My Fair Impostor: Paranormal Misfits, #3

By C.J. Anaya

It's not everyday a girl wakes up only to discover her memories have vanished.

 

Crysta's past is one huge question mark, but a handsome faerie prince by the name of Kheelan is more than happy to fill in the blanks. He swears Crysta is his one true love, and she's hard-pressed to argue the point, especially since she's trying to play catch-up to the social and political upheaval within the Fae realm while avoiding an assassin bent on her destruction, Kheelan's very own brother, Jareth.

 

With a magical plague attacking every race in the realm and a mad king dabbling in the Dark Arts, Crysta, her fiancé Kheelan, and her father Rodri, must face the impossible task of convincing the royals of the Unseelie Court to wage war against King Moridan before it's too late.

 

But Crysta's heart and thoughts are somewhere else. Brief flashes of a faerie prince with silver hair and deep, blue eyes continually haunt her.

 

Who is this mystery man, and why isn't he Kheelan?

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.J. Anaya
• Release date: Oct 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386497981

Book preview

Prologue

EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO…

Insley stood beside the Lake of Beatha anxiously awaiting the arrival of her dear friend Chantara. Her emotions were equal parts excitement and trepidation considering her reasons for seeking out her friend. Rodri’s insistence that their child was in danger merely supported her own recent suspicions of being watched. She knew threats from the Seelie Court were more commonplace than anything else these days, but Rodri’s decision to spirit their child away to the human realm meant tensions between the Courts were coming to a head.

And Rodri refused to tell her why.

The tiny gurgle of her sweet daughter in her arms brought tears to her eyes.

It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right to be separated from her child, but the dangers of keeping her within the Fae realm were too great.

Motion within the lake brought her out of her tumultuous thoughts as Chantara’s lithe form lifted high on a silver, frothy wave only to be gently lowered along the shore. Her magnificent fin slowly morphed into two perfectly formed legs.

Chantara held her arms out in delight.

Is this the babe we’ve anxiously awaited to welcome into our world?

Insley handed Crysta over, reveling in the brilliant smile on her face. It had taken centuries of emotional pain and heartache before she’d finally been blessed with a child.

I’m thrilled you came for a visit, Chantara said. How long before you must leave?

Insley studied her friend for a moment, knowing what she must tell her, what she must do, but also afraid to move forward because it meant acknowledging, in a very real and unmitigated way, that things were changing within the Fae realm and not for the better.

Chantara, Insley said, steel lacing her voice as her decision to move forward with her plan solidified. There’s much to tell you. Much that needs explaining, but first I must ask you, do you know if The Diadem of Titania still exists?

She watched as her friend’s lighthearted expression grew serious, her face draining of all color.

Insley, what is going on?

The queen looked at her daughter held tightly in Chantara’s arms. Urgency gripped her, stealing away any hope of putting this off, of burying her head in the sand and pretending the signs and portents weren’t there.

She knew what her daughter would become and what that meant for the Fae realm as a whole.

Insley? Chantara said. Her terse voice snapped Insley’s attention to those black orbs of hers. Why are you asking about my mother’s diadem?

The queen took in a deep breath and let it out slowly before she spoke.

I’m going to start from the beginning, but first, I need you to tell me the story again. Tell me everything you know about The Rending.

Chapter One

Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and body aches. Obvious signs of the flu, according to everything I thought I knew about my symptoms, although, I really couldn’t say I knew much since I didn’t have any memory of my life before waking up two days ago.

Lovely.

This illness absolutely sucked.

Kheelan reassured my father multiple times that I was suffering side effects from severing the link. I had no idea what the link was or what that meant, and when I asked him about it he said Jareth, his brother, the assassin sent to kill me, had tried to use a magical link to rid the earth of my existence.

Annihilate me.

Kill me in the most gruesome and painful of ways.

Rude.

The idea that this pompous prince thought he could just exterminate me like some annoying pest seriously rankled.

I’m a nice person, dang it all!

Or maybe I wasn’t? Maybe I’d been a spoiled, snotty, uppity little thing who had some sort of god complex due to my class and station in life. When I brought that up, Kheelan nearly toppled over with laughter and assured me I was all things sweet and kind. The very picture of what a well-bred Fae princess should be.

