“My grandfather’s multiple powers were the first in hundreds of years. Along with his gift, he was the first one born with wings.”
“Wings?” Devin asked. It seemed Devin wasn’t happy with that. “He didn’t have any wings.”
“No, he turned them into swords. He thought the wings were a bit too much and not necessary, so they became swords he could call upon any time,” Nessa explained. “But we still all called them his wings. I mean, really they were his wings, just modified.”
Devin nodded along with her explanation. Nessa had never seen his actual wings, as they were swords by the time she was born, but she heard the elders all talk about it. It was how everyone knew her grandfather would be special. He had wings.
“How?” Devin asked. Swords were a much better parting gift than wings, anyways.
“I don’t know. I wasn’t him. He didn’t even tell me he could make a day human like you.” Nessa sulked.
There was too much of the sidhe world she didn’t know. There was so much more that she had been oblivious to during her life, but now needed to see. She regretted not having time with her grandfather to see more and learn as much as she could from him. He was the only one she trusted completely. She needed him now, and he was gone. She was left in a world of riddles to fend for herself by her grandfather, and she resented it a little. If the man she thought was her best friend and her brother was really a monster, then there had to be more secrets hidden by everyone. She wasn’t completely sure she wanted to know more, but she needed to now. She wanted to survive.
“Think of them and let me see,” Devin added, trying to come up with how to get those swords to appear.
Nessa thought of her grandfather as she remembered him from the days he trained her, and Devin nodded. He saw the images clearly in her mind. She let go of her memory and watched Devin as he thought. Soon there was a light glow around him and the straps that held the swords down appeared. Crisscrossed across his back were the two blades that were once her grandfather’s wings. Devin had her grandfather’s power completely.
“How did you get into my mind if this is a magic-free zone?” Nessa finally asked, realizing that Devin had magic when he should not, but even more so, before he shouldn’t have been hurt when she was hurt. “For that matter, why when I got hurt did you get hurt? I thought this was a magic-free, or at least limited, zone?” Nessa asked. “How could we still be bonded without magic?” Nessa’s face fell then when she realized that her grandfather’s death meant they would never know how to unbind.
Devin smiled and pulled her to his chest. All she felt was love. He wasn’t sad in the least. In fact, he was happy. Nessa didn’t know how to interpret the change in his emotion over the bond.
“We can’t be unbound, not now and not before. I had a nice little chat with your grandfather, and he said it’s forever,” Devin added and just held her close.
“Forever?” she squeaked. Nessa could feel his heartbeat beneath her hand. He was alive. She was alive. They had survived almost certain death.
“Forever,” Devin repeated, tilting her head up to meet his lips. “Or until one of us dies-which will probably be sooner than later. Isn’t your trial still going on?” Devin added.
Nessa pushed back from him. Her trial was still going on. Since they found grandfather, and found that the bond could not be broken, they had to get back to the trial immediately. Nessa grabbed Devin’s hand and pulled him back the way they entered the, now empty, tomb. She forgot all about how her life was ending in a completely different way. Exile didn’t sound so bad now that they were bound forever. She wasn’t too fond of the sidhe anyway, but then again, she felt that the families would push for execution over exile if she didn’t prove her innocence.
“We need to get there now,” Nessa added, dragging him with her to the trial they had left behind only hours before.
Nessa led the way back into the crypts. She didn’t even look at her dead brother while they walked through the McKinny crypt, but kept leading the way as fast as possible. Neither of them knew if Ronan had found Candor or not. By now, the trial could be finished, but they needed to try to get back in time. Devin noticed that the door to the McKinny family crypt was propped open and that worried him a little, but he didn’t have time to ponder what that meant. They needed to get back to the trial.
Nessa hurried through the crypt tunnels and the walk was much shorter now that they didn’t have to run around avoiding the assassins. They were all dead. Nessa led the way out of the caves and back up the dimly-lit walkway. They didn’t need to go into the village or walk around the palace, but could go directly in the gate. Alarms would be set off, but neither of them worried about it. Time wasn’t on their side. With Devin’s new sidhe power he knew exactly where any of the sidhe were at any time, which meant that he didn’t have to worry for their whole walk. No one was around for them to pass. They were clear of meeting anyone all the way back to the palace trial room.
They made it back to the trial to see Candor in the front row. Devin grabbed Nessa’s hand to stop her from entering until Candor was done. He had just sat back down. Maureen didn’t look happy as Candor finished talking. He ignored his family leader as he finished. Devin had a flash of memory through his head. He knew exactly who Candor was now. This was Nessa’s father’s best friend. Candor wasn’t loyal to Maureen, but to Nessa. The older man owed Nessa’s father his life, and was repaying the debt right then. Again, a memory flashed and Devin saw Candor pledging his fidelity to the old sidhe king. Devin had more than just the power from the dead king, he had some memories also. Devin watched Rolf smile from his seat. He knew that Candor had corroborated Nessa’s story.
