Page 19 of Destined

“The Dark Fae was the death of her,” he whispered.

“Sheridan,” said a familiar voice, as the sound of the battle intruded.

Though Kayla didn’t look up, Ryan answered. “Devalan.”

“The blood of my kin called through the earth’s water,” the leader of the Cloudstar said.

As though she were seeing it from a distance, Kayla realized Tara’s blood had mixed with the watery mud. Tara was a Cloudstar? A white cloak appeared in front of her face, and she looked up into Devalan’s grim face. Only as he draped the fabric over Tara’s body, did Kayla see the resemblance in their pale blonde hair.

“You must leave,” he said, as water began to stream around them. He looked at Jannon. “Now.”

Jannon got to his feet, hugging the precious bundle to his chest. Ryan helped Kayla to stand.

Devalan drew his sword and addressed Ryan. “May we be of service to the Forever Faire?”

“Aye,” Ryan said. He briefly touched the white cape. “Aye, that you can.”

Kayla followed Jannon to the shore, and Devalan raised his sword. From all sides of the lake warriors dressed in white came out of the forest, riding on streams of water as if they were surfing over the ground. The Cloudstar wove in and out as they effectively cut off the Blackstones from retreat, and closed in around them.

“Keep her safe,” Jannon said, and kissed the top of Tara’s head before he went after Ryan.

With shaking hands, Kayla used Devalan’s cloak to cover her sister’s peaceful face. As she knelt, her heart collapsed inside her. She saw that face, from the time Tara was a cooing infant to her first day at school. So many birthdays streamed by, so many walks from the bus. Then there was the day she began her job at the fabric store. Kayla had almost begun to smile when she remembered the first time the Blackstones had found her sister. She had failed Tara so many times. Kayla took in a shuddering breath. But this one hurt the most. She would never have a chance to make it right.

Almost dispassionately Kayla watched the Cloudstar easily overwhelm the Dark Fae. The white-clad warriors drove the Dark Fae back to the men of Forever Faire, who quickly dispatched them. She thought she would feel nothing until she saw Jannon corner Jarek Blackstone between him and Dirk’s cousin, who turned and drove his sword into the clan leader’s back. Jannon finished him with a quick thrust, and then frowned at Beck, who grinned before he threw himself on Jannon’s blade.

The last of the Dark Fae fell beneath Ryan’s blade, and he lifted it over his head to the shouts and cheers of all the warriors. His eyes found Kayla’s, and the love in them touched her like a physical caress.

Once the men left the lakebed, Kayla carefully used her spell-song to draw the water the Cloudstar had brought with them to cover the bodies of the slain. Sunlight sparkled on the shimmering blue ripples as they closed over the dead, and then it was as if nothing had happened—almost.

Ryan came to her, and took her in his arms. “She saved my life,” he said lowly.

Kayla nodded against his chest. “She saved us all.”

Chapter 11

THAT NIGHT THE men built a bonfire, and gathered around it with the Cloudstar warriors. They shared the bottles of Fae wine that Lawrence brought out from their stores. Fallon and most of the other dragons survived the battle. They shifted into bike form before they joined the horses in an open field. The Fae herd grazed peacefully, but kept a watchful eye on the visiting Fae.

Kayla stood outside Jannon’s cottage, where they had placed Tara’s body. She gazed at the circle of men around the fire. The pale, handsome faces of her uncle’s warriors stood out. She didn’t know a single one of their names, and yet all of them were related to her. It seemed outlandish to have such a large family, not that she would ever think of them that way. Now that Tara was dead, Christine was the only family that mattered.

“You should join us,” Devalan said, appearing at her side. He offered her a bottle of firewine. When she shook her head he took a drink from it. “My men are very curious about you.”

“You only fought because you owed Ryan,” she said. She started to move away, and came up short as her uncle caught her by the arm. She yanked it away from him. “Don’t be a jerk. I can sing as much as I like here.”

“We fought because you are still Cloudstar,” Devalan told her. “You may be a spellsinger, but you do not see what is before you. We are a powerful clan, Kayla. Join us, and you will be cherished and protected.”

Cherished and protected? Like her mother? Like Tara, who’d shared Cloudstar blood?

“No, thanks. Oh, here, I forgot.” As she handed him the blood-stained cloak she had brought from the cottage, she spotted Ryan coming toward them. “Excuse me.”

“If he pesters you,” Ryan said, embracing her, “I will send them on their way. ’Tis tradition to mark a battle with hospitality.” He kissed her forehead. “I care little enough for tradition.”

“It’s not that,” she said. “It’s Jannon.” She looked at the cottage. “He won’t leave her, and I want to…” She could hardly believe she was saying this. “I need to get her ready for the funeral.”

Ryan nodded, his face grim. They made their way back to the little place, and Ryan went inside. He emerged a few minutes later with Jannon, who looked exactly as bad as Kayla felt. Once they walked away, she took a deep breath, slipped inside, and went to the back room.

Jannon had lain Tara’s body so carefully on his bed. Fresh tears stung Kayla’s eyes when she saw that he had already cleaned the blood and dirt from her face. He’d wrapped his finest tunic over her blood-stained clothes. Kayla hugged herself. He’d also brushed out Tara’s hair so that it framed her face like soft moonbeams. She looked like an angel. Kayla gingerly sat down and took Tara’s cold, stiff hand between hers.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” she said quietly. “I’ll sleep under one of your quilts every night, I promise. And every time I order pizza, I’ll get half anchovies and hot peppers. I don’t know if I can eat them, but they’ll always be there for you.”