The Darkness of Shadoewynne: Book 3 of the Shadoewynne series Read online

  Kait sighed again. “Okay, Travis, last night I found Eir and asked her for help. I believe she is the only one who can save David. She is an ancient being and there are some rules we need to be aware of when dealing with her.” He waited for Travis to nod before going on. “Foremost, do not eat any food she offers. Second, do not talk to her without her speaking to you first. Third, do not offer her any of our food.”

  “Um, okay. I get the first two, but why the third?” The first two rules were in line with what I had heard about faeries but the last was just bizarre.

  “Eating our food works the same way for her that us eating her food would for us. She will take it as a threat. It is best that you two avoid having a conversation with her as much as possible.”

  “That will be hard, Kait. I don’t want to be rude. I can’t just ignore her.”

  “No, you can’t ignore her. You must talk to her if she talks to you. All I’m saying is not to start conversations. You also should not thank her. She will take it as you owe her a debt, and if she thanks you, she thinks she owes you a debt.”

  “Aren’t we going to owe her a debt for healing David?” I chewed on my bottom lip as I thought about it.

  “Don’t worry about that, Princess. I took care of that already. Travis, if you’re done eating you need to get a pack together. Enough for a week in the wilderness.” Travis nodded as he finished the last of his breakfast. After putting his plate in the sink, and giving me a quick kiss on the lips, he hurried away. I sighed and turned to follow him.

  Kait stopped me. “Princess. I know it will be hard but you have to remember not to treat Eir as a regular person. Please promise me you will be careful with her?”

  “I promise, but why aren’t you worried about Travis?” His attitude was, as usual, pissing me off.

  “Travis has had dealings with these kinds of beings before. He knows the rules of engagement, and you don’t. Plus, your mouth runs off on its own, so there’s that too.”

  “Shut up, Kait.” There wasn’t very much force to my words, though, because I knew that he was right. He smiled, then came over to pull me back into his arms before kissing the top of my head.

  “Go get your stuff together, Princess. Remember, warm clothes.”

  I nodded as I walked on autopilot into the room I was using. I didn’t even know what clothes I had here, much less if I had a week’s worth of warm ones suitable for mucking about in the wilderness. Randomly pulling out drawers, I searched for warm outdoor clothes. After about five minutes I had found two sweatshirts and that was it. I sighed as I set off to find Kait. Hopefully, he had a store of clothes in my size somewhere in the house, although it was a long shot.

  I found him still in the kitchen, morosely staring into a new cup of coffee. I paused in the doorway to watch him. He sighed, then glanced up at me. “Are you packed?” His voice was quiet, barely more than a whisper.

  I shook my head. “I have a grand total of two sweatshirts, no other warm pants besides the sweatpants I am wearing and no warm shoes. I was hoping you have a stash somewhere of clothes that will fit me.”

  “I may. Give me a few minutes.” I nodded and turned around, intending to go back to my room. “Princess?” I stopped and pivoted a little so I could see him. “Wear your glasses. They will be easier to deal with in the woods than contacts.” I hadn’t thought about it but that made sense. I just nodded again. He set down his coffee, then headed out the door, without even glancing at me again.

  My heart was heavy as I walked down the hall. The quieter Kait got, the more I worried about David. He was holding something in, I could tell that much. Not only because of his behavior but also due to the way the bond felt. It felt like he was deliberately keeping me away from his feelings and his thoughts. I worried at my lower lip with my teeth as I knocked on Travis’s door.

  “Come in.” His deep baritone lifted my spirits. When I opened the door, he took one look at my face and rushed over to hug me. “What’s wrong, Babe?”

  I smushed my face against his chest and just breathed in his scent. It helped calm me, which gave me the strength to fight off the tears. “Kait is blocking our bond somehow and he seems to be really worried. I’m scared of what he’s not telling us.”

  He rubbed my back and kissed my forehead. “Babe, not everything is about you and David. Did you ask him what the problem was, or why he is blocking your bond?”

  I shook my head against him. “No, I was going to when he brought back the clothes I asked for.”

