Everwild (The Healer Series, #1) (22 page)

Willow entered the Great Hall, which had
transformed into a lush garden. Where white marble was before,
thick bright green grass now filled the halls. Twinkling balls of
lights in every color imaginable hovered in the air. Greenery and
foliage wrapped around the pillars. Tall stalks of flowers soared
towards the ceiling as tall as the domed roof. Beautiful Fairy
women danced in flower dresses flowing and twirling around with the
sweet musical flutes that were playing.

Willow gasped when she saw silvery centaurs
standing around conversing. They were the size of powerful draft
horses. Satyrs chased the younger Fairy women, and Fairy knights
stood idly by the halls’ windows and balconies. Several of the
lesser Fairies (or pixies) were fluttering about laughing and
plotting mischief. When Willow walked past a free standing cherry
tree, a nymph with fire red hair stepped out of the tree to go
dance with the others.

The Fairy women that brought her led her to a
large table decorated in vines and oak. She sat in a large oak
chair and gazed upon the scene laid out before her. She was in a
dream. It certainly felt like it. Willow felt like a queen in a
magical realm, free of worries and all sorrow. Everyone around her
was happy and enjoying the food, wine, and dance. For a moment, she
fell into the spell, but only for a moment, because as soon as she
sat down, a voice behind her made her freeze.

“Are you enjoying yourself, Healer?” King
Diazinon sat down beside her, the Queen next to him. She wasn’t
wearing the talisman, but was adorned in jewels once again. Her
entire gown was made of the purple crystals from the cave.

“I just arrived,” Willow said as if that
explained it. She turned her gaze upwards at the dark eyes of the
King and shuddered. As if noticing the affect she had on her, the
King smirked and continued drilling his eyes on her.

“Perhaps a dance will loosen you up, then?”
he motioned to a Fairy behind her. She didn’t notice who it was
until he stepped in front of her and her stomach clenched. It was
Eeydyn. He was dressed in a green tunic and his silver hair was
pulled back in a braid, but there was no mistaking that distant,
cocky look in his sparkling silver eyes.

He offered his hand to Willow, and she almost
didn’t take it. She didn’t want to dance with her captor!
Whispering in her ear, Eeydyn bent down and said, “Respect.”
Holding her tongue (and her pride), Willow placed her hand in his
and he easily guided her to the grassy dance area. The Fey were
playing with her and it irked her nerves. If she wanted her
talisman, she would have to be on her best behavior tonight.

Eeydyn put his spindly hand on her back and
drew her close as the music played. During the entire dance, she
was being watched. She turned her head to the King and Queen, who
were solely focused on her. It scared her, their piercing gazes,
judging her, inspecting her as if she was broken and needed fixing.
The King looked massive in his wooded throne compared to the Queen,
and his black eyes darkened even more upon staring at her.

“Eeydyn,” Willow said and looked at him. He
held her proudly, but when she spoke his name, he sneered. “Do you
know how I can get--”

“Hold your breath, Healer,” Eeydyn’s voice
was low and menacing. “I know what you’re after and you won’t find
it here. To get what you desire, you have to overcome a challenge.
That is our ways.”

“But they said if I got to know the Fey
tonight, then--”

“Then they’ll hand you the one possession
entrusted to them by the Queen of Witches?” Eeydyn hissed at her.
“You don’t understand what you’re asking for. You don’t understand
Fairies at all. In order to gain a possession of value from one of
the Fey, you have to win a challenge set by them, in your case…the
two most powerful of our kind. That is our way. Of course, you
could steal it too,” he chuckled darkly, “but we all know how that
ends.”

Willow shuddered as it brought thoughts to
Chase, who she found out had stolen the Queen’s scepter once. How
could he be so foolish? She didn’t see Chase anywhere in the hall.
Was he being tortured? The music ended and Eeydyn had left her
standing there stunned by his words. A challenge? What did that
mean? A dawning realization struck her like a flash of lightening.
The Fey were known to mess with emotions and play on someone’s
greatest fear. They were trying to test her strength of will. How
far would she go to get what belonged to her?

