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  I grimaced when I watched one misfire and receive a rope burn on his arm. I knew how he felt. The longbow and I were not on good terms. I had received my fair share of rope burns, and being as short as I was, the longbow wasn’t the best weapon for me. After my fifth attempt at the sport, Enorah had taken pity on me and given me the crossbow to try out. It had been love at first sight. Anytime I wasn’t studying about the history and social structure of Eile or learning how to defend myself against the magical beasts and beings of the Otherworld, I was over at one of the archery ranges, practicing with Venom.

  “Are you all packed for tomorrow?” I asked Devlin as we took a left and headed toward our own cabin, leaving the activity in the village center behind.

  There were only a handful of cottages that weren’t clustered together with the others. Enorah and a few of the other adults had their own, private lodges, and when Devlin had returned with me, she had been kind enough to gift us our own place. Nestled against the small, rocky hillside that sat on the other side of a shallow creek and spaced a comfortable distance from its neighbors, the cottage I shared with Devlin was a step up from my apartment in San Luis Obispo. The floor plan was an open one, with the common room, kitchen, pantry and a small bathroom downstairs. The bathroom was tiny, but functioned almost the same as those in the mortal world did, so I couldn’t complain. A lofted bedroom upstairs completed our cozy space, and the many windows let in plenty of outside light. The furnishings were simple as well, and even though it wasn’t the best place for entertaining, I absolutely loved it.

  “Yes, but I noticed you still haven’t packed.”

  Devlin’s voice interrupted my thoughts once again, and I smiled with sweet wickedness up at him, fluttering my eyelashes demurely. I was by no means a damsel in distress, but it was fun to play with Devlin. To my slight dismay, however, he knew better than to fall for my attempts at innocent seduction. Curse him.

  “Are my charms not working on you?” I queried meekly when he studied me with an unaffected air.

  “Not in the least,” he quipped, the brightness in his blue eyes suggesting otherwise.

  I sighed dramatically and took several steps forward, moving closer to our cabin. Over my shoulder I said, “I guess I’ll have to practice some more on Keirney and Donnel, then. They seemed very eager to help me the last time.”

  The smug look on Devlin’s face disappeared in a flash. Without warning, he struck, his hand shooting out to grab me. Fortunately, I had put enough distance between us to dart out of reach just in time. Laughing, I bolted for the door to our cabin, throwing it open and sprinting inside before Devlin could stop me.

  I placed Venom and the extra crossbow bolts in the corner as gently as possible, but that moment of pause gave Devlin enough time to catch up. The air whooshed from my lungs in a startled gasp as he wrapped both arms around me, scooping me up against his chest. I kicked my feet, not intending to hurt him but hoping to encourage him to put me down. I squealed in horrified surprise as the two of us began falling backward. Expecting Devlin to hit the floor, I shut my eyes and waited for the impact. Instead, I felt him bounce against something soft. I stilled when I realized he had collapsed into the love seat. His grip, which had been as unyielding as a vice, melted slowly into a fierce embrace. Both of us were breathing harder than we should have been, and soon Devlin’s hands were seeking out the skin beneath my shirt. Oh no! None of that!

  I squirmed away, and Devlin let me go. I ended up sitting across his lap, my hands pressed against his chest. I wasn’t trying to escape, not really, but I couldn’t have him taking advantage of my momentary weakness, either. Not if I wanted to keep my wits about me. I made myself comfortable, sinking further into his essence and pressing my cheek against his chest, so his chin rested on the top of my head. There. Hopefully, sitting here for a while would cool the both of us down.

  “Now, are you satisfied? Or, do I have to have words with Keirney and Donnel?” he asked, his voice rumbling in his chest.

  I smiled, and even though he couldn’t see it, I was certain it rang clear in my voice. “Oh, no. You don’t have to worry about them.”

  Tilting my head, so I could get a better look at him, I continued, “You do realize that Donnel is ten, and Keirney is eight, don’t you?”

  Devlin’s eyes narrowed, but the humor remained. “They may be young now, but in ten years or so, it will be an entirely different story.”

