The Day Human King (15 page)

“Hello, Day Human Prince,” Lindsey called in his booming voice. The man was twice the size of the largest man Devin had ever seen. Days ago, when he’d first met him, Devin had been shocked. Even now, having seen him before, he was still stunned to be standing in his presence.

“I didn’t figure I’d catch you up and about,” Devin replied, thinking how he never even saw the old sidhe when he first walked into that same clearing with Nessa days ago. He was first deceived as the giant sat in disguise, and secondly because Devin couldn’t track the man because he moved quicker than the wind.

“We have a visitor coming, and he’s coming quickly. I figured best to be prepared,” Lindsey explained. He was doing his job.

Devin smiled. “Is it in the form of a night human?” Devin asked, guessing Turner was on his way.

“A hairy night human,” Lindsey replied with some disgust. “I’m not fond of dogs.”

Devin laughed. Turner’s lycan form was hairy, whether he was partially or fully transformed. He didn’t recall the phase of the moon, but either way, Lindsey’s description would be correct. “I’ll greet this one.” Lindsey looked back at Devin and nodded.

“As you wish, Prince.” Lindsey bowed and moved to the side of the clearing. The old giant sat down and blended right in with the scenery as if that was where he always sat. The moss on him matched the moss on the neighboring trees.

Devin moved back to the bridge and waited as Turner approached. Half human, half wolf, Turner ran into the clearing. It must have been between moons after all. Turner paused, surrounded by the grass. He turned first to where Lindsey was sitting blended into the nature around him. Then Turner turned to Devin, letting his night human side go. He shook from head to toe as the hair faded, and he became a man. Turner flashed his brilliantly white smile while shaking his reddish-brown locks when he laughed. Devin hopped down and met Turner in the middle of the glade. It had been only a few days, but since they had spent more than the last year together—almost constantly—protecting Arianna, it was a long time apart. Especially when you were used to seeing and arguing with someone all day, every day.

“I was almost thinking you just set this up as an elaborate game, and wouldn’t be here when I arrived,” Turner said as he grasped Devin’s arm to shake it.

“You really think I’d do this to entertain you?” Devin asked. Driving to the middle of nowhere, hiking to the middle of nowhere, and then leaving sounded like a time-consuming hoax. It was definitely something Turner would have done—but that was more his style—not Devin. Smiling, Turner shrugged; he was probably storing it in his book of pranks for the future.

“It has gotten quite boring at the Randolph estate,” Turner replied. “I know you were busy when you were with us days ago, but I’m going crazy. Figured you had to have noticed that much, and were offering to entertain me.”

Devin hadn’t realized that before he left. He had been a little busy noticing Nessa, or trying to not notice Nessa, to pay attention to the lack of work. Devin was sure that Turner was right. Arianna’s bonded night human was one of the strongest Devin had encountered in a long time. She was perfectly safe and didn’t need her keepers now.

“I talked to Mori on the way. He said he needs another couple of hours for whatever you have him doing,” Turner continued, oblivious to Devin not replying the first time. This time Turner paused for Devin to speak.

“Glad you could make it so fast,” Devin answered. “Sorry, this isn’t a hoax. I really need some help.”

“Of course! What do you need me for?” Turner asked. “The sooner I get this done, the sooner we can return and find something else to do because it is so boring there now.” Turner looked around the glen. “And where would your little night human be now? I figured she’d not let you out of her sight since you said the bond wasn’t broken yet.”

“Yeah, ’bout that ...” Devin tried to figure out the best way to tell Turner. It had been easy to tell Mori he wasn’t coming back because he understood what the bond meant. Unfortunately, Turner had no clue about the bond.

“What?” Turner asked, looking into the forest for Nessa. “Is she hiding somewhere, and I have offended her?”

Laughing, Devin shook his head. It was a perfectly fine assessment of her, and she wouldn’t be offended in the least.

“About the coming home part,” Devin began again. He wasn’t used to the energy that Turner emitted. It was strange to now be able to see him in the light that the sidhe would. He was as close to nature as they were, possibly even more so since he turned into a wolf during a full moon. He fit in with the sidhe world, yet was as different and foreign as Devin was. “I’m not going back to Arianna.”