  He pushed me away enough so he could look me in the eye. “I trust Kait with my life. With your life. Ask him. If he can, he will tell you. You may not like what he has to say, but all you can do is ask.”

  “Okay, I’ll let you finish your packing.” I kissed him gently. He tangled his hand in my hair and deepened the kiss, exploring my mouth as I explored his. I gasped as his free hand grabbed my butt, pulling me against him.

  Travis was nibbling down my neck when Kait spoke into our minds. “Boy, we don’t have time for that! Evalia, meet me in your room.” Then he was gone. After one last nip on the neck, Travis released me.

  “You better go. It seems you are right; he is in a mood.” He turned back to packing his bag.

  I grumbled to myself as I left his room and headed back to mine. Kait was waiting with his arms crossed. That pose made his biceps bulge and his tight, long sleeves pushed up to mid-forearm just increased his appeal. I couldn’t help but stop and stare. He smiled slightly at me and opened his arms. I rushed in for a hug. He rubbed my back for a moment then pulled away. I pouted at him.

  “I can’t call out Travis then bring you in here and do the same thing, Princess. That’s not fair and not why I called you. Here are some clothes I think will fit. Try them on and pack them if they fit. I need to get our rations together, and yes, before you ask, we are taking the MRE’s. Is there anything else you need?”

  I was still pouting when I answered sullenly, “No, I don’t think so. Wait, yes, I do. I need you to talk to me. Why are you blocking our bond and why are you being so quiet?”

  “I didn’t want to go to Eir and I am worried about David, which is why we need to get moving. Can we please discuss this once we are on the way?”

  “Will you be willing to discuss your problems with Eir with her around?”

  “No, but I’m not willing to discuss them now, either. I don’t want you to worry, Princess. My problems with her are mine. They don’t impact you or the mission.”

  “Why are you being secretive about it? Why exclude us?” I kept pressing him for answers, even though I knew I was pissing him off as I did.

  “It’s personal, alright? I’ve had to deal with her in the past and she hasn’t called in her debt. Now I owe her two. I’m worried about what she will request of me.”

  Well, it could have been worse. She could have been an ex-girlfriend or something. Oh shit, how many exes do I have to worry about? I blinked at him and noticed he was staring at me with a small smile.

  “You never cease to amaze me, you know that? With everything that’s going on, why in the world are you worried about how many women I have dated?”

  I shrugged. It wasn’t like I could explain how my brain worked. “I can’t explain it. It doesn’t always make sense to me, either. But, is there anything Travis or I can do to help?”

  He shook his head. “No, there’s not. The debt is between me and her. Passing it to someone else counts as forfeiting on the debt. Which would make me her slave for the rest of my life. So, no, this is something I have to handle on my own.”

  I frowned at him while my mind threw out worse-case scenarios. The thought of him being a slave to a strange fae woman for the rest of his life terrified me. She could take him from me and I would never see him again. Blowing out his breath, he opened his arms for me. I gladly stepped into his embrace, burying my head in his shirt.

  “That’s why I didn’t want to tell you. Now you’re worried for no reason. I’m sure, when
she calls her debts in, they will be things I can easily do. She’s not usually vindictive, just different.” He slapped my butt before continuing. “Go finish packing. Janelle, Sarah and Sibhre have left already and we need to leave in the next ten minutes if we can manage it.”

  I grabbed the pile and walked out while rubbing my butt. He had hit a little harder than usual and it stung. A flash of heat was there but I was doing a good job of ignoring it. Until I turned back and saw the smirk on Kait’s face. The asshat knew what I was feeling and was enjoying it. I could feel the blood rushing to my face as I scurried from the room. When the door swung shut behind me, I heard Kait snicker. Bringing him out of the funk he was in made up for the embarrassment. I smiled to myself as I finished packing. I ended up with barely a week’s worth of clothing because most of the pants he gave me were too big.

