The Fae Ring Read online

  Table of Contents

  Other Books by C.A. Szarek

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  About the Author

  The Fae Ring

  Highland Secrets Trilogy

  Book Two

  By

  C.A. Szarek

  The Fae Ring

  C.A. Szarek

  Highland Secrets Trilogy

  Book Two

  All rights reserved

  Copyright © April 2014, C.A. Szarek

  Cover Model: Cara Rohloff

  Cover Photo and Art Copyright © 2014, Lindee Robinson Photography

  Cover Design and Series Imprint Copyright © 2014, Danielle Styles

  Edited by Fiona Campbell

  Paper Dragon Publishing

  North Richland Hills, TX

  Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including, but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Paper Dragon Publishing or the Author.

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-941151-06-8

  Print book ISBN: 978-1-941151-07-5

  Published in the United States of America

  First eBook Edition: May, 2014

  First Print Edition: June, 2014

  Other Books by C.A. Szarek

  Highland Secrets Trilogy—Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

  The Tartan MP3 Player (Book One)

  The Parchment Scroll (Book Three) Coming 2014!

  The King’s Riders—Fantasy Romance

  Sword’s Call (Book One)

  Love’s Call (Book Two)

  Fate’s Call (A Novella from the World of the King’s Riders) Coming 2014!

  Crossing Forces—Romantic Suspense

  Collision Force (Book One)

  Cole in Her Stocking (A Crossing Forces Christmas)—FREE read!

  Chance Collision (Book Two)

  Calculated Collision (Book Three) Coming June 6, 2014!

  Collision Control (Book Four) Coming October 3, 2014

  Anthologies

  Deep in the Hearts of Texas—FREE read!

  Story: Promise (A Crossing Forces Companion)

  Dedication

  For my husband, Shane. Even though this one doesn’t have cops and robbers. I write because I am, and I love you even more for understanding.

  Chapter One

  The waves crashed over the rocks with violence, but that was fine with Janet.

  It fit her mood perfectly.

  Frigid air buffeted the MacLeod plaid around her shoulders, but she didn’t hold it tighter to protect herself from the gooseflesh that rose on her bare forearms and the back of her neck. Her hair flew in her eyes. Once again, she ignored the bother.

  Shivers from the bite in the air chased each other down her spine, but Janet didn’t care if she froze. She’d regret it later, most likely.

  “Ye’ll catch yer death,” many an older MacLeod would scold. She could see the concern in their eyes.

  “Jesu,” Janet muttered.

  She smirked. If anyone overheard her cursing like a man, she would’ve been admonished for sure.

  If one more person asked her, “Are ye all right, lass?” she was going to scream.

  Or…hit someone.

  Violence was much more Alex and Duncan than it ever had been Janet, but…

  Her brothers might be her first and second victims.

  They were driving her crazy with their concern, as much as with their open affection for the women they loved.

  And their wives…Janet loved them. She really did.

  But both were expecting.

  How am I supposed to handle that?

  Where was her place?

  How—where—did she fit in?

  She wanted to shout to the whole clan—father, brothers, cousins, even MacLeods that weren’t direct blood—“Leave me be, I’m fine!”

  But am I?

  Her father had never married her off. Suitors hadn’t knocked down the doors, either.

  From the time her mother had gotten sick, Janet had run Dunvegan. She’d been thirteen, and the twins twenty.

  Then their mother had passed. Janet had been barely six and ten.

  She’d instantly been made the Lady of the castle—and the Clan.

  Her father had never remarried, so her duties had continued even when her brother Alex—eldest of the twins—had assumed the role of laird a few years ago after their father’s health had demanded it.

  Now Alex had his lovely Fae princess wife—Alana. They’d married ten years before in secret, but she was finally in the Human Realm with her man and young lad, Angus. Now their second bairn was on the way.

  Alana hadn’t been living at Dunvegan for very long. Although, it was no wonder the couple was expecting. They weren’t shy about their love for each other. Everyone teased Alex that he couldn’t keep his hands off his bonnie wife. They’d lived apart for years, their relationship hidden to all except Janet, Duncan and their father so the public kisses in corridors were no surprise.

  A year ago the King of the Fae, Alana’s father, had kidnapped Alex when he’d discovered his daughter had married a human. Janet’s brother had been starved and held hostage for six months.

  Duncan, the younger twin, had scoured the lands and the sea—not to mention all of the islands of the Hebrides—to find the Faery Stones, the magical gateway into the Realm of the Fae.

  Magic.

  Janet shook her head.

  Before Alex’s confession about Alana, right before their son was born, Janet had never believed in faeries. Just old Scottish legends.

  Although it was Clan MacLeod lore that the blood of the Fae ran through their veins. Two or three hundred years before, a Fae princess married the laird.

