The First Mate

Chapter 20: Fang and Claws

The Queen stared at me in disbelief.
I rose to my feet, keeping my eyes on hers.
"It's been a while." Annie smiled at her.
The Queen blinked. "Indeed, it has." She said cautiously, looking over my body before her mouth twisted . "I should have known, you've barely change your look."
Annie shrugged. "Reincarnations are like that."
The Queen faltered, her eyes reassessing me. "That explains alot."
Annie smiled at her. "Now, are you going to help me or not?"
The Queen's face fell, annoyed and I had to resist a flinch in fear, Annie giggled.
The woman waved her hand, the shield that surrounded the ring, one that would have rendered me unconcious or a puppet to her, dropping.
Annie's smile brightened as she stepped into the ring, the Queen summoned two small wooden stumps for us to sit on, recalling the fire between us to keep us warm.
She looked at my arm, her mouth twisting. "Then those scars are from Fey metal."
I narrowed my brows, looking down at the blue scars. "Fey metal?"
"Forged and treated in the blood of a very special Fey." She explained, her voice dark. "Whoever this Jordon is, has defiled a unicorn."
Annie rage ignited, half shifting my form and a strong wind filled with magic whipped the cave, thundering against the stone.
The Queen remained still, raising a hairless eyebrow in boredom. "Are you done?"
Annie snarled at her but sat down, relaxing my form. "You should be enraged ." She hissed.
The Queen laughed, a noise of a babbling brook. "I am." She smiled. "But, if you are here, it means my wrath is not needed."
Annie rolled my eyes. "I still need your help." She tossed the wreath at the Queen, it landed on her open palm, her webbed hand closing around it, her nails tipped in black. "Such a beautiful gift." She awed, spinning it and turning it in her hands before she placed it on her head, fitting to band her forehead.
It glowed for a moment, the hairs flashing like silver and the shimmering of magic swirled around it. The Queen closed her eyes, sighing deeply.
"Oh, it's been so long." She breathed.
Annie chuckled. "I always thought it funny you needed a wreath to be feel warmth." She glanced around the cave, the air muggy.
The Queen chuckled back. "It is more than sunlight." She kept her eyes closed, her chin tilted up as if she was bathing in sunlight. "It's the feeling of the mortal world."
I gave her a soft smile. "You miss it, don't you?"
She returned the smile, opening her eyes and removed the wreath, placing it on her lap. "I chose my title, knowing what I would give up." She said simply, though her voice was tipped with sadness. "The Seelie Court needed a Queen," she gave a tight smile. "Not a whimsical, sunloving succubus."
Annie changed my smile to loving. "You'll always be that girl to me, Genevieve."
She smiled, probably having not heard her true name in years. "You were a true friend to me, Silvena." She said kindly, her voice in another time as she looked at me. "I've heard your form has brought back some of the old ways."
Annie nodded. "She intends to make some changes."
The Queen gave another tight smile, raising from her chair and held out the wreath to me.
Annie drew back.
I stood, hesitating.
Her smile warmed as she held it slightly higher, encouraging me. "I will aid you, Rose. But, your gift would only be selfish of me to take, you have done enough to bargain this deal."
I stepped back. "Then, consider it a gift."
Her eyes widened slightly. "You'd gift a Fey?"
I nodded once. "It was our way once." I said simply. "You have kept your realm safe and hidden from mortals, a deal you agreed to hundreds of years ago to a friend." I took a steadying breath, pulling Annie back to the surface so we spoke as one. "As that friend, I'm here to release you from our deal." I gestured to the wreath. "If you accept, do not give up your crown, my Queen."
Her chest fell, releasing a sighing breath of contempt. "Very well." She placed it on her head again, smiling. "I accept."
A new magic swirled, wrapping to form around her and filled the circle with a light of blue magic. 
It settled, revealing Genevieve.
Curls of long hay coloured hair, skin as golden as the sun and eyes that still shine like tar, but shaped to more human sizing.
A dress of flowing blue fabric cascaded off her shoulders and pooled at her feet like the tide.
Annie and I smiled at her as she looked across her body, a tear breaking in happiness.
I gave her a moment, letting her admire the form she had not seen in years, the form of her Succubus body from her time before she was named Queen of the Seelie Court, the daughter of King Oberon and Lady Eveea.
She touched her chest, sighing at her own warmth. "Ask me anything." She said.
"I only require Jordon and his family. I will hunt them, but I need permission."
She gave a trilled laughter, a noise of music and my heart fluttered. "I will find him and banish him." She assured, smiling cruelly. "But, it seems he has come looking for you." She raised her head, looking to the ceiling. "I can smell him, or should I say, you."
The surface.
My eyes widened. "Gabriel." I turn and dove into the water.
I felt Genevieve beside me, her legs morphing into the tail of a shark as she grabbed my wrist and pulled me from the cave.
Her speed was almost painful as we curved out and she shot straight for the surface, throwing us out of the water and landed us on the shore.
I didn't let myself stumble, throwing myself into a run towards the car, feeling the shadows move with intensity.
I couldn't see Gabriel.
A loud noise sounded.
A bang and my side suddenly screamed in agony as I was thrown to the ground like an impact.
"Silvena!" Genevieve hissed, beside me, her hand covering a bleeding wound on my side.
"Go, get out of here." I urged, Annie working quickly to heal the damage of my torn flesh and internal bleeding. 
The dark chuckling sent a shock wave of panic through me and my head snapped to the side, the line of dark trees and the pitch black night.
Tall but slender in build, short brown hair and blue eyes that stared at me with lustful hatred, a gun still smoking in his hand.
"I missed you, slave." Jordon stepped out of the forest.
Genevieve hissed at him, sharp teeth bared as she rose to her feet. "Abomination."
