Chapter 27

Nova was trying to remain calm as a few of the women looked at her hand and discussed different things. One suggested Capri try something but didn’t look convinced. Nova wasn’t even sure what they were talking about, but somewhere in the back of her mind screamed ‘magic’. She had never thought about magic or whether it was real. In her world, all unexplainable things were entirely possible.

Flora had come out of the house with a basket, with several plants and herbs in it. She was talking over possibilities with Capri right now. Nova didn’t care if she had to eat them, wear them or wave them around, if it stopped the burning in her hand, she would do it.

“You brought friends,” Ava said from the doorway while looking outside it.

Capri turned around and watched as Bastian came into view but didn’t step inside the garage. Right beside him was Crissy. She didn’t know why, but it made her feel better seeing her. She came right over and stopped beside her.

“I saw an angel for you.”

Nova frowned. “I hid by a statue of one.”

Crissy’s brow creased and she turned to look at the others in the garage. “No, this was an avenging angel.” She grinned and looked at Ava. “Are your wings real?”

Ava’s expression blanked and then she glanced at Capri. “Ava’s wings are not the issue right now.” Capri looked at Bastian. “You can enter.”

Nova watched as Bastian, looking annoyed and then, came in. Right behind him were his dark-eyed brother and two of the largest men she’d ever seen. The one had blond hair, pulled back neatly behind his head and if he hadn’t been real, she would have said he was a Greek god statue. The other man took her breath away, and not in a good way. He was just as large as the fair-haired man but was clad in leather with two swords on his back. Swords. His expression screamed danger—until he looked at Crissy and then a tenderness flashed in her eyes. This was Crissy’s Vic she was always talking about?

A woman came in after them and she was quite possibly the most beautiful woman Nova had ever seen. She had strawberry blonde hair and a glow that seemed to radiate off her.

Capri tilted her head and looked at the woman. “You’re fae.”

The woman smiled. “And you have some in you as well.”

Bastian’s brother motioned to her. “The princess was with us when we got the call.”

A fairy princess. In the scheme of things that felt completely normal right now.

“Are you hurt?” Bastian moved closer, his dark eyes searching her face.

Nova held up her hand to show him.

He scowled. “I thought you were staying in?”

Nova felt like a guilty, disobedient schoolgirl the way he was looking at her. “I had to pick up my contact lenses.”

His gaze flicked to her eyes.

“Your eyes are bad?” his brother asked.

“So she doesn’t see,” Crissy told him and then continued to wander around, looking, not at, but above the women in the garage.

Nova glanced at her and then at Bastian. “They’re tinted for light sensitivity.”

His shoulders slumped and then he turned to his brother. “To dim those close to crossing.”

Nova nodded.

He moved quickly and put his hand in front of her chest, then picked up the pendant and held it in his palm. “It’s gone.” His eyes flicked to her face. “The warning vibrations.”

Nova sighed. “It broke.”

Not caring how many others stood there watching them, he reached and unclasped the chain, then slipped it off her neck. Squatting down, he held the pendant in his hand and looked at it. “Who made this?” He glanced around at the women. “What does it cracking mean?”

“May I?” The beautiful princess came over and held out her hand to him. Bastian set the stone in it. She brought it closer to her face. “The magic was broken, causing it to crack.” She looked at Nova’s hand and then at Bastian. “I thought you said they wanted her intact.”

Bastian’s expression darkened. He gently lifted Nova’s hand and closed his eyes for a second, when they opened, she recognized the look of vengeance in them. He turned and looked at his brother.

His brother’s brows went up.

“What does that mean, Trendan?” the big blond man asked.

Trendan rubbed his hand over his jaw. “They tried to rip her soul from her, or...” He looked at her hand. “Enough to stun her, physically.”

A few of the women gasped.

Nova looked back at Bastian. "What does that mean?”

