Untamed (32 page)

Together, they hurried the rest of the way to the house.

Chapter Ten

Memory opened her eyes to see a crowd of people standing over her. “Whoa,” she took the hand Colton offered from where he sat beside her and let him pull her into a sitting position. “Damn it’s like waking in the middle of a photographer’s wet dream.”

Several shocked expressions and a chuckle from Cam and Colton had her continuing in a hurry. “Sorry, it’s just you are all… well damn, you’re all gorgeous.” She brushed back her hair and extended her hand to the dark haired woman standing beside Clint. “Hi, I’m Memory.”

“Lily. Are you okay? You were out cold when Colton brought you in.”

“I’m fine, thanks and it’s nice to meet you Lily.” She looked at the other lovely woman, who held Cam’s hand. “And you’re Ellie. I’m happy to meet you.”

“Yes.” Ellie extended her hand then pulled it back. “Sorry, but Eldric…what happened?”

“Oh, yes.” Memory stood and looked at Eldric. “I don’t know what that was, but I need to ask you something—something that’s now stuck in my head. What does it mean to be Whitehorse? And who’s Michael? And why did you call me Elyssa?”

Eldric looked at Ellie and then back at Memory. “Perhaps you should sit.”

“Oookay,” Memory sat back down beside Colton. Everyone else found a seat except Eldric and Ellie, who stepped over close to Eldric. ”So spill.” Memory said.

“Very well. First, to be Whitehorse—that is our family, our clan if you will. To be Whitehorse signifies you as Light Fae and the Light-”

“Whoa, back up the truck,” Memory interrupted. “Fae? I’m not Fae. Sorry but regular old born and bred in the USA here.”

“Actually that’s not true.” Eldric argued with a hint of a smile. “You
were
born here, but you are not
from
here.”

“You’re gonna have to give me a little more than that.”

“When Elana—forgive me, Ellie—was four, our parents made a sojourn from North Carolina to here, more specifically to the land Ellie now owns. You were born there. Ellie was left in the care of her grandmother—on her mother’s side.

“Your birth was difficult for our mother and…and she did not survive. To protect you, our father put you in the care of one of our clan, a woman known here as Angela Starling.”

“Angela?” Memory sat up straight. “She took care of me while I was in the orphanage. Raised me, I guess, until I was adopted.”

“By Mikal Wells,” Eldric added. “A man we placed much trust in.”

Memory shook her head. “Nice story, but it’s a little hard to buy into. No offense.”

“None taken. But it is true.  At the time of your birth, I was in the Fae realm with our people. Our father wanted Ellie to be there as well, but our mother could not bear to be parted from both of us and Ellie was very young.”

“Okay for the sake of argument, why did he want you to be there?”

“For fear of the Dark Fae seizing one of us.”

“Why would they do that?”

“The Whitehorse possess considerable powers. If the Dark can turn one of us, they can—utilize the power.”

“Okay, so you were there, Ellie was here and your mother died. Your father… exactly who
was
that, by the way?”

“Michael,” Ellie said softly. “Our father was Michael. And believe me Memory, I know this is hard to swallow, but Eldric is telling the truth. You
are
our sister. And you are Whitehorse.”

“Again, that means nothing to me. I don’t have magical powers or wings, and I sure as shit can’t pop into another realm.”

“But you do.” Eldric argued. “Have power.”

“Oh? What makes you so sure?”

“How else can you explain what you can do?”

That surprised her but Memory wasn’t about to admit to anything. This guy Eldric could be trying to pull one on her and she wasn’t fooled easily. “Oh? And just what is it you think I can do, Eldric?”

“This.” He waved his hand casually in front of him and suddenly a white rose floated between them.

Memory felt something lurch inside her. The rose was substantial. Real. His ability was far more advanced than her own at manifesting. “What makes you think I can do that?”

“Lies do no one honor, sister,” he said in a solemn tone that made her feel surprisingly ashamed.

She cut a look at Colton and their eyes locked for a long time. Finally he took her hand. “I think he’s right, sugar. It’s time we were all honest.”

“All?” She asked.

“Yeah.”

“Ok,” she gave his hand a squeeze and then turned her attention to Eldric. “Ok, yes, I do have that ability. I can’t manifest things that substantial, but I can project what I picture in my mind onto surfaces— paper, walls, wood, and pretty much any solid surface and also onto memory cards or hard drives.”

