Soul Mates: Magic (Soul Mates Series) (15 page)

“We want the Stone, Princess. You have twenty four hours to deliver it, or you’ll find more of these humans suffering from my kiss, and it will be too late for you to save them,” Póg Tocsaineach said and she disappeared down the hall.

“Glamour?” I asked in Gaelic.

“Don’t worry Princess, Peri is taking care of it, we won’t get caught.”

I nodded and watched Michael for signs that the potion was doing its job. His breathing slowed and his color was coming back, he no longer looked green. I listened closely and his heartbeat began to slow. Soon he was sound asleep, breathing normally.

“I think you may have over done the belladonna, Princess.”

“Perhaps a little bit, he may sleep for a while, but it wasn’t a deadly amount. He’ll be all right,” I said standing up.

“He really didn’t deserve for you to save him,” Cole said. “Daire told me what he did to you, what he always does.”

“He didn’t deserve to die just for being a jerk. And I was the only one that could save him.”

“If you say so
, Princess.”

We left Michael napping on the floor with Peri to watch over him as Cole and I went to find Daire. We needed to get back to the Mound and discuss Póg Tocsaineach’s demand.

We found him in Mrs. Lancaster’s English class. I glamoured the class and got him out into the hall. “We have to go,” I said.

“What’s happened?”

“Póg Tocsaineach is here, she’s got a ring. She’s going to poison humans until I return the Dark Stone.”

“We have to speak to Auberon,” Daire said.

“I know, that’s why we came to get you.”

Daire grabbed my hand and we flashed to the Faerie Mound. “Quickly, get inside!” he said urging me forward toward the door.

I glanced behind us to see several Nightmares lurking in the trees. “Daire!”

We ran for the door, which Trikken already had open by the time we reached him. He slammed it shut as soon as we entered. “That was close,” he said.

“The others will be right behind us, keep an eye out for them please,” I said, placing my hand on his arm.

“Of course
, Princess.”

Daire and I hurried to the throne room in search of Auberon. He wasn’t there, so we tried the dining hall and the courtyard. We finally found him watching the sparring going on in the training ring.

“My King!” Daire called.

Auberon turned, looked down at his watch and then back at us. “What has happened? Why aren’t you in school?”

“Póg Tocsaineach has acquired a ring, she’s threatened to poison the humans if we don’t deliver the Dark Stone.”

“Damn that Shamus.” Auberon looked as furious as I felt. “I’m not sure how to convince Gaia to give up the Stone. She doesn’t speak to me as she does you and Max.”

“I can try, but I’m better connected to her in the Never Never…”

“It’s too dangerous Abbey, you can’t go into the Never Never, besides we don’t have that kind of time, she only gave us twenty four hours.”

“So what am I supposed to do? I could go out into the park and try it, but the Nightmares are out there waiting,” I replied with a frown.

Daire took a deep breath, closed his eyes and calmly said, “It will have to do, we’ll take care of the Nightmares, so you can talk with Gaia.”

“I suppose that is the best we can do, I’ll call Max and he can assist you,” Auberon said opening the door to go back inside.

Daire pulled me into his arms and held me tight. I could tell that he was worried about our plan working. “Don’t worry, it will be fine,” I said.

“What’s the plan?” Cole said joining us in the courtyard.

“We are going to clear the way so that Abbey can talk to Gaia and get the stone back.” Daire let me go enough so that I could turn around and face the warriors that followed Cole out to the courtyard.

“When?”

“As soon as Max can get here. Auberon is calling him now.”

“Didn’t he have a Felidae ceremony to perform today?”

I nodded. “Yeah, someone’s coming of age ceremony, he can’t miss it.”

“No, he can’t. We can do this without him. You can do it Abbey.”

“I’m glad you have such confidence in me, Cole.”

“He’s right, you have the power to do this yourself. Gaia will listen to you,” Daire said softly. “We’ll keep you safe, I swear it.”

I nodded. “Let
’s get it over with then,” I said confidently.

Chapter
Nineteen

I changed my clothes with a snap of my fingers as we headed to the front door. I wanted to be battle ready, so I chose to wear my spiked boots. I was getting quite use to them by now, a pair of Manticore hide pants and a form fitting tank top also of Manticore hide. I realized it was what the Goblins wore for battle because it was the strongest material, hard to slash through, but moved easily and didn’t way a ton. My wrist sheaths held several daggers and I’d added a few more to each knee-high boot. I added a satchel at my waist with some poison potions as well as a couple of antidote vials. I wasn’t taking any chances.

“Max is unable to help,” Auberon said tightly, and I knew he was pissed.

“We figured that out, Felidae business,” I replied. “It’s fine Great Grandfather. I can handle it.”

Auberon stood in front of me, he looked older somehow. His eyes held millenniums worth of battle within them, more than normal. I could tell this was taking a toll on him. He pulled me into his arms. “Be careful, you are important.”