Nessa and Devin headed down the aisle between the seated rows of sidhe. The trial was coming to an end and everyone that could attend was there. It was standing room only in the back of the room, but as soon as Devin entered, they all moved aside to let him by. The accuser, the fake Bray, stopped midsentence as they walked up to the stage. Rolf’s mouth opened and then closed. Maureen grew white at the sight of them. Nessa walked over and sat beside her uncle. Devin slowed behind her and stood on the stage. It was time to start on that promise to the old king, who gave his life for the power Devin now had.
“First order of business,” Devin said, addressing the room. He knew how the night human world worked and it was all based on power. They became silent. Everyone knew that he was a day human, but he was different now. The power radiating off of him demanded respect. No one seated in the audience dared to interrupt him.
“Vanessa McKinny is innocent of all the charges brought against her. She will be free to continue on with her life and the coronation will take place the night after tomorrow as planned,” Devin continued, not even waiting for everyone to grasp his statement.
“Under what authority do you have to speak to us like that?” the fake Bray said to Devin. He sneered at Devin with the hatred all sidhe had for day humans. He wasn’t quite as observant as the audience was.
“Mine,” Devin replied.
It was time to show the sidhe he was there to take over. The old king said they needed direction, and Devin was starting with the farce that was the trial. Nessa should have never been brought to trial. The five families needed to know there was a new power in their game, one that wasn’t going to stand by and let them do as they pleased. Devin felt the power ripple through him as he released a little into the air around him. All the sidhe present gaped at him in awe.
“I was present at the tournament, and she’s telling the truth. Rhys went mad and tried to kill Arianna Grace, the leader of four night human families. Nessa was correct to step between her brother and Arianna to stop from bringing the wrath of four families on the sidhe people. This would have occurred if Rhys had killed Arianna. Nessa stepped between her brother and Arianna to save you all. She’s a savior, and Rhys was in the wrong. When his spell backfired into him, he was instantly killed. That wasn’t Nessa’s fault, and thus, she is
innocent,” Devin explained, though he really just wanted to tell them to all stop being idiots and look at the people leading them. Those leaders were a bit tongue-tied at his telling of the story.
The audience didn’t need more convincing as they all nodded in agreement to his story. None of them wanted war, nor did they want a king that would bring war on their people. The people on the stage were not as convinced, but were busy thinking of retorts. Devin tested his new power a bit more, and he didn’t even need to know the spells like Nessa. He could make the wind rush through the room with just a thought. The sidhe audience was startled. Everything he was given was natural power. Devin looked at the rows of fake people. At the top of the room a few assassins waited invisibly.
“Second order is that we are done with assassins. The assassin guild is the only one that can train covert assassins, and each family will either give up their own assassins to the guild or decommission them. If I find assassins wandering around who are not part of the assassin guild, they will be dealt with,” Devin told the crowd, but was talking to the heads of the five families. Maureen didn’t respond as she grew red with rage, but fake Bray could not contain his.
“That’s completely unacceptable. It’s our right to have assassins trained by each family. It’s the only way we stay safe.” Fake Bray was standing and yelling over the noise of the crowd who didn’t know what to make of Devin’s new rule.
“They aren’t for safety. I’ve already seen that. Your future queen here posed no risk to your families, and yet each of you sent at least one assassin or more to kill her. You use the assassins to get your way, not for safety, thus they are not needed,” Devin replied. The audience was shocked, but many were nodding along with him. While the head families might have found it useful to use assassins as they willed, it didn’t seem everyone agreed with it. Maybe the sidhe were worth saving after all. “The practice of having house assassins is done.”
“You have no authority,” Maureen sneered, standing and pointing a finger at Devin. “You are just a day human.”
Devin smiled at her in her rage. Maureen wasn’t the type of person that seemed to ever have been told what to do her whole life. She was going to have a hard time adjusting to Devin’s rule, and he didn’t care. In fact, Devin figured the challenge might actually be fun.
“It seems I’m no longer just a day human,” Devin replied.
Maureen just glared at him. She had to have felt the difference in Devin, but needed more convincing. Devin felt the swords appear at his back. It was easier the second time to make them appear. Her mouth dropped at the sight as the audience was shocked into silence at the sight of the two swords.
“While Nessa and I were walking around the sidhe tombs early today, we ran into a few people. Unfortunately, some of them won’t be coming back.” Devin shrugged as if he really didn’t care. “But one in particular decided it was time that the sidhe change. I have no idea what he did to me, but the former sidhe king gave me his power. I may be just a day human. But I’m a day human with the power of a sidhe king, a very powerful sidhe king, and I’ve decided that things are going to change here. Anyone who doesn’t like it that way can come talk to me personally.”
Maureen grew white as she recognized the swords and the truth Devin was stating. Devin’s words made it much clearer what had happened. Maureen had to have known Nessa and Devin were going to the tombs from her son. She might not have known why, but she saw now.
“It can’t be possible,” Maureen whispered.
The people all around them were now talking excitedly, but Devin could still hear Maureen. It wasn’t shock like you’d expect from what Devin had just told her. It was fear mixed with sadness. Maureen knew exactly what her son was doing, and she knew exactly the type of man the former sidhe king was. If Devin and Nessa returned after meeting the sidhe king, there was a good chance everyone that she sent after them to kill them wouldn’t return.
