Soul Mates: Magic (Soul Mates Series) (6 page)

Chapter Seven

“No Princess, when I step forward, you step backward on your right foot. Now try it again.”

I gritted my teeth. Jarlath was not a fun teacher. There was no music playing and it was hard to find the rhythm without it. I attempted once again to do as he asked. He stepped forward and I stepped back, then we moved to the side and I seemed to be getting the hang of it. Of course that is when Jarlath decides to throw in something new, a spin and a dip. More to throw me off balance I’m sure.

“Try it again. Just feel my movements, anticipate where I will go and allow yourself to be led.”

“Perhaps, if I may interrupt…” Daire said from the doorway.

“Of course,” Jarlath replied. “Maybe you can do something with her.”

Daire stepped into the room and I took in the beauty of him in Fae form. His long dark blond hair fell like a cloud around his shoulders and down his back, free of any entanglements. He wore a deep purple Fae suit to perfection. His perfect bow lips curved into a smile. “Disappointed to see me, Princess?”

I smiled. “No. I’m glad you did not stay away as I asked.”

“I had every intention of doing as you commanded, but you looked so miserable with Jarlath, that I could not help but step in,” he said coming to my side. “Perhaps some music will help?”

“I think it might,” I replied with a smile.

Daire took my left hand in his right and placed his left hand on the curve of my hip as the strains of
‘
The Dark Waltz
’ by Haley Westenra began to play. He led me perfectly around the ballroom, turning and spinning me in every direction. I didn’t miss a step as I gazed into his deep blue eyes. Every second in his arms was cruelly wonderful and I never wanted the music to end. Of course it soon did and he pulled away from me and dropped into a formal bow.

“I believe you have mastered the waltz, Princess,” Daire said as he handed me off to Jarlath. “Perhaps you should work on her quick step next Jarlath.”
He turned and left the room without a backwards glance.

I wanted to stamp my foot in frustration. He had to know how I felt about him, surely, I thought.
Jarlath switched the music to “
The Four Seasons
” by Vivaldi, and showed me the quick step. I would love to say that I picked it up as quickly as the name implied, but I didn’t. Probably because my mind was no longer on dancing, but on Daire.

“Princess, I think perhaps we should pick this up another time when you are less distracted. That is the third time you have missed the pattern of steps.”

“I’m sorry Jarlath, my heart just isn’t in it this evening. Perhaps we could try again Monday after school?”

“Of course
, Princess,” Jarlath said with a bow.

I left the ballroom and went out to the courtyard, changing my dress with a snap of my fingers in favor of a pair of jeans and a tank top. I traded the heels for bare feet, I wanted to feel the soil squish between my toes. It was a lovely night, the moon was full and bright. I could feel Gaia all around me, calling to me, whispering my name. I moved swiftly to
the tree I climbed as a child, a large Oak tree that stood tall and proud on the edge of the courtyard. I swung myself up into its branches and felt more at peace than I had in a long while. Gaia’s power filled me, flowed through me as though I were part of the tree, connecting me to it. I could feel its life pulsing through it as a new limb sprouted and wrapped around my arm. The leaves on the tree, previously turning brown and yellow returned to green and full of life. Another limb sprouted and wrapped around my other arm, it was as if the tree were attempting to hug me. I smiled and leaned into the trunk of the oak, again feeling its pulse of life thrum through the core of my body. I gazed out at the other trees from my perch and sent a pulse of power out to them and watched as they all burst to life, flowers blooming on trees that shouldn’t have flowers, and the greenest leaves you have ever seen. It was a beautiful sight.

“Redecorating the courtyard, Princess?” Daire asked from the base of my tree.

I smiled. “Maybe. Gaia did most of it.”

“I’m sure she did. Isn’t it the wrong season for it though?”

“I suppose, but the trees do not mind.” I felt the pulse of life beat again through the tree, as if it agreed with my words.

“I suppose they don’t. It’s late you know.”

I glanced up at the moon again. It had moved quite a bit since I had come-out to the courtyard. “I suppose it is.”

“You have training with Gideon tomorrow.”