It was a game to them…one they were not going
to lose. The King held all the cards in his hands. Willow was just
a pawn in a game of wits. They only have to talk about the terms of
the challenge she would have to endure. The ball was just a ploy to
trust them, make her believe they were good, when in reality they
were dark and soulless creatures, waiting for the prime moment to
show their true colors. Well, she was not as easy to be trusting.
She looked at the King, who was still staring at her. He lifted a
wine glass to his lips and took a sip. Her heart quickened.

“You’re beautiful.” A voice behind her said
making her heart leap out of her chest and vanish all thoughts and
worries out of her mind. She turned quickly nearly losing her
footing and wrapped Declan up in the tightest hug she had ever
given him. Tears quickly fell down her cheeks, clinging to him as
if her life depended on it. She needed him! He returned the hug
holding her just as tight. Finally, she drew back to look at
him.

“Where have you been?” she asked shakily. He
was wearing a tux and was polished and cleaned just as she was. But
being in a room full of stunning, dazzling Fairies, nothing was
more beautiful to her than him. He looked past her to the King and
Queen and his eyes narrowed in fury, but she would have none of it.
She took her hands and cupped his cheeks, forcing his head down to
look into her eyes. There was something in them that wasn’t right,
but at least he was here. He smiled at her and took her hands from
his face and held them in his. He looked around and led Willow to
the edge of the dance floor, so they could have some privacy, but
wandering eyes still followed them. Then, he pulled her close, his
body flush against hers. Heart pounding, Willow wrapped her arms
around his neck and stepped into him, slowly massaging the nape of
his neck and smiling at him.

Declan took hold of her waist. She loved the
feel of him, how she fit him so perfectly. This time, when they
danced, it felt natural. Willow brushed her body against Declan’s
willingly, and Declan held her firmly as if he didn’t want to let
her go. She felt so protected in his arms.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered again in her
ear, nearly making her heart stop. She leaned her head back to
stare into his eyes. Willow’s belly erupted in fire as she looked
into his eyes that reflected the yellows and greens of their
surrounding. There was no denying it now. She loved Declan
Aldridge. Nothing felt better than being with him.

"Where have you been, Declan? Where did the
Fairies take you? I needed you with me and you weren’t there.”

“I know,” Declan said darkly. His eyes were
soft on hers, though. “When they took me from you, the next thing I
knew I was locked in a cell.”

“What?” she hissed and looked at Diazinon. A
new set of fears consumed her. She tightened her grip on Declan’s
hand. “We have to escape here, Dec. We’re both prisoners. The Queen
has my talisman. They won’t give it to me.”

Declan stiffened against her. “Fairies are
dark creatures, Willow. Hekate knew what she was doing when she
gave it to them to guard. They do not willingly give up what is
entrusted to them. They’re selfish. There will be some sort of test
you have to pass to get it from them.” He breathed heavily. “I
don’t know what it will be, but Willow…the challenges are usually
very dangerous…and…the Fey have never lost a challenge before.”

Willow’s heart beat even faster at the
shakiness in his voice. It was like Eeydyn had told her, too, but
she somehow wished it was different, and that Eeydyn was messing
with her. “I’m so scared, Dec,” she whimpered and clung to him like
he would save her.

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Declan
whispered in her ear. “Come with me.” He led her away from the
dance floor and toward a door. The Fairy guarding the door crossed
his arms.

“We want some fresh air,” Declan said
defiantly and rubbed his thumb over Willow’s hand soothing her. The
Fairy looked over his shoulder and must’ve received an okay,
because he opened the doors onto a large balcony. Declan led her to
the edge of the balcony, and they looked out on the glowing lights
of the Fairy city.

Turning to her, Declan cupped her face in his
hands. “There’s something I need you to know; something that’s been
burning inside me for a very long time and I can’t hold back from
you any longer. Not now, Willow Tree,” he smiled shyly at saying
her nickname and then let out a breath. “I want you. I want you so
badly it hurts. When I’m away from you, I go crazy. When I’m with
you and can’t hold you, I go crazy. I’m falling in love with you,
and I understand if you don’t want me back, but I need you to know
how I feel. We argue and fight and you’re so stubborn I don’t even
think you can see how much you mean to me, but all that doesn’t
matter as much as my feelings for you. You have captured my very
soul. When I’m without you, I’m not myself.” He let her go and
turned away from her to grip the balcony railing. “I’m sorry for
bringing this up, especially with all the other shit going on in
your life, but I just need you to know.”

