Dark Fae: Legacy of Magic Book Two Read online

  "Ready?" she asked.

  "Let's go," Brenon said.

  "How did you get your car here?" I asked.

  "Watch," she said.

  The engine roared to life. It wasn't the same puttering noise I'd heard before. This was like a race car. Then I felt like something was squeezing me, I felt a pull at the back of my navel. For a moment, everything went black. Just as I was worried that I had passed out, the pressure eased and the world returned to view. "What just happened?"

  "Teleporting spell on the car," Gia said.

  "Why didn't you do that earlier?" I asked.

  "Takes a few hours to recharge that kind of magic." She turned around and looked at me. "Following you takes a lot of my energy. I was exhausted after following you from here to the desert to Terra's."

  At her mention of the word here, I looked over to the window. We parked in front of the white farmhouse.

  The three of us left the car, and I stood for a moment staring at the house. The door that had been broken down was no longer there. In its place, was a shiny new red door. As if nothing had happened. No signs of the battle were present. I hoped that meant that Joe and Aunt Kay were safe.

  Just then, the front door swung open and Maggie came running out, baseball bat in hand. Without time to think, I moved in front of Gia and Brenon. "Maggie, it's me. Stop!"

  She paused, baseball bat raised above her head. "Did they make you bring them here? Are you under duress? Blink twice if you want me to kill them."

  My eyes burned as I focused on not blinking. Now that she'd mentioned it, all I wanted to do was blink. "No, I brought them here because we think there's a way we can work together to defeat Terra."

  "We?" Maggie crossed her arms over her chest, baseball bat being held by her side. "You're with them now?" She shook her head. "I should have known. It's that damn Stockholm syndrome thing, isn't it? You do realize you were their prisoner. I mean, I heard the rumors about you and the Ringmaster, but I didn't want to believe them."

  I pressed my palms into my temples and tried to get over the fact that the whole world seemed to know that Brenon and I had been at least a little intimate. I wondered if they thought we'd done more than we had. "Look, I need to talk to Kay, and I need to know if Joe's safe. Can we come in, please?"

  "You're not supposed to be here, traitor." Aunt Kay was standing in the doorway, glaring at Gia.

  "Nice to see you too, Kay," Gia said.

  "What did you do to my niece?"

  "Well, let's see, I've saved her life a few times, that okay with you?" Gia's words came out calmer than I would have expected.

  Aunt Kay looked at me. "That true?"

  "Yeah, she's the one who helped me get out when Terra had me, and she just helped me get away from Terra again. Please, Aunt Kay. And I need to see Joe."

  I walked to the front steps and stopped at the bottom, looking up at my aunt. "Please tell me he's okay."

  "Who's Joe?" Brenon said from behind me.

  Aunt Kay put her arms out, blocking the door. "Hold on, if we're going to talk, this house will be a magic-free zone."

  "Kay, you know my magic is gone," Brenon said.

  "Don't lie to me, Fae. I know you've got more left in you than most of the Sayges in this house. No magic or no talking." Aunt Kay's face was stern, it was an expression I'd seen from her many times over the years. It was one of the only expressions I'd seen from her.

  "Come on, Kay, I'll help you cast the spell. No magic. Just talk," Gia moved to the bottom step and held out an open palm to Aunt Kay.

  To my surprise, Aunt Kay dropped her arms and nodded. Then she took Gia's hand and closed her eyes. Gia did the same. The two women murmured words under their breath that I couldn't make out.

  I leaned nearer to Brenon. "What are they doing?"

  "Closing off the magic inside the house. The spell will bind to each of them and keep magic away from the house as long as they both remain in its walls. It's a sign of good faith," he said.

  When I looked back over at the two Sayges, I let out a gasp. They were both glowing. A bright pink light was radiating from them. It was a more extreme version of the glowing I sometimes saw on the supernatural creatures I encountered.

  "That's the magic," Brenon said. He smiled. "Sometimes I forget that this is all new to you."