“I know.”

“Do you not wish to be well rested?”

I nodded. “I’m coming,” I said climbing down out of my tree. I gave it one last pat as I slipped to the ground and into Daire’s arms.

“You should be careful, you could get hurt,” he whispered.

“I know what I’m doing,” I said softly, my eyes never leaving his.

“Do you, Princess?” he asked leaning into me until our lips were a hairs breath away from each other.

I drew in a deep breath, and held it as he pressed his lips to mine, softly, barely caressing my lips in that almost kiss, as though he couldn’t help himself. He trailed his lips along my jaw and up to my ear. He whispered something so softly I almost didn’t hear it. I swear he said
Mo ghrá ach,
which means ‘my only love’, which I’m sure could not have been right.

He drew away and sighed. “You should go in.”

I nodded, not sure what I thought he said was actually what he did say. I so wanted it to be, more than anything I wanted it to be, but he looked so sad, so forlorn that I felt sure I must have been mistaken. “Good night, Daire.”

“Good night Princess,” Daire said softly. “Pleasant dreams.”

I left him in the courtyard staring up at the moon. I didn’t want to. I wanted to know what was making him so miserable. Did it have to do with me? Or was it something else?

Chapter
Eight

I barely slept and I woke up in a foul mood. I was late for training so I skipped breakfast, which is never a good thing. I entered the fighting ring, picked up my swords and waited for my first opponent. A moment later, Brokk slipped into the ring, back from the New York mound with Elvin. I don’t know what it was, but I was full of aggression and determination that I’d never felt before and I charged him. Brokk was on his knees before he could even say, ‘Good morning, Princess’. He was replaced quickly by another warrior, but every opponent that entered the ring, I took out in seconds. I was on fire. “Another!” I called when no one entered the ring.

“I think that is enough Abbey.”

I turned to see Gideon sending warriors away instead of into the ring with me. “Do you wish me to change weapons?”

“No. I think you are done for the day.”

I looked at him confused. “What? It’s not even noon yet.”

“Yes,
that is true, but you seem to be going through this practice without your usual concern for harming your opponents and it worries me.”

I stared at Gideon. “So we’re through for the day because I’m not showing concern for my opponents? Am I to show concern for the Unseelie when and if I ever get to fight them?”

“Well, no, but these are not Unseelie. They are warriors, the bravest and the best and you are cutting through them as if they are mere children with no skills.”

“And isn’t that what you have been teaching me to do?”

“Yes, but you don’t change overnight, not this much,” he said with concern. “You seem more powerful today. I know it is getting close to your eighteenth birthday and sometimes you can come into your full power just before, but not usually this soon.”

“Perhaps it has to do with Gaia,” Daire said from outside the ring. “She spent a good deal of time in the courtyard with her last evening.”

“I wondered about the changes to the landscape. That would explain it,” Gideon said approaching me and looking into my eyes. I don’t know what he saw in them but he nodded. “Yes, she is full up on Gaia’s power. Hard to tell if it will stay with her though, or fade.”

“It’s here to stay. Gaia has taken a liking to her.”

I just loved being talked about as if I weren’t even there. “So are we really done for the day?”

“Yes, I will have to prepare your opponents for your next training session. Tuesday, don’t be late.”

“Fine,” I said, laying the swords back on the table outside the ring. I strode back into the Mound and called to Aurora.

“Yes, Princess?”

“I’m starving, any chance Trinia saved me some breakfast?”

Aurora smiled. “I shall go and check for you.”

I went to my chamber and cleaned up. I was tying my hair up in a ponytail when Aurora entered with a platter of eggs, bacon, toast and hash browns. “You are a goddess, Aurora, thank you.”

“You are welcome
, Princess. I will leave you to eat in peace.”

I sat down and ate every last bit of the meal and still felt as though I could eat more. I was restless and hungry and I didn’t know what I wanted. Well, I take that back, I did know what I wanted, I just couldn’t have him. Sighing, I cleaned up my mess and took the dishes to Trinia in the kitchen.

“Thank you for the breakfast Trinia. It was delicious.”             

