Twisted (Rogues Shifter Series Book 3) (21 page)

Even though Aedus’ serious wounds seemed to be
healing slowly on their own, the battle going on in his mind was draining his strength, and so soon, his body would shut down completely. I knew firsthand the strength of Kennet’s ‘gift’. I’d seen it in Ethan’s mind and felt it in my own. I understood how convincing he could be and how impossible it was to pull yourself out of the black hell that he created. He’d root around searching for your deepest fears and then make them all real, so real that you tasted the blood that dripped into your mouth and smelled the blackened flesh of your mate as he burned in the sun.

I would use every bit of my strength to pull Aedus back from the edge and then I would get my revenge on Kennet.
I had special plans for him.

My brain was beeping out a warning which I continued to ignore. My body and emotions were being fueled solely by my rage. It wouldn't last, but I intended to use it for all it was worth for as long as I possibly could. When I crashed, it wouldn't be pretty.

I focused back on Aedus, pulling in the magic and sending out my healing energy into the turmoil of his mind, afraid of what I'd find there. Even though Kennet was on the run and no longer controlling his thoughts, Aedus was still lost in a loop of memories, not able to distinguish reality from dream. As I allowed myself to enter his vision, I was thrown into a dismal universe of bitter cold and darkness. I’d shielded my mind from the effects, but could still sense the intensity of the aching cold. I moved hesitantly through this gray world until I saw a dim light ahead and turned toward it. There was a building, similar to the one that the weres had used to hold their fae prisoners, so I walked toward it. Aedus, Liam, Caelen, Lady Silvus and a beautiful fae female were chained with iron to the outside wall, their flesh burning as they squirmed and cried out from the pain. Kennet appeared and offered Aedus his freedom if he would kill his family and his lover, and Aedus agreed without hesitation.  He brutally slaughtered every one, until only he stood smiling and free in the river of blood at his feet. Kennet laughed and disappeared. A moment later the same scene replayed again in his mind.

If I hadn’t experienced this same kind of horror, I might have felt that this was too obvious a trick
, and that Aedus would wake up and realize the ruse soon. But this scene was as real to him as any of his true life experiences. To him he had eagerly agreed to betray his loved ones to save his own life. Loss of honor was so much worse than death to the Seelie Fae. I instinctively understood this about Liam and so assumed it was the same for Aedus as well. Kennet knew what to attack him with and did his job exceptionally well. Aedus could have borne physical torture, but this was a shame of enormous proportions.

I’d helped Ethan by attacking Kenn
et, but couldn’t do that here. Kennet was already gone and the vision had taken on a life of its own. I pulled out of his mind and turned to Lady Silvus. “Will you speak out loud to him, please? I need him to know that you’re alive and well. He believes that he killed you to save his own life. If Aedus’ lady is around it would be good for her to speak to him also. Just keep telling him that you, Lord Caelen and Liam are fine. I’m going back in there to shake him up a little so he’ll see that the vision isn’t real. I’ll need some food at some point, this might take a while.”

She looked at me first with shock and then understanding, moving quickly to the door to deliver the messages to someone outside. When she sat down again I watched her brush a strand of hair off of her handsome son’s face and b
egin to speak softly to him in Fae, holding his hand to her heart so he would feel it beating. I nodded and returned to my work.  A few minutes later two fae entered the room: a young man with a tray of food and a lovely woman, looking solemn and very nervous. When she saw Aedus’ face she gasped. I gestured for her to bring a chair next to me and to sit and hold his hand. I scooted my chair up a little nearer to his head to make room for her and leaned over, placing my hand over his forehead.”Take turns talking out loud to him. Make him believe that you’re well and that he didn’t hurt you.”

I took a breath and went back to Aedus’ personal horror.

Chapter Forty-one

Garrett: 8:00 PM: Friday

Being on horseback again was exhilarating. I drank in the feel of the powerful animal running beneath me, totally synchronized with my wishes: the blast of wind making my cloak spread out behind me and my hair fly away from my face. Thanks to some fae magic I was dressed like the rest, in comfortable and practical attire for a nighttime hunt.