  The pink glow intensified and spread up the steps, past the door, and up around the house until the entire structure was lit up like an overly elaborate Christmas display. An instant later, the glow faded, so it was lingering around the structure just barely visible. If I hadn't seen it, I probably wouldn't have even noticed it was there.

  Gia and Aunt Kay let go of each other's hands, and Aunt Kay stepped away from the door. She swept her arm out, inviting us in.

  I ran right for the door. "Joe? Joe you in here?"

  Movement coming down the steps drew my attention, and I raced to the bottom of them. Joe was climbing down. He caught me in a hug, lifting me up and spinning me in a circle. He set me down and started talking at a rapid-fire pace. "I was so worried. Your aunt didn't know what happened and said if you weren't back by tomorrow, you weren't coming back. But I didn't want to give up. I stayed. I waited for you. Thank god you're back. What the hell happened?"

  Placing my hands on his chest, I took a deep breath in. "Deep breath, Joe. I'm okay. I'll explain everything, but you need to calm down and tell me if you're okay."

  "I'm fine. The wolves left as soon as Tristan took you." His eyes focused on something behind me and his whole body tensed.

  I glanced behind me to see Brenon and Gia standing a few feet behind us, watching us.

  "Friends of yours?" Joe lifted his chin in the direction of Gia and Brenon.

  "Yes, they helped me get back here."

  "Now that that's over," Aunt Kay said. "Let's have a seat. I don't like being in a home without magic for longer than I have to. I want to hear what is so important that my own niece brought a Fae into my home."

  Joe grabbed my arm and pulled me into him. "Fae? The scary looking dude with the scars?"

  I raised an eyebrow at Joe. "Scary looking?"

  Joe's cheeks flushed. "Whatever, all I know is that you said they were the bad guys and you've brought them here?"

  "She better have a damn good explanation for it," Maggie said, baseball bat over her shoulder.

  "I do, I just need all of you to give me a chance, okay?" I looked around the room at the people gathered. Aunt Kay, Adam, Maggie, and Joe looked at me like I was crazy.

  Gia had already settled into the paisley love seat, and Brenon stood in front of the door as if he was ready to make a quick exit.

  "Just sit down and hear me out." I motioned to the seating.

  Maggie let out an overdramatic sigh and landed heavily on the couch. Aunt Kay, Joe, and Adam squeezed in next to her as if they were afraid to sit too close to Gia or Brenon.

  I took the empty paisley chair my aunt had sat on the night I arrived, and Brenon moved away from the door, standing right behind the chair as if guarding me.

  "I had hoped the rumors were wrong about the two of you," Aunt Kay said.

  Heat filled my face, and I was sure my cheeks were red. Without looking behind me to gage Brenon's reaction, I narrowed my eyes at my Aunt. "There's nothing going on between us other than the fact that we aren't going to let past histories get in the way of getting rid of all of the Fae."

  My aunt straightened and scooted to the edge of the couch. "What do you mean?"

  "You've been so concerned about maintaining a hatred of all the Fae, you haven't stopped to think about what you could do to help them. They're stuck here, you know. They don't want to be here just as much as you don't want them here." I paused, noting the uncomfortable shifting of the people seated on the couch.

  "She's right." Brenon was next to the arm of the chair now, leaning against it so that his hips were nearly touching my arm. The closeness felt too intimate in this setting, and I pulled my arm away, twisting to
give him more room.

  If he noticed, he didn't react. "There might be a way for the Fae to return home, leaving your realm free of our magic."

  "How?" Aunt Kay asked.

  "First," I said. "We'll have to defeat Terra. It won't do anyone any good to have her gaining more power when the gates open. Then, I can open the gates and the members of the Circus and all the other creatures that came to our realm can return home."

  Chapter 13

  "Why would we risk our lives to help you destroy Terra?" Adam asked. "Why would we get involved in this anyway? I mean, most of the Fae don't even bother us."

  "Terra's gaining power," Brenon said. "She's been doing it slowly over the last few decades. We invented the blue pills to mask our magic so she can't hunt down those she can steal magic from, but she's enlisted the help of the human police to eliminate the blue pills."

  "Because they do bad things to humans," Joe said.