Turner stared at Devin, obviously trying to make sense of his words. Everyone still expected Devin to return because he hadn’t had time to tell most of his family and friends. Arianna obviously hadn’t shared it with the team. Turner shook his head and opened his mouth to speak.

“You heard correct,” Devin replied before Turner could get a word out. “I’m not going back. I have to stay here. I’m kind of one of them now.”

“She turned you?” Turner’s eyes bugged out of his head as his form flickered between his normal human form and his night human form. Anger was rising in the lycan.

“No, no,” Devin quickly replied, holding his hands up in surrender and trying to calm his friend. “No one turned me. I’m still a day human.”

“They why can’t you leave?” Turner asked. He needed more information, and Devin was not doing the best to calm him down. His night human form flickered a second time.

“First off, because I’m still bonded to her,” Devin replied. Turner once again moved to speak, and Devin held up his hand. “It can’t be broken. If the bond really forms, you can’t break it, ever. I’m connected to Nessa for life. My life and hers will be forever intertwined, and she belongs here. I can’t leave.”

“But she said—” Turner got in before he continued.

Devin shook his head. “She thought she could, but it’s not possible. I’m bonded to her. Second is, while I am still a day human, I’m part of the sidhe now,” Devin replied. He didn’t know how to explain it without a play-by-play account of his time since he’d gotten there. Turner would eventually get it out of Devin, but there were more pressing matters. “I can’t just leave them. Being bonded to Nessa kind of made me a sidhe prince.”

Turner stared at Devin, taking in his serious face, and broke out in laughter. Devin allowed him to get it out of his system. However, when Turner realized Devin wasn’t laughing, his merriment stopped and he looked up at Devin.

“You’re serious?” Turner asked in shock, not knowing what else to say. The best friend that had left Turner only days ago, talked about coming back in less than a week. This Devin talked about never coming back.

“Dead serious,” Devin replied. He didn’t want to leave his friends and family. However, since he was not needed around Arianna anymore, he had already been planning on leaving for a while. Initially, Nessa had been a good excuse to leave, and now she was a great one to stay away.

Turner’s face fell. That was not what he was expecting to hear. The lycan was shocked into silence. As soft as the wind through the trees, Devin could hear Lindsey laughing. It wasn’t funny either way. It was just the truth, and he couldn’t expect Turner to understand completely … he had never been bonded to someone before.

“You’re never coming back?” Turner asked, hurt lacing his voice. “You’re just giving Arianna up?”

“I can come and visit, but I must live here now,” Devin replied. He’d never let his intentions of leaving be known to everyone before. “And Arianna made her choice. She has Andrew now. She doesn’t need me.”

“You’re really going to do this? You want to stay here?” Turner asked, looking around the empty glen.

Devin shrugged. “It isn’t really a choice now. I love Nessa.” Devin was shocked that he’d actually admitted that much. He hated how Turner could get things like that out of him.

Shaking his head, Turner smiled at him. That statement was enough to convince him that Devin needed to stay. Turner understood love. “Then I guess you stay. Why’d you call me here? It isn’t like you need my approval.”

“No. I need the bloodhound in you, actually,” Devin replied with a shrug.

Turner shook his head; he hated being called a dog. “I’m not a bloodhound, or a pet for hire.” Turner walked a few steps away from Devin and quickly turned to attack. However, a large, green-tinged hand was in Devin’s place and held tight to Turner’s much smaller hand. “What the …”

“Oh, I forgot to mention. This here is Lindsey. He’s a bit protective over the sidhe, and since I am one now, I guess he’s protective of me as well,” Devin explained. He didn’t actually expect Lindsey to defend him, but it was nice to know that the giant considered Devin part of the village, even if he was still a day human. “I suppose you should let him go. He always tries to get the best of me. He hasn’t won yet, and we kind of need his help.”

Lindsey let go, but did not move. He stood defensively between Devin and Turner. The sidhe wasn’t going to take any chances. The large, green giant sized up the smaller lycan. It would be a great fight to watch. He almost didn’t want to interrupt.

“Must I test him to see if he’s worthy to enter?” Lindsey asked Devin.

