He was unutterably handsome with strong cheekbones defined in part by his super-lean body. She marveled at the sculpted shape of his muscles because he had so little fat on his bones.
When he would rise for the night, well before full dark, he pumped iron for an hour, exerting himself by adding weights quickly, working his arms and shoulders, his buttocks, thighs and calves. Then, just as night fell, but before calling on his Vampire Guard or his Shifter Brigade, he ran ten miles up and down the rugged ridges of the gorge riddled Shauck Mountains. He only levitated when a rock slide threatened to throw him off a cliff, something that happened at least once a run.
She’d taken to running near him, though at a distance, and savored these times of shared quiet and intense exercise.
She rose from the bed and moved to the windows. In her fae form she wouldn’t be able to tolerate the sunlight very well, though not so badly as a vampire. A vampire’s skin would blister with any level of light, even when the sun was hidden behind a thick layer of clouds. Caught out in the open, her fae constitution would endure a more gradual, though extremely painful, disintegration.
Pacing the room, she made a quiet circuit around the foot of the bed, up one side then back to track up the other. She felt as she always did around Seth, that Rosamunde had been right; she needed to continue to serve as his bodyguard. He was in danger, more than he knew.
In her fae form, she would need to sleep soon, but not as a wraith. For reasons she couldn’t explain, her wraith-form was immune to sunlight, which meant she could go outside and have a look around, see what was happening.
With one last look at Seth, she transformed, taking on the long thin legs and arms of her wraith’s slightly opaque and much lighter body. Her lips were dark in this form, her teeth a pale yellow. She pulled her multi-layered enthrallment shield tight around herself and added another one around Seth that she could manipulate at a distance.
With her safeguards in place, she slowly levitated to the upper level of the treehouse. As she flew, she took care not to bump into any of the angled ceiling beams, then left by the front door.
Wraiths were a different species altogether and though she wore only the familiar strips of gauzy fabric, so typical of her kind, she adjusted her body temperature constantly. She flew above the tree line, knowing she was invisible to every creature around her.
The weak December sun bothered her eyes, another realm result of a world lived mostly at night. But she ignored the discomfort and tracked above the treehouse, going well beyond Redheart Peak to see if the enemy was anywhere near.
But all she found was an expanse of snow-covered ridges that comprised the central part of the Shauck Mountains. The terrain was a land of rugged peaks and ridges cloaked in a quiet blanket of snow, of icy streams and rivers, and of waterfalls in just about every gorge.
She spent the next several hours moving slowly back and forth, going several miles from east to west, north to south, watching and waiting, always returning to check on Seth every fifteen minutes or so, then heading the opposite direction for another pass.
From the time she’d made love with Seth, her faeness had kicked into high gear and now told her that Margetta had targeted Seth. Though she had no idea why, she fully intended to keep her man, her chosen shifter-mate, safe.
As the sunlight finally began to wane, a strong vibration out of the northwest started to build. And just as she turned to head back in Seth’s direction, from a position near Bephotine Gorge, a golden glow of light suddenly appeared in the far west.
Margetta.
And she was moving fast.
Her heart hammered in her chest as she pulled herself to a stop, levitating in place. Though she rarely accessed her vampire DNA, she did so now in order to become very still, as only a vampire could. Rosamunde had taught her this skill, assuring her that once combined with her layered enthrallment shield, Margetta could stand a foot away and never know Lorelei was there.
And right now, the last thing she needed was for Margetta to get a fix on her.
The ancient fae arrived at her position, pausing for a few seconds as though perhaps sensing Lorelei’s presence. But she didn’t remain long. Instead, she headed in a swift stream of gold light along a trajectory that Lorelei could tell put her in line with the treehouse.
Lorelei tested the shield around Seth and found it as strong as her own, which meant that Margetta wouldn’t be able to see him even if she found the treehouse. Yet Lorelei knew something more sinister was at work, that there was a strong possibility that her mother had experienced a fae vision and now knew precisely where Seth was.
Even while in wraith form, the fae part of Lorelei kicked in and for the second time in her life a vision came to her. She saw exactly what Margetta planned to do once she arrived at the treehouse, which meant Lorelei had to achieve a miraculous split-second timing if she had any hope of getting Seth out alive.
She followed at a distance but matched Margetta’s speed only bypassing her at the last mile. She tracked slightly to the south in order to reach the treehouse at a different angle.
With a new set of deep, layered shields now surrounding the treehouse, she punched the door wide, swooped down to the second floor and landed on Seth’s chest. She covered his mouth with her hands, reaching into his mind at the same time. I’m in my wraith-form. Don’t hurt me. Margetta’s here. She’s going to torch the treehouse. I’ve got to get you out of here.
His green eyes were wild no doubt because she’d awakened him from sleep. But it couldn’t help that he stared at a wraith.
He blinked twice, processing, then glanced toward the windows. Shit. I’ll fry out there. I’m not safe until full dark.
“I’ve thought of that. We’ll head straight down into the darkest part of the forest. You’ll be able to survive with minor burns and I’ll cover you as much as I can.”
* * * * * * * * *
Seth didn’t question Lorelei, not even for a split-second, despite that she was a wraith right now.
