Chapter Three

 

I stood on the balls of my feet, ready to throw myself in there. Conall kept a restraining hand on my shoulder, as I bounced up and down.

Alec lunged forward and Breandan side-stepped him easily. Twisting, Alec lifted up unto his hind legs to drag his paws across Breandan’s torso. His claws ripped into flesh drawing blood and my fairy roared. When Alec jumped, sank his teeth into Breandan’s shoulder, I snapped and spun around Conall to dart into the fray. I had zero idea what I was going to do to help in this situation, I only knew I could not stand by and watch these two boys tear each other apart.

Before I got two steps Conall was in front of me swinging his huge hand toward my face. I tried to block him, but the swing altered mid flow and jerked down to thump me in the stomach. Realistically, I knew if he wanted to hurt me, Conall could have hit me hard enough to break ribs. Instead, all the air left my lungs and my legs seemed to lock up. I staggered back and looked up at him wide eyed.

Breandan shot me a cursory glance out the corner of his eye. He made a low noise toward Conall, and my brother rolled his eyes. He came at me again and I rolled back, gaining my feet stand before him, hands fisted.

“What the hell are you doing,” I hissed.

“Today you learn how to fight.”

He came at me again, with the deadly grace of a cobra, this time his foot flew toward my upper arm, and I blocked him, barely. I still ended up being shunted two steps to the side from the impact.

Conall wrinkled his nose. “You have no technique, no instinct. You fight like a human. You must use all your senses; feel what I am going to do before I do it.”

“Now is not the time for this lesson,” I said seriously, trying to reason with him.

I pointed at Breandan and Alec who alternated between quick swipes and bites, to rolling around, pulling away, regrouping then attacking again.

Breandan’s torso was riddled with scratches. I swear my own skin itched in the exact same places.

“Never will you have a greater distraction than a friend in danger,” Conall said firmly. “You must remain calm and focused even in the face of losing everything you hold most dear.”

“Fine,” I said sweetly. “You asked for it.” I reached to magic and it flooded me with white-hot rage.

Conall’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “You practiced as we ran.”

“Hell yes.” I sent a blast of golden energy his way and followed it through with a smack to his gut with my fist. Before he could recover, I darted round to his back, and kicked his leg out from beneath him. Conall fell, but he twisted round to land on the tips of his toes and the palms of his hands. His legs bunched up before he sprang up, body curving into a perfect crescent moon before landing lightly on his feet and shooting me a quick grin.

I laughed. “You think that’s good?”

He came at me, and I flipped backward, again, and again, cutting through the middle of Breandan and Alec’s fight, the amulets bouncing off my chest as I went. Though the world spun, but I was acutely aware of my surroundings. Before I was a fairy had I executed this move the world would have been a chaotic blur. Now I saw everything. I even saw the confusion flicker across Alec’s face when I passed him, my legs up in the air and my back arching. It was odd because he was a cat mid snarl, but still clear as day, I saw how startled he was by catching his eye. As I flipped upright, making an odd square between the four of us I thumbed my chin at Conall who looked mildly impressed.

Breandan’s gaze locked on mine. Mischief flicked across his expression and he winked at me. At the playful gesture, my mouth dropped open.

My brother waved me forward the same time Breandan rushed forward to meet Alec’s charge. I somersaulted over and he slipped under me. Our faces came inches away from each other. His silver eyes twinkled at me before the love in them was replaced with hardness as his gaze twitched to lock on Alec.

I landed with my back to Conall, no longer caring that we were sparring and watched as Breandan finished his fight by grabbing Alec’s jaw in his hands. He straddled the shifter’s back and forced him to lie down.

The Pride fell silent.

And this was it, the horror they had brought upon themselves. Alec had lost; his life was Breandan’s to claim.

My heart pumped double time in my chest. He would not do it. It was not in his nature. Oh gods, please. I knew I could not interfere this time. This was Pack law, no something I, Conall, or Breandan could override. The thought of leaving passed through my mind, because if we left, right now, this need not happen. We could try and track Devlin another way.

Was this boy’s life worth my revenge?

I pressed my eyes together and waited for the sickening crunch.

There was a soft, warm pressure at my mouth. My entire body relaxed and I wound my arms around the boy who teased my lips open with his. I breathed him in. Sunlight and soil mixed with the faint tang of salty sweat. The firm skin of his back burned under my palms.

I heard a fierce roar and my eyes flickered open.

Breandan smiled down at me, and I pressed my fingertips to his cheek, reverent. Words could not express how proud of him I was.

His face was animated with mischief and he jerked his head to where Byron stood, clapping a panting and weakened, human Alec on the shoulder. “We dance,” the Alpha roared.

His Pack took up the chant as I wondered if they had lost their minds.

Alec stumbled up to me with a dazed smile on his face. His dark hair stuck up in awkward bloodied clumps and his body was coated in a thick sheen of sweat. He looked as if he had enjoyed the tussle, invigorated. “You dance?” he asked me, breathless.

I scoffed, “No.”

He looked at Breandan inquiringly. “A fairy that does not dance?” He sounded doubtful.

Taking my hand in his Breandan followed behind the shifter-boy toward the bonfire in the centre of the Pride.

“Why do you think you cannot dance?” he asked.

Embarrassed, I wanted to tell him that I did not like to dance, and that it was dumb simply to save face. Instead, I said, “Two left feet with no rhythm. And it’s not like we had much chance. Most of my time was spent studying how to kill demons.” I shrugged. “We did nothing but learn how to become the best at what we did.”

He snorted. “The best? I have seen you throw a punch. That does not come close to the best at hunting other beings.” He slanted a look at me. “I will have fun showing you how to use your body.”

I stuttered, trying to think of some snappy response but managed only to totter behind him, lead by the hand with a absentminded expression.

That was how I came to be standing in front of the fire when the first drumbeat echoed into the night. A slow, leisurely pounding that had my entire body shivering. The sound seemed to sweep over my skin and ripple to the tip of my tail that flickered mischievously. The shifters danced, throwing themselves into the beat; ready to release the stress through laughter, music, and movement.

A hard hand caught my chin and turned my head. Breandan motioned me to watch him. Releasing me, he inclined his head and pointed downward to his feet. It was a simple thing, this dance. Booted feet a shoulder width apart, he rolled up onto the tips of his toes then back onto his heels.

The drums were loud, urgent, and insistent. Breandan rocked back on his heels then to his toes. He looked at me expectantly. I did the same. His lips twitched with the beginnings of a smile, and he matched the time of his movement to mine.

Conall was beside us doing something similar, and having one hell of a time judging by the relaxed satisfaction dominating his usually stoic expression. One of the braver females stepped up to him, smiling coyly, and waved him forward. He joined her, accepting the invitation gracefully. They danced, but never did they touch. It was like they were connected in some other, unseen way. Eyes closed, heads flung back, lost in the beat.

Breandan’s limbs entwined with mine, and continued to rock us back and forth. We pressed together in the writhing mêlée of bodies, and for a while, we swayed. Our bodies twisted slightly so we could stare into each other’s eyes. A sigh of awe hitched in my chest at the sight of him. When I began to feel faint, I looked away, across the heart of the Pride to see the entire Pack lost in dance of passion and hunger. I was shocked to see some of the shifters in cat form, heads bobbing to the beat, tails curling around the air in loose, lazy patterns. They weaved through the crowd, backs arcing in pleasure as people stroked and petted them as they passed. Some rolled in the dirt playfully, purring up a storm.

I spotted Alec. He was near his Alpha, jumping in smooth, audacious movement.

The shifters danced differently than the fairies. The movement was bolder and slower in comparison to the liquid-like slink of Conall.

My view of the dance abruptly changed as I was lifted high into the air, Breandan’s arms around my waist. Down I came, and remembered to rock back on my heels then up onto my tip-toes. Breandan pressed closer behind me, matching the curves of my body to his. I was tense now; my eyes wide and mouth parted.

“Let go,” he murmured in my ear.

I sank my teeth into my bottom lip, felt pain when the sharp tips sliced the delicate skin. Nervous at the suggestion of giving into the wildness of my nature, I licked up a sliver of blood as a flare of pain signaled my healing. Trusting in him, the one I was bonded to, I did. I relaxed and closed my eyes. Again, he lifted me up and instinct took over. My arms rose up above my head; I arched my back causing my wings to flutter, and gently kicked my legs forward. Down below the crowed rejoiced and crowded closer.

It was a jubilant crush of bodies. The ground became damp with sweat as we danced. The floor beneath my feet shook. Everything I was hummed, joining into the collective ecstasy of being outside. Free. Alive. Smoke hung heavy in the air, mixing with the smell of wet grass and warm bodies. The drums beat on. Louder, harder. Forced us to move with wild abandon.

A tingle of pleasure ran across my lower stomach as Breandan’s hands drifted down to my hips and coaxed me into rolling in time with the beat. I let my head loll back and opened my eyes lazily to look up into the sky. Stars already twinkled above in the dusk.

The tempo increased, driving us ever higher, and I was off the floor, swinging my head to the side. My arms flew up, legs thrashed. The breathless wail torn from my throat was crystalline. A melodic cry infused with power. It seemed to come alive and shoot sparks across the sky. As I fell the air whistling past cooled my heated skin, but the moment my feet touched back down I was enveloped in heat. Breandan spun me round to lift me up so I could lock my legs around his solid waist. He ran his hand up my back, and kissed my neck then nipped it roughly. My pulse leaped as I nipped him back and felt his chest rumble with approval.

He set me down and jumped high in the air, landing silently. For a moment, I worried my bite, and his lust had driven him crazy. Then I saw the shifter males did the same thing. Unsure of what to do, I watched the females. I matched the strange patterns of their limbs with my own. As the males stomped the floor the torsos of the females rippled, their chests rose and fell, hips bucked. As they daringly ran their hands over the shoulders of their dance partners, they smiled seductively, sensually trawled their fingers through their hair before spinning away, faces turned upward to watch their men soar into sight with powerful leaps. Their bodies beckoned their chosen ones to come back down to touch and play.

