Menage a Fairy (A Fairy Novel) (8 page)

Wick walked in front of her.

“What are you doing?”

“Shielding you.”

Jayn lifted her brow. “I’ve seen dead bodies before.” She walked around Wick.

“You have?”

“Of course. Dead bodies. Burned bodies. Bodies bloated from the water. Tortured bodies. Skeletons. I’ve even seen this one guy with his head cut off.” She stopped and glanced up at him. Horror registered on his face. “New York City can be a dangerous place.”

“Indeed.” Wick shook his head. “And you...catch the people who did this.”

“Yup. I’m kind of like a warrior but we just lock our criminal and lunatics up instead of putting them out of their misery.” Jayn knelt beside the bodies. There were two. From the bone sizes and the shape of the pelvic area, she estimated they were both men. Something had a shine to it in one corpse’s hand. She pried the bones apart and pulled free a pendant. The chain was rusty but the gold fairy hanging from it was still in pristine shape. “What’re the chances of a fairy pendent on this guy?” She bit her bottom lip.

“Unlikely.”

Jayn pocketed the necklace. “There’s no indication they were killed from blunt force trauma. No broken bones and there’s no dried blood beneath. It would have stained the sand.” Jayn stood. “They probably died of hunger.” Wasn’t that a comforting thought?

“So you’ve seen this before.”

She glanced back at him. The sight of his swollen lips made her flinch. How the hell was she going to explain that to Annalise? “Um, yeah. Witnessed dead bodies, caught a few bodies, and got shot a couple times.” Jayn glanced back at the water. “How did that riddle go again?”

“The next part is...traveling with shadows to fairy tears...”

“We figured that out already.”

“And from the dark depths the light pours through, releasing the human back to the land he once knew.”

“The dark depths...” Jayn moved to the water. She knelt down and sifted her hand through the water. It was cool but not cold. “I bet there’s a way out down there.” She nodded to herself, her mind formulating a plan. That was the only thing that made sense. The only thing dark with depth was the pond-slash-pool thing before them. The trail ended and this was their last step. Jayn fell back to her ass and crossed her legs. She began pulling off her boots and peeling down her socks.

“Not that I want you to stop undressing, but...what are you doing?”

Jayn rolled her eyes. Did the man have that big an ego? “We’re going for a swim.”

Wick looked at the glassy surface. “You are.”

She glanced back and noticed the subtle twitch of his wings. Could it be he didn’t know how? Why would a man with wings need to swim? “You can’t, can you?”

He placed a hand on his hip. “Fairies fly over water. We don’t frolic in it unless there’s a naked female.”

“Lovely.” She shook her head. “I’m going to scout it out. See if there’s anything down there.”

“What if there is? I cannot help you. We need another way out.”

“You know the riddle.” Jayn reached down and pulled a knife from her hidden sheath around her ankle. “Besides, I have this and how helpful could you be?” She slid down into the water until it covered her hips. “I already kicked your ass once.” With a grin and a deep breath, she dipped beneath the surface.

The cool water felt tingly against her warm skin and it took a few blinks before she could see clearly. The water was very sheer considering it was cave water. The pond was circular, nearly fifteen feet across. It wasn’t terribly dark either. Using her legs, she kicked off the wall and swam deeper. The light didn’t dim. In fact, it seemed to get brighter. She swam harder. The walls jutted out to jagged and sharp edges. Avoiding them, she rounded a large boulder sticking out from the wall.
Low and behold
. Jayn grinned underwater. There was a hole here, a big opening in the wall and from there shined a bright light. She kicked off again and swam as fast as she could to the surface. Her lungs were getting tight but not ready to burst just yet. As the light dimmed and the surface neared, she pushed herself harder. Her head broke the surface and her lips parted so oxygen could rush in.

“Jayn?”

