Chapter Two

The Forest of Divination, Faerie

Fawn

I looked in the mirror, turning this way and that. I felt sexy as hell and secretly wondered what Fallon would think. Geez... I need to stop with that already.  A pale pink suede crop top was paired with soft, low-rise, pale pink suede pants that laced up. The softest white suede boots with pink fringe encased my feet. My aunties would have had a fit. I’m surprised they let Freya leave it for me.

The contrast of the light clothes against my tan skin made me feel great. My blond hair hung in loose curls around my shoulders and my bangs in a side sweep. Poppy and Tilly had applied makeup. Soft, warm tones and a little gold. Then added some mascara that highlighted my blue-grey eyes.

I felt like an Indian warrior princess. The way the pieces were sewn together is what made it. I wore the amulet, and it sat on a short gold chain at the hollow of my throat. It was small and dainty, but the girls said it was powerful, they said they could feel the magic in it, but I couldn’t feel anything. A gold arm cuff circled my arm, and I thought Freya had excellent taste, and I wished I had met her.  

“Alright, let’s blow this joint!” Tilly said with her hands on her hips, tapping her toe. Poppy flew from where she was fluffing one of my curls to sit on my shoulder. “She’s right, you know. You’re just procrastinating in here because you’re scared of Fallon and his sexy growling noises.”

I shot her an appalled look. “Am Not!”

“You so are.” Said Tilly rolling her eyes."

“Am not, but you’re right; it is time to blow this joint.”

I strapped the gold daggers to my legs and slung the matching bow and quiver bag over a shoulder. I also had a sword strapped to my back. “Locked and loaded, ladies. Let’s roll.”

Poppy beamed a smile at me."I can totally see it! You look just like Avian. So beautiful, a warrior fae princess, stolen to be one of Odin's shield maidens."

"How does that even happen? I thought Odin literally gave life to his Valkyre daughters." I threw up my hands. This was all so confusing.

"No. He plucked the best of the best off battlefields across the nine realms. Only the most beautiful and most deadly. He imbued them with some of his essence. They are mighty beings possessing a huge amount of magic, and they didn't just pick warriors to join Odin's Valhalla like the mortal myths say, either. They fought battles when he wanted to play in the fate of the nine realms. Your mother was rebellious and did as she pleased; she left Asguard to fight for her people in the battle that took her."

I swallowed hard. It used to bother me that the aunties wouldn't say much about my mother, but I thought, well, I thought they probably loved her, and it must be hard for them. 

"You knew my mother, Poppy?" I fiddled with the laces on my pants. I felt weird, raw, I guess. 

"Not personally, acquaintances, you could say. She was lovely, Fawn. I could see why a male would brave Odin's wrath to be with her. She wasn't just lovely, though. She was fierce. There was constant warring going on in those days. Your mother was famous for her bravery and skills." 

"Do you know or have any suspicions about who my father might be?" I asked.

She smiled sadly, "No, there was never even a rumor of a lover. She spent most of her time training, and she ignored her admirers at court functions." 

I nodded, feeling disappointed. Then I thought of something. "Well, I told you two about that part of lunch, but I forgot to mention that Noble said something about me hitting fae puberty. So, erm, what is he talking about?"

Tilly spoke up, "We'll give you the birds and the bee's chat later. Right now, we've got to get a move on."

My mouth dropped open."Birds and the Bees? Guys, I know what sex and babies are!" 

 Poppy snickered, "You know what the mortal birds and bees are, but not the fae version. You're going to blossom soon little faeling, and I'm not talking about growing some boobies. It looks like you grew those out pretty well already, anyway. Tilly is right though, Fallon is going to come looking for you if we don't head out."

We should have spent less time admiring my gifts from Freya. I could have been getting some answers—dream or no. I'd like to know what's going on. 

I felt it when he noticed me because the air became charged, and I heard the girls giggle before they flew ahead of me to perch on Arryn. Tilly made a show of fanning herself.

I pulled up all the confidence I could muster. I’ll be honest here. It was a lot. It must be the getup and possibly Poppy's words about my mother. I felt like Aphrodite on a catwalk as I walked to Fallon, and he watched me the entire way. I held his eyes when I stood in front of him, not giving away any weakness. He ran his fingers through his hair when I stopped about two feet in front of him. I gave him a million-watt smile. “So, what’s the plan, your majesty?”