My hazy focus was drawn back to my own partner, and when Breandan came down for a third time I caught surprise flitting across his face when I placed my hands on his chest. Face hot, I stroked down over the smooth, hardness of him as my body moved in soft undulations I had not thought possible. His hesitation in returning my touch was brief. His arms wound around me as he accepted my offer to join closer.

Over his shoulder, I noticed the younger shifters, the cubs, were being guided away by their mothers. Conall was no longer dancing, but glaring at us. My eyes flicked to Alec. He shook his head, avoiding the advances of several young shifter-girls trying to coax him into the dance. Byron stood slightly in the shadows, arms crossed over his broad chest. He nodded once at each young couple that slowly left the light of the fire, consumed in each other. They stroked and kissed as they faded into the coming darkness.

It seemed odd, almost ritualistic. What dance would mothers not want their cubs to see? That Conall or Alec refused to partake in with the female younglings … couplings the Alfa must approve of ... Breandan’s arms tightened around me, and I was distracted by how close he was. I felt his chest expand, drawing an intake of breath that carried the scent of me.

The drumbeat changed, slowed into singular thumps.

We were the only two left dancing. I followed my fairy around the circle in a series of simple, but beautiful steps that had me forgetting my confusion, and smiling shyly at him. I ducked my head down so my hair covered my face when he smiled back. He was so handsome. Not even the scar that ran across his cheek lessened his silver-kissed beauty.

The fire deepened to rich violet. I glanced at the horizon; easy on the flat grassland the heart of the shifter Pride rested upon. I saw the sun, a slender arc of shady orange visible in the distance that had yet to set completely. My fairy eyesight – which transformed the world into a vision of electric blue and purple at night – was not what had changed the colour of the fire. The longer I looked I was sure I could see naked forms dance among the flames. A warm wind wrapped round my body and swept around me playfully.

He used magics for me.

I laughed and danced on. Happy, for the second time truly, blissfully happy. I was aware, both times; I had been in the presence of my fairy.

Breandan’s hand reached for mine, and I took it without thinking. The brilliant glow of his skin astounded me. He was a beacon of light brighter than the purple bonfire that raged before us. He pulled me into him, and rather than hurt my eyes, I could see through the light to the glory of his face.

“So beautiful,” he said quietly as he gazed down on me.

My gaze flicked from his into the crowd watching us. Many shielded their eyes, but still snuck glances our way. Intrigued as to what they stared at, I cocked my head, and looked down at myself. My legs, arms, feet, and hands glowed. Pulsing like a golden star against the ebony sheath I wore. My tail coiled into a tight ball at the base of my spine, and my heart stared to race. I jerked at Breandan’s touch gentle touch, the tips of his fingers brushing my hair off my neck and over my shoulder which he gripped.

He saw the fear in my eyes as his shook his head. “You will accept this,” he said firmly.

His mouth captured mine and the crowd yelled in delight, stamped their feet in joy. Screams from were-cats rose in a rising crescendo, and a fierce roar cut above them all.

Like a ray of clarity through the smoke and passion, I knew what I was doing, and what I was feeling. It was the bond, heightening our attraction to each other and our attractiveness to those around us.

I gasped, and pulled Breandan’s lips down to meet mine when he tried to lean away, shocked by my reaction. I stared up at him, daring him to accept me as I was, complicated and strange, indecisive and selfish. His face softened and his eyes shone with warmth. Breandan’s hands slipped under the hem of my dress to stoke the sensitive skin of hip. I breathed him in, the scent of sunlight and rain, and pressed myself nearer then whimpered when he crushed me closer. I wanted him. He was mine, and I wanted him. Possessiveness washed over me like a poisonous cloud, and I dug my fingertips into his upper arm and back. Mine. I could hear his heart echo the claim as it thumped against my chest. Mine. Breandan walked us out of the firelight into the grasslands of the Pride, and I said nothing. I wanted this, wanted him. I knew that once this was done he would be insanely possessive, but my body screamed a need I could no longer ignore.

The feeling that burned at pit of my stomach crawled through my veins possessed me. I’d never felt anything remotely like it. His hands rubbed up and down my body, fingers delving in and out of curves rhythmically. I lay on the cool grass, his glorious weight pressed into me, the skin of his chest was hot and smooth against my skin.

Breandan leant up, knelt over me gazing down, and from his intense expression was trying to bore a hole through my clothes. Not that he had to; the hem of my skirt was rumpled and hitched up around my waist. His gaze wandered up, locked with mine. He was just as lost as me. Ensnared in a trace and fixated on touching. Fingering the seams of my dress he abruptly yanked at it, realizing it covered my body from him.

He lent down to kiss my collarbone then stiffened and groaned. “You are mine,” he growled.

“No,” I said, breathless, and laced my hands together at the nape of his neck to pull him down. “You’re mine.”

The way his tongue felt when it slid over mine was amazing. He kissed me hard then sprung up, pulling me up after him. He cupped my face, silvery eyes luminous and a smile kicked back one corner of his mouth. “I have something that belongs to you.”

My eyes drifted closed and I breathed in deeply. I placed my hands over his, rubbed my face against one of his hands, but his lighthearted tone had my brows furrowing distrustfully. Nothing Breandan said was lighthearted. He was a serious demon who had bouts of mania. That was his fairy nature and I was becoming accustomed to it.

Sighing at how wonderful it felt for him to touch me this way, I cricked an eye open, sensing his restless excitement. “Say-say?” I asked, still suspicious.

His hand slipped into his pocket and his fingers came up with a chain of flat, gold links. It was short, the length of one of my hands, and as slender as my baby finger. On each elliptical segment was engraved a rune of power. It was simple, caught the lunar light, and sparkled – a bracelet, perhaps?

Mesmerized I touched it with the tip of my finger and was gifted with a zap. That should have been my first clue, but it was so appealing and shiny. I forgot I was wary of him and this pretty ornament and hovered my finger over it, mouth parted in awe. “Beautiful,” I breathed.

“I know you are, but this is no trinket. It is a sign of your birthright.”

He blurred into movement, and before I could object, he pressed the links into my forehead.

I jolted as the metal warmed, biting into my skin. I scrabbled to yank it from my face but still the ... the … teeth sank into my forehead over my brow, temple to temple. I shrieked and jumped about, using my nails to find an edge to pick under. Nope, I did manage to dig myself in the face. It hurt, so I stopped and stood still, trembling as the links fused to my head and got hotter and hotter until it felt like my forehead burned.

The fire stopped, cooling until the metal was blessedly cold against my skin. My eyes rolled back as far as they could go and I could see a faint glimmering where the links sparkled. At least it had not sunken into my head entirely. Little by little, I raised my hand in hesitant jerks and touched it. My fingers slid across velvety gold, so slick it felt slippery. But then I noticed faint scratches, ah, the symbols of power. I rubbed it at the edges, amazed at how the metal changed to smooth skin and back again. My hand fell to my side and I heaved a sigh, praying for patience. I looked at Breandan trying to decide the best course of action. I could try and pound on him. The important word being ‘try’. I had only tried, and failed, to hit him once before, and I would never come close. I could scream and rail at him, possibly throw a few sharp rocks. But could I be bothered? Should I calmly ask him what this thing merged to my forehead was, and what it meant?

“What the hell are you playing at?” I planted my palms on his stomach and shoved him. He shunted back a pace and fought what looked suspiciously like a smirk. “You can’t push these things on me and expect me to accept them.”

“If I had told you what it meant and what would happen you never would have taken it.”

“Why can’t you see this was not your choice to make?”

His jaw clenched, all lightheartedness gone. “You need to come to terms with who you are.”

I stomped my foot. “You can’t railroad me into being something I’m not.”

“If I don’t push you won’t move,” he said with an icy veneer of calm. “You need to be strong for what’s ahead yet you bury yourself in doubt, and hide behind this façade of a simple girl when you have been born a warrior, born a leader.”

I looked away, gritting my teeth and forcing down the tears that welled in my eyes. It would not cut so deep if he was wrong about everything. I kept trying to make him see my point of view but he had so much evidence to fall back on. All I had was a general feeling of doom.

“Can you explain it to me?” he asked. “Tell me why you’re fighting this.”

Rubbing my nose, my gaze fell from his perfect face, and I sighed deeply. “You know yourself, what you are capable of, and what is beyond you, right? I mean, you would never try to move a mountain with your magic because you know trying to would take more magic that you can handle.” He was quiet, allowing me the time to order my thoughts and explain what I was feeling. “Well, for the last few days everyone has been telling me I’m destined to be the next Priestess, that I’m going to lead the fairy race into a new era, and stop all the strife between the demons and the humans.” I paused, struggling once again to come to terms with how I felt and what it meant. Saying it loud had my heart thumping painfully and my stomach doing back flips. Just the thought of all that responsibility made me uncomfortably hot.

Breandan pushed my hair aside and placed a warm, soothing palm on the nape of my neck. “Whatever you say will be okay with me.”

Breathing out in a rush, I splayed my hands out in front of me in a purposeful manner. “I know myself. I know what I am capable of and my limits. I believe that I can help the demons and humans come together. I feel that.” I pressed a hand to my chest. “That feels real and obtainable to me. But beyond that ... becoming the fairies spiritual guide...” I looked him in the eye. “I don’t love them like you do. When I look into the future, I see nothing, but you. I am not who I used to be, and I do believe I have a purpose, but it’s not what you and Conall think it is.”

“You will grow to love them?”

“That is not true and that is why you phrased it as a question.”

A muscle in his cheek twitched and he clenched his jaw. “Why can you not move past this? Accept all of who you are.”