  Her father swore by the tale.

  She’d never believed.

  If she’d not seen her nephew work magic, she still might not. Angus, who was almost ten, had lived with them at Dunvegan his entire life.

  Janet had raised the lad from the time he was a few hours old. She’d actually helped bring her nephew into the world. She was close to the lad, and didn’t regret caring for him, but she’d made sure he knew she was not his mother.

  That smarted a bit.

  She didn’t want to claim him for her own, but she very much wanted a child. A man to look at her the way Alex looked at Alana, and Duncan looked at Claire.

  Bairns. We’ll have two.

  Claire was also expecting. Their first child would be here in less than three months, before Alex and Alana’s. She’d only been with them for six months, but she was already a MacLeod. Everyone loved her. She was family, as much as Duncan or Alex was to Janet.

  Family.

  Janet had it in spades.

  She loved them, but her heart ached with envy.

  Guilt rushed up from her stomach, because her feelings weren
’t right. Janet couldn’t justify ill feelings no matter how hard she tried.

  That just made her feel worse.

  She didn’t have a husband. Or a bairn on the way.

  At six and twenty, what man would want her now? Even though she still had her virtue, Janet wasn’t a pink-cheeked innocent little lass with stars in her eyes.

  And she’d never been tiny or petite like Alana or Claire. Janet was too tall, too broad-shouldered. Wide-hipped.

  She sighed.

  Water crashed against the rocks, stirring the cold air around her even more.

  Awareness of someone’s eyes on her prickled her up spine. Janet glanced over her shoulder, but he wasn’t looking her way.

  Xander was looking toward Dunvegan, the stronghold of her clan. He held his broad shoulders tight, his back straight despite the fact one of his knees was bent, perched on a boulder.

  The former Fae Warrior was kin to Alex’s wife, and he’d been living in the Human Realm since Alana had fled her father.

  He could read minds, Janet had been told. So he spent much time alone.

  The Fae man had to be the most handsome she’d ever seen. His hair was so pale blond it was almost silver. Eyes that were deeply hued, more violet than blue. Xander was tall, perhaps an inch or so more than her brothers.

  When he’d made the decision to live with humans, he’d cut his braid, or so Alana had explained. He was no longer a Fae Warrior, but anyone who looked at him could see he was built to fight.

  Janet had rarely seen him smile.

  The wind shifted his short locks. Xander’s expression was hard, and he exuded dark emotions.

  She stared, studying his strong profile. Janet couldn’t tear her eyes away.

  Her heart missed a beat.

  Perhaps Xander was as lost as she.

  He still didn’t look her way.

  It’s for the better.

  I cannot help myself, let alone another.

  Janet sighed and turned back to the water.

  Chapter Two

  He watched her from a distance. Concerned she was too cold, but Lady Janet stared into the rough waters without notice of anything else—including his presence on the rocky outcropping above her.

  The sea was as stormy as her expression this morning.

  Xander adjusted the sword at his waist and rested his booted foot on a boulder. He couldn’t tear his eyes from the lass. Didn’t need his cousin Alana’s empathic magic to know how Lady Janet was feeling.

  The question was: why?

  The sister to the Laird of the MacLeods—his cousin’s husband—was usually jovial. Rarely seen without a smile. Lady Janet was take-charge and strong, as well as beautiful. Her dark hair only made her sapphire eyes more obvious.

  Instinct told him to go to her. Make her smile.

  Odd. Where’s that coming from?

  Xander squared his shoulders and shook his head, turning toward the great castle looming in the distance behind him.

  Nothing was amiss at Dunvegan.

  His current location prevented him from hearing the clash of swords, but the MacLeods were training in the bailey. He’d watched for a while, but Duncan and Alex MacLeod had their men under control, instructing, sparring, and taking bets as men did.

  Xander clenched his jaw. He’d been sworn to protect Alana for life. He and the princess—former princess now—had been linked.

  But where was his place here?

  She didn’t need his fighting skills. Her husband was strong—physically as well as in his position as laird. He had plenty of men—kinsmen and men-at-arms—to defend his family and castle.

  Not to mention the laird’s twin brother, Duncan. The man acted as Alex’s second in everything. Captained the men who fought for them as well.

  Besides, without Xander’s wings and with his diminished magic, what good was he?

  Awareness washed over him and he glanced back down to the beach. Lady Janet still studied the crashing waters in the bitter chill, but she’d been looking at him. His gut told him so, even if she was not at the moment.

  He watched her skirts whip around her legs. The plaid around her slipped from one shoulder, but she made no move to grab and wrap it around herself.

  Xander frowned. If it weren’t Lady Janet before him, he would’ve been able to pick up her thoughts. For some reason, she was the only human he couldn’t read. Mind reading was his only magic that wasn’t affected in the Human Realm.

