Chapter 14 – Fallen and Found

Iron and Wildflowers

Liam’s POV

The sunlight was a nuisance, poking through my eyelids and interrupting a perfectly good dream. A delicious warmth clung to me, and I felt the remnants of my sleep, a wispy phantom of something sweet. Eyes still closed, I stretched, enjoying the play of muscles beneath my skin. That’s when I noticed it – a gentle fragrance, like wildflowers after a spring rain.

I blinked my eyes open, squinting against the brightness. A figure hovered above me, a vision in soft light and gentle curves. Chestnut hair pulled back in a ponytail, revealing the elegant line of her neck, a few strands framing a face that could launch a thousand ships to war. Her eyes, the color of a summer sky, held a hint of concern. I felt a thrill of recognition, of ancient magic stirring within her. I could see the faint glow of her power, a halo of golden light that shimmered around her like a second skin.

A saint, I realized with a mischievous grin. What a delightful surprise.

“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” I purred, my voice thick with sleep.

Before she could respond, I reached out, my fingers closing around her delicate wrist. I pulled her closer, savoring the way her eyes darkened with surprise. Her lips were slightly parted, a silent invitation I couldn’t resist. A surge of energy crackled between us, her saintly glow mingling with my own Fae magic. I pulled her closer, the scent of wildflowers and sunshine filling my senses.

It was like tasting lightning, a burst of warmth and sweetness with an undercurrent of something wild and untamed. Her lips were soft, yielding beneath mine, and I deepened the kiss, my tongue tracing the seam of her mouth. A sweet sigh escaped her throat, and a thrill shot through me, a mix of triumph and pure, unadulterated desire.

Her body pressed against mine, a symphony of curves and angles. I could feel the rapid beat of her heart, a rhythm that echoed the chaotic dance of emotions swirling within me. For a moment, time seemed to stop, the world narrowing to just the two of us, the taste of her, the feel of her.

Yes, this saint was a most delicious surprise. And I intended to savor every moment.

Oh, the taste of the forbidden fruit! She was a spitfire, pushing me away with those gorgeous eyes blazing. Such spirit! But then, a burly demon hunter interrupted our moment and grabbed me by the collar. Honestly, can’t a Fae have a little fun?

“I must have mistaken her for an Iele,” I purred, playing up my disorientation. “You know how it is after a long night of revelry.” The demon hunter didn’t look amused. Oh well, his loss.

Then she said her name. Kate. It rolled around my tongue like sweet nectar. This was going to be fun! I let my magic flow, just a taste, a hint of the wonders I could offer. But of course, the demon hunter interfered again. Buzzkill. But the challenge was on. I couldn’t resist a little competition.

“Well, Kate,” I purred, my eyes dancing with playful desire, “who will it be? The brooding demon hunter or the charming Fae prince?” The choice was hers. And oh, the possibilities!

Before she could respond, the air around us grew tense. I suddenly sensed a chilling energy, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I glanced around, searching for the source, when a deeper, more authoritative voice cut through the tension.

“Step away from her, Fae.”

I turned, my eyes narrowing as I saw a man in his late forties, with an air of command about him. He held an iron blade, its edge glinting in the morning light. Ah. Iron, the bane of Fae, a silent threat hanging in the air. The scent of cold, sharp metal filled the air, clashing with Kate’s sweet fragrance of wildflowers.

The man moved with the confidence of someone who had seen many battles, his posture exuding both strength and experience. “Leave her alone, or you’ll regret it,” he warned, his voice steady and uncompromising. His eyes were like steel, piercing through the space between us, and his aura was one of authority and experience. Every line on his face told a story of hardship and resilience, and his grip on the iron blade was firm and unwavering.

The younger demon hunter tightened his grip on my collar, his fury barely contained. “You heard him,” he hissed, his voice tight with barely suppressed rage. “Get lost.”

