Skirts & Swords (Female-Led Epic Fantasy Box Set for Charity) Read online

  Finn lifts my chin for me to meet his golden amber eyes, and his voice is angelically soft when he speaks.

  “You need to calm down, Mel. Breathe slower…in and out. Come on, you can do it.”

  I listen to his words and I do as he says. His soothing voice lulls me back down and he pulls me into his arms and holds me tight.

  “That’s it, Mel. You’re doing well,” he says while rubbing my back.

  He looks at Calista and demands in an urgent tone, “I need to know what’s going on. I can tell it involves me, and you need to tell me…now!”

  My mind goes numb and I no longer hear their words when my guardian’s voice enters my mind filled with concern.

  “I heard your thoughts, Meliantha. Could it really be true?”Ashur asks.

  “I believe so, Ashur. I feel so ashamed and violated. All those times when we…when we…” I can’t seem to finish my sentence because the thought of voicing it makes my body cringe with anger and disgust. I can’t believe I never said or did anything about Finn’s blackout episodes.

  “You don’t need to say it, Meliantha. I’m sure Finn’s going to be extremely angry when he finds out.”

  I sigh, “I know, and that’s what I’m afraid of.”

  Finn pulls back, hands on my face, and leans down to kiss my lips. His lips feel warm against mine, but I can’t seem to feel any comfort in them. I break away from the kiss and he gives me a hesitant smile before wiping the tears from my face.

  “All right everyone.” Calista grabs our attention and looks back and forth among the four of us. “Go to the cottage while I get Ariella and Merrick. We have to figure everything out immediately.” She turns to walk up the path in the direction Ariella and Merrick went while playing in the snow.

  I know my voice is going to be shaky, but I speak anyway.

  “OK, let’s get out of the cold and figure out what’s going on.”

  I grab Finn’s hand and we only have to walk a few yards before we get to the cottage. We walk up the steps to the small front porch and Ashur opens the door to let us enter. The living room is warm and cozy making my body instantly relax, but that is not what catches my attention when I look around the room. The room smells amazing with the scents of faerie flowers. Everywhere in the room there are vases filled with the millions of different flowers we have in the Summer Court. I wonder who did it all.

  “I believe Kalen did it, Princess.”

  I jerk my head around to glance at Ashur and he gives me a faint smile.

  “How do you know that?” I ask.

  “I just do.”

  Well, isn’t that just cryptic? I roll my eyes at him and I look out the window to see Calista carrying Merrick in her arms with Ariella following alongside her. I see them talking so Calista must be filling Ariella in on the events of what just happened.

  “Are you going to be OK?” Elissa asks me while taking my hand.

  She squeezes my hand tight and I squeeze hers back while giving her a gentle smile.

  “Yes, Elissa, I’ll be fine,” I assure her. Why don’t you and Ashur pick out a room and rest before the ball?”

  She nods her head slowly and complies, “OK.” Elissa kisses my cheek and heads off down the hallway to find a room. I don’t know how many rooms are in the cottage, but I’m sure she will have plenty to choose from.

  “Ashur, I want you to stay with Elissa while Calista and I sort this out,” I insist while turning to acknowledge him. He bows his head and his lips tilt up slightly. I know he’s happy about my request, but I can feel he’s hesitant to leave me alone. He knows I don’t want them to be in here when Calista and I speak with Finn.

  The door opens and Ariella walks in first and heads straight for me. Her long, platinum blonde hair is soaked and her translucent blue eyes can’t hide the fear and worry emanating from them. Her boots squeak across the wooden floors as she closes the distance. She gives Finn a long, hard look while wrapping me in her arms and whispering urgently in my ear, “He’s after you this time, isn’t he?”

  The thought of it should terrify me, and it did in the beginning, but now all I feel is anger and disgust for being played like a fool. The dark sorcerer has already violated me one too many times, so what’s the worse he can do now? I’ll be ready for him when he makes his move.

