others.

  Soul Prison – A device or talisman that can house a being. Usually small orb or sphere, it basically transports the being to its own empty realm.

  Translocation – Some mages can vanish and reappear in another area. It is a rare talent.

  Ward - A spell that protects, sometimes keeps people from entering.

  Warded tattoos – Tattoos usually done by Druids, Shaman or sometimes Mages that have a spell imbued into the pattern. The spell is typically of a protection variety.

  Warlock – Male witches are sometimes referred to as warlocks.

  Werewolves – Specific type of wereanimal. A werewolf is created when a werewolf in either its beast form or half-man form bites and sometimes scratches a human. They are incredibly strong, and faster than a normal human. Powerful werewolves can not only shift into their wolf form but a form bigger than human, covered in fur with enormous claws and bestial head. Their sense of smell and sight are very strong, especially in their beast forms.