Chapter 2235

"You wouldn't understand. No mortal can. It is acycle, a necessary one. The Night and Light fae are like the ying and yang Jason spouts on about. We both exist to make sure life and death cycles correctly. Without the fae, this whole world would be a primordial mist. Through us, life is willed to be."

"That sounds like the power of the gods."

"It is, in a way. We were the first. We are told wewere created to amuse the gods. Entertainment. They watch us struggle, guarding the doors to life and death. We clash on schedule. Fighting for dominance over the other and always failing. We retreat, lick our wounds, mourn our dead, and celebrate new life that emerges from the conflict. Seasons cycle. Life goes on and meets death. Death turns to life. The cycle must continue."

"Why not just stop? Why keep doing it? Itsounds pointless."

"Because all life would end. Lives wouldcontinue until death, but there would be no

rebirth. No emergence from the darkness to the light. We are the guardians of life and death. The conflict is necessary."

"I don't know how you cope with it all."

"It is our very nature. There is no coping. It justis."

Daniel slipped his right hand under the waistband of Grace's pants and slid it down to between her legs and found her wet and hot. He slipped a finger inside her depths and then found her clit and gently circled it. Grace sighed and ground her ass against his cock.

"How do the Wild fae factor in all this?"

Grace hummed."That's much harder to explain. Maeve is... Maeve. She's an odd duck. A square peg with only round holes all around her. How she came to be,I am not sure. Neither is mother. Maeve hates the fae, both Light and Night. I have no doubt that her goals are always toward destroying life and death. Ending the cycle."

"Why? You just said that would destroy

everything."

"Yes. Exactly that. That's what she wants, I think.An end to her own existence."

"Why?"

"She's older than mother. Much older. No oneknows how old. I think she's tired of everything. She creates the monstrosities that em erge from the Wilds. It amuses her. She likes to watch the humans and the fae battle her creations. It's her own version of entertainment. She's insane, Daniel. You can't live that long without going insane. There's too much in your head. Too many memories. They build up like toxins in the blood."

"And the phoenixes live in the Wilds?"

"Yes. They always have."

"Why?"

Grace shrugged and then gasped when Daniel gently inserted a finger into her pussy and fingered her.

"No one knows. They are as old as Maeve, theysay. One lives while the other rests in the egg form. They roam the Wilds, doing who knows what. They are vicious in nature. Killing without pause. The male is the worst, violent, enraged. The female is much better, but equally frightful."

"And it is the female phoenix power I haveinside me?"

"It seems that way."

"How?"

"You held the female egg as a child. I think itbonded with you and granted you some of her powers. It's the only explanation for how a human can wield the powers you have, and with you having the magic sight." She stood upright and Daniel's hand slipped out of her pussy."But enough of all this. I feel better now after talking about it. I hate it when Jason is right. He said I needed to talk to you. Fighter-guru, my ass. He just understands women better than most men. Now, Daniel Davies, you've warmed me up quite nicely. How about a long sensual fuck over by the creek over there?I need your seed inside

me. Come..."

She took his right hand, the fingers dripping with her juices, and pulled him toward the creek and a soft bed of wildflowers she had spied earlier and had marked for just this occasion.

****

AMY WAS EXCITED and was talking non-stop as they travelled the dirt road. They would arrive at Acron by noon. Daniel couldn't understand why she would be happy returning to the small town. She had hated it not that long ago. Jasmine and Amber just rolled their eyes at him and refused to explain.

They went past Daniel's former farm. They spied a young couple, with a baby on the woman's hip, working the fields. Daniel took a moment and went over to them. They were frightened at first. Adventurers don't normally talk to commoners, but Daniel soon calmed them down and spoke to the husband about the fields. They didn't believe him when he said the farm used to be his until he showed them some secrets inside the house and in the shed he had built. Soon Daniel and the husband were talking

like old friends.

Jasmine cooed when she saw Daniel slip some coins to the couple. When he returned to them, he was smiling and through the bond the girls knew he missed farming and the simple life and for a moment he had returned to that life vicariously through the young couple.

Grace said he was spoiling them by handing them money.

