“We’re still in the fae realm, but on an island Mosi has had hidden for many years. He brought a witch here that concealed its location. Only supernaturals that Mosi personally allows can enter.”
“And why was I restrained?” I asked again since he seemed to be avoiding the question.
He shrugged sheepishly. “Well, your darkness took over the first time you woke up. According to your verbal threats, it wasn’t pleased that I’d taken you from the castle and left the sword behind.”
“Did I do something besides sling verbal threats?” Hopefully I hadn’t killed anyone or done something that would bring us more trouble.
He hesitated again, but I glared hard enough that he finally spoke. “You… No, not you. It tried to kill me, but we restrained you before you could do any harm. Do you sense whatever that darkness is now? Mosi’s mate tried to help you, but she wasn’t sure how well it worked.”
I stopped and pulled away from Finn, staring into his eyes that held no blame toward me. He was too good, and that irritated me. Accepting the bond had happened in a heat of passion, but as minutes ticked by, the doubts started to slither in.
“I think it’s time I had a better introduction to this mysterious fae that seems to know more about me than I’m comfortable with. Along with his mate,” I replied once I had my wits about me again.
He grabbed my hand. “I think they’d like that.”
I rolled my eyes. I didn’t care if anyone liked it or not. These fae had some explaining to do, and I wasn’t leaving this island until they told me a hell of a lot more about whatever was going on. I was beginning to believe there was more at stake than just saving Finn’s sister and killing the demons of my past.
Someone was leaving out the details, and I wasn’t okay with that.
Chapter 3
Instead of teleporting to wherever Mosi was, Finn insisted we walk. I tried to take in our surroundings as we traveled through the trees, but my mind was reeling. Even though I could hear the monkeys, birds, and insects, I could think of nothing other than bonding with Finn.
It was the worst possible scenario. Now that I wasn’t in a sex-induced haze, the doubts were nonstop. I could have stopped it. I knew what was happening, and, while all seemed fine in the moment, I was anything but fine.
From what I knew about bonds, we never would have become bonded if we hadn’t had sex. The only thing that kept me from really losing my shit was that I knew there was a way to break it. I couldn’t remember how it was done. All that mattered was that I was confident it was possible to make the connection go away.
Holy shit, I was bonded.
And not to just any fae. A light one with a strong moral compass. One who not too long ago looked at me with disgust for my actions. Sure, he was beginning to understand me and see my views, but would he expect me to do the same? I knew I should, but could I?
Bonds and emotions made all kinds of people do stupid shit. Neva had been saying I was changing, that I wasn’t who I thought I was. Was I becoming someone else just by being around Finn? Having a man dictate my life was my biggest fear after being freed from King Zephyr. Had I somehow just ended up in a similar situation? I’d die before I let Finn control me.
Logically, I knew he was nothing like the king, but Finn now had influence over my actions through the bond. My heart would urge me to make decisions with his interests at the forefront of my choices, but what about my mind? What about the inner me? The inner me who’d been silenced somehow and was no longer able to make me see reason. Well, my version of it anyway.
A new terror rose within me. Even though the voice had become annoying and demanding, it was part of me. The darkness had kept me sane in the early months of being on my own, and I wanted it back.
Finn tugged on my hand. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, afraid my voice would betray me. He wouldn’t understand what I was going through. To him, it would be a good thing.
“You do realize it’s pointless to lie to your bonded, right?” He was staring down at me, and as I met his gaze, I expected to find contempt, but only concern remained in his eyes.
My heart constricted as I fought against the urge to tell him all my fears. This stupid bond was going to be the death of me.
“I didn’t lie. I am okay. My bones are healed. My wings are tucked away, so I assume they’re fine. I can walk and breathe. All is good in my world.” None of that was false. I’d merely omitted the things that were actually wrong.
He sighed and let the subject go. “We’re almost there. Don’t forget Mosi’s mate Olida helped heal you, so make sure you thank her.”
Thank her? For what? Taking away part of me without asking for my opinion. Not a chance in hell. As soon as I got the information out of Mosi, she was going to know exactly what I wasn’t thankful for.
As my internal freak-out began to wane and I started forming plans in my mind to keep me from losing my cool, I let my gaze wander. There wasn’t much to see besides green foliage and tall trees, but I could still hear the animals around us and wondered if they’d been brought in from Earth. The main islands didn’t have too many animals outside of the ones that could help work the farms and birds that somehow found their way through the portal from Earth to Fae Islands on occasion.
The forest began to thin, and structures started to appear. Small huts, made from bamboo and palm leaves, were lifted off the ground about a foot. Most of them appeared to be one room structures from the outside, but the further we walked, the bigger they became until one in the center caught my attention.
The wooden door creaked open, and a woman stepped out. Her dark hair hung to her waist and was braided with silver streaks running through it. Her ebony skin was the darkest I’d ever seen, but it didn’t hold my attention for long as our eyes met. Hers were light purple and glowed under the afternoon sun. As she smiled at me, wrinkles formed, and any unease I’d been feeling disappeared.
She waltzed toward me with arms open, magic pouring off her in waves. “Lucinda! It’s lovely to see you walking. I think you topped my list of hardest healing jobs.”
I stepped back as she inched closer, but the woman seemed to know my next move before I did, and I found myself in her embrace anyway. I struggled to get away first, intent to give her a piece of my mind about her healing, but her hold on me strengthened and my resistance softened as her magic permeated around us.
My muscles relaxed, and I stopped fighting against her without meaning to. “You’ve healed nicely, child,” the woman murmured in my ear. She squeezed once more, and energy tingled along my exposed skin. “This makes me happy,” she added as she backed up.
“Olida, my love. Give the girl some space. She doesn’t know who we are.” Mosi appeared through the same door, grinning as he walked toward us.
He and Finn clasped forearms and half hugged before the unknown fae turned his attention on me. “Lucinda, I’m sorry our previous introduction was cut short, but I can’t be exposed yet. I never would have left you to fight Zephyr on your own otherwise.”
“Well, I’d love to know more about why that is and what the hell has been happening, because clearly nothing is as it seems around here.” I fought to keep the snark out of my tone considering they’d saved my life and had information I needed.