“Because I know the road you’re trying to lead me down is wrong. I’m not the wisest of people, or the bravest, but recently I have come to trust in my instincts and the more I listen to them the more everything makes sense to me.” His face was stubbornly set and I placed my hand on his chest. “Tell me, has there ever been a Priestess before who was not bound to the High Lord?” Breandan shook his head. “Does this not tell you everything you need to know about what my future holds? Why has magic allowed me to form such a bond with a male other than the High Lord? Does that not seem wrong to you? Besides, how can I hope to rule alongside Lochlann when I can barely stand him?”

“He is difficult but he has a good heart. We can work around it. Find a way to–”

“Do you want me to go to your brother?”

His brows lowered and his eyes blazed. “No. Never. You are mine.”

“Then listen to what I am saying. The Priestess is always the mate of the High Lord. Always.”

“I have no desire to be High Lord,” Breandan said carefully, weighing his words. “I do not wish any harm to come to my family.”

My mouth fell open. “I wasn’t suggesting we ... no you have me wrong.” I waved my hands about. “I didn’t mean you should be High Lord, though I’m sure you’d be great at it.” I gave him a weak smile. “I was trying to point out that you and Conall keep drumming it into me that there are rules that must be followed. This keeps everything in check, in balance. Why am I being allowed to break those rules?”

His finger ran down the bridge of my nose and a feeling of peace washed over me. “You are special.”

Nothing I said was going to get through to him. Pushing my hair back from my face, knuckling my forehead and somehow already used to the feel of cold metal I exhaled sharply. “I can’t take this thing off, can I?”

Still cautious, watching to see how I would try to hurt him he shook his head. “No. Not until death.”

Well hell, I was pretty much stuck with it then. Slanting him a look under my lashes I curled my lip at him. “Can I at least know what is it?”

“The circlet announces you to be the Priestess. No fairy can look on you now and not know who you are. All will know your importance and authority over them.”

“Why didn’t you give this to me before?”

“You had not accepted who you were. You were barely able to hear about your mother. Conall picked it up before we left Orchard and I swore I would give it to you.”

I plucked at my bottom lip as I thought on this then could not help but touch it again. I was in awe of ... of what? Myself? “Why now? Does it matter?”

“This is important. If I am dead you will be protected.”

“You will never die,” I said confidently.

His expression shifted from defensive to indulgent. “Hmm.”

He took my hand and towed me after him. I followed happily, poking and prodding at this new part of me. It was true what he said; this thing was never coming off. Those teeth I had felt biting into my skin had anchored themselves in deep. Noticing he seemed to have a specific direction in mind rather than a random walk, I began to take an interest in our direction.

Since I had become fairy, my sense of direction had improved vastly. I could tell when the land climbed or when it sloped. I knew where there was a rocky place or one that was dense with flora humming with life. I had even become accustomed to the nagging buzz that was constantly on the edge of my mind. At some point the day before I’d realized what I saw were people’s auras. When I closed my eyes and stretched my influence beyond myself, I had touched on other receptive minds by accident, not realizing that I was drawn to them by the buzz. When I closed my eyes, I could sense live things and that was probably why my sense of direction was so good.

With Breandan beside me, it was a tad overwhelming. The bond was a pulsing that had settled over my skin, content for the time being since I had skin-to-skin contact with Breandan. Couple that with my sense of his aura and just him being there … next to me … it was a troublesome thing in itself … he was distracting.

Pursing my lips, I stopped; rocked back on one heel and smiled when he turned to question the hold up.

I let my gaze drift over his face. He’d not pulled his glamour on, not now I was used to seeing him in his true form. I myself had not glamoured myself human since Breandan had been injured. His hair was short and I wondered what it would be like long, as dark as his eyebrows, perhaps. Then there was his strong jaw and firm lips. And always his eyes, captivating silver-blue irises. They shone like stars under his heavy brow, which cast a shadow that stopped at the tip of his bold nose. His skin –lustrous cream to my dusky hue – was covered with black ink tattoos. I still caught myself being shocked when I glanced at him or took my time to study their meaning. His arms and chest were covered in swirling intricate designs and incantations, some in languages I had never seen before. Creatures and flowers were sprawled across his chest and ancient patterns seemed to shimmer and shift the longer I stared. I had never seen the like. Would they truly protect him from witchcraft and darker magics?

My eyes slipped down, taking all of him in. It was so easy to get hung up on his face or the presence of him that I forgot to appreciate his body. He was solid, and radiated heat, and life. His legs were long and strong. His posture faultless, but instead of looking stoic and uncomfortable, he looked infallible and mighty.

Belonging to him felt easier by the moment.

I flushed and bit my lip, ignoring his quirked eyebrow and knowing gaze. His thumb rubbed small circles on my wrist as he waited. He never seemed to mind when I ogled him, which was often a lengthy and meticulous practice I thoroughly enjoyed.

I cleared my throat and asked, “Where are we going?”

“Oh, there is a lake nearby. I want to share it with you.”

This caught my attention. “A lake? I’ve seen the river and a few ponds, but I’ve never seen a lake … or the sea.” However, I had seen pictures.

“One day I will take you. You would love the open water. It is soothing and smells like salt. The waves crash into the beach and makes soft foam about your toes. The water is cold, but refreshing. Cleansing.”

“You’d really take me wouldn’t you?” I marveled at how so simple a promise could make me feel so warm inside. “I mean, you’re not just saying that to be nice.”

He did not answer, but I was filled with warmth and affection, an impression of positivity. My ears strained to hear the ‘yes’ I expected after the feeling. How strange. I shook the feeling off and blinked when I took in Breandan’s expectant gaze.

It was the way he stood, waiting, watching, and almost on the verge of asking me to react.

“Did you just say yes?” I asked slowly. My eyes widened as I thought on the odd reactions or feelings I had been having. “Have you been telling me things like that for a while?”

He swept me up into a crushing hug and swung me around, beaming a huge smile that had me feeling dizzy. “Only since the first time I knew you belonged to me. At last you can feel it.” He set me down still smiling broadly. “Our bond grows.”

He seemed so completely happy there was no way for me to get prissy about this or think up a reason to be upset.

“You can send me messages through the bond?”

“Faint ones. Never will we be able to say more than a few words, maybe if we are deep in meditation. We will be able to sense each other’s moods and feelings, be able to send each other impressions of what we desire or need.”

My fairy-boy was not one for gushing sentences so listening to him rhapsodize over this new aspect to our connection had me as excited as he was.

“Can I try?”

“Oh yes.” He nodded so sharply it bordered on enthusiastic. “Try.”

Shrugging out my shoulders, I gripped his hand tighter and focused on the idea for a kiss. Sending him a thought was like trying to hiccup and speak at the same time. My tummy was clenched so tight and my face so squished I couldn’t see anymore.

There was a faint pressure on my lips. My face relaxed and my eyes widened. I flung my arms around his neck and pressed myself into him.

“It worked,” I crowed, delighted.

He frowned then chuckled; face strained as he tried to hide his disappointment. “No.”

Crestfallen, I released him and rubbed my nose, unhappy that I could not tap into the bond for something so simple when Breandan could send me waves of love and an answer to a question clear enough for me to understand it.

“Give it time,” he soothed and stroked a fingertip down the bridge of my nose, across my lips. My heart fluttered. “You may find you can only use it in time of great need, not that I will never be so far that you need to rely on the bond.” He paused but then shook off whatever dark thought had cast a brief shadow across his face. “Alright?”

Mollified, I let him tug me on, but kept trying to send him messages until my head hurt from trying to push thoughts through nothing but bloody air.

I saw a flicker of light ahead and noticed the air changed. A musty tang saturated the atmosphere, rotting wood, and leaves. A wispy mist crept along the ground and rose higher the further we moved until minuscule water droplets speckled my face and cooled my cheeks. The grass got lower, moving from our waists to our knees until it was a flat and chunky carpet of blunted blades the colour of ash. The grass became lumps of rock, pastel colored pebbles then abruptly murky water. It seemed to go on forever, a big puddle in the middle of nowhere surrounded by ferns and other plant life that liked the wet. I squinted. Were those dark, darting shadows under the placid surface schools of fish? At the edges I could see the pebbles continued down, curving into a steep slope that disappeared into a sapphire mirror overshadowed by fog.

I took a conscious step back. The last time I had looked into water, I had seen my reflection. I was used to my fairy form now. I had no choice. No amount of hard thought was going to make the end of my spine drop off, or my wings shrivel up. Maybe I would not feel so different, so alien if I could see others who looked more like me. Breandan said there were many variations in fairy coloring and form. Maeve was one extreme and I was the other. I guess I should be glad I was not green.

I swallowed, still not wanting to see myself and said, “It looks cold.”

He looked at me oddly before his expression creased with amusement. “You have magic.” He said this as if it was some big thing I had forgotten.

He kicked off his boots and unbuckled the leather strap across his chest.

“And….”

“You have the power to tear the sky asunder and shake the earth into a tumult yet you are bested by some chilly water?”

He threw his head back and laughed. It was not the usual chuckle or mirthless snort of delight that he usually reserved for me, but a loud boisterous hoot of glee. I was too ensnared by the sound to be upset that he was laughing at me rather than with me. Wanting to share in the joke, I giggled, but it soon became a strangled squawk as he undid his pant laces and pulled them down. He chucked the garment onto his boots. I looked away; blushing furiously.

My fingers curled under into fists as I fought the urge to jump him. I would not shame myself by succumbing to such a base instinct.

“Would you look at me?”

I choked on my own breath. “I can’t.”

He grasped my chin and deliberately turned my face to his. “Look at me.”

