Shifters - The Jade Forest Chronicles 1

  I’d known he would be there – his magic had spoken to me, and I’d felt him enter the cemetery. The moment he arrived, my skin came alive and every breath I took was filled with magic.

  I’d gone there to tell him off. He had no right to be on our land until it had been legally arranged with the human government. Preternatural creatures had to play by human rules. That was a rule that the governing body had set out so that we could coexist in peace.

  It wasn’t really coexisting, of course. We avoided each other because it was safer that way. If we didn’t, wars tended to happen, no matter how safe Mr. Gray was trying to make the world.

  Hayden Gray was the speaker for the preternatural community. He made sure that all our complaints were heard. But he was a human, and he hid in Forechester Keep along with the rest of his group. He said that he had our best interests at heart, but he was terrified of us. It seemed wrong that a human – the weakest of all the species – would be in charge over us, but that was how it was right now, and the human military fought with weapons that only a great deal of magic could overcome.

  If the preternatural creatures could all stand together to fight the humans, we would easily win, but that would never happen. Witches and werewolves were enemies; they would never unite. Vampires were out only for personal gain, and fae didn’t fight. There were a few shifter types that didn’t belong anywhere and wouldn’t side with anyone. Which meant that we would be ruled by humans for the foreseeable future.

  When Balfour came to me, heat came with him, and it wasn’t the kind of heat I was used to as a fire user. I was used to being burned, but the heat that came with him was something I wanted. That heat spoke to me in a different way.

  I’d answered his heat with my own, and it had sent him flying. I hadn’t meant to fight him. With him so close, my magic had flared, and with power already on the loose in the cemetery, I hadn’t been completely in control.

  I would never admit that to him, though. Werewolves weren’t to be trusted, and whatever I felt with him, I had to push away. I couldn’t feel anything good around him; it was wrong. No matter if I wanted to explore it, feel it again.

  I had bigger problems. The wolves were after our land, and Balfour had said that it was filled with werewolf magic. I’d known it was something other than fae magic – there was a reason the cemetery wasn’t a part of the reserve. The fae rejected anything that wasn’t theirs. It was safer that way. But if the wolves were going to come and claim their land, they were going to be our new neighbors, and that wasn’t going to work for anyone. Not for the fae in the reserve, and not for the witches in Hollow Grove, the woodlands a couple of miles to the south. There was a reason the witches lived all the way in the hollows to the south, and the wolves belonged in the Jade Forest to the north – if any kind of war erupted, it would bother the humans who knew us and the humans who didn’t.

  If I spoke to Muriel about it, she would reprimand me for minding business that wasn’t mine. I was only the daughter of a council member, after all. I wasn’t a member myself. I couldn’t speak to my father, either, because I wasn’t allowed out of the reserve at night unless I had been invited to Forechester Keep. And there was no one else I could talk to.

  “What was he like?” Fern was lying on her back on a branch, pressing her bare toe against the tree trunk and watching the small climbers curl up the tree. She was a leafbinder, an earth fae who specialized in plants, and she was my best friend. Reckless and wild, she made being fae look like fun.

  “You know I’m not allowed to talk about it.”

  “But you’re the only fae who’s dared to leave the reserve to meet a werewolf. Come on. You can’t keep this kind of secret from me.”

  She sat up. Her hair was cut short, a pixie style that suited her sharp face. She had dark brown hair, freckles, and eyes the color of new leaves.

  “You leave the reserve too.”

  She snorted. “To poke around the humans now and then. Yeah, that sounds ridiculously dangerous.”

  I rolled my eyes. Fern was unpredictable. She hated her home life for some reason and made a point of never being there. She challenged the rules only because she could. She had stricter curfews than I had because she was a loose cannon, but the more rules they made for her the more rules she broke.

  Would she go out and do something crazy?

  “He was powerful.” I shuddered. “Very powerful. But his magic was different than I expected.”

  “What was it like?”

  She jumped off the branch and landed on the grass, her bare feet hardly making a sound. The grass turned greener where she stepped and faded again when her foot left the ground. She sat down next to me on the grass. Her skin shimmered in the sun, but it was pale, the color of human skin when they didn’t spend a lot of time in the sun – the pale European sort. It was one of the few times she wasn't wearing her glamour. She looked less out of place than I did; fae but she rejected her fae side half the time. It seemed tiring to be so conflicted, but it worked for her.