“You are welcome
, Princess. Is there anything else I can get you?”

I smiled. “No, not right now.”

Trinia nodded and I left the room, wandering around the Mound, I couldn’t find a place to settle. I had no additional training scheduled for the day, I wasn’t prepared to see Daire and have it out with him, and I didn’t really want to go home and call Michael. I finally ended up sitting on the floor in a random hallway, where it was quiet and away from all the usual activity.

“Abbey! I have been searching for you everywhere! Are you hurt?” Daire said rushing to me thirty minutes later. He pulled me to my feet and ran his hands over me as if searching for a wound of some sort.

“I’m fine, Daire.”

“What were you doing?”

“Just…sitting.”

“Sitting?”

I nodded. “Why were you searching for me?” I hoped it was for a personal reason, like he wanted to see me, to be with me.

“Auberon wishes to see you before you leave.”

I gave a half smile. Of course, he didn‘t seek me out because he wanted me. He did it to deliver a message for Auberon. “I’ll be there in a moment.”

“Very well. I will leave you to yourself then,” Daire said cautiously. He looked as if he wanted to say more, but chose to walk away instead. He’d been doing that a lot lately. It was getting frustrating.

I followed him a few minutes later into the throne room. “Auberon, you wished to see me?”

“Abbey, sweetness,” Auberon said with a smile. “I love what you did to the courtyard. It was a lovely surprise to see this morning.”

I smiled. “It was more Gaia than me,” I said softly.

“Gideon tells me that Gaia has filled you with her power too, come let me look at you.”

I stepped closer so that he could look into my eyes. “What do you see?” I asked curiously.

He studied my eyes for a moment and smiled. “Oh yes, Gaia has indeed been generous. Have you attempted to use any of your magic today?”

“No, not really. I felt different in the training ring earlier, but I didn’t use magic.”

“I have a feeling that you could perform great feats of magic now, were you so inclined.”

I smiled. “I will let you know the results should I find myself needing to perform those great feats of magic today.”

Auberon laughed and pulled me into a h
ug. “I have something for you, a birthright from Gaia.” He went to his throne and picked up a set of swords.

“Those look like the ones you gave Max,” I said confused.

“They are very similar,” He said fastening them around my waist. “They are Virtus and Sapientia, Strength and Wisdom.”

I touched the elaborate handles of the swords at my waist and felt the thrum of energy they held zoom through me. “They have power?”

“A great deal of power. Virtus will pull the strength from any opponent and lend it to you, making you quite strong. Sapientia will give you the wisdom to know when to use Virtus. Just placing your hand upon its hilt will help you make decisions, letting you see the wisest choice available.”

“Thank you Auberon, they are exceptional.”

“You earned them, Abbey dear,” Auberon said with a smile. “Now, go enjoy your day. Daire informed me that you have a study date this afternoon,” Auberon said with another smile. “Have a good time.”

I nodded. “Yes, I should go,” I said with a frown in Daire’s direction.

I left the throne room, stopped by my chamber and grabbed my bag, and headed for the door to the mortal world. I was almost through the door when Daire stopped me.

“What do you think you are doing?”

“Going home to have my study date, what does it look like I’m doing?”

“I’m going with you.”

“Why? Are you planning on having me do your homework as well?”

“What? No. And you shouldn’t do his homework either. I’m going with you to keep you safe.”

I sighed. “You all act as though there is a big threat against me looming out there somewhere. If there truly is, I’ve never seen it.”

“It’s true there is a huge threat against you
, Princess. And you are right, we have kept you protected from it and we will continue to keep you protected from it. If you don’t have to see the nightmares that are after you, all the better.”

“Whatever,” I said not really believing him.

“You don’t believe me? Come then. I will show you.” Daire grabbed my arm and flashed us somewhere I didn’t recognize.

“Where are we?”

“Central Park. New York. Now be quiet.”

“Why here? If the threat is against me, why are we in New York?”

“Because this is where their
Bealach
is located and you will have a better chance of seeing them.”

“Bealach?”

“Their entrance from Never Never.”

