Flight (Children of the Sidhe) (14 page)

They lifted the girl carefully, trying their best not to jostle the spear that still impaled her body. Nathan led the way to one of the buildings.

A number of Sidhe joined them, forming an impromptu procession to the Well of Slaine. “Do you know the chants?” One of them asked Nathan.

“No. Can you help us?”

“Always,” came the answer. They entered the circular chamber that housed the well, making a ring around the sacred, healing space. Nathan stooped to place Therese in the well, and a hush descended. Nathan wondered if Airmid was freezing time to have words with him again. Had he taken too long to remember?

Tessa fussed over Therese’s body, trying to arrange her so that the spear and the entire wound were submerged. Her clear voice joined the chanting Sidhe. The air pounded with the pulse of life. Nathan thought of green things, of vines growing, weaving tight. He thought of moss, covering, knitting together.

And he realized that without even trying, he was tapping into the magic, that power Airmid had spoken of. His thoughts were as good as actions, and visualizing Therese’s wounds knitting together like moss covering the earth was actually helping the woman heal.

Shocked, Nathan met Tessa’s eyes. She clasped his hand, and together they focused on Therese.

A shallow breath.
A flutter of eyelashes. Then nothing but the chant. Nathan averted his eyes. Maybe he’d just imagined it. Maybe they were too late.

“She’s breathing, Nathan.” Tessa’s voice was filled with wonder.

He breathed a sigh of relief.
She will take time to heal
, Airmid’s voice spoke in his mind.

“Tessa, we must take her back with us. Her brother is gone, and while the Well of Slaine has just proven its worth when it comes to healing, Abarta has proven we aren’t safe here.” He knew it was asking a lot.

Tessa took his hand, kissing his knuckles and meeting his gaze with a soft smile. “Then let us return home.”

“Home,” he smiled back. “That sounds good.”

“I could swear you decide what to wear only on the basis of driving me out of my mind,” Nathan’s breath tickled Tessa’s neck as he snuck up behind her. She’d been choosing an outfit for dinner, and he’d caught her just in time to see her snap between two sleek halter dresses. This one was emerald green, the bodice embroidered with jewels. It might be a little much.

“I need something that says
I’m not scary
.” She was about to meet her three-year-old niece. Now that the day had arrived, the thought was overwhelming. She was more open now to love, and to disappointment, than ever before. But would Sirena accept her?

Nathan wasn’t worried about family issues. He had another agenda entirely, one his roaming hands attested to. And she hated to put him off, especially when he said things like,
“It’s too hot when you change like that. Makes me want to do this.” He stepped closer, and grabbing each side of her bodice, he tore it open to reveal her breasts. A few of the jewels went pinging along the floor, and Tessa giggled.

Nathan shoved the bodice aside
hastily. Tessa gasped in surprise as he bent to swirl his hot tongue over one nipple.

“Nathan, we have to be somewhere.”

“Mmm.” He didn’t stop. Instead he moved lower, shoving her dress down to find her completely nude underneath. He teased toward the center of her pleasure, and her pulse pounded with desire, his tongue working magic on her body.

Tessa forced her mind back to this afternoon. She had to speak now, or she’d be lost in him.
“Mikhail returned with his daughter. Will you go with me to see them?” She needed him with her, and she wasn’t too proud to ask him. Not anymore.

Nathan groaned, pressing his cheek to the soft skin of her belly.
He stood, looking resigned. “You’re cruel. You know, Mikhail doesn’t even like me.”

“But I like you.”

He lifted amber eyes to meet hers, a mocking smile on his lips.

“I love you, Nathan,” she amended, blushing at his look, which resem
bled a predator about to strike.

He ki
ssed her neck and gave her a nibble she knew came straight from Hawk, chuckling as she jumped in surprise.

“I love you, too, Tessa.
” He stepped back, his gaze dropping to consider her semi-clad body in a way that made her blush a deeper shade. “Definitely the blue one. It brings out your eyes. Good thing, since I ripped the green one.”