A thrill of defiance surged through me. “Oh, I do enjoy a fight,” I purred, allowing a flicker of magic to dance around me, a subtle display of power. I could feel the power coursing through my veins, a heady mix of anticipation and thrill. The energy crackled in the air, a silent promise of what I could unleash. “But I think you’d find it rather difficult to make me leave.”

With a swift twist, I freed myself from his grip and took a step back, raising my hands in mock surrender. “Let’s not be hasty, gentlemen. I’m sure we can resolve this without resorting to violence,” I said, my voice smooth despite the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

But they weren’t in the mood to negotiate. The young hunter lunged at me, his sword gleaming in the morning light. The metallic tang of iron filled the air as it sliced through the space where I had been standing a moment before. I dodged, my movements fluid and graceful, and countered with a burst of Fae magic that sent him stumbling back. The magic crackled in the air, a soft hum that resonated in my bones. The older hunter was quick to join the fray, his strikes precise and powerful, the iron blade a dangerous threat to me. Two against one – how unfair. The blade’s edge seemed to hum with a deadly intent, a reminder of its power against my kind.

The clash of steel and magic filled the air, each of us moving with the willingness to kill. I relished the thrill of the fight, the charged energy coursing through me. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline fueling my every move. But as much as I enjoyed the dance of battle, I had no intention of letting them overpower me. The prospect of claiming her was too sweet to let go, and the challenge only fueled my desire.

But just as the conflict reached its peak, Kate intervened. She stepped forward, her presence radiating an aura of raging authority. With a raised hand, a shimmering barrier of light blossomed between us, forcing us apart. The display of her raw power was breathtaking, a reminder of the untapped potential she possessed.

I gently pushed with my own powers against hers, probing, and could feel the surge of energy as her barrier held firm, separating us and preventing further conflict. My desire for her only grew, the challenge of winning her over becoming even more enticing. Her power was a flame, drawing me in, and I could taste the promise of her potential like the sweetest nectar.

“Enough,” she said, her voice steady but laced with frustration. Her eyes, narrowed with determination, dared us to defy her. “This ends now. Or I’ll make it end.” Easy there, love. Threats like that can be such a turn-on.

The demon hunters exchanged wary glances, their hands still gripping their weapons. The sweat on their brows and the heaving of their chests told me they were not eager to continue the fight. Reluctantly, they stepped back, though their eyes remained fixed on me, ready to strike at the slightest provocation. The intensity in their gazes was like a physical weight, pressing down on me, but I reveled in the challenge. Ah, well. There’s always next time, I suppose.

I gave them a slow, mocking bow, a grin spreading across my face. The taste of victory was tantalizingly close. “Very well, Kate. I respect your wishes.” My gaze lingered on her, filled with promise and intrigue. The connection between us was undeniable, and I knew she felt it too. “For now.”

I turned and began to walk away, but not without a final, lingering look at Kate. “This isn’t over,” I murmured, my voice a silken promise as I disappeared into the shadows of the castle with a predatory smile.

From a distance, I watched them retreat from the Knight’s Hall, frustration simmering beneath my playful exterior. The scent of iron still hung in the air, a metallic reminder of our recent skirmish. I couldn’t enter their safe house without an invitation, a frustrating limitation of my kind. But patience was a virtue I had in abundance.

As the morning sun climbed higher, I perched myself on the rooftop of a nearby abandoned building, the perfect vantage point to observe my unsuspecting prey. The hunters were as vigilant as ever, their movements sharp and alert. The younger one, in particular, couldn’t seem to tear his eyes off Kate. Ah, young love. So predictable, so delightfully stupid. Watching the hunters pace around like caged animals was mildly entertaining, but I needed a bit more amusement.

I closed my eyes, extending my senses outward, a spider spinning its web of awareness. The gentle breeze became my plaything, bending to my will. It danced around the safe house, slipping through cracks and under doors, carrying snippets of conversation back to my ears.

“What exactly was that earlier?” Her voice was a mere wisp of sound, tinged with a mixture of confusion and something else… Fear? Longing?

“Why did he… do that to me?” A delicate blush crept up her neck as she lost herself in the memory of our encounter, her teeth grazing her lower lip in a subconscious reenactment of our kiss.

