Breaking Out (7 page)

“Each species loves their offspring, although
some do not deserve a parent’s love.” Oh good. I was going to get a
lecture on what a bad son I was.

He tossed me a cell phone and lowered his
body onto a bench. Samson joined him, hopping up on the other side.
I grunted and looked away, tucking the phone in my back pocket.

There were flowering trees of every type
circling the lake’s shoreline. The water itself was a crystalline
blue, ripples of yellow and green running through it in currents.
The ley lines were very strong here. I could pull up power and work
on new magic, experiment with spells I’d only imagined.

When I turned back, he’d changed. Fin was no
longer the good-natured pirate, grinning at his joke. He was once
more the ruler of Faerie, a male who could take the power beneath
our feet and destroy the world, if he were that sort of creature.
The former queen, his daughter Fionna, had been that sort and so
had my birth father. No one knew what had become of them, only that
they’d disappeared.

The King knew, but he wasn’t talking.

Bushes laden with colorful berries appeared
along the path we’d just taken. The sky changed colors, bleeding
into one vibrant shade after another. “Am I in Faerie?” There was
no place in the human world this beautiful.

“No. I am simply amusing myself as I wait for
you to make a decision. One must keep occupied while one waits.”
Two swans appeared in the water, followed by two tiny cygnets
trying to keep up with their parents. He wasn’t being subtle about
what he wanted. He leaned forward on the bench. “What is it you
fear? Her anger, her pleas for your return, her rejection?”

I pulled out the phone and stared at it,
wanting more than anything to hand it back. “She’ll cry and it’ll
be my fault. I’ve made her cry a lot lately. I hate it.”

“And yet by not calling, you continue to do
so.”

“You don’t know what it’s been like.”

“What, your life? No, I do not know. Has it
been worse than many others? Have you not been loved and fed and
housed and kept comfortable in all manner of weather? Have you not
been educated? Trained to use magic? Trained to use weapons? The
realms hold many terrors for the innocent among us. You have the
gifts required to protect and defend those who cannot defend
themselves—to live an honorable life. Few would complain, and yet
you do.”

I stood up straighter and spoke clearly. Now
seemed to be the time for truth. “I don’t want to lead an army. I
don’t want to be the main player in a prophecy that has nothing to
do with who I am or who I want to be.”

“What we want is rarely what we are given.
You are already the star of Lady Sinlae’s prophecy, that cannot be
changed. But whether you stand beside our people is up to you.”

“I’m a healer. I’ve never killed. You can’t
force me to lead an army.” My fingernails made crescents on my
palms, my breathing growing rapid.

“Nor would I. Every choice is yours to make
and each must be made freely. The prophecy is not an iron cuff
around your neck. It is yours to shape.”

“I don’t believe in fate.” I was pacing now,
back and forth in front of the bench. Samson whined, sensing my
distress.

“I do not speak of fate. I speak of choice.”
He scratched Samson behind the ears, calming him.

“Do you think I’ll make the right
choice?”

His eyebrows rose. “Would I be here if I did
not?” He stared pointedly at the cellphone.

I dialed home.

“Hello?”

“Mom? Hi.”

She took in a quick breath, but when she
spoke her voice was calm and controlled. “Charlie. I’m so glad you
called. How are you? Are you and Jay okay?”

“We’re fine, really. We were in the Sierras
for a few weeks and now we’re along the coast.” Fin scowled, but I
turned my back.

“Where?”

“Mom…”

“Okay, I won’t ask.” There was a shuffling
sound. “Go away.” She’d whispered that to someone else in the room.
“Sash is trying to take the phone away. Don’t worry—I won’t give it
to him. He’d just spend the next ten minutes threatening you and
then you’d hang up and I wouldn’t get to….” Her voice had choked
up.

“Mom…”

“I got your note. It was wonderful. Thank you
for thinking of me. I love you, too.”

The hand I was using to hold the phone felt
wet. I wiped it off on my jeans. “Mom, I’m…I’m sorry.”

“For what, honey?”

“For being such a douchebag for the last
year, maybe longer.”

“We both messed up. I wouldn’t listen and
neither did you. I’m sorry, too. We can start with a clean slate
now, okay?”