“You are Whitehorse,” Eldric stated. “Your powers are of the mind rather than of the elements.”

“Excuse me?”

He gestured toward Ellie. “She is elemental, of air and energy. She can harness lightning, summon the winds.” He then gestured to Lily. “And Lily also has Fae blood, from her mother’s side. She can command fire.”

“And you?” Memory asked.

He smiled and suddenly a magnificent white stallion stood before her. Memory gasped. “Holy shit.”

The horse vanished and in its place was Eldric. “I possess the ability of transformation and others, such as mental manipulation.”

She considered it for a moment. “Okay, I’m not saying I buy all this, but just for the sake of argument let’s say I do. What kind of power does it take for someone to appear to be someone else and to vanish in thin air?”

“Considerable.” Eldric replied. “Why do you ask?”

Memory cut her eyes at Colton and when he nodded she looked around at everyone. “This is going to sound a little crazy.”

“Crazy seems to be the flavor of the day in these parts,” Cam quipped, earning a chuckle from Clint as well as Lily and Ellie.

Memory held onto Colton’s hand. “Well then here goes...”

Colton watched his family as Memory told them what had happened. To her credit, she was completely honest and told them how they’d met, about the crystals fusing and about the doppelganger who’d appeared in his home. No one spoke until she finished with, “which brings us here.”

No one said a word for a few moments, then Clint spoke up, locking eyes with Colton. “So, all our lives you’ve had this… ability and you never told anyone?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Because you were kids and I didn’t know what the hell it was and… and I didn’t want people to think I was crazy. Or a freak.”

“So how is that possible?” Cam asked the question of Eldric. “I mean he’s human just like the rest of our family, right?”

“Humans are possessed of rare and unique abilities,” Eldric said. “But no, he’s not. And neither are you. Your father’s father was Fae. He mated with a human. All of you possess abilities, you simply are unaware of them and so have never developed them.”

“Uh no, I don’t think so.” Cam argued.

“Really? So you believe it is simply your good looks and charm that earned you so much female attention in your life?” Eldric asked. “You possess the ability of manipulation as well.

“And you,” he looked at Clint. “Have you never wondered why it is that the animals you raise are so much stronger and healthier than others? You possess the ability to give strength and vigor. You wish it into being.”

“That’s crazy.” Clint argued.

“Why? Because the Fae, a race older than humans who have shared this world since the beginning do not exist and have never mated with humans? We are parents to your race.”

“What?” Memory blurted. “Okay, we’re moving into fantasy land now.”

“It is simply the truth,” Eldric said.

“Maybe. Sorry, but the jury’s still out on that. However, I do want to know more about these Dark Fae and I want to know why one of them pretended to be Colton.”

“To claim you.”

“Say what?”

“Elyssa, forgive me, Memory, you are—among our kind—royalty. And you possess the ability to manifest. That is a power highly sought. Think about what happened when you combined your energy with Colton’s with the arrow. That could be used to amass power and wealth on a grand scale—or to lay waste to an entire civilization.”

Memory shivered at his words. “Ominous much there, Eldric?”

“Merely stating fact.”

“Okay, fine. So how do we send this Dark Fae back to the other plane or whatever and stop him from doing whatever it is he wants to do.”

“We set a trap,” Eldric replied.

“I’m not gonna like this, am I?”

“He will have to face everyone here who has power,” Eldric stated.

“And you’re confident we have what it takes to defeat him?” Colton asked.

“Yes.”

Memory looked at Colton and after a moment he nodded. She released his hand, noticing just then that her own was wet. She swiped it on the leg of her jeans and stood to approach Eldric and Ellie.

“If you are my brother and sister, then maybe I need to trust you. But I’m warning you now, if anything—and I mean anything happens to the big guy or any of his family there’s going to be hell to pay—if you get my drift.”

“I’d never put Cam or any of his family in danger,” Ellie said and reached for Memory’s hand. “And if Eldric thinks we can defeat the Dark Fae, then I believe him.”

Memory took the hand Ellie offered and when she did, something warm yet soothing rushed from the point of contact and spread throughout her body. “Wow,” she breathed. “Did you do that intentionally?”

Ellie chuckled and with her free hand rubbed her belly. “It’s for the baby and I guess there are residual effects.”