I nodded. “I will be careful. Don’t worry.”

“You make sure she stays safe,” Auberon said turning to Daire.

“She is my life, I won’t let anything happen to her,” Daire replied.

Auberon nodded and allowed us to go through the door to the park. Cole, Avery and Thane went first, taking on the first wave of Nightmares that swooped down out of the trees. Daire and I followed with Peri, Ferein, Kalen, Brokk and Nexil pulling up the rear.
Siros, Elvin and Trikken stood guard on the door and would only join us if we were overwhelmed.

I threw my first two daggers taking out the eyes of a couple of the winged beasts, then pulled my sword, ran toward the closest Nightmare, used a tree stump as a launch and flipped onto it’s back, bringing my sword down on its neck slicing through the sinew and bone
and decapitating it. I rode its body down to the ground and went after the next Nightmare only to be grabbed and pulled back by Daire.

“Abbey, no! You have a job to do, let us do ours,” he said fiercely, purplish blood running down his arm from the Nightmare’s heart he’d just crushed.

I nodded and moved to the center of the circle the warriors had created. I sheathed my sword, trusting that they would keep the Nightmares at bay and allow me the time to get in touch with Gaia.

I closed my eyes, called up my power and felt the wind gently blow around me. I held out my hands, palms forward and called out to Gaia, praying she would come to me. I’d alway
s felt her presence before, in the wind and earth, but she’d never once shown herself to me. This time when I called, she appeared in the circle of my warriors with me.

“Open your eyes, my dearest Abbey,” she said, her voice soft and gentle.

I did as she asked and for the first time I truly saw her, the Earth goddess, Gaia. She was even more beautiful than I could have imagined. Her long golden hair flowed down her back and held the scent of buttercups. Her large eyes swirled with images of the Earth, ever changing with her thoughts. Her dress was made of living green plants and fell to her feet. She was glorious to behold. I dropped to my knees before her. “Goddess,” I said, bowing my head.

“Stand up, S
weetness,” Gaia said with a smile, ignoring the fight that was going on around us. We seemed to be in some kind of bubble of protection and light, making it impossible to hear the warriors and Nightmares and impossible for them to hear us.

I stood and faced Gaia, trying to think of a polite way to ask for the Dark Stone. “Goddess, we need the Dark Stone, Póg Tocsaineach has threatened the lives of innocents to get it back.”

“Innocents? You mean humans, the ones who destroy me without a second thought,” Gaia said with a frown.

“They don’t realize they are hurting you. And these innocents are just children. They have time to learn, and teach others better ways.”
             

“The Dark Stone would allow them to be hurt more than anything Póg Tocsaineach could do to them. It is why I took it in the first place.”

“I know the consequences of returning the Dark Stone to the Queen. If I could come up with an alternative, I would.”

Gaia smiled. “No need
, Sweetness, I shall take care of it for you.” Gaia held the Dark Stone in her hand and slowly wrapped her fingers around it. I could see the darkness draining out of it, causing the power that lay within it to enter Gaia and through her change into something less dark. She sent the new power into the stone. “That should do it.”

“Won’t the Queen realize that the stone has been altered?” I asked.

Gaia smiled. “Not until she uses it. It will still allow her creatures to enter the mortal world wherever she wishes, but as they enter their powers will be drained and they will be unable to harm anyone, making them useless to her. She cannot blame you for this, for no one has this kind of power to change stone but me, and she does not want to go to war with me, she will lose.”

I smiled and took the Dark Stone from her offered hand. “Thank you
, goddess. You truly are very generous.”

“It is my pleasure, my sweet. Just do me a slight favor?”

“Anything you ask, goddess.”

“Plant some trees to help restore my balance to this area.”

I smiled. “Of course, goddess. Any particular kind?”

“I’m partial to Sessile Oaks and the ground here would suit them, it is higher and free draining.”

“I shall plant them as soon as possible, goddess.”

Gaia smiled. “Now go help your warriors, my sweet.” She took my hand and infused me with even more power. As soon as she disappeared the power blew out of me like an explosion, decimating
the remaining Nightmares, charring them with the light of a million suns and knocking my warriors on their asses.

Daire was on his feet faster than the rest of them, running to me to make sure I was well. “How in all that is holy did you manage that?”

I smiled. “It wasn’t me. I was just the tool. Gaia took care of them.”

Daire pulled me into his arms. “Are you all right?”

“I’ve never felt better,” I replied.

“Did Gaia give you the Dark Stone?”

“She did better than that,” I said and explained what she’d done to the Stone.

“And the Queen won’t realize it’s been tampered with?”

“Gaia says no, not until it’s too late.”

Daire smiled. “That is good news.”

“We should get back inside before she sends reinforcements.”