What we hunted wasn’t easy to catch, but according to Lord Caelen, the Wild Hunt was never unsuccessful in its quest. Because both of his sons were incapacitated, hopefully only temporarily, Caelen had asked me to join him at the front of the pack, a position of great honor. Of course, I understood that I was there representing Jackie.

My thoughts flew back to her. I’d only been able to spend a few minutes alone with Jackie since she’d mysteriously appeared in my arms, but I could already sense that something had changed inside of her. She was hiding it well, but rage flowed around her like an aura. She’d experienced a devastating trauma and it would take time for her to acknowledge her feelings and get past it: If she ever would. I shivered and clenched the reins more tightly. Perhaps when we captured
and executed Kennet she'd be able to let it go and move forward, like she had in the past.

The dogs were racing out in front of us, Samson keeping up with them without a problem. I’d watched his eyes turn deep red when he’d joined them, all of them sniffing around each other at first like typical mutts. But there was nothing normal about these animals. Some were huge white beasts with red ears and long fangs, and others, the fae dogs like Samson, were bulky and black, their red eyes gleaming with malice.
In a group, they were the Cwn Annwn, according to Caelen, huge dogs whose howls foretold of impending death. The dark stranger who led us was Gwynn ap Nudd, although through the ages he’d held many names, none of them spoken lightly. He was the one summoned to lead the Hunt, to bring in the traitor and eventually to execute the sentence of death. His head was hooded, hiding his face completely, because according to legend, meeting his gaze directly caused you torment for all eternity. I kept my eyes averted as did all who followed us.

The noise of the howling dogs and the pounding hooves of the magnificent white
and black horses was loud enough to wake the entire region, yet no one appeared to watch us pass except for the occasional fae, who bowed before the dark stranger and nodded to Lord Caelen and the other Elders. The surrounding forests and quaint towns passed by in a blur of windswept motion and I had no idea where I was, or even if I was in the Faerie dimension or the real world.

We rode out onto a large grassy field ringed with foxglove and dotted with clumps of huckleberry and miner’s lettuce. The Lord of Death drew up and sniffed the air, then took off Eastward like a bullet from hell. We raced after him and his hounds, clutching our reins and trusting our steeds not to lose sight of him. I looked down suddenly and gasped. We were flying along at least 10 feet off of the ground, yet still the hooves of the horses pounded loudly as the dogs brayed and howled ahead of us. I looked at Caelen who grinned at me with golden excitement flashing in his eyes
, his long blonde hair flying out behind him. This was a thrill even to the fae who’d lived for millennia. I grinned back and allowed my fangs to pop out, making him laugh and shout above the racket, “Kennet will be ours soon, Garrett, and then you’ll have a tale to tell your future generations.”

I nodded, unwilling to scream above the racket. This was indeed an experience to be remembered and described  to loved ones and friends. Even in the chaos of the Hunt,
my mind returned to Jackie. I hoped that she was able to help Aedus and that I would somehow be able to help her put Kennet behind her and look again toward our future together.

Chapter Forty-two

Bridgett:
10:00 PM Friday

Lady Dinestri slowly opened the door to Aedus’ room and my eyes widened at the strange scene. There sat two Fae women each holding one of his hands, one of them whispering quietly, while Jackie leaned over him, her hand on his forehead. Lady Dinestri motioned for me to take a chair in the corner and so I sat and watched my sister work.

I opened myself to the magic of the lines and watched in awe as tremendous amounts of healing power blanketed Jackie and Aedus. His wounds weren’t bleeding, but he looked close to death, so she was concentrating very hard. Her head popped up and she sniffed the air, turning to look in my direction. Her grin was catching so I grinned back at her and waved. She gestured for me to come to her so I looked at Lady D who nodded and smiled.

I gave Jackie the biggest hug I could manage in the crowded conditions. “Get your chair Bridgett, I need some help.”

