CHAPTER 76

A steady poundingi nterrupted Faye's sleep. She frowned. The rhythmic sound came from her. Her heart beating in her ears.

Closing her eyes tighter, she rolled on her side. She pulled the blankets closer, growing frustrated when the fabric clung to her fingertips. Her breaths deepened with exhaustion. She stopped fighting with the blanket and her body went limp, waiting for sleep to pull her under.

A new awareness took hold in her mind. A connection to a reservoir of power. More than that she perceived others, could feel their strength and location in relation to hers. One stood close to her. Focusing on it she felt him. The familiarity of his mind. The scent of amber and sandalwood.

He was weaker than her.

Faye fought to open her eyes. "Rune?" She winced, the words burning her throat.

The bed sank near her, and fingertips brushed over her hair. Faye heard the murmuring of his voice but couldn't discern his words. She managed to open her eyes for a moment, catching a glimpse of white-blonde hair trailing over black material.

Her hand lifted, increasing the tightness over her nails. Her eyes blinked open again. Rune unhooked the sheets from her claws, easing the pressure.

A feather light touch brushed her cheek as her consciousness slipped to darkness.

Exhaustion continued to wrack Faye's body. Rune or Sparrow routinely woke her with meals she had no appetite for. It didn't matter how long she slept, she woke drained and fatigued. A deep slumber beckoned her and falling into it was effortless.

Faye woke some days later to find Rune seated next to her in a fine leather chair he must have brought from his home. His arms were folded. His legs set apart, stretching before him. A thin strip of light streamed into her room through a crack in the curtains covering her window, illuminating the strands of white-blonde hair that fell over the side of his face.

He looked peaceful with his head tipped back, resting against the chair. His eyes closed.

An ocean of memories swept through her at once, filling her consciousness as she gazed at him. Faye winced against the onslaught, shutting her eyes. Flickering images and emotions consumed her. Memory after memory piled into her too-full mind.

Faye squinted, her gaze rising to him once more. Rune stood at the heart of each new memory. Always standing at a place she knew as her shores, gazing into her Darkness. She drew a shaking breath as her mind settled. The last memory clicked into place.

His voice. A distant memory, wrapping around her.

I wish for an equal.

Her memories seemed to go on forever, eclipsing the length of her own. Making her twenty-five years seem like a fleeting moment.

Faye's vision cleared as a possessiveness slid its claws into her mind. The certainty of it more intense than anything she'd felt before. This male belonged to her.

Mine.

Rune unfolded his arms, sitting up straighter. Did he hear her?

Her brow lowered as she began noticing other new and strange things. She perceived the depth of his power and realized he was much weaker than her. Faye's gaze shifted to her door. She sensed Sparrow and Vashien in her sister's room as well. Was this what it felt like to have magic?

A deep reservoir of power connected to her, stemming from far below her. The added layers of sensations were foreign, disorienting.

"Good morning." Rune's voice was deeper, taking a raspier tone when he first woke. Reminding her of all the mornings she woke in his arms. Faye shoved the memories aside.

She sat up and winced. Darkness, she was stiff. "How long have I been asleep?"

"A little more than a week. Are you hungry? Can I get you anything?" Rune asked.

Faye looked away, fighting the feeling of yearning that overcame her, drawing her to him. She felt too much. Too deep with him this close. "I'm thankful you were here to take care of me." She met his gaze, and her heart ached. "This doesn't change anything. We don't work."

Rune leaned forward. "I love you. I know you care for me."

Faye pulled away, needing the distance between them. "It's not enough. We're fundamentally different."

"This past week has given me much time to reflect. I have thought at length on your parting words. I listen when you speak. I will protect the things you value."

His beseeching gaze stung her heart. "Rune."

"Speak with me for a moment." He reached for her hand and exhaled when she didn't take it. "You want to protect your people. We will form a court. Invite every Anarian you wish to protect, and the same retribution system that stops the dark courts from attacking each other will protect them."

Faye's brow lowered. "I don't understand."

"Your court will be made up of your people. They will not be attacked or mistreated because I will be the consequence for striking against our court. We will protect Anaria."

Faye's lips parted, and tears pricked her eyes. She grasped for words as her mind blanked. "You would do that for me?"

"I would do anything for you." Rune stood, stepping closer to her.

Faye looked at his hand and all it offered. He saw her. Finally understood her. Her hand closed over his, and Rune helped her to her feet. Faye leaned into him, breathing in his scent. Clinging to the man she'd missed and longed for. Her eyes slid closed as his arms encircled her.

He embraced her lightly, stroking her hair as he whispered, "I will be a better man for you."

Tears pricking her eyes as she nodded against his chest. Leaning into the connection that ran between them, binding them to one another.

