The Unwanted Challenge Read online

  The Unwanted Challenge

  Empath Found Book Two

  Colette Rhodes

  Copyright © 2020 Graimarie Limited

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN: 9798624372252

  Cover design by: Graimarie Limited

  I would like to dedicate this book to my wonderful friends who encouraged me, proofread for me, and swore to never mention all the sex scenes in person.

  You girls are the bomb xx

  “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.”

  Anais Nin

  Arthus

  “I’m not going back to Albion,” Fi announced in a surprisingly steady voice, considering how she was trembling in my arms. Marlen and Bryn flanked us on either side as we faced off against Fi’s fathers, Galvyn and Attie.

  Fathers and kidnappers. Who doesn’t dream of reuniting with their long lost parents after seventeen years by way of abduction?

  “This is my home now. Besides, I couldn’t leave the guys behind…” Fi continued, trailing off awkwardly. Probably because of Bryn’s presence next to her. He wasn’t one of “the guys”, not really.

  I was squeezing Fi so tightly I was surprised she hadn’t complained. Her one arm wrapped around the crook of Marlen’s elbow and she pulled him close so that we were a little unit of three, huddled together.

  Bryn, shot us a brief scowl before refocusing his attention on Fi’s dads. I wasn’t even sure how he had ended up at the portal with us. I assumed Marlen had grabbed him to use his tracking magic to find Fi.

  “They won’t be able to protect you, daughter,” Galvyn said softly. He’d been an obnoxious prick to us but he clearly adored Fi.

  “You think we would have sent you away if there’d been any other option?” Attie added bitterly. “The gods cursed you with this gift and as your parents, we have done everything within our power to keep you safe all these years. Or was your mother’s sacrifice for nothing?”

  I knew going into this that courting Fi would involve being a combination of lover and bodyguard but I really didn’t expect we’d be fending off attacks from her own family. Even if their attacks were well-intentioned.

  Fi’s spine straightened, her muscles no longer trembling but taut with tension. I was glad to see some of her fire returning. Meeting her dads and finding out about her mother had to be overwhelming, but Fi never let anyone dictate her path. Especially not the family that had left her behind.

  “Thank you for all you’ve done for me, and I’m sorry that you’ve suffered,” she began stiffly. “That being said, I’m no longer a child and the responsibility of protecting myself falls to me now. You’ll have to excuse me if I don’t eagerly rush to follow your orders. The only threats I’ve had to endure since I moved here were from you.”

  Both Galvyn and Attie reeled back like she’d hit them, somehow surprised that Fi was upset that they had tried to frighten her into going back to Albion. I forced myself to take another deep, calming breath before I let my anger get the better of me again. I didn’t want Fi to feel my rage, it was physically painful for her. Besides, at this rate, I’d never get my wings to retract.

  “Don’t be foolish, you need—” Attie snapped but Bryn’s growl cut him off. Flames licked at his hand, itching to get to the target of his anger.

  “Bryn,” Fi said softly, lightly holding his non-flaming hand in hers and giving it a squeeze. The shock of her touch seemed to shake him out of the depths of his rage. “They’re still my fathers.”

  He scowled but extinguished the flames nonetheless.

  “I know what I need, but thank you for your concern,” Fi said, turning her attention back to her fathers. I’d never heard her sweet, soft voice filled with so much venom. To their credit, they didn’t argue with her. They both gave her long, assessing looks, arms crossed and clearly displeased.

  “Don’t trust anyone you’re not mated to and avoid the Council. Whatever happens now is on you, kid,” Attie said despondently. From where I was standing behind her, I could see Fi’s eyelashes batting furiously, probably blinking away tears.

  She was independent and full of fire, but she must have imagined what her birth family was like at least once or twice in her life and I doubt these two grumpy assholes were what she expected.

  “I’d like to leave now,” Fi said softly, so only the three of us could hear her.

  “Are you sure, foxglove?” Marlen whispered, sounding as surprised as I felt. Yes, they’d kidnapped her but I still thought she’d be interested in learning a bit more about the family she’d been separated from her entire life.

  “Yes.” Fi’s tone brooked no room for argument.

  Before she’d even answered, Bryn was moving toward the copse of trees they’d entered through, presumably where they’d left the griffins they flew here on. Fi moved to follow him and I quickly tucked her under my arm, covering her back with one of my wings. She gave her dads a pained look over her shoulder before moving toward the trees.

  We walked in silence until we were fully immersed among the trees. Bryn was already leading the griffins towards a small clearing where they could take off from.

  “You okay, foxglove?” Marlen said sympathetically, his fingers intertwining with hers. I admired the easy touch between the two of them. I’d spent my life keeping people at arm’s length in case they tried to take my wings, it was difficult for me to be physically affectionate with Fi. This whole incident with her dads was the most physical contact we’d ever had.

  “She’s pissed off,” Bryn grunted from up ahead of us.

  “I am,” Fi agreed, shooting Bryn a surprised glance from under her lashes. “Did they really think that was the right approach to helping me? Send anonymous threatening messages for months, then kidnap me? What kind of alpha male bullshit is that.” She rolled her eyes.

