Rive
Authors: Miranda Kavi
RIVE
The RUA sequel (Rua, Book 2)
by
Miranda Kavi
Copyright © 2013 MIRANDA KAVI
Published by:
Midnight Blackbird, LLC publishing
This novel is a work of fiction. Any and all names, characters, places and events are the product of the author’s imagination or are used in fictitious manner. Any resemblance to persons (alive or dead), organizations, businesses or actual events is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved by author. It is unlawful to copy and/or reproduce this novel in any way without the express written consent from the author. The author is a litigation-happy, super-ninja attorney that gets angry when people steal her book.
ISBN Numbers (print edition):
ISBN-13: 978-1484174241
ISBN-10: 1484174240
Contents
Chapter 1
Celeste nestled closer to Rylan. They were alone in his living room, snuggled together on the couch, watching the credits of the movie they’d just finished roll across the screen. His warmth seeped through her clothes, filling her. No matter how much time they spent together, she wanted more.
“You know,” he said, “you have to tell your parents soon.”
“I know.”
He rested his cheek against hers. “Regina said you have to do it now.”
“I know.” She buried her face in his chest. “They’re going to freak out.”
He tilted her face up. “Yeah, but they love you. They’ll understand.”
She sat up. “We don’t know that. What if they have me committed?”
He shook his head. “No, they won’t do that. You’ll have proof. Besides, babe, they love you.”
They did love her. They’d adopted her when she was only a few months old, bringing her into their family. She had always felt loved and wanted and safe. She was theirs, as they were hers.
“Another night. We should get back. I told them we would be home for dinner.”
He stood, unfolding his tall, lean muscular frame for her to admire. “Sure, but you need to do this. You can’t put it off forever.”
“I can try,” she said.
He pulled her up, forcing the front of her body into his, eyes burning in a way they only did for her. “You’re a bad, bad girl. You know you have to tell them.”
His lips hovered near hers. Her breath hitched.
“I will,” she said.
He kissed her, hands twisting in her hair. She wrapped her arms around him, the heat unfurling in her belly.
“Oy, woman.” He gently pulled away. “I’m trying to be a gentleman. I can’t take you home all tousled and messy.”
She smiled, leaning against him one more time before reluctantly walking away to get her purse.
They were quiet on the drive to her house, hands joined over the center armrest. He parked in her driveway, next to a sleek white SUV Celeste had never seen before.
“Who’s that?” Rylan said. “Did your parents get a new car?”
“No.” She frowned. “We weren’t expecting anybody for dinner except for you as far as I know.”
She sensed his presence behind her as she strode up to the house. She felt light and free. The
Sidhe
were quiet today. Really quiet. As quiet as she could remember. Almost like there was another
Tuatha
around.
Realization slammed into her. “Oh, no. She’s here.”
“Who?” Rylan said.
She opened the door.
“Oh,” he said.
Her living room held the three people she didn’t want to see all together. Regina sat in her father’s favorite armchair while her mom and dad were on the couch. Regina’s golden hair was bound on the top of her head, a cup of warm tea nestled in her hands. She smiled as they walked in.
Her parents sat on the couch across from her, her father stiff and formal, arm resting on his wife’s knee. Her mother was tucked into the corner of the couch, clinging on to a cup of tea. Her face was calm and framed by teeny tiny braids, but Celeste could tell there was a storm gathering underneath the mask of serenity.
“Um, hi?” Celeste said.
“So you do know her? We need to talk,” her mother said. She gestured Celeste to come closer. “Sit.”
Celeste moved forward, but Rylan hesitated near the door. “Come with me,” she hissed.
“Not sure about that.”
Her mom rolled her eyes. “Rylan can stay, but we need to talk. Now.”
Celeste sunk into the other armchair. Rylan hovered on the edge of the living room.
“Regina says she is related to you in some way, and that you know her and have been talking to her, and that you have something to tell us,” her mom said. Strain tensed her eyes. “Is that true? Who is this woman?”
Celeste glanced at Regina, her face wearing a slight smile that seemed to be her default. “Yes,” Celeste said. “I really wish this could have been on my terms, though.”
Tension swept through the room.
“Well, is something wrong?” her father asked.
“No, not really.”
“Is this your birth mother? Did you go looking for her?” her mother asked. “I told you I would help you with that if you ever decided to try.”
“What? No.” Celeste shook her head. “That’s not what this is.”
“What’s going on then?” her mom asked.
Celeste looked to Regina, then at Rylan. He nodded once. She returned her gaze to her parents. Her mom’s brown eyes were intent on Celeste, her lovely faced etched with worry. Her father draped one arm over his wife, mouth set in a firm line.
“Um, I’m not sure how to tell you this.”
“You’re pregnant? Oh, God. You’re pregnant, aren’t you? I raised you better than that.” Her mom lifted her eyes to ceiling, her lips muttering a silent prayer.
Her father advanced towards Rylan. “Young man, this better not be true!”
“No! Wait! I’m not human,” Celeste blurted out. “At least, not all the way human.”
Her mother dropped her teacup. She hastily picked it up, fingers fumbling as she tried to put it on the coffee table. “What… why… what do you mean? What nonsense is this?”
Celeste breathed in the compressed air around her before continuing. “I’m a
Tuatha de Dannan.
