The Gossamer Gate (9 page)

“It has to be somebody that really wants to find her,” Cate said emphatically,
glaring at Sean. “Of course we really want to find her, but apparently that isn’t enough for the fey. You’re supposedly her best friend, but if you don’t want to find her…” She reached for the paper.

“Of course I want to find her!” Sean snatched his hand away from her searching grasp. “I can’t imagine living without her!” He took a deep breath and read the words aloud. Blinking, he looked up and asked, “Did it work?”

Chapter 9

As the third night began to fall, Khiara realized she needed to find a place to sleep. The path had gone from a bumpy forest trail to a hard, worn road. She could see the murky forest to the west of the road, as wretched and twisted as ever. Before her to the north, where the path slowly wound ahead and a little to the right, then just over a hill, there were the spires of some distant architecture, looking much too far away. At her back, to the south, were the rolling fields she had passed through over the course of the past day. To the east of the road she saw tall green grasses indicative of swamplands or coastal terrain. The entire landscape was wild and seemed largely uninhabited, with the exception of the small village through which she had passed.

Despite the forsaken territory, the road appeared well traveled. It was dry, and free of grass or moss. There were fresh ruts from wheeled vehicles and horses’ hooves.

With a sigh of fatigue, Khiara stopped dead in her tracks and considered collapsing then and there to the ground, when a noise distracted her from musing. She had shoved her MP3 player in her bag hours ago, tired of listening to her play list when it started the second time.

She heard the sound again and realized it was an animal growl. Turning to look to her left, she saw five white wolves emerging from the forest.

“Oh
shit,” she muttered under her breath, taking an involuntary step back.

Many of the fey had already told her
the journey would have its challenges, though that really went without saying. She had not realized it would actually be dangerous, even deadly. The southern forest had seemed complete devoid of life as she traveled through it.
Apparently the western forest is a bit livelier
, she thought frantically as she backed away from the wolves.

Since they continued to advance, s
he stopped and stood as still as possible, despite the overwhelming instinct to run. Her eye searched the ground for something to use as a weapon. There was nothing in her bag, except the usual things she carried out of the house. She could hardly swing a bag containing a wallet, lip balm, and sunglasses at them, with the belief that it would deter them from attacking her. Still, she thought, it might buy her time, or at least keep them from getting too close to her.

With exaggeratedly slow motions
, she reached up to lift the strap off her shoulder and over her head, and then wound the strap through her hands. Gripping it tightly, she took another cautious step backward.  The wolves rumbled low in their throats as they stalked her.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” she said soothingly, “anymore than I want you to hurt me.” Part of her hoped that these animals of faerie would understand, but they only stepped toward her, padding on soft feet with deadly intent.

For each step they took forward, she took another one delicately back. Their growls told her that they were clearly hostile. She did not want to provoke an attack, but she figured it was inevitable no matter what. The idea of whacking them with the messenger bag didn’t seem like a good idea anymore. She decided she would try to put as much distance as possible between herself and the pack, but she still held the bag before her.

Their growling
grew louder, and the closest wolf barked and snapped at her. Khiara braced herself to fight them off. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest as she stared back at them.

A rush of air in front of her took her aback for a moment. She prepared to swing, raising her other arm to protect her throat.

The wolf had not leapt.

Someone had darted in front of her to stand between them.

“Liam!” she gasped.

“They aren’t animals of faerie. They don’t have any more intelligence than you or I do. They are from your world.”

“What are they doing here?” she asked him, her eye still on the advancing wolves despite the barrier between her and the danger.

“Humans aren’t the only ones who stumble through the gates. Animals can get lost and end up in the Otherworld too. We try to treat any creatures from the mortal world with care, especially those that
humans try to hunt to extinction. We feed them and make them our friends. These are newly come to this world and have not yet learned that they have nothing to fear.”

With a subtle wave of his hand, Liam worked his faerie magic, the pulse of which Khiara immediately felt attuned to once more. Its beauty and intensity, poetry and power brought an answering flare of energy and magick within her.

Its harmonious resonance also reminded her of the good times she had known with Ronan. In the mortal world, while cloaked in glamour, faeries emitted pleasing vibrations and energies, calculated to appeal to humans. For so long, she had no idea of Ronan’s true nature, until that night. It was when his shadowy magick had shattered the glamour that she had felt repelled by his essence.

The wolves raised their noses to the air and
then ran down the road, past Liam and Khiara, who pressed herself against the faerie’s back as the predators dashed by.

It was several moments before Liam whispered, “They’re gone.”

“Where did they go?” she asked, looking down the road toward the south, her cheek pressed against the hollow between his shoulders. She had not felt so warm or relaxed since arriving in the Otherworld.

“They’ve gone toward the village. They will find food and friendship waiting there
, and soon learn there is no need to hunt.”

Khiara realized how fortunate she was. “Thank
–”

“Do not say it. To do so would incur debt. You know the implications of those words.” Liam did not turn to look at her, but instead began walking down the road, toward the kingdom to the north.

Khiara fell into step just behind him, her eyes on the ground. “But you saved my life,” she said in a low voice. “So I have to say it. It wouldn’t feel right not to.”

She felt the tension in his body, but ignored it.

“Thank you,” she said.

He stopped and turned to her
. His left hand gripped her right shoulder, and his body moved closer to hers until he pushed her up against one of the twisted trees on the side of the road. “What sort of thing do you think I will want from you?” he asked her, his gaze lowering from her eyes to her lips.

