by Kimbra Swain
“How are you today?” I asked.
“I’m fine,” he replied shortly.
“Can I get anything for you?” I asked.
“No,” he said.
“Do you want me to leave you alone?”
He hesitated. “No.”
“You thinking about the vote?”
“I am.”
“It will be fine. If they don’t take you back, then you can stay here. I need someone to work on our security at the house. The magic is one thing, but we need guards. The centaurs have volunteered, but they’ve taken up residence at Dylan’s old farm. The house is gone, but the barn is still there. Marshall played both sides even though he was Tennyson’s informant. I need someone that I know is on my side,” I said. Levi and I discussed it and we thought that Nick would be the best person for the job.
“How am I supposed to do that with one hand?” he asked.
“Not be a bitter twat and get up off your ass,” I said.
His eyes flared with anger. I started laughing at him, then he broke a smile.
“I’m not a twat,” he said.
“Yes, you are. I love it when Levi broods, but it doesn’t look good on you,” I said.
His face sobered, and I saw his lip quiver for a moment. He reigned it in though.
“I’ve never been a part of anything. My father hated me from the moment I was born. My mother was not his mate. His mate, after many years of trying couldn’t produce a child for him. So, reluctantly, with his wife’s permission, he participated in an artificial insemination in order to create a child. Me. My real mother gave me up to him without any payment. He was the alpha, and she was proud that her son would be one too. She didn’t want me. She wanted the prestige. It wasn’t long after I was born that my step-mother became pregnant. It was a rough pregnancy, and she and the child died. My father mourned for them, as he should have. I was young and didn’t understand. As I got older, he resented me. I became rebellious and hated the fact that I was his son. Like any rejected teenager, I did whatever I could to make his life miserable. Eventually, he cast me out. With no heir, he was challenged and defeated as Alpha. I roamed until one day while sitting in a bar in Steelshore. The television above the bar showed a beautiful woman leaving a courtroom where she was being accused of murder.”
“Oh, good grief,” I moaned. “Seriously?”
“No lie. I saw it all go down. The struggle to get you to the car. You hiding behind Levi. The camera even caught Dylan as he died. Of course, I didn’t know he was the Phoenix,” he said.
“At that point, neither did I,” I said.
“Really?”
“Really. There were a lot of things I didn’t know then that I do now. I’m a different person,” I said.
“Well, I saw you faint. I could have sworn the man behind you made you faint. I had a gut feeling that you were being coerced in the situation,” he said.
He had seen my father, Oberon, put me to sleep with a pinch to my neck. “So, you came here to rescue me?”
“Not exactly,” he said. “I moved to Birmingham.”
“Well, that didn’t go as I expected,” I laughed.
“I mean, you were beautiful, but what was I going to do with a woman accused of murder? Anyway, while I was in Birmingham, I saw the reports that you were acquitted. A man in a coffee shop saw me reading the newspaper with the article in it. He was an imposing man with tattoos peeking out from under his very expensive suit,” he explained.
“Tennyson,” I said.
“Yeah. He saw me reading the article, and for some reason, he decided to talk to me. He suggested that I check out Shady Grove. He flatly said that I would find more of my kind there. I was astonished that he knew what I was.”
“He has a lot of gifts. He knows a lot of things,” I replied.
“I had nothing to lose. I wasn’t here a whole day when Troy approached me. A wolf knows a wolf. I started hanging out at his house, but kept out of town. I didn’t want anyone to know who I was. My previous life as wolf wasn’t a good experience. I refused to meet any other shifters. Troy would talk about you and Dylan, and the day he came and told me that Dylan died was rough for him. Amanda comforted him as much as she could, but he took it hard. Troy loved Dylan like a brother. I decided that he needed a friend to fill that void and became determined to make sure it was me. The first time I ever saw you in person was in the field the day we found the eyeless man on patrol. I saw the connection then between you and Levi. Then Dylan died. I didn’t approach you because I thought that I needed to fill that hole in you. I approached you because you were strong. You continued your job protecting this realm despite your grief. You were raising your children.”
