Fates Entwined: Halven Rising

Reese watched as Derek stuffed his backpack into the wall. “Umm, what are you doing?”

“There’s a hollow behind a cabinet on the other side,” he said. “The furniture is curved there. No one will find my pack behind it, but I can grab it any time I want through this wall.”

“Do I want to know what’s inside your backpack?”

“Just some weapons my talented girlfriend concocted.” He smiled proudly at Elena.

Reese raised her eyebrow. “Girlfriend?” And yep, the love and sense of togetherness between Elena and their hot neighbor from back home hadn’t escaped Reese. She’d simply been waiting for Elena to say something.

Elena glanced nervously at her mother, who had pulled Camille aside for a private conversation. “Well, you see,” she said, “we grew close working on the virus and—things happened.”

“I knew it!” Reese stage-whispered. “I called that the first day Derek came over.”

Derek leaned down and kissed Elena on the head, because if Elena was over six feet after visiting Tirnan, Derek was closer to seven now. He joined Theda and Camille off to the side.

Elena smiled shyly. “Aside from Fae drama and you going missing—which had me so stressed, I can’t even tell you—things have been good. With Derek, that is.”

Reese tugged on one of Elena’s dark curls, which bounced back as soon as Reese released it. “I knew what you meant. I always liked Derek.” She gave her friend a side hug. “I’m happy for you. He’s a good one.”

“He is,” Elena said, a sappy smile on her face. “It’s complicated with my mom being heir to New Kingdom and Derek running Old Kingdom, but no one said they had to be sworn enemies, right?”

“Actually, isn’t that exactly what they are?”

Elena’s mouth pulled down into a frown. “I’m trying to think positive here. They are sworn enemies, but that doesn’t mean Fae are incapable of forgiving and moving forward. At least, I hope not. Drives me nuts how traditional and stubborn the people in Emain can be.”

Reese snorted. “Like Keen?”

She chuckled. “Keen is a prime example.”

“I don’t know what to do with him.” Reese grimaced. “But I also don’t know what I’d do without him.”

Elena touched Reese’s shoulder. “He promised he’d find you. He never gave up.”

“He found me, all right. Now he’s keeping me locked away in this room while he handles everything.”

“That sounds like Keen. But now you have us, and we’re here to kick ass and take names. Speaking of kicking asses”—Elena’s pretty face brightened—“I made the coolest guns. They remove Fae powers. Isn’t that awesome? Keen won’t need to keep you locked away once we bust out these babies.”

“You made guns?”

“Old Kingdom had them, and they were a huge pain in the ass.” Elena’s lip curled into a snarl, as though she was remembering. “Derek returned to Tirnan for a few days to take care of Old Kingdom business, and he grabbed me one. I made a bunch of replicas for the Emain Fae, and we brought some with us.”

Keen used to be an Emain Fae. Now, Reese didn’t know what he was. “Have you spoken to Keen lately?”

Elena shook her head. “No, he’s been silent. But it’s a huge challenge communicating between realms. We assumed everything was running according to plan. Why? Is something wrong?”

Reese bit her lip. “We might need a change of plans.”

Concern wafted off Elena, at the same time Reese sensed apprehension from the others in the room. Theda, Camille, and Derek drew closer. They might have been talking off to the side, but it seemed they’d been paying attention to her and Elena’s conversation.

Elena pulled Reese to the bed and they both sat on the edge of the mattress. “What’s happened?”

Reese let out a deep breath, glad to have someone to confide in. “Keen promised to worship at Portia’s feet, or whatever—I don’t really understand the particulars, but it’s not good. He told me he had to make a sacrifice. His pledge to Portia is the reason I haven’t mentioned to him that I heard from you. I’ve sensed Portia’s emotions, and she’s horrible. I seriously think the woman is certifiably insane. And if Keen has to protect Portia…and he knows you’re here…well, you can fill in the rest.”

Theda hissed, hurt and anger rushing off her. Reese sensed the betrayal, but she wasn’t certain if Theda felt it in relation to Keen…or Portia. Portia had been Theda’s companion once, so it could be either.

“Crap,” Elena said. “Those bastards. Heads are gonna roll once we take this place back.”

“Don’t say that,” Reese said, which was odd coming from her. She was typically more aggressive than Elena, but right now she felt vulnerable. “That could be a reality. Keen’s been training me with a sword—a freaking sword, Elena. You know how much I love my martial arts, but this is intense, even for me.”

Elena bumped Reese’s shoulder with her own. “I know. And there’s no harm if you choose to hide while everything goes down. We’ll protect you.”

