The Thrice Marked

by Liddie Cain

  “Stop it, you’re distracting me,” I said with a laugh the third time she did it.

  She snorted with her laugh then covered her mouth with her hand with laughter still glowing in her eyes. I cleared my throat and tried again, making the mistake of glancing at her and seeing her stretching her neck upward like she was trying to backseat drive my brain.

  “Darby!” I groaned, my grin breaking my concentration again. She laughed, but Garcelle shot her a narrowed look. I swallowed my own laugh down as Darby coughed over hers and sobered her expression as she looked back at Garcelle.

  Conall wore a small amused grin as he leaned forward enough to call my attention to him. “Try again, Roz. You shared happiness with Darby and Felix in your youth, it should help you get to that place of power with him now.”

  I did share happiness with the two of them. There were many days of laughter and love. I thought back to the now faded memories that had not taken deep root into my mortal mind. Running up the beach with Darby at my side, white feathered wings stretched out behind us with our hair blowing back between them. The sun and surf and being scooped up into Felix’s strong and loving arms. We were on Earth, but he had brought heaven with him.

  Those memories had swept me into enough of a meditative state that I felt the state of mind I was seeking click into place. My fingers tingled where they lay over Felix’s mark on my side. The connection to him suddenly grew stronger. I could feel his presence and see the trail in the woods he walked down. It made him come to a stop suddenly.

  Garcelle was beside me without me seeing her move and pulling my hand away from the mark. The connection wavered when she touched me and then Felix was gone again. That small spark of his presence still remained but it was only a feeling he was there again.

  “Very good. If you can lay your hand against his skin and do that, he should be yours again.”

  “Thank you. I mean it, thank you for your help.”

  “You are welcome, but for now it is best if you do not acknowledge that we have met.”

  “Of course,” I responded.

  She patted my hand then turned to Conall. “I will return to my home. You may send a pixie if there is an emergency you need me for. For now, I think we should avoid any other contact until the matter with Felix has been settled. I am not sure who all is involved and I do not want to be dragged into a war if I can avoid it.”

  Then she paused, looking at me before glancing over to Darby. “It has been a pleasure to meet the two of you.”

  “Yes, you as well,” Darby responded.

  “A pleasure,” I added.

  She smiled and I realized she was actually quite pleasant looking when she did. “Conall,” she said, “if the person behind this is who I think it is, and you think it is, send the pixie. I will fight beside Felix.”

  “You have my word,” he responded.

  Garcelle gave him a nod then blinked out of sight. Conall stood up and held his hand out to me. I laid my hand in his without hesitation and watched as he lifted my knuckles to his lips.

  “I will go speak to Barden about returning to where Felix is. Come back to the banquet room shortly so we can tell you our plans.”

  Darby walked up beside him and looped her arm through Conall’s. He gave her a fond expression since this was the first time she had reached out and touched him voluntarily. It surprised me, she wasn’t always comfortable with touching men. Even working as my main massage therapist she typically did not take male clients. Somehow, he had made her very short list of men she felt safe touching.

  “I already know you want some time to speak to Mac, so I will go with Conall and wait for you to get done.”

  It was my turn to give her a fond smile because she knew me so well. “Thanks. I won’t be long.”

  Conall released my hand and said, “Take all the time you need, dear Rozalyn.” Then he and Darby left me alone in the library. I walked over to the windows that looked out at the beach below before opening myself to that connection my mind held with Mac’s. He welcomed me in this time and I felt his love seep into my pores.

  “Dove, Conall spoke to you?” He asked.

  “Yes. I’m sorry you have to do things with Meredith you would rather not do.”

  “Jason manages to intercede most of the time. I did have to replace you with Joletta as the blood medium for the district.”

  I didn’t want to give the job up, but Mac felt my instant amusement at Joletta filling the roll. He continued before I responded, “It is as interesting as you are imagining. It has possibly made her even more popular. She brought in a new wave of donors.”

  “She is a force of nature.”

  “That she is. I felt your invoking of the mark. Does this mean you are about to try and save Felix?”

  “Yes. I will bring him home this time. I need him and you need him.”

  “That’s the truth. But don’t worry about me, Dove. I’m okay and I will see both of you soon.” I knew he wasn’t as okay as he was acting, but he didn’t want me to worry when I had so much to deal with here. This man was what every man should strive to be.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  The strength of the connection faded back to him being a presence in my head again. It would only catch my attention if he felt sudden distress. Otherwise, it remained a comforting background noise in my mind. Made it impossible to ever really feel alone.

  Felix was out there alone, whether he realized it or not. They had cut my archdemon off from even his own self. That ended now. I hardened my resolve and walked with determination to join the others.

  The fairy horses nickered warmly to us as we walked out of the mound. Fergus and Nolen stood there with them since Aurnia had insisted on coming with us. The Seelie Princess, now Gloaming Queen, strided in front of us to meet Fergus as he walked to her. Kenna had also been standing there with her husband and when our eyes met she shot me a warm smile and a little wave.

  “Here now, Roz, allow me to help you get situated on this fairy footed filly,” she told me once I got close enough. They rode without saddles or bridle or any other common methods of riding gear. It had taken a little while on that first day not to feel like I was going to fall off of the horse at any moment.

