Page 11 of Lyric of Wind
Now, she leaned a shoulder against the damp stone wall of the market and watched the passersby with careful eyes. Mothers hurrying children who just wanted to stomp in the puddles, bike messengers delivering takeout food, and students off class for the weekend rushed past, everyone used to the damp weather. As rain went, it was hardly something to be noted, but still the dampness seemed to soak into Raven’s bones. She was tired, that was all. Normally, she wouldn’t fuss much about a spot of rain either. But now, all she wanted was her bed, a locked door, and ten hours of uninterrupted sleep.
A luxury she wouldn’t be getting anytime soon.
A glimmer of silver shone from a puddle, and Raven straightened, her eyes widening. Was she going crazy or were the silver men really materializing out of the puddles that clung to the damp pavement? She blinked in disbelief as several of the silvery army formed, right in the path of pedestrians, and not a single person glanced their way.
Right, then. Maybe she was finally losing it? Nobody else seemed overly concerned with the presence of the strange silver men that turned in unison to stalk in her direction. In fact, one mother even towed her determined childthroughone of the creatures. The child howled, looking like it had been slapped in the face, but the mother continued on without another look in Raven’s direction. But Raven saw it. The child hadfeltthe silver man. It wasn’t just her.
Which meant she needed torun.
Raven darted around the corner and ducked into an alleyway, hoping to make a sharp left, and come up the other side of the street behind the silver men. But luck was not on her side this day. Not that it ever much was. Skidding to a stop in front of a wall of silvery Fae, Raven held up her hands, whirling as the others flanked her from behind. This was the most she’d had to deal with yet, and her heart thudded in her chest as she tried to summon the courage to use her power.
She was just sodamntired.
Maybe it was better to just give in. They weren’t going to stop hunting her, it seemed, and if she never got a moment’s sleep, then eventually, she’d just collapse, and they would be on her anyway. Surrender wasn’t in her nature, but if she went now, with her wits about her, maybe she’d be able to protect herself from serious harm. Her shoulders slumped as she stepped back until the guitar she wore at her back brushed the wall of the alley.
“Why don’t you boys tell me what it is you’re after? Why me? I’m a nobody,” Raven said. The leader opened its mouth to speak, but a flash of light was the only warning they had before magick rained down from above. Raven ducked as bolts of fire darted from the sky, and a flutter of wings and pounding hooves sounded on the pavement. Crouching, she glanced up to see several of the flying Alicorns racing through the alleyway, fire searing from their horns, as the silvery Fae were ruthlessly destroyed. In moments, the alleyway was covered in silver blood that seeped slowly into the pavement before disappearing.
“I bet you wished you’d taken me up on my offer.” Kellen smirked at her from where he sat astride the majestic beast. Raven was too in awe of his presence again to make a snide remark back.
She’d forgotten just how beautiful he was.
Strikingly blue eyes, the color of the sky on a perfect summer’s day, and jet-black hair made him a commanding presence. But it was more than just his looks–it was the easy confidence in how he handled his Alicorn, his muscular thighs hugging the beast, his lazy smirk a challenge.
Raven was glad she’d punched him.
She shouldn’t be. He’d just saved her from the danger, yet how was she to know that he was any less dangerous than the other creatures who had just cornered her?
“Not in the slightest,” Raven said, lifting her chin higher, as his Alicorn stomped a hoof in front of her. She really wanted to step forward and pet the beautiful animal. Raven had to force her hand into a fist to stop herself from reaching out. “I had this handled.”
“Did you then?” Kellen barked out a laugh. “From the looks of it, you were on the edge of surrendering to the Dark Fae.”
“Not at all. I was luring them into complacency,” Raven countered.
“And then what? You were going to murder an alley full of Dark Fae? While literally swaying on your own two feet? You wouldn’t last a minute in battle,” Kellen scoffed.
“Care to try me?” Raven challenged, raising a fist to remind him she’d already gotten one past him before.
“Is this how you convince women to trust you?” Raven turned at the voice to find a smiling blonde woman sliding from her Alicorn with the help of a tall lanky redheaded man. “If so, I fear you’re missing the mark.”
“Oh, I’m meant to be trusting this one, am I?” Raven laughed and shook her head, keeping her eyes on Kellen’s icy-blue ones. “And what reason has he given me to do so?”
“I didn’t force you to come with me against your will, did I? Though judging from the looks of it, I should’ve,” Kellen countered.
“Hi.” The blonde jutted out a hand, stepping in front of Raven and cutting off her conversation with Kellen. “Ignore him. I’m Bianca, I’m human as well, though I’ve fallen in with this lot of Fae and have never been the happier for it. This one’s mine. Hand’s off.” Bianca jerked a thumb at the redhead who grinned cheerfully at Raven. She immediately warmed to them.
“Understood,” Raven said.
“What this one is doing is a horrible job communicating that we are here to help you, and while it seems super sketchy, it would be great if you could come with us because we’ve got bigger things to worry about than swooping down here every two seconds to save you. Can’t say why the Dark Fae are after you, but this is your chance to come with us so you can be given a reprieve. For the moment at least,” Bianca said, tilting her head at Raven. “Sure and you’re looking a touch knackered then, aren’t you?”
“I’m…” Raven was shocked when her voice cracked. “I’m dead tired, and that’s the truth of it.”
“Come with us. I’ll stay with you while you sleep. If Kellen’s your concern, I outrank him. I’ll keep him well in his place.”
“LikeI’dhurt a woman,” Kellen burst out, fury on his face, and Raven had to admit the truth of his words. He hadn’t been the first man she’d punched in her life, but he’d been the only one that hadn’t retaliated.
“I don’t understand what’s happening,” Raven whispered, looking between Bianca and Kellen.
“The short version? There’s bad Fae and good Fae. The bad guys are waging war on the good. We’re trying to stop them before they take over Ireland. Just think…you could be the one who helps save the world,” Bianca said, beaming at Raven.