“Shade, she is my half-sister. We share the same mother. Our mother was a human Fire Elemental Witch and my father was also. Her father was a Faery. A powerful Sidhe Faery. Vange is quite powerful, but we share many of the same powers. She is immortal, but I am not.” Jade sighed, rubbing at her forehead again. Willing the headache pounding in her temples to recede.

Shade sat back in her chair, chewing on her lip as she played the conversation over and over in her head. Everything was quite possibly true. Yet it all seemed so unreal, so impossible. She listened to the others quietly breathing and shifting in their seats as the silence hung thick and syrupy in the air.

“Does she know who I am mom? Does she know I’m your daughter?” Shade watched her mother open her pretty, tiger brown, colored eyes at her. Her grief filled them and gleamed with the edge of tears.

“I don’t know, Shade. I don’t believe so. If she did, she would have come here and taken you long time ago.” She studied Shade’s face. Her eyes lingered, taking in her features as if it was the first time they had ever met. Her gaze slipped down to the necklaces dangling around Shade’s throat. Reaching out she fingered the amulet of Santiran Water, which dangled with her memory charm; a flower carved in jade.

“Where did you get this magic? I can feel it vibrating under my skin like ice cold water.” Jade inquired. Shade reached up, unsnapping the necklaces and dropped them into her mother’s hand.

“The water in the ampoule is from the Santiran Fountains. I can wield water with it. The other is a memory charm. Soap told me to get one in case a Faerie attempts to charm my memory away. So far, I think it’s working. No memory is missing from me!” She chuckled nervously but stopped as she watched her mother study them. She seemed so engrossed; she was barely listening to Shade.

“Mom?” Benton reached out and nudged Jade’s arm.

“Hmm?” Jade pulled her eyes away from the charms and handed them back to Shade. “I see. You must be quite powerful Shade. I have never known anyone who could wield water and fire, Fey or human alike.” She sighed. Her exhaustion resurfaced on her face as she reached out to sip on her coffee. “I know this is a lot to take in sweetheart. I must ask you to do something else before you are even ready. You too Benton.” She turned and stared at her son, almost not recognizing him for a moment.

“What is it, mom? What do you want us to do?” Benton stood up at that moment, eager to sprint into action.

“Shade, Benton, you need to help me with a protection-barrier spell. Tonight.” Jade said as she stood up. She straightened up and now looked at the group with determination in her eyes.

“What do you mean a protection-barrier spell? I don’t know how to do one of those, do you Shade?” Benton’s face fell at hearing the word ‘spell’. He had expected something more physical than metaphysical. Shade shook her head as she turned towards her mother.

“What do you need us to do mom?” She joined her brother, wiping her sweaty palms on her jeans as she looked down to her mother who was serious and ready for whatever else was coming.

Jade finally smiled up at them, a twinkle of pride spilled into her eyes. “Okay, well, let’s get started then.”

Chapter Eighteen

THE SHIELDING AND protection spell had been more draining than Shade had initially thought it would be. She rubbed her arm where a still sensitive pink line lay as the only evidence of what she had contributed to the spell. The flesh wound burned where she had used her dagger to drag its blade across her skin, letting her crimson, warm, blood drip along the large perimeter circle her mother had traced with salt. Shade and Benton had walked along the trail sprinkling drops of blood along it, strengthening the spell their mother chanted as they proceeded behind her around the grounds of the house. Shade was thankful that they were not close to any neighbors in her neighborhood. The nearest house was a few blocks away, and they were in no danger of being seen or heard.

Lucky for us, Shade thought, or we’d look pretty darn crazy out here waltzing around the house bleeding all over the place!

She sat on a tree stump in the front yard, moving one of her little brother’s bouncing balls around with her sneaker. The sun hung low in the afternoon sky, sending a slight chill into the autumn air. Shade rubbed her arms, wishing she had brought a hoodie out here with her to keep her warm. The tree stump was big enough for one other person to sit on it, which is exactly what Soap was thinking as he plopped down next to her.