“I did what any mother would do,” I said.
“No, my mother didn’t. When I was banished, I tried to reach out to her. She wouldn’t even return my calls. No, not all mothers are good mothers,” he said.
This was very true. Bethany Jones had tried, but her addictions superseded the need to provide a stable home for Winnie. Stephanie wanted nothing to do with Devin. I couldn’t understand it, because my children were everything to me.
Nick continued, “I tried one last time at the wedding, but I saw you with Levi. There is a connection there that I could never have with you, and I accept that.”
“Would working for me here cause you pain?” I asked.
He laughed, “Grace, I’d be honored to be the man in your life, but I’m not going to die if I don’t get you.”
“Well, my ego just deflated,” I said.
“But I will be lost if the pack doesn’t accept me. I need them. I need that acceptance from my own kind. After finally letting them into my life, I can’t imagine what it would be like to be alone. I don’t know how Troy did it all those years. Callum being here is good for him. He’s young and unattached. I’m not,” he said sadly. His eyes lifted to the doorway. With my senses, I knew Levi was home. “Hey, Levi.”
“Hey, Nick. Troy is here,” he said.
“Alright,” he said, pushing himself up out of the chair with his right hand.
We walked into the living room where Troy and Amanda waited. I couldn’t tell anything by their expressions.
“Hey,” Troy said.
“Hello,” Nick replied.
The tension in the room settled on my chest. It was heavy, and I heaved a sigh trying to release it. Levi’s arm wrapped around my waist, and I leaned into him.
“The wolves and I talked for a long time. We left it alone for a couple of days, then approached it again last night. The meeting lasted all night, and I’ve had very little sleep,” Troy said. “I won’t lie to you, Dominick. It was a battle. I have sworn my allegiance to you as my Beta. My survival as Alpha depends upon you reintegrating into the pack with no issues. You will be tested, and often, I would guess, but you are still my Beta. The pack accepts you as you are.”
Dominick’s face twisted with emotions. “I don’t want to put you in jeopardy,” he said.
“It’s too late. You are part of my family, and I won’t give you up,” Troy said.
Tears rolled down my cheeks. “Damn,” I muttered, wiping them away. Levi squeezed me tighter to his side.
Dominick plodded across the room with heavy footsteps and fell into the awaiting arms of his friend and Alpha. “Thank you,” he groaned. “I won’t make you regret it.”
Troy patted him on the back. “Yeah, you better not,” he laughed.
“Come home,” Amanda said.
Dominick turned and looked at me with a wide grin. “Thank you, Grace.”
“I didn’t do anything,” I said.
“I laid a bunch of shit on you in there,” he said, pointing with his stub arm. “Fuck. I forget I don’t have a hand to point.”
I started to laugh, but covered my mouth. Troy laughed though, so I figured it was okay.
“I’m always here if you need to talk,” I said smiling at him. The light had returned to his eyes which made me
determined to find a fix for him. Until we found a way to get him balanced as a wolf, he would not shift. The pack would expect it eventually. Levi was already researching methods to come up with a solution. I had faith that we would find something. Until then, I had no doubt that Dominick would prove to be the best partner Troy could have. Hand or no hand.
Gathered around the table with our family, we shared a dinner like Thanksgiving. Someone told me that Thanksgiving shouldn’t be celebrated because of the basis with the First People and the Europeans, but the heart of Thanksgiving was sharing with family. And in the South, good food.
We didn’t have turkey though. I made spaghetti.
“This is so good,” Callum said.
“I told you,” Winnie smirked.
“It’s awesome. My mom is the best,” Aydan beamed.
I was blessed to have him as a baby, but now his adoration as a teen warmed my heart in ways that I never expected, much like his father had done. Across the table from me, Nestor sat having a deep discussion about the finer points of liquor with William. Bramble and Briar perched themselves on a bookshelf across the room enjoying cups of milk with vanilla wafers. Rufus sat at my feet. He had actually allowed Callum to pet him today which was progress for the mutt.