He leaped from bed and grabbed a fresh set of battle clothes from the small closet next to his nightstand. He then caught her around the waist, flew her to the second level, and out the door.
At the same time, a golden light filled the dusky sky and suddenly the area that encompassed the treehouse exploded into a ball of flames.
With Lorelei in his arms, the force of the blast thrust him through the trees toward the snow-covered ground below. He protected Lorelei as best he could from the branches that struck them both.
At the same time, he felt her struggle to stay in her wraith-form and to hold her enthrallment shield tight around them both.
Lorelei was only half-conscious as he finally landed in the snow at the base of a tree. As quickly as he could, he pulled his Guard uniform on, but he was already blistering something fierce. His spine and head rocked with pain from being exposed to the last rays of sunlight.
He sat down against the tree and drew Lorelei into his arms. He shook now, but he was fully aware that she’d just saved his life.
As he worked at healing his burns, he watched Margetta, and the gold glow of the powerful shield she bore, make several passes over the tree tops. He smelled his now burning treehouse, obliterated in one single attack. The ancient fae had tremendous power.
Seth? Are you okay? Lorelei had come to.
He looked down at worried brown eyes.
I’m fine.
She lifted her arm. I’m still in my wraith form. I’ll shift now.
Probably a good idea.
Still holding her, she transformed quickly, another sign of her latent power.
He was grateful to have her back in her fae form. He knew that not all wraiths were bad, or dangerous, or even inclined to take on the heinous Invictus bonding of which all wraiths were capable. But he breathed a little easier holding a fae in his arms. She wore her jeans and fur boots, a warm shirt and coat. Her hat was long gone, probably left somewhere at Big Timber.
&nb
sp; He petted her head and kissed her. How did you know she was coming for us?
She met his gaze and touched his cheek with the backs of her fingers. I was out patrolling in my wraith form. I don’t need sleep as a wraith, not sure why. I just don’t.
You mean all this time, while I slept, you’ve been flying over the mountains?
She nodded.
But, why?
She seemed surprised. To protect you, of course. That’s my job. That’s why Rosamunde sent me to you, remember?
He stared down at her in amazement. You truly are my bodyguard, because I’d be dead right now if it weren’t for you.
Yes, you would. But she smiled.
Seth realized there was a host of reasons why she might have chosen not to return to the treehouse once she saw that Margetta had targeted the place. Instead, she’d gotten to him first, risking her own life in order to save his.
He was astonished by her all over again, by her loyalty to him and by her Guardsman-like sense of duty. She was as much a warrior as any of the vampires or shifters who served in his Guard or in the Shifter Brigade.
She glanced up. The ancient fae is still here. In a few minutes, she’ll realize she’s not smelling burning flesh, so she’ll know that we’re not dead and she’ll start hunting for us.
I thought of that as well.
Lorelei leaned back and once more met his gaze, but this time frowned. Seth, I think she’s gearing up her energy to burn the forest in hopes of finding us by accident. She did this two months ago, when Quinlan and Batya were helping me get to Ferrenden Peace. Though Margetta couldn’t see me or the brigade that protected me because of Batya’s enthrallment shield, she torched the forest anyway. In the process some of the troll warriors died. I think we need to get out of here. Now.
Seth took her at her word, scooped her up and held her close, then flew through the dense forest straight down the ridge, despite the fact that the sun hadn’t yet set.
He felt the first blast, which meant Margetta could track them, no doubt the result of how his flight disturbed the snow-laden branches as he whipped by. Margetta would be able to see their path without ever actually catching sight of them.
But he raced along anyway, Lorelei clinging to him and silent. She held her layered shields tight as he worked to stay out of the remaining sunlight.
The blasts kept coming as Margetta’s battle energy struck tree after tree.
Seth, we’ve got to get out of the forest. She’s tracking us because we’re disturbing the branches.
I know.
Are there any waterfalls around here, with caves behind? I think we might be safe in a place like that, at least for a little while, hopefully long enough for the sun to set.
He knew exactly where they could go. Fuck, yeah, there are.
But can you make it across open terrain? There’ll be nothing to protect you from the sun.
I’ll blister up, and I’ll be in bad shape when we arrive, but we can do this.
He turned east, heading to Sage Falls at the top of Inwether Gorge. Valgus and his shifter troops would have the gorge locked down by now, all the camouflage in place, and his troops in position.
He pathed to Valgus to let him know that he had Margetta on his heels but that he meant to find shelter with Lorelei at the falls.
Valgus protested, But mastyr, you’ll be in the open and it’s not full dark.
Thanks for the concern. Can’t be helped. I’ll heal fast enough. But I want you to keep your troops hidden. Margetta will be hunting for us, but as your mastyr and Regis, I order you not to engage. She’s after me, not the brigade.
He heard the long pause. All of his Guardsmen, no matter which brigade, would feel torn by that kind of command. Each had an ingrained duty to protect Seth at all costs.
Finally, Valgus said, As you wish.
Seth cut the communication. He’d reached the last bit of tree cover with blasts setting fire to the forest behind him.
