Free Taming The Fae - An Exsilium Short Story by Karen Swart

Chapter 1
    Max
    We all shifted and landed outside Chax’s
home. My heart was still pumping with adrenaline and just utter
shock. I remember the fury. I remember the hatred and then… my own
hellhound pushed me back. I had to witness everything from inside
myself. Although I carried the same fury and hatred, there was a
point where I would not have been able to go on. But not this other
form of me. This form was powerful, too powerful. And then I felt
it, a slight touch of such peace and serenity that even that
powerful form gasped from it. I looked up and found her, still
frozen in place as her big blue eyes looked back at me.
    Nanini.
    A primal surge when through my body, a
declaration, a promise. Mine.
    “Do you guys think Kas will be okay?” The
dreadful silence was broken by Lada.
    “It will be okay. Chax is mad, but he is not
capable of hurting her…. Or let’s just say killing her.” Lotan
embraced Lada in his arms, trying to comfort her fears.
    I looked back to Nanini but she was gone.
Storming forward, I started to search the house. Her eyes were
filled with her own fear, and I am afraid that fear was of me. I
searched everywhere but could not find her. Where the hell did
she go?
    Furious, I stormed back to Lotan and the
others, who were all now in the living room. Lada was sobbing
uncontrollably as Lotan held her. “Did anyone see where Nanini
went?” It came out more of a demand than a question. But given what
we just survived, Nanini being alone was not such a good thing.
    “No, she was here a minute ago and then she
shifted out,” Ben replied, opening and closing his hand. He must
have hurt himself during the fight. Although now immortal, injuries
still hurt like hell to heal from.
    “I need to find her.” I turned around,
determined to find her.
    “Max, she would be in shock. You are the last
person she ever considered mating, and she was never one for the
whole fall in love thing,” Lada muffled as she sat back up to look
at me.
    “I know. It’s the reason I need to find her.
She could get into even more trouble if Chax finds out she left the
house.” Although, I might kill him if he tried. No, not might, I
will.
    I stopped myself. Where in the hell did
that just came from? Inside me I could feel the other part of
me, the creature, restless and frustrated. He wanted her found
badly. Shit! That’s all need, a hormone-enraged
hellhound.
    “Knowing her, she would have gone straight
for her parents. They have a very close relationship, and she would
need help to get over the shock,” Lada continued on.
    “Where can I find them?” Again it came out
more of an order than a question.
    “Max, do you really think it’s a good thing
to try and sort this out now? Maybe you should give her some time,”
Ben suggested.
    Should I? My hellhound slammed into my
head, overpowering that thought instantly. Find. Mine . I bit
down, trying to gain control. Feeling my hellhound backing up, I
opened my eyes and locked eyes with Caim. He was standing there
motionless.
    “I think I need to go as well,” he uttered,
and shifted out instantly. Bloody hell, it would seem we both have
problems.
    Lotan whistled. “It’s going to be a long
night, that’s for sure.”
    “Lada, where are her parents?” I asked again,
this time more politely.
    She rumbled off instructions to get to their
house, and with a quick thanks I shifted and landed almost exactly
in front of their home. I have been secretly scavenging Exsilium
for a while, and have learned my way around the realm. It’s always
good to know where everything is, especially exits and enemies. And
even here in the so called peaceful realm, there are too many
enemies. I stopped in front of the house, my heart pumping against
my chest. My hellhound was on full alert and prowling. Inside, I
could make out three shadows. Two were standing and watching a
smaller shadow moving around with arms flying everywhere.
    “Mine.” The word left my mouth with power