  Kenna draped a thin cloth up over the fairy horse’s back as she spoke, “I don’t think Iona took riding pads with you last time. This will make it a little more comfortable for you.” The riding pad fastened with a breast collar and girth strap around the horse’s chest so it wouldn’t slip around as easily. It was the same color white as the horse and wouldn’t be obvious unless you were close.

  “I appreciate it, Kenna. You’re trying your best to spoil me.”

  Her lavender eyes danced with warmth as she took my hand and helped me swing up onto the back of the horse. The horse did a couple of side steps to adjust to her balance while Kenna rubbed her neck.

  “Well I enjoy your and Darby’s company, so if I spoil you it will keep you coming back,” she replied with that happy smile.

  “It’s working,” I assured her.

  “Good. Now go get that handsome devil back.” She took my hand, squeezing it in a supportive gesture. I squeezed back and nodded, feeling my stomach flutter with anxiety and anticipation.

  She released my hand and patted me on the leg before she walked off. I glanced down where her hand touched my leg as she left. I stood out on this snow white horse in my dark crimson button down shirt and charcoal grey jeans. Aurnia had brought me and Darby both new outfits to change into that suited the colors or her new court. She had given Darby a gold tunic top that complimented her red hair perfectly, black leggings and the same black hiking boots that I was wearing.

  Barden, Iona and Aurnia had already gotten mounted up. Darby pulled herself up on the back of her own horse shortly after Kenna had secured a riding pad for her too. Iona took the lead and we set off at a quick pace. Barden fell in beside me after we had left the front yard of the s
ithen.

  “Conall told me how quickly you picked up on Garcelle’s instruction.”

  “Yes. I do remember using those kinds of powers. But it’s different doing it with a mortal body.”

  “Even human psychics must do a lot of study to be comfortable with their abilities. Human witches must use ceremony and meditation. As long as you use the right discipline you should be able to unlock more abilities, I think.”

  “Invoking Felix is the only one that matters today,” I breathed out, my stomach still a clutter of nervousness.

  He held his dark hand out and I took it. His fingers threaded through mine as he rode silently beside me for the remaining short trip. Iona stopped us just short of the clearing where the little forest cottage stood. All of us slipped off of our horses silently and faded into the trees with Iona still leading.

  Barden stayed at my side while Iona and Aurnia crept closer to the ledge we had used earlier. Aurnia had changed out of that elaborate dress and now wore navy blue pants with an orange trimmed crimson top. They were bold colors that I would have never figured out how to pull off, but she looked like she could step onto a runway at any moment.

  I shook my head at myself as I sat there examining Aurnia’s outfit. It was easier to focus on the clothes than potential failure, I guess.

  Barden suddenly gripped my arm after a sound behind us caught his attention. We both turned to look, searching the shadows between the trees, but everything was still. I raised my eyebrows and gave him a questioning glance. He gave a little shrug, “Might’ve just been a bird,” he said.

  “Felix is outside,” Iona whispered.

  Darby crawled up beside Aurnia to look while me and Barden edged closer. I saw Felix pick up a long machete in its sheath. He hooked it onto his belt before stepping off of the porch and heading into the woods. Barden wordlessly signaled for us to follow.

  We moved as silently as we could, paralleling Felix’s path until he got farther away. When he finally stopped at a patch of bushes to get ready to harvest parts of them, we all huddled together. Aurnia leaned in and whispered so low I could barely hear her. “Send them both in to talk to him.”

  Barden pinned me with an intense stare. Felix would never be a danger to me in normal circumstances, but what if part of the enchantment made him feel like he had to protect Maeve? He debated silently for a moment then looked at Aurnia. “Drop the shield so he knows she is here.”

  I hadn’t been aware that she was shielding our presence from him and I had no sense of when she dropped it other than Felix suddenly looked up.

  “Roz,” he growled.

  Barden gestured for me to go to him. I stood, Darby with me, and we started walking the few feet from where we had been hidden in the thicker foliage to the smaller clearer path Felix waited in. He had turned to watch us approach and he didn’t look pleased.

  “I told you to leave me here,” he said firmly. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings again, Roz.”

  “Because it made you sad to do it?” I asked.

  He frowned before saying, “Yes, I think I was sad.”

  “Like you cared about us but you couldn’t focus on it?” Darby asked as we got closer.

  “I only care about Maeve,” he responded, but confusion still clung to his features.

  “Why can't you care about Darby and Maeve? You’re supposed to love Darby, she's your sister.” I pushed him to think harder.

  He shook his head, but took a step closer to us without realizing it. Some part of his brain was still him and still ready to take me into his arms. I could feel it in from the mark and the connection it gave me to his thoughts. But his higher thoughts were instantly redirected and kept him feeling confused.

  “All I need is Maeve,” he finally responded.

  “He is mine.” The voice came from behind us and made me jump. I didn’t look back at her. All I had to do was touch him. I held my hand out to him.

  “Felix, something is telling you that you need us too.”

  He stayed so still. So still and just watching me. I took a step closer, my hand reaching out with my eyes pleading him to just grasp it. “I need you too,” I said softly.