  “It was hot.”

  She giggled, and the laughter skipped around us. “Everything you do is fire-based, and you want to tell me his magic was hot?” She rolled her eyes.

  “I know.” It sounded ridiculous. “I don’t know who to go to about the cemetery, though. I can’t just leave it.”

  Fern lay back on the grass. It seemed thicker where she was lying than where I was sitting.

  “I say you should just leave it. It’s not your problem, and Muriel isn’t exactly going to let you get more involved than handling paperwork. You know how she is. No one knows you were out – you rebel, you – but other than that, it’s nothing you need to worry about.”

  “You define rebel,” I said. She pulled a tongue at me. She was right, for the most part, but I was the only one who had felt what that cemetery felt like during the day, and how much more powerful it became at night.

  “Are you going to see him again?”

  I lay back, too. My grass was definitely not a thick carpet like hers. I turned my face to her, and her evergreen eyes met mine.

  “Of course not.”

  Liar. Of all the fae in the reserve, Fern would understand if I was going to see him again. She wouldn't judge me. I just didn't want to admit it out loud. I was the daughter of a council member. I was Amber Vale. I had to be perfect.

  She narrowed her eyes at me. “You are, aren't you?”

  I shook my head. She gave me a look that said ‘yeah, right’, but she left it.

  I did have to go to someone about the power, though. I couldn’t just leave it until Muriel sorted out who the cemetery would belong to. It was more urgent than that, and Muriel, as a spirit user, didn’t work on the same clock the rest of the world operated on.

  There was only one place to go, and I had to do it before dark. I wasn’t going to be able to sneak away two nights in a row.

  The drive to Forechester Keep took longer than I’d thought it would. It was just across Prumm Brook from us, but South Bridge was farther downstream, so I had to make a detour. When I finally got to the gate, the sun was heading toward the horizon. I was starting to panic that I wouldn’t make it home in time.

  I stopped at the gate to the keep. I could see Milford’s skyline – tall buildings, a church tower, and some chimney stacks against a backdrop of orange and purple created by the sunset. I’d never been to the human town.

  I wished I could go.

  A guard came to the car window, and I wound it down.

  “I’m here to see Mr. Gray,” I said.

  “Do you have an appointment?”

  I shook my head. It had been a last-minute kind of thing. “It’s an emergency, though.”

  The guard looked suspicious. He narrowed his eyes at me, pulled out a phone and took a step back. He mumbled into the receiver.

  “Name?” he asked a moment later.

  “Amber Vale.”

  He repeated the name into the phone
. After he ended the call, he nodded and opened the gate for me. Thank the powers that be, I thought. I drove through and got out of the car.

  Forechester Keep was like a world removed. It was a mansion surrounded by stretches of garden that shut out the real world. There were clusters of buildings against the perimeter walls, houses for the government body. The mansion itself was reserved for functions, meetings, and so on.

  Mr. Gray came out to meet me personally. Every time I saw him – which wasn’t very often – he looked older. His hair had turned silver since I’d last seen him. His eyes were watery now where they had been clear before, and he walked hunched over. Still, his personality preceded him and I was under no illusion that this man was old.

  “Amber,” he said, and held out a hand. I hesitated, and he retrieved it. “Of course. I forget.”

  Fae didn’t touch humans. Our magic was unpredictable sometimes, and we didn’t like to give too much away to the humans.

  “How is your father?”

  “He’s well, thank you. He sends his regards.”

  That was a load of bull, of course, but I couldn’t tell the preternatural spokesperson that I was here without Muriel sending me. She was the fae leader, and all human-fae interactions were arranged through her.

  “What can I help you with?”

  I took a deep breath and looked around. I didn’t want anyone to eavesdrop, but it was clear Gray wasn’t going to invite me inside. Maybe that was better – I didn’t want to be trapped within the walls of a human building.

  I explained the situation with the cemetery and the meeting I had had with Mr. Williams.

  “I’m worried about the werewolves’ involvement before we have a chance to deal with the legal side of it,” I said. “And, of course, the power is volatile, too. We can’t afford a mistake at this point.”

