Characters:

Vaughan

Sandre Ironwood

Cairn- Sandre's great uncle

Lisora- Vaughan's sister

Chapter one: Vaughan

I was flying north to try and locate Lorcan but without the others to help me I would be very surprised if I manage kill him on my own. The blood oath was weaker on Erliea but I knew that if I saw Lorcan I would have a single minded attitude to complete the orders of my Queen. Not that I particularly minded if Lorcan lived or died. He had always been a cold bastard.

Rowan leaving meant that Maeve had not trusted any of us with her ingenious plan. Which didn't surprise me, she never truly trusted anyone but herself. Bitterness seared through me so fast the wind managed to knock me sideways into a tree. Falling to the snow covered floor I tried to collect my thoughts knowing it was no good to feel emotions that would get me nowhere in my miserable existence.

Around 500 years of trying to make sure my sister stayed hidden from Maeve, Lisora had such magic that Maeve would try and kill her. Her magic was the elemental she had power over practically everything. Air, Fire, Earth and Water is her magic. However Lisora's magic was too unpredictable, too dangerous even for her to control. She not only overpowered Maeve in strength but she could also destroy entire cities in a blink of an eye. Nobody knew of her existence, I trusted nobody with the information. My mother had died in childbirth and my dad died of a broken heart soon after. I resented him so much for not trying, not caring enough to live for his new-born daughter. They say a true mate bond when broken is agony. Another reason it's better off just me and my sister. Alone, just the way that we like it.

I changed into my fae form, shaking the snow from my clothes and hair as I walked towards the light flickering in the tumble down farm house on the edge of a village. I needed food and a warm place to stay. I knocked on the door and women with fiery red hair and baby blue eyes no older than 20 opened the door. She had a large purple bruise forming on her pale skin right above the left check, no doubt from an abusive husband or father. Those enchanting eyes grew wide in shock as she took me in like she was expecting someone else to be at the door. I looked beyond her at the figure sitting in an arm chair as if it was their throne. The figure stood up and walked into the glowing light and I stiffened. Cairn was standing opposite me, he was the last person I expected to see especially in the company of what seemed to be a human girl.

"What are you doing here Cairn?" I snarled as I pushed through the door and positioned myself in front of the so called human girl.

"Now, now Vaughan that is no way to treat a brother. I have come on behalf of our Queen, she intends to sail to Eyllwe and you are required to be on her ship by her side."

I blinked the only bit of confusion I allowed myself to show as I questioned "Brother? You do not get to call me that. And as for returning south I have an important mission to complete that you don't have the authority to know about"

A low laugh erupted from Cairn "ah yes, you went to Erliea before Gavril and Fenrys so you wouldn't know that I am the newest member of Maeve's blood sworn, so yes I know all about your important mission."

I could see the smugness in his eyes as his words turned my blood cold. No that couldn't be, Maeve wouldn't be so reckless as to offer the blood oath to a brute like Cairn and yet my insides told me that Cairn was telling the truth.

Cairn I realised hadn't stopped talking as he went on "always so honourable Vaughan standing in front of the girl to protect her from who-me? but Sandre is my great niece, I would never do anything to cause her too much harm" an evil glint entered his eyes as he spoke that last sentence and knew then that I would not leave this girl, Sandre, in his clutches not with that bruise and god knows what other ones on her body.

I took a warning step forward, an invitation for Cairn to fight me if he wanted his great niece back as I whispered "run" before Cairn launched himself at me.

Luckily Sandre launched herself out the door and I turned with a vicious grin back to my challenger.