“Thanks for having me, Grace. It is wonderful,” Riley said. She had been quiet most of the night, sticking close to Finley. She talked mostly to William and Nestor. Finley seemed nervous, but he had relaxed once he realized that we were serious about accepting her for his sake.
“Oh, I meant to show you this,” Finley said, digging in his pocket. He pulled out a plastic card and handed it across Levi to me. I looked down at the driver’s license issued by the state of Alabama. It belonged to Finley Bryant.
“Bryant?” I said with a smile.
“You are my sister. We should have the same last name. Well, that is until you get married,” Finley said, nudging Levi with his elbow. Levi brushed him off, refusing to play the game with him.
“This is awesome,” I said, handing him back the identification card.
“I know. I’m awesome,” he said.
By my side, Levi sat patting his full belly. “Damn, I think I’m going to have to have another,” he said.
“Another plate?” I asked, because he had piled the last one pretty high.
“No, another beer,” he said.
“Piss water,” I groaned.
“Go get it for me,” he said, kicking my foot under the table.
Everyone stopped moving and talking waiting for my response.
“I am not your maid, Dublin,” I said.
“No, but you are hosting this dinner, and I demand my just hospitality,” he smirked pushing my limits.
“Levi Rearden,” I huffed. “I am not going to get you another beer.”
“I’m pretty sure you are required since you decided to have this dinner,” he continued.
“I am going to jerk a knot in your tail!” I yelled losing my patience. I had thought he was joking, but clearly, he wasn’t.
“Pretty sure you owe me ten bucks, Dad,” Levi said.
“What?” I asked.
“Indeed, I do,” William replied, digging in his pocket for his wallet.
“You bet him that I would say it,” I said, realizing the game.
William handed him a ten-dollar bill. Levi snapped it tight between his hands. Then handed it to Winnie. “Here you are, Princess. Buy yourself something nice.”
“Thank you, Uncle Levi,” Winnie said with wide eyes. She took the money from him and stuffed it into her pocket.
“Ass,” I muttered, gathering my plate from the table to take to the kitchen.
The conversation at the table resumed as I stood up, stalking off to the kitchen. I knew he would follow me.
“I thought you were in a good mood,” he said.
“I was until you tried to make a fool of me,” I huffed.
“I didn’t have to try very hard,” he smirked.
I rounded on him with my hand in the air. He caught my wrist with a grin. “Were you going to slap me?” he asked playfully.
“You are being an ass,” I said.
“I am. You could spank me. I’d like that more than a slap,” he said.
“Levi!” I said, trying to jerk my hand away from him. Heat rose to my neck and cheeks. He wouldn’t let go. He backed me up step by step to the kitchen counter.
“Gloriana,” he said.
“Stop using that name,” I whispered, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one else could see us.
“Why? It’s your name. It feels right. Just like this,” he said, picking up a blonde curl from my shoulder. He twirled it around his finger. My heart pounded in my chest. My emotions swirled in fifty directions. He moved closer, wrapping his arm around my waist. “I’m sorry. I was only playing.” He kissed the palm of my hand, then let my wrist go.
“Hmph,” I said turning my face from his.
“Please forgive me,” he said, kissing my cheek. I felt his hot breath and the pounding of his heart. He was unsure of what he was doing, but he was doing it anyway. The rush of attraction and admiration displayed with an embrace and a touch of his lips. I may have whimpered at the intensity of it. Okay, I whimpered, but the fairy inside of me trembled with anticipation. “You were happy today. It was so good to see you happy again.”
“What’s your middle name?” I asked.
“Is that the condition for forgiving me?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“Oh, well,” he said, kissing me on the cheek again, then moving away. Part of me died when all he kissed was my cheek. The other part protested the thought. I was an emotional mess around him now. It was hard to tell the difference between desire and devotion. “Guess I’m in the dog house.”
“What?!” I exclaimed.