Wick was at the edge of the water. He flew over the pond, scooping her up and dragging her back to the sand. She landed with a wet plop and looked up. He was hovering there. His wings beat wildly. When they slowed, he landed just above her. She pushed him over and he landed on his ass with a chuckle. “Laugh all you want. I found it.”

“What?”

“Our way back to Annalise,” she said with a triumphant smile.

“Under the water...” He seemed to ask the question as he glanced back at the surface. The glassy look was returning as the ripples died down.

“It isn’t far down. If you kick with your feet and I drag you, we should be fine.” He didn’t look convinced. His wings did that nervous flutter again. “We can do this.”

Wick nodded. “I trust you.” He took a breath and slipped his feet into the water. Slowly he made his way further. The loincloth began to float and Jayn had to look away. When she looked back, he was halfway in. Just below his wings the water lapped. The waterfall continued splashing as he stopped and looked back at her.

He really trusted her. The knowledge made her stomach do a crazy little flip. She ignored it and made her way by his side. “Keep kicking your feet. Make sure you take a deep breath.” She grabbed his hand and bit her lip when their fingers twined. Jayn inhaled sharply and released it only to take another big gulp of air and dive down.

Wick was quick to follow. His eyes were open, wide with panic, and his wings looked liked they shriveled slightly as the water closed over them. They seemed to darken and their bright color dimmed. Wick kicked awkwardly with his feet, as the wings seemed to contract toward his back. Jayn kicked off the rock and pulled him with her. They were slow going. He had a big issue with each movement and his cheeks were puffed out like a bloated fish. She kept her body calm, although adrenaline was kicking in as they neared that big boulder.

They were almost there.

She pulled vigorously, trying to use all her energy to get them through that opening. Wick tugged her hand and she glanced back while swimming forward. Their eyes locked and he closed them before jerking his hand right from hers. He flailed uselessly for a few moments and she switched directions. Her arms came around his sinking body. Wick began to claw at his chest.

He couldn’t breathe.

Jayn frantically grabbed him and tried desperately to pull him back down. They could make it. She was sure of it. He came with her, though the flailing was less energetic. His grip was loosening. Jayn’s heart began to beat wildly. Adrenaline pumped through her veins like blood. He couldn’t die. She couldn’t let him die. With a gust of vivacity, she dragged his body further down. They passed the rock and that glorious opening was right there. The light was so bright that there had to be daylight within feet of the opening.

Wick went limp.

No!
Jayn swam relentlessly. Her body becoming exhausted but she fought it with every ounce of strength in her soul. They were right there. The opening was before them. She shoved Wick through and saw his wide eyes begin to close.
No!
She held onto the edge of the hole, using her legs muscles to push him completely through. Wick began to float. It had to be the surface. She pulled herself through. Her feet were nearly out of that horrible cavern of water when something slithered along her ankle. It wrapped itself around her leg and tugged. Air shot from her lungs from the force of the jerk and she was pulled back into the cavity. Her oxygen was running low as she turned and grabbed the knife from her sheath. A slimy scaly thing that looked like an octopus was wrapped around her ankle. It squeezed painfully as she brought the knife to it. She hacked into it. Repeatedly she jabbed at it without wincing when the blade pierced her own skin.

It let go.

Jayn swam toward that hole. Her lungs felt like bursting as she made her way through the opening. She could hardly tell which way was up as her sight began to blur. Her lungs were on fucking fire. Jayn shoved off the wall and charged. She just hoped it was upward toward the surface.

There! Was that sunlight? She swam, her arms failing her, her legs felt like weights but she was so close.

Jayn’s head broke the surface. She took the biggest gasp she had ever taken in her life. Beautiful oxygen filled her lungs and it took several big gulps before her eyesight cleared. She was gasping for breath when she glanced around and noticed she was alone. Where the fuck was Wick? Jayn took a big breath and got back into the water. She scanned the small area and saw a dark blob lying on the bottom of the pond.

Jayn dove.

