Rua (Rua, book 1) (14 page)

The flames danced around her palms and started wrapping around her arms. Instead of leaving jagged flames, they faded seamlessly into her skin until she held the faintest glow over her entire body.

She turned to look at Rylan. He was standing now, but still on the steps. He leaned on the banister, watching her. He had the tiniest smile on his full lips and a glint in his eyes that promised the kind of trouble she looked for.

“Oh no!” Kara screamed.

Celeste felt it too, but it was too late.

Kara was crumpled on the ground. How did she get there?

Celeste flew back with surprising force, her spine slamming into a bumpy tree. Cold hands were around her neck, keeping her feet from touching the ground. She dug her hands and feet into the tree behind her, trying to gain some foothold.

The hands filled in first, shadow turning to flesh, then the rest. Fayga.

Celeste pictured the shield, the purple bubble around her. Energy surged through her body, large purple flames licking her arms and legs. Fayga flinched then loosened her grip the tiniest amount.

That was all Celeste needed. She grabbed Fayga’s arms and shoved her off with all her force. Celeste’s feet hit the ground then she fell to all fours, sucking in huge breaths of night air.

Before she could even fill her lungs, her face was in the dirt, courtesy of a rib kick from Fayga. She pulled herself back up to her hands and knees, just in time to watch Rylan tackle Fayga from the side. They rolled in one dark mass on the ground.

“Rylan!” she gasped.

Rylan was back on his feet, and so was Fayga. They circled each other like two prize fighters in Vegas.

“Stay out of this, Halfling, or I will kill you.” Her voice was strangely beautiful.

Celeste moved to help him, ordering her shocked legs to place one foot in front of the other.

One strong arm clapped on her shoulder, pulling her back. “No,” Kara said. She pushed Celeste behind her.

“Fayga!” Kara said.

Fayga’s head snapped up. She grimaced, smiled, and disappeared, only to re-apparate right next to Kara.

Kara grabbed her by the throat.

Fayga flickered, turned gray, then disappeared.

Kara rubbed her hands together like she was dusting them off. She turned to Celeste. “Are you okay? I’m sorry, I should have never let that happen.”

“I’m fine, I think.” She touched her tender neck. “Are you okay, Rylan?”

“I’m fine,” he said. He planted himself in front of Kara. “What the hell happened?”

Kara swept her hands through her hair, her glasses glinting in the moonlight. “I don’t know. I’m so sorry. I didn’t feel her until it was too late.” Her voice was weak.

“You’re sorry? Fayga almost choked her!” Rylan yelled.

“Rylan,” Celeste said. “Fayga attacked her too, and you. If anyone should apologize, it’s me for bringing all this on us.”

Rylan grabbed Celeste’s hand and pulled her through the back door of his house. He flipped on a hallway light then gently tipped her chin up to examine her neck. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She nodded in response.

His fingers gently probed the delicate skin of her neck. He found the charms of her necklace nestled against her skin. “Where did you get this?”

“Whi—which one?” she stammered.

Kara walked in the open door. “Is she okay?”

Celeste stepped back from Rylan. “Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.”

Rylan tucked her charms into the top of her shirt then dropped his hand.

“What’s the deal with Fayga?” Celeste asked. “What is she?”

“She’s one of the most ancient of all
Sidhe
. I think the fact that she’s been around so long has messed her up. She’s deranged,” Kara said.

“Great. That’s freakin’ great.”

“It’ll be okay,” Kara said. “You’re learning, and you did well tonight. Did you feel anything before she came?”

“Yes. Right before, but it was too late.”

“No, that’s good. With more practice, you’ll pick up on these things sooner, I promise.”

“Right.” Celeste leaned against the wall. Her headache was gone, and her body was tired.

“I’m going to take her home,” Rylan said.

“Good idea.” Kara pulled Celeste into a hug. “It will be okay. You did good.”

Celeste hugged her back. “Thanks for your help.”

Kara smiled, straightened her glasses, then walked out the back door.

“Can we take a car home?” Celeste asked him. “I can’t handle any more…stuff.”

“Sure.” His tone was nice enough, but his face was still angry.

His black car was comforting and familiar, even though she’d only been in it a few times. He parked a couple blocks away from her house then killed the engine.

