by Rachel Angel
Red came back with a steaming cup of tea. “Here you go,” he said, handing it to her. “I’ll admit that we didn’t think a dark fae would show up here. And we certainly didn’t think one would show before we completed your training.”
“You guys fought it off with swords, with real life, metal swords. You stabbed it and killed it with real weapons. What did I have? A shampoo bottle? A luffa sponge? What was I supposed to do? What lessons could you have possible taught me that would have given me the advantage?”
“Magic, Harley,” Red said. “Your magic.”
“Yeah,” Zed said. “When we were coming up the hall, we weren’t carrying swords. We didn’t come here expecting a fight.”
“Well then, how did you…?”
“Magic,” Red said. “It’s all magic.”
“You mean that I could have created my own weapon?”
“Of course.”
“Yeah,” Harley muttered to herself. Of course. Why hadn’t she thought of that? Why hadn’t she conjured up a sword?
“We know that you can create magical worlds,” Red said. “It’s the same with a weapon, or anything for that matter. When you need something, you make it appear.”
“But it all happened so fast,” Harley said. “One minute I’m there lathering up and relaxing, and the next minute I’m fearing for my life.”
“It takes practice, Harley,” Red said. “Don’t beat yourself up about this. Not everyone can conjure up an item on the spur of the moment.”
“Yeah, it really takes a lot of practice. The first time I tried to conjure up a sword I ended up with a cord in my hand instead.”
“Okay, I get it,” Harley said. “I need to make my own devices through my magic, whether it’s a fun device or one meant to save my life.”
“Exactly,” Zed said.
Harley stood suddenly and shook her hands in attempt to shake off her nerves.
“It rattled you, didn’t it?” Red said.
“Well, yeah,” Harley said. “What if you guys hadn’t…?”
“Don’t start going down the ‘what if’ trail, Harley,” Zed said. “It never ends.”
“This really pisses me off,” Harley said. “I have my final test on the dark arts tomorrow and I was hoping to get to bed early to be completely rested. Now I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep at all.”
“Yes, you will,” Red said reassuringly. “We’ll stay here to protect you.”
“That’s right,” Zed agreed. “Finish your tea and we’ll make sure you get a good night’s sleep.”
Harley sat back down and took up her cup of tea again. After taking a quick sip, she looked at them. “Why?”
The twins exchanged quizzical glances then looked to Harley again.
“Why did this thing come after me?”
“There’s really no telling.”
“But regardless of the reason, we’re here, Harley. We’re here for you.”
Chapter 6
Harley looked at her reflection as she checked out the fit of a new yellow sun dress. The twins had promised a surprise celebration and she was eager to kick back and just enjoy the evening.
“It’s finally over,” she told her reflection. “And I made it. I made it!”
“You breezed through your classes this summer.”
Harley turned to see Red standing in the doorway, his warm gaze taking her in with open appreciation.
“I’m not quite ready yet,” she said as she ran her hand over her damp hair. “I just have to blow dry this, grab my shoes and I’m with you.”
“Take your time,” Red said as he sat on the sofa. “We still have another hour before our reservation.”
“Great,” Harley said, heading to the bathroom. “I’ll be right out.” She made quick work of drying her hair and went back out to meet Red.
“Zed should already be out by the car.”
“Hmm,” Harley said. “Is he impatient to get there?”
Red smiled as they headed out to find Zed.
“So where exactly are you guys taking me?” Harley said as they drove off.
“A very special place to celebrate the end of our summer session,” Zed said.
“And to also celebrate our relationship,” Red said.
Zed drove into town and down the Strip for a while then turned off to a side street and pulled into an underground parking garage.
“You’re going to love this place,” Red said, opening the door for her.
“You guys are so sweet. I’m sure that no matter where we go, it’ll be great.”
They led her to the elevator and went up to the main floor. The moment the doors opened, Harley knew they had really done something special. On the wall opposite the elevator was a large photo of her, ethereal and beautiful.
“Zed,” she said, mesmerized by her own face. “Is that the picture you took of me when we were fighting and we took a break?”
“That’s the one.”
“But that dress. My hair. How did you…?”
“Just a little tinkering with the photo,” Zed said.
“I look like a real princess. Like a fairy princess. Oh, Zed,” she said, growing emotional. “It’s beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Suddenly blushing, she looked up at him. “Listen to me. Complete lack of modesty… saying how beautiful a photo of me is.”
“Well, you’re right. It is beautiful, and you are beautiful.”
As they entered the venue Harley looked around and noticed other pictures of her. They were all blown up to huge proportions and all exquisite and tasteful. “What is this place? I thought we were going to a restaurant.”
“It’s the Casino Gallery.”
Harley looked around and noticed that it wasn’t just students from the Academy in the Casino. “Is this place open to the public?”
“Sure is.”
“And everyone is going to go through here and wonder who all these photos are.”
They arrived at the main exhibit hall and Harley was floored. The small but airy room was filled with various projects she’d worked on over the summer. Magical devices and magical art; it was all there for the world to see.