“Hey gorgeous,” he winked at her as she turned and smiled back at him. He still made her stomach flip when he shined his glistening green eyes at her. She pulled her gaze away from him, feeling slightly guilty about her feelings for him and Dylan again. Her heart lurched at the thought of Dylan missing from her life. It threatened tears at the back of her eyes, making her blink faster in hopes of keeping the tears restrained when Soap reached over and rubbed her back. She tensed for a moment but relaxed, feeling the warmth spreading from his hands across her back. She felt the cold slip away, and the warmth embracing her like fire.

She turned towards him, surprise filling her face. “I didn’t know you could do that, thank you,” she said softly. His face was calm and remained still as he gazed back at her. His eyes were full of things unsaid. Desire swirled in his irises, and flared them to an iridescent emerald.

She felt the heat radiating from him like the sun, almost sweltering in intensity. She liked how it felt. She had to admit that much, but her confusion hit her like a swift kick in the head.

Shoot, shoot, shoot, thought Shade.

She wanted to give in and let his magic envelope her, and to hold on tight. How could that be so bad? Plus, what if Dylan didn’t come back? She had spent more time lately with Soap than she ever had with Dylan. Even so, her heart was holding on to Dylan’s steel grey eyes, which remained emblazoned in her mind. The way he would look at her had told her all she needed to know about how he felt about her. That alone was what stopped her from running into Soap’s awaiting arms. Something about Dylan had her holding on to his memory so tight, that it made her feel unfaithful when she let Soap embrace her.

Soap’s strong arms circled her shoulders. His lips dangerously close to her face as he breathed her in, letting her hair tickle his nose and cheeks. Shade gulped, afraid to ruin the moment by letting her feelings overtake her.

“I’m a Changeling remember? I burn just like a Teleen, but I can control the heat I emit much better than they can. They just torch things. I can make someone feel cold or hot and anything in between. Um, Shade?” He waited for her to answer him, but was met with silence. He sucked in a deep breath as he continued. “Shade, II know you’re in love with Dylan. I can see that much. But I’m here and he’s not. I’m here, and I would never leave you like he did. I promise you that.” His soft voice sent shivers down her spine as she let her head rest against his chest. He smelled like pine and sage. The comfort he gave her made her bite down on her lip to hold the well of tears threatening to explode.

“I can make you happy. I love you so much; it feels like a dagger in my heart to see you suffering because of him. Why won’t you let me in Shade? We get along great, and I’m sure Dylan can’t crack a joke like me. Who’s gonna make you laugh like I do?” Soap ran his fingers through her brown hair, letting the smooth waves slip through his hand, gripping his skin as he touched the length of it. He turned his face into her hair, inhaling the sweet honeysuckle smell of her shampoo. He wanted to remain in that moment forever. Breaking contact with Shade would be a torment he could not endure.

“I don’t know if I can do this.” Shade whispered. “You saw how I hurt Dylan by kissing you. I–I just don’t know what to do.” There, she said it. She really didn’t know what to do. She loved both of them. Dylan’s extended absence had taken a toll on her. She had thrown herself into the teachings of her grandmother, weapons training, and anything to keep her mind off of him. She hadn’t let her mind wander to him as much anymore because it seared her so painfully inside that she would burst out crying any moment. But she didn’t want to be sad anymore. She didn’t want to hurt anymore either. Her grandmother’s death and Dylan’s absence was the worst thing to happen to her yet.

Pushing the thoughts from her mind, Shade tried to feel more at ease. She felt peaceful resting on Soap’s chest as his embrace warmed her chilled bones. She let the moment continue, afraid to break the spell of its comfort.

She finally sat up, letting the warmth of his arm slip away. Sighing as she looked into Soap’s ever expectant eyes, she hated not knowing why a twinge of fear knotted in her chest.

“Okay, I’m not promising anything, but we can see where this goes, okay?” Shade held her breath as she waited for his answer, her eyes scanning his face while looking for clues of his feelings. She felt the flutters in her stomach once again as she saw his jeweled emerald eyes light up again as his grin grew across his face.