“Can I test him?” Devin suggested. It would be fun to watch, but just as much fun to test all of his new sidhe skills. There was no one in the village or palace that would even think of sparing with Devin. This was too good of a chance to pass up.

Lindsey bowed his head. “As you wish, Day Human Prince.”

“Prince? Really?” Turner replied, mocking Devin.

Devin shrugged. He was getting used to the title and the way everyone treated him. He’d prefer to be a regular person, but it was nothing he could change. Nessa was the princess, and she was his.

“So what is this test?” Turner asked. “I didn’t have time to study.”

“You never study,” Devin replied. Turner was one of the biggest slackers when it came to school that Devin had ever met. In fact, Devin was surprised he had graduated from high school. Turner grinned and didn’t deny the assessment. “Besides, this is more of a physical test.”

“You mean we get to spar?” Turner asked, his eyes lighting up with surprise, happy for the chance.

“Oh yes, spar. But let me tell you—” Devin began, but was interrupted as Turner moved to strike him. Devin blocked the blow easily and moved back to continue talking. “Things aren’t the same now. I’ve had a bit of a change in my life. I’m way too far out of your league.”

“We’ll see about that,” Turner replied. “You’re not the only one who has been practicing.”

“Yeah. Practicing isn’t exactly what I’ve been doing,” Devin replied, letting the sidhe magic flow in his veins. The double swords appeared on his back. “More like getting an upgrade.”

Turner’s eyes popped open at the sight of the swords. Sidhe magic filled the glen. Devin was ready to test out his new powers. Turner didn’t have a quick comeback this time; it was obvious that Devin was now out of his league. Devin grinned at his oldest friend. He’d play nice, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to have some fun beating on Turner.

Turner rubbed his
jaw as they walked over the bridge into the sidhe village. Devin had been nice and only hurt him as much as he could instantly heal. Night humans were always fun to spar against for that reason alone. Turner hadn’t even seen most of the moves as they came. The power between the two friends was once almost equal, but now they were too far apart; Devin was in a class of his own. Turner rubbed his face again. The jaw would feel fine in a few minutes.

“You really meant that stuff about being a sidhe now,” Turner said as they entered the first street. He was coming to terms with what Devin had told him.

“Oh, yes. The old king put all of his powers in me without actually changing me into a sidhe. I get all of the powers, but don’t have to drink blood to support them,” Devin replied, nodding to Old Man Winters as they passed. The old man nodded back as he walked beside his horse, which was pulling the cart. “Night human abilities with a day human life… guess it’s the best of both worlds.” Devin hadn’t thought hard about it, but that was the best description.

All around them sidhe were busy with their day ending, and Devin was walking a new night human through the reclusive town. Faces turned to them as they passed, and many stopped what they were doing to study them. No one said anything, but they did watch. The sidhe didn’t have many visitors, and probably none that were walking together. A day human and a lycan walking together through the sidhe village was probably a first for these people.

“Why do I feel like I’m on display?” Turner whispered. He had noticed the visible attention.

“Because we are,” Devin replied. “They don’t get out much around here. Can’t you tell? You instantly became the most interesting man in the village. Too bad they don’t marry outside of the sidhe. You’d be the most eligible bachelor, with hundreds of options.”

Turner puffed out his chest a bit more as they walked. He might have said he didn’t like to be on display, but Devin knew otherwise. Turner liked any sort of attention—good or bad. Devin was just boosting his ego when he explained it to him, and he knew the affect it would have. He preferred his friend to have confidence in this situation, and it would make his life easier back at the palace if Turner was confident.

Devin made his way through town, and it was an easy, direct walk to the palace. Everyone moved out of their way as they encountered the sidhe. The female sidhe seemed especially interested in the strange night human. It wasn’t like they had much of a selection in the city when they were forced to stay within their families. Devin made it to the palace garden walls and began to lead the way around to the one entrance he could go in undetected. Finally, at the right one, they entered.

“What? You’re too good to use the other entrances? Is this the life of a prince? You get your own doorway?” Turner asked, noticing their walk past the others.

“You should know,” Devin replied. Turner’s father was a ruler of another night human town. While Turner was second in line to his father, behind his older brother, he did live a life of privilege way beyond what Devin ever had.