Through Time-Pursuit (19 page)

He sneered, and the table was gone.

His wrist twisted ever so slightly, and she felt an ever so slight draft as her clothes vanished from her body. She stood naked and for a moment was too stunned to do more than release a choked scream. Thankfully, she remembered who she was and sneered at him as she saw his gaze linger on her breasts.

With but a thought, she was clothed once again, this time in a black tank top and low-waisted jeans. Sneakers covered her feet as she exploded into action.

Royce rushed him and shoved him roughly with Fae force. “Don’t ever try anything like that again!”

He laughed as he caught her arm and bent it behind her back. He brought his lips to her ears. “I will try that and more …”

“Will you? I wouldn’t if I were you,” she snapped and pulled out of his armlock. She was a Seelie princess whose Light Magic would always outdo his Dark.

He seemed surprised that she had been able to so easily release herself from his hold, but it didn’t deter him. He moved in and smacked her hard across her face. “Don’t force me to punish you, Seelie … for you won’t like what I can do to you here …”

“Do to me?” she scoffed, purposely tweaking his temper. “But ah, you don’t know, do you? You don’t know just who I really am and what I can really do. You see, my mother is Daoine … cousin to the queen
. I
can do things with a thought, things you never dreamt possible.” She displayed the truth of this as, without touching him, she managed to throw him across the room.

He slid down the wall but jumped up, furious as he raged at her. “By all that is Dark, you will pay!” A fine spittle of blood trickled down his lower lip where his teeth had grazed it during his meeting with the stone wall. “Don’t,” he said threateningly, “Ever. Try. That. Again!” He was already flicking his wrist to cast a circle of flames around her.

Black magic
. She almost laughed out loud. “Parlor tricks are beneath you.”

“Try and leave the circle, and we’ll talk about parlor tricks,” he answered, back in control of his rising anger.

“You mean … leave the circle …” She stepped through the fire and the ancient spell he had enacted to keep her within the ring.
“Like this?”

“Damn you! The Dark King created me. I am more than you can visualize …” he said and sent a ball of fire spinning towards her gut.

She shifted and was near his ear before she shifted off again. “He is Seelie, and, yes, he created you … but you will never be as good as a Seelie Fae.”

He spun around to slap her, but she was already across the room laughing at him and making his fury boil. He spat at her, “I am better … I am better than …”

“If you were, we wouldn’t be talking. You would already have destroyed me or imprisoned me for my audacity,” she said, taunting him.

He frowned and stepped towards her. “No! You don’t see it, do you? I want you … I want you willing and ready to be mine. I even admire your spirit, but I shall not tolerate much more.”

“What—more, like this?” she answered and once again sent him hurtling across the room and slamming into the opposite wall.

She smiled sweetly. “I never wanted to be a warrior, Pestale. I never really wanted to kill anything—not even you. I had always hoped we could negotiate with you—until I saw that Chance would never let you live. Now, I see you certainly must be destroyed. It occurred to me that if I killed you, David and his family would be safe, as would the human world. I see it all now so clearly, what I missed before—you, simply,
are not
redeemable.”

He charged her like a bull blinded by fury, but she shifted, and this time she knew she would shock him, for she shifted outside the door that had kept her in the room.

A black magic ward would never keep a Daoine Royal, even a half-blood Daoine Royal, caged! But she knew she had to hurry.

She was not the only one with Daoine blood. His father was the Dark King, and Pestale’s father had used his own blood when he created him. Pestale had his father’s blood in him, and the Dark King had been a full-blood Daoine Seelie Fae!

She had a plan, and in order for it to work, she had to keep one step ahead of Pestale. However, he wasn’t going to make it easy.

He was in her face, all at once, grabbing her around her waist and holding her tightly. “Damn but you are everything I want,
you little killer
! Now … to teach you that
I am not
your enemy …” He bent his head to her ear and whispered, “Bite me again, and you will see your young David maimed. I will keep him alive and torture him for all your wrongs against me.” He allowed this to sink in and then kissed her hard and without affection as his tongue attempted to explore her own.

When he came away from the kiss he said, his voice low and husky, “Beloved one, don’t fight me any longer. I mean to keep you satisfied and at my side—”

“Never! You will never have me at your side. I would rather die!”