My eyes wandered down, over his broad shoulders, hard pectorals, and well defined abdominals. Lower, over his hip and hovering at his navel. I wavered, enjoying how much the strong strip of muscle that tapered inward from his outer hip to groin … my eyes bugled. Ah, yes, he was naked. My breath quickened and my hands trembled. Gods help me I could not help but stare. Was it meant to be so alluring? Should I not be frightened, feel all shy and retiring?

Swallowing loudly, I made a point of studying an interesting moss covered rock that rested on the edge of the riverbank by his foot. Moss, what an interesting … plant-like-thing?

Chuckling softly, he let me go and his foot slipped from view. I heard him enter the water. Rubbing my hands on my hips, I struggled to bring my ferocious lust under control. He seemed to be managing just fine, and so would I.

In a dream world, I would have been fiercely proud of my body. Reveled in how perfect my limbs were shaped and how they affected him. I would have swept the dress of in one smooth, leisurely move, slowly shaking out my hair as I did, watching him with slumberous eyes. Then I would gracefully step into the pool, running my fingers through the water that warmed to my touch until I was immersed waist deep, confidently and proudly waiting for him.

With that completely unrealistic and unachievable scenario firmly in place, sucking it up, I whipped the dress off in one toss, chucking it somewhere behind me. I stomped over to the pool edge, the lapping water sliding over my toes confirming the temperature was a few degrees shy of freezing. My control over magic was so temperamental I was afraid if I tried to warm it up, I would turn the pool into a bubbling cauldron. Acutely aware Breandan was seated comfortably in the centre I decided the risk was not worth it.

Cursing my foolish pride, I splashed my way into the frigid water, shrieking mentally as each move caused the icy water to lap higher over my naked skin before dunking down till only my neck, head, and wing tips showed. My tail coiled into a tight ball at the base of my spine, trying to conserve heat.

Shivering, sending large ripples across the pool, I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him defiantly.

“I am not prudish nor afraid,” I said through chattering teeth, lifting my chin.

“No,” he replied. “You have courage.” He was quiet. “We could stay a while.”

I turned my head, tilted it up to watch him. His jaw was relaxed and from this angle, I could only see a glimmer from his silver eyes as he watched me. Though the turn in conversation was abrupt, I knew exactly what he meant.

I clutched my arms tighter around me. “But … what about Devlin and the grimoire?”

We watched each other in the water. Somehow, a huge distance had sprung up between us though we stood a few paces away. Something broke the water’s surface drawing my gaze. I missed what it was, but watched the ripples fan out and disturb the placid water. It was just jumping fish, right? It wouldn’t be anything slimy or a small beast with many teeth….

A sloshing noise had me swallowing loudly. Breandan stood waited for me to look at him. I did, and he shrugged. “It can wait,” he said simply. He motioned to me then himself. “This is more important.”

“Uh, I don’t think Conall will agree with you.”

He stroked my hair, wound a thick lock around his palm, and rubbed it absentmindedly. “We need to think of a plan to retrieve the Alpha’s daughters from the Temple without being seen, without creating uproar. This needs to be handled with care. Should the humans catch us they would use it as an excuse to declare war.”

“We can do it easily enough. You know we can.”

“Oh?”

I counted off the reasons why this would be straightforward on my fingers. Awkward, since I was still keeping my chest covered. “We can pass the Wall without detection. We can move fast enough that they wouldn’t see us; I’ve seen that freaky ‘blending into the shadows’ thing Conall pulls, and I know you could do it too, even with all your glowing and pulsing.’ I pointed to myself with my thumb. “I’ve been trained in Subterfuge. I can manage a rescue mission, and with you at my side there’s no way we would be seen. We just need to find where they’re being held.”

I looked back to gage his reaction. He pursed his lips. “You seem to have become quiet invincible.”

I glowered at him, slapped him on the back with my tail. The tap I’d planned landed on his upper thigh. Wet skin hit wet skin and made a sharp thwacking noise. He hissed in my ear and I squirmed, the tip of my tail tingling.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, blushing.

Letting out a long, protracted breath he placed his hands on my shoulders, and pulled me closer. I did so reluctantly and focused on the pointed tip of his left ear. My wings flexed and rustled behind me restlessly, and rather than have my arms trapped uselessly between us, I unwound them to have them dither in the air. I had no choice but to place them at his sides, at the bottom of his ribcage. My head just reached his shoulder. He bent his knees, and with this half seated position my inner thighs slid over his outer legs until I sat on his lap. I stopped breathing and held still. Not sure what to do or what this meant I decided the best course of action was none. I waited, still staring at his shoulder as if the silvery skin had all the answers to every unanswered question in the universe locked in the pores. His hands slid down from my upper arms to lace together on my lower back.

After a minute or so of barely breathing I relaxed, one muscle at a time.

“Better,” he concluded and his thumbs stroked circles into my skin.

My eyes drifted closed. “So you get antsy when I get frisky on the grass, yet naked frolicking in lakes is allowed?” I asked breathless and fidgety.

“Oh yes. We are not doing anything that would compromise your virtue. So calm down.” When my face got pouty, he spoke again and I heard a smile in his voice, but I was too mortified to open my eyes and see it. “I guess you’re wondering why I brought you here.” I nodded empathically because I was majorly confused. “You need to get used to being around me. This way there are fewer barriers between us.”

I couldn’t stand it … not seeing his expression as he spoke. My eyes opened long enough to send him a dry, accessing look. “At what point did clothes become insurmountable barriers?”

“When you feel ashamed or scared you twist your hands into your pockets to stop yourself touching me.” He frowned. “Always you should be touching me. It feels good and it makes us stronger.”

Gods above strike me down the boy had me worked out. “But … you avoid me. Sometimes.”

He stared at me. “I am an outcast. I have no Tribe, and you are a highborn fairy. It would be a dishonor to treat you so in public when we are not mated. You can always touch me.”

I was not sure I got it entirely. How could love be a dishonor? Why could I touch him and he not touch me? It hadn’t been an issue before. I knew Lochlann wanted us to be discreet, but Conall knew how we felt about each other. He may be a bit over-protective, but surely after a while he would just get over it.

Breandan moved off the topic. “We should stay here for a few days. Rest and be together.”

His hands were so warm, so hard, and gentle. They distracted me from trying to figure out why he was so careful all of a sudden. “Hmm, say-say?” I mumbled. It was more a moan than anything resembling agreement.

“I told you when Lochlann returned I would spend more time just being with you.”

He was determined to keep on talking so I peeked an eye open. “You want us to stay on the Pride?”

“Byron, Conall and I shall plan the rescue, and you can learn more about our ways. Who and what you are. No hovel is big enough for Devlin to hide in that we cannot find him. We have time.”

I blinked at the suggestion of the arrogant fairy High Lord staying anywhere that was remotely ‘hovel’ like. Devlin was an extrovert character, someone who played games and played them well. He had infiltrated the human Temple, posing as a Sect Disciple for an entire month to gain my trust before trying to trick me into joining him. He was beautiful and handsome, of course; most fairies were in their own way. Devlin had hair so blonde it was white, and mesmerizing green eyes that sparkled even in the absence of light. His features were sharp, pristine, and his gait assured, confident. But he was also cruel and hard of heart towards all apart from his life-mate, Wasp. His flair for manipulation was bone deep, engrained, and I knew he would not give up the High Lordship to Lochlann easily.

We had a hard road ahead of us and so what Breandan was suggesting was beyond tempting. He was saying I needed time to accept and adjust, to think about what I wanted to do next, and allow myself to shape the future rather than be swept into it by what was happening right then. Possibly I could plan a little rather than just reacting to each explosion that seemed to happen after every decision I made. To spend a few days tucked in Breandan’s arms seemed too good to be true. But then again sometimes good, normal things did happen to people. I could just have fun. Learn about the shifters, and get to know Alec more. He was so kind and he felt like a friend, something I had few of.

My heart squeezed painfully. No, I had no friends. My only friend was dead.

I looked down into the water’s surface and saw us. Our skin glowed. My ear tips were elongated to slender points and peeked through a tangle of hair that cascaded down my bare back, and Breandan’s fair arm that clutched me tightly. My tail weaved through the air over my shoulder, and my golden wings rustled. Pinions the width of my wrist supported the gauzy, multifaceted membrane that made up the main body of my wings, four ovals - the upper two broader - of shimmering segments that twinkled in the gloaming. I opened my mouth and saw the brilliance of my teeth, fang-like. My eyes sparkled like wells of light, even more so as tears pooled above my bottom lashes.

How strange and odd I looked to my own eyes.

Breandan, a silver sheen beside me, cupped my cheek, bringing my eyes to lock with his. There was sympathy and compassion there. Could he see my pain? His other moved to rest over my chest, fingers shifting gently as he closed his eyes, feeling my heartbeat pound against his palm. Could he feel my pain?

He leaned his head against mine then tilted his chin to kiss me. I sighed and brushed my lips against his, breathing in the scent of sunlight and rain. The water sloshed as I snuggled closer, into the warmth and comfort. My leg muscles tightened as my arms snaked around his neck to bring him closer.

He watched me out the corner of his eye as I rubbed my cheek against his, like he was afraid I was not real or something. His hands moved up, under my wing pinions until he smoothed over where they joined to my back. His hands swept over my lower wings and I made a strangled noise. They tingled at his touch. Stiffening, he stopped, and brought his hands to rest low on my hips instead, long, powerful fingers played across my skin applying pressure.

“So we stay?” he asked.

He was trying hard to respect me. His protection extended beyond the physical, he wanted me to heal emotionally before the cracks I knew were already there broke open and obliterated me from the inside out.

I cupped his face in both my hands and looked deep into his eyes. He was my home, my light in the dark. Already I felt my heart healing. I paused then placed a kiss to his clenched jaw.

“We stay,” I agreed softly and smiled.

 

*

 

My dreams were filled with dark and wicked things but always did the silver light that surrounded me keep me safe. The darkness could not have me and it was easy for my mind to become quiet and sink into a deep blissful sleep.

