Page 36 of Within the Veil

Yet, I can't always help the flutters in my belly as I second-guess myself. I know this is my destiny, written by the fates, but as I sit here, my hands wringing together, I cannot stop the overwhelming sentiment that maybe the fates chose wrong.

Still, I take a deep breath and let my eyes roam as I observe the many Fae before me, my chest flutters, and my muscles tense as the urge to protect rises at a breakneck pace.

I watch as Fae of all shapes, sizes, and species, all work and play together as they go about their own business, some tending to the gardens they love to speak of. I smile faintly as a group of Pixies let off a shrill chorus of laughter as they frantically chase each other for a game of tag, darting in and out of the trees with lightning-fast speed. I watch as a group of younger faeries practice their own combat skills off the training grounds; their movements precise, controlled, and fluid in a way that is uniquely Fae.

Several of my soldiers walk around the village, alert as they survey the area for any potential threats, armed to their very tipped ears with a varying amount of bows, arrows, knives, and swords. Every one of them moves with a sense of purpose, every step in their formation precise, and yet... their eyes sparkle with joy, matching the slight smiles on their faces as they look upon the children and their people with love and pride in their eyes.

Those smiles are echoed right back to them because, despite the sense of urgency in the air, there is also a dichotomous feeling of peace and harmony within the town. And as the wind weaves through the trees, the leaves dance to the song of hope that plays deep within the very souls of The Seelie Fae--A song that resonates as strongly as the sounds of laughter and conversation which fill the air. In a short period of time, the town has flourished from a simple rebel camp to a village filled withhope.

Thisis what I have done, what mymateshave done. And even though there are moments when the dark shadows of doubt threaten to consume me, I know that I will do everything in my power to ensure that my people can do more than hope for a future.

Soon, the song which my people will dance to... the song that will echo across Tír na nÓg, will be one of victory; a melody played upon the bones of the enemy, a rhythm that will echo with the screams of those who have sought to destroy them...us...and lost.

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* * *

Zane

* * *

I takea deep breath as I make my final round around the forest. This was probably my fiftieth lap around and yet, my muscles didn't feel strained. If anything, I felt more energized than when I began.

"It's incredible isn't it? No matter how fast we go, it is as if one will never truly get tired. The power flowing through your very veins...its intoxicating," Oberon's deep voice comes from above me--clear even though he was almost sixty-feet in the air--almost tinged with almost a wild sort of glee. A hint of madness. Yet, it what was what he was known for; a little madness tinged with a shit-load of cunning.

"I find it hard to believe that I ever forgot what this felt like," I smile, letting the rush of adrenaline fill my veins as I felt the feet pounding against the earth, the forest welcoming me as much as it was feeding me, powering me as it would do to any of the Fae connected to the earth, such as we were. I breathed deep, the air cool, fresh and filled with the almost overwhelming sweet, floral scents of the flowers and varied greens of the foliage around me. I let my senses overtake me and I pick up the rustle of the leaves, the delicate flitting of the wings of the dew fairies as they jumped from flower to flower, their translucent wings shimmering in the morning light. Their slender bodies in small flowing garments, their varied brightly colored hair almost glowing in the sunlight. As their laughs tinkle throughout the forest, the pixies zoom around, their larger wings slightly louder as they chase each other around the trees. As we run, they pause to nod their head in respect before continuing with their morning merriment.

This is what we need to preserve, to save. From the tiniest of the fae to the largest, to the widely known, to those hidden, there was no limit to what we were all willing to do in order to bring about the balance that we desperately needed to right.

"Trying to keep up with my perfect physique there, Brother?" A gentle breeze flows as Hunter appears next to me, running at my side.

I scoff, "I've been running for over an hour, where the hell have you been? If anything you need to keep up with my ass, you lazy sack of demon."

He frowns, "Pain in my ass. I was having coffee with our mate. Even though, I should have been taking her over my knee."

Oberon laughs, the sound startling as if floating down from the heavens, "that would be quite difficult at this point would it not?"

"Doesn't mean I wouldn't try," Hunter grumbles, his large body moving with a grace that belied his increased size. His Arallu heritage shining true as his long legs covered the ground with his large size, keeping up with me easily. His eyes scanned the forest, constantly searching for any sign of danger. I resisted the urge to smile as his hair, now slightly tipped with red and black, whipped behind him as he leaped over branches, weaving and dodging every obstacle.

"You can stop pretending to not be amused. I can feel your emotions motherfucker," he growled and I threw my head back with a laugh.

"It is just odd, seeing your hair longer now. I may have my memories back, but it's been years. I'm still not used to the Pantene commercial version of Arallu," I say.

"Fuck you, asshole." He suddenly rubs his chest as a pang of sadness hits all of us at the same time and quickly vanishes.

We stop running and Oberon pauses in the tallest branch, with a deep sigh. Hudson. Grayson was making her pancakes this morning. Never thought a breakfast item would make me want to stab someone.

"She is probably thinking about Kalen, you know how she gets when she eats pancakes," I say and look around us, scanning since we were close to the border of our protection Veil. Just steps away from the mortal world, and essentially the most dangerous place to be. I nod at the soldiers manning the perimeter.

Ryder's voice floated out from somewhere beyond the trees, "Is it me or is she getting better at masking her emotions? I still have trouble believing we didn't feel her wake up. Even King mentioned that he felt a jolt a not long before she was up. Why didn't we?"

We turned to look at Ryder, Remi close on his heels, two packages floating behind her, a scowl on her face.

I laughed with shake of my head, "dude. Walk the perimeter, and talk to our men. Not sneak out of the Veil and pick up more Amazon packages."

Remi scoffed, "this is just two of the boxes. He already sent Xena ahead with the others to hide in the basement with the promise of lion toys in her boxes. Even Cerrubus has been asking him for 'snake toys.'"

"I'll have you know, it took a lot of sweet talking to get Xena to do anything for me, and if I have to give her a few 'toys' I damn sure will," Ryder smiled brightly.

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