Page 17 of Destined

Christine helped Colm to his feet. “Is that one of their portals?”

Kayla looked across the lake at the Dark Fae walking out of the forest. Dirk Blackstone carried two huge blades, and wore a full suit of black armor. He paused long enough to smirk and salute her with one blade before he stepped into the shadow covering the lake, and slowly sank under it.

“He’ll kill Ryan,” Kayla whispered. She turned her head to meet Colm’s gaze. “I’m going to sing. You and the men take cover. Now.”

Ryan’s second nodded, and shouted to the men to retreat before he snatched up a struggling Christine and ran.

Kayla ignored her sister’s furious shrieks as she blocked out the sounds around her and gathered her voice. She knew if she used too much power she would vaporize the shadow barrier, as well as Dirk, Ryan, and the entire lake. If she didn’t use enough, Dirk would kill him.

She sang words that seemed to come from a deep, unknown place in her memory. The words came to her in her mother’s sweet voice. The power rolled out of her, but when it touched the shadow masking the lake, it blasted backward, knocking her off her feet.

Kayla struggled to a sitting position. “What the–”

A thin hand grabbed her and helped her up.

“The shadows reflect your power,” Tara told her. “You can’t dispel Dark Fae magick.”

Kayla looked into the changeling’s calm gray eyes. “But you can.”

“Yes.” Tara turned toward the lake. “When I lift the shadow, remove the water. The creatures can’t live long without it. It will let the men get to Ryan.”

Kayla nodded, and stepped up beside Tara as she began murmuring under her breath. When she extended her hands they began to darken and glow with gray light, which shot out and encircled the lake. The shadow lifted inch by inch into the air, until Kayla could see the water. Her mother’s song poured into her mind, and she sang it to the lake.

The water rose along with the shadows, curling into a huge funnel. It whirled up into the storm clouds, churning like an inverted sea. Rain pelted Kayla’s face as she sang the last of the words. Her heart clenched as the funnel exploded, blasting the sky clear.

In the empty lake bed, the sagging creatures that had been left behind crawled aimlessly. But at their edge, not far from her, she saw Ryan and Dirk fighting. Her lover only had a short dagger against the long swords Dirk used to hack at him.

“No,” Tara said, gripping her shoulder, when Kayla lurched forward to help him. “That’s exactly what he wants. Dirk will use you as a body shield.”

“But–”

Tara gripped her with both hands. “Don’t you see? It’s so predictable.” Kayla watched Ryan leap clear of the whirling blades before Tara cut off her view. “It’s a trap.”

More Blackstones appeared on the other side of the lake, but one of them stared across at Kayla. He looked older than the others, and had a smirk on his face that made her stomach turn. Tara looked over her shoulder.

“That’s my father,” she said flatly. “Jarek Blackstone.”

Kayla looked at the girl’s tormented expression. “Don’t ever call a rapist your dad. You know who your real father was. His name was Rowe, like yours.”

Jarek shouted to the Dark Fae as he led them onto the lake bed. Colm and the men of Forever Faire did the same. Christine dashed for Kayla.

“You stay right here,” Christine told her as she handed Tara a dagger. “Come on, little sister.”

Tara grinned back at her before they followed the men.

Kayla felt worse than useless. Just as she’d warned Ryan, it was too dangerous to use her voice. Should she grab a blade? Her sisters had.

Above the growing din, a ringing clang of steel grabbed her attention. Someone had gotten a sword to Ryan! He parried Dirk’s blades with such force that sparks shot off the clashing weapons. Dirk feigned a thrust at Ryan’s midsection, and swung his other sword for his neck. Kayla pressed her hand over her mouth. But an instant before the blade reached him, Ryan dropped low. With a blinding speed that belied his size, he ducked under the sword and stepped in—and drove his dagger into Dirk’s thigh.

“Yes!” Kayla screamed.

The wound immediately spurted blood. As Dirk rose, Ryan knocked the Dark Fae back onto his ass. He kicked him in the chest, laying him out flat.

As though summoned, Tara emerged from the mass of battling warriors and hurried to Dirk’s side.

Kayla held her breath, but Tara looked away from the fallen Dark Fae, and stepped back to stand beside Ryan.

“Yes,” Kayla muttered, pumping her fist as she strode onto the muddy lakebed. “That’s my sister.”