“Wow, that’s just awesome! You won’t regret this. You have no idea how happy you just made me!”

“Wait.” Shade licked her lips as Soap paused, his face frozen in a half grin. “You have to promise to tell me everything, especially what Dylan meant back at Ursad’s castle.”

“Yes, Shade, of course.”

“And if this doesn’t work out, I don’t want you to hate me. You are special to me and I don’t want to proceed if I risk losing you. Will you still come around, even then?” She pressed her lips together so hard, they were turning a pale white. She almost didn’t want to hear the answer to her question. She just knew that if she lost Soap too, she would lose her mind.

“Yes, Shade, I would still want to come around. I could never hate you.” He reached over and held her chin in his hand. The sweet wave of warmth spread across her face from his rough warrior hands. Weapons training had been hard on her hands too. His were as callused as a Faery’s hands could get. Hardly anything affected the softness of their skin. She reached up, placing her hands over his and pulling him closer, letting his arms embrace her again.

“Wow, I really am in a bit of a shock Shade. I’ll make you so happy!” Soap exclaimed while hugging her. He lifted her up and swung her around, letting his contagious laugh ring out across the yard. Benton ran out the front door, looking alarmed, but frowned as he saw them spinning in the front yard.

“Do you have to be so freakin’ loud? I thought something happened! Keep it down. I’m talking to Mom!” He scowled at them and stomped back into the house, not wanting to watch their sickening embrace any longer.

Shade’s face flushed red seeing her brother catch them. She wiggled loose from Soap’s hug, but did not let his hand go. Shaking her head, she turned towards Soap and laughed aloud again. She liked how she felt. Feeling happy for a moment in time, though not long, felt exhilarating.

*****

DINNER HAD BEEN more than interesting. Jade had given the fridge a shake of her head before deciding to order pizza. Since Camulus had left before their big talk earlier, only Soap remained to eat dinner with the entire family. Jade eyed him several times during dinner while also glancing at Shade. It was no mystery why he was staying. She just didn’t know what to say to him.

The silence became a little too much to bear for Shade. She chased a bit of pizza down with her coke and caught her mother staring at Soap again. “Mom, can you please stop staring at us? What is the matter? Do we have sauce all over our faces?”

Startled, Jade straightened up and frowned at Shade. “I was just trying to see what the heck is going on around here. First I start remembering things that I should have known all along, and I desperately want to know why I couldn’t before. Then your brother becomes a pyromaniac, setting things on fire in the garage, so I have to keep fire extinguishers around…”

“Wait, you did?” Shade interrupted as she turned, giggling at Benton.

“Shut up! I was trying my powers out!” He grumbled as he stuffed another bite into his mouth.

“Don’t interrupt me, Shade! Now, I won’t have you treading in and out of Faerie like some Fairy Princess, oblivious to the dangers in there. And with who knows what powers you’ve inherited to keep under control. Let alone bringing one of them here! When is he leaving?”

“Mom!” Shade dropped her half eaten slice down on her plate, glaring up at her mother. What the rampage was about, she hadn’t a clue. “Did you forget I’m one of them too?” She stood up, letting the chair fly back onto the floor. Everyone else sat stunned at the table, including Soap. James fidgeted in his chair, but began to pick the pepperoni off his pizza, and started flinging it at Benton.

“Stop you little brat!” Benton gave him a little whack, but pulled away as Jade’s voice boomed in.

“Both of you stop that right now!” She pushed away from the table and also stood, staring back at her daughter. “I know perfectly well what you are Shade. That doesn’t mean that I don’t love you. It’s just…” She pointed her slender hand towards Soap, his face serious now as he watched her, glancing at Shade for a moment. “He is one of them, Shade. Faeries don’t care how you feel! They’re not human like us! He’ll steal your heart and won’t give it back. He’ll trick you until he gets what he wants and then leave you all alone!” The tears flowed down Jade’s face as her sobs exploded from within. She sank back into her chair with her head in her hands. Her body shook as she cried. Her lonely wailing echoed in the room as the rest of them sat stunned, not knowing what to say or do.