Page 7 of Destined

Instead of heading to the barn for horses, however, Ryan took her to one of the rental trucks.

“We could have Titan shift into bike form,” she said as he opened the door for her. “He’d be quicker, and if you change your mind about riding horseback…which I’m guessing you won’t.”

Ryan shook his head as he helped her in. “’Tis not a time for Titan or any of the herd to be with us.” When she started to ask why he touched a finger to her lips. “Please, my lady, no more questions until we reach the grove.”

She slid onto the passenger seat, and he closed the door.

They took a dirt road from the camp to a nearby gated property. The headlights splashed across a faded sign for a tree farm, but she didn’t recognize the company name. Ryan climbed out and used his crystal to open the gate, which closed silently behind them once they’d passed through it.

The road narrowed to a grassed-over trail flanked by dense, overgrown trees. Though she couldn’t make them out in the darkness, the smell of citrus hung in the air. From the look of the moonlit land it hadn’t been worked in ages. They passed an out building, its heavily rusted tin roof barely supported by three rotted timbers—and ivy growing from a neighboring tree.

The trail ended at a spread of huge oaks. They had grown together, their long, twisted branches entwined with each other. Something like Spanish moss hung like drapery from the canopy to the ground, but it glowed golden instead of gray, and grew in geometric shapes, like crystals.

“It’s beautiful,” Kayla said, as she climbed out and started to walk toward the trees. But she was brought up short by a big hand on her arm. “What’s wrong?”

Ryan picked up a stone and tossed it in between two of the oaks. The golden moss seemed to come alive. It blasted thousands of tiny, glittering thorns at the rock while it was still in mid-air. It dissolved into dust.

She blinked. “I thought this was supposed to be a safe place.”

“It is one of our old, sacred places,” he told her. “It was created so long ago that the enchantment and the Fae who cast it are unknown to us. It is believed that the magick of this place will remain unchanged until the end of time.”

Kayla felt even more confused. “Why bring me here?”

“The grove will not assault either of us, and I will tell you why once we have passed through the boundary protecting it.” He touched her cheek. “You have only to trust me, Kayla love.”

Kayla rubbed her face against his palm. “That was never in question.”

Despite his reassurance, passing under the glittering attack moss made Kayla cringe a little. Happily not one thorn came flying at them. When they emerged on the other side of the trees, she stopped in her tracks. She gaped at what the ancient Fae had been protecting.

Immense oak trees had been magically shaped into an enormous living pavilion. Rootlets wove together to make an intricately-patterned floor, from which a circle of chairs grew. She peered at the golden cushions on the seats of the living furnishings, and saw they had been woven out of the attack moss. A natural spring-fed rock pool occupied the center of the pavilion, shaded by dwarf tangerine trees full of ripe fruit. It was not nearly as large as the underground crystal city of Tarman, but it felt much older.

“Do you think someone lived here?” she murmured to Ryan as they walked toward the steaming pool.

“We believe ancient Fae used it to parlay with their enemies. The grove nulls any spell brought within its boundaries.” He released her hand and walked to the other side of the pool. “The moss also attacks and repels every living thing except those of pure Fae blood.”

“What?” Kayla said, backing up a step. “But I’m not.” She glanced quickly at the grove around them. “Why doesn’t it react to me?” She stared at Ryan. “And why are you standing over there?”

“I brought you here because I knew it would not, and for the next few moments ’tis better I keep my distance.” He gestured at the pool. “Look at your reflection.”

Kayla cautiously approached and glanced down. She yelped when she saw her hair. She reached for her ponytail, dragging it over her shoulder to stare at the bronze and copper streaks that had appeared. As she flipped it back she felt the edge of her ear, which was no longer curved but subtly pointed. She then saw her fair skin had gone snow-white, and had acquired a faint glow.

“You said magick doesn’t work here.” She held up her hand, saw the difference in the smoothness and texture of her flesh, and still couldn’t believe it. “So what did this to me?”

“Naught but the end of the curse cast over you, likely at your birth.” Ryan gestured around them. “Had I known you carried it, I would have brought you here at once. All of us assumed Tara had been cursed to appear as mortal, but it was done to you, Kayla.” Her eyes went wide. “You are not half-mortal. You were cursed by your Fae parents in order to protect you. No one would suspect a mortal child to possess such power.”

“Power?” Kayla said, as she felt something rising inside. It was so pure and light she half-expected to start floating in the air. “You mean the healing ability, and the telepathy with Fae animals.”

Ryan shook his head. “You are the spellsinger, love.”

Chapter 5

KAYLA LAUGHED. “NICE one. Okay, I might be part Fae, or even all Fae. But I’m definitely not a singer of any kind. I’m tone deaf.” When he didn’t react to that she frowned. “Oh, come on. You don’t believe me? I’ve never sung a single note.”

“You have, but you cannot hear it. Spellsingers are deaf to their own songs.” He touched his neck. “When you healed me in the crystal cave I heard you singing under your breath. I didn’t make anything of it at the time because I thought you were humming, and believed you to be mortal.”

“I didn’t hum,” she said, scowling and shaking her head. “I never hum. I just have a healing ability. Super cool to be sure, but not spellsinger level.”

“When you healed Gavan, and later Wallace, we all heard it. You sing so fast and so low ’tis like listening to a hummingbird’s wings.” He hesitated before he added, “You have one ability to share the minds of horses and dragons. Now we know you also possess this healing ability.”