Chapter 35

Firo glanced at Aslac. He looked as concerned as he felt with this ‘behind closed doors’ meeting both of their charges were having. When they came back, the first thing Aireese did was call for her cousin Mystral. He’d still been reeling from the discussion with Ava and hadn’t thought it strange at that time. They were as close as sisters, possibly more so because they weren’t sisters and didn’t fight. They shared everything. Now, standing outside the door, he was concerned with how much she was sharing with her close confidant. He didn’t want any of his people to know about Ava and his connection to her yet. He didn’t need to be concerned about the looks behind his back and, in some cases, to his face. The horror stories of halflings were something they’d been raised on, and it would tarnish his whole reputation if he started putting his kind down for speaking out of turn in front of him.

“Should I be worried?”

He looked at Aslac. “Name a time we aren’t.” He offered a brief smile.

“That is true. The princess seemed—” He glanced at the door. “Charged up.”

“We’ve learned some things that are surprising.”

Aslac studied him for a moment and then nodded. “I’m getting my armor out of storage.”

Firo grinned. “It might be a good idea.” Truth be told, if they faced that power again, no armor in any realm was going to protect them. The thought of Avalie beside that riverbed came to him, and he had to put his head down so he wouldn’t stand there smiling like a besotted idiot. She was truly amazing.

A chill moved up his spine, and he stiffened. The feeling spread throughout his entire body. It was Ava. Something was wrong. He closed his eyes and focused on the thread that was theirs. She wasn’t in pain, but she was startled, almost frightened. Opening his eyes, he turned to Aslac. “Interrupt the meeting and tell the princess that Ava is in trouble.”

Aslac tilted his head in question but nodded.

“She’ll be able to find me.” He lifted his hand, grasped that thread in his mind, and sent himself to her.

When he appeared in Interealm, he was standing on a road. Her bike was parked there, but he couldn’t see her. A feeling brushed over him. Magic. Turning, he looked down at a lake and then saw her hunched beside it. The brush of magic moved over him again. They were after Ava’s power. Hopping the fence, he started running down the hill. He couldn’t take a chance of transporting himself to her. If the magic interfered, he could well end up anywhere, and that would leave her alone.

She moved, and he saw her wings were coming out. He willed her to let them. To free her power to protect herself. When he was close enough, and she would hear him, he called out. “Avalie.” She looked at him and started to straighten up when she flew backward. He held his breath as she stumbled and landed on the ground a few feet away.

Clenching his teeth together, he brought his wings around to protect him from any power meant to harm and rushed over to her. She looked up at him, and he held out his hand. He meant to take her somewhere else immediately, but when their hands touched, her wings extended fully. Dark and beautiful. Their power was blending. He pulled her closer to him and then caught movement in the corner of his eye. Turning, he saw Aireese, Mystral, and Aslac running toward them.

His princess had her arms extended out at her sides. She was shielding them from any powers.

“Are you all right?”

Ava nodded. “A little pissed to have my quiet time interrupted.”

He squeezed her hand. Fae absorbed magical vibrations, usually not from their own kind, but with their connection, it was building. He’d never felt it this strong. “Don’t let go. Our power combined will be too much for any to overcome.” He needed to buy just a few moments until the others reached them.

She nodded and stepped away from him, still holding his hand tightly. “Okay, jerk. Now I’m ready for your silly game.” She called out.

He watched the water part as magic worked toward them. “Watch the water.”

“I see it.” She said in a low voice. “I know where they are on the other side.” Pulling his hand, she stepped sideways, turning her body. “I need both hands.” She said and released his.

Aireese was beside him. “Join the shield.” She said quickly.

He hesitated, not wanting to move any further away from Ava. One glance at Aslac, and he could see the power was hitting them hard. With an abrupt nod, he stepped beside her as the other two moved to Ava’s other side. Their wings were all fully extended. If another wave came toward them, they could bounce it off their wings. One of them wouldn’t have been enough power, but four, there was nothing that he knew of in all of creation that could break through that.

Ava grunted and then growled. She spread her arms out, and he felt like everything was moving in slow motion. When she moved them, her wings followed, and he was hit with the ripple coming from her power. It was intense, and he was thankful the full brunt of her gift wasn’t aimed at him.