I have some abilities in a world you guys can’t see.”
Her mother jumped off the couch. “What is this?” Her eyes were wild. She turned to Regina. “Who are you and what have you done to my child? What nonsense have you planted in her head?”
Regina spoke quietly. “There are many more elements to the world than meets the eye. Creatures that were here far before humans were. They pulse through the earth, spirit beings moving around us unseen by most. Celeste is part of that world.”
“What the hell is this?” Her mother was shouting now. “You get out of my house. Get away from my daughter! Who do you think you are?”
Her father put his arms around his wife. “Deep breaths, honey. Let her finish.”
Regina calmly took a sip of her tea.
Celeste jumped him. “Mom, it’s okay. I’m normal. I’m healthy. I’m still your daughter.”
Her mother stepped toward Celeste, taking her hand. She looked her in the eyes. “Honey, this doesn’t make any sense. You’re scaring me. Do you have a headache again? When did this woman contact you?”
Regina’s beautiful features were still as smooth as glass. “Celeste, show them your light.”
“Your light? What the heck is she talking about?” her mom asked.
Celeste gave her mom a weak smile. “It’s okay, Mom. I promise.” She stepped back, dropping her mother’s hand. She looked into her eyes. “Trust me, Mom.”
Celeste closed her eyes, tipped her head back, and gathered her strength.
She let her light out. It rushed up and down her body as the ever present
Sidhe
moved around her. All at once, she heard her mom’s gasp, her father’s shocked epithet, and felt Rylan’s love wrap around her like a blanket.
She opened her eyes. Violet light radiated out from her skin, encircling her arms and legs. Bursts of multicolored sparks rolled off her skin. She held up her hands so they could see the purple fire burning in her palms. “This is what I am.”
Regina smiled. Rylan’s face reflected her light and love. Her father’s jaw dropped. Her mom crumpled to the floor.
Chapter 2
Celeste dropped to her knees. “Mom!”
Her father joined her on the floor. “Honey? Can you hear me?”
Her mother’s eyes fluttered opened. “I’m okay. I think I fainted.” She sat up, slow as molasses, her husband gently pulling her to her feet.
Tears spilled from Celeste’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’m so sorry.” She swiped her hand across her face. “This isn’t fair to you.”
“Hush, child.” Her mom pulled Celeste into her arms. “I’m shocked, but I love you no matter what. Shhh now. It’s okay.” She sat down on the couch, pulling Celeste with her. “Did everybody see that, or just me?”
“Uh huh,” Celeste’s dad said, his eyes still wide with shock.
“Yes, it’s real. It’s very real,” Regina said.
“Okay.” Her mom swayed back and forth on her feet. “Okay. I can handle this. Can someone get me some tea, please?”
“I will.” Rylan strode toward the kitchen.
“Something strong, dear boy.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He flashed a smile and disappeared into the kitchen.
Rylan soon returned with the steaming cup of tea.
“Thanks,” her mom said, patting his arm as he handed it to her. “Okay. Start at the beginning and tell me everything that’s going on here.”
“Okay, um. I’m a
Tuatha de Dannan.
So, basically, I have the ability to control
Sidhe.
All this happened when I turned seventeen. So, yeah. That’s me.”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Her mom waived her hands back and forth in front of her. “Is this why all those birds showed up a couple months ago, following you around?”
“Yes.”
“And the nightmares? The voices? The sneaking around?” she asked.
“Yes,” Celeste whispered.
“Does what happened to Tink have anything to do with this?”
Celeste winced when she thought of Tink when he was all bandaged up in the hospital. “Yes. It does.”
Her mom stood. “I knew it! I knew something was going on with you.”
“Honey, wait,” her dad said. “What are
Sidhe
? Can they hurt you? What does this mean for you?”
Regina placed her tea on the coffee table. “The
Sidhe
are ancient creatures, spirits, almost. There are the ones that cannot be seen by humans. They are here on earth all around us, but also live on the other side.”
“Other side?” her father asked.
“Yes. It’s the Otherworld, populated by these
Sidhe,
spiritual beings.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “You do understand if I have a hard time believing all this?”
“Dad, you saw my light,” Celeste said.
“Yes, I did. But spirit people? Another world? Where are these
Sidhe
?”
“They are everywhere,” Regina sad. “All around us. They are most active at night. There are many kinds. There are some tied to elements, such as water or air, some very much like humans, though many are not. There are even mares, and their descendants.” She pointed at Rylan.
“Mare?” Her dad repeated.
All eyes came to rest on Rylan. He shifted his weight from foot-to-foot. “Um, okay. Yeah, I’m half
Sidhe.
My father is a mare. He can, um, connect with people through their dreams.”
“Oh, Jesus Christ.” Her dad sank back into the couch. “Are these things dangerous? Is he safe to be around?”
“Dad, yes. He’s been very protective. He’s great. The best.”
Her dad dropped his chin. “Right, of course.”
Regina scooted her chair closer. “I can explain.”
She did, lowering her voice and explaining the world of the
Sidhe.
Her parents were still as statues, occasionally nodding in understanding. They looked frightened, horrified even.
Celeste’s stomach flip flopped and rolled, her light pouring through her body. She scanned their faces, watching their reactions to the all the information dumped on them.