“I can’t believe you guys did this,” she said with tears gleaming in her eyes. She turned to them, smiling as tears streamed down her face.
“Are you laughing or crying,” Zed said.
“A little of both,” she admitted. “Now, I just wish my parents were here to see this. They’d be so proud.”
“We are proud, baby.”
“Oh!” Harley let out as she turned to the familiar sound of her father’s voice. “Dad! Mom! I can’t believe it.”
“Neither can we,” her mother said. “This is amazing sweetheart. I mean, I knew you were talented, but this surpasses any and all expectations I might have had.”
“Are these the friends that sent us the invitations?” her father said, eyeing Zed and Red with paternal concern.
“Yes. These are my friends who helped me so much with my lessons over the summer. Zed and Red. They’re brothers. Twins in fact.”
“Nice to meet you,” her father said.
Harley looked at the guys, all handsome and dapper in elegant suits, Red with a burgundy tie over a silver shirt and Zed with a blue tie on a black shirt.
The twins smiled and nodded as they each shook Harley’s parents’ hands.
“Do you have time to come sit with us a bit?” Harley’s mother asked. “I’ve missed you so much, and I’d like to know more about your summer at the Academy.”
Zed set his hand lightly on Harley’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go and catch up with your parents and we’ll meet up with you later. There’s plenty of champagne going around and a nice array of hors d’oeuvres.”
“Great,” Harley said. “I’ll catch you guys later.”
Harley headed off to a quiet corner with her parents. They chatted about their respective summers, caught up on gossip and family matters.
>
As she listened to her father go on and on about his new job and the guys he worked with, Harley looked across the room and the small group of young women who were openly eyeing Zed and Red. One particularly buxom brunette left no doubt what she was looking for. She took Zed’s hand to shake it, but then brought it up to her mouth where she sucked on his middle finger.
Unimpressed, Zed politely pulled away, and while he smiled amiably at the girls, he clearly wasn’t interested in anything they had to offer.
“Hey,” Harley’s father said. “Isn’t that the Jensens?”
Harley looked over her shoulder at the couple who lived next door to her parents.
“If you guys want to go say hello, I’ll go see what the twins are up to.”
Her father jumped out of his chair. “For once I have something big to brag about. You can bet that I’m gonna let him know that everything he sees here was made by my little girl.”
Laughing, Harley waved as her parents headed off to toot her horn. She turned to Red and Zed.
“Looks like you guys are a hit,” Harley said, gesturing with her head to the beautiful girls.
Red came in close to plant a kiss on her cheek. “You’re the only hit I need.”
Not to be outdone, Zed took her hand and kissed it like a true prince. “We’re both so proud of you, Harley. I told those girls that I was here with the one who was responsible for all this and that they had a hell of a lot of work to do to impress me.”
She reached up to kiss them. “You guys really went all out for this night. I’m stunned. I’m speechless. And I’ll never forget it.”
“That was the whole point.” Red pulled her into his arms. “We wanted to do all that we could to erase what happened last year.”
“Well, this certainly is a good first step.”
“But this isn’t all. We have a lot more planned.”
After her parents left the Jensens, they all sat together to enjoy a light meal. Conversation was playful and enjoyable, and after dessert her parents were ready to go home.
“I’m so happy you guys came,” Harley said as she kissed them good-bye.
“I’m so proud of you, baby,” her mother said. “Knowing that this is what you’re up to will make it easier to have you away from us again.”
The moment they left, Zed and Red got into an elevator with Harley and headed up to the penthouse.
Harley barely had time to take in the beautiful opulence of the classic décor. Everything was luxurious, from the gold trimmed furnishings and artwork, to the delicate vases and chandeliers.
Zed led her straight to the bedroom where they huge king-sized bed held center stage. “I just want to tear this dress off you,” he murmured.
“Don’t you dare,” she said with a giggle.
Grinning, he carefully took the dress off, but wasn’t as delicate with her new white thong. He grabbed it with both hands and tore it apart.
“Watching you from across the room,” he said as he rid himself of the confining suit. “I just couldn’t wait for this very moment. The moment when I could see you, all of you.”
Red came in behind them and took a seat in the leather recliner beside the bed, eyeing them with interest.
Pulling Harley into his arms, her breasts crushing against his strong muscular chest, Zed pushed her back into the bed, falling over her and quickly finding his way into her warmth. He rocked back and forth, bringing her a huge orgasm as he swiftly found his own.
And with only a short reprieve, Red joined them, gently making love to her.
“This is what feels right,” Red whispered in her ear. “Being with you is right.”
As he continued to fuck her, she reached out to touch Zed. There was something special and pleasurable about being there with both of them. She felt loved and secure and she wanted to remain there forever.
Red climaxed and settled in beside her, leaving her sandwiched between the sexy twins.
“I’m so happy now,” Red said. “I’d do anything for you.”
“Same here,” Zed said squeezing her to him.
“What about when I’m Spring Princess?” she said. “Will you still do anything for me then?”
