Page 26 of Rebel Fae
“That’s probably enough,” Regina said with a roll of her eyes.
“But I haven’t even gotten to the good stuff,” Becca complained.
“Okay, then,” I said, cutting her off. “You go, Regina.”
“Nothing to tell that you don’t already know,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
She appeared paler than she had earlier, less healthy. Maybe the paltry amount of blood they’d given her was already wearing off. I did not know how much blood a vampire needed, nor did how to get more if it came to that. Our last hunt didn’t go so well.
“Regina, if you want to get out of here, we need to work together. I don’t like it either, but...” I tried to offer her a sympathetic smile.
She didn’t reciprocate, but she began speaking. “I’m a vamp, as you know. I was turned 30 years ago, which makes me 48, but my body is frozen at 18. Joy. I drink blood, but I don’t attack humans. Not unless I am put in a desperate situation. I was a human, all members of my family still are, so I’m not a monster. What they claim I did to get me locked up is a total lie. I’m here because of a bunch of lies and fabrications. Oh, and I hate the sun so this is super fun for me.” She glared up at the blue sky and scowled. I noticed she still held her newly healing arm delicately.
I nodded at her appreciatively, but I was growing concerned. Nothing that they were saying was revealing anything about a likely location for the key, and the day was waning. Already the sun was directly overhead, beating down on us without mercy.
“Bael, it’s your turn,” I said, trying to take the attention off Regina for the moment since it was clear it pained her.
He blinked as if surprised anyone would ask him. He was sitting in the shade of a tree near the bench, the shadows of his crows’ wings pooling on the ground like two ink spills. His long, pale violet arms wrapped around his long legs. “I don’t think telling you about myself will help this situation,” he answered quietly.
“I don’t think that’s true, Bael,” I offered. “We all have something to contribute.”
He sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. “I’m a Khurynian which is a type of fae who was nearly eradicated by the Unseelie King, theblaigeardOberon, may he writhe in eternal agony beneath the Dome of Tears.”
He spoke his words like a curse, the anger flaring in his normally peaceful eyes. I had known the Unseelie hated the Khurynians, but I had thought they’d both fought viciously, ruthlessly, against each other. To hear Bael tell it, Oberon slaughtered them. Was everything I’d known about Bael’s kind a lie? I wondered if his presence here had anything to do with my Aunt Kiana and Oberon.
“Is that all?” Becca asked Bael. “How old are you?”
He shrugged. “We do not mark our years like humans do.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?” she asked, tilting her head and smiling. Was she flirting with Bael? He was twice her size and not even her species, but then, that hadn’t stopped me and Vaughn. Inwardly, I flamed red and fought the urge to glance at the shifter guard.
“Ronnie?” I asked, hoping he might have something useful to add and to distract from my newly stirred up emotions which I had no business having.
Ronnie gave a warm smile, reminding me again how young he was as his cheeks dimpled. He tilted his head until we could see his warm brown eyes behind long black lashes. “My name is Ronald Booth. I grew up in Colorado. I’m fourteen. I’m adopted, but not upset or angsty about it or anything. I’m about a year away from earning my Eagle Scout badge. What else?” He screwed his mouth to the side.
“You’re great at magic,” I added.
He gave a shy smile. “I love magic. It’s seriously the best thing in the world.” As he said this, he twisted his fingers and lifted several small pebbles from the ground. He twirled his hand, and the pebbles coalesced into a rough horse shape, which he sent galloping across the lawn until it hit a tree and disintegrated.
Becca giggled. Regina lifted an eyebrow. Vaughn stood up.
“Magic,” he said.
“What?” I asked.
“Magic. Ronnie can do magic. Can you use a spell to bring the key to us? Bring it here like you did those rocks?” He stood up excitedly.
Ronnie’s face grew contemplative. “I do mostly badge-earning spells, but maybe.”
“Well, try,” Vaughn said, encouragingly. Everyone else nodded along, hope returning to the group once more.
Ronnie smiled awkwardly, shrinking down a bit as everyone stared at him. “I’m not, like, that good at magic. You should see my dad. He can teleport whole basketball teams without even blinking.”
“Try,” I said encouragingly. “It’s better than nothing.”
Ronnie shrugged and shook his hands out. When he held out his fingers, we all watched expectantly, leaning closer.
“No offense,” he said, “but you guys are making me nervous.” It was clear that was true. Sweat had beaded on his lip and damped the fabric at his underarms.