Surprised, I ran over and grabbed my chair and put it behind hers, since there was no room next to her. “Stay open to the lines and pull in as much as you can. I’m close. The vision is blurring. I need another good shove and you can help me with that.” I nodded as she took my hand with her free one. A surge of energy passed through my body and into hers like a sluice. The feeling wasn’t unpleasant, in fact it was kind of a rush. I could see how using a lot of power all the time could get to be addictive.

We
looked up when Aedus groaned and moved his head. He opened his amazing purple eyes and looked up at Jackie who was still leaning over him, looking tired and pale. He smiled and said, his voice hoarse and very weak, “Thank you, Jacqueline. I felt you there and it gave me hope. I might have…”

“I know. But yo
u didn’t. And now you’ll heal. And thank you, for all that you did to rescue me.”

“It was an honor
.” Aedus looked at his mother, who was crying quietly. He squeezed her hand and she squeezed back, standing to gently kiss his forehead.

“I will let them all know.”  She turned
to Jackie. “I can never repay you for this service to my son and our family.” She nodded slightly and then left. When Lady Silvus left, Philladre ran to the other side of the bed and threw her arms around Aedus and kissed him. I turned away to give them some privacy as they spoke quietly in Fae. Jackie was seated again, leaning her head on the bed, totally drained. Lady Dinestri gestured that we should help get her to her room, but Aedus shook his head.

“Pull her up next to me. She can sleep here.” Lady Dinestri looked surprised
, but we did as Aedus asked. “In case I have nightmares.“ He laughed, the uncharacteristic grin lighting up his whole face. Jackie had worked a true miracle with him tonight. His wounds were healing so quickly now that I could actually see it happening. I looked around at everyone's extraordinary faces and wished that someday, maybe these noble people would feel happy that I was around to help too.

“She needs to eat something. When she wakes, we’ll make sure that she eats.” Philladre was pulling a spare blanket over Jackie and tucking her in, looking at her fondly. I left with Lady D and went back to my room, feeling like I’d helped with something important today. It was a great feeling.

Chapter Forty-three

Jackie: 12:00 AM Saturday

I woke up
, surprised to find myself on the bed next to Aedus. He and his stunning fae lady, who was sitting in a chair next to the bed, smiled at me and I had to chuckle. “What’s wrong with this picture?” They looked at me curiously and I explained, gesturing between the two of them. “She and I should switch places.”

“Ah,
well maybe later. “ He glowed when he looked at her and she met his eyes with a mischievous expression and not a touch of shyness.

“Well I guess that answers my next question which was going to be, how are you feeling?”

“Thanks to you, Jacqueline, I feel—reborn.”

“Have you heard anything about Liam and how he’s doing?”

“He was here twenty minutes ago with his mother, Lady Erin. He is feeling very well and had a good laugh when he saw you in the bed.”

“I’m sure he did.” I rolled my eyes thinking about how Liam would tease me about sleeping with his brother.

“My father contacted me, They have Kennet. They’re bringing him in. They should be here in about ten minutes.” I sat up quickly and put my legs over the side of the bed. When I stood I felt a little dizzy but I started for the door anyway, my body trembling with tension.

“Jac
queline, do you think it is wise for you to see him now? You haven’t eaten and you only slept for a short while.”

“Right now there’s something I need much more than food.” I made it outside to where the Wild Hunt had originally gathered to leave. There were others there, including Farrell wh
o greeted me with a respectful nod. I thanked him for all of his help and then turned toward the road where the Hunt had ridden off, terrified over what I planned to do. I took a deep breath and gathered up my courage and my will. I had to focus and work out how I was going to pull off my crazy scheme.

I was pacing and some of the fae were watching me curiously. They probably thought that I was anxious about the safety of my mate, which of course I was, but my nerv
es were hot-wired for another reason. I felt the enormous energy of the returning  Hunt, and took another deep breath to steady myself for the possible battle to come.