Free Through Time-Whiplash by Claudy Conn Page B

slammer , and I’m also a sounder. ” She gave him a superior smile.
    He laughed right out loud and patted her head as though she were a favorite pet. “Well then, this grows interesting. Shee Willow, who is Fae on her father’s side and Fios on her mother’s side, is a sounder as well. Right then, sweet Fios , sound away!”
    She shoved his hand off her head and pulled a face at him. “Don’t do that. I am not your kitty cat.”
    “No, and you are not immortal , so try and remember that and stay close to me so the Unseelie Royal can’t take you hostage again,” he said irritably.
    “Hey, you told me to stay where I was, and against my better judgment, that is what I did.” Jazz gave it right back.
    “Even so, be more careful,” he answered obstinately.
    “Oh, of all the arrogant—”
    “As soon as we can get our hands on the orb, Jazmine Decker, you will be able to go home. Isn’t that what you want?” he asked.
    His gold eyes seemed to look through her. She knew he had used Glamour to mitigate the Faeness of his ancient brilliant eyes, but even so, as a seer she could see the ‘alien’ in him. It was, she reminded herself, what all Fae really were— aliens. Her mother had taught her that.. They were another race from a place called Danu. But she felt something for him growing inside her. She had to wrap it up in ice and throw it out; she simply had to.
    “Yes, it is what I want.” Silently, however, she asked herself, Right? Isn’t that what you want? A part of her whispered, No, you want to stay and help fight against the Dark Fae. It is in your blood.
    “Then I suggest, little Fios, you get to work and find the orb with your ‘sounder’ ability,” he said authoratively.
    She pushed at him with all her might, but he didn’t budge, standing there like a huge, sculptured boulder, and she said agitatedly, “Oohh!”
    “I have annoyed you, why ?” he asked on a frown.
    “You can’t help it—you are what you are,” she said on a heavy sigh.
    “Well, of course I am. You have a knack for stating the obvious, Jazmine Decker.”
    She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes. She wouldn’t think of him. Instead, she would do what her instincts told her she could do. Only once had she been put to the test. Her mother had a small pendent, handed down from mother to daughter for centuries. Oddly enough, the story went that it had been a gift from the Queen of the Seelie Fae, Aaibhe, for a service her ancestor had done.
    Her mother had hidden it, and Jazz had located it with her ‘sounder’ talent, over and over again. She touched the locket now, but before she could proceed, Trevor moved in so fast the air rushed around her like a small wind. He took the locket in his hand and held it. “ This  … belongs to my queen. It is not only a Fae artifact, it is the queen’s loi céad . It holds very unique magical properties. What are you doing with it?”
    She slapped his hand away. “It was given to one of our ancestors by your queen! ”
    “Why?”
    “I don’t like your tone,” she answered, glaring at him. Didn’t he believe her? Did he think it had been stolen? Like anyone could steal something from the queen! Ha.
    “You don’t like my tone?” he returned, looking both annoyed and perplexed. He shook his very handsome head while she studied him, but finally he grimaced and asked, “Very well then, do you know how to use it, Fios? Because I do .”
    “Well, not sure. The family story was that we could call on the queen if an injustice against one of us was being committed. That is all I know.” She shrugged. “I just wear it because it’s pretty, and I used to think maybe it would bring me good luck.” She looked around. “Not so sure about that anymore.”
    “Why did you think it would bring you good luck?” he asked, looking at her with obvious curiosity.
    She thought for a moment. Her mother had given it to her the day of the accident, telling her to always wear it, as though