Reese’s eyes narrowed and she snarled, “Hell no. You think I’m sitting this out?”

Elena laughed silently. “No, I just like seeing you get feisty. I love you, Reese. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Even if I’m not about to skulk behind a chair, these guys are big. I had a run-in with one and I got away, but just barely. Keen stepped in and beat the crap out of him. At the time, I told Keen I had it under control, but as soon as my adrenaline died down, I realized he was right. I’m no match for these people. Nothing I could have done to that Fae, even with martial arts training, would have kept him down for long. They heal too quickly.”

“We can gain the lead with the null guns,” Elena said adamantly. “The Fae in New Kingdom don’t have null technology. Though we’ll still need to disable soldiers physically…”

That didn’t sound good. “How do you plan to do that?”

“By imprisoning Portia and her advisors,” Theda answered for Elena.

Theda stepped forward. She was tall, like all Fae, and willowy, with flaxen hair, an oval face, and stunning eyes that were more moss green than the emerald tone of Keen’s. “We have reason to believe many, if not most in New Kingdom, are still loyal to my family. They are not pleased that Portia usurped control, along with her Halven advisor, Marlon. For reasons we haven’t figured out, my loyalists haven’t challenged Portia. Our plan is to reach out to a few influential Newlanders and get them on our side—prepare them for battle.”

“How many people do you think you can convince to support you?” Reese asked. “Because there are a hell of a lot of soldiers in this place.”

Theda glanced protectively at her daughter. “That remains to be seen, but I am confident.”

Her emotions said as much. Theda believed she could take back control of her kingdom.

“Camille portaled a handful of our best Emain warriors to the woods moments before she brought us here,” Theda continued. “But we’ll need more if I am to wrest back my place on the throne.”

Portaling so many bodies must have taken its toll on Camille, because she had moved across the room and was slumped in the fancy French chair Keen favored when he visited.

A knock sounded at the door, and Elena glanced at the others.

“Fae. Female,” Camille said, suddenly alert.

It had been too long since anyone had come to primp or feed Reese. She was due a visitor.

“Shit,” she said, and hopped up.

Elena scurried over to Derek, as did Theda and Camille. Elena held Derek’s hand and her mother’s, while Camille and Theda joined hands. And then they disappeared, just like that.

Creepy. And kind of cool.

“Who is it?” Reese called instead of answering the door like she normally would. She wanted to give Derek and the others a heads-up in case it was the guards searching for them.

“It is I, Illa,” came a muffled, pretty voice from the other side of the thick door.

Reese glanced back to make sure her friends were still hidden, and walked over and opened the door. “Hi,” she said a little too cheerily, her mouth spread in a wide smile.

She needed to simmer down and act normal.

“Greetings.” Illa grinned back and entered, but she seemed to hesitate a couple of steps inside the doorway. Her head turned slightly, and Reese’s heart thumped in her chest as Illa looked at the back corner—and the spot where Reese had last seen the others.

Illa couldn’t know they were here, could she? Reese was beginning to enjoy her sister’s visits, but she didn’t trust any Fae—not even Illa. And if someone found out Reese was harboring fugitives who threatened the crown… She didn’t even want to think about what would happen.

Illa turned and gave Reese a shaky smile.

Something was definitely up. “Everything okay?” she said, her mind racing. Maybe she was overreacting and Illa didn’t know.

“Yes, of course. I just wanted to make sure you were well. There is a disturbance in the kingdom. Someone entered and the guards are searching for the intruders.”

“Really?” Reese feigned disbelief. “Who do they think it is?”

“No one knows. And it concerns me.” Illa walked over to a dresser and picked up a silver-handled mirror that looked like something out of old Hollywood. She set it down carefully. “My father is attempting to create diplomacy between the kingdoms.” She turned back to Reese. “Something that hasn’t been accomplished in several hundred years. And before that, it had been even longer. It’s why I’m here. I fear this intrusion will put Newlanders on the defensive. You and I are not safe inside the palace with the military on alert.”

Reese hadn’t thought about what Elena and her mother’s invasion would do to Illa, or anyone else in Portia’s good graces.

“Can you leave? Return to Old Kingdom?”

“No,” Illa said. “Not until the queen releases me. She is determined to see this marriage through. That is the only arrangement that will help bring a degree of peace between the lands.”

Reese swallowed, attempting to control her breathing, which for some reason had grown choppy.

Illa had called Keen her fiancé, and Keen had denied their relationship. But if Keen didn’t marry Illa, there would be no peace between the kingdoms. More was at stake than his personal freedom. Or the anguish that roiled through Reese at the thought of his marrying another.

