Fae (34 page)

“Before I answer your questions, you need to answer one of mine,” Odin said to me quietly. “I am curious because you have not asked the most important question of all. You have not asked about Devilyn. Are you not curious to know how it was that he was able to bring your precious dog back from the dead?”

I looked up at him, not sure what he wanted to hear.

“Why is it, Caroline? Why haven't you asked?”

I decided that I would be honest with my answer, as he had been so honest with his.

“Because when he wants to tell me, he will. For now, I am only eternally grateful for what he has done for me.”

“And do you know the price he will pay for this gratitude?” Odin said so softly. I immediately looked over at Devilyn, who was becoming angry.

“Do not speak of this any further,” Devilyn demanded.

Odin nodded.

“She will find out soon enough, son.”

“Find out what?” I asked as I looked from Odin to Devilyn. “Please don't keep anything more from me.”

“There is nothing for you to find out, Caroline, except for who and what your parents were. And what I am,” Devilyn said sharply.

I watched him for a moment. I could feel the tension that flowed through him and could almost feel the explosion that was waiting to be unleashed inside.

“Well then, what were my parents?” I asked him. “
What are you
?”

The fire crackled loudly as I looked from Odin to Devilyn waiting for the answer.

“Tuatha DéDanann,” Devilyn replied, as a chill ran all over my body.

“I don't understand,” I whispered.

“Imagine a race of people that have existed since before time. A people that have come from far away. Who've lived through every human war. Through every birth, every event that has taken place on this earth. Beautiful, beyond belief or words, blessed with powers that humans could never comprehend, but powers that humans could have if they only tapped into their very essence. A people that are immortal.”

“What are they called?”

“Fae.”

My heart stopped beating, and I immediately looked down at the ground. For some reason, I could not look at Devilyn or even Odin for that matter.

“My parents?”

“Your father was Fae. Your mother, a halfling. Which is against all of the laws of the Dark and Light Fae,” Odin said gently.

“I'm sorry, but I don't understand.” My mind was reeling. “Dark, light?”

“I will explain all of it. It is just important that you know that the Tuatha DéDanann are not allowed to love humans. They are not allowed to procreate with humans. To do so would allow humans into the world and powers of the Fae, and this is strictly forbidden.”

“But Devilyn said that even humans have these powers.”

“The humans must come to realize the power they have on their very own, with no assistance from any member of the Fae. These are the laws that were written in the book thousands and thousands of years ago. To love a mortal is to expose their world, and you cannot love without truth and honesty. It is simply impossible,” Odin continued. “And your parents defied these laws, pursued a love, and sacrificed everything for it.”

I placed my hand on Odin's knee, silently urging him to continue his story.

“Caroline, your grandmother was Eleanor Dare.”

“The Lost Colony?!” I blurted out.

“Yes. Only they were not necessarily lost,” he replied.

“But they supposedly arrived hundreds of years ago. How could she be my grandmother?”

“Eleanor met Arthur when they colonized. Arthur, who was a Fae, fell deeply in love with your grandmother. They married in secret and soon after gave birth to your mother, Virginia, a halfling. Ultimately Fae, and thus, immortal.”

I continued staring at him, unable to turn away and still a little confused.

“For this sin, Virginia spent her life being hunted by members of the Dark court, or the Dark Fae. During this time your mother met and fell in love with the crown prince of the Light Fae. They married in secret and had you.” As Odin told me the story the fire in the fireplace came alive before my eyes. Through the flames, I began to see all the events of the past unfolding before me.

“They were hunted like savages. And in the end, betrayed. And both suffered a certain death.”

I wasn't sure what it was about his story that caused the tears to start flowing once again. I knew it pained both Odin and Devilyn to see me cry. I wasn't sure how I could feel such pain and loss over people I never knew. Perhaps it was the word
death
.

So painful. So final. So unfair.

“And what about me?” I finally managed to say.

“I hid you, child, from the dark ones who wanted to destroy you. For you are the heiress to the Light court. You have no other siblings. Your father, Royce, had no other children. It is just you. And now, you are the Light court's queen. A young woman who is part human, part Fae, bringing two worlds together in a destiny that was meant to be.”

Odin put his hand on my head, and I could feel a soothing energy rush through my body. I took in the depth and meaning of his words as the power rushed through my body like an electric charge.

“Give me your hand,” Odin said to me. Odd that they were the same words I said to Devilyn.

I gave my hand to him and watched as his began to move in circles above mine. It took but a second, and I began to feel an energy emit from the palm of his hand and into mine.

“Do you feel this?”

“Yes.”

“That is your power,” He said to me. “Your essence. Every human has it in them. But they all fail to see it and fail to allow it to be released. If they only would, then they would be as magnificent as the Fae.”

I was in awe of the light that began to come out of my palm like star beams. It surged through my veins, feeding me a new energy. A new reason to live. My head moved back on its own accord, my eyes closed, and I came alive as Odin connected me to my true self.

My being.

He pulled me into my core and made me remember what I was. It was a truly magical moment. When I finally opened my eyes I understood what moved through my veins.

I was a Fae.

“And Devilyn?” she replied. “What about Devilyn?”

I heard my name, and it snapped me out of my trance-like state. I could feel the intensity of the heat in the room as my black eyes were suddenly lit with liquid fire. I stood there silenced beyond belief. Not knowing how the events of the day had brought me to the here and now. She knew everything. Who she was. Where she came from and why she was here. Though she glossed over one of the important parts of the story.

She was still being hunted.

“I am not at liberty to say. He must tell you himself,” Odin replied to a desperate Caroline. “And now I must leave you, child.”

