AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, for an Earth Fae, the man does run heated, doesn’t he? I’d liken him more to a lightning bolt than a calmly rooted tree.”
“Agreed. His roots were ripped out of the ground, weren’t they?” Terra pursed her lips as she mixed the salve, pulling at the cord of magick inside of her and infusing the balm with love.
“That’s the nice thing about nature, isn’t it? Roots have a way of finding a new place to grow.” With that, Callahan left her to finish her preparations, leaving the door propped open with a stone. The sound of voices drifted inside on the sea breeze and, at any other time, Terra would have relaxed into an easy morning of making magickal remedies with some of the finest earthly ingredients. Today, though, she hurried herself along, not wanting to miss the chance to pamper Rian a bit.
The jerk.
It still stung, that he’d slipped the knife from her so easily, and she was beginning to understand the danger of the fated mate bond. It was as though she couldn’t think straight or was conscious of anything else when she was wrapped in his arms. It rankled, it did, that he’d been able to still formulate a plan while she’d brought him pleasure. Did that mean he didn’t have the same powerful attraction for her that she had for him? Insecurity was an unfamiliar emotion for Terra, so the thought was more confusing than upsetting, though she’d dearly like an answer. From the looks of Rian’s expression when she stepped from her cottage, Terra immediately ascertained she’d not be getting answers today. He stood at the end of the table, head bent to Callahan, a furious expression on his face as he pointed at the food and then at Bianca and Seamus. Terra didn’t have to hear what he was saying to know he disapproved.
Even with storm clouds in his expression, Rian looked handsome, and Terra’s heart sighed at the sight of him. Today he wore dark pants and a simple flannel shirt in heather green, and the color highlighted his moody eyes. She wanted to go give him a hug, even though she was angry with him. It was such a confusing thing, this fated mate feeling, Terra realized. How was it possible to be angry with someone and want to care for them at the same time? Perhaps that was the contradiction that came with true love. It unsettled her, this thought of love, and she dropped to a seat across from Bianca and Seamus instead of greeting Rian. She needed to work up the nerve to talk to him, because at the moment, anything from “take me” to “you stupid jerk” was bound to come out of her mouth.
“Have there been some developments we aren’t aware of?” Bianca asked, leaning into Seamus’s side.
“Good morning, Terra.” Seamus grinned at her.
“Good morning. Yes, well, let’s see… I went for a walk. Rian and I, we … had a moment. And he stole the amulet. That’s a quick synopsis of recent events,” Terra said, narrowing her eyes at Rian. Anger with him seemed to be winning over lust, so that was a good sign at least. Maybe she’d be able to focus that anger into something productive like stealing her amulet back. But … it didn’t feel like the knife was nearby. Terra was so in tune with the knife that she could usually feel the pulse of its energy when it was close, and now … nothing. Dread slipped its icy fingers into her gut.
“What have you done with the amulet?” Terra asked, her voice sharp, causing Rian to snap his head up. “Please tell me you haven’t been so absolutely asinine as to have given it to the Dark Fae?”
“There you go … insult him. That’ll make him fall for you,” Bianca whispered.
Terra didn’t care about their plans in that moment. Rage bubbled inside her, and her magick responded, growing heavier as it rippled through her. She wasn’t sure what she would do if Rian told her that he’d given the knife away.
“I have not given the amulet to the Dark Fae,” Rian said. He narrowed his eyes at Terra, like she was the problem, his face set in hard lines.
“Where is it then?” Terra demanded. Rian was presenting her with quite a problem. On one hand, he’d told her repeatedly that he didn’t lie and became furious when people didn’t believe him. On the other, if Terra didn’t believe his words now, any tenuous foundation they were starting to build would be shattered.
“I’ve tucked it away. In a safe place.” Rian’s hands jerked, almost inadvertently, and Terra understood now why he had the wounds. He must have put the amulet somewhere surrounded by iron, which would protect it from the Dark Fae, as well as insulate its powers. That must be why she couldn’t feel its presence nearby.
This was also an opportunity to show Rian she was willing to trust him. Even though he’d stolen the amulet from her. It stung, knowing that she had put herself out there for him, while he was still committing wrongs against her. But she also understood now that, in some respects, Rian wasn’t just seeing Terra as herself. As a leader of the Earth Fae, she represented the group that had punished him so harshly. It was her duty to accept his censure, particularly if he was innocent, which meant now was a perfect time to start building that bridge back to him. Standing, Terra picked up her jar of salve, and a small bag of loose tea she’d mixed to help Rian rest. Callahan stepped back when Terra moved to Rian, giving them space.
“What? Don’t believe me?” Rian taunted, regarding her with weary eyes.
“Let me see your hands,” Terra said, and surprise flitted across Rian’s face.
“No,” Rian said, starting to step back, but Terra had anticipated his retreat and was already reaching for his wrist. At her touch, he stopped in his tracks, as though she held some kind of power over him. Which, if last night was any indication, wasn’t as much as she’d originally thought. Turning his right hand over in her palm, Terra grimaced at the large blisters she found there. Had the man not even tried to protect himself from the pain? “It’s nothing—”
“Hush.” Terra ordered, and rubbed some salve onto his wounds, taking some time with the motion in order to take the pain from his flesh and into herself. Being barefoot, she could direct the pain through her and into the ground, where the Earth helped her to disperse the energy. “There … that should be a bit better.”
Rian looked down at his palms and back to her, his face still set in a scowl, confusion in his eyes. He reminded Terra of a wounded animal needing care, but suspicious of any help that was offered. That was just fine. She was more than used to healing the wounds of the world. Rian would just be one more animal in her menagerie.
“I have a tea for you,” Terra said, handing him the small bag.
“Tea?” Rian asked in a tone that sounded like he was certain she was trying to poison him.
“For restless sleep. It works wonders.” Terra patted his arm before he could move out of the way of her touch and returned to her seat where Bianca was scooping porridge into a bowl for Terra.
“It’s a nice morning, all things considered,” Seamus commented, gesturing with a spoon to the sunny sky.
“It is at that,” Bianca agreed, hyperaware of where Rian stood frozen at the end of the table, gaping at them.
“Should we have a walk later? Or perhaps a game?” Bianca asked. She turned and addressed Rian. “Would you like some porridge? There’s plenty here.”
“Would I like…” Rian trailed off, his face mutinous, as he turned on his heel and stormed to his cottage. Terra noticed that he’d taken the bag of tea with him, so perhaps that was a modicum of progress.
“I guess he’s not hungry.” Bianca winked at Terra.
“I suspect your man is feeling like he’s losing control of things,” Seamus commented as Callahan joined them at the table. A gull swooped in wide arcs over their heads, curious at what they were eating, and the sound of the waves hitting the rock walls carried to them across the meadow. It was as peaceful a moment as any could be while being held captive, Terra supposed. Turning, she looked at Callahan.
