Page 4 of Veiled

The corners of my lips tilted.No one.

Prince Shea.Two hundred years later

It was supposedto be a missionary expedition to find allies to continue strengthening the new Seelie court. I didn't expect to find a beautiful, raven-haired Goddess, and, in my confusion, I didn't realize that she was more than a mere mortal. It wasn’t my intention to conceive. I laughed darkly, how many men have said that? Gaia, I was pitiful.

I hung around for days, creeping into the nursery window. Each time, I looked down and my breath caught. She was gorgeous. A beautiful, perfect baby girl with dark hair, as dark as the midnight sky. I shed a tear knowing that her hair would soon be as white as snow. The timing was just right, and I had helped conceive the child the Seelie court had been waiting two hundred years for and I had to make sure she would always be protected.

I couldn’t imagine giving up so much, just to lose more. I tentatively reached in to caress her face. Her mother named her Hudson and somehow, the name was rather perfect.My dear, sweet Hudson, beyond the veil you will be safe. I’ll do everything I can to ensure it, with protectors in the shadows, and protectors in your very own heart. You’ll never be alone, I swear it. Little Riona of Fheall, you’ll be the strongest, I’ll see to it.

I looked at her one more time before disappearing into the night. This will be the last time I see her in person for a long time; but in my heart, I knew that my daughter would be the sunshine, moon, water, and the fire. She will hold within herself two opposing explosive forces and she will bring evil to its knees; for only those who understand the darkness, but choose the light, are able to lead.

“Hush, little baby, don’t say a word. Daddy’s gonna hide you in the mortal realm. When it’s time for you to be Queen, hush, little baby, it’s all been foreseen.”

PART I

20 Years a Child, 20 Years Running Wild

“Standing at the edge of dreams

Beneath my feet, they shine

eyes cold and beautiful

bathed in storm and moon

Inhuman eyes that draw me near

I rise

Against my own free will

A pit in my stomach

Aches as if poisoned.

I am drawn,

Against my trembling fear

A sound in my ears

Deafens all reason.

I cannot move

I cannot speak

My soul is snared

My power faltered

Seized by fear and gripped with malice

A trap is set, and I am captured”

Storm Faerywolf

“Fuck no! When you said I could choose my college, I wasn’t under the impression I would be disowned by doing so.” I’m furious, beyond, actually. X, my cat, snarled next to me. She always got upset when I did. I honestly think she would’ve eaten dear old dad had I given her the chance. Okay, cat was a loose term, she was actually an all-white mountain lion. She had followed me home one day from the zoo, and well, Dad had to pay a lot of money to keep the zookeeper quiet. A lot of magic users had familiars, but, well, my baby is more like a super one.