I woke before the dawn, overly warm, and tucked safely in Breandan’s arms, my head pillowed on his chest. We had curled up together on the bank of the river and talked long into the night. Dew was heavy in the air and the horizon was awash with dense pastel colors, announcing the suns imminent arrival.

A soft whistle over by the ferns revealed Alec standing in the gloom, jerking his head at me, beckoning. I cocked my head in question and he smiled cheekily before tugging on his pants. I leaned up onto my forearms then became painfully aware of the fact I had no clothes on. It wasn’t like before, when it was just Breandan and I. After a while, I had become relatively confident in my own skin as we talked. Now I just felt exposed. Dropping back down I wiggled further into Breandan’s side and crossed my arms over my chest. Managing to merge a blush with a scowl, I looked up to see Alec clamping a hand over his mouth hide his laughter. He held up his palms when I hissed quietly then turned on his heel, tapping his foot impatiently.

Jumping into a crouch, I breathed in the crisp morning and let the cool air refresh my damp body. I scanned the lake bank and found my dress in a crumpled pile a few paces away. Picking it up a few spiders and ants fell onto my leg and I slapped at them, cringing, and batted at the dress with my hands to make sure there were no more crawlies. Slipping it over my head, I itched at my neck and trawled my fingers through my hair, which cascaded down my shoulders in dark waves. Since I had embraced my fairy nature it was growing ridiculously fast, and I wondered when it would stop.

Hearing a lusty sigh, I turned to find Breandan awake, sitting up with his forearms resting on his knees, watching me battle with the tangle on my head. My fingers stilled. There was something … different. His permanently clouded expression and guarded eyes shone with warmth and happiness. He looked peaceful rather than serious and plagued. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply before standing to find his trousers. “I will come with you,” he said.

I looked away as he pulled his pants on and heard the leather strings rub against each other as he knotted the tie, I walked over to him and pushed him down. “No. Stay here and rest.” I kissed him briefly on the lips and then again because the first was so sweet and it made me tremble. We both sighed. “You need to rest and Alec is protection enough. Besides we’re on Pride territory, no wandering demon will come here.” He did not look convinced. I laced my hands behind the nape of his neck. “I’ll be fine.”

“Come on, Rae! Gods, what are you doing?” Alec stomped over to us and tugged on the end of my hair. I slapped his hand away when he tried again.

“Bring the fairy with you if you must. We’re going back to the Pride Heart anyway.”

“Why?” I asked untangling myself from Breandan, who stood gracefully and took my hand.

The three of us wandered back to the centre of Pride land and I enjoyed the peace of such a moment. Alec had a habit of talking until he ran out of breath. He’d heave in a gulp of air then start again, chattering on about how they ran the borders of the Pride at sunrise and sunset, and how the Alpha’s daughters were taken.

“So you were with them?” I interrupted when his face turned a ruddy pink from talking so much. “You saw who took them?”

“No. The twins were running together in the morning, but when they did not return by nightfall Byron knew something was wrong. He sent me to find them. I caught their scent quickly and with it human and silver. I found a pool of blood too. Not enough to suggest the wound it came from was fatal, but enough for concern.” He looked toward the east, in the direction of Temple. “There may be two of them, but to get both under your thumb all you have to do is threaten the other. Even if one of them was able to get away, she would not. They would never leave each other, even if it meant dying.”

“How long ago were they taken?” Breandan asked.

“Four days,” Alec whispered and hung his head.

“And you haven’t tried to break them out before now?” I questioned incredulously.

When Maeve had been taken by the Clerics she had been gone less than a day. She had suffered at their hands, and I dreaded to think what the shifters Alec referred to were being put through. I did not like thinking the Sect capable of such horrors, but my eyes had been opened to the real world around me. I had to accept certain things, no matter how much I disliked them.

Both Alec and Breandan raised an eyebrow at me. “We tried to breach the Wall but didn’t come close. Humans have guns and silver bullets to the chest kill. We lost two males trying to dig our way under.”

With a flash, I remembered the screams of were-cats the morning before I had run in the forest and met Breandan. How odd something I had brushed off as demons battling over territory was something much simpler and purer. I felt ashamed. So much of what I had been taught by the Sect was wrong.

The Sect was the single greatest authority the survivors of humankind looked to for guidance and protection. During the Rupture so many were slaughtered and only those who were strong were able to defend themselves. Many fled the inner cities, knowing it was only a matter of time before a shifter sniffed you out or a vampire caught the smell of your female’s menstrual cycle. Nowhere with a dense population was safe until the three men and five women, Priests who had founded the Sect, erected the Wall and set the strongest survivors they could find as guardians. They had become determined to fight off any threat to their continued survival. Many sought sanctuary with these brave few who seemed to be able to hold their own and after a while that was simply the way it was. The Priests told us what to do and we did it. They told us what to think, what to eat, what to say, and in return they kept us safe from the demons beyond the wall.

That had all changed for me, my eyes had been opened and nothing was ever as black and white as it seemed.

“I heard you,” I confessed “I would wake up and hear you calling to them.”

Alec gave me a half-hearted smile. “Wherever they are they’re underground and more than likely in human form. They would have returned the call if they had heard us and could respond.” He sounded desolate so I touched his arm briefly.

“Is that why you were in the forest when I first met you? So close to the Wall?”

He nodded. “We’ve been trying to find a weakness in their defenses for days. When I saw you two I was curious, but couldn’t hang around to talk since I was supposed to be monitoring Cleric activity.” He grinned. “Had I known who you were I would have tailed you until I was sure you’d help us.” He clicked his fingers. “Oh, and I almost forgot. A vampire has been scented several times. Do you know anything about that? Byron was worried about us running the territory alone if we had a bloodsucker to worry about.”

Awkward.

Breandan did not say a word, and neither did I.

“I had more than enough problems yesterday,” I said, strained. “I think if anything else had happened I would have gone crazy.” Yes, I had completely ignored his question about Tomas, but really, how would I explain it?

Breandan snorted. “Pure blooded fairies do not go ‘crazy’.”

“One word; Devlin.”

“He is evil not insane.”

“Say-so,” I mumbled. “Black magic and human sacrifice seems pretty crazy to me.”

His ears twitched and he rubbed a small circle into my palm with his thumb. “Not everything is as black and white as it seems.”

“I second that,” Alec added before turning his attention to the path ahead of us. Though it was dark, I saw many figures moving about. The shifters were awake to greet the dawn.

Conall appeared and stood in front of us, his eyes flicked between Breandan and me curiously. After a moments inspection he seemed satisfied and his scowl smoothed when he noted the circlet on my brow.

Breandan said, “Today we discuss how to help Byron.”

My brother crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his chin up. “Agreed.”

I looked between them eyeing each other up and down. Okay…. Why were they acting so twitchy around each other? Bloody melodramatic fairies. “I’m going with Alec.” I took off when Breandan opened his mouth to object.

Brawling tiger cubs bumbled past me, growling at each other, and a few shifter-kids in human form darted past; heckling wildly and egging them on. A petite lynx the colour of honey darted between my legs, and I tripped, trying not to step on any tails including my own. I clutched it in my palm and trod lightly, keeping my wings tight to my back.

“Watch out,” Alec warned from behind me and yanked on the end of my hair to pull me out the way when two much older tigers lunged past; half a deer carcass clamped in their jaws as they swiped at each other with paws the circumference of my face.

Bewildered, I looked up at him with wide eyes. “Can I hang with you today?” I asked and pointed over my shoulder in the direction I knew Breandan was in. “They’re acting weird and I’m not into it.” I scratched my knee where the hem of my skirt rested. “And if you could show me where I could bargain for some decent clothes I’d owe you big time.”

“Bargain?”

“Well I don’t have any coin; it doesn’t work like that at Temple. Everything I needed was provided for me by the Sect. I have no idea if Conall has any.”

I rubbed my nose, self-conscious about the sudden realization I had no way to feed or clothe myself. Where would I sleep? When I was at the fairy Wyld everything had been done for me, but I’d been so out of it I hadn’t thought to ask if anything belonged to me. Where did Breandan sleep when he was there? After all, it was his home.

“I guess it would be Conall I asked since he’s the head of my family,” I said slowly. “But like I said he’s acting weird, and I’ve had enough of the intense conversations he loves dragging me into. For now.”

Alec laughed. “I can get you some new clothes. We don’t use coin here either so do not worry about that. It’s community labor we value, and I’ll pick up your tab.” I made to protest, but he shook his head with finality. “I’ve got to make sure none of the women need anything and run the territory, but you can tag along if you like and help. That would be payment enough.” He jerked his head toward the clothes stalls and I fell into step beside him, walking down the gentle slope. “To be honest I’m surprised you guys are willing to wait around here for so long. When you first arrived it seemed like you were in a rush.”

My attention was rapt on the community around me. Shifters prowled past, and I roughly pegged the Pride population at no more than two hundred. It was amazing how much bustle such a small number of people could make. The smell of cooking meat had my stomach rolling dangerously. Did they eat nothing else?

“We decided to stay for a while,” I replied, pressed a hand to my stomach and praying I did not start to retch. “Breandan wants time to plan the rescue of Byron’s daughters, and well, I just want sometime to breathe. Things have been crazy these past two days, and a few more to get things straight would do me the world of good.”

“You’re not doing badly. When I shifted for the first time I thought I’d lost my mind. Didn’t take me long to figure out what I was.” Alec became reflective, stopping us in front of a stall piled high with leathers and fabrics. “Only the gods know what would have happened to me if Byron hadn’t taken me in. Between the Clerics, fairies, and vampires I wouldn’t have lasted long.” He shook himself up, head to toe like a cat coming out of the rain. His dark hair flapped about a bit and he scrubbed his hands through it agitatedly, sending me a rueful look. “Morbid, yeah I know. So, you are staying on Pride land? It’s not like fairies to spend so much time in the presence of other demons.”