  “Don’t lump us all together sweetheart, the three of us all agree it was idiotic,” I murmured into her hair, relishing the feel of her safe in my arms.

  “Come on, we need to get back to the Academy before Gwyneira sends out a search party,” Bryn announced, the griffins ready and waiting for us to climb up.

  “I’m going to fly back next to you, sweetheart. I need to burn off some of this anger or my wings won’t retract.”

  “Okay,” Fi gave me a sad smile and reached tentatively up to cup my cheek. “Thank you for coming for me,” she added in a whisper meant just for my ears.

  “Don’t thank me for that, sweetheart. I’ll always follow you,” I turned my head so I could kiss the palm of her hand then stepped back so she could climb on the griffin.

  “Foxglove?” Marlen called with uncertainty, looking a little embarrassed.

  “What is it?” she immediately moved to comfort him but he gave her a reassuring smile.

  “Would you be okay flying with Bryn? You know I’m not used to flying two-person and I’m barely able to focus on keeping myself safe in the air right now. Bryn is one of the most experienced fliers in the Academy,” he was clearly apologetic at asking her to fly with Bryn but there was a hopeful glint in his eye that I’m sure was reflected in mine.

  Fi and Bryn were perhaps the best suited out of all of us. Unfortunately, it meant they were as stubborn as each other. When they got past their issues and finally came together, it would be explosive.

  “Oh,”
Fi said awkwardly, glancing at Bryn’s stoic face. She paused a moment but whatever emotions she sensed from him must have been enough to convince her that she’d be okay.

  Fi approached the griffin that Bryn was standing next to and with no preamble, he grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her up onto the beast. The physical contact from Bryn seemed to have alarmed her more than mounting the griffin.

  Marlen mounted his griffin and I followed as the two creatures took off into the skies. I had a brief moment of envy at the power of their wings — my back muscles were already straining from the flight over here but there was no way I’d be able to retract them yet, I needed to exert myself and get some of this adrenaline out of my system.

  I kept a close eye on Fi as we flew — as close as I could lagging behind the griffins, my seldom-used fae wings were no match for theirs. Bryn’s arms were wrapped tightly around her waist and it didn’t escape my notice that Fi was leaning back slightly into his embrace. I didn’t feel jealous like I thought I would, I was just glad she was safe and comfortable.

  I doubted Saffir Castell would feel as charitable if she saw the two of them right now. The sooner Bryn dropped his pointless charade of a relationship with her, the better off we’d all be.

  The griffins landed next to the stables and I followed not far behind, my back muscles burning but finally calm enough to retract my wings.

  My shirt hung off me in tatters where my wings had burst out before I had a chance to remove it. I was contemplating walking through the Academy shirtless when Gwyneira and two of her mates, Derwyn and Cadfan, burst into the clearing.

  “Ffion? Are you okay? Are you hurt?” she asked breathlessly, gripping Fi’s shoulders tightly and examining her for any sign of injury. “My magic alerted me that you were in danger.”

  Of course, Gwyneira’s guardian magic would have picked up on Fi’s distress. No wonder Bryn was eager to get Fi back to the Academy. His tracking ability meant he worked closely with Gwyneira to find students in need of assistance to attend the Academy. He’d been the one to go to Albion and retrieve Fi in the first place.

  “I’m fine,” Fi assured Gwyneira, though her smile was small and shaky. My wings itched to come back out, to defend her from anything that would upset her, even threats that had already passed.

  “Can we talk somewhere?” Fi asked uneasily, glancing around the open clearing.

  “Of course, let us return to my cabin.” Gwyneira leveled us all with a sweeping gaze before turning and striding purposefully through the forest.

  Fi moved immediately toward Marlen, gripping his hand tightly before giving me a questioning look. I nodded once and took off after Gwyneira. The three of us worked together seamlessly. Marlen offered Fi warmth and comfort, while I could take the lead when she was unsure. In the background, Bryn cursed softly before crashing along the path behind us.

  We walked to Gwyneira’s cabin in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. For the first time, I felt an almost desperate urge to claim Fi as my mate. I’d never particularly craved the mate bond before but right now, I’d do just about anything for the peek into Fi’s psyche that the bond would give me.

  Gods, I thought my family was dysfunctional. They had nothing on the Laisrens.

  We piled into Gwyneira’s sitting room, Marlen and I flanking Fi on the small sofa, Gwyneira and Bryn taking the armchairs opposite. Derwyn disappeared into the kitchen and I heard the familiar clang of a kettle on cast-iron. Cadfan stood like a sentinel at the door, watching us.

  “Ffion? What happened, dear?” I was surprised to see Gwyneira showing such concern for Fi. She was a compassionate fae, but usually quite distant and reserved with her students. The other guys must have been thinking the same thing, judging by their expressions.

  “I met my dads,” Fi answered cautiously. “They, uh, kidnapped me... They wanted me to go back to Albion, they don’t think it’s safe for me here.”

  Gwyneira pursed her lips. “They think Albion is safer for you than Avalon?”

