Fae Chronicles; Fighting Destiny Part 3

"Did I?" His voice purred, leaving it a statement more than a question.

I growled, which only made his lips turn up in the corners reminding me of the kisses we'd shared. I tried to push his essence out of me, but it is like it's locked inside a box inside my mind. I rolled my eyes and tried again as sweat beaded on my forehead.

"It's not working?"

"Pretty and smart, better alert the f.u.c.king press," I replied sarcastically as I put everything inside of me into pus.h.i.+ng his essence out of my body.

"You think I'm pretty?" He asked incredulous, as if I'd just handed him the biggest insult of his life.

I narrowed my eyes on him and bit my lower lip. I tried yet again to get his essence from mine, as my legs shook. His hands landed on my waist before I fell. "Pretty much, maybe you should wear less makeup and add some scars. Toughen up that pretty boy image you got going on," I smirked watching his jaw tick with anger. My eyes slid to his full mouth, remembering it, how it felt pressed against mine.

"Syn, need a boost?" Adam asked me from where he stood a few feet away from me, trying to dispel the tension building inside the confines of the room.

My body trembled violently, it was still adapting to the new soul inside of it. I winced as aches and pains made themselves known now that the adrenaline rush had pa.s.sed. "I just need a few minutes." I lied, not knowing if I would be able to give him back what I had stolen from him.

No sooner had I said it, my legs gave in against my weight. I was caught by Ryder before I landed on my a.s.s on the floor at his feet and carried to a couch. We'd left the torture room and entered what appeared to be an unused office. It was drab and barren of any personal items.

Whitewash walls and matching white carpets, the only object inside the room was a single black couch that wrapped around and covered two walls. "Sit down and do not touch anything," Ryder ordered as he dropped me none too gently on the couch.

"What the h.e.l.l would I touch?" I grouched back, feeling b.i.t.c.hy about needing to be carried at all... much less by him of all people!

He looked down his nose at me and then at his hands, as if I had stained them...I laughed.

His eyes narrowed, "You were not laughing a little while ago...shall I remind you of where you wanted me?" He looked down at my black skintight shorts. As if he could tell by scent that I was still having him dance around in my inappropriate thoughts.

"You f.u.c.ked with my mind and I resisted you," I said allowing my lips to turn up in one corner before gently biting my lip and wincing.

Oh yeah...I'd bitten it hard. Ouch.

"Keep lipping off and I'll find a use for that tongue."

"Keep dreaming man-wh.o.r.e."

He made a disgruntled sound of irritation but I was too tired to care, my body felt drained. My mind kept replaying his d.a.m.n lips pressed against mine and Chandra, poor Chandra had died for this guy's stupid interview.

"I don't need to dream about f.u.c.king. If I wanted you Witch, you'd be mine," he growled heatedly, his voice rough.

I glared back. Tired of everything that was going on in this place. However, I knew I wasn't walking out those doors until I could fix this. The noise coming from the hallway drew me from my irate inner thoughts and back to Adam, who was even now coming through the door with steaming hot coffee.

I accepted it carefully, noting how my hands shook as I reached for and accepted it. After a few minutes of intense silence, Alden walked in. His eyes, sharp as a predators as he took us all in.

"Any luck yet?" His voices' sharp, angry tone made me want to slap him.

It was one of the first things we learned in training. Never argue with an elder or any Witch for that matter in front of someone from outside the Guild. I shook my head and indulged in a long drink of the rich hot nectar.

The room once again grew silent, until I set the cup aside on the floor since there wasn't a table or anything to place it on. "Let's give it another shot," I whispered, noting Alden was watching the two of us very closely.

I stood up slowly and stepped closer to the dark and seductive Fae Prince, my hands coming out from my sides to hold his. It would have been a h.e.l.l of a lot easier if I didn't have to touch him to complete the transfer.

His hands were warm and soft. As if he'd never seen or endured a hard day's work ever in his life. His fingers curled around my own, sending heat raging through every part of my s.e.x-starved tissue. I raised my eyes, meeting him head on even though I had to look up to do so. I watched his lips curve wickedly. Those eyes of his glowing bronze fire, as if he felt the same intensity I did. The spell shouldn't have been cast. If I had known I wasn't going to be killed, I wouldn't have used it. I exhaled slowly, feeling his strength combine with my own as he pulled his soul essence from my body.

