Horizon (27 page)

My smile faltered as my heart hammered my chest. “Why?”

He raised his brows, giving me a smirk that put Heath to shame. “Seems your friend has a penchant for finding trouble.”

I gave a one sided shrug. That was Natalie. Had to be the reporter in her. “What’s happening?”

Something shifted in his expression that I definitely didn’t like. All the humor vanished and nothing but concern remained. “We have reason to believe the two may be marked for death.”

My eyes flew wide. “You’ve got to get them to safety!”

He pressed his lips together. “I have some men watching them, but I’ve been hesitant to interfere. They were captured a couple months ago and have been kept in a high security Order facility in South America until recently.”

“You can’t leave them there.” The way Roger described the Order had impacted me on a deep level. Once on the wrong side, the Order took no chances. They destroyed people without thought or remorse. I couldn’t understand his hesitation. “Would you get in trouble with the fae for helping them escape?”

He shrugged. “The fae have strict commands to not interfere with human free will. We may have fallen out of favor with our brethren, but we are under the same dictates. All options must be considered before we intervene.”

“You helped me,” I said, stiffening slightly.

He chuckled, surprising me with his easy manner. His lazy smile seemed at odds with the monster he had been not so long ago, a humanoid with no eyes and a gapping mouth full of razor sharp teeth. For not the first time, I wondered who he had been in his former life.

“No offense,” he said, pulling me out of my musings. “But, Rayla, you are not exactly human at the moment.”

I still wouldn’t admit to such a thing. “I feel human,” I said.

“So do I…most days,” he replied with a shrug.

I chuckled. “Well, you certainly look more human now.”

His eyes held no light when he answered me. “I am, as they say, nearly back to my old self.”

“Are you not happy about that?” I finally asked. I mean, if it were me, I’d be thrilled to have my eyes and hands back, not to mention a few other things.

He took a deep breath. “It is not that. I am grateful for what you have done, yet I cannot interact with more than half of my followers. My people grow weary of having a leader that can no longer understand them.”

I shook my head, remorse filling me. “I’m so sorry, Creed. I had no idea giving you a name would cause this many problems for you.”

He dipped his chin in an understanding nod. “You have nothing to apologize for. In case you forgot, I asked you to name me. It is not as large of a problem as some are making it. We have had to use different methods of communication, nothing more. It’s not difficult, only different.”

A thought occurred to me. “If I ask you to rescue Sam and Natalie could you do it?”

He tilted his head toward the sky as if thinking for a moment then shrugged. “It might give us the protection we need. You are not human, but you do have the same creator as humans. The truth is I do not know if the laws of free will apply to your kind. However, you need to understand that using our assistance comes with its own risk.”

“What do you mean?”

He glanced away from me. “Sometimes we cannot help what happens to people. Much like yours, our powers are…unpredictable.”

That didn’t sound so great out loud. These were my friends we were talking about. “If you can get them out safely, without too much of a risk, will you do it?”

“Of course, my lady. We would do anything for you.”

Unmistakable devotion appeared on his face. How I had earned such a thing, I would never understand. “Thank you. I may just end up having to call upon you one of these days.”

He clapped his fist against his chest, saluting me as he had all that time ago in Ignis, before all of this trouble found me. He gave me a blazing smile. “We are at the ready for your command. All you have to do is say the word and we will be there, no matter where, no matter when.”

I nodded. I couldn’t do anything else. Why were the creatures of the dark realms so feared when they were the best people I knew within Faeresia? What had they done that was so grievous?

I had a question to ask Creed, yet I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to know the answer. I asked anyway. “Who sentenced you?”

“What?” he asked, eyes wary.

I leveled my gaze with his. “I need to know.”

“I would be happy to tell you if I only knew myself.”

“How can you not remember who cursed you?”

He shrugged. “Memories have started returning. They are jumbled and do not make much sense.

I placed my hand on his forearm. “You’ll figure it out.”