  My pack wasn’t large, which I was thankful for since I assumed I would be carrying it. I picked it up and slung it onto my back as I went into the living room where Travis was already waiting with a small pack. Kait was right behind me. His looked like a traditional backpacker’s pack but without the metal frame, and was larger, but I assumed it was because he had the food. On the bottom was a rolled-up canvas. I hoped that was the tent; I didn’t want to be sleeping in the open. I wasn’t too keen on sleeping in a tent, either, but I’d do whatever I had to in order to get David back.

  David better be glad I loved him because I wouldn’t be doing this for anybody else but my three guys. Kait harrumphed at me, but I just blew him a kiss. The worry lines were back around his mouth. I frowned at him as I attempted, unsuccessfully, to put it out of my mind. “So, are we ready then?”

  Kait and Travis nodded, then Kait led the way out the door into Shadoewynne. I turned to give the interior one last look before Kait shut the door. I hope we come back here. Travis and I had stepped to the side while Kait held the door for us, then he turned and led us into the forest.

  We walked for about twenty minutes through the quiet and still woods. There was no sign of Eir and I wondered if she had given up on us. Then, a tall, willowy woman moved out from between the trees and inclined her head at us. Kait stopped and bowed. Travis followed so, just to be on the safe side, I did too. When we straightened up, she slowly glided forward, her dress fluttering lightly in the wind and her toes an inch above the leaf-littered ground. I shifted my feet, but resolutely stood my ground, determined that she would not freak me out before she said a word.

  “Hello, Kaitsja. Please introduce your party.” Her voice was creepy and made my skin crawl. It sounded like several voices all at once, over several octaves.

  “Yes, Oskmeyjar.” He bowed then gestured to Travis. “This is Travis. He is the current Prince of Shadoewynne.” Travis stepped forward, bowed, then stepped back. “This is Evalia. She is my bonded, and the bonded of Travis and David.” I stepped forward and bowed, then moved back into Travis’s arms.

  “Hmm. Yes. You spoke of David. This is who we are questing to find and heal, correct?”

  “Yes, Oskmeyjar.” Travis and I stood quietly while Kait answered all the questions.

  “Very well, let us proceed, then.” As her feet settled to the ground, her clothing morphed. The dress shimmered, becoming close-fitting pants and a shirt with a leather corset, all with a mottled green and brown pattern that blended into the trees. Soft leather boots appeared, climbing up her legs to knee height. Her dark hair plaited into an intricate herringbone braid that hung down her back. She did not exactly look like the depictions of Valkyrie I had seen but she looked pretty badass.

  Without looking back at us, she strode away, leaving us to follow in her wake. I shot a glance at Kait, who just held out his hand for me. We walked in silence for the rest of the morning. The thick tree canopy diffused the sun into mottled specks of light, making it difficult to tell the time by the sun, but about the time my stomach started reminding me it had been a while since breakfast, Kait called a halt. Eir merely turned around, came back to where we had stopped and settled herself on a fallen tree without a word. She gestured, and a cup appeared in her hand.

  I tore my eyes from her to help Kait, not that there was a lot to do. I picked up an MRE for me and passed one to Travis. We ate the bland, dry food, then climbed back to our feet and moved along. The afternoon passed just as silently as the morning, until I was ready to scream.

  I moved over to Kait, and whispered, “If it will be this quiet, I may end up going crazy.”

  He snorted and put his arm around me. “It’s not that we can’t talk, I just don’t want you all engaging Eir in conversation unless she starts it first.”

  “I know, but it’s weird. Isn’t there some way to break the ice with her?”

  Since his arm was around me, I could feel him jump at my words. “No!” He hissed at me. “I told you, no conversation!”

  It scared him. The realization almost stopped my feet and I stumbled as my toe caught a root. I gaped at him as he clutched at my elbow. There was something he wasn’t telling me, I could feel it in my gut. I had already questioned him about it so it wasn’t likely he would answer if I asked again. Maybe Travis knows something.

  Kait’s fingers tightened on my elbow as he stopped and swung me around to face him. We stopped walking as we stared at each other. After a moment, he leaned in and put his forehead against mine.

  Speaking into my mind, he said, “I’m not scared, and I’m not worried about me, Princess. I’m worried about David. Please let it go and let’s just focus on finding David.”