My hand was wet again. I almost dropped the
phone when I realized it was wet from tears. Good thing Jay wasn’t
here. “That sounds great.”

“I’m…I’m proud of you. Are you eating
enough?”

“Yeah, plenty, especially Jay.” I joked.

“You have enough money?”

“Yes.” We hadn’t run dry yet, but we were
spending faster than we thought we would.

“Do you know when you might be coming
home?”

“No. Probably not for a while.”

There was an awkward silence, neither of us
knowing what to say. “Charlie,” she whispered. “You’re nothing like
him. I know it bothers you that you look a little bit like him,
but…”

“More than a little bit.” I made an effort to
relax the hand I’d clenched against my thigh. Thinking about what
my birth father had done to Mom turned my stomach in knots. I’d
wanted to kill him so badly when I’d seen him in Faerie. He’d been
trying to pull the same BS with Mom he’d tried before. Fortunately,
Fin showed up to save me the trouble—at least I hoped Kennet was
history.

Mom sighed. “You have a big heart. Plus
you’re a healer. Use those skills, not just the fae and demon
magic. You’ll see the world differently if you do. Kennet didn’t
have a healing bone in his body and his heart was a shriveled up
raisin.”

Fin laughed. He must have heard her. “Who’s
with you?” she asked. “That didn’t sound like Jay.”

I waited two beats. “Grandfather.”

“What? The King of Faerie stopped by for a
visit? What’s wrong? Something happened, right?”

He took the phone from my hand. “Little
mother, do not fear. Your son is well. I will see you at the winter
solstice, yes?”

“Yes, Your Highness. But…”

“Good.” He handed back the phone. “Short
goodbyes are best.”

I held the phone to my ear. “Is Dad around?”
I asked.

“No. He’ll be sorry he missed you.”

“Tell him…tell him, hey.”

“I will. And please take care of Samson. You
know how he gets if he doesn’t eat.”

“Yeah, well, he’s a goat. He eats
anything.”

“But does he digest everything?”

“Uh. Good point.” That kind of mess was not
my favorite thing to clean up.

A few more beats of silence passed between
us. “I love you, Charlie. I’m proud of you.”

“You said that.” A strange tightness filled
my chest. I pulled my hood up.

“Doesn’t hurt to hear it again, right?”

“Love ya back, Mom.”

I ended the call and handed the phone to
Finvarra, hoping he hadn’t noticed my baby-assed behavior. He
didn’t comment, but instead began to walk around the lake, stopping
to admire a flower or remarking on the sunset. By the time we were
half way around, it was dark and I was back together. He might be
the King of Faerie, but he had his human side.

As he lit the path with warm shades of fae
light, we finally got down to business. “Although I do not know the
creature’s true name, I am fairly certain it is not Ammon.” Fin was
stretching his arms over his head, rolling his shoulders and using
the lines to reboot. His body stored enough magic that he rarely
had to pull extra from the lines. Maybe he was planning something
big. “Do not call this Ammon creature or communicate with him in
any way. Call me if you have need. Use this.” He placed his hand on
my forehead and sent me a line, not a ley line but more of a
mind-to-mind line. “I will respond to your personal call. No need
for another chat with Aedus.” He winked.

I bristled, my normal reaction when someone
infringed on my personal space. “I didn’t say it was okay to hook
into my head.”

“I could have connected to you in
secret—spelled it so I’d know if you were hurt or frightened.” And
he could have. Funny, but the same arrogance that annoyed me with
Aedus, didn’t bother me as much with Fin. Maybe because I knew he
liked me.

“Is it a tracking device?”

“Would I do that?” He tilted his head.

“Uh, huh.”

He laughed. “It sends messages only in one
direction. I cannot contact you through the link.” Aaaand because
he was the King of Faerie, it was impossible to know if he was
telling me the truth. He noticed my frustrated grunt. “Trust should
not be so difficult where I am concerned.”

“But who is Ammon? Is he a demon?”

The fancy magic was fading as we walked, so I
figured we were almost back to the playground. “I think not. He is
unknown to me, although the combination of scents reminds me of
another I met long ago.”

“Who was it?”

Fin smiled and ignored my question. “If he
attempts to make contact, alert me.”