“I’m not entirely sure,” she said, feeling her heartbeat quicken, this time not with fear, but with desire. It was a heady feeling to
have someone pursue her, even someone as inconstant and capricious as a faerie. Normally, she would have rejected him on the spot, but something about their attuned energies made this feel right. She realized that it was far too easy to indulge in those very pleasures of Faerie that Ronan had told her she must avoid if she was to go home, but she knew that, sooner or later, something might get the better of her.

Just not here,
she tried to tell herself.
Think about Sean
…

Liam leaned in, and Khiara heard a distant “Sean who?” in her mind.
For now, the only thing that made sense to her was to give in to the other voice inside of her… The “just one kiss won’t hurt” suggestion.

“I
knew from the moment I met you, that you were going to be trouble,” she whispered. Lowering her lashes, she tilted her face up toward his.

“I could say the same thing about you.” Liam moved his hand up to cup her jaw.

She closed her eyes.

There was a rattle that made her jump
, though Liam didn’t seem to notice. He only moved away from her as if nothing had happened, and turned to look down the road.

Khiara took a deep breath to regain her bala
nce, both physical and mental. Liam’s presence still surrounded her, and she felt immersed in the need to be closer to him.
This is crazy
, she told herself.
I have to stop feeling like I need him. If I let this go on, I will never get home.

And then there’s Sean…

Right?

When she looked at the road with clear eyes, she saw a horse-drawn coach that was royal purple in color, with silver tassels draped over it, and silver flags waving from the four corners on top. Looking out the silver-lined window was a beautiful woman with strawberry blonde curls gathered atop her head, a silver crown on her brow, and lavender eyes that regarded the two of them with laughter.

“Who is that?” Khiara asked Liam under her breath. The woman in the carriage was the most luminously beautiful person she had ever seen in her entire life.

“That is the Queen of the Faeries.”

“The Queen of the Faeries?” Khiara repeated, her mouth hanging open.

“In your world, she would be most recognized as Titania,” Liam explained, not taking his gaze from the carriage. “It pleased her to take that name for herself. In truth, she has no need of a name. We know who she is. Her mere presence is sovereignty and magick. Even mortals with their lack of connection to the earth and its offspring could feel that.” Liam bowed from the waist as the footman opened the coach door, giving the Queen an unobstructed view of them.

With a glance at her companion’s obeisance, Khiara followed suit by sinking into the most graceful curtsy she could manage in jeans and a tank top. She lowered her eyes to the ground in what she hoped was a respectful expression.
Like a dog,
she thought,
you don’t look it in the eye if you want it to think it’s in charge.

The Queen’s energy
felt like a blend of all things: earth, air, water, and fire, darkness and light. But Khiara particularly felt the light in that synergistic fusion of energy and power. Hers was the power of the dawn and creation. Khiara somehow felt safe and secure in the Queen’s presence, even as she was aware of her strength.

“Liam,” the Queen said with mirth in her musical voice. “What a naughty bard you are, out here seducing human maids when you should be on your way home.”

“I was on the road to the capitol, your Majesty, and must admit to succumbing to this lovely distraction. However, even the fairest woman, be she human or faerie, could not rival you in beauty. I am yours to command.”

Raising her gaze to the faeries, Khiara decided
Liam’s flowery speech was a credit to his profession. He straightened and looked at the Queen, but Titania was looking at Khiara, her brows drawn together.

“Young lady, would you like to be my guest at my palace tonight?” the Queen asked.

Khiara also straightened up and furrowed her own brow as she responded. “I don’t know if that is a good idea, your Majesty.” She glanced sideways at Liam. “I need to get somewhere, and time is of the essence.”

“After the task to which my son has set you, surely you are in need of rest.” The Queen’s voice was firm, but also kind.

“Your son?” Khiara asked, her voice rising. She realized she sounded more shocked by the revelation than she had intended.

“Ronan is the eldest of my children, and I cannot do enough to apologize for his behavior toward you. Please come and stay the night. It is the least I can do.” Titania extended her hand toward Khiara. “
It will bring you a few miles closer to your goal, and you may sleep in a comfortable bed, then continue your journey tomorrow.”

“I thought that was Ronan’s kingdom ahead,” Khiara said, taking a step toward the carriage, reaching her own hand out to place her fingers
over the Queen’s.

“Goodness, no
. That is mine and Oberon’s domain, the capitol of the Otherworld. Come and you will be our guest. I can assure you that you will not be harmed while in our court.” The Queen curled her fingers beneath Khiara’s to draw her toward the waiting transport.

Somehow, Khiara found herself sliding into the carriage and sitting across from the Queen as if it were the natural thing to do. Liam sat down next to her, the footman closed the door, and the carriage move
d along the dirt road once more.
This is so surreal,
Khiara told herself as the wheels turned, moving them toward their destination.
I’m with the Queen of Faerie and on my way to her castle.

“You must be exhausted,” Titania observed as she
watched Khiara, compassion in her melodic voice. “Let me offer you some of my magick. It will rejuvenate you.”

“I must not take anything from the realm of
Faerie,” Khiara demurred instantly, her skin prickling as a chill passed over her. She wondered if she had fallen into a well-crafted trap meant to lull her into a sense of security. It seemed oddly coincidental to meet up with the queen – Ronan’s mother – during her quest.

“This is a gift, nothing more. It will bind you neither to me, nor to our world.” Titania reached out to take her hand,
and Khiara found herself unable to put any space between them. She felt a pleasant, comfortable pulse of life magick, and all signs of fatigue disappeared from her body and mind. “I need you to be in good spirits and high energy for tonight,” the Queen said, releasing Khiara’s hand and sitting back in her plush seat, a smile on her lovely face.

“What
’s happening tonight?” Khiara asked, feeling the invigorating faerie energy humming through her body. It certainly didn’t seem harmful, but wariness still edged the sensation.