He smirked at her, something in his eyes shining unnaturally. "Speak for yourself."
She hissed again, ready to attack.
I grabbed her wrist, Annie healing me enough I could get to my feet.
He raised the gun at me, his smirk cruel. "Move again, the next one is silver." He warned.
So, the first was a warning shot.
That was a new one.
"I'm not coming back with you." I said sternly, knowing I need to control myself.
I didn't know where Gabriel was, I couldn't feel his presence, making me panic enough to check my shield were still in place.
Even if I pulled them down, forced Xav awake, he wouldn't get to me in time.
Jordon glanced around, sniffing the air for a moment before looking back at me. "I don't smell anyone who's going to stop me." He smiled, taking a step forward.
I pulled Genevieve behind me, even if she was taller than me, I raised a shield around her in protection.
"You are making a very bad choice." I warned him.
He looked at Gen over my shoulder. "What's a Succubus going to do? Fuck me to death?" He scoffed.
Both Gen and I hissed at the disrespect.
Jordon fired.
I fell into the car, grunting as I grabbed my shoulder, the silver making me scream from the agony as it burned through my skin for a moment.
Annie became enraged.
Gen raised her arms, the lake behind her roaring to life as the water rose from it and shot forward, slamming into Jordan like a tidal wave.
He raised his arms, crossing them in front of him as he crouched.
A shield formed around him, deflecting the water, only pushing him back.
What?! Annie screamed. I got to my feet, throwing open the car door and opened th glove compartment, finding the crystal I had in it.
I turned and tossed it high into the air.
"Porecta!" A dome formed, blue light flashing and the falling around us.
The magic around Jordon vanished and I snarled at him, seeing the Shifters and the Witch who moved in the shadows behind him.
"I can't wait to break you." Jordon smiled at me.
I growled. "Fight me yourself then."
He gave a hard laugh, raising his arms to the people to flanked behind him. "But they're all so eager to fuck you, pet."
His smile was vicious. "One way or another."
The darkness behind Jordon moved, shifting and swirls peaked across the faces of the six who flanked him.
"Just like Damien?" I called.
"Oh, they're much worse. Even I'm a little worried for you."
Slowly and silently, they dropped into the pitch black, Jordon unaware as the red eyes flashed behind him.
Gabriel formed, leaning close to Jordon's ear. "I wouldn't be." He hissed.
Jordon swung in surprise, his arm missing Gabriel as he ducked under it and punched into Jordon's ribs, sending him to the ground and pinned him with shadows as he snarled.
Gabriel was in front of me, pulling me into the car. "Go, there's more." He urged, and then turned, faltering when he saw Gen.
He narrowed his eyes at her, as she did him. "Protect my mate or we'll have issues."
She gave him a pout as she climbed into the car. "How sweet."
Gabriel hissed at her, shadows falling behind him and I saw the shapes of his hoard form and descended on Jordon.
My eyes widened.
Gabriel smirked at me, kissing me quickly before he closed the door.
"Go, get to Xav."
"What-"
"I'll be fine, Rose!" He snapped at me. The sound of Shifters closing in and filling the area made me tremble. "Get to safety."
I nodded, turning on the car and slammed on the accelerator, spinning the wheel and gunned it.
Genevieve took a moment to put a seatbelt on, more curious than necessary.
"Fascinating." She mused, touching the band.
I growled and dropped my shields.
Where are you?! Dane and Theo shouted at me the moment they were down.
I flinched, hearing Xavier echo them.
I was making friends.
Rose! They growled at me.
The lake reserve. Jordon attacked us. Gabriel is fighting him with the hoard, but I don't know how many there were.
I felt them tense, rage, anger and worry thrashing into the bond.
Get to Xavier. Dane growled. Theo and I are almost there.
I felt the caress of comfort and my heart shook.
Gabriel had told them.
He only told us about this one. Theo grumbled, I could picture him crossing his arms in annoyance. Thought the same thing you did.
I'm sorry. I said to them all, feeling their shared sigh.
You did what you had to. Dane soothed. None of us could have helped you and if you'd told us, you know we'd have tried to stop you.
Better to beg for forgiveness than ask for  permission. I teased.
Dane and Xavier growled at me, Theo chuckled.
You haven't begged yet. Theo teased, his voice thick.
I gave them a lustful whimper, feeling them relax a fraction, knowing I wouldn't if I was injured.
I've sent scouts to back up Gabriel, though I doubt he needs it. Dane said, his voice even. Two more have flanked your car.
Thank you. I sent a pulse of love to him, receiving one back as I saw the forms of Shifters in my rear vision.
Two large Wolves.
My eyes widened at the sight of them.
You sent Quade and Finn! Th....that means you've known this whole time!
Dane chuckled. We may not be as smart as our mate, but we know when she's up to mischief.
Xavier gave a small growl, his voice returning. You think I didn't taste the Berry Thistle?
I blushed. Honestly, I thought I did well to hide it.
Xavier laughed. It didn't stop it being obvious, baby. I'm not often that tired.
I giggled for a moment before sighing, sending my guilt through our bond. I wasn't sure how well it'd go, I didn't want to risk any of you. I'm sorry I lied.
They stroked my mental shields, comforting and loving.
How did it go? Theo asked curiously.
I gave Gen a sideways glance as she fiddled around every button on the centre console, showing them as she flicked on the airconditioning, only to squeal and slam it off when she was blasted in the face with air.
I made a friend.
I felt my mates pale seeing the Seelie Queen, not seen outside of the Fey realms for over six centuries.
She's... Dane trailed off, as if he was unsure.
Annie and her made a deal. One I severed. For now, she's free to roam.
I felt the intrigue and questions.
Later. Dane clipped, all of us agreeing. Get to us, Rose. There was pleading edge to his voice.
I'm going as fast as I can. I promised.