“I’m here to do the will of the former sidhe king,” Devin told the audience while fake Bray’s advisor was filling him in on the swords. He had to have just been a child, like Nessa was, when the former king had gone to sleep. The audience was quiet while Devin spoke. Many of them must have recognized the swords. “He has given me his power and his authority to help Nessa rule and to save the sidhe people from themselves. Go spread the word that change is coming, and that Nessa and I plan to bring it to you.”
Devin turned to Nessa, who was still by her uncle. She was trying to hide her smile. Nessa had spent her whole life afraid of the family leaders, from the time her grandfather was put to sleep until only minutes before. Now she wasn’t afraid. Devin was there, and nothing was going to stop him. As a day human he was amazing, but as a sidhe day human he was even more amazing. Devin knew she lacked the guts to just tell off the sidhe even though she was one of the more powerful ones, but Devin never really lacked the grit to do so. What he lacked was the will to be a leader, but now he had no choice. His life depended on making changes and keeping Nessa safe. Her life depended on it. Devin held out his hand, and Nessa stood and walked over to take it.
“I don’t care what you say! You can’t just walk in here and tell elders what to do. You aren’t in power, day human,” the fake Bray replied.
Devin could feel the intent of the sidhe if he tried. He didn’t even have to try too much. He knew what Bray was thinking. The younger O’Ryan was planning to blackmail Nessa into marriage just like Maureen had tried unsuccessfully.
Devin smiled at him and nodded like he was just talking to a small child throwing a tantrum.
“Is Nessa the princess and heir to the throne?” Devin asked fake Bray.
Fake Bray looked confused, yet nodded. That much wasn’t debated. They had tried to convict her, but even without Devin’s appearance, they faced a riot if they did convict her after Candor’s testimony.
“Then, since I’m bound to her, I guess that makes me the prince, doesn’t it?” Devin asked innocently, though he knew the answer.
The room burst into a whirlwind of excitement. Not a single person knew that was coming. No one had ever bonded to a day human before. Fake Bray looked mad, and he wanted to say more, but Devin interrupted him.
“Additionally, I’m done with all the fake illusions,” Devin stated, looking at the fake Bray. Bray’s anger faded as he realized Devin saw through who he was pretending to be. “When you come to court, you come as you are. No more hiding.” Devin looked across the crowd. “That goes for everyone. No more illusions.”
‘Devin,’ Nessa warned, knowing that this last one was just to spite the court. She had seen through his eyes. Everyone hid their flaws with a mask of how they wanted to be seen. ‘You can’t do that without upsetting the council.’
Devin wrapped his arms around Nessa and pulled her close to him. With a flick of his hand, the sidhe around him all appeared as they normally should have without magic. Cries and shrieks surrounded them as Nessa and Devin stood together on stage. Some people ran from the room in shame, and others tried to hide whatever body part they had changed. No one expected that Devin could force them to do that. The trial had just turned into chaos, yet Devin didn’t care. He was in his own personal bubble of happiness with Nessa in his arms.
‘Who cares?’ Devin answered back, lowering his face until they were nose-to-nose.
Nessa stared back at Devin, feeling the bond between them as Devin sent his own feelings across to her. He loved her and held nothing back. He didn’t have to. Loving Nessa was different than anything he ever felt in his life. He was free of the world he was from, and free to do as he pleased with his new powers. There was nothing to fear and nothing to keep hidden. He could finally love in the way he always wanted to. Devin lowered his head a little more and kissed Nessa. She held tight and ignored the world around them, too. He created a new world for the both of them. It would take some work to reign in the chaos, but neither of them cared at that moment. Devin had been searching for a new life and Nessa was
the answer.
Devin pulled back and smiled at Nessa. “Let the council be upset. We are in charge now.”
Author note:
Thank you for reading DAY HUMAN PRINCE! Keep reading for the first pages of the next book in this series. Before we get there, I’d like to ask that if you enjoyed reading this book, please consider leaving me a good review on Amazon.com. You can do this even if you didn’t buy the book from that site, and it’s one of the best things that you can do to help me out so that I can continue writing and publishing. If you aren’t sure how to post a review there, send me an e-mail at
[email protected]. I’ll be more than happy to help you with the process. If you’ve already left a review, thank you so much! Look for updates on my website on my current works, or join my mailing list at: http://www.bkristinmcmichael.com/list
I greatly appreciate all the support from everyone and it keeps me going day in and day out! THANK YOU!
And here’s a sneak peek at the next book in the series coming in the fall of 2014….
BOOK 2
DAY HUMAN KING
Devin Alexander was already sick of the sidhe. All they did was complain, including his bonded night human Nessa. Thankfully, she was asleep now in his arms. It wasn’t that he expected much more from her. She was now responsible for dealing with all the sidhe since they were terrified of Devin. After he took away their magic at the end of her sham trial, most of them steered clear of him. He found he could walk anywhere around the complex and not have to deal with a single sidhe. It wasn’t the same for Nessa. They were constantly calling on her for decisions about one thing or another. From the moment they took over the sidhe, there was endless complaining. It had been an endless hours of complaining.