Bastian gently touched her cheek, tenderness in his expression. “That they have to die.” He said with a gentle tone as if he’d just said something tender and caring. Leaning down, he kissed her hand and then got up and let it rest in her lap. "Can any of you heal that marring her skin?”

Flora looked at Capri for a moment. “I’m not sure.”

“Sorry it took me so long,” Crystal came skipping down the stairs. “I really need to organize my—” She skidded to a halt and looked up at Crissy’s Vic. With slow steps, she moved around him, and then eyes wide saw everyone else that was there. “Oh," she squeaked when she saw the princess smiling at her.

The princess came toward her, her hand out. “May I?”

Crystal’s expression was starstruck as she nodded and held out the stone to her.

“Aireese, this is Crystal,” Bastian said quietly.

“Appropriate moniker,” Aireese said as she studied the stone. “Your magic is very true,” she told Crystal in a soothing voice. “Would you mind if I amplified it slightly?”

Crystal shook her head but didn’t speak.

The princess smiled and then held it between both palms.

Nova didn’t see anything happening, but Capri smiled and nodded over at Ava. She took that as a good thing.

Holding the stone out to Crystal, Aireese turned and picked up the chain with the damaged stone and put it between her hands. When she opened them moments later all that remained of it was dust. “Back to the earth.” She whispered and blew the dust from her hand. With a pleased look, she held the chain and wire casing out to Crystal.

“I need to learn that,” Crystal mumbled as she took it. She huffed out a breath and then looked at Nova, “I’ll just fit this stone in for you.”

Princess Aireese turned and looked at Bastian. “Once your other is wearing it, I’d suggest taking it off if you feel the urge for any further tender moments.”

Bastian closed his eyes but nodded when he opened them.

“Did you just booby-trap her pendant?” Ava was grinning.

Aireese laughed quietly. “Not a trap, more of a repellant.” She clasped her hands and then turned her sparkling eyes to Nova. “Your power is rare and strong, don’t forsake it.” Glancing at Capri, she inclined her head to her. “The work you do is admirable, don’t let anything stop you.”

Capri smiled. “I don’t plan on it.”

Aireese blew out a breath. “The combined power in this space has my batteries at full capacity.” She smiled at Bastian. “I’m going back to continue my task with the mind spell.”

Bastian nodded, “Can you heal her hand?” Flora looked stressed.

Aireese looked at her hand where it rested in her lap. “No magic or herb will take that away.” She gave her a quick look and then smiled at the tall blond man. “However, an Alterealm Royal could vanish it.” With that said, she raised her hands slowly over her head and was gone. Completely gone from sight.

“She’s fucking amazing,” Ava said and then shook her head. “King Troy, is it?”

She was looking at the blond man.

King?

He nodded.

“What did she mean that you could heal it?”

King Troy exhaled slowly. “Our blood.” He turned to Vic and then pushed up his sleeve.

Vic moved suddenly and grasped his hand. “Brother, I’m sure your huntress would be less than pleased if you held a bond with the Solrelm Prince’s other.” Vic glanced at Crissy.

She stopped moving around the garage and looked at him. With an expression of indecision, she turned to Nova. “Quint would be angry if we asked Raegan.” It was whispered, nodding she turned back to her large man. “I know you can block out all connections.”

Bastian moved between Vic and Nova, blocking her view of the man from her lower vantage point.

“What are we talking about here?”

“There is a slight bond between my brothers and anyone that ingests our blood. It’s quite temporary.”

“Explain bond,” Bastian demanded.

“I could detect any emotional spikes.”

“So if she were scared…”

“I would know. Only for a day, likely no longer.”

Bastian put his hands on his hips and looked at the floor.

“I’m sorry.” Ava moved over to stand in front of them. “Are we talking about Nova drinking your blood?”

Vic looked around her to Nova’s hand. “A small taste will heal that.”

Nova knew her eyes were huge. “What?” She almost choked on the word.

Capri came over and squatted down so she was at her eye level. “It would remove the mark.” She looked at her hand. “And perhaps any way for them to track you?”