  Mr. Gray nodded, looking off into the distance, thinking. “I see what you’re saying, and you were right to come to me. Werewolf involvement at this point will interfere with our peace structure, and that’s the last thing we want.”

  He lifted his hand as if he wanted to put it on my shoulder, and I stiffened. He stopped before his hand came down on me, and he cleared his throat as if he was embarrassed.

  “I will discuss this with the board, and we’ll come to an agreement. I’ll let the reserve know what we decide.”

  “I’ll drive out here again to speak with you.”

  He shook his head. “That won’t be necessary, Miss Vale. I’ll speak to Mrs. Bluegrain directly.”

  I hesitated. The sun was very low on the horizon now, and long shadows were reaching across the grounds like fingers.

  “Please, Mr. Gray. If you don’t mind, I’d rather hear from you myself. Mrs. Bluegrain has her mind occupied with the paperwork. She isn’t aware of the implications.”

  Mr. Gray looked at me for a moment, putting the pieces together. “Ah,” he said, understanding. “Well, let me see what we can do, and we’ll take it from there. But I don’t have to remind you how dangerous it is to get involved with another species without your superior’s knowledge. You are separated for a reason.”

  I nodded. It was to keep us calm, like children who were forced to stand in their corner and think about what they’d done, so that we wouldn’t upset the poor humans with our wars and rules.

  “Thank you for taking the time to see me, Mr. Gray,” I said tightly.

  He nodded and turned. I was dismissed, even though I’d been the one to end the conversation.

  I got into my car and backed out so that I was facing the gate, which was already opening for me. Dusk was starting to set in, and I had to hurry if I wanted to get back home before my curfew. The one consolation was that regardless of age, all fae were encouraged to stay inside the reserve after dark. The rule was just a little stricter in my case.

  A little while later, I drove into the reserve. Hocus had let me in through the gate, promising me that he hadn’t seen me leave or come back after sunset. He really was a pal.

  There was magic in the air again. Magic that made my skin tingle, magic that didn’t belong in the reserve. Fae power was distinguishable. It felt like the elements, and I could tell where it was coming from and what kind of element we were working with.

  This magic wasn’t fae magic.

  That meant someone had made it past Hocus. Someone was here, within the confines of fae land, within our rules and our justice system. Nothing like this had happened before. I wasn’t sure what the response would be, what the consequences were. Fear had always been enough to keep all the others out. The combination of Hocus and a spectacular display of our magic created enough fear to keep intruders away. It was another form of glamour.

  I turned into my neighborhood feeling like I was being watched. Or followed. When I parked, whatever it was was looming behind me. Something dark. Something with power that felt familiar, but I couldn’t place it.

  I hurried toward the house. The porch light was already on, triggered by the setting sun, and I told myself that if I could reach the light that flooded out from the little lamp above the front door, I would be safe. It illuminated the white boards that wrapped around the house, making it seem warm, homey, safe.

  Darkness couldn’t exist in the presence of light. Right?

  I didn’t make it. The shadow was next to the porch now, waiting for me.

  A scream built inside my chest. My hands went numb, and I felt cold. Cold was a bad thing to feel when your element was fire. I needed my father – the Great North – to come and save me. I needed…

  “Don’t scream,” a rough voice said. A voice I recognized.

  I swallowed my fear, and my mind flipped through all the people I knew, trying to find the one this voice belonged to.

  “I just want to talk.”

  I frowned. “Balfour?”

  It couldn’t be. Not here. Not in the reserve. He was a werewolf – the epitome of a ‘hell, no’. But the moment I called him out, I could see him. It was as if the darkness had lifted enough for me to recognize him even though he hadn’t moved.

  “How the hell did you get in here?” I demanded.

  “I followed you into the reserve. Your buddy out there is distracted when it’s you. I think he likes you.”

  The words were soft, like a purr, but they irritated me as if they were a screech.

  “Hocus is a friend.”

  Balfour shrugged. I could make out most of his face, but his eyes were deep and dark, pits of black that threatened to suck me in.

  “What are you doing here?”

  He shrugged again. It was an annoying habit, taking the place of words. “I wanted to talk.”

  “About what?”

  “Your little visit to the keep.”

  I rolled my eyes and took a step closer. Closer to the darkness. Closer to the light.