“I can handle…”

“This is a command from your sovereign lord,
young fae.” No smiling going on now.

I’d known it was coming, I was just hoping it
wouldn’t be so soon. Half of my bloodline was fae, stemming
directly from the royal line, Fin’s line. In his mind, he had every
right to order my obedience. His grandson, Liam, was half
human/half fae and had purchased a home near ours in Crescent City,
spending half his time in our world and half in Faerie. But when it
came down to following an order given by Finvarra, the King, there
was no question as to Liam’s loyalty.

But my situation was different. I was also
part demon and part cheetah shapeshifter, two species with very
different loyalties. Shapeshifters governed via an elected council
who brought issues before the community for a vote in a much more
democratic way. I was raised in that world.

Demons, who happened to be the sworn enemies
of Faerie, didn’t have a democratic bone in their bodies. At this
moment they were planning a war in our world to raze Faerie to the
ground, all under the direction of my great grandmother, the
Archdemon Naberia. She’d be facing off against Finvarra, Aedus,
Liam, Caelen and the rest of the fae who’d watched over me my
entire life, keeping me safe, training me for what was to come.

According to The Prophecy, I’d be the one
leading the fae into battle.

And the shapeshifters, werewolves, vampires
and humans who inhabited the human world? They’d be trapped in the
middle of the carnage, unable to defend their territory or their
families against a hoard of demons and an army of fae lords.

To say I lived on the edge of disaster was an
understatement.

But I wasn’t about to give over my choices to
someone else. I straightened. “I have not pledged fealty to you or
your court.” Samson jumped off the bench and sat by my feet, maybe
sensing that there’d been some kind of change.

“This has not escaped my notice. You are the
child of my full blood son. To whom would you pledge your fealty
other than me?”

“I’m as much a shifter as a fae.”

“Is there a shapeshifter king? Would you
perhaps hope to wear that crown yourself?”

Despite the fact that I was facing one of the
most dangerous creatures I’d ever met, I laughed. “Shapeshifters
don’t need kings. We decide things in groups.”

He narrowed his eyes. “That seems an
inefficient way to rule.”

“I guess so, but it works.”

His expression had grown dark, dangerous. In
my bones, I knew he wanted me to say more, some kind of assurance
that I wouldn’t turn my growing powers against his people, that I
would serve the Court of Faerie and not side with Naberia. I
swallowed the tiny bit of spit left in my mouth and forced my body
to relax.

Knowing it may not be enough. I gave him what
I could.

Bowing deeply with my hand on my heart, I
forced a smile and spoke to him in Fae, a language I was fluent in
thanks to Farrell and Sinlae. The language was an ancient one, the
wording archaic, yet clear.

“Grandfather, I am honored that you have
taken time away from pressing matters at court to answer my
questions and offer advice. I understand why you desire that I
swear allegiance to you, but at this time I cannot do more than
offer you this truth. I will never betray you or the people of
Faerie to your enemies, I will honor my parents’ pledge of
friendship and support to the Cascade Sidhe and I will always honor
and respect you as my grandsire.”

I pulled the fae dagger from my belt and
slashed the palm of my right hand. “I swear this to you with my
blood, the blood of three lines: fae, shapeshifter and demon.” The
now familiar sound of Samson’s furious digging immediately followed
the soft thump of my blood hitting the dirt. But Fin made no move,
only watching.

I extended the dagger, hilt first, and
waited. An oath of friendship would be a good start between us. We
might not be official political allies, but it would tell his
people and the world that we weren’t enemies either. I guess I kind
of thought of myself as the ambassador of my own sovereign country:
unique and unattached, so far, anyway. Diplomacy was tough and I
had a long road ahead.

But he didn’t use the knife to slash his own
palm. Instead, Fin’s eyes darkened, his power brushing against my
skin, healing my wound. He could still decide to destroy me. It
would be the easiest way to ensure that my growing powers would
never be a factor in the war he believed was coming. Instead he
stepped forward, grasping the hilt of my dagger and bringing it to
his nose. After a long sniff, he dipped a finger into the blood
still pooled on the blade, lifting it to his mouth and tasting it.
He swallowed and the air grew still, the world silent.