Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
CAELAN
Ashift in the wind and the scent of ancient pines and snow told me I was no longer alone. From behind the tree cover, a massive, glowing stag with moss hanging from its impressive antlers stepped out.
A snap of light and the Fae King stood before me, his eyes an unsettling multi-colored swirl of magic. “Your land still holds a taste of the ancient wilds,” Cernunnos said before coming to sit beside me.
He was not my king, and I would rise for no authority other than my own, but Cernunnos took no issue.
The king understood the way the modern world worked and knew the fae no longer held our world in a chokehold of fear.
Their magic was still impressive, but using a spell on a human brought a death sentence if pressed, and shifters were more resistant to a fae’s power.
Not Cernunnos’s or another god’s, but a lower fae would be hard pressed to unduly influence someone like me or any of my shifters.
But the Fae King had much larger problems than petty grievances.
“Did you bring her?” I asked. His favor had weighed on me for the last few days.
On the surface, the request seemed innocent, but a fae rarely told the full story.
There was something about this Thalia woman Cernunnos wasn’t disclosing.
If she brought harm to my people, she would die, and if that brought war to my doorstep, so be it.
But Cernunnos wasn’t known for breaking deals or dealing unfairly with people, though he was pure fae and had a great deal of mischief in his bones.
“She awaits my word. I wish to speak to you first.”
“Everything is ready. Your Thalia will have shelter and a part-time job until she figures out another way to secure funds. Her protector is my Second, Garrett.”
Cernunnos inclined his head. “Thank you. Thalia is…special.”
My eyes narrowed, but I remained silent. Was this woman his lover? Something else?
“Her powers can be crippling, and my realm has made her visions worse. My hope is Joy Springs will bring her some peace. She is important to our future.”
“Why are you being kind to this woman?”
Cernunnos’ eyes flashed. “Do you know me as unkind to anyone? She is my subject, therefore, she is worthy of my attention.”
I didn’t believe him for one second. “What about Cliona?”
“Tread carefully, Lord,” he warned.
“She has tormented Evie her entire life and has not warranted your kind attention.”
“Cliona is a problem for another time. She is under the watchful eye of a few trusted associates.”
I grunted. “My word stands. I’ll ensure the care of your charge, but if she endangers my people, I will not hesitate to end her.
” Cernunnos might be Evie’s father, but he was a conniving sonofabitch.
Whoever this Thalia woman was, I planned to figure out her secrets and why she was so important to the king.
Cernunnos’s lips pulled into a wry smile. “I think you will find Thalia’s influence an interesting addition to your current dynamic.”
Whatever that meant. “Either way, she is a guest in Joy Springs and subject to our laws. A Lord’s success relies on their ability to keep their people safe.
If a guest breaks the rules of hospitality, a Lord is within his rights to enforce certain…
stipulations.” I let my teeth show. “Caution your Thalia to respect the Lord’s authority, and she will have no issue here. ”
Cernunnos shook his head. “I care nothing for the other Lords’ authority.
The only reason I am sitting here with you now is because of Evie.
She cares about you. As such, I will do my best to respect your territory.
” The Fae King rose. “But make no mistake, Lord Caelan, you exist by my grace. I will deal fairly with you as long as you do the same.”
He swung a hand across his body. A shimmering portal appeared from thin air, revealing a land of emerald-green grass and brilliant blue skies.
“Thalia,” Cernunnos boomed. “Step forward.”
A small woman appeared on the other side. Her hair was dark and braided into a heavy plait. Eyes of hazel glinted as she watched us, set in a delicate, fine-boned face with high cheekbones and full lips. Thalia looked familiar, but I knew I’d never met her before.
The grass rustled from behind, Garrett’s way of telling me he’d arrived. My Second could sneak up on anyone, but he tried to be courteous unless he was hunting.
When Thalia spotted Garrett, her eyes narrowed. With a slight squaring of her shoulders, the woman stepped through, the edges of her dress dragging through the portal and onto the damp grass. The portal disappeared plunging the night into silence.
Thalia stared at Cernunnos, anger glinting in her eyes. “Where are you dumping me this time?” She practically bristled with an ill temper.
A soft snort from behind. Garrett stepped forward. “Come with me, Thalia. I’ll escort you to your quarters.”
“Another prison,” Thalia scoffed. She rolled her eyes. “Do I at least get three square meals a day this time?”
“Don’t be difficult,” Cernunnos said through gritted teeth. “You’ve never been abused in my care.”
“It doesn’t mean your care is up to necessary standards,” Thalia said in an arch voice. She unslung a pack from her shoulders. “Is there a place where I can get some blue jeans? Ol’ deer guy refuses to stock pants in his 14th century fortress.”
My brows went up. Probably not a lover then.
“I’ll take you,” Garrett said, stepping up to offer his arm to Thalia.
The woman stared at him with suspicion. “And who are you?”
I lay a hand over my chest. “I am Caelan, Lord of this territory. This is my Second, Garrett.”
“Second what?” Thalia asked, confusion flashing over her face.
Garrett watched her with the intensity of a predator discovering something interesting. A flash of worry shuddered through me, but I cast it aside. This was Garrett. Not some lovesick teenager. Even if he was attracted to this irate woman, and I couldn’t imagine why he would be, he’d do his job.
“A Second is integral to the structure of the Pack,” Garrett said. “We help the Lord maintain order, structure, and discipline.”