He looked over his shoulder, the breeze whipping his hair into his eyes. He listened for a moment and a grave expression fell over his face. “I must leave before they come looking for you. This man that seeks you is evil, Rayla. You must protect yourself at all costs. Your feelings where your bondmate is concerned are apparent, but keeping yourself aloof from him leaves you exposed.”

“You too?” I hissed, not believing what he was telling me.

He shook his head. “So many of us are counting on you to cure the ills in the realms, nay in this world. If you cannot succeed, no one can. You must purge the evil from Faeresia once and for all.”

“I’m trying,” I said.

“This is a thing you have to do, Rayla. Sacrifice is always required of a savior.”

My jaw tightened. “Don’t call me that.”

His jaw clamped shut, mirroring me. “I cannot call you anything less.”

A single tear escaped my eyes and trailed down my cheek. He was right, and I knew it; Heath knew it; Zach knew it. This would be the last tear I would shed until this battle for power was over. One way or another I had to succeed or die. There was no other acceptable alternative. He offered me a sad smile, but his eyes still held expectation. “Are you asking me to give in to the bond?”

He sighed. “There is a reason you have connected more strongly with the lord of space. I cannot tell you why. I am sorry for your hurting, but you must lay all emotion aside until Valen is vanquished. I may not be able to come to you again.” He clasped my forearm, glancing behind us. “Godspeed for you, my lady.” With that said, he vanished, leaving me grasping air.

A firm hand clamped on my shoulder moments later, and I whirled around, more than a little startled. Zach stood there, concern written across his face.

“Are you all right, love? I sensed something was wrong.”

I nodded before I threw my arms around his neck. I wasn’t even sure why I did it, but I needed his strength right now. “I’m fine. I just wanted some time alone.”

“More like time to talk to Creed,” he said, giving me a wink.

I pulled away from him. “You knew?”

“Of course. I am tied to you in every way other than through your mind.”

In that moment the many strings of our connection tugged me toward him. He was right. I was bound to him in nearly every way.

He stared at me, love replacing the curiosity in his beautiful eyes. “We’d best head out if we are ever to find your brother, or cousin, or whatever he is to you,” he said, running a finger along my chin.

I smiled at him, so many emotions flurrying through my heart. This was it. Time for me to completely trust. “There’s something I need to do first.”

His brows furrowed, but before he could say anything else, I lifted myself onto my toes and pressed my lips to his. Creed was right. If I ever hoped for a chance to move on with Heath, I had to deal with my connection to Zach. Holding back wasn’t doing anyone any good and only gave Valen a better opportunity to win.

The minute our mouths connected, an explosion of light rained down around us. Elemental particles in every color imaginable swirled through the air. Being inside the most brilliant firework ever created couldn’t compare.

My body shook and my mind tingled, expanding to let him enter. I opened myself to him then. I let it all flow out of me: the first time I had seen him, our first kiss, when I found out he was fae, when he left for the island, how upset I was when I saw him in my dream, beaten and broken, how disappointed I was with our reunion. I let him feel every single emotion I’d had since I went away to college. I let him experience my love for Heath, which was different than the love I had for him. I didn’t know how it was possible to hold all this love inside me, but it fit somehow. I didn’t know what would happen in the future, but right now I vowed to trust my bondmate. I vowed to honor our connection like everyone, including Heath, expected.

When I showed him the deepest levels of my heart, he gasped, stepping away from me. Then he said something I will never forget. A simple, “Thank you.”

I chuckled. “For what?”

“Trusting me,” he said, offering a shy smile.

“I’ve always trusted you, Zach,” I said, and I meant it. “It was me I couldn’t trust.”

He frowned at me. “Oh now, I’ll have none of that. You’ve done a bang-up job. No one could have handled this life any better.”

I took a deep breath, letting the spice of him heighten my senses. “Thanks, but I’m not so sure.”