“Thanks…for everything.” She put her hand on the door handle but didn’t leave. She wanted to bask in his presence a little longer, but she did need to get home.
Tuatha
or not, she had school in the morning.

He disappeared from his seat, and her door opened in the same instant. “Please let me walk you in, or help you through your window, rather. We need to talk.”

“Sure.”

They cut across the block then disappeared into the trees behind her house. Her window was still open, so he lifted her by her hips so she could slide in.

Her room was bathed in moonlight, casting everything in a blue tint. She caught a glance of herself in the mirror above her vanity. Her ponytail was long gone and her red hair was everywhere. Her violet eyes glowed. She noticed some dark chunks in her hair. She started pulling them out: leaves and bark.

Rylan came up behind her. “Celeste.” His voice sounded gruff.

She turned in the direction of his voice, only to find him very close. “Yes?”

“You could have been hurt.”

“But I’m not, so it’s fine.”

He rubbed his forehead with his hand. “Why are you putting yourself at risk? I still don’t trust that woman.”

“You know we need help. You know what I have to do.”

Anger flooded his face. “I need to tell you something, it’s just that, I…” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him so fast it made her head jerk back.

A million questions rushed through her head, but she didn’t have time to ask because he brought his mouth down on hers with sensual violence.

Her surprise gave way to senseless thoughts. His lips were demanding, but soft, against hers. She melted into him, wrapping her arms around his neck, melding her body with his. Her purple flames shot down her arms, bathing both of them in violet light.

He embraced her, pushing her forward with small steps until her back was against the wall. He seemed to enjoy having her pinned to the wall, not that she was complaining. He crushed into her, pushing into her harder until her feet left the floor. She parted her lips, and he accepted her invitation, his mouth hungry for hers. His mouth finally left hers to trace a path of fire down her jaw line, landing at the hollow of her neck.

“Celeste.” He stopped kissing her, but held her face gently between his hands. “I thought something was going to happen to you.”

“I didn’t know you–”

He kissed her again, his lips demanding on hers, and oh, my God, the tinglies coursed through every inch of her body. She’d never been kissed like this before. He pulled away, lightly kissing the corner of her mouth and the tip her nose.

“Like doesn’t even begin to cover it. The first time I laid eyes on you, I wanted…” He kissed her again, prying open her lips with his tongue. She barely had time to breath, had no time to speak.

Finally, they came up for air. He pulled her off the wall, keeping his arm around her waist. Her knees were so shaky she wasn’t sure she could walk. “Sorry, I got a little excited there. Did I hurt you?” he said with his insanely sexy lopsided smile.

“No, please. Feel free to get excited whenever you’d like.”

He stared into her face, a little tiny line forming between his eyes. “You look beat. I’m being selfish. You should go to bed.”

“No,” she said. “Please don’t leave.”

“I promise I won’t, but you need to go to bed.”

“Okay.” She pulled her navy blue sleep pants and a white tank top out of her drawer. “Give me a sec?”

“Sure.”

She walked into her bathroom and shut the door behind her. She jumped up and down. Holy moley Rylan liked her, maybe even really liked her! She pulled off her dirt-covered clothes and changed into her pajamas. She freshened her deodorant, brushed her teeth, and pulled the rest of the leaves out of her hair. When she was satisfied she looked slightly less crappy, she returned to her room.

He was sitting on her bed fully clothed, his socks and shoes neatly arranged on the floor.

She sat next to him.

“Please try to sleep. I’ll be a gentleman, I promise.” He pulled down the sheets and motioned for her to get in bed.

She did.

He laid down on top of the covers, facing her.

Her eyes were heavy with sleep. “Do you have parents?” she asked. “Won’t they miss you tonight?”

“Yes, I do. My mom is the human parent. She’s in Chicago right now, so she won’t miss me. Plus, she knows what I am. I don’t have normal teenage rules.”

“Kay.” She closed her eyes and tried to let sleep come, but something bothered her. Some little thing at the back of her mind. Ah, she remembered. “Jennifer,” she said. “Why did you hang out with her if you like me so much?”