  I sat up and shoved a hand against Devlin’s shoulder. “Don’t be ridiculous,” I snorted. “They’re like my little adopted cousins. And besides, I’ve got you. Why would I want anybody else?”

  The look Devlin gave me made my heart melt. Biting my bottom lip, I snuggled up against him once again. Although I had always portrayed myself as being rough around the edges and wholly independent, it wasn’t entirely true. My relationship with my foster parents had always been touch and go, and when my father had written to me in college to inform me that he and my mother no longer wanted anything to do with me, I had kind of let that fierce façade crumble a little. I didn’t want to admit it, but part of me was still pretty emotionally disturbed from their rejection, and Devlin had been there to fill that hole. I didn’t know what terrified me more: knowing that I wasn’t as strong as I thought I was, or wondering if maybe the reason I loved Devlin so much was because he had been there, in the right place at the right time, when I really needed a friend.

  I gritted my teeth at that last thought. What I felt for Devlin was genuine. He was fierce and passionate in his own right, and even if my life hadn’t taken such a rocky turn; even if my foster parents had loved me as much as any parent should, I still would have fallen for him. And, I was strong, despite my weaknesses. I had survived a botched sacrifice, and despite my fears and misgivings, I had embraced my feelings toward Devlin and had come to live in Eile with him. Every day that passed, I grew stronger and better at being a young Lorehnin woman in the Otherworld, despite my mortal world upbringing. And, I could have done it with or without Devlin by my side. But it was oh-so-nice to have his love and support.

  “Hey now,” Devlin murmured, shifting me on his lap, so he could look into my eyes. “No dark thoughts.”

  My smile was weaker this time, but I shook my head. The fact that he could read me so well was proof we made a great team. Time to snap out of my melancholy.

  “Dark thoughts gone,” I promised, holding up my right hand.

  “Good,” he said. “We don’t want Meghan and Cade to think you hate it here.”

  That made me laugh and reminded me that I still had to finish packing. Groaning, I reluctantly pushed away from Devlin and headed toward the stairs to our bedroom.

  Upstairs, several articles of clothing, both from home and from Eile, lay strewn across the bed like discarded corn husks. The wooden steps creaked, and soon I felt Devlin’s presence behind me. My arms were crossed loosely over my chest, and I turned to glance back at him.

  “I’m still not sure what to bring. Will it be cold at Luathara?”

  The nights in the Weald had been exceptionally chilly, and winter still hung in the air for most days, but I had no idea if Meghan’s castle would be the same.

  “It shouldn’t be too different from the climate here in the Weald, but the mountains will most likely be snowcapped and cold,” he admitted as he stepped forward to help me pick out the appropriate attire.

  The two of us were only bringing one pack each, since we planned on walking for most of the trip. The idea was both thrilling and horrifying to me. It felt like we were going on some grand adventure found only in the epic fantasy novels I’d read over the years. Part of me couldn’t wait to discover the Otherworld in this way, but another part was extremely cautious. I had seen what monstrosities Eile could produce, and knowing that I’d be traipsing around in the land of faelah and evil wizards who employed the Morrigan’s dark magic, made me want to curl up in a ball and hide under our bed for a week or two.

  But, I couldn’t let my
self dwell on that. The world I lived in now was dangerous, and although I was still very much a novice with regards to my crossbow and self-defense lessons, I’d picked up a lot of new skills since leaving my old life behind. The visit with Meghan and Cade would be well worth the risk of a possible faelah encounter, and the anticipation of seeing my best friend again, in her new home in Eile, was enough to burn away the last of my apprehension.

  “Well, in that case, I’ll pack a few pairs of jeans, some T-shirts and a few sweatshirts.”

  I gently shoved Devlin out of the way and started picking from my pile of clothes. I was able to fit five T-shirts, two of them with long sleeves, three pairs of jeans and a pair of shorts, along with a set of pajamas, into the pack with my spare underwear and socks underneath. On the very top, I placed a heavy hooded sweatshirt, just barely getting the straps buckled to keep it all in place.