Well-bred?

That attribute didn’t seem to fit me either, but, again, I had no memory of anything pertaining to me or anything else.

Kheelan explained that Jareth’s motives had nothing to do with who I was personally and everything to do with who I was politically. Which brought on a plethora of new questions with complicated explanations that, if I’m honest, failed to make a whole lot of sense.

It must have been an awful thing for him to go through, saving his fiancé’s life after an attack like that. He looked so sad and unsettled when he explained it to me. I wanted to comfort him, put my arms around him, and thank him for saving me, but I still felt so unsure and hesitant when he was near me. He was a complete stranger to me now. Somehow, I needed to remember I once loved him enough to agree to marry him. I foresaw a whole lotta awkward moments in the near future.

Then there was the cause my father and Kheelan constantly referred to.

Apparently, daddy needed to meet with other royals to persuade them to join a cause involving the overthrow of the Seelie King and the healing of the Fae realm and its magic.

A tall order in my opinion.

I wanted to be all gung-ho on the subject, but I felt like an outsider suddenly stumbling upon a new world, a new race, and thrust into a conflict I couldn’t begin to wrap my head around. It didn’t feel like my fight, but I was heir to the Unseelie Court, which meant it was my fight . . . and these people were my people. I had to care about them being slowly poisoned to death by their own magic, but it seemed so far removed from me emotionally and physically. It didn’t feel real. None of it felt real.

I’ll tell you what did feel real.

Kheelan.

His hot gaze on me every time he looked at me. The intense way the green of his eyes flared with heat whenever he took my hand to reassure me or rubbed my arms to comfort me through the pain.

Then there was the way he held me when my illness became too much for me, whispering kind words and wonderful reassurances in my ear as he embraced me.

I didn’t remember him or the feelings I must have had for him, but his warmth and comfort were real and immediate . . . and the only things keeping me grounded through the suffering . . . suffering that continued to get worse.

And Chuck.

My unexpected pet dragon was also my familiar, and man did this little guy hate to see me in pain. He spent hours in my lap or curled up against my chest, breathing cool air on my face, gurgling and cooing as if he were a parent comforting his young. At one point he scared the hell out of both me and Kheelan when he jabbed a claw in my chest, releasing some built-up pressure squeezing my ribcage.

Afterward, Kheelan chuckled in amazement and I breathed easy for the first time in a long time, not caring that he’d stabbed my chest since I felt a million times better as a result.

He siphoned some of the built-up magic within your body, Kheelan said with some relief. I had no idea a Fae dragon could do that, but it buys us more time.

He just shook his head at my questioning look.

Later, he said, giving a surreptitious look my father’s way. We’ll discuss it later.

If I hadn’t been so exhausted and fed up with my situation I might have insisted on an explanation. Most of what they discussed went over my head, but at this point, surviving from one minute to the next was foremost on the agenda so I didn’t really give a damn either way. I just wanted these side effects to end.

Back to the cause and all that entailed, my father’s meetings with various officials to get the whole let’s overthrow the Seelie King party started had been put on hold. He was reluctant to leave me, hovering over me with worry and stark fear in his eyes, which made Kheelan, for some unknown reason, extremely antsy.

Yet, I was relieved to have him here. I understood their end game, but it was risky. It was dangerous. We were currently in hiding from King Moridan, his son Jareth, and all those in the Fae realm who followed him.

Hiding in enchanted living quarters within the Sprite Mines.

I didn’t understand the magic involved, but my father had managed to carve out a home within the mines completely impenetrable to others’ magic. We were virtually undetectable in this enchanted mini palace. In my more lucid moments, I could appreciate the warm golds of the decor within the room.

A fireplace was fixed to the right, giving off precious heat to sustain me since my illness had seriously messed up my internal temperature. Pristine white walls gave off a brightness of energy I couldn’t manage to match, which made it seem like I was being taunted a bit.

Annoying, but not my main concern.

I simply continued to lie there, sinking into the warm folds of my silken blankets and cursing the soft mattress I couldn’t appreciate due to my body’s unending misery.

And while I convalesced, helpless and pitiful, a conflict outside these enchanted walls continued to brew, promising the very upheaval of the Fae realm and all its inhabitants.