  "And Sayges," Adam added.

  I winced. The blue pills had been a great source of pain for me. I probably wanted them gone more than anyone in this room, but I would never wish Terra's wrath on anyone, and I didn't want her to steal more magic and gain more power.

  "That's true," Brenon said. "It wasn't our intention for humans to ever access them. But Terra started circulating them in the club scene. Once they were out on their own, she started working with humans to get rid of them, which means that our kind who are in hiding can't take the pills. When Terra finds them, she takes their magic."

  "How can someone take another's magic?" Maggie asked, her face drained of color.

  "It's Sayge magic," Aunt Kay said. "It's a difficult spell, but it can be done."

  The room was quiet for a moment as the weight of her words sunk in.

  "A Sayge is helping her?" Maggie asked.

  "I'm afraid so. And if that's the case, we have no choice. We'll convene the council first thing in the morning." She stood. "Adam, send the message."

  Aunt Kay took a few steps toward me and paused in front of Brenon. "Ringmaster, you'll have our support once I convince the elders. Ara, Gia come with me. We should start looking for the spell to open that gate."

  I covered a yawn and stood, ready to follow my aunt anywhere that would help us solve this problem.

  Aunt Kay paused in front of the staircase. "Ringmaster, I suppose you might as well come with us. This whole thing is your fault, anyway. Might as well let you help fix it."

  "I'll make coffee," Maggie said, patting my shoulder on her way past me to the kitchen. "Come help, Joe."

  "Thank you," I called after her.

  Joe paused in front of me, grabbing hold of my hand and squeezing it. "I'm glad you're okay, but I have to say, I'm looking forward to boring in my office when this is over."

  I wanted to tell Joe to leave, to go back where it was safe, but I knew he wouldn't listen even if I tried. Instead, I smiled at him. "Thanks for your help, Joe."

  "I'll bring you up a cup of coffee when it's ready." He glanced at Brenon, then back at me. "I know exactly how you like it." He let go of my hand and followed Maggie into the kitchen.

  Aunt Kay and Gia were already up the stairs, leaving Brenon and me alone in the room. He stared at me, one eyebrow raised, a mocking smile on his face.

  "What?" I asked.

  "Exactly how is it that you like your coffee?"

  "Stop," I said. "Don't make fun of Joe. This is a lot for him to take in."

  "You're right," Brenon said, the half-smile still on his lips. "Finding out that the woman he loves gave her heart to another is a lot to take in."

  I crossed my arms over my chest. "We're just friends. And what makes you think I gave my heart to anyone?"

  He shrugged, then took a few steps toward the stairs, pausing to turn to me. "I'm not saying I'll get to keep it. I'm just saying you gave it away. He can see it, too."

  "Hang on a minute," I grabbed his arm and pulled him back into the living room, where we were free from the view of the kitchen. "What happened between us, can't happen again. You know that."

  Brenon set his fingers under my chin and lifted it, so I was looking right into his eyes. Then, he leaned down, so his lips were hovering over mine. Our noses touched, and I could feel his warm breath against my lips. Hunger rose up inside me. I wanted to grab hold of him and pull him into me. I wanted to taste him, feel his bare skin with my hands.

  "I would never do anything to hurt you, ever again," Brenon whispered. He dropped his hands, then turned away from me, walking up the stairs.

  I stood in the living room alone for a moment, pulse racing, electricity feeling like it was shooting from the place of his touch to every inch of my skin. After a few deep breaths, I smoothed my hair and marched up the steps. It didn't matter if I wanted Brenon, he was leaving. It would hurt too much to let him back in just to say goodbye again.

  I followed the sounds of shuffling papers and muffled conversation to a bedroom at the end of the hall. When I went through the door, I saw Aunt Kay and Gia already flipping through old, leather-bound books at a circular table. Brenon stood by the wall and nodded to me as I entered as if we hadn't just had an incredibly intimate moment a few seconds ago. I bit down on the inside of my lip to try to stifle the flicker of excitement that was rising inside my traitorous body. My mind might be telling me to resist, but I worried my body would take over if were alone again.

