Stale air almost made Echo choke. He had no choice though. The humming of the engines offered no comfort to the warrior faery, nor did the multitude of people crowded in this contraption. The seats were far from comfortable and Echo couldn’t even stretch out his aching muscles.

It’d only been a day but Alexandrya had given him quite a workout the last time they slept together. Said it was for their own good again.

In truth, he didn’t care. The energy boost between two faeries who shared emotions powered him and helped fuel his determination to find Serenissa and stop this madness that was to be a wedding, even if it meant flying in a damn man made machine, rather than whizzing through the air with magick.

Alexandrya brushed her hand over Echo’s arm. “You’ve been quieter than usual. What’s on your mind?”

Echo tried focusing on the large engines humming loudly, but couldn’t seem to drown out anything, including Alexandrya.

Looking out the window, Echo watched the ground disappear before them. Flying didn’t make him nervous, being in the large jumbo jet that could easily turn into a flaming firebomb did. The amount of iron used to construct the plane made him equally nervous.

“Oh, come on. Talk to me.” She patted his hand.

He flinched.

She frowned. “Don’t be like that, Echo.”

He huffed. How could he possibly tell her what he was thinking? He couldn’t even rationalize it himself. “I’m a murderer, Alex. I’m a lethal, ravenous killer. How was I supposed to protect Serenissa from harm?”

She gave his hand a squeeze. “You weren’t. You were supposed to do what you thought was best for you at the time, Dear.”

He scoffed. “Yeah. And becoming a dog of the military sounded great. Then they made me an assassin. I killed for our side, Alex. Hell, I remember when I first learned that they called me that.”

She lowered her eyelids. Looking at him, she smiled. “I know. And you laughed and loved it. I killed people too. I went against my nature too, just like you did. Don’t you forget that, Echo. But,” she paused, closing her eyes momentarily. “We’re done with that phase of our lives.”

“What about the blood on my hands? Or the sin in my heart? Or…”

His thoughts trailed off. He couldn’t believe how he’d failed his other lover. And her family. And the village they grew up in, and had lived in for numerous years. “How is it that humans possess little if any magic, yet they still managed to defeat much of our great armies?”

“Dear, you don’t get it. We’re not meant to fight. The Fae are the magical, sensual creatures of this world. We’re not like humans who war, or ogres who conquer those who are smaller than them. We are peaceful, and perverted.” She winked. “Who put the idea of sin into your head, Echo?”

“Serenissa.” He muttered the word.

“How did she manage that? And what does it matter? You still did what you believed was the right thing.”

He glared at her. “And you were a fool to follow me.”

“So I hear. But,” she sighed and slumped against the seat, “I’d do it again.”

He looked away. “Still.”

“What?”

“I failed,” he whispered.

She slapped his hand. “Get over it already! You made a choice based on what you thought was best. Wasn’t the High Court planning to rewards us when we were to retire?”

The sting didn’t really hurt though he rubbed his hand anyway. “I don’t need their blood money”

The plane kept climbing until it leveled out at around thirty thousand feet above ground. Echo’s stomach did several flip flops and the captain’s voice did little to soothe Echo’s nerves. The few thousand or so faeries who had migrated to this realm had slowly adjusted to the idea of technology, but Echo hadn’t spent much time out of Faery.

Leaning over Alexandrya, he kept looking out the window at the ground below. Swallowing hard, he forced himself to relax. His stomach didn’t feel any better.

Still, anything could go wrong.

The fact that security made him check his blade didn’t ease his fears, either. If some other faery on the plane went crazy, Echo could handle him without problem, but his blade made things easier, cleaner.

“Close your eyes.” Alexandrya took his hand in hers.

Echo drew in a deep breath and did as she asked. An incredible heat flowed through his body, producing a blue light before his closed eyes that slowed his heart rate and chased away much of his anxieties.

“Focus on my voice, Echo. The lovely sound of my slow, sensual voice. Focus on it calming your body, stilling your mind from dreadful thoughts.”

Her soft voice seemed to float over his mind, wrapping around it. Comforting him.

The next thing he knew, the plane landed.

Alexandrya’s nails caressed Echo’s forearm.

Rubbing sleep out of his eyes, he looked around. “Are we there yet?”

“Of course. We’re in Oakland. Stand up, stretch. It’s good for you.”

His head hurt.

Echo sighed. Even though his eyes had been closed, he’d kept drifting in and out of sleep, hanging somewhere in the fine balance between dreaming and somewhat conscious.

Coming off the plane, they both appeared dressed differently.