King Moridan and King Roderick had waged war against us, laying claim to both the Unseelie and Seelie Courts, and as long as we lived, their rule would always be threatened. Jareth was an even bigger threat in many ways since he coveted Kheelan’s right to rule. If I married Kheelan, Jareth’s claim to the throne would lie in tatters.

I didn’t know how I felt about this whole takeover thing, but I definitely didn’t want my father to be discovered and captured while trying to garner enough support.

And still my illness wore on.

After two days of unending physical pain, I was ready to call it quits, begging them to knock me out. My father was beside himself with worry. He spent several hours with Kheelan working spells in an attempt to relieve my suffering, but nothing seemed to be working.

Is it possible the side effects could lead to death? my father asked at one point when he thought I’d fallen asleep.

It won’t come to that, Rodri. You know I won’t let anything happen to Crysta. There is nothing you can do here. You can’t continue to stay here at her side when there is so much to be done.

I don’t want to leave her until I’m certain she will be well. I just got her back, and your marriage to her will be the only thing that saves her from this fated mate business. After years of resigning myself to her absence and probable death, I’ve finally allowed myself to hope. We have to find a way to fix this.

I puzzled over my father’s words while Kheelan reassured him that the side effects weren’t permanent. I figured I must have misunderstood my father’s words and resigned myself to the fact that my illness had probably caused me severe brain damage.

You are worrying over a problem that will eventually work itself out when you are supposed to be meeting with the nobles of other races and petitioning our cause. I’ve been trying to get you to leave for two days now. We only have three more races willing to join us so far, and only if the Saytr King also sees King Moridan as a threat and agrees to help. Then we have to worry about the Unseelie King. Nothing can be finalized in their eyes without King Roderick’s backing.

My father scoffed at this.

I may not be presiding as king at the moment, but lawfully, I am the only one who can sanction an act of war against the Seelie Court.

That doesn’t do us any good at the moment since you use a glamour to disguise your identity. I understand the need for secrecy since King Roderick helped my father kill your wife and nearly managed to kill you and Crysta eighteen years ago, but none of the races are going to willingly jump into an all out war without the backing of the Unseelie Court.

I blinked my eyes open, getting ready to insert myself into the conversation. Just how many times had someone tried to kill me? Did that mean we’d been in hiding longer than they’d led me to believe? Was I hallucinating this conversation?

Kheelan continued, ignorant of my eavesdropping. The time for anonymity has passed. Surely you’ve spoken to enough royals to plant the seed of doubt needed for an official vote. They must know you live. You have to tell them.

They will find out soon enough. My brother has called together a meeting of all the royals in our Court within a few months from now. He wishes to discuss several things, one of them being Crysta’s reappearance and disappearance, no doubt — and I can’t wait for him to bumble around on that subject — and the other being the slow poisoning of our magic. I plan to attend the meeting, submit my proposal of war before the entire Court, and call for a vote. I’ll have garnered enough support or at least planted enough doubt in the minds of several royals to get the vote I want, especially when I reveal my true identity, but you and Crysta must marry before that meeting. He’ll most likely want to enlist the royals’ aid in finding her, and we don’t need that extra headache. Better to come out of hiding and reveal our plan, but we can’t do so until Crysta is married to you, severing her fated mate claim with Jareth.

I shot up out of bed at that last remark.

Excuse me? What fated mate claim? Why would I share anything with Jareth?

Kheelan rubbed his temples and murmured a few expletives as my father let out a sorrowful sigh

I thought she was asleep, Kheelan said. We should have had this conversation in the adjoining room. I just hate to leave her unattended no matter how short the duration.

She’ll have to know everything eventually, my father said.

Kheelan’s head shot up. He opened his mouth, getting ready to protest at the same time I was getting ready to let loose some rapid fire questions.

She’s going to find out what we’ve stolen from her, my father insisted. That’s not to say I feel you’re a bad choice for her. You’ve become like a son to me over the years, Kheelan, and I know she will eventually learn to love you, but this is going to be hard for her once she finds out the truth. Trust will be broken and must be reestablished.

Kheelan’s panicked glance landed on me. He whispered something and waved a hand in my direction. My thoughts suddenly scrambled, becoming indistinct and surreal.

