Chapter 21

Raine summoned her courage and looked up at the door of the cottage. She knew that she must tell Bryce; she couldn't just leave without an explanation. She walked purposefully up the steps and walked inside. Bryce stood immediately. They were all sitting at the table, and it appeared that they were having a heated discussion.

"Bryce, I must speak with you alone," Raine said, and then turned to Colin. "Thank you for your hospitality, but I must go. It was wonderful to meet you all."

Colin stood and took her hands into his. "'Twas our pleasure, princess. You are welcome in our home any time."

Raine smiled and then turned toward the door as Bryce followed her outside onto the wooden porch.

She didn't turn to face him, unable to look him in the eye. "I have to tell you something, and you will not like it."

Bryce wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to his chest to look into her eyes. "You can tell me anything."

Raine let out a breath. "As I told you, I went to Virtra to become human."

Bryce nodded, waiting for her to continue.

Raine's eyebrows pulled together in concern. This was the moment that she had been dreading.

"What did you promise her?" It was a simple question, but carried the weight of the world.

She had wanted to tell him, but now that the moment was here...

Bryce grabbed her arms firmly. "Tell me."

Raine closed her eyes, and then opened them again. How could she tell him? "She had me retrieve something for her."

"What?" Bryce asked, his eyebrows pulling together in concern.

Raine bit her lower lip. "'Tis the Locks of Samson."

"You mean, Samson from the Bible?"

She nodded. "Virtra said that the bearer of the urn will wield significant power."

Bryce let out a deep breath. "Raine, what have you done? Cambria is not safe now ... and Briana." His arms dropped to his sides as he pulled away.

Raine gently touched his arm. "Bryce, I am so sorry for your kingdom, but she does not want yours. She wants mine."

Bryce wheeled around quickly to look directly into her eyes. "'Tis not only your kingdom that she wants, I assure you. If she harnesses your people's magic, Cambria will be next. With that much power, neither of our kingdoms are safe." He grabbed her arms. "We must tell Colin immediately."

Raine shook her head. "I must go. She is in the Magical Forest as we speak, looking for my people."

Bryce looked directly into her eyes. "Then, we shall go together."

"No. I must go alone," Raine said as she thought of her father, her sisters, and the rest of her kingdom in the Magical Forest. She regretted her selfishness, and hoped that her kingdom or her family wouldn't have to pay the price.

"No. I am going with you," Bryce said, gently shaking Raine's shoulders. "We must hurry."

Raine closed her eyes as if trying to erase the horrors that flooded her mind. "I did this, Bryce, and I must undo this ... alone."

Bryce shook his head as he grabbed her shoulders firmly. "We only have a few short days together, and I intend to spend them all at your side, for better or for worse. We shall talk of this later, but right now, we must tell Colin. We cannot delay!"

Raine nodded as she forced the images from her head. Taking Bryce's hand, they headed up the stairs of the cabin. Raine stopped and said in a low voice, "I cannot endanger your family, Bryce, nor your kingdom."

"Worry not about my family. They are stronger than you think," Bryce said. "We shall do this together."

She nodded. "Then, we must hurry." She just hoped that they weren't too late to repair the damage that she was responsible for. Whatever Virtra did with her power was now on her.

Raine summoned her courage as they opened the door.

Colin stood. "What has happened?" he asked, sensing the danger.

Bryce released Raine's hand and walked over to Colin. "Virtra, the Dragon Queen," Bryce said. "She is up to something terrible. I know it."

A creased formed between Colin's eyes as he looked first at Bryce, and then at Raine. "Tell me."

Bryce looked at Raine, as if asking her permission to tell him.

She looked up at Bryce, concerned, and then back at Colin. "I am not what I seem."

Colin pulled back slightly. "What do you mean?"

Raine bit her lower lip, not sure how much to tell him, but she thought that the direct approach was best. "What I tell you now, you must never tell another living soul."

Colin walked over to the door and shut it firmly, then turned to Bryce and then looked at Raine. "I swear." Colin looked around the table. Everyone had stopped eating. "This concerns you all, as well."

Bryce and Reese nodded, and then said in unison, "I swear."

Briana's smile quickly faded. "What has happened?"

Raine bit her lower lip. She looked around the room, and all eyes were on her. She let out a deep breath. "I am not what I seem."

Colin shook his head as the crease between his eyes became more prominent. "You said that before. What does that mean?"

Raine nodded, summoning her courage. "I am a fairy."

Silence fell across the room, and then everyone burst out laughing.

"Nice joke," Colin said to Raine, and then turned to Bryce. "Come. Sit down and eat. The food is getting cold. Why are you wasting our time with such foolishness?"

"'Tis not foolishness," Raine replied, capturing everyone's attention. She looked around the room, and then let out a deep breath. "I am a fairy from the Magical Forest." Then, Raine told them everything, including meeting Bryce for the first time and going to Virtra. She paused for a moment, and then told them of the urn containing the Locks of Samson.