The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* (64 page)

“What?” she asked confused. “We were in my bedroom not outside.”

I laughed and rubbed my eyes. I wished Polly was here for this conversation.

“When we woke up, we started kissing some more. I don’t know what compelled me to do what I did, but I offered him my neck and made him drink my blood.” she said. “Are you ashamed of me?”

“Why would I be ashamed of you?” I asked confused

“Because it’s forbidden.” she answered

“Julia, I’m not even going to tell you how many times Mathias has bit me.” I said. After a second I added, “Or where he has bit me for that matter.”

“Oh.” she said. “So it’s natural then to...you know?”

“Know what?”

“Orgasm.” she whispered

“Oh, little cousin just had her first orgasm.” I said in delight. “This is so sweet.”

“Willa, it’s not like I have never pleasured myself before this morning.” Julia said primly

“O.M.G,” I said. “‘Let me go wild, like I blister in the sun, let me go wild, big hands I know you’re the one’.” I sang

“What are singing now?” Julia asked me wide eyed

“Blister in the Sun by the Violent Femmes.” I answered. “It’s about masturbation. At least, I think it is. Hold on.”

I pulled out my cell phone and called Polly. “Hey Pol, Blister in the Sun? That’s about masturbation, right?”

“Oh, totally,” she answered

“Cool, thanks call you later.” I said as I hung up the phone

“Willa, this is serious.” Julia wailed before walking over to the small window facing the street

I gave her a hug and then proceeded to explain to her about the ins and outs of being true mates.

“So Riah can only sleep or feed on me now?” she asked. “If he doesn’t he’ll be sleep deprived and starved?”

“Yup,” I answered

“So that means…” she started to say hesitantly

“That means you’ve got to take care of your man.” I finished. “It’s give and take though. He also needs to see to your needs.”

“Which are?” she asked her eyes widening

“Multiple orgasms.”

Julia continued to prattle on for a few more minutes while I stared out the window in amusement. My smile died though when I spotted Machall, the Fire Lord teleport into the square. He glanced around before spotting someone across the street. I crammed my neck to see who he was so intent on talking too.

When I saw him reach Sabine and start talking to her I was surprised. Most of the Fae that I had observed didn’t seem to pay any attention to the Guardians. When he reached out and grabbed her, I froze in shock, especially when she didn’t seem to mind.

Suddenly they were gone, and I teleported down to the square without any thought. I knew I had to follow them. I sniffed the air and noticed a strange smell. It was the same familiar smell I always caught a whiff of when Sabine was around. I was just about to follow her scent and his magic when Riah took my arm.

“What are you doing?” he asked furiously. “You know you’re not supposed to teleport alone.”

“Sorry.” I said. “No time to explain. Hold on and be quiet.”

I followed the scent of magic and soon we landed outside a door. I looked at Riah and whispered. “Do you know where we are?”

“In one of the apartment complexes.” he replied softly. “I believe this is where Sabine has been staying.”

I raised my hand and when the viciousness of the black magic that poured off the door; I pulled back stunned. I knew though I had to see and hear what was going on behind this door. I summoned the elements and muttered a chant:

Earth, Air, Wind, and Fire I call upon thee

Break down this wall of magic that has been cast with deceit

Help me hear and help me see

As I will so mote it be

The struggle between my magic and the one guarding the door was so powerful I could feel the electric currents that fought with each other crackling in the air. I chanted my spell again and pushed back with everything I had. Small cracks began to appear through the invisible struggle, and I breathed a sigh of relief when my magic finally won.

Riah and both had sucked in air as the scene before us appeared. Sabine and Machall were locked in a passionate embrace. I almost turned away when they started tearing each other’s clothes off but then Machall started talking.

“Is everything set?” he asked

“Set and ready to go.” Sabine answered. She turned slightly, and when witch fire appeared in one of her hands I almost gasped out loud. One by one, she lit several candles that were spread around the room before finally Machall pulled her to the floor.

I slowly backed away and closed my spell. Riah guided me down the hallway to the stairs. I had walked down slowly before finally I sat down on the steps. There were so many thoughts racing through my head that I needed a moment to compose myself.

“Did you see what she did?” Riah asked bewildered

I nodded before suddenly it hit me. I grabbed Riah’s hands and teleported us quickly to the Guardian offices. Milton almost jumped out of his skin when we landed right in front of him.

“Willa.” he said in shock. “I told you don’t do that. I’m a vampire, but I still can get startled.”

“Milton, is there any record of a Fae witch that was turned Rau?” I asked with urgency

“Uh, I don’t know…we can look but I have never heard of …” Milton answered. I could tell by his stuttering I had thrown him for a loop.

“Willa.” Mathias said as he and Robert suddenly appeared. “What’s going on?”

“Willa teleported when she saw Sabine and the Fire Lord leave the town square quickly.” Riah answered. “We followed them and after performing an intense spell, we spied on them hooking up.”

“Sabine and Lord Machall were intimate?” Mathias asked

“That’s not the point, well it is, but before we even saw that I had to break through an amazingly intricate spell that surrounded her apartment. Then I saw her Mathias. I saw her summon witch fire and light candles.”

“Sabine’s a witch?” Robert asked

“That’s not all.” I said as my eyes darted around the room. I was trying to calm down and stay focused. “I finally figured it out. “

“What?” Mathias asked

“Remember that night when we went to rescue Aunt Gussie and Julia?” I asked. I didn’t even bother waiting for a reply. “When we tried to open a portal at the Rau compound it was like slamming into a brick wall. I could taste and smell the magic. You once told me that magic leaves a scent, right? Well, ever since Sabine’s been here I thought she smelled familiar. I put it out of my head though, after all, I had never met her before. When I saw her call upon her witch fire, it hit me like a ton of bricks.”