He took a deep breath and moved into the open. But as the weak sunlight hit him, more pain shot up his spine and he almost stumbled in the air. But he held his trajectory, his object only a hundred yards distant.
He followed the stream that flowed over the Inwether ridge and created the falls, but already Margetta’s golden glow of light was everywhere.
Lorelei’s hand crept up his face and blocked the burning in his eyes. Thank you. Almost there.
He threw himself over the falls, holding on tight to his control, then hovered near the edge of the cascade of water.
Seth, why are you hesitating?
If we disturb the fall in any way, she’ll know we’re here.
I’m going to shift to my wraith form. She was changing in his arms before he knew what happened, then eased away from him. She floated near the water and slid behind the fall.
Though blistered now, he pulled in his coat and carefully skated behind as well. But his consciousness had started winking out, damn it.
Her hand caught him and pulled him quickly to the shelf of rock. He fell backward, landing hard.
Suddenly, Margetta’s golden light appeared on the other side of the waterfall. If she blasted now, they’d both be dead.
Seth couldn’t do anything, however. He was in a phenomenal amount of pain, more than he’d known in his entire life. He started the self-healing process, but he was dizzy beyond words, blisters having formed over a good portion of his body.
Seth, I’m so sorry, but she’s gearing up.
I know, I can feel it. Lorelei … I need to say something …
But his mind stopped functioning.
As he drifted into unconsciousness, his final thought was that he loved Lorelei, but now it was too late to tell her.
Chapter Nine
Having shifted back to her fae form, Lorelei knelt beside Seth. But her gaze was fixed on her mother, as Margetta paced through the air, flying back and forth in front of the waterfall. She felt her mother’s power and the profound vibration she’d begun building that would destroy both Lorelei and Seth.
So it would end like this, Margetta winning the day if she got this shot off.
Barely able to breathe, Lorelei held a hand to her tight throat and time slowed to a strange crawl as she processed her present reality. She realized that she’d shifted again to her vampire state, an intense still form that only vampires could do. She rarely accessed this part of her, the strain being the weakest part of her genetics.
Slowly, she rose to her feet, again moving as though she owned time as Margetta’s battle frequency increased in strength.
She processed her situation in the same the way that Seth would approach a dilemma, analyzing, calculating, taking ideas in and out of careful boxes.
Then an idea came to her, one that might just save Seth’s life, if not her own.
She moved closer to the edge and pathed to the woman who’d given her life. Mother, let’s make a deal.
She felt Margetta shift her intention, now holding her battle frequency in check. I’m listening. Although I’m sure I’d be wise to just blast the pair of you to the next life, especially since my own daughter hasn’t shown me one degree of loyalty.
Lorelei ignored her desire to tell her mother to go straight to hell and instead addressed the issue at hand. I want Seth to live. I know the battle is coming and that the Walvashorr forces stand little chance of winning against what you have in store for them. But I want him to have a chance.
Margetta chuckled. So the fae part of you has seen something, then?
Yes. But right now, I’d do anything to save Seth’s life.
So what are you offering?
What you’ve wanted for years, since I left your home. If you’ll leave Seth alone until the battle begins, I’ll come with you and I’ll go wherever you want me to go.
You’ll come with me, just like that? Are you in love or something?
You could say that.
Margetta snorted. I have to say, Lorelei, that you were my
biggest disappointment. All this potential, yet you ran from me, shunned me, as though your father and I didn’t truly live in your bones. And you never really understood the fine world we intended to create for you in which you could be a wraith and not be ashamed, in which you could one day rule all the Nine Realms.
You’re right. I never understood. But now you’ll have a chance to do just that because I’ll be turning myself over to you.
Well, to be honest my darling daughter, I’m not sure I’m interested. I tried to bring you back to the fold dozens of times and on the last occasion you led me on a lively jaunt to Ferrenden Peace. I’m not saying it wasn’t fun. I did enjoy killing those trolls. So, you’re willing to place yourself in my hands?
I am.
And what if I decide once I get you back to my base, that you’re of no use to me. Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?
I would expect nothing less, but I’m willing to take the chance. What do you say, mother? Do I go with you now? Lorelei knew this was the only way to save Seth, if she offered herself in this way.
Then she felt it, Margetta’s essential hunger, that she wouldn’t be able to resist having Lorelei under her control again. She wasn’t surprised that Margetta’s battle energy began to fade, bit by bit.
Lorelei had her answer and still holding her layered shielding tight, she shifted back to her wraith form, then eased from behind the waterfall to levitate high in the air.
I’m above you.
The golden glow began to fade as Margetta rose in the air at the same time. Show yourself.
Lorelei stripped away layer after layer of her enthrallment shield, until she was at last visible to Margetta.
Face-to-face with the woman who had birthed her, Lorelei felt nothing except a level of disgust that she worked to keep hidden. She had a job to do, so she focused on only one thing, getting Margetta away from Seth, the man she loved.
Come back to my camp with me. I’ll have a tent made up for your use. You won’t be able to leave, of course.
As you wish.
Margetta turned and flew in a northwest direction and Lorelei joined her. She felt profound relief that she’d succeeded in saving Seth, at least for this moment.