“Garrett is also a trusted advisor and a protector for everyone in our Pack and those who’ve received our protection,” I added.
Thalia looked at Cernunnos. “How long will I be here?”
“For the foreseeable future.”
Thalia rolled his eyes. “Until you can decide what to do with me?”
The king’s expression darkened. “I’m doing this to help you.”
Thalia rolled her eyes and finally took Garrett’s outstretched arm. “A cage with no bars is still a cage.”
Lightning cracked in the sky, a physical representation of Cernunnos’s fury. His eyes swirled with rage, and he stepped forward as if to grab her.
Thalia snorted. “You stopped scaring me a long time ago. Honestly, it’d be a relief if you killed me.”
Garrett stiffened, a low snarl ripping from his throat.
“Know your place, wolf,” Cernunnos said, his voice a rumble in the night.
I stepped forward. “Thalia is under our protection now. You have no say over her welfare until you decide our watch is over.”
For a moment, I thought Cernunnos might call the entire thing off.
His eyes swirled as he watched Thalia, her fingers wrapped around Garrett’s forearm.
His usually reliable second’s posture was stiff, the rings of his watchful eyes flaring a bright gold.
If I ever left, there was a good possibility Garrett would step into my position.
A shifter’s power only grew as they aged, and Garrett was almost as powerful as a Lord.
It took incredible willpower for him to hold his position as my Second and not to get into dominance challenges with the other wolves.
Garrett was deadly enough to win most challenges that came his way, but intelligent and emotionally mature enough to defuse most before they resulted in a full out fight.
Young shifters were full of testosterone and violence, and sometimes the only way to temper the urge to fight was for a more dominant wolf to put them on the ground.
“She is not your plaything,” Cernunnos warned Garrett, seeing the potential of trouble as well as I did.
Garrett held the Fae King’s gaze. “I’d never force a woman,” he said, the wolf riding his voice.
Thalia dropped Garrett’s arm. “I swear,” she snapped. “If it’s not one ridiculous thing, it’s another. The last thing I want is some man bossing me around all the time. And a shifter to boot?” She rolled her eyes. “All the snarling and growling and possessiveness?” Thalia shuddered. “No thank you.”
Garrett blinked owlishly at her. I ducked my head to hide my smile.
My Second cleared his throat. “My apologies. Please allow me to escort you to your apartment.”
Thalia studied Garrett for a moment before nodding. “Fine.”
“Do you have anything other than your backpack?” he asked.
“No. It’s difficult packing ballgowns and corsets,” she said with a dark glare at Cernunnos.
“My court is traditional,” he gritted out.
I was beginning to see why he wanted Thalia out of his territory.
“I’m a young woman, and we don’t live in medieval times.”
“It’s not like we have a department store in the fae lands,” Cernunnos said. A heavy sigh bit through the air. “Never mind.” He turned to me. “Lord, I’m entrusting her into your care.”
“I can take care of myself,” Thalia snapped.
“Obey the Lord’s rules,” Cernunnos warned before disappearing in a swirl of emerald and gold magic.
When he was gone, Thalia let out a breath of relief. “Did I really get an apartment or was Dad shitting me?”
Garrett and I both froze. “I’m sorry,” I said slowly. “Did you call Cernunnos Dad?”
Thalia laughed. “I guess he didn’t say a word?”
“Not at all. You being his child changes a few things.” Many things.
I wouldn’t change her protection detail because Garrett was the best I had, but I’d have to add a few more wolves onto her security detail.
She wouldn’t be able to leave without an escort, adding an additional level to the pain of an ass favor repayment.
“It doesn’t, actually,” Thalia said. “You could let me leave right now, and I’d never say a word.”
“Cernunnos would hunt you to the ends of the earth,” Garrett said.
“I am not without tricks of my own,” Thalia said hotly.
“Regardless, you are under our protection. If you try to escape, we will be forced to hunt you down as well,” I advised her.
Garrett’s eyes flashed gold. “I’ve got your scent, darling,” he drawled. “You won’t be able to run far enough to keep me from catching you.”
Thalia’s heart rate rose sharply.
Garrett’s grin was full of teeth and menace.
Her fingers tightened on her backpack. “Take me to the apartment, please.”
My second gestured for her to walk ahead. Thalia straightened and took a step, abruptly swaying.
A flash of speed and Garrett was behind her, ready to catch her if she fell.
“Roots,” Thalia whispered, the irises of her eyes turning a blinding silver, “Twisting roots buried in skin. Too much power.”
She sagged, her knees going out from under her, but Garrett swept her into his embrace.
His eyes met mine. “Take her to the Keep?” His grip on Thalia was possessive, proprietary, and I knew it could become a problem.
But Garrett had never been volatile or failed in his duties. In this, I had to trust him.
“No.” Anger burned inside me at how I’d been bamboozled by Cernunnos. “Head to the apartment. I’ll send Simone over.”
“I’ll contact you when she’s settled in.”
Without waiting for a response, Garrett turned and fled through the woods.
I was officially in charge of Cernunnos’s daughter. Other daughter.
I’d be annoyed by the lie by omission regardless, but this one came with serious consequences.
He’d sworn me to secrecy concerning Thalia’s identity. I couldn’t tell Evie without violating the terms of our bargain.
My jaw clenched. I knew I was missing something.
Evie would be furious when she found out.
“Fuck,” I snarled.