It caressed me from the inside, touching, testing as it flowed through me and it reattached to him. His eyes smiled mischievously as if he was commanding it to do so. Heat flowed through me, his hands offered more support as my legs trembled once more with the need to come. He watched my face hungrily, intensely as I felt even more moisture pooling at my junction and saturating my panties. His soul was f.u.c.king me from the inside and it was intensely seductive and powerful.

The minute I felt the last of his essence leaving my body, I pulled away as if his touch was scorching my flesh. I wiped his touch off on the tank top I wore and turned to Alden on shaky legs, ignoring the husky laugh from the dark seduction behind me. "It's done."

Alden wasn't looking to me though. He was looking over my shoulder to the Prince. Whatever! I just wanted to go home and curl up in my bed and sleep for a week. Maybe indulge in a few buckets of Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

"Sit Synthia. We have business to discuss," Alden growled as if he was upset with me. Nothing new there.

I sat, not because he had told me to, but because my legs wouldn't stop shaking with need and l.u.s.t. Much to my utter horror Ryder sat beside me-way too close for my state of mind. "Talk."

"The Prince has a job for you," Alden said without any emotion on his face.

"No."

"No?" Three voices said as one, Alden, Ryder and the d.a.m.n Demon who had just walked back in.

"Need a dictionary to figure the word out boys?" I offered lamely.

Alden pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, "This isn't a would you, it's a you're going to Synthia."

I smiled coldly. "Well then, why didn't you just say so to begin with Alden? And what if I flat out refuse? Besides, with my past history being what it is-you sure you want me working with them?"

"Then you will receive a mark and it won't bode well for your coven for refusing a direct order. Past history aside Synthia, this is something you will do."

I growled.

Adam who was swallowing a sip of his own coffee spit it out and cussed.

"Syn," Adam warned with stark fear in his eyes.

I swallowed past the swelling in my throat. "What's the job?"

"Impersonating the Light Heir at the Engagement Ball," The Demon said smoothly as if I hadn't just been threatened, yet again today.

"I think I'd prefer death, besides Alden, that's a waste of my talents and you know it," I snapped. Impersonator? I was not a freaking impersonator. I was one of the best enforcer's in the entire state of Was.h.i.+ngton-don't even get me started on the jobs requiring my skills as an a.s.sa.s.sin!

"Enough! Do you know why no one else has asked to join your coven Synthia? Because they're afraid you'll get them killed like everyone else you grow attached to! If anyone gets too close to you, they die. Adam stay's beside you because he knows if he doesn't; you'll probably get marked and become an easy target. d.a.m.n it girl, you know what happens when you've been marked."

Ouch, that was going to leave a bruise on my ego. My eyes swung to Adam who wouldn't meet them. "Adam?"

"Syn..." He said carefully, as if he didn't want to go there in front of our present company.

"Fine, I'll impersonate her."

"It's not just impersonating, that is only part of what we want you for. You will be told the rest later on." Ryder said, "I was informed you could cloak your appearance and take that of another so well that it would be completely undetectable?"

I officially wanted to scalp Alden Indian style. I just needed a really cool doeskin skirt and a very sharp knife to do so. I nodded, it was the only confirmation he would be getting out of me.

They all looked at me expectantly. I looked back at them bored already.

Alden spoke first after a few moments of silence, "Change."

"Can't. I've never seen her before," I snapped with exhaustion showing in my tone.

"Ristan?" Ryder raised an eyebrow.

I chewed my lips while Ryder dusted off an invisible piece of lint from his jeans. The Demon materialized a tabloid with a picture of a blonde beauty on the cover. The two would have cute kids together. I studied every detail I could see and memorized it to mind. I straightened up and pulled the glamour around me from head to toe.

A small sliver of magical current s.h.i.+mmered over my skin rippling in the air around me. I looked down, taking in the tight jeans and designer top she had been wearing in the photograph was now on me as well.

"That is incredible," Ristan said with wonder in his voice.

"She didn't change," Ryder said narrowing his eyes on me with close inspection that I felt all the way to my OPI Paint Your Toronto-Toes.

"She looks just like her," Alden said stepping closer, unaware of the death wish I had for him at the moment.

I felt a moment of panic, no one had ever seen through the glamour spell before. Not even my friends. "What do you see then?" I asked narrowing my own eyes to mirror his.

"You," He spat angrily and it had never sounded more like an insult than now.

