Faery Kissed

Faery Kissed

Moonstruck Media - Arizona

Copyright © 2012 Lacey Weatherford

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Published by

Moonstruck Media

Edited by Irene Hunt, Third Eye Tight Editing
Services

Arizona

Smashwords Edition

Without limiting the rights under copyright
reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in
any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of
both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters,
places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the
author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author
acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various
products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used
without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not
authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark
owners.

Other books by

Lacey Weatherford

Of Witches and Warlocks series:

The Trouble with Spells

The Demon Kiss

Blood of the White Witch

The Dark Rising

Possession of Souls

Chasing Nikki series:

Chasing Nikki

Finding Chase

Crush series:

Crush

Novella:

Faery Kissed

Anthology:

A Midsummer Night’s Fling

(combined novellas of

Enchanted Hearts, by Belinda Boring

Forever, by Kamery Solomon

and

Faery Kissed, by Lacey Weatherford)

Chapter One

“
Don’t tell me you give
credence to all those old wives tales, Bran.”

Fergus shook his head at me in disbelief as
he stared down at the Royal Fern Seeds I held in the palm of my
hand.

I shrugged. “I might. My mother and father
are very big on all the old customs and lore.” I closed my fist
around my prize and slipped them into my pocket, hiding them from
Fergus’s view.

“
Well, let me help you put
this lore to rest. You picked those seeds at midnight here on
Midsummer’s Eve, and I can still plainly see you. You are not
invisible. I think this is one legend you can cross off.” He ran a
hand through his wild red hair—hair I was positive would never be
tamed.

“
You don’t have to believe,
Fergus. It’s not a human I want to be invisible for.” I looked
around at the revelers in the celebration around us and lowered my
voice. “It’s the Fae.”

Fergus snorted and started to walk away.

I grabbed him by the arm. “I know you
believe in them too. You were scared of them as a child.”

“
I’ve overcome my fears.”
He stood up taller. “Like you, I’m on the brink of manhood now with
almost twenty summers to my name. You would do better to quit
talking about such crazy things and go find your beautiful Ceridwen
before some other young man swoops in to carry her off.”

Laughter came from behind me, and I turned
to find Ceridwen eavesdropping on our conversation.

“
No one will ever steal me
from Bran, Fergus. Who could beat him? He’s the tallest, brawniest,
and the handsomest man around. Not to mention he’s kind-hearted as
well. No, I think I should be afraid to have him stolen away from
me.” She smiled, reaching up to touched the edge of my jawline with
her fingertips.

“
He’s also the craziest,”
Fergus muttered, and I elbowed him in the ribs.

“
That will never happen, my
love,” I assured Ceridwen—reaching with one arm to pull her in
closer so I could kiss her ripe plum lips. I tangled my other hand
in her long, honey colored tresses, enjoying the way she felt
against me.

Fergus cleared his throat, and the two of us
broke apart, staring over at him.

“
Before you get anymore
wrapped up in your wildly handsome, dark-haired lover, Ceridwen,
you might wish to know he’s a little touched in the head. He
intends to become invisible by using his magic seeds while he goes
off hunting Fae tonight.” He lifted a finger and made a swirling
motion around his ear. “I think someone has been dipping a little
too heavily in the honey mead.”

She laughed. “I like that he’s not afraid to
believe in things he can’t see. I wish I could go with him, but I
need to get back to help my mother and sister with the food
now.”

Ceridwen gave me a quick peck once more, and
I grabbed her before she could run off again, deepening the kiss
even farther.

She smiled against my lips, and flattened
her palms against my chest as she tried to push away from me. “You
are going to cause quite the spectacle if you keep carrying on this
way, Bran.”

“
I don’t care.” I captured
her lips and kissed her breathless. “Come into the woods with me,”
I whispered when I pulled away.

“
I can’t. I promised my
mother. But you go have some fun with Fergus.”

Fergus grunted. “You won’t catch me out in
the woods. That’s all I need is to have some Fae capture me and end
up walking around like some faery-kissed fool.” He strode off
toward the group gathered around the bonfire.

“
I thought you didn’t
believe!” I called after him with a grin, and he waved me off with
an irritated gesture, continuing on his way.

“
Since you can’t come with
me, shall I stay to help you with the food?” I asked, turning my
attention back to Ceridwen.

She laughed again. “My mother would be
appalled to have a man helping out in her kitchen! No, go enjoy
your little jaunt in the forest. I know how much you love nights
like this.”

I stared up into the sky, looking at the
giant orb lighting the sky. “You’re right. There’s nothing better
than drinking honey mead with a pretty lass under the Honey Moon. I
enjoyed the weddings tonight. Maybe next year it will be our turn.”
I raised my eyebrow in a suggestive nature.

She blushed, refusing to give in to my
teasing. “Go on now!” She gave me a playful shove.

“
I won’t be too long, I
promise.”

She turned away with a wave and headed back
toward the festivities.

I traipsed quickly from the hilltop where
the great bonfires were lit and made my way to the valley floor.
The light of the giant moon that filled the sky softened as I
entered the heavily treed forest, its milky glow filtering through
the leaves and branches, casting silvery puddles here and there
amongst the shadows.