He ran his thumb along the length of her cheek bone, very gently. “Because I’m a tool. And confused. I thought you didn’t like me, and I was trying to get your attention and at the same time trying to push you away. I’m probably a poor choice for you, being
Sidhe
and all. She’s distasteful, though. I couldn’t even pretend to like her.”

“No more Jennifer?”

“Only you, now and forever. Now go to sleep.” The instant he touched her face, she did.

She woke to a gray morning. She checked her alarm clock: 5:30 a.m. “Geesh.”

“I’m sorry, did I wake you?” Rylan said.

She jerked in her bed. “Holy crap! You’re still here?”

He pulled her back into his arms. “Is that okay?” He ran his hand gently from her temple to her chin. “You fell asleep, and I couldn’t stand to leave you.”

She smiled, and hoped her morning breath wasn’t too bad. “It’s okay. It’s just my parents are here, you know?”

“Don’t worry. They’ll never catch me.” He kissed her forehead. “Which is why I need to go. Should I come back and give you a ride?”

“As much as I would love that, I already promised Tink. I mean, he’s expecting to give me a ride.”

“That’s okay.” One lopsided, sexy smile, and he disappeared. The sheets where he’d lain were still warm, but he was gone and her window was open.

She smiled then relaxed into her pillow again.

The next time she woke up, her mom was standing over her. “Celeste, wake up.”

“I’m awake.” Her room was bright with sunlight. “Crap, what time is it?”

“7:30. You need to get up right now,” her mom answered. “You never sleep in. Feeling okay?”

“Yeah.” She sat up and rubbed her head. She couldn’t help but look around the room to verify Rylan was long gone. “I had a hard time falling asleep.”

Somehow, she managed to get up, showered, and dressed, and was waiting on her front stoop for Tink.

He showed up right on time. “Tell me everything about last night and don’t you dare leave out a single thing. What happened?” he said as soon as she opened the car door to get in.

“Hold the phone. Let me settle in.”

She sat threw her backpack in the rear and sat in the passenger seat. Tink watched her with narrowed eyes. “You look tired, but also very hot. You’ve got this glow about you. WTF?”

She filled in him as they drove to school. When she told him about this kiss, he slammed on the car brakes. She lurched forward, bracing herself with her hand to keep from banging into the dashboard.

“Jesus Christ! I get attacked by an ancient evil being, and that’s fine. I make out with Rylan, and you almost freakin’ kill us?” she said.

He shrugged. “Sorry, I’m into romance, not sci-fi, and I know you’re okay ‘cause you’re sitting right next to me. Sooooo, are you guys together now?” He parked in his usual spot.

“Technically, that would be fantasy, not sci fi.” She got out of the car.

He did too. “Touché!” he shouted over the top of the car. They both laughed as he came around the car to stand next to her. “Incoming.”

She turned to see what he was looking at. It was Rylan in blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and a huge smile. His eyes glinted in their special
Sidhe
way, though she couldn’t help but believe some of it was for her.

“Hey, beautiful.” Two seconds later she was in his arms and he kissed her, right there in front of the entire school. For a few seconds, the world dissolved around her. She forgot about Tink, her classmates, school. It was just Rylan and his supple lips.

He gently pulled away, but kept his arm around her. “Hey, Tink.”

“Well, hello,” Tink said.

They all walked into school together. To Celeste, it was like a scene from a cheesy teen movie. Most of the students milled around the lockers and classroom doors. When she and Rylan walked down the main hallway, hand in hand, everyone literally stopped what they were doing and watched them pass. Most of them smiled.

It was at that moment a strange, buoyant sensation moved through her being. At first she was terrified it was something
Sidhe
-related, but it wasn’t. It was something more human: a sense of belonging. She had an awesome friend right next to her, a most-likely-a-boyfriend holding her hand, and a general sense of warmth from her classmates. Despite all the weirdness in her life, Celeste was normal.

Chapter 13

It didn’t last long. School became a nightmare, punctuated by bright spots of Rylan and Tink.

Kara’s voice brought her back to the here and now, where she should be. “Doing great, Celeste! Keep it going.” She stood close to Celeste, side by side in her office at school. Her door was locked, and the lights were dimmed.

Energy buzzed through Celeste as she let the
Sidhe
move through her. There weren’t many, since it was daylight.