Instead of the large trench coat that hid Echo’s silhouette, he wore black jeans and a tight, form fitting t-shirt. His muscles rippled beneath the tight clothing. His midnight blue hair stood up about ten inches. With his angry scowl, he looked menacing. Black boots complemented the outfit.

He couldn’t believe that Alexandrya was taking things so lightly. The love of his life was at stake!

Alexandrya was dressed in form fitting spider mesh top and blue jeans. Her dirty blonde hair hung in loose wisps around her face. Red lipstick emphasized her emerald green and gold eyes.

“What? A girl’s gotta look good regardless of what’s going on around her …”

He huffed.

“It’s not natural to force your eye color to conform to man’s standards.” He spat out the word man as an insult.

She scowled. The way the top fit her body distracted his thoughts until the throng of people ushered them along though the gate.

Once out of the gate, Echo noticed an even larger multitude of people. Many shops, vendors and people were spread out throughout the concourse. Walking slowly down the path towards the baggage claim, Alexandrya leading him, he caught a glance at the headlines of the Oakland Tribune.

Princess Serenissa’s picture was plastered all over the front with some ugly short, dwarf who sported a bad haircut.

Echo picked up the paper and skimmed the headlines. His jaw dropped. Ire flooded his veins.

Alexandrya’s eyes widened. Her jaw ticked nervously.

Echo didn’t like the fact that she appeared nervous when normally she was the calmer one.

“She’s to be married this month,” Alexandrya folded the paper over itself and put it back on the shelf.

Frowning, Echo looked at her. “Yeah, that’s what it says.”

Anxiously, Echo ran down the recourse ramp towards baggage claim.
Once he’d retrieved his sword, he felt slightly better.

Catching up to him, Alexandrya settled a hand on his shoulder.

Turning around, he glared at her. “What?”

“You’re going off to do recon once we get settled in, aren’t you?”

He didn’t reply.

A grin crossed her pink lips, forming a perfect bow. “I knew it. I’m
in.”

Echo’s jaw ticked. “No.” His shoulders tightened.

“Why not?” She pouted.

“There is no reason, that’s why.” He turned to face away but her hand on his shoulder spun him around.

“I love it when you’re full of shit, Echo.” She sounded every bit as sarcastic as he expected her to. Still, he didn’t want her to come along. She could get hurt again…

He let out a long, slow breath. “I’d rather not soil your hands with anymore sin, Alexandrya.”

“But you’re not my boss, Echo.” She glared at him, intent to stare him down until he gave in, the tactic she’d used so many times on him.

It worked, but he wasn’t going to let her know he’d given into her that easily. “No, but I know what’s best for you.”

Turning away from Alexandrya, he raised a hand. A taxi pulled up to the curb.

“Fuck you,” he heard her say. Opening the door, Echo slid in the back seat. A hand caught it and stopped the door from shutting.
She slid in beside him. “You know I’m coming with.”

“Whatever.” He crossed his arms and shut his eyes. It was too damn right and unnatural outside even though the weather was somewhat dreary at the moment.

Following him was the natural thing for her to do. Really, he didn’t mind.

Really.

She was a good spy.

Alexandrya stuck her tongue out at him.

She scooted further beside him. “You don’t even know where we’re supposed to go, do you?”

An eyebrow arched up…

“I didn’t think so.” Turning to face the driver, Alexandrya handed him a piece of paper with an address on it. “Get us there pronto.”

“You’re the boss.” The cab driver pulled onto the road and headed downtown.

Echo kept quite for the duration of the ride.

***

Music played in the background while Echo and Alexandrya sat in the corner of a bar overlooking a busy street.

“You can’t just sneak in and murder Marshal, Echo. It’d be too difficult to do.”

Echo huffed. “For you. I will get in, slit his throat and leave with Princess Serenissa in a matter of minutes.”

Alexandrya heaved a sigh. She looked around and flagged a waitress. “Two vodka sours, please.”

The waitress nodded and headed towards the bar.

Echo arched an eyebrow. “Are you trying to get me drunk in order to slow me down?”

“No. I’m getting us drinks. Besides, you don’t even know where Serenissa and Marshal are at the moment.”

Echo looked away at the crowd gathering outside. “Something’s up.”

Alexandrya nodded.

Shifting his weight, he moved to face the crowd. The waitress brought their drinks and left a bill on the table.

Reaching behind him for his drink, he spotted a large white limousine that pulled up at the curb. Echo stood, took a careful step towards the crowd. He felt Alexandrya’s hand on the small of his back.

“I’m here for support.” Her voice drifted through the air, only he heard her.