Oh, she remembered. Good.

“If you think that was me ‘doing something’ to you,” I mused to myself, a predatory grin spreading across my face, “you haven’t seen anything yet.”

The way her voice hitched on the last word, the way her fingers unconsciously traced the outline of her lips… it was all music to my ears. She was enthralled, intrigued, and utterly captivated. A pawn in my game, perhaps, but a pawn with the potential to become so much more.

Do that to you? I echoed her words in my mind, a chuckle rumbling in my chest. That was a mere whisper of my power, a tantalizing taste of the intoxicating depths that awaited her. I had barely scratched the surface of the pleasure I could offer, the ecstasy I could unleash within her.

The thought of her reliving our stolen kiss, her senses still tingling with the echo of my magic, was a potent aphrodisiac. It fueled my desire, ignited a burning need to possess her completely.

Oh, she was a challenge, this saintly little human. But I had never backed down from a challenge, especially not one as alluring as this.

I would peel back the layers of her innocence and awaken the fiery passion that lay dormant within her. She would be mine, body and soul, and the world would tremble at our union.

“That was a Fae, Kate,” the younger demon hunter, Cyrus as I’d heard him called, spat, his voice tight with barely concealed annoyance. “A self-absorbed, manipulative creature of magic who preys on the innocent. He was clearly drawn to your power.”

From my rooftop perch, I rolled my eyes. “Preys on the innocent”? Such melodrama. I prefer the term “enlightens the uninitiated.”

A muscle twitched in Cyrus’s jaw as he continued, his tone edged with a possessiveness that amused me. “He used his magic to try and… seduce you, to cloud your judgment and gain your trust.”

A surge of outrage ignited within me. Seduce? That hardly did justice to the symphony of sensations I had awakened within her. But the flicker of jealousy in Cyrus’s eyes was undeniable, and I couldn’t help but relish it. It was almost as satisfying as Kate’s breathless surrender in my arms.

“He preyed on your vulnerability,” Cyrus continued, his voice laced with a protective anger that made my skin crawl. “He wanted to use your power for his own selfish gain.”

I rolled my eyes. Selfish? Perhaps. But who could blame me for wanting to claim such a delectable prize? Besides, wasn’t the young demon hunter doing the same thing, albeit in a more… subtle way? The way he hovered around her, his every move radiating possessiveness, was hardly a secret.

“You need to be careful, Kate,” Cyrus warned, his voice softening as he reached out to touch her arm. “Fae are cunning creatures, masters of deception. Don’t let him fool you.”

I narrowed my eyes, annoyance flaring. The little whelp! Don’t let him fool her? I was the only one offering her true freedom, a taste of the intoxicating power that lay dormant within her. Cyrus and his ilk wanted to keep her caged, to use her light for their own petty battles. I, on the other hand, wanted to set her free, to show her the exhilarating heights she could reach with me by her side. I had merely been offering her a glimpse of the pleasures that awaited her, a taste of the Fae world’s delights.

Their voices continued to murmur, weaving a tapestry of Fae lore and cautionary tales. I listened intently, gleaning tidbits of information that might prove useful later. It seemed the young hunter was determined to play the role of the chivalrous protector. How endearing. And how utterly inconvenient. I shifted my position on the rooftop, my gaze hardening. This little love triangle was proving to be more complicated than I had anticipated. But that only made the game more enticing. After all, what’s a little competition between rivals?

I crept closer to their safe house, my fingers tracing the intricate patterns of the magic barriers, testing the perimeters of their defenses. With each step, I probed the magic barriers, feeling the energy hum against my fingers. I pressed my palm against the invisible shield, marveling at the craftsmanship. Whoever created these knew their craft well, and it annoyed me to no end. I ran my fingers along the barrier, feeling the subtle pulsations of energy. It was a blend of ancient and modern magic, layered and interwoven. Impressive, but not impenetrable. A mischievous grin spreading across my face. “Impressive,” I murmured, a spark of admiration in my eyes, “but not enough to keep me away from my prize.” They clearly hadn’t met a Fae like me before.