“You…want me?” Willow said quietly, her heart
racing at his acknowledgment. He finally admitted it! Declan nodded
his head, but didn’t look at her again. Willow was breathless.
“Even though you’re so much more than I could ever want or dream
about having and even though I’m a lousy witch and even though I
don’t even compare to all the other Firsts in other covens
and--”

Declan whirled on her. “Stop it, Willow!
Nobody even compares to you! You’re so damn beautiful I can’t take
my eyes off you! You’re so kind and gentle that you would go out of
your way just to heal somebody! You have no idea how amazing you
are. It’s me who could never dream of having someone like you. I
mean, come on, Willow,” Declan said frustrated and began pacing and
listing off all the other things he thought about her.

His words shocked her. He thought so highly
about her, even though she felt so inadequate. He made her feel
special and loved. Letting out a shaky breath, she confessed, “I
love you too, Declan.”

He continued like he didn’t hear her. “I
mean, really, Willow, it should scare you how much I want to be
next to you. I want to run my hands through your hair and touch
your body and kiss you and be the one to protect you and provide
for you.”

“I love you, Declan,” Willow said a little
louder, but he still didn’t hear her.

“I was so pissed when Chase tried to claim
you, because in my mind you’re already mine! I wanted to rip his
throat out and feed it to that dragon! Anybody who even looks at
you with lust in their eyes should be warned because I will
literally kill them for even thinking those thoughts about
you!”

“I LOVE YOU DECLAN!” Willow shouted, which
made him instantly stop pacing. He was turned sideways to her and
his back was tense.

His head turned to look at her. “What?” he
asked.

“I. Love. You.” Willow said and put her hands
on her hips cocking an eyebrow as if to say, “Come and get it”.
“Didn’t you know at the Neutral Zone? I told you I wanted you and
you didn’t believe me.”

“That was…real?” Declan said, his eyes going
wide. “I thought—”

Smiling even wider, Willow said, “Warlocks
can be so thick sometimes. I know this one warlock who likes to get
his way…like ALL the time. He’s pretty cocky, you know, but after
arguing a few times, you can get your way. Sometimes, you even have
to stomp on his foot to get his attention. But he’s pretty
attractive, so it’s kind of hard to resist his charms, and--”

Willow stopped her rant when Declan rushed up
to her and wrapped her in his arms quickly leaning down and
crushing her lips to his. The kiss was liquid fire and Willow
completely melted into him. Declan’s lips devoured hers, capturing
hers and holding them hostage with his desire. All Willow could do
was feel as Declan continued his assault on her mouth. His lips
felt so soft and smooth, until he sped up the kiss, making it
rougher and more passionate. She gasped when Declan urged her mouth
open and inserted his tongue in it, stroking hers. It felt foreign
and strange, but as Declan’s tongue danced with hers, she melted
again and moaned in pleasure. It was tantalizing and all-consuming.
If Willow was water, she’d be in a puddle at his feet.

The desperate kisses soon turned into long,
lingering ones. Willow nearly smiled when she heard Declan moan
against her lips. Finally, he pulled away. “You have no idea how
much I’ve wanted to do that,” Declan said softly, but his voice was
shaky and his breathing was heavy.

“I thought you hated me,” Willow said.

“I thought
you
hated
me
,”
Declan emphasized.

“Guess not,” Willow shrugged and smiled.

“The way you act towards me sometimes—”

Suddenly, Declan was cut off when the sound
of loud clapping resounded behind them. They both turned
incredulously to see King Diazinon standing in the doorway
surrounded by Fairy knights. His cold, black eyes narrowed on them
and his smile was so wide it actually darkened his face. He looked
like a demon. For a moment, Willow forgot where she was. Now, the
reality of it came crashing down on her.

“I hate to break up this…well, whatever it
is, but I must enlighten you both that you have officially
outstayed your welcome in my kingdom,” the King said hatefully.