Samantha stands slowly and moves through the large room to stand at his side. She slips her hand into his and his stress eases. The Fae watch as she tames the beast with only a touch, and they are moved by the beauty of the moment.
“Please, tell me of my friend. Why am I seeing Reese surrounded by Shadow? What has happened?” Caderyn asks again.
“Do not make my Queen ask again. Why have you come to us?” Drake demands.
“My King asked me to warn you. Samantha had a vision of the Vale being ripped open and the Shadows pouring in. They were exterminating the light of every Fae they could find. The Shadow King could not come himself. He sent us to warn you. There are Shadow and Light that resent the fact that a human sits on the throne of the Fae. They will not stop until they destroy you.”
As Bastian and Drake start to talk, Caderyn interrupts saying, “I saw Reese in trouble.”
At the Queens nod Samantha turns to Duncan, “It was Nyssa, she has betrayed us. She attacked Reese with a group of shadows, Duncan. He’s in trouble!”
Duncan is not shocked. Nyssa has been infatuated with Reese and has made her feelings clear, but he was not interested. He did not think she would dare to go so far. “We were told to warn you and that is what we have done. Now we will return to our people and protect our King,” Duncan states clearly.
Samantha feels the power of the Vale and knows she can do more. “I want to help them, Duncan,” she says. At his dark look, she insists, “I can do more than give a warning. In this place, I feel the power of our people, both shadow, and light. I think I can use that power to control a vision. Maybe see more than just seconds.”
“You do not know how dangerous that will be. I will not allow you to come to harm, Samantha.” Duncan tells her.
“We can shield her, Duncan.” King Drake offers. “Caderyn and I can provide a barrier so that she watches from a distance, instead of it controlling her, she will be able to control it.”
Samantha is excited, “I have lived with these visions all of my life, but never been able to control it. What a gift that would be! If I get into any trouble you can pull me out, Duncan.” Pleading with her eyes, she knows he will do as she asks.
“It is our duty to help if we can, but be warned, I will pull you out if I feel you are in danger, Samantha.”
Bastian has cleared the balcony overlooking the waterfalls outside the stone castle. As Samantha follows the Fae Queen onto the balcony, she is excited. She can feel the magic floating all around, her power is intensified by this place, and it is intoxicating. Every sensation is heightened because of the magic of her people all united.
“My people,” she whispers stepping to the edge to look down over the beauty of this land. Duncan watches with a frown of worry. He knows the power this place holds and how quickly it can turn on you.
“Do you have a scrying bowl?” Samantha turns and asks. She jumps when a large black stone pedestal with a scrying bowl appears in front of her. The wind blows her hair as she steps forward. Duncan and Bastian each walk out carrying four large crystals. They place a crystal at each of the points for North, South, East and West.
“The crystals will help contain the power and not allow us to be seen,” Caderyn explains. “Okay then, do not step outside of the barrier once the vision starts.”
She looks at Duncan and flashes her dimples. “It will be okay.” He steps behind her and she begins. Drake and Caderyn take North and South, While Bastian and Duncan, he takes East and West. They each stand next to a crystal and wait. She pours a cup full of water into the bowl and stirs it in a clockwise direction.
“Water flows, wind blows, show me what I need to know,” she says in a strong voice. A hum fills the bowl, and the water ripples with the power of the elementals. The water radiates a luminous light and Samantha’s eyes go white. She sees two stars shooting across the night sky, two, yet one. They spin dance, loving the freedom. A scream fills the night as a comet strikes one of the stars. It shoots through the celestial sky intent upon its target. She will not escape him again! He shifts to a red dragon and with the star clutched in his hand; he turns and shoots toward the Vale. The star follows his twin soul trying to catch the dragon. A flash in his claw and the star turns to its true form, her red curls fall around her shoulder and she fights, screaming for her Mate. Her violet eyes turn to Samantha, “He will use me to breach the Vale! Help me!”
The vision fades and the water turns dark once more. “What kind of trickery is this?!” The Fae King demands! His Queen feels his anger, and pain, joining him.
Duncan pulls Samantha close as she looks at them. “I don’t understand. Why you are upset?” she asks.
Bastian says, “That was the dead, Fae Queen, my sister. She was murdered before Drake and Caderyn were crowned!”
“The visions do not lie, my King. She is alive and in trouble!”
Caderyn looks up into Drake’s eyes, “I found her with a bronze dagger sticking out of her chest. She exploded to light particles in front of my eyes! Is it possible, Drake? Could she still be alive?”
Frustrated he begins to pace, “I don’t know? Why would she fake her death? Unless…”
With