He shook his head. “If you’ve done your best, it’s the best you can expect. Stop comparing yourself to some unseen woman that doesn’t exist.”

“I just wish—”

His fingers brushed my lips. “Hush now, love. You are perfect just the way you are.”

Boy, I had him fooled. I’d shared everything with him except…

“You needn’t worry. I will protect your guard.”

I narrowed my eyes again. I hadn’t said that out loud. “Are you reading my mind again?”

He laughed. “Didn’t you know what happened just now? I’d hardly think you experience kisses like that very often.”

Only twice. He cringed for the second time in so many minutes.

“Sorry,” I said, my mind drifting back to the time I shared with Heath.

“Love, I’ve told you before it doesn’t matter.” He threw out a casual hand. “It’s not like I’m a virgin.”

I coughed, and suddenly, my fingers itched to cover my ears. The thought of another woman being in his arms set fire to my veins. It was our connection, but it was more. When a memory wanted to surface, I let it flow until I realized it wasn’t my memory I was seeing. I didn’t know if it was coming from Zach or a memory planted in my mind by the angel. It didn’t matter because I couldn’t handle any more confusion at the moment. “I’m not thinking about this right now.”

He clasped my hand and guided it into the crook of his elbow. He brought his other hand over and gave a solid pat to my fingers. “Don’t you worry, we’ll sort it all out, but first we have a brother of yours to find.”

I nodded, allowing a bit of the excitement in me to leak into my heart.

“Zach,” I said as we walked back toward the others.

“Mmm, love?”

“You know I’m still not going to sleep with you, right?”

He chuckled then waggled his eyebrows at me. “We’ll just see about that.” My heart exploded in my chest. Even though I had said it as a joke, I meant it. I was no two-timer. He gave me a sidelong glance then smirked. “We’ve hardly the time to delve into the art of lovemaking. Like I said, we’ll sort it out when this is over. At least now, we just might have a shot of succeeding.”

Heath wouldn’t look at me when we came out of the trees. However, Jett, Luke, and Taylor stared.

Luke spoke up, “So, she finally gave in?”

Zach laughed. “I wouldn’t say that, but she’s one step closer.”

“Just answer the question, Ammon,” said Taylor, exasperated. “Are you two bound completely now.”

“Aye,” said Zach. “In every way save the union of flesh.” I didn’t miss his not so subtle glance that traveled over every inch of me.

I blushed down to my toenails, but no one commented. Heath turned away, which made my heart plummet. I still couldn’t believe he’d given up on us. He’d told me to keep the faith, but it was him that seemed to leave it behind in Lombarda. He’d set out to conquer Valen, but now I understood something none of them did. It was going to take all of us together to accomplish such a thing.

Zach told Luke to scrap his thoughts about rural places. It must have done Zach some good to see my memories of Lambert. Once Luke changed the settings on his gadget, only one possibility remained.

Just as I thought, Ireland, but it wasn’t Dublin as I’d imagined. It seemed my one time father figure had taken up residence somewhere near Galway in Western Ireland.

The only problem was we couldn’t pop on over. Plans had to be made, and the best person I knew to plan things was Aunt Grace. I asked Zach where he had taken her, once again, and he told me I’d see her soon.

The only other person we needed was Tabitha,
if
anyone could find her. She hadn’t been seen since that horrible day at court, and I worried that she had washed her hands of us all. Time would answer that question, but I wondered if she knew what had happened.

Once we ditched India, Zach insisted we find a better way to hide from the guards. Valen somehow had control over them and seeing as how they could pinpoint us when we drift, traveling fae style was out of the question. Even with using mortal means, Zach couldn’t cloak all of us for more than a few hours at a time and that was with him using my power to aid him.

He said it would work better if I could help him, but all I’d been able to cloak was a few trees, and that was only for a few minutes. My power still wouldn’t work right, and I just hoped it would be ready when I needed it.