As the morning turned to midday, I settled in my newfound abode. From here, I could see over their fence into the garden of the house. The sun climbed higher, and I needed to keep myself busy. Watching the hunters and Kate was entertaining, but I needed more.

The hunters were diligent, their vigilance unwavering. The younger hunter’s obsession with Kate annoyed me. He hovered close, always ready to intervene, his eyes burning with an intensity that spoke of something deeper than mere duty. I had seen it before, countless times over my long life. Beings, human and otherwise, becoming enthralled by the touch of a saint, unable to resist the allure of their healing light. Their powers were like a potent drug, and once tasted, the craving could be insatiable.

Saintly powers had that effect. I remembered the stories of old, tales of kingdoms and empires that rose and fell based on their proximity to a saint. Even now, many religions still worshipped saints, their followers desperate for a taste of that divine energy. The younger hunter’s obsession was a classic case, a vivid reminder of the power Kate unknowingly held.

I licked my lips with a smirk, remembering the tantalizing sweetness of her power. Her allure was intoxicating, a blend of euphoria and serenity that could turn the strongest will into putty.

The way the young hunter’s gaze lingered on her, the slight tremor in his hands when she was near – it all pointed to an addiction, one that could be exploited. I had witnessed it during their training session later that day, where he would stand a bit too close, his breath catching as she created a barrier. His fingers would twitch, as if yearning to reach out and touch that divine radiance, but he restrained himself, only adding to his inner turmoil.

Kate’s saintly powers were delicious, an undeniable draw, but my reasons for wanting her went beyond mere attraction or the allure of her energy. I had a personal feud with the demons, one that had driven me here to Romania. My encounters with the Iele had merely been a distraction, a way to pass the time while I searched for a purpose. I had been drifting aimlessly for the last fifty years, a Fae without direction or cause, longing for redemption. Kate’s appearance changed everything. She was a beacon, a chance to reclaim what I had lost. If I could claim her for myself, it might be enough to redeem my past actions.

As I moved soundlessly across the rooftop, concealed by my glamour, I couldn’t help but eavesdrop on the unfolding drama below. Cyrus, the lovestruck hunter, was making a passionate plea to the older hunter. “Today’s incident proves I’m needed here,” he insisted, his voice tight with emotion. “You can’t make me leave.”

The older hunter remained unmoved, his tone calm but firm. “Your place is elsewhere. We need reinforcements, and you know it.”

A smirk tugged at my lips. So, there was discord in their ranks. A promising crack in their united front that I could exploit. This tension was an opportunity, a weapon to be wielded in my pursuit of Kate.

“Why won’t you tell me who?” Cyrus demanded, his voice rising in frustration. Ah, a secret. This just got even more interesting.

“It’s not important right now,” the older hunter replied, his tone dismissive.

Oh, but it is, old friend, it most certainly is. Every secret is a tool, you see, and yours just so happens to be a shiny new chisel in my ever-growing kit.

I watched as the older hunter moved with the practiced ease of a seasoned warrior, his gaze sweeping the surroundings for any sign of danger. The lines etched into his face and the well-worn iron blade at his side spoke of countless battles fought and won. He was a formidable opponent, no doubt, but even the most experienced hunters have their vulnerabilities, and I intended to uncover his.

The tension between the two hunters crackled in the air, a silent battle of wills playing out beneath their heated words. It was a fascinating dynamic, one I could certainly manipulate to my advantage.

This hidden information, this whispered secret… it was a seed, one I planned to nurture and cultivate into a beautiful bloom of distrust and division. Their argument raged on, fueled by frustration and simmering anger. The young hunter’s hands trembled, barely able to contain his fury, while the older one maintained his stoic facade. But beneath that calm exterior, his eyes betrayed a hint of something more – a secret knowledge he kept tightly guarded.

Their secrets were my weapons, and I was armed to the teeth.