Fated Fae (Fractured Fae 1)

“Someone check the humans who fell. Are they alive?” He barks at the group, everyone is still stunned, standing around in shock. One of the fae finally crouches down to check the nearby human for a pulse.

“Alive, just unconscious,” he announces and I sag against Allwyn. Though it may not have been only relief, as I have moved on from pain to numbness. I can still feel the weakness spreading through my body, my vision fading quickly.

“Bella?” I can hear the distress in Allwyn’s voice as he lowers me to the ground. He must have noticed I can no longer stand on my own. Thankfully he’s strong. “I need medical help!” He yells before turning his attention back to me. “You have to be alright, Bella. Why did you jump in front of me?” His voice is hard, but I can hear the panic behind it.

“You deserve to live,” I say as I raise my weak hand to his cheek. I feel a smile on my lips, knowing I saved those left from further bloodshed. My vision disappears completely as I fade into the welcoming darkness.

Chapter 5

“I still don’t understand why she jumped in front of the gun.” Allwyn sounds desperate and his words are rushed in his exasperation.

“I told you, that’s how Bella is. She cares, that’s just who she is. Which is why I told her to stay the fuck home!” Jacob yells through his sobs. I try to open my eyes so I can comfort him, but they’re still so heavy.

“She even has a pet mouse because she couldn’t stand for her neighbor’s snake to eat it.” River’s voice sounds just as tearful and distraught as the others.

I’m fine,

why are they so sad?

I try to fight my way through the darkness threatening to pull me back under, but it’s like fighting through a tar pit. Eventually I manage to shift my body, but the move causes the pain in my side to flare back to life. The pain is so intense that I groan out loud and manage to barely open my eyes.

“Bella!” Jacob gasps in relief. “I’m going to kill you myself for almost leaving me," he sobs as he squeezes my hand. I try to look at him, but can’t focus as my eyes slip closed again at the effort.

“She needs more rest. We aren’t out of danger just yet,” an unknown voice announces. More fae?

“Jacob, let’s let her rest while you and I go get her some fresh clothes and anything else she may need. The healer can handle this.” I hear him start to protest, but he eventually allows himself to be dragged away.

Over and over again I try to open my eyes, but they’re still so heavy. I want to know if everyone is alright and what happened after the battle.

“Rest, my queen," Allwyn’s voice startles me. I forgot that he was still in the room with me. Then I feel pressure on my hand as he squeezes it, but can’t seem to squeeze back. My mind is continually groggy and slow to process everything it seems.

The fact that it’s Allwyn offering comfort is bizarre enough. But I’m not sure if I’m more shocked by the endearing term or the fact he’s being kind to me. Maybe saving his life made him realize I’m not so bad after all. I knew we’d get there eventually, I just didn’t think it would hurt quite so fucking much. Even as my thoughts spiral, darkness pulls me back in, this time I welcome it, if only to escape the pain for a little while.

Allwyn

As I watch her sleep, I can’t help but think back to the previous hours of chaos. I’m trying to process how this crazy, reckless girl before me could bring so many to their knees with one word. Either way, I know now she’s no normal human, hell she isn’t even normal for fae.

I’m helpless as I hear the gunshot, but instead of pain taking me, I feel the impact of being knocked to the ground. I twist around, expecting to find that one of my fae companions had shoved me out of the way. Instead I’m shocked to see Arabella’s face twisted in pain and the color draining from her already pale face. Warm blood flows over me before I see it, realizing she’d taken the bullet for me.

The stupid human who shot her is trying to mumble something but I don’t care to listen to. I yell and block him from coming closer. My heart clenches at the sound of her whimpering in pain and I rip off my jacket and try to keep pressure on it, she’s lost too much blood for a human already. Stupid girl!

I help her to her feet, hoping to at least get her inside, somewhere she’d be safe so I can see how bad the wound is. She gasps in shock as she looks at the fighting still raging strong around us.

“Enough!” she bellows out as I feel and see the wave of power burst from her body in a spiral of light. What the hell just happened? She’s a human, and they don’t possess such powers. Even if she was a fae, we don’t have this sort of power on Earth.

Much to my surprise she’s no longer human at all. Her skin has the beautiful otherworldly glow of the Winter Fae. Her eyes are no longer a common blue, but a sparkling turquoise with specks of violet. Her features are more defined and regal, but the biggest shock is her previously round ears have now come to a point, the telltale sign of fae.

Another grunt of pain from Arabella has me rushing toward safety. I squeeze her hand. “You’ll be alright," I whisper and start to hum a soothing tune. Eventually her breathing evens out as she’s pulled into sleep. I just hope I can find a healer to save her life.

I knew who she was as soon as she transformed. In fact I was one of the few who knew of the princess of the Spring Court’s pregnancy. It was hidden because the baby’s father was the prince of the Winter Court. Once the Dark War broke out, it wasn’t safe to tell anyone. They hoped to bring change to Faerie, but the war altered their plan. The Winter and Autumn Courts aligned. The King of Winter wasn’t evil, merely arrogant, but they still weren't willing to take the risk.

The rebellion that started as a challenge to the oppression of what was eventually coined as the dark fae, turned into wanting to take over all of Faerie. A united court under an unhappy and arrogant ruler would have been our downfall. The Spring and Summer Court aligned together and tried to reason with the Winter King, but he was past that. His son tried to pressure him to give up the war, but the devastation spread quickly. Magic makes war much more vile, and the people are the ones who paid the price.

Word came that agents of the dark fae decided to ignore their orders and kidnap the Summer and Spring princesses to tip the war in their favor. Fearing for their child, the Winter prince and Spring princess went into hiding. They both disappeared and were presumed dead… another casualty of war. The final battle was pure devastation, losing the rest of the royal families.

When I saw Arabella’s features, her mix of pale skin and bright Spring eyes, I knew she was their hidden daughter. She’s far too unique of a fae to be anyone else. They must have found a way to bind her magic and appearance, so she could survive on Earth.

Though having a queen of Faerie hardly matters anymore. We were driven from Faerie by the hostile lands. Arrogance and greed corrupted us until we thought our only duty was to our people. The land was as alive as we were, and altered itself in self-defense, now it’s useless and toxic. All of the magical destruction and spilled blood took a toll on it. Maybe it’s a good thing, even if she is fae now, she was raised by humans. She knows nothing of our world, which could be the only way to help it. If we can ever go home again, that is.