I tried to tread silently, but couldn’t help
the occasional crunch of a twig or two beneath my booted feet,
though they were made from the softest, supple leather. Even so,
the night remained alive with other sounds—a running rabbit I
startled from its hiding place, the crickets singing their midnight
song, and the whispering rustle of leaves as a soft breeze floated
through the air.

The particular clearing I was searching for
was in another small valley just over the hill ahead, and I reached
into my pocket to retrieve my seeds, grasping them tightly in my
fist before I continued. I chuckled to myself. It really was
childish believing that seeds of any kind could make one invisible.
I didn’t blame Fergus for his doubt, but whatever the reason, I
felt the need to have these with me. I didn’t know why they were
important, they just were.

Slowing my pace, I approached the hilltop
stealthily, sticking to the darkness of the trees as much as
possible. I peered into the moonlit glen below and was disappointed
to find nothing there. Not one dancing Fae in sight. Even the tall
grasses appeared motionless from this height. But still it was a
beautiful night so I chose to make my way carefully down the hill,
deciding to settle against the roots of a gnarled old tree as I
enjoyed the peaceful scene.

Fireflies danced through the air, dipping
and swooping as if they too were rejoicing in the season. Every now
and then a breeze rippled through, making the vegetation swirl,
adding to the mad little dance nature was creating.

I thought of my girl, suddenly wishing she
was here to enjoy this magical setting. I could have stolen many a
kiss from her under a night sky like this. I knew she was the one
for me, the one I would marry. Many of my friends, who were a
season or two older, were already settling down and starting their
lives with their own pretty girls, as was the custom in these
parts. But none of their lasses were as pretty as mine. I closed my
eyes, thinking about how I couldn’t wait to have her.

The soft music lulled me at first, but as it
grew louder and more rambunctious I suddenly realized what I was
hearing. My eyes flashed open, and I was shocked to behold the
sight in front of me. They were here, everywhere, filling the
meadow to overflowing as they danced seductively around the giant
bonfire that hadn’t existed just minutes before, many taking giant
graceful leaps over the blaze.

I was frozen in place, afraid to move a
muscle for fear I would alert them to my presence, but I cast my
gaze rapidly about the space, trying to take in everything I was
seeing. Their bodies were slender, but beautifully shaped with
almost translucently fair skin, and both male and females had long
hair in a variety of shades. I noticed their facial features all
held similar slanted and pointed angles that marked them of the
same race, but were unique to each individual as well. There was
not an ugly person among them—each of them so beautiful it was
almost overwhelming.

They were dressed in many different styles
and in an overwhelming array of various colors, some of which I was
sure I’d never seen before. I knew I’d never be able to describe
them properly to another soul.

Those who weren’t dancing sat at giant
wooden tables heavily laden with all kinds of food. Several Fae
served drinks to those who were seated, often bowing to them in
humble deference as they worked.

I looked beyond to a raised platform where a
solemn looking Fae king sat on an elaborately carved throne,
watching the merrymaking of his subjects, and I cast a glance to
the young woman beside him. The rest of the world melted away.

She was the most stunning vision I’d ever
beheld. Her hair was long and glowing silvery white—so white it
almost reminded me of fresh fallen snow that sparkled in the
morning sun. Her features were dainty, yet appeared regal at the
same time, and her wide eyes almost made her look like a painted
doll. Even from this distance I could tell her gaze was locked with
mine.

I glanced down to my hand, realizing in
surprise that I’d dropped my seeds. She could see me. I quickly
looked up again, but no one around paid me any attention—only she
watched.

She smiled slightly and stood, her bright
yellow dress floating down around her as she walked toward the
fire. The crowd parted easily for her and the music increased. She
joined in the dancing, twirling and spinning about before she
reached to lift her silken skirt, baring her shapely legs clear up
to her thighs.

I couldn’t look away from her perfect form,
watching as she sprung over the bonfire with one graceful leap,
making it look as if it were the easiest thing to do. She continued
to hold her dress up as she danced around the fire once more until
she approached the edge that was closest to my location. Then she
stopped, turned towards me, and our eyes met.

My breath caught in my throat as we stared
at each other. She beckoned for me to join her with one flick of
her wrist, but I was frozen. She motioned again, taking another
step closer.

“
Come,” she said airily, in
a high lilted voice, and suddenly I couldn’t disobey her
command.

My body seemed to move of its own accord,
but I felt awkward and gangly after watching her. I walked toward
her, stretching my hand to reach for hers. Sparks ran up my arm
when we touched, and I was surprised when she interlaced her
fingers with mine.

My brain seemed to be in a fog, and I had
difficulty searching for the words I was trying to say.

“
My heart belongs to
another,” I managed to choke out, unsure of why I was telling her
this.

“
Shhh.” She smiled and
placed a finger over my lips, sending the same sparks through them
as well. “Do not speak for the moment. There will be time for that
later. Right now we will dance.”

I nodded, and she pulled me into the fray
with her. I easily fell into rhythm beside her, my body mimicking
and mirroring her moves. Our hands remained clasped together, and
each time we passed around the circle a new Fae would dance up
beside us and drape a vine loosely over our arms. I watched in awe
as the vines tightened on their own, binding us together in their
grasp. I opened my mouth to ask her how they did that, but she
shook her head, signaling for me to stay silent, so I did.