He was staring at my mouth but looked into my eyes at that and grinned. “The plan is I take you home with me, my faeling Queen." and then he smiled wide.

Dazzled, I had to exert some brain cells to focus as he went on. "Vicious introduced me to Arryn, and I have her saddled up and ready to go. The guardians have stocked us with provisions, but it’s only a day’s ride. If we don’t stop often, we should arrive around midnight.”

“Okay then, fairy man.”

“It’s fae man or male, but you could just call me your sexy mate,” he shot back with an arched brow.

“Sure thing, darlin,” I winked.

I headed over to Arryn and the girls and felt his eyes on my ass as I walked away. I grinned. Oh, poor Fallon, you have awoken a monster, literally.

I spoke to Arryn as I rubbed her before mounting. Tilly and Poppy flew around me, and Poppy made a meow sound as she mimicked a cat clawing. “Stop,” I whispered. “Oh, he’s not looking right now. He’s talking with the guardians.

I turned then to see him walking away from the guardians and over to his beautiful black horse. I wondered if his horse was a unicorn also.

He had mounted and was trotting over to me when I noticed the shadows. They were zipping around trees, as I glanced around, I noticed they had us surrounded. I told the girls to hop in the saddlebag, and they did so without hesitation.

Fallon drew his blade. “Stay within the Guardians!”

“I can take care of myself. Don’t worry about the little faeling. She has some skill." I winked.

“Don’t act recklessly; you're still mortal right now,” he commanded with a hard edge to his voice.

I put on a fake shocked face, “I wouldn’t dream of it, darlin.” 

He looked like he wanted to order me again, but there wasn't time.

They were getting closer and weaving along with the trees, ground, and branches, seeming to get thicker, bringing darkness to the forest. I saw white wildlife of all sorts, from rabbits to stags to horses, all running for the hills. Then I heard loud booms, and the ground shook with each one. Terrified, I turned to see what else was coming. I almost peed my pants when I saw giants. I mean Jack and the Beanstalk giants! They were huge, and they were …my Guardian gnomes?

I didn’t see that coming... Guardians huh? I grinned.

The shadow men or whatever they were started appearing everywhere. Stepping out of shadows and rushing at us. They had dark grey skin and were muscular. Black eyes with no white and some grey armor that didn't look like clothing but something they manifested from their body. Just like the ones in my nightmare!

See, I knew if I talked about it, it would come back! I should have kept my mouth shut.

 Mischief stood directly over me, swiping any that got close to me. The other guardians who were now also freaking giants... I'm still mindblown, were stomping shadow men everywhere,  squeezing them into a cloud of weird black dust that flew everywhere, and tossing them away from Fallon and me.

Fallon was lopping off heads, and he knew what he was doing. He was skilled, and none had come close to hurting him so far. It looked like he was in the middle of black dust bombs exploding everywhere.

One popped in behind him, and he was distracted by another trying to stab his horse. Just as the monster was about to throw a dagger, I shot him in the neck with an arrow, and he went down, but he wasn’t dead. I’d have to deal with it later. I kept shooting and testing which one might be a kill shot for these things. It’s the brain. I got one through the eye, and he disintegrated like the others. I had killed around ten more when I saw that Fallon was finishing off the ones I had only injured, and no more unexpected visitors were coming in for a visit. 

Mischief let me walk Arryn out from under him. Then I looked around at the badass guardian squad and Fallon.

I grinned, "Well, fellas, I guess I... Wouldn't like you when you're angry!... Hulk! Smash!" I said as I held out my fists and brought them together in my best Hulk imitation. Fallon looked like he was trying not to laugh, but it escaped anyway.

Tilly and Poppy flew out of the saddlebag spreading their tinkling giggles around. Well, it started out tinkling, but Poppy snorted, and glowing pixie dust flew out of her nose. Then it got out of control. 

The Guardians all shrunk back to Gnome size. It was fast! Shoop! They were small again, and black dust showered everywhere.

"Eww, is that Shadow court guts in my hair!" shouted Tilly, "Gross!"

"It's Shade shit alright!" said Poppy fluttering her wings to shake it off. "That was just wrong on so many levels," she said, glaring at the Guardians.

They didn't look bothered in the least by Poppy's glare. 

I felt a little vomit in my throat and looked at Fallon. "So, do you happen to have a shower in this castle you're taking me to?"

"Something like that." he winked.