Faery Kissed (11 page)

I did as she asked, locking gazes with her.
A burst of panic suddenly overwhelmed me, and I found myself unable
to look away.

“
Try to relax.” She spoke
softly, her stare drilling into me. “I want you to remember
everything I’m telling you. You cannot look away from me right now,
because I am compelling you—placing hypnotic suggestions deep into
your mind. This is something you can do to others as well, though
it will not work on me since I am your creator. These suggestions
can alter the way another person acts, so be careful with them. Do
you understand?”

I nodded, unable to speak.

“
Good,” she continued. “I
need you to tell me if you get thirsty, Bran. If you do this, I
will see to it you are fed. You will only drink as much of my blood
as I allow, not a drop more. You will stop immediately every time I
ask. When I release you from this compelling, you will not remember
the exact conversation, but you’ll instinctively know all the
impressions I’ve left here. Be careful about maintaining extended
eye contact with any other Fae, as they may try to compel you as
well. You will have a moment of dizziness as I exit your mind. I
encourage you to lie down and rest for a few minutes.”

She helped me lay down beside her, pulling
her penetrating gaze from me slowly. I felt dizzy and blinked
several times, focusing on her beautiful face.

“
Do you feel comfortable?”
She ran her hand over my forehead, leaning to place her lips
there.

I laughed. “I never feel comfortable when
I’m around you, Eirian. You keep my blood temperature near boiling
for want of you. I’m beginning to think I’ll never be a simple
thing like comfortable again.”

She smiled. “Well, dear bond mate, let me
see if I can help you cool those fires.”

I shook my head. “It’s not possible, but
please, feel free to try anyway.”

In the early afternoon we finally made our
way out for the day. I paused at the doorway, staring at the shaft
of sun shooting across the walkway.

“
I’m not going to burst
into a pile of ashes or anything, am I?” I knew some Vampire lore,
and I wasn’t taking any chances.

Eirian laughed heartily. “No, my love. I’m
afraid that is all a myth. Blood Wraiths are just as capable of
enjoying the sunshine as anyone else.”

“
I’m glad you find my
question so amusing. I’m always happy to entertain you.”

She continued to laugh. “I didn’t mean to
make light of it. It was just the expression on your face. You
looked so distasteful.”

“
As I’m sure anyone would
who thought they might be about to burst into flames. Is there
anything else I should know? Perhaps about garlic, or holy water
and crosses?” It seemed completely absurd to ask these questions,
or even the fact that they would somehow pertain to me.

“
No, those are all myths
too. You can be killed with a stake to the heart, however, but then
again, so can everyone.”

“
So, am I dead
now?”

She lifted my hand to rest against my chest.
“Your heart still beats. You’re not dead at all.”

“
It’s slower than it used
to be.”

She rested my hand against her chest, and I
noticed hers beat at nearly the same speed. “The Fae age slowly. We
too are immortal, able to choose when we will go into the great
beyond. Blood Wraiths are mutated from Fae, different but the same.
You’re not dead, you’re immortal. The slowing of your heart will
cause your skin to become a little paler, and your aging will
almost completely stop. Other than that, you’ll remain the same
except for the need to add some blood to your current diet. You’ll
acquire some added gifts as well, such as strength and speed. We’ve
even observed a few cases in which there was a transfer of powers,
allowing the Blood Wraiths to have some magical gifts as well. Only
time will tell if that will happen to you.”

“
What are your powers?” I
asked. “I know you can enchant people, but you’ve not spoken of
what else you can do.”

“
I have several gifts, but
my main magic controls water. I’m a water Fae. Each of us is born
with tendencies toward one of the elements. I’m lightly gifted in
all four areas actually, but water is my strongest.”

I stepped into the light, slipped my arm
around her waist as we were greeted by the guard detail, and walked
to the dock, entering the boat.

“
Then you must be very
happy here, seeing as this place is surrounded with it.”

She nodded. “That’s very convenient,
yes.”

I stood behind her as we left the castle
grounds, and I marveled over how the sun illuminated the waterfalls
as they fell over the edges of the canyon in rapidly disappearing
sparkles. I was so curious to find out what she could do.

People were milling about the walls of the
canyon. I found them very interesting. They did have defining
features as a race but were as different as any other group of
people. Both the men and women wore their hair long, though the
men's hair was much shorter in length, falling to their shoulders
generally, while the women wore theirs to their waist.

They sported all kinds of styles of
clothing, as well—brightly colored, but made out of the most
exquisite materials I'd ever seen. I myself had been suited in
something similar today, provided by the castle staff.

We reached a pier, and I helped Eirian out
of the boat, taking her arm in mine as we continued to stroll
along.

“
I thought we were going to
explore the passageways,” I said to her when we were out of earshot
of the servant.

“
We are, but we’ll enter
them from the exterior castle. I thought you would enjoy seeing the
city on the way there.” She led me out of the sun and into one of
the tunnels where I was surprised to find several open areas carved
into the rock where people were selling their wares. Everything was
well lit, and we strolled around looking at all the
items.

“
This is one of many market
places. I thought we could maybe pick something out together—to
remind us of the day we discovered we were having a child
together.”

“
I would love
that.”

I noticed everyone deferred to her as we
passed. They could see her radiant skin as well, and I saw several
secret smiles of approval over her condition. It seemed strange to
have things displayed so publicly, but I loved showing her
off—knowing that the luminosity came from the child I’d placed
inside her.

We stopped in front of a table that had many
silver charms hung from matching chains. The designs were
beautifully made, and we studied each one until we reached a charm
of the moon and stars.