What was going on? Was I hallucinating?

I blinked my eyes several times, but I couldn’t bring Kheelan or my father into clear focus.

Yep. Definitely hallucinating. Or this conversation really was happening and these two had a ton of explaining to do. I voted for the former, preferring the brain damage to any duplicity on their part.

That’s really what was happening here. My ability to understand my own language had been impaired.

Could I even read anymore?

What if I couldn’t remember the alphabet? Was it called the alphabet? Had I just made that up?

I started singing the ABC song in my head.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G . . . so far so good.

How long before the meeting is held? Kheelan asked.

Awesome. This was a topic of conversation that definitely made sense.

My father sighed, allowing him to change the subject.

H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P . . . yep, I can even visualize the letters in my head.

You know how long it takes royals to set up their entourage and willingly leave their safe havens. No one will be allowed to use magic and apparate since all the royals of the Court will be converging in one area. Traveling on foot from all over the Unseelie Court lands will take time. I’d say you have two months to build a relationship with my daughter and marry her before we show up at the meeting.

Q, R, S, T, U, V . . . bring it home, girl. W, X, Y, and Z.

Nailed it!

You want us all to be there? Kheelan asked in surprise.

Of course, my father said. Crysta and I will need to reassert our claim to the throne and Jareth must see the evidence of your marriage. It will be a brutal reunion between the two of you, but in time, Jareth will understand, and he will be unable to make a claim on her ever again.

So no brain damage. No hallucinations. Bummer. Time to face the music and reinsert myself into the conversation.

What are you two talking about? I finally managed.

I furiously blinked my eyes, determined to stay present even though my aching body and fuzzy thoughts were doing a number on my cognitive skills.

Kheelan looked at me with anguish in his eyes.

Crysta, he said as he sat down next to me and pulled me into his arms. I winced at the physical contact since my nerve endings were raw and aching. He noticed my discomfort and released me with an apologetic frown, but the intensity of his gaze held me still.

We love you. Please believe that. Though you may not appreciate our methods, your father and I have your best interests at heart. Please remember this when all is said and done. We just want to protect you and keep you safe. This is the only way to do it.

What way? You’re really scaring me, Kheelan, I said. Just tell me what’s going on. My breathing came in rapid gulps as sweat trickled down my hairline. I felt so incredibly awful, and I wanted nothing more than to sink into sweet oblivion and not face the pain, not face the questions, and not face whatever terrifying truths awaited me.

The path of least resistance seemed mighty tempting at the moment.

Unfortunately, even though I didn’t remember anything about my life before two days ago, the idea of giving in to the darkness and taking the easier path didn’t seem like my typical move.

I was a fighter. I was a survivor. I handled the tough stuff head on.

Ideally.

Tell me, I repeated, ready to face the ugly truth.

Kheelan swallowed hard, looked to my father for help, but my father’s eyes, though they held sympathy, also seemed to be saying the choice was up to Kheelan. And none of it made sense to me.

Not yet, Kheelan said. I can’t tell her yet. I need more time to make her mine, to give her the chance to fall for me. If she loves me on her own then the truth won’t be so difficult to accept.

You’re sure you won’t tell her now?

No. After we’re married. I’ll tell her everything.

I don’t understand what’s going on, I said, but neither one of you have the right to dictate my life or my choices. Whatever it is you’re hiding from me you need to tell me. You need to trust that I can make the hard decisions on my own. I won’t accept this, Kheelan. I grabbed his hand to get him to look at me. You’ll tell me now or you’ll have the fight of your life on your hands, and I won’t consider, for even one moment, falling for you again.

Kheelan’s eyes filled with admiration even though his smile was tainted with defeat. He reached out and caressed my cheek, his touch igniting a small fire within my heart.

You’re fierce and you’re brave, Crysta. It’s what drew me to you from the start, and I promise once we’re married you will know everything you need to know. He turned to look at my father. I won’t tell her until the vows are said. She may never forgive me for this duplicity, Rodri, but it’s the only way we can save her life.

My father nodded. You know what to do.

Kheelan turned back to me. He lifted his hand and placed it gently against my temple.