“You shan’t though. I won’t let you die, for one way or another … you will be mine, but
I can hurt
what you love.”

She growled and shoved him hard. “Try it—try hurting David or his family in any way and see me totally unleashed. Is that how you mean to seduce me?”

He stopped and directed a long, hard look at her. “It is all too obvious that you cannot be seduced—
not yet
.”

“Seduction takes time … it takes finesse and skill. Do you not have all three? Or are you not as powerful as you think?” She taunted him again.

He brought up his hand to slap her and once again found himself in the air and landing hard. He got up, wiped a great deal of blood from his mouth with the back of his hand, and stood panting a moment. “I think I’ll go visit your favorite little humans and
teach you a lesson!
”

Anxiousness took over her resolve, and she stepped towards him. “Don’t want to play with me any longer? Am I too much for the big bad?”

“Play with you? Yes. Fight with you—
no
. It is time you see who holds the reins in this union!”

And he was gone!

She stared after him. “
What have I done
? Peckering!” she shouted, and the dagger, which had been only a call away, appeared in her hand.

She fisted it. “Peckering, get me out of here, and hurry—you have to take me to David!”

“We are in the ‘in between’. I cannot take us out without the ancient spell—it is yours to command, Princess,” the Peckering said softly.

“I don’t know it!” Royce wailed.

“
You do
—
think. You were taught the spell, one of many … remember it, for it is there in your brain’s library, waiting,” the Peckering whispered, “for I know it not.”

Royce went into herself and began searching her mind, but there was no time—she knew there wasn’t enough time at all!

~ Sixteen ~

CHANCE IMPATIENTLY SAT for tea and pastries with the wizard and Trevor, all the while carrying on a quiet conversation with Miss Charm, who wanted to know everything about everyone they had in common.

During this time the wizard kept jumping up from the table as he remembered yet one more thing he needed to find in order to accomplish the task they had set for him.

Chance took the opportunity to escape when Miss Charm excused herself to chase down a puppy that had followed her into the chamber. He excused himself to go outdoors.

He looked back at the castle he had just exited, and although he knew he would only see a small Irish cottage, it always astonished him how well the wizard disguised their home in the Irish countryside.

He had to think
. He had come outside to collect his thoughts and calm his nerves. He was on the edge.

He wasn’t sure how it had happened. He had been with exquisite women over the years and some for whom he had experienced great affection, but never had any made him feel the way his wee Royce made him feel. Now he was going nearly mad attempting to remain calm while she was out there—with the devil!

He was so deeply hypnotized by her lips, her movements, her laughter, and her eyes that she seemed to have somehow reached in and woven a web around his heart. When she looked into his eyes, all he wanted to do was take her away and forget the damned Dark Prince, forget his need for justice. All he wanted was to be with his wee princess and listen to her whispers in his ear.

She loved and respected life. She had an empathy that reached out and touched everything she came across. She had an openness about her that was full with emotion and set logic off in the distance, and he loved that. Loved all that she was …

He would not want to live without her. He frowned as this thought filtered into his brain. His father had once expressed just such an emotion. He had declared that he was alive only because of Chance and Lana, that life held nothing more for him.

Now he understood just exactly what that meant.

Without her, everything would always be off. He was nearly sick with worry about her—about the reasons for her actions. Why would his wee love go off with that monster? Why? Had the Dark Prince somehow entranced her with magic? Was she even now in his arms? No, she wouldn’t—not she!

And how far would she go to do whatever it was she went off with him to do? Had she found a way to destroy him? Why had she not tried to contact him—why had she left without a word? No struggle? He knew, he sensed, he was sure she had gone off willingly with the Dark Prince, and it gnawed at him.

“Chance.” Trevor’s voice at his back made him spin around.

“Aye then?”

“There is something I should tell you …” Trevor said hesitatingly.

“Is there now? Then doona wait, lad—tell me,” Chance said, ever direct. His eyes narrowed to see the lad looking as though his nerves were frayed.