  I hold onto my younger sister and I can feel the power flowing through her body. She’ll be twenty-one in another few months and there’s no telling how much her power will grow then. I hate keeping the secret of my healing capabilities away from them, but now that I know the dark sorcerer has been spying on me it’s a good thing I haven’t said a word. I look over Ariella’s shoulder at Calista and she motions with her hand for me to hurry up. She’s holding Merrick in her arms and the poor little thing looks tuckered out. I let go of Ariella so I can look at her face.

  “Yes, he’s after me this time, but I don’t want you to worry about me. I’ll be fine,” I encourage her. “Can you take Merrick into another room while Calista and I speak?”

  “Of course,” Ariella says while nodding her head. She walks over to Calista, takes the sleepy Merrick into her arms, and ventures off down the hall.

  Finn is impatiently tapping his foot up and down on the floor waiting on Ariella to leave the room. Once she is gone, he looks back and forth from Calista to me expectantly.

  “Alright, we’re alone now. What the hell is going on?” Finn demands.

  “There’s something on your body that is laced with black magic and we have to find it, now!” Calista answers urgently.

  Finn’s eyes go wide as he takes in a sharp breath. I think he realizes the dire situation we are in. He backs up slowly and lowers his gaze. He looks distraught and it makes my heart ache for him. I can’t imagine how it would feel to know my body was being taken over and used in a sick game of charades. There are so many emotions flowing through me that I don’t know which one to hold on to. If the dark sorcerer fooled us all these years, there’s no telling what things he has done without our knowledge.

  Finn is shaking and clenching his hands into tight fists of fury. I take a couple of slow steps toward him, but he abruptly turns around to put his back to me.

  “I’m so sorry, Mel,” he whispers. “Did I ever do anything to hurt you when he was in my body?”

  Thinking back there were times when he did get a little rough during our intimate moments, but telling him that would just send him over the edge. I don’t want to hurt him like that.

  “No, Finn. You never hurt me,” I whisper back.

  We need to find the magical object and get rid of it. That way the dark sorcerer can never take over his body again. The dark sorcerer can imitate him, but with all of our powers combined in one place, I don’t think he’ll be able to fool us. Being around my sister feels like it’s magnified my power to a whole other level.

  I could feel the dark sorcerer’s presence more when Calista was around. I’m starting to think that we’re more powerful together than apart. This concept is definitely something we need to discuss.

  Finn gently pulls away and turns around to face me. He looks down at me with his sensual amber eyes and draws me tight against his body. I wrap my arms around his waist and I lay my head on his chest.

  I can hear the deep rumble of his voice when he asks Calista, “What could I possibly have on my body that would have been spelled by the dark sorcerer?” He lifts the arm that has his golden band circling his bicep and continues, “I’m not wearing anything other than my clothes and this golden band I received as a gift from Durin, the dwarf leader when Mel’s arrows were deliver-ed.”

  I stand back abruptly to take a look at his gold cuff. It was supposed to be a gift from Durin, but Durin didn’t deliver it, one of his people did. I knew I found it odd that Finn would receive such a gift. It never made sense, but now that can only mean one thing...there’s a traitor in the dwarf kingdom!

  “It’s the cuff! Finn, take the cuff off!” I yell appre-hensively. As long
as he has it on his body, the dark sorcerer can take him over. He slides it off quickly and it falls to the floor with a heavy thump. We all freeze in place and stare at the gold band lying helplessly on the floor. I want to take it and rip it to shreds, but I have no idea how to destroy it.

  “Finn, would you mind getting me something to wrap it in?” Calista asks.

  “Yes, Your Highness,” he says and quickly sets off in search of something to use. When he’s out of sight Calista grabs both my arms in desperation.

  “Mel, this is really bad news. He’s played games with you for five years now. He could have taken you multiple times. Why would he do that?” she asks, confused.

  “I don’t know, but I could tell earlier that Kalen could feel that something was wrong around us, and when you came in sight the feelings intensified. I think with us together it makes us stronger. You felt how fast the evil disappeared when you looked at Finn the way you did. I’m beginning to believe the dark sorcerer wasn’t expecting us to be stronger together,” I state.

  At my mention of Kalen, she furrows her brows and purses her lips.

