Shadowborn (38 page)

I nibbled his throat, inhaled his scent. We rolled until I rode him, my head tilted back, my spine arched. One of his hands held me at the small of my back. The other slipped up my damp skin to my breasts, farther to my throat. I took his finger into my mouth and sucked.

Liam cried out, his body bucking beneath me.

Wind tugged at my hair. The song of the Goddess, one I’d only heard once before but would never forget, came from everywhere.

Leaning forward until my hair formed a shield around us, I kissed Liam and waited for what I’d missed with my whole soul. Our link, lost for an agonizing year, reformed in my center as the energy of the Goddess herself broke across our skin, through our minds, and bound us. My spirit spilled into him as his spilled into me. Our minds, bodies and souls became one pulsing life force, tangled in a vibrant firework of light. My heart galloped along with my excitement. Liam’s followed.

We frolicked in our private world, chasing one another through the endless expanse of our bond. Once we returned to our bodies, we lay there, staring at one another. Sweat dampened my skin. Liam’s hair stood on end with his bed head, bits of moss clinging to the strands, but he still managed to make my heart stop for a few beats.

“We should probably see what’s happening in our city,” he said through a lazy grin.

“Our city. I like the sound of that.” Taking his hand, I stood on rubbery legs. “How long did we … you know?” My cheeks flared, and I averted my gaze.

“Shit, I don’t know, but by the feeling of my muscles, it could have been a week.”

Something like a tiny voice echoed in my mind. My face blanked. “What the hell was that?”

Liam groaned and hovered his hands around me as if I’d turned into fragile glass. “Tell me I haven’t hurt you.”

“No, no, it’s not that.”

Another twinkle of emotion filtered through me—intense joy. I inhaled until my lungs refused to take in any more. My hands went to my mouth as a sob burst out, mixed with a laugh.

“You’re scaring the life out of me, Lila. Please, tell me what’s happening.”

I looked up at him through tear-lined lashes. Fingers to my temple, I said, “Listen.”

Head cocked, he blinked at me and flooded into my thoughts. Shock widened his eyes when more sensations rippled through me.

“My mother once told me she knew us all from the moment of conception,” I said through a laugh. “We’re going to have a son.”

Liam toppled over backwards onto the bed. Up like a shot, he raised shaking hands to his head, mouth agape. “We’re … going to … have … a son?”

My smile faded under my confusion. “Aren’t you happy?”

He beamed and went flying off the moss platform, ran a few steps one way, halted and ran back to me. “We’re going to have a son!” A silly man giggle burst out of him, and his arms waved around his head. “We’re going to have a son!”

Still butt-ass naked, Liam streaked across the garden and launched himself over the gate, shouting the same six words. Beyond the myriad of every color tree, he continued screaming it outside.

Chuckling, I put my hands on my stomach, still long from showing signs of the tiny soul that existed within—a voice I recognized from the first whisper. “I’ll take care of you, little one. I’ll make your world safe again.”

I gasped as I remembered. Neve had touched me. Had the Goddess blessed her with the gift of fertility?
A new generation of fae children.
If I had anything to say about it, they’d never know a division in our people had existed. I hadn’t won over everyone, nor could we enjoy any sort of peace until the Magi situation was sorted out, but I’d made a good start.

Staring at the spirits above, I said, “Thank you.” It wasn’t only for them, but for my friends and my Goddess. “I will live up to your faith in me and make you proud to call us your children again. By my oath, I’ll see it done.”

I stooped to gather up my clothes, considered for a moment and left them. I was done hiding away. If I could bear my soul to them, a little skin would be easy. As I walked with light steps along the path, a golden shimmer raced over my skin, my long hair spilling over my back. For the first time, it brought no sense of shame, but intense pride instead.

“We have a son!” Liam sped across the cobblestone in front of me. When his gaze landed on me, he darted in my direction and grabbed me up with a force that almost knocked us both backwards.

Our people gathered around, between houses, lining every street, all touching at least one other, some sporting their new forms. Try as I might, I couldn’t identify who came from the Black City or Dun Bray except the ones I knew for certain. Along the roof and treetops, the Sluagh perched, fluttering their wings. For the first time since I’d met them, the sight of the undead didn’t scare the bajeepers out of me. Instead, they offered an extra sense of safety.

Parthalan gave me a respectful nod from where he stood amongst them. I returned it, knowing we’d gained yet another ally in a man I’d spent most of my life fearing.

Holding Liam’s hand in mine, I smiled out at them all. “Brothers and sisters, Lord of the Host and his brethren. Welcome to Iress, our new fae city.” I’d heard my mother use the word. I thought it meant faith.