  Finding a seat at the table, I pulled one of the unopened books over to me. "What are we looking for?"

  Aunt Kay looked at me over a pair of reading glasses. "These are the journals of the Sayges from our family that came before us. We're looking for anything that might refer to the original curse or the gates that seal the entrance to Faerie."

  She picked up a book and offered it to Brenon. "Here. Maybe you'll learn something."

  Brenon took the book and then sat down in the remaining chair between Gia and Aunt Kay.

  We all flipped through the pages in silence. I squinted at the tiny, cramped writing and tried to make out what the drawings and symbols might mean. Most of it didn't make sense. Notes about trees, spirits, and something with wings referred to as an Evil. I didn't know what the Evil was, but the hair on my arms stood on end every time I came across one of the crude drawings. The creature had a pointed beak-like nose, long arms and legs capped with curled claws, pointed ears, and wings like a bat.

  "Coffee's ready."

  I looked up to see Maggie and Joe in the doorway. Maggie handed a cup to Aunt Kay and one to Gia. Joe handed me a cup that was the exact right color for coffee with the perfect amount of cream. To my surprise, he gave Brenon a cup, too.

  "I have no idea how you like it, so I made it the same way as Ara's. I'm sure she'll drink yours if you don't like it," Joe said.

  "You could just hand it over to me right now. Joe makes a mean cup of coffee." I smiled at my friend.

  Maggie and Joe left the room, and we went back to digging through the books. It was slow going, and every so often, someone would find something that seemed promising and shared it with Aunt Kay. Then, she'd dismiss it as the wrong thing.

  Despite the several cups of coffee I'd had at this point, my eyes were growing heavy. I glanced toward the window. It was totally dark. We'd turned all the lights on several hours ago. I flipped the page and tension spread through my whole body as I stared down at a picture of what looked like a wall dividing two lands. Leaning closer to the page, I squinted at the tiny lettering. Curse breaking.

  My heart pounded in my ears. We weren't looking for a way to break the curse, but this had to be important. Would Aunt Kay want to know about it?

  I read the passage written next to the drawing.

  A child of two worlds may break the curse using magic channeled from both earth and Faerie.

  What did that mean? Did that mean that Brenon could be free of the curse without having to find a human girl to break it? If I could break it for him, would he let me? Did that change anything?

  "Ar
a?" Aunt Kay broke me from my thoughts.

  "Yes?"

  "What did you find?" she reached for the book.

  I passed it to her. "It's not what we need, but I think it's related. It seems that maybe there's another way to break the curse."

  She lifted her eyebrows, then pulled the book in front of her.

  Brenon stood and moved over to where Aunt Kay was without a word. The two of them leaned over the book for a few minutes.

  "She's right," Brenon said. "There is another way."

  I smiled. Though I was trying to tell myself that I didn't want to be with Brenon, I still didn't like the idea of him being with another girl. "That's great news, right? I can help you after we defeat Terra and open the gate."

  "No," Aunt Kay said. "It's too risky. It says here that you'd have to channel magic from both sides of the gate. Magic from earth and Faerie. At the same time. That's too much for anyone to handle. I don't know what it would do to you."

  "I'm sure I could handle it," I said.

  "No," Brenon said. "Kay is right, it's far too dangerous. I don't know anyone who'd be powerful enough to channel that much magic. And I don't know what it would do to mix the magic of the two realms."

  "If I did this, you wouldn't have to find some random human sacrifice, surely that's worth it, right Aunt Kay?" I asked.

  "Absolutely not." Aunt Kay closed the book. "I don't want to hear another word about this. It's late. We'll look more tomorrow."

  Chapter 14

  The house was quiet when I woke in the pink room at Aunt Kay's. I took a deep breath and stretched before sitting up. Joe snored softly in the bed next to me. I considered waking him, then thought better of it. He'd been through a lot by going on this trip with me.

  Still wearing the clothes I'd been in for the last few days, I wondered if I should risk asking my aunt if she had anything I could wear. I worried I'd end up dressed in a floral pattern like her furniture.