Faery Kissed

Faery Kissed

Moonstruck Media - Arizona

Copyright © 2012 Lacey Weatherford

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Published by

Moonstruck Media

Edited by Irene Hunt, Third Eye Tight Editing Services

Arizona

Smashwords Edition

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Other books by

Lacey Weatherford

Of Witches and Warlocks series:

The Trouble with Spells

The Demon Kiss

Blood of the White Witch

The Dark Rising

Possession of Souls

Chasing Nikki series:

Chasing Nikki

Finding Chase

Crush series:

Crush

Novella:

Faery Kissed

Anthology:

A Midsummer Night’s Fling

(combined novellas of

Enchanted Hearts, by Belinda Boring

Forever, by Kamery Solomon

and

Faery Kissed, by Lacey Weatherford)

Chapter One

Don’t tell me you give credence to all those old wives tales, Bran.

Fergus shook his head at me in disbelief as he stared down at the Royal Fern Seeds I held in the palm of my hand.

I shrugged. I might. My mother and father are very big on all the old customs and lore. I closed my fist around my prize and slipped them into my pocket, hiding them from Fergus’s view.

Well, let me help you put this lore to rest. You picked those seeds at midnight here on Midsummer’s Eve, and I can still plainly see you. You are not invisible. I think this is one legend you can cross off. He ran a hand through his wild red hair—hair I was positive would never be tamed.

You don’t have to believe, Fergus. It’s not a human I want to be invisible for. I looked around at the revelers in the celebration around us and lowered my voice. It’s the Fae.

Fergus snorted and started to walk away.

I grabbed him by the arm. I know you believe in them too. You were scared of them as a child.

I’ve overcome my fears. He stood up taller. Like you, I’m on the brink of manhood now with almost twenty summers to my name. You would do better to quit talking about such crazy things and go find your beautiful Ceridwen before some other young man swoops in to carry her off.

Laughter came from behind me, and I turned to find Ceridwen eavesdropping on our conversation.

No one will ever steal me from Bran, Fergus. Who could beat him? He’s the tallest, brawniest, and the handsomest man around. Not to mention he’s kind-hearted as well. No, I think I should be afraid to have him stolen away from me. She smiled, reaching up to touched the edge of my jawline with her fingertips.

He’s also the craziest, Fergus muttered, and I elbowed him in the ribs.

That will never happen, my love, I assured Ceridwen—reaching with one arm to pull her in closer so I could kiss her ripe plum lips. I tangled my other hand in her long, honey colored tresses, enjoying the way she felt against me.

Fergus cleared his throat, and the two of us broke apart, staring over at him.

Before you get anymore wrapped up in your wildly handsome, dark-haired lover, Ceridwen, you might wish to know he’s a little touched in the head. He intends to become invisible by using his magic seeds while he goes off hunting Fae tonight. He lifted a finger and made a swirling motion around his ear. I think someone has been dipping a little too heavily in the honey mead.

She laughed. I like that he’s not afraid to believe in things he can’t see. I wish I could go with him, but I need to get back to help my mother and sister with the food now.

Ceridwen gave me a quick peck once more, and I grabbed her before she could run off again, deepening the kiss even farther.

She smiled against my lips, and flattened her palms against my chest as she tried to push away from me. You are going to cause quite the spectacle if you keep carrying on this way, Bran.

I don’t care. I captured her lips and kissed her breathless. Come into the woods with me, I whispered when I pulled away.

I can’t. I promised my mother. But you go have some fun with Fergus.

Fergus grunted. You won’t catch me out in the woods. That’s all I need is to have some Fae capture me and end up walking around like some faery-kissed fool. He strode off toward the group gathered around the bonfire.

I thought you didn’t believe! I called after him with a grin, and he waved me off with an irritated gesture, continuing on his way.

Since you can’t come with me, shall I stay to help you with the food? I asked, turning my attention back to Ceridwen.

She laughed again. My mother would be appalled to have a man helping out in her kitchen! No, go enjoy your little jaunt in the forest. I know how much you love nights like this.

I stared up into the sky, looking at the giant orb lighting the sky. You’re right. There’s nothing better than drinking honey mead with a pretty lass under the Honey Moon. I enjoyed the weddings tonight. Maybe next year it will be our turn. I raised my eyebrow in a suggestive nature.

She blushed, refusing to give in to my teasing. Go on now! She gave me a playful shove.

I won’t be too long, I promise.

She turned away with a wave and headed back toward the festivities.

I traipsed quickly from the hilltop where the great bonfires were lit and made my way to the valley floor. The light of the giant moon that filled the sky softened as I entered the heavily treed forest, its milky glow filtering through the leaves and branches, casting silvery puddles here and there amongst the shadows.

I tried to tread silently, but couldn’t help the occasional crunch of a twig or two beneath my booted feet, though they were made from the softest, supple leather. Even so, the night remained alive with other sounds—a running rabbit I startled from its hiding place, the crickets singing their midnight song, and the whispering rustle of leaves as a soft breeze floated through the air.

The particular clearing I was searching for was in another small valley just over the hill ahead, and I reached into my pocket to retrieve my seeds, grasping them tightly in my fist before I continued. I chuckled to myself. It really was childish believing that seeds of any kind could make one invisible. I didn’t blame Fergus for his doubt, but whatever the reason, I felt the need to have these with me. I didn’t know why they were important, they just were.

Slowing my pace, I approached the hilltop stealthily, sticking to the darkness of the trees as much as possible. I peered into the moonlit glen below and was disappointed to find nothing there. Not one dancing Fae in sight. Even the tall grasses appeared motionless from this height. But still it was a beautiful night so I chose to make my way carefully down the hill, deciding to settle against the roots of a gnarled old tree as I enjoyed the peaceful scene.

Fireflies danced through the air, dipping and swooping as if they too were rejoicing in the season. Every now and then a breeze rippled through, making the vegetation swirl, adding to the mad little dance nature was creating.

I thought of my girl, suddenly wishing she was here to enjoy this magical setting. I could have stolen many a kiss from her under a night sky like this. I knew she was the one for me, the one I would marry. Many of my friends, who were a season or two older, were already settling down and starting their lives with their own pretty girls, as was the custom in these parts. But none of their lasses were as pretty as mine. I closed my eyes, thinking about how I couldn’t wait to have her.

The soft music lulled me at first, but as it grew louder and more rambunctious I suddenly realized what I was hearing. My eyes flashed open, and I was shocked to behold the sight in front of me. They were here, everywhere, filling the meadow to overflowing as they danced seductively around the giant bonfire that hadn’t existed just minutes before, many taking giant graceful leaps over the blaze.

I was frozen in place, afraid to