I nodded and waited. A moment later a scaled creature with large wings, creepy tail, long talons and piercing eyes emerged from the trees. I gasped. I’d never in my life seen such a thing and the people around the park didn’t make a sound. I’d never seen any of it. Flashes of things flew through my mind at record speed. Flashes of Daire and Cole disappearing for short periods of time and returning moments later out of breath, with no comment on what they
had been doing. “All this time…all this time you let me believe that they had stopped…” I watched the creature grab a human and drag it into the forest. I started to run after it, but Daire grabbed me around the waist and held onto me.

“No, Abbey!” he said softly in my ear.

“Let me go! It just took a person! A human!”

“I know Princess. And it will be dealt with, just not by you. That was no ordinary person it took. Did you not recognize him?”

I thought about it, but I really didn’t recognize him. “No, was it a Fae warrior in disguise?”

“No, it was Tony, a friend of your brother
’s…”

“Tony?
I’ve heard Max talk about him often…but I haven’t seen him since I was a child.”

Daire smiled
as if he were remembering something amusing. “Then you know what Tony is, what his job entails.”

“He is the keeper of the Light. I didn’t know that
meant he fought the Unseelie. I guess I just thought it was some artifact that he kept safe for us.”

“
He fights the Darkness, Abbey. He seeks them out and disposes of them before they can harm the humans. If you are to be Queen one day, you need to know and understand that we are not the only ones fighting. There are others,” Daire said. He held my wrists and frowned. “Now you know what is in the Darkness, Princess. Are you still willing to go about unprotected?”

“Do they only
come-out at night?”

“
Silly question, Princess, you just witnessed with your own eyes that they do not. Dim light suits them just fine. And some of them are capable of taking human form and going about in the daylight without the help of Leprechaun magic. However, they are better able to hide at night, and their mistress is better able to communicate with them when it is full dark.”

Daire flashed us back home, never taking his hands from around me. “What would they want with me?”

“You are the heir to the throne of Light and Illusion. Why wouldn’t they want you?”

“How would they know I’m the heir? Doesn’t everyone believe that Max is the heir?”

“For the most part they do, but should anything happen to him, then you would still be the heir. And don’t think they haven’t tried to get to Max, they have on many occasions. Your brother has a great deal of power as well, which the Unseelie have learned to respect. It doesn’t mean they don’t keep trying to take him out.” Daire let go of my waist and took my bag from me. “We should go. You shouldn’t be standing about in the open like this. You never did answer my question Princess…” he said just as he flashed us to my back door.

I thought about his question
for a moment. Would I give up the protection of the warriors and go around unprotected? Maybe I would, if it only meant something happening to me. And it didn’t affect anyone else. “I suppose, because I am to take over the throne and so many people are depending on me that I should have some protection,” I began, but paused to consider my next words. “However, I would appreciate it if you and the others would not continue to shelter me from any and all threats.”

“As you wish, Princess,” Daire said softly releasing my waist.

“Are you staying?” I asked opening the door. “You know Dad is going to have the game on at four.”

“Perhaps I will be back, after you are finished with…
him
.”

I started to go inside, but Daire grabbed my arm, pulled me to him and I stared up into his deep blue eyes, wondering what he could be thinking. “What?” I whispered.

He lifted his hand to stroke my cheek, his thumb trailing over my lips. “Don’t let him kiss you,” he said softly, barely a whisper, almost painfully.

I couldn’t take my eyes from his, I couldn’t speak. My heart was beating twice as fast in my chest and I couldn’t breath
e. I closed my eyes and held my breath and then he was gone. Flashed away to goddess knows where. I was trembling when I opened my eyes.

“Abbey, in or out, but don’t stand there with the door hanging wide open!” Dad called from the hallway.

I moved like molasses into the house. I wasn’t sure what was going on between Daire and me. It seemed that every time we started to get close to moving our relationship past friendship, he pulled away. It was very frustrating. I sighed.

“What’s the matter
, honey? Did your training go well? Did you have a good time with Auberon and Tatiana? Gideon didn’t work you too hard did he?”