Nova blinked. “They can track me because of this?” She looked at her hand and turned it over.

Trendan crossed his arms over his chest. “Possibly, if there’s a gap in your soul as well.” He wasn’t looking at her. Nova turned to see him watching Jeri, who stood at the top of the stairs.

“Fine.” Bastian stepped out of the way. “A drop.” His tone was filled with warning.

“As you wish.” Vic yanked the sleeve of his jacket up to expose his wrist, removing a thick leather cuff, he reached behind him. When she saw his hand again, he was holding a very scary knife.

“Wait.” Nova got up and then paused when she swayed with dizziness. Swallowing, she blew out a breath. “You’re going to slit your wrist and want me to drink from it?”

Vic’s expression showed no emotion. “Yes.”

Nova couldn’t prevent the ‘ew’ face that she knew she wore. Shaking her head, she reasoned it out. “Cutting your wrist isn’t a really good plan.”

“It’s okay.” Crissy came over and moved to hug Vic. “He heals very fast.”

Nova looked at her for a moment and then over to Capri. She didn’t know her but sensed she would step in if anything were wrong with this scenario. She nodded her head at her.

Blowing out a breath, trying not to over-analyze it, Nova sighed. Later she’d have to write all this in her journal, vanishing fairy princess, rock to dust, large scary man’s blood. That would prove an interesting read for the next keeper of this soul. “Okay.” She looked up at Vic. “No offense, but I can’t even bring myself to eat red meat very often, so try not to be offended by the look on my face.”

His mouth quirked, almost like he wanted to grin, but his mouth couldn’t. “No offense will be taken.”

Bastian stepped to stand beside her. He clasped her uninjured hand and held it. Nova was thankful he did because otherwise, she was one second away from saying thank you to her rescuers and running out the door.

Crissy reached up and took the knife out of Vic’s hand and held it over his exposed wrist. He nodded to her, and Nova blinked because his eyes seemed to be glowing red.

“Drink fast,” Crissy encouraged.

Frowning, she wrinkled her nose, Nova put her mouth over his wrist and brought the blood into her mouth. Yep, it was definitely blood, maybe not as metallic tasting as she recalled, but it was still blood. Unable to do it a second longer, she lifted her face away and looked down to see the cut was healing right before her eyes.

Bastian lifted her other hand and looked at it. Licking her lips to make sure there was no blood on them, Nova looked at her hand. The rash was fading right before her eyes.

“That’s some fantastic shit, right there,” Ava blurted out.

Clearing her throat, Nova looked up at Vic to see him looking down at Crissy and not at her. “Thank you.” Yeah, she just thanked a man for a drink of his blood.

Without acknowledging her, Vic turned to look at his king. “I will see you at home.” He stepped back, taking Crissy with him, and then they were both gone.

Nova blew out a breath and then realized the hand Bastian still held was tingling. He squeezed it for a second and then released it.

Giving her a tender look, he sighed. “Put the pendant back on.” He moved away from her and allowed space for Crystal to come over and fasten the chain around her neck. It was cold against her skin, but she felt better having it. It was smaller than the last pendant, but as soon as it touched her skin, she felt a peace move through her.

When Crystal moved away, Bastian came closer again and held his hand up to her. “Son of a bitch. Aireese wasn’t screwing around.”

Trendan jolted like he just remembered what was going on. He came over and reached for Nova’s shoulder and then stopped, his smile was slow, “they won’t get near her now.” He rubbed his palm with the other like it hurt, and then moved away from her again.

“Thank you,” Nova offered Crystal a small smile.

Crystal nodded.

“We should get you home.” Bastian was looking at her now.

“I think we’ll keep Nova here for a visit, soul sucker.” Capri came over and put her hand on Nova’s shoulder. “Equip her a little better for this reality she’s now living.”

Bastian scowled at her and then inclined his head. He looked at Nova, “I will call you later.” He glanced at his brother. “Feel like hunting?”

Trendan smirked. “Always.”