Kheelan?

The sadness in his eyes was also mixed with a resigned determination. I didn’t like it one bit.

"Obliviscatur," he whispered.

A subtle burn began at the base of my neck, slowly traveling up my scalp until it settled within my brain. I felt a soft tug and then a swift jerk, followed by extreme dizziness. I rapidly blinked my eyes until the dizziness passed. Kheelan came into focus, his gentle touch feeling cool against my heated cheek.

I’m sorry, I said, realizing I must have lost the thread of the conversation for a moment. Did you ask me something?

Kheelan rested his head against my forehead and let out a shaky breath.

I just wanted to know if the pain has lessened at all?

No, I said, feeling as if I’d lost more than a few seconds of time, but unsure as to how that was possible. Your healing spells help temporarily, but then the pain starts to creep in after a few minutes. Maybe Chuck can stab me in the chest again.

My father chuckled. I’m not really sure how I feel about that alternative.

Rest now, Kheelan said. He gently lowered me back to the bed and arranged the covers as I moved to get comfortable. Comfortable being relative in this case. There was no way I’d sleep with how ill I felt.

Chuck fluttered from my feet to my chest and rested his head against me, creating a warmth that stole away some of the pain.

Kheelan then stood and walked over to my father.

I hated doing that to her, he said in a whisper.

Doing what? Tucking me in? With how hot I felt the blankets didn’t seem like a necessity.

My father nodded.

They remained somber for a moment as my blurry gaze tried to puzzle out their troubled mood. I knew our situation was a bit precarious, but was there a chance I wouldn’t get better?

Kheelan exhaled and swiftly changed topic.

You need to see King Vargis as soon as possible. If you can convince him to give us his vote many more will fall in line.

I know. I can’t put this off any longer. I’ve already petitioned an audience with him. It will take some time before I hear back. I also have several lesser royals to persuade. I most likely won’t be back for a few weeks. Until then, keep my daughter safe.

I will.

My father turned and walked toward the door leading out to . . .well, I wasn’t exactly sure where it led.

Be careful, Kheelan said.

You have two months, Kheelan, but it must happen with or without her affection.

Curious.

He quickly left, shutting the door firmly behind him. A light blue light shimmered around the door, creating a cloak of invisibility to anyone on the outside, a tricky illusion spell Kheelan had explained to me during one of my more lucid moments.

He returned to me, running his cool fingers over my fevered brow, but it wasn’t enough to distract me from my father’s last words.

What had to happen two months from now?

Sweat trickled down my spine and my body shook as icy tendrils of agony wrapped their way around my nerves. Kheelan led me from the safety and security of our hidden home with a surprising goal in mind.

Assistance.

He’d slumped over with relief once my father left. Then he said some of the Fae races who were willing to fight on our side had talented healers who might be able to heal me. It was time to enlist their help now.

Huh. Why had he taken so long to bring up that particular option?

Once I realized he wanted me to actually get up and leave the safety of our dwelling I hesitated to comply. I was absolutely terrified of being discovered by Jareth, but his insistence that these healers might be able to end the pain once and for all gave me enough motivation to combat my fear.

Chuck couldn’t come with us. Kheelan was afraid my familiar would misinterpret the healers’ motives and attack them since he seemed to be highly overprotective when it came to me. I hadn’t really liked the idea of leaving Chuck behind. He hadn’t liked it either, giving Kheelan an angry snort as the door closed before he could follow.

He’ll be fine, Kheelan assured me, taking my hand and leading me out of my room . . . and into a dark, dank, cavern.

The difference between my cozy, hospitable dwelling, and the creepy, jagged walls of the cave made me cringe. I threw myself against the mahogany door behind me, terrified of my new surroundings.

Kheelan immediately gathered me in his arms as my breathing turned into labored gasps.

Crysta, slow your breathing and relax for a moment. Remember, I told you we were hiding within the Sprite Mines.

I gripped him around the waist like he was the only lifeline I had pulling me to safety. He was familiar, comfortable, and secure. I tried to block out the notion that the heavy rock walls pressed in on me and focused on the rise and fall of Kheelan’s chest as he helped me match my breaths to his.

