Chapter 18

The world spiraled in tight until there was nothing but the smell of Kin’s aftershave and my heart thundering in my ears like a dozen galloping horses. He slid his arms around me and pulled me in close enough that I could feel his pulse racing every bit as fast as mine.

One hand came up to rest against my cheek, then slid through my hair to cup the back of my head, and he whispered my name. My knees turned to water.

His head dipped, his breath teased across my lips and sent a wave of electric energy shivering over me. In that moment, I felt weightless, poised to fall in a gentle arc like a feather on the wind.

Our last first kiss hadn’t affected me nearly this much, but at the time, I hadn’t known we were fated for true love’s kiss.

Twice.

At least I hoped so. To find out, all I had to do was lean closer, bridge that inch of distance, mingle my breath with his, and let his lips take mine. I wouldn’t—couldn’t—wait another second.

And then the lights went out.

 

Sylvana

Standing in the shadows at the far end of the porch, I watched my daughter share an intimate moment and knew she wouldn’t thank me for playing the voyeur. But there was a lot riding on this kiss and if it didn’t go well, I wanted to be there to pick up the pieces.

The look of sheer bliss on Lexi’s face as she leaned in made my heart both sing and weep. I missed the love of my own life so much it caused me physical pain, and I would have taken it double if it meant my daughter would never have to feel the same way again. So tenderly did Kin handle her it made me rethink my opinion of the man. He held her like she was precious, and fine, and he couldn’t count his good fortune for being in this place and time. It was a beautiful moment.

But it wasn’t about him. Lexi had reached the point in her life when, in many ways, partner replaces parent. I’d missed the time when I would have been the center of her universe, and now that honor would defer to another regardless of my feelings. At least, it would if this kiss went well.

I heard the sigh of his breath, the sharp intake of hers, and then the thundering of hooves. That’s when things went from whoop to poop.

For all the noise they made, the horse’s hooves barely touched the ground as they swept across the front yard. Booted feet thumped on the ground as the pair of riders practically rolled of their mounts. In the sickly lantern light, I saw one black figure seize Lexi by the shoulders and spin her aside while the other had its sights set on Kin.

They moved so quickly it was as if time sped up for them, but slowed for everyone else except me, and I was stuck in the place between a nanosecond and eternity.

Magic burst from me, but unlike the Sylvana who had damned her mother to twenty-five years as a statue and landed herself in a Nexus, I didn’t just throw it around willy-nilly. I would not be doomed to make the same mistakes I’d already suffered for—this time, I focused all of my intention toward my goal with love in my heart instead of anger. I would protect my daughter or die trying.

The spell snaked from my fingers, and it took everything I had to hold it steady. A force field of magic enveloped the riders, its intended effect to turn back the ravages of time and allow Lexi a few moments to skim her and Kin away to safety. Unfortunately, I underestimated just how powerful the two beings were, and all my spell did was make it appear as if someone had pressed the slow button on a remote control.

Before I could end the spell and toss another, one of the Balmorrigan had Lexi in his grasp. Kin glanced at me with terror in his eyes and clutched for the woman I still wasn’t sure he understood to be his soul mate. His fingers grazed her shoulder blade, and it looked as though a shock rang through his entire body. I watched as he pulled his hand away and stared incredulously at a gold-tipped arrow with a shaft of what looked like bone.

Do something with it! I thought, but didn’t have time to shout, and it didn’t matter anyway because Kin was already in motion. With no other option, he brandished the arrow toward the first rider, who let out a howl as the barb slashed into his skin and drew a swath of blood.

Kin’s actions bought me a second or two. Just enough to toss a ball of witchfire at the second lantern-carrying figure, see the shimmer of faeries coming to help, and to make a decision. Trusting the Fae to protect my daughter as they had been doing for most of her life, I made a grab for Kin and skimmed us both through space to safety.

“What just hap—”

“I do not have time to explain it to you. You’re just going to have to trust that I’ll take care of it, and stay put.” I pierced him with a warning glare and spun on my heel.

“Lexi.” Her name on his lips echoed in my ears as I left him standing in his own kitchen. If there’d been time, I’d have wiped his memory, but my daughter needed me, so he’d have to figure out a way to deal. And if he couldn’t, well, then Lexi would have to get over him once and for all.

The trip to Kin’s and back took only a matter of seconds—being a witch comes with some pretty impressive perks—and I landed on the walkway just in time to dodge the flying hooves of the mare and stud carrying their riders away.

“Sylvana!” Terra stopped me before I made more than a few running steps down the sidewalk alone. Furious, I turned on them.

“What is wrong with you? They’re getting away.” But all thought of retribution popped like a balloon when I saw Lexi sprawled across the porch floor. In fact, all thought drained out of me entirely. Dark lashes rested against paper-pale skin, and from this distance, I couldn’t see if her chest rose and fell.

I needed but ten steps to get from where I stood to where my daughter lay, and each one felt as if hundred-pound weights were tied to my ankles and dragging behind me. “Is she—” I had to know, but didn’t want to hear the answer.

Footsteps pounded up the sidewalk and I turned with magic at the ready, but it was Kin who sprinted past with only a glance spared for me.

“She lives.”

The combination of Terra’s assurance and Kin’s appearance broke through the bubble of terror stasis and I vaulted the steps to lay trembling fingers against her neck. The steady thrum of her pulse did little to slow the thunder and hammer of mine.

Kin slapped at his pockets. “My phone, I don’t…we need to call 9-1-1. Does anyone have a phone? She needs an ambulance, the police. We need to file a report. They’re going to ask questions and I’m not sure what happened. And what am I supposed to do with this?” He pulled the bloody arrow from his back pocket and stared at it like—well, like he’d pulled it out of his girlfriend’s body, which I’m sure was more than a little disconcerting.

Trying to chafe some warmth into Lexi’s cold fingers, I met his questioning look with as blank a face as I could manage. “Leave it here and just go home.” Even though I tried for calm, it came out more like a bark. “We’ll take care of everything.” Any more magic in front of him seemed like a bad idea.

“Please, Kin. Everything will be all right.” Terra, in her motherly fashion, sounded certain, but when he heard her voice, his face changed.

“Have we met? I feel like I know you.” Each of the faeries got a searching look. “All of you. Why is that?”

My daughter had just been attacked, and we were having this conversation on the front porch, out in the open and over her injured body. “This is not the time or the place. We need to get her inside and safe. Now.” That last I directed toward Vaeta, who could use her power over air to carry Lexi gently.

“I’m not leaving her. I can’t.” Before Vaeta had a chance to do anything, Kin scooped Lexi up and nodded to Soleil, who was closest. “Open the door.” The man had no idea what he was walking into, and short of hexing him or physical combat—neither of which would happen while he was holding my daughter in his arms—he had us over a cauldron. Witches and faeries have no need for barrels.

Soleil hesitated, so Terra reached past her and turned the knob, then turned back to give me a look that spoke volumes. I shrugged it off. He’d sink or swim. Lexi was the priority. Well, that and vengeance.