Luke finally rigged some kind of machine that scrambled our signals, so unless the guards were right on top of us, they shouldn’t be able to find us. Zach still hadn’t mentioned more about Nicco, and I wasn’t about to say anything else. If I was wrong, and he wasn’t my father, he could face some severe consequences.

No matter how fond I was of the borderland creatures, I didn’t want him to become one of them, or shipped off to the dark realms to become a permanent resident.

I’d learned more about how the place worked, and it seems I wasn’t actually inside the dark realms, like I thought. We were just in the tunnels leading into the underworld.

That was a comforting thought if there ever was one. Not only had I not seen the worst of the creatures there, I had no capability to see some of them.

Seemed the fae weren’t the only ones sending discarded beings into that place, but they wouldn’t tell me who the other party was, even though I could guess.

The way the lords talked about life and eternity floored me. I supposed viewpoints change when you know you will live forever, but these people really didn’t have a thing to look forward to. The only distraction they had came from Elementals.

You’d think they would have figured out a better system of taking care of the women and families that made their existence bearable, but hey, that was just me. I felt even worse for fae women now because I’d learned that they had no other way to interact with Elementals other than to serve them. So many things were lopsided. I just hoped we could find a solution to the problems the fae faced.

After a few hours on the road, I’d asked the lords again about finding Tabitha, but they all said it was impossible. Once she decided she didn’t want to be found, she wasn’t. She’d left Faeresia one time during the dark ages and was gone for over a millennium. I couldn’t believe she’d just leave like that without contacting me, but they assured me if she was gone there was a good reason.

We drove from India to France in a matter of days. I would have loved to stop along the way, and in many ways it reminded me of my trip to Indiana, although with six of us, five of which were huge men with broad shoulders, I wasn’t allowed to even think about driving the minivan.

I’d offered to sit in the back row, but they all insisted I sit up front, so I could see some of the countryside along the way. Borders were no problem with compulsion in play. Many times during our trip I felt like I was witnessing the Force in action, minus the droids and storm troopers, of course.

When we arrived in Paris, I thought I might lose it. I’d already been here once without having enough time. All of the lords promised me I could come back as much as I wanted once we had our situation under control, but I had to wonder if they would ever let me out of Faeresia again.

From Paris we traded our car for the Tube. The idea of riding underneath so much water should have been frightening, but having been to Uldran, it wasn’t that big of a deal.

Once in Ireland, we headed west, bypassing Dublin. I figured we’d at least stop for a meal, but we were on to Galway just like that.

The trip hadn’t been half as bad as expected
,
but that was probably because I had quite a bit to keep my mind distracted from missing the sites.

Zach had somehow procured another car at the last terminal and now drove us toward some unknown destination. He maneuvered the streets of Galway like a seasoned cabbie. The lanes were narrow and the cars whizzed past us way too close for comfort.

When I couldn’t stand it anymore, I said, “Where are we going?”

He glanced at me and smiled. “My ancestral home. It’s not too far now.”

I tipped my neck from side to side and stretched my aching legs as far as they would go. His idea of not too far was another twenty minutes. My body ached so badly I wouldn’t have cared if he parked on the side of the road and told me to find a stump to curl up with.

The moss covered ground looked as soft as velvet. I bet it was.

My jaw dropped when he pulled down a private lane toward an enormous estate set atop a hill that overlooked the now glowing city. The lights from the house spilled across the garden, illuminating the sculptured boxwoods in front of the palatial home. The place was what I should have expected considering his castle in Eirie, but somehow this sprawling mansion didn’t fit the man next to me.

He’d chosen a worn out farmhouse back in Indiana to call home, when I was pretty sure he could have afforded Wayne Manor.

A twinge of guilt hit me. I hadn’t asked about Roger in a while, or Lacey. Thinking to get some answers, I glanced behind me. Every man back there glowered at the back of Zach’s head. For once I figured it was because he was the one driving instead of getting carsick like the rest of us. Taylor, especially, seemed to glow with a green tinge that had nothing to do with his power.