He pointed to a pair of plain russet leather pants and I nodded, rummaging through the piles to find a size that would fit me. Picking up a pair and pulling on them to make sure they were tough enough, Alec plucked them from my hands and motioned to the tunics.

“No?” I asked, feigning nonchalance, not seeing any of the tops that took my fancy. Sigh. I missed my tee shirts and jeans, but I had to get out of this dress. It was disgusting, crumpled and covered in mud, blood and sweat. Not a good look for me.

“By nature fairykind are secretive and proud. Well, most of you are. I’ve never met any like you before.”

Though my hands were on the scratchy fabric of the tunics, my eye had snagged on something else. I shot Alec a quick grin. “And you never will again.”

I wasn’t much into clothes, as a Disciple I was given tokens that allowed me to collect what I needed, the basics, once every six months or so from the seamstress. Unlike the other girls, I had never altered my wardrobe, slashing the tops and jeans to show more skin. I just did not care how I looked. But since I’d met Breandan… Not looking a complete mess had become something of a priority.

The tops I could not stop staring at were no more than bras with all kinds of buckles and leather straps hanging off them. Alec caught my preoccupation and I hastily turned my attention to the sensible tunics on display, finding the beige and gray shades less than delightful. Alec took the scandalous top down and waggled it on the tip of his finger. It looked like a scrap of spare material in his big hands. He nodded his head toward the lace up boots, looking at my dirty bare feet pointedly.

Refusing to be distracted, I shook my head and leaned in closer. “I can’t wear that.” I made to snatch it from him, but he bunched it up with the trousers under one armpit, and snagged my elbow to push me in front of the boot selection.

“It’ll look good on you. Now how big are your feet?” He ducked down to catch my ankle and pull my foot up. Head swinging from side to side he selected a pair of soft-sole boots.

Picking the shoes up and hugging them to my chest, I glowered at him. “I’m not wearing it.” I spun on my heel to go look at the belts.

Jogging up beside me, he laughed. “Don’t you want to look pretty?”

“That’s not the point. You do not need to show the whole world your entire hide to be pretty. I don’t need to prance around half naked for people to notice me…. Not that I want them to … in fact, the less people notice me the better.”

“Then why didn’t you pick up a tunic?”

I stopped and cursed, ready to go back. He grabbed my hand and pulled me on. Fumbling to keep hold of the boots with one hand, grumbling to myself, I followed him.

His hut was small and a bloody mess. The walls were covered in scratch marks and the bedding looked like it had been attacked by a pack of, well, cats.

Alec dropped all my clothes on the floor and winked, stepping outside to give me privacy.

I ripped a hole in the trousers above the seat; they were pocket-less, which made things easier. I sighed; it was a shame to vandalize such good workmanship but a necessity.

I dressed quickly my eyes taking in the wooden beams, rumpled sheets and, mish mash of personal belongings. It was simple, but homely too. Shiny rocks and dried leaves were scattered everywhere, on the windowsill, propped up against the wall. Each was so lovingly displayed it was clear Alec had chosen them for a reason.

Finished, I clutched the dress loosely in my hands. With a quick thought, it went up in flames, and turned to ash. I dusted my hands off.

In honesty my new outfit was the most comfortable I had ever worn. My wings were free to move without restraint or the irritation of fabric rubbing at the base of my pinions. The air on my back, stomach, and shoulders was delightfully refreshing, I’d always run hot, a fairy trait it seemed. The leather trousers molded to my curves like a second skin and hugged my ankles, tucked into the soft-soled boots that felt like they were made for me, strapped up to the middle of my calf. The waist of the trousers rode my hips dangerously low and though I tried to yank them up the problem was a lack of material rather than the fit. Even the leather straps on the top were practical, criss crossing over my front with a sheath for a dagger. Taking a deep breath, rubbing my circlet anxiously, I looked down. Skin, lots, and lots of skin. Heat climbed up my neck and I scratched my throat like I was breaking out in a rash. I was embarrassed because I was surprised and proud that my body made such an impressive showing in the revealing outfit.

“I can’t wear this,” I muttered and yanked on the boning that nestled above the centre of my ribcage.

The door swung open making me whirl in fright, letting in a gust of grass-scented air, and slammed into the wall. Alec – fingers still splayed on the door – blinked at me owlishly.

He groaned. “If I were a lesser animal….” He leaned forward to grab my hand and pull me out the hut before I could voice my numerous protests.

As we stalked across the Pride, I felt the heated eyes on me, human and cat. Slowly, I straightened my back, under the influence of a fierce surge of female pride. Hell, my hips swayed, and my tail waved from side to side with flirty flicks. Allowing a smile to brighten my face, I paid attention to where Alec was headed.

I dug my heels into the earth.

“Uh, what are you doing?” He kept going and I scrapped two divots in the floor. Not wanting to ruin my new boots, I let up and stumbled forward. “I’m only letting you pull me because I don’t want to show you up in front of your Pack Brothers, but by the gods, Alec,” my voice lowered to a furious hiss, “if you take me over there dressed like this I will not forgive you.” He smirked and kept walking, keeping me with him. I tried to distract him. “You seem interested in fairies.”

He slid a considering look at me. “It’s my job. As the packs protector I have to be aware of danger.”

I stopped. My booted foot burrowed into the hard packed dirt floor again. This time for entirely non-selfish reasons. “Things are changing, Alec.” Gathering some confidence I looked him in the eye. “You don’t have to be afraid to go into the forest anymore or worry about what a fairy might do should they find you. And us being here isn’t some undercover attempt to learn your weaknesses. Okay?”

He smiled. “You’re something special, y’know. But you can’t divert me.”

I scrunched my face up and whacked his shoulder. “You’re embarrassing us both.” Determined he walked on and stayed quiet. I tried again. “Um, so … why do shifter packs segregate like you do? I mean, are were were-wolves, were-bears, were-birds, but you live separately. Why is there no mix?”

He shrugged. “We’ve heard of mixed packs, but I can’t see how they could possibly live together without the constant threat of the stronger killing the weaker.”

“You have no control of your animal nature?”

“Yes, but it’s easy to be overcome by instinct.”

A woman holding a weave basket to her hip swayed past, her slinky movement screaming of effortless feline sexuality. Seeing the sensual way she moved, I was conscious of my own somewhat heavy stomp. It also reminded me of the dance the night before.

“Uh, so, the females are protected from the males by Byron?” Alec cocked an eyebrow in question. I cleared my throat and felt heat crawl up my neck to spill onto my cheeks. “Last night with the dancing … he was nodding at the couples….”

“Oh. The Alpha always agrees to the mating. It is tradition. I find it a bit of a passion killer, but most are too … involved to mind they’re basically asking permission to go screw each other’s brains out.” My mouth dropped open. Alec seemed perturbed by my reaction. He watched me carefully and his eyes flicked over to where Breandan and Conall sat in their council. His eyes came back to me. “His scent is all over you, but you and your fairy have not–”

“If you know what’s good for you you’ll end that sentence right there.”

I blushed furiously. I would not be called out so blatantly. It was none of his business.

He held his hands up, laughing. “The irritation and tension speaks for itself. I won’t say a word.” He mimed closing his mouth. I nodded once, feeling my face cool down. “Is there a reason you have not mated him yet?”

“Alec!”

At the sound of my voice, Breandan’s head whipped round to stare at me. He made to rise, but Conall said something that made him freeze, and return to his cross-legged position. He turned away, but not before I felt the intensity of his mind upon mine, looking for any fear or concern. Finding none the pressure of his mind left mine and I scowled. Alec had seen the exchange and scratched the back of his head, expression mystified.

Still not happy with the fact the shifter lead me over there I squeezed his hand until he grunted. By the time we reached the trio the tendons in his arms popped out, and his face was strained. I applied more pressure and heard a satisfying crack muted by the short bark of pain. I let him go and he shook out his hand, glaring at me.

Rubbing my sweaty palms on my hips, I looked everywhere but at Breandan’s face. My chest heaved, my breath coming short with nerves. I made an impatient noise at Alec to get on with it.

“I am going to run the territory,” Alec told Breandan. “Rae wants to come with me. I ask permission to guard your mate until I bring her back to you.”

“As her Elder, I agree that Rae may accompany you,” Conall replied easily.

I started and looked at my brother, cocking my head. Why had he answered? Alec simply nodded slowly and paused, waiting.

My face got hotter and hotter. Tears pricked my eyes because I wanted Breandan to object. How crazy was that. When Tomas made to touch me Breandan’s jealousy was plain, but the stress of it had given my stomach cramps. But was I secretly pleased? After years of being ignored and seen as weird, was I happy to have two boys fighting over me? Maybe that’s why I felt an irrational urge to smack him in the face to get him to look at me. I stared at him now, waiting for him to acknowledge me.

His gaze flicked to me and his eyes burned. Then he glanced at Conall and his lips pressed together in acute frustration.

The silence became charged. Byron and Alec shared a baffled look.

I turned and walked away.

After fewer than three steps, a hot and thick wave of lust gushed over me. My forth step faltered before I gathered myself. Swallowing hard, stunned by the ferocity of the desire he had sent to me and unable to help myself I snuck a look over my shoulder.

Breandan winked before turning his attention back to the conversation Conall and Byron were deeply immersed in.

Alec skipped up beside me and I slanted him a pleased look under my lashes. “Shut up,” I mumbled, but could not help the smile that tugged up the corner of my mouth.

Both palms shot up in innocence. “I knew he’d let you know somehow.” At my puzzled look he said, “I see now that your culture is different to ours. Conall guards your honor, and Breandan cannot openly speak for you. Why is the riddle though?”