No man had managed to get under her skin. Why Keen?

“Do you love him?” Reese asked, attempting to sound casual, but hearing the shaking in her voice.

Illa smiled. “He is a good Fae.”

Not an answer to the question. “A bit bossy, if you ask me,” Reese muttered.

Illa’s smile grew. “That too.”

Reese swallowed the ball lodged in the back of her throat. “Then you should marry him. He will protect you.” She tried to grin, but it came out wobbly.

And then Reese felt Illa’s sadness and concern.

“I will do what is best,” she said. “But do not worry about me. I wish you to be safe, Reese. You are in more danger than I am. You must be careful. Stay with Keen, or Ulric—he seems to have your best interests in mind as well. But the others…”

Reese nodded. She’d grown to care for Illa—oh, not in the sisters-for-life way, but Illa was kind. Reese could see them becoming close, given enough time. Illa’s emotions were filled with lightness…when she wasn’t concerned, as she was now.

As she’d been when she first entered the bedroom.

“I must go,” she said. “The queen wishes my presence at an induction ceremony. Keen isn’t the only Fae whose fealty she is forcing. You understand we cannot lie?”

“I do.”

Illa nodded. “Then you understand what she is asking of us.”

“Has she asked for your fealty?”

“She cannot. I am an Oldlander. Keen is too, but he’s been gone so long from our land they consider him from Emain now, a neutral zone. If I marry someone true to her…”

“You’ll need to be true to her as well.”

“Yes.”

Reese stepped forward and squeezed Illa’s hand. It was warm, her pale skin soft. “Stay on Portia’s good side. I—I don’t trust her.”

Illa nodded and squeezed back. Then she walked to the door. But she glanced at the back corner of the room before she exited.

As soon as the door was closed, Derek and the others emerged.

“She knew we were here,” Derek said, voicing Reese’s concerns.

“How?” she asked.

“Illa is an Oldlander.” Derek rubbed his forehead. “I didn’t realize it until it was too late. She might have seen the signs of us Blended. Oldlanders are better at detecting my ability when I’m in the elements. How much do you trust her?”

“Well, I can read her emotions, and—”

“Wait.” Elena held up her hand. “Back up. You mentioned something about knowing Portia’s feelings too. What do you mean, you can read Illa’s emotions?”

“It’s my ability. Keen calls me an empath. I can tell what someone’s feeling.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Elena,” Camille said, “your friend is Halven like you.”

Both Elena and Theda stared at Camille.

“You did not know?” Camille asked.

Elena shook her head slowly, then looked to Reese.

“Welcome to my crazy.” Reese made a funny face. “You’re not the only one with funky Fae-human relations in the family.”

Elena sank onto Reese’s bed. “This can’t be a coincidence.”

“Believe me, it’s not,” Reese said. “I wish it were, but Keen admitted that Emain arranged for us to room together on the Dawson campus. They anticipated one or both of us coming into powers.”

Theda paced the room. “It is our way. To plan for every contingency. I am not surprised, though I didn’t know about your roommate.” She stopped and looked apologetically at her daughter. “I’m sorry, Elena. I wish I could have prepared you for all of this.”

“You’ve done everything you could to protect me,” Elena said. “The Emain Fae, on the other hand—they’re going to get a piece of my mind as soon as we return.”

She looked hesitantly at Reese. “Who do they think your Fae parent is?”

Reese laughed lightly and sat beside her friend. “Well, certainly not one of the people who raised me. It turns out that while my father was out philandering, my mom got it on with some guy named Hakon Radnor.”

“Radnor?” Theda sounded shocked.

Camille shook her head, staring at the ground.

“You know him?” Reese asked.

“He is a noble Oldlander,” Theda said. “He is also in line for the throne, should anything happen to Derek.”

Derek’s arms were crossed, his head bent, but at that, his head popped up. “And that means what?”

Theda barely raised her shoulder, but it was enough to indicate a shrug. And while the gesture was casual, her emotions were all anxiety. “That you might be challenged. Last I heard, Hakon did not have the backing to make an attempt at the throne, but much has changed in the last few weeks. Anything is possible.”

“Awesome,” Derek said without feeling. He tapped his finger against his thigh. “This doesn’t change anything. We still have a job to do. We’ll worry about Old Kingdom later.”

Theda nodded. “Agreed.”

“So, Reese is Halven, like me,” Elena said. She looked at her mother. “Have you heard of an empath before?”

“We don’t have many in New Kingdom, but there are several in Old Kingdom. The ability can be very useful.”

Camille glanced wearily toward the door. “We may need it.”