  When I turned around, I found Devlin grinning.

  “Will you ever wear any of our clothing?” he wondered aloud.

  I crossed my arms and wrinkled my nose at him. “I do wear your clothing. But my old clothes will take up less room in my bag.”

  He only shook his head, his lips curving into that lopsided grin I loved so much, then stepped forward and pulled me into his arms again. This time, I tilted my head up to his, silently asking for his kiss. He didn’t disappoint me, and I responded back just as enthusiastically.

  “We’ll never be ready to leave in the morning if you keep this up,” he murmured, his voice rough and low. The very sound of it sent shivers down my spine.

  “Oh, what’s the rush anyway?” I returned, kissing him again, this time much more thoroughly.

  Somehow, Devlin was able to escape my attempts at seduction and slipped away to help the others with some chores he’d promised to attend to before our departure in the morning.

  Once alone, I got back to the dismal task of filling all the pockets on my pack with the little things we’d need for our journey. Just to please Devlin, I added a skirt, blouse and the bodice Enorah had given me when I had first arrived in Eile to the lot, squeezing them into the large pocket on the front of the pack. After checking, and double-checking that I had everything I would need, I carefully folded the remaining clothes and returned them to the large chest on my side of the bed.

  Downstairs, the cabin was empty and growing brighter as the sun crested the sky. Since Devlin would be busy the rest of the day helping with patching roofs, mending fences and other such chores, I decided to make use of the time by tidying the cabin and getting dinner started. We would be gone for the gods knew how long, and I didn’t want to tempt any vermin into breaking in while we were away.

  After the kitchen and living room were free of crumbs and clutter, and the stew was bubbling on a pot suspended over the small fire place in the kitchen, I curled up in one of the stuffed chairs beside the window and picked up the book I had started reading a few days before. The tome was a collection of children’s tales of Eile, miraculously written in English, and despite their simple plots, I found myself enjoying them. As my eyes traveled over the pages, reading about fantastical creatures, both evil and benign, I wondered how many of them were real and living in this magical world I had been introduced to. Perhaps tomorrow, and the days to come, I’d get to see some of these dangerous and benevolent things. To my delight, the thought left me smiling and eager to begin our journey.

  -Chapter Two-

  Departure

  Devlin and I woke early the next morning to a landscape shrouded in low mist. The air was frigid enough to require a scarf and gloves, and as I peered through the glass of our bedroom window, I wondered if it might snow.

  We prepared our own breakfast in the tiny kitchen, not wanting to disturb the Wildren who had not yet been awakened to start the communal meal, and packed enough food to hold us over until we reached Luathara. Devlin informed me there was a dolmarehn a few hours’ hike away that could carry us to the castle, but he wanted to give me a chance to see the countryside and camp out under the Otherworldly sky. Although I wasn’t too keen on sleeping out in the open, the idea of snuggling with Devlin beside a campfire under a brilliant blanket of stars was too romantic a notion to pass up.

  Giving my pack one last, thorough check, I hefted it onto my shoulders and reached for my crossbow. I ran my fingers down the polished, hazel stock, crooning to it like a sick baby, then wrapped the accompanying bolts in a leather pouch. I quickly tied the bag of crossbow bolts to my pack and lifted Venom so that her lath rested against my shoulder, and the bow curved behind my neck. As I crossed the common room of the cabin, the crossbow listed to the side, and I nearly pulled a muscle twisting to keep it from crashing to the ground. When Venom was secure against my shoulder once again, I proceeded to express my apologies for being so careless.

  Devlin arched a brow when I emerged from our cabin with my bow clutched to my chest.

  “You are way too attached to that thing,” he commented dryly.

  I only stuck my nose in the air. “Please, as if you don’t obsess over your swords. Besides, Venom and I have a special relationship that you could never understand.”

  I petted the crossbow as if I expected it to start purring. Devlin only shook his head in exasperation.

  “That may be, but I still don’t understand the name you gave it.”