  “I had to point out that we might have a problem on our hands. You know what will happen when there’s more than one group that wants a piece of land.”

  The night felt heavier, natural darkness setting in. Balfour blended with it until it was difficult to see him.

  “That won’t happen.”

  “You can’t be so sure.” I didn’t take another step toward him. I wanted to stay closer to the light rather than seeing his face. Although his face was very pleasant to look at.

  Balfour came to me, instead. He abandoned his spot in the shadows to step into the light.

  I looked around. Someone else might be able to see him. But the road was deserted. The houses, all similar to ours, were quiet, with lights on in the front room windows suggesting that all the fae were obeying the rules and were safe at home after nightfall. I was the only one who was breaking the rules. I was the only one who was talking to a werewolf.

  After dark.

  A shiver ran through me. It wasn’t fear; it was excitement. The thrill I felt every time I did something rebellious was a problem. I shouldn’t feel this good about doing s
omething bad.

  “You’re conflicted,” he said.

  “Don’t read my mind.”

  He smiled, one corner of his mouth pulling up in an unbalanced grin that made me feel just as off-kilter. “I can’t read minds. I’m just sensing your emotions.”

  Whatever. I didn’t have time for this. I shouldn’t be out here.

  I started toward the front door, but Balfour stepped in front of me. He was in the circle of light with me now. He was risking so much.

  “If my father finds you here…”

  “He’ll what?”

  His smile was arrogant, his eyes challenging. And he was right. What was my father going to do? The fae were peaceful. They would never punish a wolf. They would throw him out and make our security stronger, lock us up tighter in our own little cage, make the rules more intense. If anything, they were going to punish us.

  I swallowed. “You can’t be here.”

  “Don’t walk around spreading rumors about the power in the cemetery.”

  I opened my mouth in surprise, wanting to argue but failing to find the words. The nerve! How could he order me around in my own territory?

  Balfour lifted his hand and grasped a strand of my hair. He moved his hand down, sliding the strand between his fingers. “Your hair is magnificent.”

  Our sudden closeness jarred me. I realized I didn’t have my glamour up. He was seeing my snow-white hair and fire eyes. He was seeing me as I really was. I realized how close his body was to mine. When I breathed in, I smelled him, so very male, with the woods clinging to his clothes… and something else, something wild. It was intoxicating. I had to fight the urge to lean in to him.

  Something about his being here, about my sneaking out, about the power last night and the power now made me reckless. I wanted to break the rules. I wanted to be out of hand. I wanted to be everything I wasn’t allowed to be.

  The heat grew between us and washed through my body. This was the heat I knew, except that it pooled between my legs and the atmosphere became electric, sexual. Balfour felt it too. He leaned in to me. I should have stopped him. I should have shoved him away, the way I had last night.

  Except I didn’t want to. I wanted him this close. I wanted to know what it would feel like if I pushed the limits.

  Balfour inched closer, and suddenly his lips were on mine. I didn’t know how it had come to this. A moment ago, everything had been about arguing, about fear. Then he put his hands on my elbows and pulled me back with him into the shadows. It was safer there, I knew. I went with him. I didn’t want this to end.

  Balfour turned me so that my back was against the wall and pressed his body against mine. He was so much bigger than I was, and all muscle. I felt him against me, hard and taut. I melted against him.

  I felt his sex against my lower abdomen, felt his hunger and his lust. He was ready. I could have him now if I wanted. His hands were in my hair and on my neck and sliding down. This was it. He was touching me, and I felt like I was on fire. Without magic.

  What was I doing?

  I pushed Balfour away.

  He looked confused. He was breathing hard. I realized I was, too, like we’d been running.

  “You can’t be here,” I said.

  “Don’t stop this now.”

  I shook my head. This had to stop, right now. He was a wolf. He wanted the land, our land.

  I summoned that heat, the fire that was all mine, and I knew my eyes were glowing. Balfour’s face closed. I didn’t want him to withdraw, but this… this was trouble.

  The front door opened.

  “Where is that girl?” my father said.

  “Go. Now,” I hissed.

  I turned and left Balfour standing in the shadows.

  “I’m here,” I said, stepping into the light.

  I touched my hair, hoping it looked fine. A wave of magic rippled over my skin, and then it was gone. And I knew Balfour was, too.

  Chapter 4 – Balfour