He grinned, then darted into the dining room. “Get these dirty dishes picked up off this table. We gotta clean up if we are going to get a Christmas tree tomorrow. You, youngins will have to be up early, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!”
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you so much for reading the 10th installment of the Fairy Tales of a Trailer Park Queen. By now, these characters are so engrained in me that I don’t know what I’m going to do when the story ends. I’ve had so many ask about how many books are left. The plan is for 15 books plus a short story anthology focused on the minor beloved characters in Shady Grove.
Now I’ve decided to do a spin-off series that will focus on Wynonna Riggs, Grace’s Phoenix Daughter. Winnie will be a young adult in the series called Stories of Frost and Fire. It will be a five-book series with a prequel. I will start writing those next year.
My next project is to write another prequel for Fairy Tales of a Trailer Park Queen which will be included in a FREE anthology of fantasy and urban fantasy works with other wonderful authors. It will be released in February of 2019.
I’m also testing narrators for the release of the audio versions of Fairy Tales of a Trailer Park Queen sometime next year.
All my updates, teasers, and giveaways take place in my reader group, Magic and Mason Jars. Join us for all the fun and sass: facebook.com/groups/KSwainLaunchTeam/
Also, please take the time to leave an honest review of the book either on Amazon, Goodreads, or Bookbub. I really appreciate it.
The next book is Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed. It will be released in February.
Thanks again, and bless your heart. (I mean that in the good way. I promise.)
Character List
Grace Ann Bryant- Exiled fairy queen hiding in Shady Grove, Alabama. Daughter of Oberon. Also known as Gloriana, to her Father and the fairies of the Otherworld. She was called Hannah while traveling with the gypsy fairies before coming to North America. Owns a dachshund named Rufus. Loves orange soda and Crown. Nickname: Glory
Dylan Riggs- Deceased. Sheriff of Loudon County, Alabama. Fiancé to Grace Ann Bryant. The last living Thunderbird and the onl
y living Phoenix. Also known as Serafino Taranis and Keme Rowtag. Nickname: Darlin’
Levi Rearden- Changeling from Texas brought to live with Grace by Jeremiah Freyman. Given Bard powers by Oberon. Given Excalibur by the Lady of the Lake. Looks good in a towel. Nickname: Dublin
Wynonna Riggs- formerly known as Wynonna Jones, but adopted by Grace and Dylan. Human daughter of Bethany Jones who dies in Tinsel in a Tangle. Given the power of the Phoenix by her father. Nickname: Winnie, Wildfire
Aydan Thaddeus Riggs- son of Dylan Riggs and Grace Ann Bryant. Heir to Thunderbird inheritance. By the end of Fuller than a Tick, Aydan is approximately 16 years old which is old enough to produce an heir. Given the Native American name, Yas Shikoba meaning “snow feather.” He is a white raptor when in Thunderbird form.
Nestor Gwinn- Grace’s maternal grandfather. Kelpie. Owner of Hot Tin Roof Bar in Shady Grove. Maker of magical coffee.
Troy Maynard- Police chief in Shady Grove. Wolf shifter. Married to Amanda Capps and father to his adopted son, Mark Capps (Maynard) who is Winnie’s best friend. Given Driggs, Dylan’s guns, by Grace.
Betty Stallworth- wife to Luther Harris. Waitress at the diner. Flirts with everyone. Banshee.
Luther Harris- head cook at the diner. Part of Grace’s war council. Ifrit.
Tabitha Mistborne- fairy physician. Daughter of Rhiannon. Dating Remington Blake.
Mable Sanders- former spy for Oberon. Fairy Witch. Former girlfriend of Nestor Gwinn. One of three witches known as the Order of the Red Cloak (ORC).
Sergio Krykos- Grace’s Uncle who has taken over the Otherworld. In his first life, he was known as Mordred, half-brother to King Arthur. Goes by the name Brockton.
Oberon- Deceased. King of the Winter Otherworld. Grace’s father. In his first life, he was known as King Arthur.