Man did this suck. I wasn’t so sure I wanted help from these healers anymore

Once the panic finally subsided, he pulled back to study me, brushing away a few tears. Had I always been this wimpy and weepy? Granted, it had only been two days, but I just felt so lost and insecure. My emotions couldn’t get a handle on the blank void that made up my lack of memories.

There’s nothing more terrifying than forgetting who you are.

I had no idea you got claustrophobic, Crysta, he said, studying me with kind eyes.

I never did before?

He shifted uneasily before pulling me against his chest and resting his chin on my head.

Of course, when you were little. It hasn’t bothered you for a very long time.

Oh.

I didn’t know what else to say.

I know this is the first time you’re seeing the tunnels of the mines, but I assure you the place is quite safe. And we really need to talk to a healer within our ranks. It will help ease your pain and suffering.

Who are our ranks exactly?

Kheelan released me and held out his hand. I quickly took it, trusting him completely, and reveling in the comfort his touch provided. I couldn’t say I remembered Kheelan or what he meant to me before my memory loss, but in the last two days, he had been so kind and loving as he took care of me. I could easily see now why I’d fallen in love with him. I just wasn’t sure how I felt about loving him now.

We have several races on our side, ready to fight against my father. Most of them don’t need to go into hiding at the moment since their true loyalties have not yet been discovered, but the Stargis race are hidden here within the mines.

Why? Wouldn’t it be better for them to go along as if they aren’t loyal to us?

Unfortunately, the Stargis king was labeled a sympathizer to our cause. Their race has taken refuge here ever since.

I carefully stepped over a deep groove in the floor as Kheelan grabbed a torch on the wall, muttered a spell, and lit it on fire. My breath caught in the back of my throat to see him work such wonderful magic.

According to Kheelan, I was also a powerful faerie capable of wielding Winter magic, but my illness had prevented me from learning how to use my powers again. I was a little discouraged to think that I’d been trained all my life to wield magic as one of the most powerful royals in the realm, and now I remembered nothing of my training. I couldn’t remember a single spell.

And you think there are healers among them who could help me until the side effects go away?

He squeezed my hand and I felt my jitters subside once again. Contact with Kheelan tended to do that for me. Made me feel safe. I tried not to analyze that too much, but I figured it must have made me feel safe before my life became one big question mark.

I do. We’ll go deeper into the mine and ask for their assistance. Do you still have the stone I gave you?

I nodded, reaching into my pants’ pocket and running my thumb over the smooth amber stone. He’d given it to me just before we left, telling me it would aid the healing process. I had no idea how a simple stone would be capable of that, but whatever. No sense in questioning the expert. Each time I touched it, the body aches died down a bit so there was definitely something to this stone. I trusted Kheelan, too. Trusted him with my life. I couldn’t help it. No matter how blank my memory, his features seemed so familiar to me. I felt a hollow echo of something like love every time I looked at him. Did that mean my heart recognized him even if my mind still came up empty?

The long tunnel we followed took a sharp left and opened up into a round cavern with three separate entrances to three more tunnels. I breathed a sigh of relief for a moment, allowing my neck muscles to relax in an area that felt less oppressive. Kheelan noticed and placed a comforting arm around my shoulder.

I know this isn’t easy for you. I promise this next tunnel won’t be as long as the first. If you feel short of breath, just tell me, and I’ll hold you until you can breathe easy again.

I searched his face for any signs of annoyance because I was definitely slowing our progress, but all I saw there was concern. I hesitantly reached my hand up to caress his cheek. It was the first time I had initiated contact since losing my memory. His eyes widened in surprise. He lifted his hand to mine and turned his cheek into my touch, closing his eyes and reveling in this first offering of affection. A tiny tingle skipped along my hand as he kissed my palm and reached for my waist, sliding his arm around me and gently pulling me flush with his chest. He rested his forehead against mine and breathed me in.

Okay, maybe spending time with Kheelan wasn’t going to be as awkward as I’d foreseen.

Do you have any idea how good it feels when you touch me like that? he asked.

I take it, I haven’t done that in some time?

You have no idea, he said.

His lips were inches from mine, but he didn’t move to kiss me. He hadn’t kissed me since the first night I woke up and told him the intimacy was just too much for me. I needed time. I