  I could feel Maeve calling power behind me. Darby had turned and put her back against mine like she would be able to fend off an attack. Felix had just started to lift his hand when I felt that power break lose from Maeve and flow out towards us.

  Felix looked away from me. His face softened as that power washed over him and he smiled at her like he was besotted. I could just jump onto him, I was close enough, but while she was actively using powers against him I wasn’t sure it would be enough. I started looking around me for something I could use to distract Maeve with.

  Aurnia marched into the clearing ready to give me that distraction. Her eyes of molten gold glimmered as her power made the air crackle around her. “Little lennán sí, you have been banished from this realm for colluding with the nobility of Hell. Feels like you’ve done it again.”

  Maeve knew she stood no chance against a royal member of the Fae. But Felix would. A helpless expression slipped across her face and I felt her power feed into him again. “She will take me away from you, Felix!”

  Anger flooded his eyes. In an instant, he was a boiling force of power that was suffocating to stand beside. I desperately invoked the power of the mark on my side. It made him hesitate, blink to fight through the compulsion to protect his mistress. I poured my own power into it blindly. My mortal body couldn’t sense it so I couldn’t be sure it was working, but I used every muscle memory I could think of to bring essence to that mark.

  He stepped forward and reached for me and not in a friendly way. He meant to stop me from interfering with his rescue of Maeve. Aurnia poured magic out of her palm and I heard the other woman cry out behind me. Darby stepped to the side, her back to Felix so she could be halfway between me and Aurnia. Felix looked panicked when Maeve cried out, his large hand closing over my throat.

  He lifted me off of my feet as my hands gripped his wrists. “Come back to me, Felix,” I whispered in a strained voice. The mark burned as I put the magic behind those words.

  “Again, Roz!” Barden yelled as he broke through the woods and into my line of sight. It made Felix look over his shoulder at him and his grip loosened a smidge.

  “Come back to me, Felix. Come to me.” I was able to say the words with a more normal sounding voice. He looked back at me again and tightened his hold. My vision started to tunnel as I struggled to get enough air in. Darker and darker. All the sounds around me grew muffled until I was only hearing my own heart beat. Then he was back in my head. All of him.

  I felt the connection that mark gave us take its rightful place in my head again. I was pulled into an embrace right before I lost my grip on consciousness. My vision slowly came back to me as well as the sounds around me, which was the sound of Felix saying my name over and over while he petted the side of my face. I was in his arms.

  When I tilted my head back to look at him, he captured my jaw in his hand and brought his mouth against mine. I sobbed into that kiss, but eagerly returned it. My fingers dug into that dark hair and gripped tightly, refusing to let him pull away even the slightest amount. He chuckled into my mouth at my insistence but he heeded my demand, melting back into the kiss and putting his love behind it.

  “You knew if you came back it would mean your death, Maeve,” Aurnia said darkly.

  Felix broke away from my mouth and yelled, “No! Don’t kill her.”

  My heart broke, feeling that I hadn’t been able to break him free of her enchantment on him. He looked at me and smiled, shaking his head. “No, Roz. You did it. You broke me out of the psychic prison she’s had me in. But if we kill her then Devina will know I have escaped.”

  “Oh,” I breathed out, turning to look at where Aurnia had Maeve pinned on the ground with her power. Aurnia gave Felix a brief glance and nodded to acknowledge what he had said, then looked at Barden and ordered, “Then
you better tie her up. She will have to go back with us.”

  “You have him back, Dove.” Mac’s voice whispered in my mind. Felix rubbed his cheek against mine and I breathed in the smell of his skin, saying out loud my reply to Mac. “Yes, we will come fix things at home soon.”

  “But not yet,” Felix replied to both me and Mac. “My dad and your parents are imprisoned here in the Neodrach.”

  “Save them, I can hold out a little longer. Glad to have you back.” Mac’s response filtered through both of our minds before I felt him withdraw. Barden and Iona had Maeve secured and started to carry her to the horses. I traced my fingers down Felix’s cheeks and never wanted him to let me go. I had gotten out of practice with guarding the mental connection that the mark gave me. His happiness flowed on top of my own. Darby could also sense it all and I felt her behind me, itching to give her brother a hug.

  Felix leaned forward, scooping her into his embrace and holding us tightly up against him. He kissed the top of her head twice before laying a lingering kiss on my lips again. Darby raised up on tip-toe and kissed him on the check, squeezing him and me since one of her arms was around me too.

  “I’m so sorry. I feel like that’s all I’ve said since we rescued you from Monroe’s, but I am. I never imagined Maeve could have taken me over so completely and for so long.”

  “Devina was helping her?” Darby asked.

  “Yes. But I didn’t realize it until too late.”

  “It doesn’t matter now. You’re back where you belong,” I told him. He smiled down at me and it felt like the world around me faded except for that smile for that moment.

  “I’ve got to finish what I started before we go back home. I’ve got to get Dad, and your angelic parents, free. Are Eve ‘n Ell okay?”

  “Yes. They are staying at the Unseelie Court so Mac didn’t have to worry about Meredith using them against us.”