Yes. A good thing. Better than she’d ever expected. And she wasn’t about to let him get away.

###

Read an excerpt from Descent

(Chil
dren of the Sidhe, Novella Four)

Coming September 2013

Rosa halted uncertainly on a trail she’d known all her life. What her eyes told her just couldn’t be. She was only half a mile from the Tree of Dubhros – her ward as Guardian of Dubhros – and she knew every inch of the surrounding forest. This world’s bland gray shades couldn’t hide the richness of the forest life from her eye. That was her duty.

The creature before her hadn’t been seen since times of legend. She moved cautiously, unsure what to expect from the being that used to be a pixie. Now it was llaiadian, the dark pixie. She’d never seen one – not even a picture, as she hadn’t learned the lore from books – but she knew what it was.

Rosa watched for signs of more of them as she hiked closer to her ward, but she didn’t see any. As she came closer to the spot where the Tree of Dubhros stood, her heart thumped in her chest, faster and faster as anxiety gripped her–

The Tree of Dubhros stood unmolested at the edge of the clearing.

Rosa allowed herself a single breath of relief, of wonder that this being should depend so wholly on her, faulty and half-human as she was.

“Are you alright, child?” The Tree of Dubhros spoke, a creaking sound like a loud whisper that seemed to fill the clearing.

Rosa smiled. “As always, I am happy to see you, my friend.”

“And I, you, Rosa.” Du’s limbs shuddered, as though he were waking from a doze.

She nodded. “All is well here?”

A deep rumble she knew for his chuckle sounded around her. “Little changes here. Yes. All is well.”

“Some things do change.”

“What do you mean?” Now his tone was curious. She worried she’d hear fear there next.

“I saw a llaiadian.”

A hush fell all around. Rosa hadn’t realized how much chatter was going on in the underbrush, the small creatures of Echtge, this shadowy forest dimension that Rosa tried to protect along with her ward. After all, the Tree of Dubhros only had one home. A tree can’t travel portals. It has deep roots.

That was something Rosa knew about. Her mother had fostered deep roots. She’d been human, with a half-Fomorii daughter, and the future Guardian of Dubhros at that. She prayed for Rosa every day, clutching her rosary beads in the local cathedral. And any other time she lavished her only daughter with love, games and laughter. Rosa had it good as a kid, despite her differences from others. She’d never had a real human friend as a child. As a kid she was strong. Very strong. And quicker than she should have been. Enough that it freaked other kids out, not to mention their parents. Her friends had been trees. It was probably for the best.

“What is it?” she finally asked, breaking the eerie silence.

“Where did you see this creature? And are you sure it is llaiadian?”

“It is exactly as you have described to me. Small body, wingless, shaded as though a storm cloud crept under it’s skin – mottled and bluish-gray. Like a pixie, yet not at all like a pixie. It is llaiadian. And it was close. About a half-mile from here.”

The hush deepened, if that was possible, and then the creepy silence was broken as a chatter arose in the forest.

“Yes. The creatures of Echtge confirm it. The llaiadian has stepped from legend, into reality.” A sadness deep as his ancient roots filled the Tree’s voice.

“What does it mean?” Rosa knew if Du was this upset, it was
not good
.

“A time of darkness is coming. The dark pixies are a sign...that all is not right between the worlds.”

###

About the author

J.R. Pearse Nelson is a native Oregonian, residing in the beautiful Portland area. She lives with her husband, two small daughters and the family dog. J.R. is always searching for the magic in our world. She weaves tales rooted in mythology, bringing legend to life in modern-day and fantasy settings.

J.R. is the author of the
Children of the Sidhe
paranormal romance series, and
Queen Witch
, the first installment of the
Foulweather Twins
series.

You can connect with J.R. online at her blog. Visit
www.jrpearsenelson.com
.