"Sorry to disappoint you, guess I'm not up for the task."

"If they see you as Arianna, than it doesn't matter what I see. The a.s.sa.s.sins will mistake you for her as well," Ryder sneered.

I almost choked on my own tongue, "a.s.sa.s.sin's?" Now they tell me this?

Everyone in the room ignored me and the three men started discussing me as if I wasn't even there. It felt as if something bigger was going on here, something that wasn't being said to me, or Adam. More Fae bulls.h.i.+t, games within games.

"She looks exactly like her," Ristan said excitedly.

"But will it hold up against Fae, or is it only me who can see her true form?"

He didn't have long to wait for an answer as the door was opened and tall dark and kiss-me-lips I'd been about to make out with in order to get inside, walked in. "Next time brother, a little heads up would be nice."

He stopped turning to look directly at me and bowed low at his waist. "Arianna, I wasn't aware you would be joining us today."

I rolled my eyes and looked back at Ryder who was grinning mischievously now. I bit my bottom lip under his penetrating gaze.

"Dristan, do you see anything off about Arianna today?" He asked carefully.

Dristan stopped and narrowed his eyes, his head tilting to the side slightly. "Am I supposed to see something different?"

"Good, now about letting that little wraith of a Witch seduce you...don't do it again. Is the Ball still on schedule as planned?" Ryder asked.

I let the glamour fade since it took energy I didn't have to keep up. The moment I did Dristan cussed and threw a left hook. I ducked barely avoiding it and dropped like a sack of potatoes and came up behind him.

"You b.i.t.c.h!" He snarled, angry with my appearance.

"So I've been told, do try not to attack me again," I said coldly.

"You f.u.c.king drugged me!"

I ducked his second punch and landed a solid kick in his side before Ryder pushed me away, none too gently causing me to hit the wall hard. The wind left my lungs violently as I landed on my a.s.s at his feet.

"Enough Dristan...Syn will be working with us."

"Put this stupid b.i.t.c.h in her place Ry, her kind need a reminding of where they belong," Dristan snarled.

I said nothing, I wasn't afraid he would do it. I was just tired of hearing dire predictions about my immediate future today. I lowered my head and remained silent as the room grew tense once more. I hurt everywhere, my ego was bruised that I had been caught, I'd killed one of the only Witches who had wanted to join my coven and I'd played kissy-face with a freaking Fae.

"What no snappy comment?" Ryder said.

"Are we done here?" I asked after a short pause.

"For today, you will be here at seven, tomorrow morning. Wear something appropriate to train in. We only have a short time to teach you what a Fae Princess should act like and from the looks of it-it's going to take a lot more time than we have.

Five.

Adam and I left the Dark Fortress as fast as our feet would take us, both refusing to speak of what had happened inside. I'd had enough s.h.i.+t for one day. I'd known why the two had stayed with me, but hearing it was a reality check.

I was going to be covered in bruises from head to toe come morning when I had to face his High-na.s.s again and I wasn't looking forward to it at all, I'd rather face an angry mob of Witch haters than face him again.

"Syn-"

"Not now Adam, its fine." I snapped, hurt over the entire mishap. I'd killed today and while everyone else thought it was okay-I had to live with it forever. They could pretend it didn't happen, me on the other hand-I had her soul inside of me now. I'd been basically dry humping the Dark Prince and it was not something I wanted to talk about.

We walked into our apartment building in deafening silence. I couldn't bring myself to say more than "I'm fine," I'd grown up with Adam and Larissa. They were the closest thing to family I had. It hurt to hear that they only stayed beside me because of it, but what hurt the most was Adam had stayed in the coven instead of moving on to study war-craft as he had wanted to. That knowledge sat heavily on my heart.

He had wanted to be more than just a tech guy for me, but he'd stayed because I was reckless and a loose cannon. Okay that was a little harsh. I wasn't a loose cannon-I just didn't take s.h.i.+t from anyone.

"Syn, we need to talk about this." Adam said as we entered the ancient elevator to our floor. It creaked loudly and just as I was afraid I would be stuck dealing with the problem of the truth, the alarm went off.

"Sorry, I just can't deal with this and the Prince in one day Adam. I need to go in and check on Larissa anyways. See you tomorrow?" I mumbled already heading out of the elevator back into the stark white dreary lobby.

"Don't you have to meet up with pretty boy tomorrow?"

I groaned, "Yeah, thanks for reminding me."