He nodded and sipped his drink. Setting it down, he looked at the crowd again. Heading towards the covered patio, Echo scanned for foreign energy and gasped when a large blast hit him metaphysically.

Reaching for the hilt of his sword, he maneuvered his way into the crowd until he’d managed to lose Alexandrya and get a clear view of the limousine.

The car was pristine in color, condition. Echo smelled the clean leather interior as the window rolled down. The sun roof opened and a large man popped his head through the roof. He looked human, smelled somewhat fae …

Deep lines in his face gave him an older appearance that wasn’t helped by thinning, gray hair. The man had fat lips, a stub nose and was in short, ugly.

Was that the oaf she was marrying?

It couldn’t be.

A hand appeared through the window and waved at the crowd.

Long, manicured fingernails were painted ‘come fuck me’ red.

Echo’s breath caught in his throat.

The window rolled down further, giving Echo a glimpse of long auburn curls that framed a round face. Soft skin glittered. Echo’s heart sank when he realized she’d lost some of her magical glow.

“Serenissa? What happened to you, my beauty?” His jaw dropped when he realized she had seen him.

Frowning hard, she looked away and into the crowd.

Her tri color eyes still dazzled him. Silver irises swam in a mixture of deep sea blue and sun red that made Echo’s mouth dry. Her exposed neck made him want to lick trails of fire down her throat and collarbone while Alexandrya slid her hands all over the both of them.

His cock hardened, pulse quickened. Forcing his way through the crowd, Echo made his way to the front where he could see Serenissa directly.

“Serenissa!”

Unable to ignore him further, she looked straight at him. Her eyes widened just quick enough for a fae to notice. She mouthed something and frowned.

Echo couldn’t make out what she was trying to say. Stepping closer, he reached for her.

The man waving to the crowd stopped and turned an angry stare on Echo. “The princess has much to do today and cannot be bothered any further. Driver,” the ugly man knocked on the roof of the car, “take us home.”

The fat balding man slid into the car and the sun roof closed.

Echo stared open mouthed at the limousine as it pulled off.

Serenissa looked forward and rolled the window up with what seemed like a finality he couldn’t bear to witness. The car drove down the road and was three streets away before Echo could force himself to move.

Alexandrya caught up and put a hand on his shoulder. “What are we doing standing here? Let’s follow them.”

Echo looked at Alexandrya. “She hates me.”

“She does not. She’s just upset with you. You’ve been gone for what, how many years? Even by our standards that’s somewhat a long time.”

He shuddered. “She mouthed something to me.”

“What did she say, Echo?”

Echo looked away.

“You don’t know, do you?” Alexandrya forced him to look at her.

“And stop turning away from me, dear. It doesn’t do you any good. I can read your mind either way, but it’s just not polite.”

“Whatever.”

“Why would she hate you? Seeing you after all this time is a shock, that’s all.”

Echo started walking. “Do you think so?” Hope could be something he could hold onto, right?

Alexandrya nodded. “Fifteen years. She’s upset and probably confused now. Much of Faery thought you were dead after our last mission. We barely escaped, remember?”

How could he forget? It’d been seven years since he’d last been a dog of the military and murdered someone. It was then he learned that his enemies had dubbed him “The Assassin.”

He chuckled when he heard the title until he realized that the news had probably gotten back to Serenissa. She didn’t have a malicious bone in her entire being.

But he did his job with efficiency that would make any hit man proud. And all those political assassinations had to happen, especially the one with Brandyne. That fool had been amassing those who would defy the court into a brigade of bandits who wanted to control all of Faery with an iron fist. Brandyne was the worst of them all. He wasn’t a true faery, he was some sort of mixed race being that had nasty urges and knew greed all too well.

Hell, the bastard didn’t even beg for his life before Echo delivered the killing blow.

Still, with any potential large scale revolution stopped, news of what happens in war had to travel and although Serenissa was naïve to think that her lover would come back an innocent, she couldn’t fathom why he could do what he had done.

That had to be her problem with him. In short, she couldn’t accept him for what he was, a vile killing machine.

“She must think I’m vile.”

“Doubt it. Leave me for that long and then reappear without explanation. See what I do.” Alexandrya set her hand in the small of his back.

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Echo jingled change in one pocket.

“You’d never let me.”

“You’re damn right. Now come on. Let’s go. We can follow them on foot or fly.”

“How are we going to track them? They’re gone by now.”

Alexandrya threw her hands up in annoyance. “Ugh! Don’t you know the scent of your lover? Besides, I managed to tag the vehicle.”