Trevor heaved out a long sigh and dove right in. “The reason Red was sent to join us on this mission by the queen … was because the queen believed she was too involved with humans, one particular family, in fact. Apparently the child would have been crippled for life because of a Dark Fae. Red broke all the rules and healed him. It is against all our strictest covenants to do so without leave from our queen. We never for any reason are supposed to interfere.” He shrugged. “Some of us do though … and this is what comes of it.”

“What are ye saying?” Then it dawned on him. “That child … she stopped at that home with the boy in the yard …”

“Yes, I have given it some thought, and I believe now that Pestale has threatened Red—using this human family as a target,” Trevor said quietly. “And before we do another thing … now, while the wizard is working to get us into Pestale’s dimension … I think we should collect this human family and see them safely out of harm’s way. Someplace where Pestale can’t use them against Red.”

Chance’s eyes snapped with sudden sure understanding, and he almost grinned. “Trevor lad, are ye coming to our way of thinking, then?” Of course, he said in his mind, that was precisely what his beloved had done. Gone off with the Dark Prince to keep a human child safe. That was just like her!

“No, not exactly, but this time … we have put these humans in the direct line of fire. It is our duty to remove them as a target.”

“Aye then—we must hurry.”

“Yes,” Trevor said quietly. “And when my queen discovers that I have interfered so grossly …” He shook head dolefully. “But it is the only decent thing to do. Red has been like a sister to me all my life—and while I don’t agree with her about humans … I do see that
this is
necessary.”

Chance put a hand on his shoulder. “Then off we go, lad … for I mean to end this with Pestale today!”

And they shifted.

* * *

Pestale stood straight and proud and thought himself glorious. He knew how he appeared to humans when he was not invisible. He knew he was seen as the very broth of masculinity. After all, he almost said out loud, he was broad and lean, and he exhibited an aura that suggested he owned the bedroom.

He thought it was a shame that no one could see him and enjoy the sex he oozed and the promise of pleasure he breathed.

He was, however, cloaked in the Féth Fiada, and from his vantage of invisibility he watched the child Princess Royce loved so much.

He felt a growing sensation of resentment as he considered this.

It was but a human child.

However, he knew she would hate him if he killed or maimed the child.

Hate
was not what he wanted from her, but she needed discipline. She could not behave so disrespectfully to him. He needed to instill fear in her.

She would never be afraid for herself. He had realized that early on. She would sacrifice her life for her principles. It was very annoying.

He wanted her, and he didn’t care that he might have to force her to his bed in the end. He was certain she would enjoy his attentions … after a time.

She would have no choice.

With the flick of a wrist the child could be set on fire … With a thought, he could break young David’s neck. He wanted to break his neck and set him on fire. He loathed the child, this creature she held in such affection, but he genuinely did not wish at this stage to incur her loathing. In spite of her behavior, he still had hopes of winning her over.

Absurd that he should feel this way. Why should he care if she wanted him or not? She could be his for the taking, anytime … anywhere, but … he wanted to see love in her eyes, and he wanted to feel the passion he knew she was capable of giving him.

She was an
arrogant
female … and yet, he was drawn to her. She made him come alive in a way he had never experienced before. This was what his father felt for his human, Crystal. He understood now.

Still, she must be taught …

Perhaps if he maimed the mother? Perhaps if he did it in such a way that he could easily heal her later as a boon to his princess for her favors in bed? Ah, now that was something to consider.

He looked towards the house, and just at that moment the mother stepped out of the kitchen. She was a pretty young thing. Perhaps he would lay her down on the grass and ram himself into her while her husband and child watched, and then he would break her legs—and maybe cut her a bit … maybe across her pretty face?

Yes, perhaps that was just what he would do to teach his bold princess a lesson she would not soon forget!

* * *

Chancemont stepped away from Trevor at once. He had seen Pestale walking towards the child. He had seen Pestale through his invisibility, for although Chance was not Fae, he had many of the same abilities.

All at once, he saw Pestale take the child’s mother and shove her roughly onto the grass. Her husband came running; without lifting a finger, Pestale pinned him in place.

Chance shifted, grabbed Pestale by his hair, and dragged him round to face him.

However, Pestale’s death weapon was already in his hand, and Chance had to jump away from its lethal touch.