She sent it over the water, and he watched the wake of waves from the force of it. The grass was blown flat on the other shore, and then he saw sparks go in all directions as they hit something unseen. Someone was trying to shield themselves on the other side.

“Help Ava,” Aireese told them.

Mystral and Aslac moved closer to her, turning their bodies so they could transfer power to her and aid her.

Firo moved to stand behind her. “Again, Avalie, we will help you.”

Her response was a growl. And he had to fight not to smile with the pride that filled him. A full fae, not trained in battle magic, would have been quivering in fear. She was not full-blood and was perfectly composed and very angry.

From behind her, he had no choice but to watch her. He noticed then that her hair was long and darker and flowed around her body like it was an extension of her power and wings. This time, she raised her hands over her head, her wings arcing up to follow the movement. He almost felt sorry for the body on the other side of the lake. With a low guttural sound, she flung her arms and wings in that direction and dropped down to one knee, giving it more momentum.

A screech was heard echoing over the water. Firo glanced to see Aireese and Mystral moving their hands. He recognized the pattern and knew they were trying to send a magical tracker to attach to whoever was over there. He exhaled and increased the power he held the shield with. The very idea that the three females could be at risk without a full shield scared him like nothing ever had.

Ava was on her feet again and standing completely still. “I don’t feel it now.” She was looking across the water. “Are they gone?”

Aireese lowered her hands slowly. “They are.”

“Shoot.” Ava moved closer to the water, her wings still extended to their full size. “I was hoping I knocked their ass out or something this time.” She turned quickly, and he had to duck so he didn’t hit him with her wing. “Why were they here? Are they following me?” She looked very annoyed.

Firo looked to see Aslac and Mystral had gobsmacked expressions on their face as they looked at her.

“It’s possible they were after your magic,” Aireese said as she moved closer to the water and then closed her eyes, lifted her hands, and moved them gracefully as she sent out magic to seek other magic.

Ava huffed out a breath and then turned to look at him. “I guess it’s a good thing you stalk me.” She shook her head. “I was—” She held out her thumb and finger. “—this close to freaking out and then I saw you.” She grinned. The smile faded when she looked at Aslac and then Mystral. “Oh. Hey, thanks for the assist.”

Aslac nodded, his mouth still hanging open.

“You look like…”

Ava turned to Mystral. “Her sister?” She pointed to Aireese.

Mystral nodded and then gave Firo a wide-eyed look.

“I was just going to tell you when Aslac burst into the room.” Aireese moved away from the water. “They’re gone.”

Ava looked over one shoulder and then the other. “Firo, how do I get these to go away?”

She was talking about her wings. He smiled and moved to stand in front of her. “Settle yourself.” He said quietly.

“Settle yourself.” She mimicked his tone. “We need to work on your words.” Taking a deep breath, she looked at the ground and breathed slowly for a few moments. Her wings folded and then were gone. At that same time, the color of her hair changed back to a lighter shade. She looked at her hand. Her skin tone became that of a human. “Better.” She nodded, and then her eyes narrowed. Taking off her jacket, she turned it around. “Are you kidding me?” She turned the leather around and held it up. “This is my favorite jacket.” There were tears in the material from the bottom to the neck area.

Aireese smiled and came over and looked at it. “I think perhaps we should get you some clothing that will adapt to your changing.”

“Or I could just not change ever again.” She glanced at him. “Is that possible?”

He glanced to see Aireese’s amused look and shook his head. “I do not think so.” He motioned up the hill. “Come. I will walk you back to your machine.”

Ava sighed, looked at her jacket once more, and then put it on. “I’m going to look like I’m rocking a fringed jacket for the ride home.” She walked away.

He looked at his princess. “They wanted her power.” It was not a question.

“It was the same magical signature as the last time.” Her brows furrowed. “They want that power, Firo. You have to talk her into going to see the elders.”

He looked to see her halfway up the hill and then sighed. “I don’t think anyone can talk her into anything.” He gave his princess a nod and then jogged to catch up to her.