He said the last words without allowing her the opportunity to reply, as he snapped his fingers and suddenly disappeared into thin air. Caroline was left kneeling on the ground, unable to move. I silently cursed at Odin, angered that he left her in such a state, and angered that he left me here to answer her remaining and likely never ending questions.

She slowly began to rise, struggling with every step. I wanted to help, but I found myself unable to move as well.

“Devilyn.”

“Caroline,” I replied, keeping my voice as guarded as possible.

“Tell me,” she demanded as she finally reached me and slammed her fists against my chest. “I need to know.”

“Tell you what?” I began as I stepped back from her. “That your eyes are like gray diamonds, shining brilliantly in your face? Your hair is like the finest silk and since I met you, all I've wanted to do is run my hands through it? And when you smile at me like you're doing now, you make me believe. You make me have hope,” I continued desperately.

I stepped back, suddenly releasing her as I ran my hands through my hair. I knew that she wanted more from me, and in this moment I didn't know how to give her any more than I already had. So I was left with nothing but to pull away.

“Hope for what?” she asked, suddenly breathless.

I closed my eyes.

“Caroline, you are missing the big picture,” I said, my tone rising. “Odin told you that your parents were hunted by the Dark Fae. Did you understand this? Were you listening to him?” I grabbed her face and pulled her close to me.

“I heard him,” she replied in a soft whisper.

“Did you?”

She shook her head, confused.

“It hasn't stopped.”

She stared at me, and I knew it still did not resonate.

“What do you mean? It hasn't stopped?”

“The hunt is not over, Caroline. It didn't stop with your parents. They—
he
won't rest until you are gone as well,” Devilyn said forcefully. “Do you understand me now?”

She stepped away from me, as if I had slapped her across the face.

“Someone wants me dead?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” she asked, still not fully comprehending what I was trying to tell her.

I took in a deep breath. I had to tell her what she was. What I was. How we fit together. How our destinies were intertwined and had been since the moment our souls were made. She wouldn't understand until I showed her. She wouldn't lift her head from the clouds until she saw for herself. Only then could she completely comprehend the risks. Only then would she realize how dangerous it was to be near me. How dangerous it was to have any feelings for me.

Only then.

“I need to show you,” I said as I reached out for her hand. “Walk with me.”

It was time.

I looked down at her pale face and could sense the fear that she had. I knew she wanted to keep it from me, to not burden me with her feelings, and it honestly made me love her even more.

She looked up at me and slowly nodded her head as she reached out for my hand. As soon as our fingers touched, I closed my eyes, and we were gone.

When I opened them, we were standing deep in the Elizabethan Gardens. I watched as she looked around her in awe. She squeezed my hand harder as if she was trying to figure out if I was real, if any of this was real.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she nodded. “I'm fine. This is just a little overwhelming.”

“We can stop,” I replied, concerned for her now more than ever. “We can stop anytime you want.”

“No, I want to know everything.”

I squeezed her hand in understanding and began leading her through the gardens.

My eyes adjusted to the light that beamed from every crevice of the area. Her people knew she was coming back. They could feel her, and as the wind blew a gentle breeze, they began to hum. They knew that she was finally realizing who and
what
she was. And I knew she heard the whispers of their soft music because her eyes took on a faraway look.

“What is that sound?”

I didn't answer her. She would have the answers to all of her questions soon enough. For now, I just wanted her to take it all in. Little by little. We stopped in the center of the garden, surrounded by the bleak white snow, and faced each other.

“Before I tell you anything, I just want you to know that I don't want you to be afraid,” I said as I reached out my hand to cup her face.

“I'm not afraid, Devilyn.”

Caroline was a terrible liar.

But she was also courageous, and I could not help but admire her for that. Here she was, surrounded by powers she couldn't understand, running from something she did not even know, trusting me completely. With her life. It almost brought me to my knees. After everything Odin had just told her, I couldn't understand why she was still standing next to me.

“Tell me. I'm ready now.”

I leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. This was the closest moment of intimacy we had shared. In all of the months that we had spent together, I finally knew what it was like to have her soft supple skin brush up against my lips. And I knew that I needed more.

I took another deep breath, inhaling her sweet scent, my hand gently cupping the back of her neck as I forced her gaze up to mine. I took her other hand and moved it to cover my heart. I closed my eyes for a moment then opened them. They were bright with light as the energy moved through my body.

In those moments, I did not have to utter a single word. I allowed Caroline into my soul. I allowed her to see all the images of my life. I allowed her to see our story, the one that I had lived with forever. I allowed her to see my fears. To see what would happen to her if we were ever to be together. And finally, I allowed her to see my love.

The love I had for her now.

The love I would have for her for all eternity.

When I saw the tears stream down her face, I closed my eyes again, quickly allowing the shield to move back into place.

Now she knew.

Everything.

I wondered if she'd run away in fear.

I felt her soft fingers touch my cheek and then allowed her to pull my hand over her heart. It was beating rapidly, as she was no doubt filled with a myriad of emotions.

“Look at me,” she commanded.

I opened my eyes.

“I love you too.”

It was all she said. All she had to say. And I was finally free.

I stood there forever looking into her eyes. Could I believe her words? Could I trust myself if I continued further? My throat suddenly constricted. I needed more.

I wanted to feel her lips on mine.

So badly.

Kiss me.

Kiss me.

I stared deep into his eyes in utter disbelief.

Kiss me.

My mind was now playing tricks on me. I shook my head. Did he just ask me to kiss him?

Impossible.

I looked back into his eyes.

No, I knew I had heard him say those words.

I heard him.

And now I believed, no, I
knew
that he spoke to me. I stepped closer to him, wanting so desperately to follow his silent command. I could feel the heat rising from my face. My hands moved up his chest, and I leaned in more toward him. His arms moved around my waist to pull me close.