  “They hid me there. My mother died because of it,” Fi choked out and Marlen immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “They told me to stay away from the Council. My fathers kept me safe there all these years…” she trailed off looking a little overwhelmed before looking up at me beseechingly.

  “One of Fi’s fathers, Galvyn Laisren, has an illusionist gift. He was regularly traveling to Albion to reapply Fi’s glamour without her knowledge. They were responsible for the messages that had been left for Fi here at the Academy. He supplied the student who was leaving them with a cloaking amulet,” I laid out the details as factually as possible, keeping my emotions in check.

  I couldn’t think about that prick Kelvyn right now, my wings would reappear and I’d fly straight to his dorm to chuck him out of a window. His fire affinity wouldn’t do him any good then.

  Gwyneira’s eyes flashed dangerously. “We will come back to that student in a moment. Ffion, how many messages were left for you in total?”

  “Four,” she told the floor, squirming uncomfortably in her seat like a naughty child. Four was news to me too. I glanced over her head at Marlen who gave me an apologetic look. He didn’t look surprised in the least.

  Strangely I didn’t feel as annoyed, knowing that. At least Fi had told someone. Marlen had been around her a lot longer than I had.

  “I should have told you about the notes,” Fi said guiltily. “I’m not used to trusting other people.”

  Bryn’s expression morphed from furious concern to ice cold resentment. He stood abruptly, glared at Fi and stormed out of the cabin. Gwyneira’s raised eyebrows followed his journey.

  “We fire faes are passionate about the safety of those we care about,” she said lightly. Fi quietly snorted next to me. “While I understand your concerns, Ffion, this was a security issue and it is important that those are brought to my attention.” Gwyneira’s tone was firm but her eyes were kind, she clearly had a soft spot for Fi.

  “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” Fi muttered, thoroughly chastised.

  Gwyneira nodded, seemingly satisfied with Fi’s apology. “I imagine the three of you have much to discuss. In the meantime, I will see what I can find out about the Laisren family without drawing attention to you from the Council.”

  “I would appreciate that, thank you,” Fi gave Gwyneira a watery smile and I could tell it was time to go. The unexpected appearance of her family in Fi’s life had shaken her usually unflappable calm.

  “Thank you, Master Gwyneira,” I said, standing up, followed quickly by Fi and Marlen. “We’ll be sure to inform you of any updates in the future.”

  She nodded and the three of us made our way out to the forest path to return to campus. Fi needed Marlen and me right now.

  Fi

  “Let’s regroup at my cabin,” Arthus announced. “Fewer ears around,” he added.

  “Good plan. Unfortunately, I have guard duty tonight,” Marlen said, shooting me an apologetic glance. “I’d feel much better knowing you were staying with Arthus, foxglove.”

  I felt Arthus’ satisfaction with that idea and hesitantly agreed. I felt a bit intrusive just barging in and staying with him like that, but I doubted either of the guys were going to let me stay on my own any time soon.

  I tucked my arm into the crook of Marlen’s elbow, cuddling in close to him. Now that I was out of imminent danger, Arthus had returned to his usual hands-off routine but I didn’t mind. I could feel how settled his emotions were compared to the rage he had experienced back at the portal.

  The physical contact had helped Arthus calm down and I was glad I could do that for him. It seemed like such an insignificant gesture, considering he’d taken off like a bat out of hell to follow me when he thought I was in danger.

  We piled into Arthus’ cabin and he immediately got to work building the fire and brewing tea. Fae and their tea. One of my old foster mums drank about six cups of English Breakfast a day and I’d thought she had problems.
I probably had double that some days.

  Arthus’ cabin was a circle cabin, designed for mates, as it was further away from the campus and he was safer here. It had a two-person couch and an armchair instead of the two armchairs my cabin had, a three-seater table and just one platform, accessible by ladder, with a generously-sized bed on it. I couldn’t look at the bed without blushing so I kept my eyes firmly at ground-level.

  I curled up at one end of the couch, tucking my knees under my chin and wrapping my arms around them. It was a self-soothing mechanism, how I’d always sat at night in my foster homes when I needed a hug but didn’t have anyone in my life to give me one.

  Marlen immediately moved to my side, pulling my legs over his lap and running his hands up and down them. I really didn’t want to cry but it was such a comforting gesture and the reminder I needed that I didn’t have to get through bad days on my own anymore.

  “Talk to us, foxglove,” Marlen urged.

  “I don’t even know where to begin,” I said with a sigh. “When I arrived in Avalon and found out what I was, I had no desire to track down my family. They left me on the side of the road like a sack of trash, why would I want to get to know those people?

  “Then, as I realized they probably had their reasons for ditching me in Albion, I was curious about what those reasons were and I wanted to talk to them about it.”

  “And now you’ve met them?” Arthus prompted.

  “I’m a little disappointed,” I said with a hollow laugh. “More than a little. I wasn’t expecting some kind of joyous, tearful reunion but kidnapping me, tying me up, and trying to kick me out of the realm were definitely below my expectations.”

  It was a kick in the teeth to the little girl inside who always hoped her parents would come back for her. They did come back, but they were assholes. Sorry, inner child. We’re probably not going to be having family game nights any time soon.