  My look must have been one of stupefaction. “Because venom is a poison that either kills or incapacitates its victims.”

  “Yes, I get all that, I just think you could have come up with something more fitting for such a,” he paused, as if unsure how to continue. Devlin cleared his throat before finishing, “For such a docile weapon.”

  I gave him a look of horror, then leaned down and whispered to the crossbow, “Did you hear him? He just insulted you!”

  Rolling his eyes, Devlin ushered me out into the open, so he could lock up the cabin behind us.

  “Venom may not be as flashy as your pretty knives,” I stated tersely, “but she is just as dangerous.”

  Devlin turned to me, the amusement going a little flat on his face. “In the time it takes you to fire a bolt and have a second one ready to send flying, I could have cut through half a dozen attackers, maybe more.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Are you trying to say I’m incompetent?” Because, honestly, I had felt like nothing but since arriving in the Otherworld. I’d had to rely on Enorah’s and Devlin’s (and the rest of the more experienced Wildren’s) protection so far, and although I appreciated it, not being able to take care of myself as thoroughly as I had in the mortal world had really bothered me. I think part of the reason I had advanced so quickly in my self-defense classes, and with my crossbow practice, was because I was so determined to be wholly independent once again.

  Devlin must have realized his mistake because he raised his hands, palms facing me, and said, “No, not at all.” Then he grinned. “I simply adore the way your eyes gleam when your temper is up.”

  I snorted, accepting his pathetic attempt to save face with a shrug. My annoyance drained away, and I took a deep breath. Devlin could insult my crossbow all he wanted. He was just jealous that she was getting more attention at the moment than he was. The very thought made me bite my lip to keep from smiling.

  The familiar sounds of the village waking up in the distance encouraged me to turn my attention away from the cabin. Through the thick veil of fog, I could sense patches of pale sunlight trying desperately to pierce through, but the mix of mist and shrubs kept me from clearly seeing any of the Wildren who had risen to start their chores.

  “Ready?” Devlin asked, tightening the straps on his pack and checking that the bedrolls he’d attached were still there.

  I strapped Venom securely to my pack, since I didn’t want to carry her the entire way to Luathara, then faced Devlin. I gave a lazy smile and answered, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  To be quite honest, I was working hard to contain my excitement. I couldn’t wait to see Meghan again
and despite my fear of the world outside of the Weald, I was curious as to what sorts of wildlife and scenery Eile had to offer.

  * * *

  For much of the morning, the landscape didn’t change. Huge, ancient trees gave way to verdant meadows, and every now and then, we had to make use of fallen branches in order to cross the many creeks and streams which spread through the forest floor like veins. Despite my damp shoes and the extra weight of the pack, my heart was light and my mood a happy one. The Weald was such a beautiful place, and my pagan spirit felt so at home here. Oaks and evergreens of varying species intermixed with the beech trees from time to time, and more often than not, Devlin had to stop and wait for me as I paused to watch an Otherworldly creature scuttle into the underbrush or scurry across the treetops. Perhaps this trip would stretch into four days by the time it was through. There was just too much to see, and I was determined to absorb all of it if I could.

  Just before noon that first day, the forest came to an abrupt end, and Devlin and I found ourselves standing on the edge of a cluster of hills, gazing out at what looked like the ocean in the distance.

  “Not an ocean,” Devlin said when I asked. “That is Lake Ohll, though it is large enough to be an ocean. And this is just the narrow, southern tip of it.”

  His smile was infectious, and once I had gotten my fill of the deep blue expanse of the lake and its several small, tree-speckled islands, we were off once again, heading in a southeasterly direction. For a long while, we stayed between the edge of the Weald and the shore of Lake Ohll, picking up an easy pace as we climbed and then descended the many rock-strewn hills that dotted the landscape. Spring’s burgeoning presence painted the land in hues of emerald, jade and chartreuse, and the moisture from the recent bout of rain and frost soaked into my jeans. Oh well. I shrugged, pulling my pack higher up onto my shoulders. My shoes were already drenched, so might as well add my pants to the fray.