They stood together for long moments before he muttered, "You need to eat."

Faye reluctantly stepped back, letting him go. "What I need is a shower and some clean clothes."

"Would you like me to get Sparrow?" The back of his fingers slipped down her arm in a gentle caress.

"No. I'm okay." Faye collected her robe and opened her door, crossing the hall to the bathroom.

She showered quickly, scrubbing what felt like a week of grime off her face. Faye stilled when Sparrow's power moved, heading toward the kitchen. Vashien followed soon after.

Faye dried off and stood in front of the mirror. She didn't look different. Envisioning her wings, Faye stared at her reflection, concentrating.

Nothing happened.

Faye pushed harder and hopped in place. Still nothing. Faye dropped her hands to her side. Her gaze fell to her bare index finger, and for the first time, the sight sent a thrill of excitement through her. She had a shard. Somewhere.

Faye dressed quickly, pulling on beige trousers and a gray sweater. She stepped into the hall and found Sparrow, Vashien, and Rune sitting at the small wooden table. Platters covered the tabletop with cubed meats, cheeses, and sliced fruit. Her gaze lifted to Rune as she tilted her head in question.

"Your sister is tolerable when she is fed." Rune grinned as Sparrow snorted at him.

Faye joined them making a plate. "Do you have my shard?"

Rune's lips thinned in response. "You should see it in private."

"I've seen her naked more times than you have. Whip it out." Sparrow said, patting the table between her and Faye.

At Faye's nod, Rune removed a folded cloth out of the inside pocket of his jacket, handing the neatly folded square to her. She took it, gingerly holding the cloth to squeeze the contents. They shifted, clicking together.

"I have never seen the shards you carry," Rune said, concern lacing his voice.

Sparrow rolled her eyes, announcing, "You carry the Darkness. Nobody cares."

Faye unfolded the cloth to find a mass of swirling black mist. She couldn't tell how many were there, the mist obscured the shard within it. But these weren't shards of Darkness. They both had the swirling black mist, but the edges of each curling tendril lit with a glowing purple light. They looked like pieces of the Darkness itself.

Her shores.

These shards were more than just hers. They were a part of her. "I can feel them," Faye said, floating her shards around her as she turned to glance at Rune.

Sparrow's brow furrowed together as she studied Faye's strange shards. "You couldn't just be normal. Had to make up all your own new shit," Sparrow said, glancing from shard to shard, nodding to herself.

Counting, Faye realized.

"Ten," Sparrow said, glancing at Rune. She looked him up and down with a smirk. "You have no chance when she wants to tie you up now."

Faye kicked her under the table. "Sparrow."

"Bitch that hurt." Sparrow bent forward rubbing her shin. "Acting like we don't already know what you do to him."

Faye flushed as Vashien choked. She narrowed her eyes, debating kicking her sister a second time.

Rune thankfully came to her rescue, saying, "I can arrange a jeweler to fit a ring for you. How many of your shards did you wish to display?"

Faye upturned her hand, and the shards collected in her palm. "Just one. I think the coloring will draw enough attention."

"Fuck that. Slap those bitches in a tiara." Sparrow said. Her lips parted in a toothy grin.

Faye giggled, folding her shards back into their handkerchief.

Sparrow's gaze flicked between her and Rune. "Since he's still here, did you take him back?"

"We're starting over." Faye met Rune's gaze. "Without the kidnapping."

Sparrow clapped. "We can do Shibari classes together if we both learn on Vashien."

"No," Vashien hissed, paling as Rune glowered at Sparrow.

Her sister fluttered her hand at Rune. "Calm down fang boy, he'll have clothes on."

"No!" Vashien repeated louder.

Rune turned his attention to Faye. "Did you want to return to Hell with me, or should I have some of the forest cleared and have an estate built here in Anaria?"

"Why are we moving? Did you break her bed?" Sparrow asked around a mouthful of food.

Faye rolled her eyes at her sister. "Rune is going to form a court with me." She explained how they would protect the Anarians.

Sparrow snorted, pointing her fork at Rune. "I'm already in a court with her so you're joining our court."

"We're only four people. Who's your fifth?" Vashien asked.

"Sadi and her mate Damian," Rune answered, pouring a glass of crimson wine.

Faye rested her hand on his thigh. "We can go back to Hell until we pick out a home in Anaria."

"And we can take phasing lessons together," Sparrow squealed.

"You sure you're ready for a life with this?" Vashien lifted his chin at Sparrow as he sipped his coffee.

The corner of Rune's mouth lifted. "I have her out of proxy. You willingly selected her."

Sparrow scowled at them both as Faye giggled behind her glass.

"I am a pleasure to be around. Fuck both of you."