  “Speaking of Kalen, what happened between you two? I thought things were going great for you at the wedding. One minute you look like you’re in love and the next you turn into Xena the warrior princess with a heart of ice.” She pauses and then continues to look at me skeptically when she continues, “The reason why I’m asking is because I’m concerned for you, and Kalen has wanted to know for years why you denied him.”

  What? Kalen wants to know why I denied him? That doesn’t make any sense. He’s the one that turned me down.

  “When did you talk to Kalen?” I snap.

  “Right before you arrived he told me he came to visit you and you denied his visit. Why would you do that when you were obviously in love with him and him with you?” she retorts back.

  I guess I can’t keep the past hidden forever. I didn’t want to have to tell anyone of that horrid visit, but I know Calista will understand. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. When I open my eyes Calista’s gaze is filled with wisdom and sorrow. She’s known pain and loss. I can’t believe I was too afraid to confide in the one person that’s always been by my side.

  “Kalen came to visit me right after your wedding and said some real terrible things to me. He said I was too timid for his tastes. He broke my heart into a million pieces, and I vowed to never fall for a man like that ever again. I don’t know what he told you, but that’s what happened and that’s what fueled my persistence to change.”

  She looks at me confused and shakes her head.

  “He never said anything about talking to you.” She bites her lip and looks around the room mumbling, “Something doesn’t feel right about this. If the dark sorcerer fooled you once, who’s to say he hasn’t done it before, maybe with...Kalen?”

  Thinking back to that day, things did feel a little odd and detached with the way Kalen was acting. Could it have been the dark sorcerer who visited me that day? He can’t take over any of the royal’s bodies, or at least he used to not be able to. Now that he has Calista’s power we’re not sure what capabilities he has. If it was the dark sorcerer being Kalen that day, then that would mean the real Kalen wasn’t the one who denied me. How could I have been so stupid? I should have known something was wrong that day.

  “Do you really think it could have been the dark sorcerer impersonating Kalen?” I ask Calista, hopeful.

  She looks at me like I’m crazy and rolls her eyes when she says, “Mel, the dark sorcerer has been screwing around with you for years. Hell yeah, I think it was him. Kalen would never have done that to you.”

  “What am I going to do now? I’ve spent the last five years hating him for nothing,” I cried. Feeling weak, I find the closest chair I can and fall into it. Resting my elbows on my knees, I cover my face with my hands in hopes of being able to think.

  Calista kneels in front of me, takes my hands away from my face, and holds them in my lap.

  “You’re going to talk to Kalen, that’s what you are going to do,” she answers.

  I can hear Finn fumbling around in a room down the hall, so I take the chance to quickly confess to my sister. I whisper quietly, “I felt the connection, Calista. As soon as I saw Kalen, I felt it and I know he did, too. It blasted through my body with such force that I could barely stand. It feels the same way you said your connection with Ryder felt like.”

  She closes her eyes and sighs while hanging her head. This wasn’t the reaction I was hoping for.

  “Why are you acting like this? What’s going on?” I demand.

  She lifts her head with a sad look in her eyes. I can tell she’s keeping something from me, but what? My hands start to sweat and I can feel my heart pounding. I’m beginning to get frustrated with all the secrets and lies being flown my way.

  “There’s something you should know,” she begins, but stops when Finn enters the room carrying a thick black towel. Damn it, why couldn’t he take a few minutes longer? I need to know what Calista was going to say.

  “Do you think this towel will work?” Finn asks Calista while holding it out to her.

  She gets to her feet and accepts the towel.

  “Yes, Finn, this will work. Thank you.” He bows his head in reply and comes to stand by my chair. Calista walks over to the gold band lying on the floor and picks it up using the towel making sure her skin doesn’t touch it. I know I’ve touched it before and I’ve often wondered why the metal always stayed frigidly cold even after being on Finn’s warm skin all day. It never made sense until today. The cuff is filled with the essence of black magic and there is nothing warm about that.

  “I’m going to get Ryder and Kalen and tell them everything. We need to inform King Madoc and Queen Mab as well as our parents to let them know we need to be on our guard tonight.” She looks directly at me and commands, “You stay here with Finn and Ashur. I don’t want you going anywhere by yourself, understand?”

