Page 12 of Destined

“Who are you?” she said, struggling against the restraints. “Where am I? Why did you abduct me?”

“I will release you and answer your questions as soon as you promise not to sing while you are here.” He waited for her to respond, but when she didn’t he held up the foam ball. “Or I can stuff this in your mouth and tape it shut, and leave you here to stew.”

“I won’t sing while I’m here,” she said, knowing full well she could do a lot more than sing, especially if this jerk had any horses.

He set the ball aside and began releasing her shackles. The water rose from her clothes in a mist, and wafted away.

“I am Devalan, Clan Leader of the Cloudstar. I have brought you to our stronghold so that you might be reunited with your kin.” He helped her to her feet. “Welcome to Nefele.”

Devalan held onto Kayla’s arm as he led her from the small crystal cave out into a city-sized chamber. The settlement that filled it in some ways resembled Tarman, the abandoned Fae city in Tennessee. This Fae stronghold, however, remained occupied by hundreds of the immortals. She could see them walking through the streets, moving in and out of their dwellings, and working in huge, open-sided hot houses. All the Fae wore various shades of white or light blue, and had the same white-blonde hair.

And then there was the water.

Pools shimmered across the length and breadth of Nefele, fed by innumerable columns of spring water. The downpour came from strategic openings in the rock ceiling over the city, which also fed smaller columns into funnel-shaped structures on every roof.

“Long ago the Cloudstar were called the children of the rain,” Devalan said as he looked over his city. “Our legends say our first ancestors were born from a great storm of creation, and fell from the sky to walk the twin realms. It was through the pool that I sensed your presence in the grove.”

“Really,” Kayla said. She watched a towering, bare-chested warrior divert one of the columns into a series of water troughs. “Did your ancestors kidnap women, too?”

“You’ve as sharp a tongue as your halfling sister.” His mouth flattened. “Your parents did not sacrifice themselves so that you could join the outcast.”

A pang of sadness jabbed at her heart. “My father is dead?”

He nodded. “Kelvan. You have his eyes.” He offered her his arm. “Come. I will show you what they left behind for you.”

Kayla didn’t touch him. “You don’t get to play the gentleman with me now, Clan Leader. Just tell me what you want so I can get out of here.”

“He wants you to see the home where his sister lived with her first husband.”

A copper-haired Fae woman with brilliant, pale blue eyes joined them. Instead of all-white she wore a vivid green tunic and close-fitted dark leather trousers. Across her back was strapped a long bow. The accompanying quiver of arrows hung from her waist.

“I am Jem Ferguson, wife of this addled-brained male.” She gave her husband a hard look before she said, “Does my cousin Jannon yet dwell with the Forever Faire?”

“Yeah, he does.” Kayla folded her arms. “Aren’t you supposed to be shunning him?”

“Yes, but I was never very good at upholding the law. ’Tis why I married a clan leader. He seldom punishes me for defying it.” Jem gave her a wink before she turned to Devalan. “Our daughter is with your mother, who is checking my baking again and finding it wanting. I am off to check my traps. Be kind to your niece, Dev. A delight meeting you, Kayla.”

The clan leader growled something in Fae before he kissed her and watched her stride off. “As my wife proves, we are not unfeeling monsters. You and she would become good friends in time, I think.” He eyed her. “And now you know I am your uncle. Your mother was my youngest sister. Her name was Valarya. I would show you where she lived before she was cast out. It is where you were born.”

Valarya, Kayla’s mind echoed. It was beautiful and somehow fitting. But the news of her father—of Kelvan— tempered any delight she might have found. Two fathers had died.

As Devalan gestured down the walkway, Kayla put the thoughts aside. Together they entered the city. As they passed other Fae she saw how they stared at her before bowing to Devalan. Some looked curious, but most of the Cloudstar seemed a little afraid, as if they expected her to attack them.

Devalan stopped in front of a house made of rough-hewn rock and polished wood, and used a crystal to open the entry. As Kayla followed him inside, sunlight illuminated the interior from columns of water pouring down each corner of the front room.

But it wasn’t the light that stung Kayla’s eyes. It was as though her parents had just stepped away. Everything was in place, from the tapestries on the walls to the table set for three. Instead of fruit, fresh white gardenia flowers had been left in a crystal bowl on the table. The scent made her remember the touch of her mother’s hand on her cheek.

Her mother—Valarya—had always smelled of gardenias.

“We knew my sister was a spellsinger from the day of her birth,” Devalan said as he moved slowly around the room. “Her wails nearly leveled my parents’ home. They tried to protect her as best they could, but spellsingers are so rare they knew they could not hide her here forever. They arranged to foster her with another clan to the west, where she fell in love with your father. He was a gifted healer, so my parents raised no objections. They married and returned to us when Valarya became pregnant with you. When you were born, and we realized you had inherited your mother’s ability…” He stopped and shook his head.

“That wasn’t supposed to happen,” Kayla guessed.

“No.” He looked past her at the bowl of flowers. “Giving birth to another spellsinger placed my sister in even more danger, for such a thing had never happened in all our long history. Rumors began to spread that all the children she bore would share in her power.”

Kayla sighed. “And then the Blackstones heard about it.”

Devalan nodded. “By then the Dark Fae had learned of her existence, and yours. We were preparing to move you, but we were betrayed, and the Blackstones attacked. Your father died protecting you from Jarek Blackstone. He loved you and my sister more than his own life.”