“Sabine’s the witch.” I announced after a few moments of stunned silence

“Are you sure?” Mathias asked intently

“I’m ninety-nine point nine percent positive.”

“I’m good with that percentage.” Robert said

“Willa.” Milton said. “I think you’re right.”

We all swung our heads to where Milton was sitting in front of his computer. Mathias and I looked over his shoulder at the screen. All I saw was indecipherable gibberish.

“Is that Fairlian?” I asked

“I’m in the mainframe of Fairlia.” he explained. “There was a witch, about four hundred years ago that was reported to have been turned Rau. Funny though, it doesn’t mention any connection to Machall but to Lord Fonn.”

“Alvie’s husband?” I asked

“If Sabine is indeed this witch, then her real name is Sabriana. She is from the Air realm and was registered as a healer when she was born. According to this though, her status was stripped when she was found performing unlawful magic. It doesn’t go into her crime but for a healer to be reprimanded at all is very unusual.”

“How does Lord Fonn play into this?” Riah asked

“It is mentioned in her file that she was his mistress.” he answered

“Well, she has obviously has a thing for Fae Lords.” Robert murmured

“Machall asked her if everything was set.” Riah said quickly. “She said that it was.”

That pushed Mathias and Robert into action. Robert sprinted off, and Mathias started shouting instructions.

“Milton, activate the alarm. Even if this is nothing we need to get everyone on the island into their safe rooms. Christopher
, see if you can detain Sabine.”

“What do you want me to do?” I asked

“I want you to go inside, find your grandmother and the rest of your family. There is a secure place beneath the castle for the royal family. You need to go there and stay until I come and get you.”

“Riah, go help Robert round up the royal family.” he ordered

“No.” I said. “I will be more of a help here than locked away in some basement dungeon…oh my gosh, Polly and the dogs, Mathias…”

“Milton can you go and retrieve Ms. Woods, as well, as Cupcake and Oscar?”

“Right away sir.” he replied. Milton quickly tore out of the command center leaving Mathias and me alone as all hell broke loose.

We both turned when we heard the shouts coming from the Guardians who were watching the security screens that were set up around the island. Mathias rushed over, but I was distracted by the sight of my grandfather Kelvin and his group of guards.

“What the hell is going on here?” Kelvin roared. He caught sight of me and rushed over to where I was standing

“Willa, you need to get to safety.” he said

“What’s happening?” I asked

“Night has fallen magically over the island.” he answered, I teleported out of the room ignoring Mathias’s yell.

When I was outside, I doubled over as black magic hit my gut. I forced down the bile that was in the back of my throat and looked around. The sky, which had been a bright blue, was now darkening with white and gray clouds.

I could see patches of black creeping their way through the barriers and knew that the enchantments were breaking down. My senses were so overwhelmed by the elements that I didn’t even register the fact Mathias had joined me. He and I both looked at each in horror. I heard my grandmother cry and ran to her side as she fell to the ground.

“So much darkness.” she muttered clutching her stomach. “The barriers, Willa, we must make sure they keep for a little while longer. We need to give our people time to get to safety.”

I nodded and helped her off the ground. Mathias and I had exchanged one more look before Robert ushered my grandmother and me into the castle. I followed him in a complete daze as he went down several corridors before stopping outside the throne room.

There were Fae everywhere. Most were simply teleporting inside the throne room and through the portal while some scrambled past us in a rush. When I saw, my grandparents come down the hall surrounded by guards my stomach started to churn nervously. Their expressions were one of sadness and resignation.

Sidra gestured for us to follow her into a small storage room down the hall. When one of the guards shut the door, I began to talk, hesitantly at first but the more I told them, the stronger I became.

“Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” Sidra asked, shaking her head. “We never would have come here to the Isle. We would’ve tried to ferret out what Lord is trying to destroy the Skye Clan and acted accordingly.”

“I’m sorry.” I apologized. “We were going to tell you today, but you’re right we should have confided in you sooner. This is my fault, I was the one that wanted to hold back, and now I have put everyone’s lives in jeopardy.”

“You were worried, weren’t you?” Kelvin asked. “You didn’t trust us enough and thought we would probably tip off whoever is involved.”

“Yes.” I admitted. I wanted to hang my head in shame. If I had just brought them into the loop, none of this would be happening right now. I still believed eventually this war would come to fruition, but we might have delayed it long enough to gather more information.

“Willa.” Sidra said as she grabbed my hands. “I will always be here for you. You are my granddaughter. I know that we may not be as close as you have become with Winifred but believe me when I say that I would do anything for you.”

“As would I,” Kelvin added

“We must leave your Majesty,” one of the guards said

Sidra pulled me into a hug and whispered in my ear softly. “You must believe in yourself. When you do, you will have the power to do anything you heart desires. You’re more powerful than any being on earth. Remember that.”

I tried to absorb her words but before I could take everything she said in, she continued. “I’ll be seeing you sooner than you think. Listen to your heart. It will guide you even in your darkest days. Be well my darling girl.”

I blinked back tears as she turned and walked away. Kelvin simply put his hands around my face and kissed my forehead before leaving. Robert guided Winifred and me out of the room. We followed him to the end of the hall. He placed his hand behind the tapestry on the wall and revealed a hidden panel.

He slid the panel open, and my grandmother and I entered the dark stairway. We descended deep into the earth beneath the castle until finally we stopped outside a large steel door. It opened suddenly and out walked Milton. My shoulders sagged in relief as I spied Polly and the dogs over his shoulders.