“Baby?” Memory looked down at the small bump of a belly Ellie sported, and then at Eldric. “Maybe Ellie should sit this dance out.”

“She will be fine,” Eldric assured her. “None of us will be alone.”

“That might not make a difference,” Colton said as he stood. “Remember, this Dark Fae can assume the appearance of another. Who’s to say it won’t disguise itself as anyone in this room?”

“I have no doubt that it will,” Eldric said.

“And that doesn’t bother you?” Colton asked.

Eldric shook his head and Memory saw something in his eyes that hadn’t been there before, something that gave her a bit of unease. There was more to Eldric than met the eye, and right now he had the distinct look of a man eager to go to war. “I am in anticipation.”

“Easy bro,” she said in what she hoped was a teasing tone. “No need to go all Rambo.”

Ellie laughed. “No shit, Eldric. Chill.”

Her words lightened the mood in the room, and after a moment even Eldric smiled. “Okay, enough serious for the moment,” Ellie said. “How about we have a cookout?”

“Sounds good to me.” Cam agreed.  Everyone else chimed in, echoing Cam’s sentiment.

As Lily started spouting orders and got the troops in motion, Colton took Memory’s hand and led her outside to the lanai. “So?”

She shook her head. “It’s a lot to digest. I mean, part of me wants to call bullshit, but…but another part believes it.”

“So you think they really are your family?”

“No, I don’t think it, but I do feel it. There’s something there—some connection.”

“And you’re on board with whatever plan Eldric devises?”

“No, I’m on board with whatever plan
we
devise.”

“That’s my girl,” he said and smiled.

Memory returned the smile. “You got it, big guy. Just don’t go forgetting.”

“Not a chance.” With that he took her into his arms.

Chapter Eleven

Memory was about to burn up under the warm throw Lily had spread over her. She’d been on the couch all day and was about to crawl out of her skin. But the plan called for her to pretend to be sick so here she was, watching everyone leave.

They were supposedly headed for town to do some shopping and run errands. If their trap worked, the Dark Fae would show up disguised as Colton. She wasn’t convinced he would show, but Eldric was insistent that he would. All she had to do was pretend she didn’t know and convince him to go with her to Ellie’s house.

Piece of cake.

Then why was she sweating and feeling a little nauseous?

Memory threw off the cover and got up to go into the kitchen for a glass of water. She had just finished chugging it down when she heard the sound of the kitchen door open. She turned to see Colton walking in.

But it wasn’t Colton. He’d been wearing a black t-shirt and jeans when he left. This Colton had on the same outfit, but the hat and the belt buckle were all wrong, as were the boots.

Memory forced a smile. “Well hello, handsome. I thought you were going with everyone to town.”

“I didn’t want to leave you alone.”

“Well that was sweet and I’m glad you decided to stay. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about and it’s almost impossible with everyone around.”

“Oh?”

She leaned back against the kitchen counter. “You know that house Ellie and Eldric talk about? Her secret house that’s shielded or something? I want to see it.”

“Why?”

“Because I think they’re full of crap, basically. Come on. I know we had a weird thing happen at your ranch, but this business about Fae and superpowers and all that? I just can’t buy it. And another thing. That load of poop they tried to feed me about being their sister? Come on. They can’t honestly think I’d buy that.

“There’s something rotten here, Colton, and I mean to find out what it is.”

“I see.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, of course. What do you want from me?”

“I want you to go with me.”

“I don’t know where it is.”

Memory smiled. “Well, fortunately I do. I snitched Ellie’s phone and there was a map on it to that house. I texted it to my phone.”

“Smart woman.”

“I have my moments. So will you go with me?”

“Absolutely.”

“Great, let me put on my shoes and we’ll go now.”

“If that’s what you want.”

Memory hurried to the family room, sat down on the sofa and pulled on her socks and shoes. She wasn’t at all sure this would work, but for the moment the fake Colton thought she believed he was the real deal, so maybe there was a chance.

She returned to the kitchen where fake Colton waited. There were several sets of keys hanging on the key rack by the door. She grabbed the one she recognized as Ellie’s. “Okay, I’m ready.”

Together they went outside. “You want to drive?” she asked, offering him the key.

“No, it’s fine if you drive.”

