“That we do, but not here. We should get back to the house.” Before they can move, the sound of clapping is heard.
A shadowed form steps forward, “How sweet. A lovers tryst, I do hope I am interrupting.”
She steps out of the shade and throws back the hood from her cloak. Nyssa’s pale blue eyes are full of hatred, as she stares at the pair. She snaps her fingers and Dark Fae surrounds them.
“Nyssa? What are you doing?” Reese asks as his anger grows.
“Brath!!!” she snarls. “I have fought at your side for years, waiting for you to get over your dead wife, and you betray me with that!” she screams pointing her sword at Ariana.
Reese moves to the right, shielding Ariana from view and Ariana moves closer, feeling the snap of his power around him. He knows Ariana’s powers are limited so he begins to channel some of his power to her. Instantly, Ariana feels the spark of energy flow into her, strengthening her for the fight to come. His power is rich. It floods Ariana’s spirit and moves through her body and her head falls back and she stifles a moan as the glorious sensations flood her body.
“You come to me in Shadow, Nyssa? I have not betrayed you!! Ariana is your Queen…” he rages, furious with her.
“I have no Queen,” she screams. Infuriated at the sight of them together. She points a hand at them, seizes a steaming rock from the hot spring, and shoots it towards them. Reese destroys the rock exploding it to dust as Ariana clutches tightly to his hand, unable to help.
“Soon we shall all be Free. NO Fae Queen, NO Shadow King, simply free!”
Ariana sees the insanity in the woman’s eyes, and she surveys the evil around them, fifteen Fae, all pulsating with rage. Reese knows Nyssa is stalling; she is buying time for her Master to arrive. Slowly Ariana sends his energy back to his spirit. The Fae have the ability to channel magic from any existing magic around them, be it another Fae or even the environment they are in. Only the elder Fae practice this technique, the power becomes massive as they pass it back and forth, and if not controlled properly can destroy the one wielding it.
Reese feels the energy pass back into his body, and shutters at the intensity of the magic. Ariana’s essence is in the magic and when it floods his body his hand tightens on hers. Nyssa’s eyes go to their hands and her eyes go white with rage, as she prepares to attack. Ariana sends her power deep into the ground seeking out the roots beneath the trees. With deep respect, she asks for their help, and the moment Nyssa attacks, the roots burst from the ground seizing the Dark Fae. Some are seized by the strong roots and lifted off the ground. Others are thrown into tree trunks, or simply wrapped up tight. They all fight to break free.
Reese spins and wraps is arms around Ariana, leaping straight up in and explosion of light. He longs to destroy Nyssa, but Ariana’s safety comes first. Nyssa runs screaming at them swinging her sword she finds empty air. “REEESE!!!” she screams at him.
Her rage joins her masters, as he arrives to find the empty forest. Reese takes them away, as fast as possible, thinking only of her safety. He knows where to take her. To the one place, no one will look for them, Katie’s cottage!
Ariana sighs as they shoot through the forest up into the starry sky. It has been so long since she has danced amongst the heavens and she has missed it.
“Reese, dance with me!” she cries out and spins around him, two stars seizing the moment and savoring its peace. His laughter rings in her heart as the two twin souls find harmony. Two blue stars shoot across the night sky and as they spin around each other, it becomes impossible to tell one from the other.
Chapter 11
Duncan and Samantha are in the forest twenty miles from their mountain home. The vale is not a solid place, it has the ability to go wherever and whenever it wants. Samantha walks with the mountain of a Fae she calls a mate and smiles. She can’t believe she has been given this gift. Her love for him grows stronger with every breath she takes. Remembering the way his mouth felt this morning and the hardness of his muscles…
“Enough Aghra, you keep thinking like that and we will never find the Vale.”
Her black hair is pulled up; setting off her green eyes and when she smiles at him her dimples wink at him. “Sorry, it’s not my fault that you set me on fire, Duncan.” She loves it when he calls her his love.
The moment he laid eyes on Samantha, his whole world shifted. Everything became clear and, in that instant, he understood why he had not returned to the Vale, he was meant to find her. They have not been apart since that moment and he is worried about taking her with him.
“You can’t protect me from everything, Duncan. What kind of life would that be, it would be more like a prison?” He stops and looks down at her.
“I am aware of that, Samantha, but I am afraid of what I would become if something should happen to you.” He cups her face with his large hand, and she is amazed once more by the gentleness of his touch.
“You will not lose me, my love, we are in this together,” she says holding his hand against her face. “Duncan, we are watched. I think it is found.” She watches the switch as Duncan goes from lover to