Red nodded. “I fell in love with you before finding out that you were from Spring. There’s no way that I can just fall out of love with you now.”
“Don’t forget, Harley, that we both know what our lives are like without you. Last year was torture for both of us. Not only were we not with you, but just knowing that you hated us so much. I’d rather die than go through that again. I’d rather die than have to give you up.”
“It didn’t look like torture,” Harley said. “You guys were cold and callous.”
“It was an act, Harley. We thought we were doing the right thing.”
“Okay,” Harley said with finality. “I don’t want to talk about all that. It’s in the past.” She patted them each on their thighs. “I just want to enjoy the rest of this night with you guys.”
Chapter 7
With the summer classes over and a few weeks left before the fall session started, Harley started to make plans. Since Oak and Kingsley had left, she had longed to leave the Academy to go to the Faery Realm; maybe for a few weeks, or maybe even more.
She felt that her help was needed, and she hoped to remain there for as long as she had to. After returning to the Academy, she packed up a few things and slipped into the Faery Realm.
She wandered through the wooded area, parts of it looking familiar, but most of it not. Just as she thought she would never find Oak, she came to a large encampment sheltered from the winds by the surrounding forest.
Dozens of large tents were set up with hundreds of smaller tents lined up behind them. Thousands of soldiers walked around, training, eating, talking.
“Harley?”
She turned to see Oak coming out of a large tent with a shield and sword.
“Harley, what are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.”
He ran to her and picked her up, holding her tight. “I can’t believe it. Is it really you?”
“Yes. I had to come. I’ve thought of you all summer. I’ve been planning to come out here as soon as I could.”
Oak set her down and his eyes were suddenly veiled with suspicion.
“Don’t look at me like that, Oak,” Harley said. “You know that I’m not the enemy.”
He chuckled, then grabbed her arm and led her to his tent. “Come on.”
As he pushed back the flap to his temporary home, Harley expected a degree of opulence and luxury. After all, he was the adoptive sun of The King of Woods. But she entered a very barebone tent with a cot to one side, a small icebox, some storage space and a folding table with two chairs.
“I know you’re not the enemy, Harley,” he said.
“Then why the suspicious glance?”
“Okay, I had a brief moment of doubt. A brief moment of ‘what are you doing here?’. But, while I know you, the soldiers around here don’t. If they should recognize you as being from Spring… well. I couldn’t guarantee your safety.”
She looked around the shabby, dull green tent. “Are you saying that I have to hide out here?” Walking around the large tent, she picked up one of the swords from a pile in a large chest.
“Do I detect a note of disdain in your voice?” he said with a teasing smile.
Smiling, she looked at him. Oak. The tall, strong man of the earth. The very simple man with a love for the basic things in life and with little time for frivolities. Why was she surprised by his simple tent?
“I’m sorry,” she said. “No. It’s not disdain, just a little surprised.”
“I’ll admit, most soldiers with any degree of lineage to the throne like a little luxury, even out here where we prepare for war. I don’t like that. I’m here with my men, with my soldiers. I’ll march side by side with them. I couldn’t live with myself if I had all the luxuries of home while my men were cold, or hungry. The money
that may have gone to my luxuries is spread out throughout this encampment. My men eat good food, they have warm clothes and they sleep in warm tents.”
She nodded her understanding and reached up to put her hand to his cheek. “I should have known. That’s the Oak I know.”
He leaned down to kiss her, a loving but short kiss on the lips that left her wanting more. “I have something for you.”
He turned and walked to another larger chest at the foot of his cot. He pulled out a large undershirt and a sash. “Here,” he said holding the shirt out to her.
Grimacing, and very much aware of the disdain she now openly showed, Harley reach out for the shirt. “How thoughtful, Oak. You shouldn’t have.”
“It’s not a gift, silly. It’s for your own good.”
“My own good? I’m going to need a little more explanation, Oak, because I don’t see how this shirt could be good for me, unless you tell me that this shirt has certain magical mystical powers.” Intensifying her grimace, she held up the shirt. “Which I doubt.”
“You’re in enemy territory, Harley. You need to fit in if you’re going to spend any time here.” He helped her pull the shirt over her head, over her clothes.
“A little big, don’t you think?”
He held up the sash. “That’s what this is for.” He wrapped it around her waist and tied a knot over her hip. “There you go.” He took a step back to look at her.
With an exaggerated gait, she walked along an imaginary walkway. “And wearing the latest fashions from Paris,” she said with a British accent. “Harley is wearing an ample shirt, light and airy, with a whimsical knot to tie it all together.”
“You look great,” Oak said with a chuckle as he pulled her into his arms. He kissed her, a more passionate kiss than before, then pulled back. “Now that you look the part, let’s go to the mess tent for breakfast.”
As they walked through the encampment, Harley got a sense of the urgency of the situation. This war was serious, and all the soldiers took it as such. But it was to be a war against her own kingdom, against her own people, and though she didn’t know her people all that well, it was an unsettling thought.