“
I think we should get this
one,” I said, lifting it to hold next to her skin. “It will remind
us of the day you started glowing.” I smiled and caressed her skin
softly. “And besides, I love looking at your skin in the
moonlight.”

Eirian’s eyes misted over, and she blinked
rapidly. “You’re right. This is perfect.” She leaned forward and
kissed me on the lips in front everyone before turning to the man
standing behind the table. “We will take two of these.”

The man looked very pleased. “You honor me,
milady.” He lifted another one and handed it to her. “Consider it
my gift to you on this joyous occasion.”

She smiled widely and dropped a small
curtsey to him, and he blushed with pride at the gesture.

I took the necklace I still held and walked
behind her. She swept her long hair aside as I placed the charm on
her, kissing the back of her neck where the clasp met together, and
she shivered.

She turned and helped me with mine as well,
and when we were done there was a smattering of applause from the
group of people who had gathered to watch us.

Eirian blushed and nodded toward them before
she wrapped her arms around me. “I love you. Thank you for making
me so happy, Bran.”

I groaned. “You’re not playing fair. We’re
in the middle of a crowd of people.”

“
I don’t care.” She laughed
and kissed me soundly enough to steal my breath away and make me
wish we were alone.

“
Eirian,” I whispered,
caressing her face.

She grabbed my hand and led me deeper into
the tunnel, past the market place and what appeared to be a few
residences, until she came to a narrow opening. We slipped inside,
and I found we were standing in a dimly lit area with many
sculptures carved straight out of the rock. All the statues
depicted people in throes of passion—from stealing a tender touch
to kissing in impassioned embraces.

We walked with our hands clasped together,
observing each of the pieces in silence until we came to the
end.

“
It’s lovely, isn’t it?”
she asked. “This is how I feel when I’m with you.”

Her glow added to the ambience of the whole
place. She was so stunning, a gift of beauty to the world around
her.

“
There should be a statue
of you in here looking just like you do right now. Then it would be
perfect.”

“
Bran,” she whispered as I
gathered her into my arms. We swayed back and forth together—her
with her head on my chest and me stroking her hair. No words were
needed, our silent embrace saying it all. She pulled away to look
me in the eye. “Wherever life may take us, I hope you’ll always
remember how much I love you right now in this moment. I will do
whatever it takes to make you happy.”

“
I am happy, Eirian. Thank
you for bringing me into your life.”

She let out a small laugh combined with a
sob. “Don’t thank me. Just come with me.”

We didn’t speak anymore as she led me
through a myriad of tunnels and turns. When we emerged, we were
near the mouth of the crevice that led out to her gardens and the
high castle. We crossed the bridge and headed down to the edge of
the water.

“
I told you that my magic
rules over water. Well, that was how I watched you all these
years.” She knelt down and stirred her hand in the surface,
muttering a few words in an ancient sounding language I didn’t
understand. When she removed it, ripples spread outward, revealing
blurry images in the water that smoothed and sharpened.

I could see my village, Glynshire, the white
painted mud on the exterior walls of the dwellings shining in the
moonlight. On the hill behind the town, a large bonfire raged, and
I could make out the small images of people dancing merrily around
it.

“
Remember, I told you time
passes differently here in Faery. The festivities are still
continuing there.”

“
This is incredible. How do
you do this?”

She shrugged. “I recite a magic spell,
asking the water to let me see and it does.”

“
How did you come to single
me out?”

“
I came across your mother
one day when she was in labor. I found it very interesting, so I
watched. Later, I became curious about how her child was faring, so
I checked to see. You were adorable. I found myself watching you
and your family more often as you grew up, very slowly I might add.
My heart became attached to you as a child, and then one day I came
across you flirting with a young woman.

“
I couldn’t believe how
you’d grown and how handsome you’d become. Something changed inside
me as I continued to watch you. You were noble, and strong—so
reliable to those around you. I noticed my heart began to flutter
with excitement every time I looked at you, and I spent whole days
watching your every movement. I knew I should stop. There was no
way we could be together since you weren’t even aware I
existed.

“
Then one night, I heard
your father telling a story about how he’d once seen the Fae in the
glen, and you seemed mesmerized by the tale. It gave me hope, and I
began devising a plan to bring you here.” She turned to me with
sorrow in her eyes. “I know now I should have left you to live your
life without my interference, but I’ve been in love with you since
you were sixteen. I’ve wanted you all this time. My feelings for
you never diminished for one second no matter what was going on in
both our individual lives or who you were with. For me, there has
only ever been you. I’ve never loved another.”

It was hard to believe this beautiful
creature found me so desirable. “Don’t ever fret about bringing me
here, Eirian.” I grasped her hand and pulled her to her feet. The
image in the water disappeared as she moved away. “It’s true, I’ll
miss my family, but love is noble too. I had no special woman in my
life. They would be happy to know that I’ve found love and a child
is on the way.”

Eirian gave me a small smile, but her lips
trembled.

“
What’s the
matter?”

“
Nothing,” she replied.
“Come let’s go see the tunnels.”

Chapter Eleven

The next several days passed in a blur of
excitement. Eirian showed me everything about her kingdom; secret
passages into the castle, the far fields where food was grown,
small exterior villages, and I even saw my first troll. That was
exciting—for me, even though she called them ugly, distasteful
creatures that no one should ever be excited over.

The Fae did have horses after all—fine
specimens that were used in the flat lands where the food was
grown. I could’ve spent the whole day just inspecting their stock.
Eirian teased me, saying she never knew she would have to compete
with a horse for my affection. I just laughed and continued
looking—wondering if the king would one day allow me to work out
here with them. I knew Eirian said I didn’t need to work, but I
wanted to. I missed it. I enjoyed it.