  Unfortunately.

  Humans didn’t have the ability to consciously hide their thoughts, so the conversations in his head were constant.

  Torture.

  Spending time with Alana and Angus was the only peace he had. Alana helped center him, and could cast a spell to help him deal with it, but Xander wouldn’t ask that of her again. He’d needed her magic for the first few weeks in the Human Realm, but no more.

  He was strong. Needed to adapt.

  Xander’s lot in life had been chosen from the moment he’d accompanied Alana. He’d cut his warrior braid and sealed his fate.

  He’d remain with humans for the rest of his long life.

  Most Fae were not immortal, but they lived two—sometimes even three—times longer than humans.

  It wasn’t known if being away from the Fae Realm for extended time would change that.

  Only time will tell.

  He was more than his magic, he knew that well, but he couldn’t help but envy his cousin and her lad. Alana’s royal blood gifted her with powers he couldn’t even fathom. Her magic was varied and concentrated, and not affected in this realm. Angus, being half human, had less than his mother, but every day he was coming into his powers more.

  Xander had been a fool to take magic for granted.

  When the wind carried what sounded like a sob to his ears, he locked his gaze onto Lady Janet.

  The lass is crying?

  He startled when his wings didn’t respond, destroying his intention to glide down to the beach. His spine tingled and no magic responded.

  Gods, you should be used to that by now.

  Xander shook his head.

  It doesn’t matter.

  He wanted—no, needed—to make Lady Janet feel better.

  Xander didn’t question the urge.

  His jump down to the rocks and sand wasn’t with as much finesse as he would’ve liked, but he felt her gaze before he met it.

  She didn’t smile, and for some reason, his heart stuttered.

  He needed to see the curve of her full mouth.

  Why?

  Despite living in the same place for the past six months, he didn’t know her well—hardly at all, in fact. She was sister-by-marriage to his cousin, and a lady.

  Xander kept an appropriate distance. As he would have from a Fae of her station had he still been home. His rank amongst the warriors had been high, but still not the same class as a noble. His mother had been a princess—until she’d married his father, the winged captain of the King’s Royal Guard.

  His father had his own prestige of course, but King Fillan had not wanted him as a match for his sister. They’d married in secret and bound themselves in magic as well as love. It couldn’t have been torn asunder without either—or both—of their deaths.

  Because of his value to King Fillan, Xander’s father had been forgiven—eventually.

  His mother never was.

  The king did not consider him nephew, only warrior. And had used him as such.

  Alana had never obeyed her father, and had always kept Xander close. As children, caretakers gave up on trying to keep them apart. The princess wouldn’t mind governess or magic tutor. The queen had never fought to separate them, so Xander had been permitted the same lessons as Alana.

  Childhood memories flitted through his head.

  Home had changed.

  Home was now the Human Realm.

  Home was with the MacLeods.

  Don’t think of what is lost.

  Janet was no longer looking
his way as he approached.

  Xander lifted the plaid that’d slipped off her shoulder and wrapped her in it. He watched his hand as if it were not his own. He’d never reached out to her before.

  Big blue eyes met his gaze and she wiped her cheeks. “Thank you, Sir Xander, but that’s no’ necessary.” Lady Janet’s voice was thick and laced with sadness.

  His stomach fluttered but he forced a shake of his head. “I don’t want you to get cold, lass.”

  One corner of her mouth shot up. Her dark locks whipped around her beautiful face and it took all he was made of not to touch her, tuck her hair behind her ear.

  Her cheeks were flushed from the chill, but tears were no longer streaming down. “I’m fine, but thank you, Sir Xander.”

  “Just Xander.” His voice cracked, so he cleared his throat. He wasn’t a knight in the Realm of the Humans.

  She nodded.

  Xander stared at her mouth, although he chided himself for it. He couldn’t hear Lady Janet’s thoughts. Calm washed over him as if she’d cast some sort of spell. Because of his gift, wondering what someone was thinking was uncommon, but definitely not an unwelcome change.

  If this lass was like Alana and Angus, he should spend more time with her.

  Peace.

  Xander wanted peace.

  He’d been lacking it since coming to the Isle of Skye.

  “Are you all righ’?” Her voice jolted him.

  Xander straightened his shoulders. “You’re crying, yet you’re asking me if something’s wrong? I should ask the same of you, my lady.”

  A bitter laugh greeted his ears, and Lady Janet shook her head. “I beg of you, please doona’.” She blushed and looked away.

  He frowned and again fought the urge to touch her. “As you wish.”

  Lady Janet’s head shot up, her sapphire eyes wide. “Tha’s it?”

  He cocked his head to one side. “What?”

  “You won’t…push me…like they do?” She gestured to the far-off castle.