“Getting careless, Pestale …” Chance taunted him. “What happened? Did Royce deny you? Are you here to punish her?”

Pestale’s rage exploded as he charged Chance, but when the Milesian easily shifted out of his way, he roared with fury and, instead of staying to fight, suddenly vanished!

Trevor strode over and said, “I have called on the queen—”

“You what?” shouted Chance, but there was no time for more as a gold aura met their gaze and the Queen of the Seelie Fae stepped towards them.

However, as stunningly captivating as her entrance was, it was nothing next to what Chance felt when he saw his father standing beside her.

“
Da …
”
he said.

His father went forward and clasped his shoulders. “Ye have made a fine mess of things, my son,” he said, waving Chance’s objection away. “I know … ye was mad with worry about yer woman, but nonetheless, it was clear thinking that was required. Ye canna go this alone …”

The queen waited only long enough for Chance’s mumblings to fade before she cast them a deprecating glance and sighed. “Indeed, your father is quite correct, Chancemont LeBlanc. You certainly could have handled this to a better conclusion had you contacted
me.”
She turned to Trevor. “And you, my Prince … have acted quite out of character.”

During this time, she waved her hand, and the Hanson family were transported to their picnic table, now laden with food. “I have erased their memory of the last few moments. They are unharmed by the transgression.”

“I am astonished!” Trevor declared. “You are breaking your own rules …”

“Not at all. We should have already captured the Dark Prince. We cannot allow him to use these humans to compromise my princess. I will establish a guard of Trackers around their home. None of Pestale’s tricks will be able to get through.” She turned back to Chance. “However,
now your job is twofold
. The princess must be rescued, and Pestale must be captured and turned over to me.”

“Turned over in several pieces, you mean,” said Chance on a snort, and then he remembered his manners and inclined his head. “With all due respect.” He turned to his father and looked from him to the queen. “How do ye happen to be here, Da … did the queen come for ye, then?”

“Ye could say that,” his father said, turning to give the Queen of the Seelie Fae a soft smile.

Chance’s eyes opened wide, as there was no mistaking the gaze she returned to his da.
What the devil was going on here?

The queen returned to the subject at hand. “What you two did was without planning and without thought. You went off willy nilly … without a consideration of how you would imprison Pestale once you caught up with him!”

“Doona mean to imprison him,” Chance said meaningfully.

“Nevertheless, did you think that he would just stand and allow you to kill him? His sense of self is greater than that. He has shifted off to his ‘time dimension’, which will make it a very difficult task to capture him. If you had contacted me, I would have sent my head Tracker, Nuad, with the Golden Net. You could have used it to your advantage.”

Chance’s thick lashes fluttered, and his brows drew together as he screwed up his mouth. It was true, as much as he hated to admit it to himself: he had been all brawn and no brain. He wasn’t usually so rash—or was he?

Trevor stepped forward. “It was more my fault than his. Chance wouldn’t really know about the Golden Net. It is a Fae Relic, after all, used by our Trackers. He doesn’t have access to it and would not have thought of using it.
I
should have thought of it …
I
should have realized.” Trevor shook his head. “
The fault is mine
.”

“I am not here to find fault but to point out to you
both
that Lord Morgan …” She directed a glance at Chance’s father. “… and I … wish to be kept informed and consulted, especially now that my princess is in jeopardy.”

“Aye, so be it, but, Queen Aaibhe, there is no one alive that wants Princess Royce safely out of this more than I, and ye can be certain, so she shall be!” Chance said gruffly.

“Then you need to follow her into the ‘time dimension’ the Dark Prince has erected, and we need to stop him before his ‘time travel’ into the past affects us all.”

“The wizard is working on that right now,” Trevor offered.

“Good, because it is the one thing I am presently unable to provide you—
time travel.
The Dark King and I decided centuries ago to forgo the ability when a certain catastrophe occurred because we had been … careless,” the queen said on a sigh. “I have been working to restore the power to myself … if only to prevent events like this from taking place, but it will take a great deal more effort before I have it perfected.”

“The Dark King may have been careless, my Queen, but
you
were not ever careless in anything,” Trevor returned hotly.