  She’s treating me like the scared Meliantha from the past. I’m not that girl anymore and to be treated like it infuriates me.

  “You don’t need to treat me like a baby, Calista. I can take care of myself now if you haven’t noticed,” I say angrily. Her face falls at my outburst, so I soften the next words I speak. “I appreciate your concern, Calista, but I’m not stupid. I know to stay here with Finn and Ashur, and I didn’t need you to have to tell me. What I need you to do is stop underestimating me. Can you do that?” I don’t want to be mean to her, but I need her to be fully aware that I can take care of myself. The dark sorcerer is after my power this time, and I plan on being ready.

  Calista looks back and forth between Finn and me, and with the band wrapped up and in her hands, she turns to head down the hall. A few minutes later she’s back with a sleeping Merrick in her arms and Ariella following in her wake.

  “What about the ball tonight, Calista? What are we going to do about that?” I ask quickly. If the dark sorcerer is here, he’s bound to try something malicious.

  She gives me a faint smile and answers hesitantly, “The ball is still going to happen and as long as you’re not alone, you will be safe. Rest for now, sister, and I’ll see you tonight.”

  Dealing with the dark sorcerer can’t be easy for her. I know it’s been five years, but the traumatic events she went through during her capture are bound to leave scars on her soul. I may not have been captured and watched my best friend die, but knowing the dark sorcerer has had his way with me intimately has left some deep wounds on my essence as well.

  Calista and Ariella leave quickly and I’m left alone with Finn. My time with him may be coming to a close if what I suspect is true about Kalen. If he’s the one I’m supposed to be with, then I have to let Finn go. Standing before me, Finn’s face displays an array of emotions making it hard for me to tell what he’s truly feeling.

  He takes my face in his hands and sighs heavily before pleading, “Mel, I can’t begin to express how sorry I am. You
know I would never hurt you. Please don’t let this come between us.” He takes a deep breath and leans his forehead against mine.

  I can hear the anger rumbling in his chest when he adds, “If the dark sorcerer ever, ever lays a hand on you again, I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make him regret it.” Finn is a very strong warrior, but I don’t think his ability for air and wind is going to damage the dark sorcerer. I’ll never tell him that, but it warms my soul to know that he’ll risk his life to go up against the dark sorcerer to protect me. I would also do the same for him. I may not be in love with Finn, but the thought of being without him or losing him to death will be an extreme agony.

  I kiss his cheek softly and I look at him with sheer determination.

  “I know you would do that Finn, but if the dark sorcerer tries this again, it will be me that makes him regret it. He’s toyed with me for far too long.”

  He tilts his lips up in a slow smile and chuckles.

  “Of course you would, Mel. Why don’t we rest for a while before getting ready for the ball?” He looks down my body and his eyes take on a lusty glow when he adds, “I can’t wait to see you in your dress tonight. I bet you’re going to have all the men demanding to dance with you.”

  My eyes go wide at the thought of my dress. I’m sure everyone’s going to have something to say about it. I wonder if Kalen is going to be one of those men to ask for a dance, and if he is, what am I going to say to him? I have a few hours until the ball, so I’ll worry about that when the time comes.

  I smile sweetly at Finn and tease, “I’m pretty sure I’ll be dancing with you most of the night. You are, after all, my date.” His eyes sparkle and I laugh. “Come on, let’s go find a room and relax. I’m sure tonight is going to be eventful and we’re going to need our rest because of the long journey here.”

  We walk through the kitchen and down the hallway to find a room. There are so many to choose from, so I pick the first door I come to. I open the door and inside is an immaculate king size bed with a light purple comforter. Actually, everything in this room is purple, and there are flowers everywhere. Did Kalen do this for me, too? If he did, I think he went a little overboard with the purple. It is still beautiful, though. Finn walks past me into the room and begins to take off his warrior armor; however, he doesn’t stop there. When he’s done taking his clothes off, he lies down on the bed naked and pats the area beside him.