Alec led the way out of the shifters camp and into the tall grass. As I walked, I let my palms brush over the prickly tips.

“He has before,” I murmured to myself.

“Conall seems to like him, but won’t give his blessing on your mating. Why?”

My mouth opened to deny this then snapped closed. Breandan had openly defended me when Lochlann had considered trading me over to Devlin for a month of peace. And he’d…. It was like a mental slap. That was the only time he had openly spoken for me, and the result of that had been his oath breaking. Did that remove the fear of having to choose between his brother and me? The trust and devotion in the action was mind-boggling. Was there more to it than I had initially understood? Gods, I had not thought much about anything because stuff happened so fast, but Breandan had turned his back on everything he had known to protect me. What did it mean? Fairies were tradition conscious and had a high concept of honor. If Breandan had broken away from his family did that mean he was no longer able to lay a claim on me? Unguh. That made no sense. He believed that we were destined to be, that he was born for me, so why would he throw his life away on a distant threat from a beloved family member. By rights, Lochlann should be the one courting me. He needed me, and my power, to help bring back the balance, and keep the favor of the people. Could he have ordered Breandan to step aside? He had plainly said he expected us to mate.

No. Oath sworn or not, Lochlann retains the right to claim me over Breandan if he becomes High Lord. So that couldn’t be it … not entirely. Breandan had been upset that he had seen me first and that the bond sparked between us. He’d known a month before we met what was going to happen, so he was not surprised, if anything subdued and resigned. Was he still fighting against the bond? Was that the real reason why he stopped himself getting closer to me? Did he expect it to be broken so Lochlann could claim me as fairy law required?

I stopped dead and Alec walked out of sight before he came crashing back, looking panicked. Seeing me frozen with thunderstruck expression he did not speak.

Is that what Lochlann and Conall thought too? That the bond could be broken? Was this why he asked me to be discreet, and why Conall was so hell bent on ensuring we were? My tie with Tomas made it clear Breandan and I could still be separated, though I got the impression it would be emotional and physical torture. No. That could not be it. Breandan wouldn’t let that happen! He’d broken his oath so he could have me. It was his only choice. He could not stay sworn to his brother and mate me when it was his Elder’s right to have me.

Conall thinking this way, I could understand to some degree. He was Lochlann’s right hand man, and loyal to a fault. Despite my love for Breandan, he would try to save me for his chosen lord. Were Breandan and my Elder doing some secret power play behind my back? On one hand was Breandan trying to strengthen our bond, and get to know me, whilst on the other hand keeping to the rules giving Conall no option but to accept our time together as he’s not actually overstepping any lines? Uh, I was confusing myself. I thought about what Breandan had told me at the lake. Of course, in public he could not stake his claim. I could show him favor, but he could not show it to me. Oh. Perhaps Conall didn’t voice his disapproval before because he was unsure of what he felt between Breandan and I. When we first met, he’d told me he sensed something odd around me, but he did not know what it was. When he had found out, Devlin opening his big stupid mouth trying to trade me for a month of peace, he had said nothing to oppose our bond. Then again, I guess it wasn’t really the time for him to talk to me about such things. When he had tried to broach the subject yesterday I’d refused to listen, too wrapped up in Breandan. And my fairy was more than happy to get in the way of such a conversation, after all, I could still turn my back on him, and leave him with nothing.

How did I not see this? The tension between the two boys made perfect sense now. So did Conall’s magic appearing act every time Breandan came more than two feet near me. He thought he was protecting me.

But what was Breandan’s plan to make this okay? He had been honest in the beginning, and on Lochlann’s return he had told me his brother was not happy. But he had been sure he could make him understand, make him accept us.

That did not seem to be happening, in fact, the opposite.

The idea of being with Lochlann was horrifying. He didn’t care for me at all. He had openly admitted my heart belonged to Breandan. Would he really condemn himself to an unhappy mating for the sake of the High Lordship? Would he hurt his younger brother that way? I knew him to be stuffy, and cold, but even he could not be that cruel.

I waved Alec on, not wanting to share my revelations until I had worked it through a few more times.

We’d reached the edge of the grasslands and were lightheartedly jumping over the low grown shrubs and bushes that unexpectedly shot up to become young trees at the edge of the forest. Alec seemed to be following a specific trail since he took us in a curving, zigzagging path that went deeper into the forest then back out again into the grass.

“You going to Change?” I asked absentmindedly.

“I’ll stay human for a while. My senses aren’t as good, but I want to enjoy what’s on show for a while longer.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

I did not get it. “Can’t you see as a cat?”

“Can’t see colour and you are extraordinarily colorful.”

He leered at me and I snorted. It was relaxing to muck around with someone.

“Where are we going?” I asked grumpily.

He pointed across the grass in no particular direction I could see; only that we would be entering the forest again, and that was good enough for me. I breathed in deeply, enjoying the rich smell of soil and green things.

Alec himself smelt nice too, sort of like sweet grass and warm animal. With his dark hair and green eyes he was not ugly either, by the way the shifter-females reacted quite the opposite. He had a pleasantly square head and was unshaven. His body hair was raven black, like his cat form, and he was long of torso and short of leg. Byron said he was the Pack Omega, second-in-command, and I understood why. Despite his youth he had a commanding air about him. An innate calm. He was pleasant to be around, and I was glad I was here, even if my body was already beginning to miss Breandan’s touch.

So far the bond had not become annoying, but I wondered if one day always needing my fairy close would upset me.

“You and the fairy are so strange. I’ve never seen your like,” Alee said.

I huffed a sigh even as I felt a pang of hurt. “Being different is not so bad.”

“Your love is cold, awkward. So odd. I would say The Claim between you two is stronger than anything I’ve ever felt, and I am not of your species.”

“I’ve never heard of this before.” My brows furrowed. “The Claim?”

“It is what we call the urge to mark our mate. A sign to others that you are mated to another.” He shook his head as he walked, muttering to himself. “A cold love.”

“Because we don’t cuddle and sigh in each other’s ear – in front of others – makes us cold? The connection between us goes deeper than words or touch. I am bound to him, and he belongs to me.”

I straightened and looked down, incredulous at myself. Did I really say that out loud?

“I never meant to offend you,” Alec said. “I didn’t understand. As cats we’re open in our affection. We see no shame in nudity or excessive displays of courting or passion.” He blushed. “If I felt half as passionate to any female as you seem to feel for him I would not be able to take my hands off her. His gaze rarely leaves you, but I thought it was more to do with protection than passion.” He took my hand in his and held it solemnly. “I didn’t understand it was that complicated.”

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. Neither did I until a few moments before. “Breandan is exercising control. It’s not that he doesn’t want to touch me; he mustn’t to make sure that Conall … his brother needs me to be … uh, it’s messed up. He’s different when we are alone.” From the dubious expression on Alec’s face I was not explaining myself well. “We’re bonded. A rare connection and–” I hesitated, remembering the warning from both Ana and Conall about speaking of the bond freely. That and the fact I had told Lochlann I would be discreet about my relationship with his brother. If Alec ever spoke openly about this to my Elder…. “You can’t tell anyone about this. If you do–”

He tightened his grip on my hand. “I swear.”

I breathed out and with it came a torrent of words. “It’s magic. Pure power. When we don’t touch it starts to build, and we do touch it explodes between us.” I could hear the excitement in my voice. “It’s not so bad when he’s close, a few paces away, but any further and my skin starts to itch, and my mind can’t focus on anything for more than a few moments before it seeks him out. It’s frustrating and exhilarating all at the same time.” I felt a rush of relief. It was good to talk to someone.

Alec chuckled. “Had we met in any other circumstance I fear I would fallen quite in love with you.”

His eyes became distant, wistful.

“Who is she?” I asked. His eyes became hooded, expression clouded. I scowled at him, crossed my hands over my stomach. “I bared my soul to you, time to exercise some faith.” When he said nothing, I rolled my eyes. “I swear I won’t tell.” A ripple of wind passed over me, I shivered. So creepy. “Happy now. You have an iron clad promise sealed by magic. Spill.”

“She is….” He seemed at a loss for words. “She is the sun, the light of my heart. When I run the forest I feel closer to her.”

Well, I was confused. “She’s not Pack?”

He avoided my eyes. “No.”

“Is there any reason other than this why you can’t be with her?”

“She’s never seen me, I’ve never let her,” he said in a low confession. “She will reject me.”

I held up my palm. “Please tell me you’re not stalking some poor shifter-girl as a panther.” His silence told me everything I needed to know. “Gods, Alec! Stalking is not sexy. Breandan tried that crap with me, and I ended up taking a tumble down a cliff, and getting lost, and–” I was getting myself angry. I took a deep breath. “Stop tormenting the girl and man up.”

Avoiding my eyes he mumbled, “I’ve never actually, well, seen her.”

I stared at him. “What are you talking about? How can you be in love with someone but never laid eyes on them?”

“Her scent is everywhere,” he blurted. “In my head and my heart. But you see, I cannot simply look at her. I would not survive it. I would want to Claim her and she would reject me.”

“Surely you can mate with a shifter from another Pack?”

He sighed and looked away. “It doesn’t matter. No one will understand.”

I shut up. He did not want to talk about it and I was in no mood to push him. He inhaled deeply, chest rising and expanding. Not liking the silence I blurted, “I wish I could see the world you do.”

Alec’s eyes bulged, and he shook his head at me, baffled. “You are fairy, Rae. Other demons cannot experience the world as your kind can. You are connected to everything.”

I burrowed my toe into the undergrowth. “No I’m not,” I confessed in a whisper. “I feel better in the forest or when I am near green things, yes, but I don’t feel them. I know that Conall and Breandan do, they almost speak to the land. It sings to them not me.” I shook my head. “I don’t think I’m this Priestess they claim I am. I keep trying to make them see that I bring nothing but trouble. But they laugh and smile as they throw themselves in mortal peril for me.” I thumped my chest. “I’m going to get everybody killed. And y’know what, I will say I told you so. They have made a mistake and they are so stubborn they can’t see it.”