She swam fast toward that blob and the green began to show. It was him. That was Wick. Jayn wrapped her arms around his lifeless form before she pushed off the bottom and propelled them both to the surface. Jayn panted, going under briefly from Wick’s weight. She shuffled them toward the shore, dragging him onto the dirt and hiking him from the water’s edge. “Wick?” she called breathlessly. Jayn was still gasping as she laid her head on his bare chest.

Nothing.

She tilted his head back, pinched his nose and placed her lips on his. It took one breath and a sharp pump to his chest for his eyes to pop open. She pulled back as he choked up water. Jayn smiled. Hearing him cough was a beautiful sound. She lay back in the dirt, trying to get her breath back as she looked overhead.

The sun.

She’d never been so happy to see that bright orb. There were trees all around them and a warm breeze that gave her skin the goose bumps. Wick silently reached out to grab her hand. Their palms touched, their fingers twined and that’s how the others found them.

Chapter Eight

Wick was more than a little confused on recent events. The kisses with Jayn had been explosive and he couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that Jayn could be his mate. Both she and Annalise seemed to call forth his primal side but which of them was his true mate? Trusting Jayn to get him through that Goddess-awful water was a huge leap, and when his lungs screamed for air, he thought maybe he chose poorly. Then he saw light and everything went black. The next Wick knew, Jayn was leaning over him and her lips were on his. He had the sudden urge to gasp for breath. After releasing the water in his lungs, he laid back and stared at the sky. That was an adventure he didn’t want to repeat. Except for the kissing. That he’d do again in a heartbeat, but what did that mean for him and Annalise? He reached out, grabbed her hand and waited for a sign from the Goddess. She would surely help him with some sort of answer. Moments later there was a joyous scream and the patter of light feet.

He lifted his head and saw the angelic Annalise. She was trudging through the sand at warp speed trying to get to them. At first, he thought the sight was a cruel illusion but then the golden fairy was swooping down and behind him was Flance. The warrior was never without his fairy mate, Bray, and sure enough, she too soon joined them. He gave them a pathetic wave as Annalise hopped between them. She kissed Jayn on the cheek and hugged him as best she could.

Her lips moved as if she was speaking but he didn’t hear anything. Wick blinked a few times. He shifted so his wings could expand. They were heavy when wet and felt awkward like that time he fell in a stream covered with snow. His balls had practically disappeared into his body they were so cold. That’s how awkward his wings felt now. Uncomfortable didn’t begin to describe it. Wick shuffled to his hands and knees. Thame was by his side, helping him to stand hunched. He glanced at Jayn. She was struggling to sit up. Her ankle had a pool of blood beneath it. What happened to her? “Home,” Wick said but his voice was low and raspy like he had not spoken for months. Thame nodded. His large arms wrapped around Wick and the ground soon dropped away.

The air felt amazing. It cooled his skin and began to dry his wings. He was never happier to glance down at the world. The blurry images from beneath the water were scary, and if Jayn hadn’t been there, he never would have gone through with the swim. The forest parted beneath them and he glanced back. The other fairies were in the air carrying his very precious cargo.

He must have dozed off because when his eyes popped open he was in the palace. Wick was lying on his side, his wings spread and nearly dry. “Jayn?” he called out.

“She’s okay.” King Carrick was before him. His giant blue wings went wide and fluttered.

“She’s injured.”

“And it’s being tended to. How are you, Wick?”

Wick glanced up at him. Though his heart and mind were flipping out of control, he was physically okay. Kind of. “Well, I’ve got an erection that’s not being tended to...”

The king chuckled.

“But other than that, I think I’m in one piece.”

“There’s the Wick we know and love.” Carrick smiled. “Truly, are you all right?”

Wick nodded. He pushed himself up with his arms and sat on the edge of the couch. “It was a leprechaun.”

“I know. We banished him from our territory.” Carrick paced to the window. “I will let you rest until morn, but then we must have a decision on our fight with the trolls.”