"Try a kiss, numnuts. It works in fairy tales."
"Back off, Salvatore. I'll do it."
"Dorian, I swear to St. Valentine, if your lips go anywhere near hers, I'll kick your ass."
"You're such a baby, Gabe." ...
Chapter 3
I exited the dragon's cave, and was met by Ryden, my most trusted friend. The pixilette had transparent wings, and hair the color of daisies. Gabriel, one of Sharra's Hunters, and my secret lover, was also there.
I sucked in my breath at the sight of him. "Gabriel," my insides sang. It still shocked me that I had any kind of physical reaction to him. He wore his long, black hair in a braid. Several strands had fallen out and framed his chiseled face. His eyes were emerald green, and seemed to overflow with serenity and goodness. He wasn't tall, about my height, and muscled. He wore black pants, fur-covered boots, and a matching black shirt without sleeves. On his back two swords crisscrossed. His sensuous lips were puckered with worry.
Gabriel was a vampire, but didn't look anything like me. No wings and no fur-only our faces were similar in shape, and color. Gabriel had been a human first, before my sister turned him. She used her magic, and her blood to make it happen. Although I was more than offended with what she'd done to him, I couldn't help the strong feelings-the desire-I felt for this Hunter. My feelings went against everything I stood for, but I couldn't deny them.
Flying off Gabriel's shoulder, Ryden asked, "Did you find Abernathy? What did he say?" She spoke in a high, barely audible voice as she flitted around my head.
I held out my hand, exposing the amber stone.
"Oh," she gasped, clutching her hands to her chest. Her wings beat rapidly as she landed on my palm, timidly touching the stone. "It's beautiful," she breathed.
"It's our future," I said.
"What did he say? What do we do with it?" She placed her hands on her hips.
Forcing down a smile, I said, "First, we need to find the elf known as Devoran."
Gabriel placed a hand on my shoulder, his eyes questioning.
I covered his hand with mine, and pulled it to my chest. "The dragon is sending us on a quest." The word, us, filled me with contentment. We were a team, Gabriel, Ryden, and I.
"A quest? What are we searching for, my love?" Gabriel brushed his hands through my wild, unkempt hair. I caught hold of his waist, pulling him close, ignoring the frustrated breathing coming from Ryden. Gabriel and I embraced, and he kissed me, his warm lips caressing mine. At his touch my body snapped to attention, every part of me quivering like putty in his hands.
Ryden and I had talked on more than one occasion about my passions for the human-looking vampire. I knew it was wrong, that I shouldn't be seen cavorting with a watered down vampire, especially one that served Sharra. But whenever he was near, my body would melt.
Every strict word I told myself, each promise I made to Ryden was forgotten, flitting from my head like a petulant bird. I craved his nearness. Even now, knowing we needed to complete the most important task of my long life, I couldn't stop myself from kissing him, touching him, wanting him.
"Gabriel," I whispered.
He responded by deepening his kiss, and I felt it in my knees, down to the tips of my toes.
"Shiny sheep poo, would you two break it up?"
I smiled against Gabriel's lips. Ryden had quite the sense of humor.
"Fine," I said softly, but my gaze never left Gabriel's. "Climb on, Ryden. You don't want to get left behind."
She flew to my shoulder. "You're disgusting," she murmured into my ear, but I noted the hint of sympathy in her voice. The little pixilette understood.
"Shall we go your way or mine?" I asked Gabriel, my wings beating behind my back.
"My way, if you please," Gabriel said.
I sighed. "Oh, alright." I knew he didn't like to fly.
"Where to?" he asked, wrapping his arms around my middle.
"The Isle of Rhue."
He lifted me into his arms with ease. I marveled at his strength. I wasn't the lightest of creatures.
"Snow, it's me, Cindy. I don't have a lot of time. Your boyfriend thinks witches had something to do with what happened to you, but it isn't true."
"Are you ready to complete the spell, my child?"
"Yes, Grandmother."
"Good. Then begin."
"Don't worry, Snow. This isn't going to hurt. Essaya. Guinevia. Essaya cayana soyoble."
"See, my dear, the spell is working. She's fine. We just need to help the idiot chayot keep her safe until she wakes."
"Thank you, Grandmother."
Chapter 4
The Isle of Rhue was an inlet off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Cloaked by enchantments, only those who possessed magic could find it, and even then it was difficult. The elves weren't social creatures, and the elven leader was no exception. In fact he was ornerier than Abernathy. A rock had more personality. I'd spoken to him all of ten times in the last thousand years. Each conversation had been at the United Council meeting held once a century. Needless to say, I was not looking forward to this encounter.
We arrived quickly. Gabriel halted at the edge of Keening Forest. It was known for its giant pine trees, and the hostile phantoms that lurked within.
Gabriel released me. Dried grass crunched underfoot. "Come on," I said, ready to get this over with.
"I don't know," Ryden said, her high voice quivering. "Are you sure this is necessary? I mean, can't you command Devoran to come to you?"
"I could, but he wouldn't come. We have to do this." I stepped over a pinecone the size of Gabriel's head. "Stay on my shoulder," I told Ryden lightly. Once we entered the forest, if a pinecone fell on her, she'd be squished.
"Agreed. Everything is so big. I could live in one of those pinecones." As though to prove her point, a hairy spider, as big as my fist, crawled out of one. "Holy monster, I'm hiding in your hair," she said with a shudder. The spider, if it caught the pixilette, would make her an appetizer.
"I'll get rid of him," Gabriel said, shooing the spider in the opposite direction with the tip of his boot. There wasn't much growing under the canopy of trees, just a lot of dirt, pine needles, cones, and the occasional fern. It made sense though. The sun was all but blocked from view. Shadows danced within the stilted silence. In the distance I could hear the waves crashing and something else...