“Horseshit.” Alec gripped both my shoulders as I wrinkled my nose at his language. The visual it brought to mind was not pleasant. “I know you. The first time we met, you didn’t run, hide, or snarl. You stood and faced me, a big stalking cat even when your entire body was trembling. You touched me; you petted me for gods’ sake. Why did you do that?”

I beamed at him. “You were cute.”

His lip curled in disgust. “I choose to forget you said that. You touched me because you knew I meant you no harm. I know this because when you did it was like a flash across my skin, a wave of ... of ... knowing. A crisp clarity that allowed me to be certain I would be safe with you.” He shrugged. “I have never felt such a kinship with anyone but my Alpha, and probably never will again until I Claim my mate. And I’m not the only one. I spoke to Byron last night and he said if you’d not of been present there was no way he would’ve agreed to align himself with the fairies. I, we, the whole Pack feel like we need to protect you. And as much as I would love to say it was all down to your sparkling personality and likeability.” I scowled and he laughed. “I think it’s a chemical reaction. Your brother is right. You are their missing Priestess; our reaction alone would suggest there is more to you than a girl with wings and a tail.”

I harrumphed. “I still wish I could see the world better. Sense things better.”

“It’s only a lack of focus, Rae. You are a bit of a scatterbrain. Flaky.”

My mouth dropped. “I am not flaky.”

“Close your eyes.”

I did as he asked. “What next?”

“Quiet yourself and be still.”

Okay, I could do that. Be quiet and still. It is not like it was hard to stand and be. I made a small noise of annoyance. They treated me like a baby. I was not dumb. I rubbed my hands on my legs where the slash of my jeans used to be, anxiously. How long was I supposed to stand still for? My tail thumped my shoulder, and I flexed my wings, enjoying the light stretch. I peeked an eye open and flushed.

“How the hell was that quiet or still, Rae?” Alec rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “Your tail and wings were everywhere. Your hands could not stay in one place. And whilst I’m sure Breandan gets a kick out of watching you rub your own body I would suggest not doing that in front of other males. You made odd humming noises and you ... well ... twitched. A lot.” He pursed his lips, shook his head incredulously. “No wonder you have trouble controlling your magic. Isn’t it all about focus and patience? If you cannot stand totally still and quiet for less than a minute, how do you plan to cast spells? Or be still enough to track a mouse through the undergrowth in a storm.”

I was bright red and flustered. He was right, of course, but still it was embarrassing.

“Twitchy seems a bit harsh.” He prodded me in the side, in the shoulder, laughing. I slapped his hands away, giggling. “Okay fine, maybe I’m twitchy. Stop making fun of me and help me.”

“I already have,” he said proudly. “When you can learn to be still in your mind and body you will learn how to control your body.”

“Gods you demons suck. You never give me anything decent. Always I have to go away and work on control, or patience, or awareness.” I yanked at my hair. “I think I may scream if I don’t learn something I can use soon.”

Alec stopped laughing and eyed me in disappointment. “Have you considered you aren’t improving as fast as you could because you’re resisting what you’re being told? What if you stopped and listened? If you tried what you had been taught you’d learn more and faster.” He nodded at his own words. “Fairies learn fast.”

“Unguh, whatever,” I grumped bad naturedly and stomped off.

Yes, he was right, but it was galling he felt the need to say that to me. Did I not listen to what I was told?

My boots fared well in the forest, and I was able to move with surprising ease. Hearing Alec behind me, I moved into a jog, which in a flash became a run. Hearing him pull behind, I slowed, knowing he would not be as fast in human form.

It was easy to forget that shifters were essentially humans who had evolved differently, like witches.

“You like to run,” Alec panted at my elbow, bent over with his hands to his knees. “That was a flat out sprint, impressive, and as much as I want to give you time to cool down, my head would get torn off if anything happened to you.” His hand landed on my shoulder and spun me round. He looked deadly serious even with the colour high on his cheeks making him look boyish. “So don’t do that again, okay?”

Opening my mouth to lash him with words, I took a moment to think on it. I gritted my teeth because he was right. Damn it to hell. I nodded sharply.

Alec returned the nod, went to speak but his mouth opened, and stayed there, his whole body locked up tight. His fingers dug painfully into my shoulder and he closed his eyes. His head snapped round and he wrapped his hand around my upper arm to hold me still. I shifted, crunching leaves under foot and he snarled at me quietly, eyes glowing, the pupils becoming slitted. His canines lengthened as I watched. His nose flattened even as his chin lengthened and his ears pulled back, smoothly curving to triangles. He snarled again, crouching.

He did not need to tell me trouble was close because I heard a sharp intake of breath on the wind and dropped to the ground myself. Instinctively I reached to the Source, a sun of brilliant light and heat that seemed nowhere and everywhere, a power that was mine to grasp despite how foolishly I had used it in the past.

Alec sniffed deeply, tasting the air and shuddered. “How did they get so close? Sentries are posted across the Pride border.”

A hoof fall was within normal human hearing distance, and the warm smell of hay and horse curled into my nostrils. I listened carefully and heard the steady clomp, clomp, clomp of horse hooves.

My heart rate pumped double time and I struggled to come to terms with what was happening.

Clerics were on Pride land.

I stilled, my mouth dry, and heart heavy, “Unless they died before they could raise the alarm.”

The rumble that thundered from Alec’s chest was not human. “I’m going to Change,” he rasped and hunched over, stripping off his trousers and leaving them in a crumpled heap.

The shrubbery crackled, and through the tree line, I saw them. They were too close. I glanced at Alec, back already snapping, and joints popping. His spine exploded out with the extra vertebrate of his tail, and was covered over with a sweep of skin and hair. His mouth was closed and he quivered with the effort of not crying out.

They could not find him here like this. If they did....

In a burst of speed, I darted forward quickly locating the two Clerics trawling the undergrowth from the backs of two freakishly large stallions. Snuffling the floor at their feet were bloodhounds. None of them reacted to me. I had moved so fast they hadn’t seen me, nor had their dogs scented me yet.

Behind the backside of one horse – entangled in a net and dragged carelessly across the floor – was the body of a young shifter, a tiger. The bubble of disgust and anguish started in my stomach, rolled up my torso, forced its way out my throat, and exploded in my mouth. I screamed, long and loud. I was so horrified by the dead shifter youngling it was easy to project the fear and terror into my voice.

The Clerics heads snapped to me, guns coming up to point in my direction. I bolted. The dogs sprang at me; barking, and jaws snapping.

I kept my speed fast enough to avoid capture, but slow enough so they would be tempted to give chase. Hearing them urge their steeds into gallops I kept going, knowing I was headed somewhere high, somewhere near water.

Damn it, yet again I was running from the Clerics, and yet again, I was terrified, but gods help me I would not let them take Alec like they had taken Maeve.

Leaving the forest treeline, I sped out of the tall grass, smelt the lake up ahead. Chest heaving from panic rather than physical exertion, I scowled when I saw Clerics were posted along the opposite bank. I careened to a stop, spinning round. The crimson red of the blazers were visible behind me, bouncing up and down wildly, so I changed direction and darted back into the grass.

A fierce growl pierced the morning air, Alec calling for help.

Fueled by the need to get to him and ensure his safety, I ran faster, no longer worried whether those pursuing me would not be able to see me let alone catch me.

Alec launched himself on a Cleric, ivory teeth bared until they disappeared into the man’s exposed throat, throwing his head back to rip it out. The horse pranced madly as the Cleric rolled from his saddle and was dead before he hit the floor. Alec was already a pace away, leaping on the next trespasser who was a woman, mounted on a huge black stallion. Her hood was up and cast a shadow over her profile. She raised her gun as the horse danced beneath her, neighing loudly, and kicking his forelegs when Alec pounced back and forth, snapping at his fetlocks.

There was a loud crack, the smell of gunpowder. Alec screamed – the sound oddly human.

“No!”

I threw myself toward them when the horse kicked Alec away and sent his body hurtling through the air. He twisted and landed on his paws, but his legs buckled and his brawny body hit the floor. He scrunched his eyes shut and shuddered, blood on the ground from his wounded side.

Falling to my knees, I clasped his head in my hand and patted him softly. I was relieved when his eyes slitted open then focused, jeweled irises trained on the Cleric behind me.

I shot a glare over my shoulder and the Lady Cleric pulled on the reigns so the horse backed up, her gun was pointed at Alec’s face. I froze, but my tail thrashed behind me like a whip.

“Back away from him and get down on the ground,” she said calmly.

I did not move trying to think fast, but coming up with blank spaces and images of Alec’s brain splattered all over the floor. I let go of his head and pushed him down when he struggled to stand. He whined, fearful for me, and I rubbed him behind the ear.

“Don’t worry,” I muttered in a voice too low for the Cleric to hear, but by the way his ears swiveled forward Alec heard. “I’m thinking of a plan.”

Standing I stepped away from Alec, eyeing her distrustfully. “I’m not your enemy.”

Another horse trotted up behind me, with a haughty faced Cleric. Neither of them looked familiar to me, nor particularly memorable in any way.

“Leave Brother Ryan’s body, it’ll just slow us down,” he said tonelessly. “Leave the shifter, the tiger specimen is enough for now. And we have the other two. Take the fairy.”

I feinted to the left then darted right, vowing to come back for Alec as soon as I had gotten help.

I’d taken no more than three running steps when something whizzed past my face, and something else slammed into my lower back. Pain lanced through my body, my muscles seizing up. My limbs left my control and I dropped like a stone. The pressure and pain increased until it seemed my whole world was made of electric fire.

Everything went black.