Memory wondered if he even knew where they were supposed to go. Not that she knew exactly. She just knew she was supposed to take a right out of the drive and turn in to the next drive on the right.

“What time do you think everyone will be back?” She asked as she made the turn onto the main road. “I don’t exactly want them to find out we were gone. Trust issues and all that.”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, maybe we can find the place and get back before they do.”

“Perhaps.”

“Not feeling talkative today?”

He shrugged and she let it pass, completing the drive in silence. When she pulled up in front of what Ellie called the “old house” she parked, got out and took her phone from her pocket.

She called up the photo of the map. Fake Colton walked around the back of the truck and joined her, looking at the map.

“I guess we go that way,” she pointed toward the back yard.

“It would seem.”

“Okay, here we go.”

Memory hoped she was going in the right direction. Once they were clear of the bramble that was the back yard, the landscape was really pretty, almost like a park with big old moss laden oaks and clumps of palmettos.

It felt like they’d been walking for a long time before she spotted the stream. She consulted the map, remembering what Cam and Ellie had told her. Turn west, or left and go about twenty five to thirty minutes and she’d reach the lake.

“Are you sure this is the right direction?” Fake Colton asked from behind her.

“According to the map,” she replied and kept walking. She hoped like hell Ellie and the rest of the crew would be at the house. If she managed to find it. Being with Fake Colton in the middle of the woods was sort of creeping her out.

They walked for thirty minutes, following the stream and still no sign of a lake. Memory was starting to sweat. Literally. The day was warm and they’d been walking for a good while. She wished she’d thought to bring a bottle of water.

Five minutes later she saw it, the glint of light on water.
Thank god.
”Look!” she pointed in the direction of the lake. “According to the map the house is on the other side of the lake.”

“Excellent.”

Wrong choice of words, ass-hat
. She thought as she picked up the pace. She hadn’t known Colton long but he wouldn’t have responded that way. Memory resisted breaking into a run as they made their way along the side of the lake. Finally, she reached a point where the lake curved to the right.

“Oh my god,” she paused as she saw the house. It was exactly as Ellie had described it.

Memory felt Fake Colton’s hand on her left arm. She wanted to shake it off, but that might give her away so when his hand slid down to clasp hers she didn’t pull away.

“It’s beautiful,” she said and cut a look at him.

He was looking at the house and his expression struck her as sinister. Maybe it was just her imagination, or maybe it was stress. All she knew is that everyone better be in that damn house when she got there because the last thing she wanted was to get stuck with Fake Colton in the middle of nowhere.

“Come on,” she tugged on his hand and started forward.

And smacked right into hard air. She stumbled back a step, gaping in shock. There was nothing there! She reached out her hand. Sure enough it was like touching an invisible wall.

“What the hell?” She turned to look at Colton and just as she did, he yanked her arm up behind her back and wrapped his free hand around her throat.

“Hey!” She protested and reached up with her free hand, trying to pry his hand from her neck.

“Be silent or I will snap your neck.”

Memory had always thought of herself as a fairly courageous woman, but at the moment she was scared enough to feel weak in the knees.

Fake Colton shouted out. “Allow me entrance or she dies.”

Suddenly, Memory wished she’d considered the plan more carefully.
Please, please, let us in.

She saw the front door of the house open. Eldric stepped out, followed by Ellie and then Colton and the rest of the family. Everyone walked across the porch, down the steps and into the yard.

Only Eldric and Colton continued walking. Everyone else stopped and waited. Eldric continued until he was less than ten feet away. “Show yourself.”

Memory couldn’t tell what was happening, but she could see from the look on the faces of the people who watched that something was taking place. Especially Eldric. His face hardened and his eyes glinted with a light she’d never seen. Something sharp and hard.

“Lucien,” he hissed.

“
Uncle
Lucien to be precise,” the man with his hand around her throat replied.

“Uncle?” Memory rasped, barely able to speak from Lucien’s grip on her throat.

“My father’s brother,” Eldric answered, his eyes on Lucien. “A traitor to our people. He turned his back on the Light and swore allegiance to the Dark. Before the portal was closed, he escaped to this realm.

“What do you want?” he asked Lucien.

Lucien laughed. “Why your powers, of course. All of them.”

“That will not happen,” Eldric replied.

