Chapter 9
1281 Words
Several hours later, Ty'an pulled Silver up short next to a creek. They had ridden high into the mountains, she needed time to plan somewhere she wouldn't be disturbed. She dismounted pulling Silver's saddle and bridle off and laying it on the ground. The horse wouldn't wander far. Even if he did he'd come back when she called him. He was her spirit animal after all, they were connected on a level that no one besides a Fae would understand.
She took a deep breath, closing her eyes, tipping her head to the sky, widening her stance and lightly raised her arms beside her. Calling her power she visualized the darkness acting as mortar between the pieces of wood and thicket she saw forming a small cabin in front of her. It felt good to let the power flow through her, it settled it down within her, making it more bearable when she finally finished her structure and pulled the power back again.
Ty'an spun as she heard Silver spook and crash into the forest, what the hell. A vicious snarl sounding was all the warning she got before Gabriels wolf flew at her from the trees. The wolf crashed into her, pouncing and taking her to the ground hard on her back. She threw her hands in front of her face to protect it, simultaneously thrashing and kicking beneath the powerful creature. Taking a second to draw in a breath she turned her palm to face up and thrust a surge of power at her attacker. He was thrown off of her landing on his side with a thump several feet away. Shaking his head angrily, he regained his footing facing her resuming his threatning snarls.
She took the opportunity to recover some ground crouching in a defensive position, "what the hell Gabriel?!"
Suddenly it dawned on her, Dominic had seen her eyes turn black at the apartment, Gabriel had followed her from there. Her eyes had most definitely been black when she was using her power to build the small cabin behind her. He had seen her. s**t.
"Wait, Gabriel. I can explain, please. Just shift so we can talk. I won't hurt you. I promise." she put her hand out in a staying motion hoping the wolf could understand her like Dominic's did.
They both stood their ground for a moment. Gabriel lunged for her again, she was ready for him though. She ducted and rolled as the wolf lunged for her, he ended up overshooting her by a good foot. As he landed and turned she crouched once again facing him.
"Gabriel, please! I don't want to fight you!" she yelled at him. He was Dominic's best friend and even though under normal circumstances she would have no issue fighting the big oaf something inside her didn't want to. Her instincts were all screaming against hurting him. He lunged for her again and she made a running leap for the nearest tree climbing up several branches before perching there, turning to look down at him. "Your going to have to change to your human form to get me, just change so we can talk!"
The wolf snapped and snarled circling the base of the tree for several moments before relenting. Gabriel stood where his wolf had been moments before. She had underestimated his height. He reached up and plucked her from the tree by her hair. She fell to the ground with a hard thump.
Spitting leaves, she slowly lifted herself to a her hands and knees. Glaring at him, she was trying to hold her temper so her eyes wouldn't flash black again. But he was making it very, very difficult.
"What are you?" he yelled down at her, "why do your eyes keep changing?"
Flipping her long hair over her shoulder she looked up at him, "you know what I am, I'm Fae."
He crouched down in front of her gray eyes glaring into her soul, "exactly what kind of Fae are you?"
"None of your business," she seethed back at him.
"Oh my dear, it very much is my business. One you have ensnared my best friend in your wicked little net. Two I highly suspect I know exactly what you are," he didn't back down. He was still an inch from her face staring into her soul with those haunting gray eyes of his.
For the first time she looked at him, really looked at him. Searching his soul, she felt drawn to him again. He had just tried to kill her but she was oddly calm under his gaze. She should have been anything but calm in that moment.
"The better question is, who exactly are you Gabriel? Your not just some lone mercenary hunter are you?" she dared the inquiry of him.
Taken aback by her sassy yet calm demeanor he huffed at her, standing not letting her out from under his scrutiny.
"We aren't talking about me right now, we are talking about you. You wanted a chance to talk, now talk," he demanded of her.
Looking up at him from where she still was on her hands and knees, "can I at least stand or are you going to try to take my head off again?"
"Stand, i'll refrain from removing your head for the moment. But any other moves and all bets are off. Behave yourself with your hands, the first inkling I get that your manifesting power and I'll be on you before you can wield it," he crossed his arms widening his stance as if ready for her to attack.
She stood, brushing off her pants as she did so. Then placed her hands quietly at her side. How was she going to talk her way out of this one.
"Obviously, you know I'm a high Fae. You have seen Silver, my spirit animal. My brother is the Queen's consort, he called me to her this morning. Much like Dominic's father calls him. I can't refuse a summons. Unlike most Fae, my power is somewhat unpredictable. I haven't had access to it for a very long time. It's overwhelming, thats all," that seemed a simple enough, truthful enough, if still evasive answer.
"Obviously, that doesn't answer my question. What. Kind. of Fae. Are You?" he growled at her walking into her space, she backed away until her back met with a tree. Looking up at him as he proceeded to stalk into her space.
"You don't scare me,"she told him, standing as tall as she could in her current position. She wasn't actually, he should have but he didn't.
"Oh don't I?" a vicious smile flashed across his face,"I am the ghost of many nightmares, perhaps I should rectify your lack of fear" growling he reached his hand up to lean against the tree pinning her without escape between his body and it.
"Since you won't answer my question I will find the answer myself,"he growled through long teeth, his gray eyes turning golden.
"Wait no. Gabriel, stop," she pleaded, pushing against his chest, panic filling her. If he tasted her blood and knew what Dark Fae blood tasted like she was dead. He would know instantly.
He grabbed her arms keeping her from struggling and bit deep into her shoulder causing her to cry out. Suddenly his head began to spin, her blood was like a drug it was sweet and delicious. Unlike anything he had ever tasted, it was addicting. His wolf stirred in his mind, attracted by the sudden draw of it.
Then the world went black, but before losing consciousness he recognized something he never thought to find .... Mate.
- Writer