"How? They can use it and make a better life forthemselves and their son. I have the means and so I did it."

"It has more meaning when it's earned."

"Like when you handed me a platinum coin?"

"That was not the same. I had a sense aboutyou."

"You keep mentioning this sense thing. What isit exactly?"

Brian looked alarmed."Don't go there, lad. No one speaks about it."

Daniel looked exasperated at Brian."Why the fuck not? Shouldn't we, as members of this party, understand what each of us can do?"

"Aye, but this is a Night fae thing. A secret."

"Night fae thing? Is that a thing? And secret,why?"

Jason shrugged."Keeping secrets from someone is no different from lying to them. It's dishonest."

Daniel gestured at Jason while looking at Grace. "See? Jason understands."

Grace growled."It's not a fucking secret. It's just sensitive."

"Sensitive how?" asked Jasmine, now curious.

Grace, at first looking annoyed at Jasmine, then she saw the innocence in her face and relaxed. "The only fae who can do what I can are mymother and Titania. Maybe Maeve. No one knows for certain. Not even my sister can, which has my mother worried since Morgaine is in line for the throne."

Daniel thought he heard her say something more under her breath but didn't catch it."And what is this secret, Grace?" asked Daniel.

Grace hesitated and then spoke quickly."I can get a sense of important events that have not yet come to pass."

"Like a seer? Like Glenda?"

"No. My sense is far more accurate, if you canbelieve that. It is like it has already happened to me and I am simply remembering it. But it is only a sense. Like feeling hungry or tired."

"And do you sense anything now?"

"Yes. War. Destruction. Flames. Lots of flames."

"And the egg is central to that?"

"No, Daniel. You are."

Everyone looked at one another and then focused on Daniel who was gawking at Grace. Then he frowned.

"We knew that already," he said.

"Of course, you did!I'm not a prophet, Daniel!"declared Grace with heat in her voice."I only sense these things. But I am always right. Always. If I say something is important, people better listen. The egg is important. You, Daniel, are important. This circle, is important."

"Okay."

Grace looked up at Daniel from where she was jogging beside him."That's it? Okay? That's all you have to say?"

"Yes, Grace. I believe you. I only wanted tounderstand what you can do, that's all. I meant no offense."

Grace's expression softened."Well, okay then."

Amy blew out an exasperated breath of air, which annoyed Bitty sitting on her lap, who wiped at her bald, dark-brown, and gleaming head."Great, can we speed up now?I want to get home. Like today, if that's all right with everyone? Huh? Is that all right with everyone? No more stops? No more visiting dirty farms?"

Amber laughed."And just like that, Amy is back!

Yes, dear. Acron awaits!"

Daniel was still looking at Grace."You're amazing, Grace. Don't ever change."

Grace scowled at him."Don't change? What kind of misogynistic crap is that?" Grace ran ahead, but Daniel saw the smile that crossed her lips. He watched her bum.

Brian caught Daniel's eye."What she didn't say, is that her sense is far stronger than her mother's. And probably Titania as well. She doesn't know why."

"Maybe because she's half fae? Who is herfather? The other half?" asked Daniel. He had always wanted to ask but sensed it was a sensitive topic.

"She doesn't know. Her mother won't say.There's been many the person wanting to know the answer to that question, my lad. Grace foremost. She hates not knowing."

"Maybe we can help her with that?"

"Maybe, lad. Maybe. But I don't think so. It's her

past to discover. Leave her be. It's best for everyone."

They rode in silence, with Amy leading the way and urging them to go faster every few minutes. The sun was high overhead, the full heat of summer pressing down, and the loud sound of buzzing insects filled the air. Daniel felt surreal. He was riding down the same road he had walked so many times as a farmer. He recognised the bends in the road, and the trees and gullies and rocks. It should feel like coming home, but it didn't.

With a start he realised he no longer had a home. A sadness washed over him.

As if by magic Amber was there, riding beside him. "We are your home now, numb nuts." She continued on past, with Daniel gawking at her.

Jasmine followed behind her and laughed at Daniel. "It's the bond, silly. We can all sense one another. She felt your thoughts. We all did. Baby, wherever we are together, that's home."