Ruthless Fae - Ingrid Seymour

Chapter One

I stepped into the one-piece, leather outfit and pulled it on.

It glided over my legs easily, making me realize the material wasn’t simply leather. It was too pliable, and it molded too perfectly to my body. There was more to it. Maybe something synthetic, or more likely, magic.

After stuffing my arms into the sleeves, I pulled the suit over my shoulders. There was a zipper in the back that I wouldn't be able to close, given my wings—not without magical help, anyway. I didn’t want to wear the garment, but Charlie had insisted. She said it would keep me safe from bugs, sticky bushes, and even the Habermanns’ poisoned bullets.

With a sigh, I opened the door to the private cabin where I’d been changing and smiled at Charlie on the other side. She also wore one of the miraculous suits, and she looked perfectly comfortable in it. Now that I was wearing one, I could see why.

“You look great.” She gave me a gentle smile and walked into the room.

I was about to close the door, but Bridget sneaked in, her curly, red hair bouncing like a cloud around her. Her cheeks were flushed, and her green eyes sparkled. She was excited for some action.

The cabin was long and narrow with a metal cot in one corner and barely enough space for two people to stand shoulder-to-shoulder.

“You look hot,” Bridget said, looking me up and down as she sidled over to the cot and sat.

“I’m not hot. The fabric is actually quite cooling,” I said which made both women giggle for some reason.

Charlie circled me and stood behind me, pulling her brown hair into a ponytail. Her dark eyes were full of confidence and serenity. “Let’s see how we can change things to accommodate your wings.”

I stared at the floor as she perused my bare back. At least my bottom half was covered. Good thing I had relieved myself before putting it on. I hadn’t had the nerve to ask how we used the bathroom in this thing.

“Okay,” Charlie said after a moment, “I’ll try something. If it’s not comfortable, or it impedes your wings’ movements, let me know.”

I nodded and glanced over my shoulder as Charlie weaved her hands in an intricate pattern. Something seemed to slither over my skin, and I shivered. It was a strange feeling, like fingers caressing me, moving up my spine. The sensation reached my neck, and the suit’s collar went snug around my throat.

Charlie stepped back. “How does that feel?”

I rolled my shoulders, flexed my arms, and gently opened and closed my wings. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

“It only needs a final touch.” Bridget straightened her back and wiggled her fingers in my direction. The suit abruptly changed color from black to bright green.

I stared at myself, horrified. I looked like a giant lime.

“Quit messing around, Bridget.” Charlie sighed and returned my suit back to normal with the twirl of a finger. “She needs to blend in, not stand out like a green nightmare.”

Bridget rolled her eyes. “Pfft, you guys know nothing about fashion.”

“And you know nothing about covert operations.”

“That’s not true.” Bridget dramatically pressed a hand to her chest, acting as if she’d been wounded. “I live for covert operations.”

“Not in bright magenta you don’t.” Charlie gave Bridget’s suit a once over. “Get it back to normal, or you’re not coming.

Bridget pouted. “Party pooper.”

Charlie turned away from her friend to hide a smile and met my gaze. “Ready?”

“Yes.” I was more than ready.

“Are you sure? We can take care of this, Tally. You’ve been through enough already.”

They had tried to convince me to stay behind once before, but I was going back down to the island. I had “a score to settle” as the humans said.

We were floating above the island, inside some sort of flying machine powered by both magic and technology. Heavy clouds hid us from view, some weather phenomenon conjured by Dean Lynssa McIntosh, the head of the Supernatural Academy, who was here as the leader of this team. They had come to destroy the nightmare the Habermanns had created. The small island should be a paradise, not a prison.

Just an hour ago, Alonzo and a group of Supernaturals had attacked the dome and helped Vaughn, Arryn, Courtney, and I escape. Our own attempt to get away from the evil siblings had seemed doomed, but once more, Dean McIntosh had found a way to aid us and get the girls to safety. Alonzo had come through again, escorting Courtney and