“Then this one dies,” Lucien’s hand tightened on Memory’s throat and she felt sharp nails pierce her skin.

“I will not allow that,” Eldric warned. “Let her go. Now. This is your only chance.”

“You think to defeat me,
boy?”
Lucien laughed.

“I do.”

“And them?” Lucien asked and released Memory’s arm to gesture around him.

Memory started to struggle as she saw snakes rise up from the ground, trees twist and writhe, transforming into men with eyes as black as night, talons for fingernails and teeth that resembled a shark’s.

They hissed at Eldric, taking stations around their Master.

“Lower the enchantment or Elyssa dies,” Lucien ordered.

Eldric looked at Memory then at Lucien without speaking. Ellie ran up to him. “You have to do it,” Ellie insisted. “Eldric, she’s our sister. You can’t let him hurt her.”

Memory barely paid attention to what Ellie was saying. Colton stood beside Eldric, looking at her.

“Listen to me, sugar.” He spoke to her in a calm tone. “Just like at the ranch. Do you hear me, Mem?  Just like at the ranch. Now.”

Memory couldn’t nod or speak but she could force a smile. She knew exactly what he was saying. She cut her eyes around fixing everyone’s position in her mind then closed her eyes.

She envisioned a dozen sharp arrows with heads that sparked with energy. The vision got stronger until she could see every detail of the arrows and the direction in which they were pointed.

That’s when she opened her eyes. Colton was ready. A heartbeat later he raised both hands in front of him and made a sweeping motion from inside to out.

She heard hisses and inhuman shrieks, saw three of the Dark Fae vanish into oily clouds of black smoke. Lucien released her to dodge one of the arrows and she tried to run but stumbled and fell.

“Mem!” Colton’s shout alerted her. She scrambled to her feet as Lucien raised his hand. Fiery energy pulsed from his palm.

She inched back, terrified. He was going to kill her. “Colton,” she whispered as Lucien drew back as if to hurl the energy.

But before he could, Eldric attacked. In the time it takes to blink he transformed into a white dragon with blue eyes and talons of silver. He pounced on Lucien, snatching Lucien up in his powerful jaws.

Memory turned and ran, straight into the invisible shield. She couldn’t get in! The Dark Fae were hurling bolts of energy at Eldric, screaming and hissing like demons as they circled. He swung his tail, battering at them and refusing to release Lucien.

“Help him!” Memory screamed and pictured more arrows. “Colton, help!

Colton stepped through the shield to her side. “I’m here, honey.”

Almost as soon as the arrows flew, more appeared. “Help, help,” Memory chanted, her back plastered against the invisible wall.

A sudden fork of lighting split the air, branching into two that hit two of the Dark Fae. They evaporated into black smoke. A split second later, another Dark Fae burst into flames.

Memory jerked her head around. Ellie and Lily had joined the fight, standing side-by side. “Yes!” Memory screamed and envisioned another group of arrows. This time three of the arrows found marks.

While that was happening, the last two of Lucien’s sentinels fell to fire and lightning, leaving only the white dragon and Lucien who hung limp in its jaws. The dragon lowered Lucien to the ground and transformed back into Eldric.

“Go on,” Lucien taunted in a weak voice. “Kill me.”

“No. I will not kill you. Elana?”

Ellie stepped up beside Eldric and took his hand. They both pointed their free hands out in front of them. Light shot from their hands and merged into a ring. From within the circle of light, two men stepped out.

“Holy shit,” Memory gasped and reached for Colton’s hand. He took her hand and she gripped it tightly.

“Who are they?” She asked.

“Our people,” Ellie answered. “Light Fae.”

“Secure him and notify the High Council that the Dark Fae on this realm have broken the treaty and attacked our people.” Eldric ordered the Fae.

The two Light Fae gathered Lucien between them and disappeared back into the circle of light.

“Holy shit,” Memory said then grimaced. “Sorry, I seem to be stuck on that but…holy shit, what the…?”

Eldric released Ellie’s hand and turned to face everyone. “This is not the end. The Dark will seek to claim her again.”

“There has to be a way to stop them,” Ellie insisted.

“Not so long as she remains unmated.”

“Say what?” Colton asked in a non-too happy tone.

“Once mated, her power will meld with that of her mate. It can only happen once. If Elyssa mates, the Dark cannot lay claim to her power, or to ours through her.”