I couldn’t help it. I chuckled.

Their hate filled stares shifted to me. “Hey,” I said. “I had nothing to do with that ride.”

Just as Zach pulled to a stop grumbles sounded for Jett to get the side door open. I wasted no time in ditching the stifling space too.

The humid air was laced with salt and something sweet like honeysuckle. Faeresia had nothing on Ireland as far as I was concerned.

Determined to still ask my questions, I followed the guys into the grand foyer where a butler held the door for us. He was old so he had to be human. This situation was just strange on so many levels. First thing I did was ask for the bathroom. I had been so eager to get here I’d held my bladder for eight hours. It wasn’t going to take anymore.

Once I had taken care of business I wandered back the way I came. This place might not have been the Crystal Castle, but it certainly wasn’t a shanty.

The marble floors squeaked under my shoes. Suddenly worried for the human occupants that had to clean the place, I glanced behind me to make sure I wasn’t scuffing them up beyond repair. I was pretty sure the butler had the same idea when he rounded the corner looking like he was on the hunt of a pesky critter that had invaded his kitchen.

He took one glance at me and said, “Follow me,” in the most uppity tone I’d ever heard.

Who’d this guy think he was, Zach’s dad? What did I care if he didn’t exactly approve of me? It wasn’t like I wanted to make this my permanent residence.

By the time he showed me to the sitting room, I was pretty well fuming. He’d gotten to me a little too easily, and I wondered what the heck was going on. It was like the minute I stepped into this house I’d gotten the worst case of PMS in my life.

I didn’t care what anyone thought at this point so I made my way across the room and sat right next to Heath. He stiffened, but he didn’t move away from me. Good thing too. He did not want to see what I’d do to him if he did.

“Rayla,” said Jett. “You okay?”

“Peachy,” I said, shooting him a look. “Why do you ask?”

He pursed his lips and slid his hands along his slacks. “Oh, it’s nothing if looking like a lunatic with homicidal tendencies is what you’re going for.”

I laughed, which surprisingly helped a bit. “That was a good one.” I let my smile fizzle. “The truth is I don’t know what’s going on. I’m trying to fight it, but it’s like I’m getting my first period all over again.”

Jett’s eyes flared huge which made me laugh again. “What? You can’t stomach talking about women troubles?”

Zach stood in front of me and offered his hand. “Rayla, in case you hadn’t noticed, our women don’t have those kinds of
troubles
.”

I hadn’t either, for a really long time now. I’d gotten used to not having to worry about packing tampons. I had no idea if I would actually have a period, but it sure felt like I would.

I just stared at his outstretched hand, having no intention of taking it.

He shook his head at me. “I think you should lie down.”

“And I think you should step back.”

“Rayla,” said Heath, shifting beside me. “Zach’s right. You’re clearly exhausted. The human realm does not affect us anymore, but you are still sensitive to its pull.”

“I have no idea what you mean by that,” I said, staying put, making myself not look at him. My whole body buzzed with the desire to touch him. I cleared my throat then went on. “There’s no way I’m leaving so you guys can strategize without me. We’ve got decisions to make, and I’m going to be in the room when that happens!”

Zach sniffed, shaking his head at me. “Very well, love, but know that there is a perfectly good bed upstairs that is all yours.”

The minute Zach said bed I glanced at Heath, who seemed to have had the same idea until I caught him staring at me. Zach grunted when my mind took over.

I closed my eyes, wishing I still had a barrier to rely on when it came to my bondmate. I had no intentions of hurting him, but how could I deny my feelings? Feelings that continued to intensify the more I was around Heath.

“So what do we need to figure out first,” I asked, hoping to distract myself. It was actually better for me to sit next to Heath instead of across from him. This way I had to make a concerted effort to look at him.

“Luke?” asked Zach.

Great. We were leaving this up to him?