Brígh pranced and beamed up at me beside Cas, who did the same.

“You know I’m not the best at giving these damn speeches, so I’ll make this brief.”

Gallagher belted out a laugh. Red and orange danced along his skin, hues of Light I’d never seen him produce. He’d stripped off his much loved bow tie, shed his tweed jacket and even unbuttoned his shirt.
A new era, indeed.

“The Goddess has once again blessed Liam and me with a bond, and as you’ve heard about a thousand times in the last five minutes, a new life grows within my womb.” I winked at Neve and rubbed my belly. She jumped up and down until Andrew grabbed her, took her hand and placed it against her own stomach. I smiled and returned my attention to the gathered crowd so I wouldn’t take away their little moment.

Over our link, I let Liam’s thoughts blend with my own so I could speak for both of us. “Between us, we will be whatever you need us to be. Your leaders. Your friends and confidants. Your protectors. In return, we ask only that you cherish this city. Cherish your family, your friends and neighbors, and help us restore the human world the way the Goddess wishes us to. Let’s show the world and all its creatures who we are. We are strong, united. We are fae!”

A deafening roar of cheers shattered the silence. Galati, standing her full seven feet, shoulders back, wearing as little as I was, strode to the front of the crowd. Alogason and Laerni trailed behind her, toting pitchers of the fruity, blue drink they’d served us once before.

All three bowed to us, Laerni and Alogason unable to raise their gazes to me. The fae gathered around them and took them from my sight.

A flutter of wings brought Parthalan to the ground before us. After a few grunts, he changed into his man-like form. “Mistress.” He offered a bow.

Liam strode forward, but I put a hand on his arm. He glanced at me over his shoulder. “Trust me.”

I nodded and followed him to Parthalan, worrying my hands together. Even though I sensed no violent intent, I still wondered if old habits would be too hard to break. To my shock, Liam extended his hand to the other man.

Parthalan cocked his head in his bird-like way and stared at the offered hand and at me as if for reassurance. I motioned with my head for him to accept Liam’s effort.

Parthalan reached out and shook.

“The Black City is yours again, M’Lord Parthalan,” Liam said. “You’re welcome in our city anytime. Our peoples used to be allies once, before my mother stole your home from you. I hope we’re on our way to mending that broken tie.”

Backing away, Parthalan dipped his head, tucked his hand against his chest and folded his wings around himself. “If we do not, this world will fall, Mistress. The true war has scarcely begun.”

“I know.” I squeezed Liam, and he must have sensed my thoughts because his arms went around my stomach in a protective manner. “Tonight we celebrate, and tomorrow we’ll plan our next move.”

“The Host will return at sunset.” Parthalan extended his wings out in an exaggerated bow, offered a peaceful smile and blasted into the sky. The rest of the Sluagh followed.

“Is there another portal, do you think?” I asked Liam.

“My guess is that it will come out at Seven Gates.” He rested his head on my shoulder from behind, still gripping my midsection. “We’re going to win this thing, you know.”

I nodded and exhaled to spill off the tension remaining in my bones. “I know. We have to. It’s not just us we’re fighting for now.”

What Donovan had said finally made sense to me. Someone fighting for the freedom of their people was far more dangerous than someone with a simple grudge. I wouldn’t only fight for my freedom or that of the fae, but for all who drew breath on the earth. The fae would decided the future for all manner of the Goddess’s living creations.

We’d be ready.

Acknowledgements

There really aren’t enough words, hugs or flowers in the world to truly thank my beta readers for the golden feedback they bestow upon me whenever I go begging for some tough love.

To Aimee Laine, who is my biggest cheerleader, my toughest critic, and the best polishing wheel that could ever touch my writing. You are a star!

To Amaleen Ison, who is not only a talented writer whose name will be up in lights one day, but is amazingly adept at whipping my story into shape while still praising me enough to make my head swell. I bow to you, lovely lady.

To Rebecca Hart, whose enthusiasm and advice keeps me going while deep in editing hell. My hats off to you, darlin’.

And last, but not least, to J. Taylor Publishing for sticking with me even after realizing how much crazy lives in my head on a daily basis. Thank you from the cellar of my soul.

Jocelyn Adams

Jocelyn Adams grew up on a cattle farm in Lakefield and has remained a resident of Southern Ontario her entire life, most recently in Muskoka. She has worked as a computer geek, a stable hand, a secretary, and spent most of her childhood buried up to the waist in an old car or tractor engine with her mechanically inclined dad. But mostly, she’s a dreamer with a vivid imagination and a love for fantasy (and a closet romantic — shhh!). When she isn’t shooting her compound bow in competition or writing, she hangs out with her husband and young daughter at their little house in the woods.

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