  I replied the same way. “How are we going to find him? I forgot to ask earlier.”

  “I gave him a magical tracer, just like I gave you.” I spun the invisible ring on my finger as I nodded and started walking again. Weirdly, even though he hadn’t really answered any of my questions, I felt better. I turned back to him, and asked aloud, “How close is he, Kait?”

  “If he stays at the same pace he has for the last day, we will catch up to him in about two days. If he moves faster, we may need to use the gateways to cut some time out of the travel.” I groaned, making Kait smile. “We will avoid that if possible, Princess.”

  As I turned back around, I shuddered. “I appreciate that. I genuinely hate gateways. They suck.” He laughed and put his arm around me again. After a second, he slid his arm down my back and took my hand. Travis dropped back and took my other hand. We walked like that for about an hour. Suddenly, Eir stopped, turned to me and said, “Come, Evalia. We need to talk.” I gave Kait a wide-eyed look. He kissed me tenderly and whispered, “Remember, don’t thank her but answer all her questions.”

  I nodded as I hesitantly walked forward to join her.

  Chapter 3

  Since I didn’t exactly know the protocol, I bowed. She tutted at me. “We will be together for a while, Evalia. Please do not stand on ceremony. It becomes terribly tedious. Please, call me Eir, and relax. I will not harm you or yours. Kaitsja is just a worrier.”

  I snorted at that. She hadn’t seemed that relaxed before and the sudden change made me wonder what caused it. “Alright.”

  “Kaitsja tells me you thought you were human until a few weeks ago.” It wasn’t a question, exactly, but I answered her anyway.

  “Yes, it came as a big surprise to learn that I had Shadoewynne heritage and that I somehow bonded to the guys. It’s been a whirlwind.”

  She tapped a finger against her lips. “Hmm. I imagine it would be. Tell me what happened.”

  I told the story, starting at the paintball war where I met Travis, up to the sting operation the night before. By the time I finished, my throat was parched. I had talked for almost an hour, non-stop. She had asked no questions, simply listened quietly. When I found myself babbling about David killing the person who abused me and the second abduction that seemed to have caused his possession, I clamped my mouth shut. She looked at me impassively for a minute.

  “You, my dear, are pivotal. Without you, history would have taken a different cou
rse.”

  I gaped at her. “I doubt I am that important.”

  “You are more important than you know and fate is not done with you yet. We will save your David, and you will learn more of your destiny.”

  I barely stopped myself from asking what the hell she was talking about. I don’t want to know. Instead, I said, “Obviously, I don’t know what you mean, but I will not ask. What I would like to ask is, what do you think is wrong with David? Is he possessed?”

  “I cannot be positive until I have examined him myself but I think it is more a matter of his own power than interference from an outside source. Sometimes, if a Shadoewynne has more power than they can learn to control, the power can form its own personality and possess the body of the Shadoewynne. From what you and Kaitsja have described, I believe this has happened. Kaitsja said David always had a hard time controlling his powers and most likely, the addition of the bond has spurred the powers to grow even more, which is often the case. If I am correct, it is a simple fix. We merely must cordon off a portion of his power until he can learn to control it. The separate personality will fade, and David will be in full control once more. If I am incorrect, what has possessed him will determine our responses. Either way, I am fairly confident we can fix him.”

  I thought about it quietly for a moment before I said, “He spoke to me in a completely different voice, though.”

  “It may still have been his own power responding.”

  “But, odd voice aside, what if it’s not either of those? What if he has just gone insane?”

  “Then, we may or may not be able to heal him. Diseases of the mind, such as insanity, are notoriously hard to deal with. It will depend on the physiology of his brain and what went wrong to make him insane. For instance, if it is chemical or physical.”

  I almost thanked her for being so open but caught myself in time. Instead, I nodded. She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye as we walked before saying, “Kaitsja is right to be wary of me, but I will not deliberately hurt you or yours. My nature is hard to fight sometimes, but I do not relish the loneliness it brings. I would like to call you a friend if I could.”