Zach glowered at me. I was tempted to stick out my tongue, but I decided to be an adult about it. Something definitely reminiscent of a cramp twinged in my abdomen. Of all the times to get my period this was not it. Could the curse Valen mentioned have meant I would return to my human status? For once in my life I hoped not. All I needed was to be worthless when the battle went down.

Luke pulled an ankle up to his knee then settled deeper into the cushions. “Preliminary data indicates a large land mass not accounted for by human maps rests just west of Galway. There is also an anomalous area north of the city limits.”

“Hy-Brasil?” asked Zach, breathless. He’d gone nearly pale.

I spoke up. “What’s Hi Brazil?

“Maybe,” said Luke, skeptical, ignoring my question. “Whatever this landmass is happens to be a third the size of Ireland.”

Taylor shook his head. “Hy-Brasil hasn’t been seen in millennia. It is merely a fable.”

Luke swished his hand sideways. “This might indeed be the lost isle. We cannot be sure it was destroyed—”

“It is but a fable,” said Taylor, this time more strongly.

Jett shifted in his seat, obviously more interested in the conversation than the planning. “Our existence is nothing more than a fable to humans, Taveon. What is to say the island did not survive our attack?”

I gritted my teeth. “Guys!” When they all turned their eyes to me, I said. “What is Hi Brazil?”

Jett laughed. “Not Brazil…Brasil.”

I gave him a look. “Not an answer.”

Jett was the first to speak up. “Braesal was a great fae leader in the old days…before we split the realms and still lived among humans. He was even known for a time as the king of the world.”

“Oh, here we go,” said Heath, exasperated. “You had to start him on one of his
stories
didn’t you?”

I shushed him. I loved Jett’s stories and I needed to know what the heck they were talking about.

Jett cleared his throat and cracked his knuckles then waggled his eyebrows at me. When I laughed, he smiled before he began his tale. “As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, Braesal was the greatest leader we have ever known.”

“It is not safe for you to say such things,” said Taylor.

Jett’s voice dipped to the lowest note I’d ever heard. “I have no problem telling the man himself how much of a coward I think he is. Let him listen in. Let him know the fate that awaits him.”

“Here, here,” said Heath, his arm brushing against mine for the tiniest of moments.

I closed my eyes, savoring the sensation of having him this close to me.

Zach spoke up. “It doesn’t matter much anymore. If Hy-Brasil is what our dear chairman is after he will have to come through us to get it.”

Every single person in the room gave a solemn nod of agreement, including me even though I still didn’t know what it was. Valen didn’t deserve anything that had belonged to the greatest fae leader that had ever lived. What he did have coming for him was a galactic comeuppance. I shot a pointed look at Jett. “Are you going to finish your story?”

“Love to,” he said. Heath groaned again, but I ignored him. I focused on the deep base of Jett’s voice. “Braesal was our one and only true high king, though some will tell his story differently. There are those that mark him as a traitor, but nothing could be farther from the truth. He was and is our noblest warrior. He lived for his people, for his kingdom and for the idea of freedom.

“He traveled the globe on Hy-Brasil, calling to all nations to join him in peace. He gave to all, asking nothing in return, though riches flowed to him like the Nile rushing out to sea. He amassed so much treasure and the tale of his kingdom was so great worldwide that the inhabitants of the world asked to unite with him.

“One by one nations called him king, until all bowed down to him. He traveled the globe, taking care of his people, only reaching his homeland every seven years. In celebration of his homecoming, he held a feast the likes the world had never seen.

“By chance during his travels, he happened upon Altasia. The Altasians have always been known for their culture and love of the arts, so Braesal was greeted with festivities of the likes he had never seen.

“The king and queen of Altasia so greatly desired to be united with Hy-Brasil that they sent their finest underlord to accompany the king. This underlord was cunning and found a way to infiltrate the famed island using glamour. He’d overtaken a farm boy, merging his form with the boy. He claimed to be an underlord to Eirie, and was allowed passage to Hy-Brasil when he had already been refused by the island spirits.”