I nodded and walked with Daire to the Mound, realizing there was no one on the door. “Where are Siros, Elvin and Trikken?” I asked looking around for the first time, counting our warriors. Four were missing. I mentally went through the list of warriors that had joined us, counting them off as I saw them. Siros, Trikken, Daire, Cole, Peri, Kalen,
Thane and Ferein.

“Princess,” Cole began.

I stared in horror at my warriors. “Where are Elvin, Nexil, Avery and Brokk?” I asked, dread filling my heart.

“Elvin didn’t make it, Abbey.” Daire pulled me into his arms giving me strength.

“The others?” I asked, barely holding it together.

“Nex and Brokk were injured badly, Avery took them to the Mound just before you dest
royed the last of the creatures.”

“How badly?”

“I don’t know if they will make it,” Daire replied softly.

I pushed out of his arms and ran to the infirmary. Nex and Brokk were laying on the cots with Tatiana administering to them. “Don’t just stand there Abbey, I could use your help.”

I got to work without a word, mixing herbs to help them and handing them to Tatiana. It was nearly an hour before we saw any signs that they would recover. “Are they going to make it?” I asked softly.

“I think so, Avery got them here just in time. What happened out there?”

I pulled the Stone from my pocket and held it out to her. “Gaia gave me the Stone.”

“Then at least Elvin did not die in
vain. We shall honor him this evening, celebrate his life, and give him a proper send off to the Summerland.”

“He should never have left the door,” I said softly, “he wasn’t ready for this kind of fight.”

Tatiana looked at me, gently pulling me to my feet. “Love, he is a warrior, he saw his fellow warriors in trouble and he went to help protect you. He died doing a job he loved and for someone he loved, you. He could not have asked for a more honorable way to die. And we shall see him again in the Summerland. Do not mourn his passing, he would never want that.”

With tears in my eyes I took a deep breath and nodded. I would treasure my memories of Elvin, his gentleness and sweet smile, and the way he used to tease me when I was a child. I would miss him greatly, but I would not mourn his loss, I would celebrate his life and look forward to seeing him again in Summerland. I stepped out into the hallway to find the other warriors somberly waiting to hear how Brokk and Nexil were doing.

I moved into Daire’s waiting arms and laid my head on his strong shoulder. “They will be fine. They’re resting comfortably, but will make full recoveries, thanks to Avery.” I glanced over at Avery and said a silent thank you.

You could feel the tension in the hallway lift as the warriors began to smile and relax. Daire took my hand without saying a word and pulled me down the hall to my chamber. He pushed open the door, pulled me inside and closed the door behind us as he pulled me into his arms and kissed me.

I opened my mouth to him feeling his intenseness and desperateness for closeness and held on to him as hard as I could as his hands roamed my back, pulling me closer. He deepened the kiss as he pushed my back up against the door and pulled me up to rest my legs around his waist. He kissed me as if he’d thought he’d never see me again, as if I were the one passing into Summerland. I held him close, my hands stroking his hair, his cheek, his chest. I could feel his heart beat race against my hand as he scooped me up and cradled me, never breaking the kiss. He laid me on the bed and joined me, and finally he came up for air, pressing his forehead into mine as he stroked my cheek with his feather light touch.

“I could have lost you,” he murmured.

“But you didn’t,” I said softly as he pulled me close to him.

“Do you know how much I love you,
Mo ghra ach?”

“I love you too, I would move mountains for you,” I whispered.

Daire grinned that sexy wicked grin he knew I loved. “Mountains hmmm?”

“Big, giant mountains, full of ogres,” I replied, stroking his face, my fingertips tracing his lips.

“Mmm, I’m just glad you are safe,” he said and gently kissed me again. “I should go.”

“You don’t have to,” I whispered back.

“Oh my love, but I do,” Daire whispered softly against my lips. “Or I shall do something we will both be in trouble for later.” He rose and left my room with that wicked grin I loved still on his lips.

I lay there for a few more minutes thinking about what I wanted and what I needed and what was expected of me. I had a great deal to live up to. The Nobles had no idea I was going to be named heir at my debut ball. A few of the warriors were aware of it of course, but they rarely mixed with the Nobles. Somehow I doubted they would be happy with my choice of a mate, thinking that I would choose one of their sons to betroth myself to. It made me nervous to think of it, so I put that thought away for another time. My ball was still a couple of weeks away, plenty of time to deal with that later, after we got through this current crisis. My thoughts turned once again to Elvin and I smiled.

I pulled off my ring, allowing my Faeness to show, and dressed in a holly green gown, Elvin’s favorite color. It sparkled with iridescent sequins and flattered my figure well. I pulled my hair up into a messy bun, and smiled when Faerie crowned my head in a wreath of holly and berries. I slipped my feet into matching heels, and headed to the dining hall. It would be a large affair, all of the warriors were sure to come and celebrate Elvin’s life.