by Lauren Dane
“You should have waited for me.”
“For what?”
“To pull out your chair.”
She sighed. “Oh good grief, Con. I’m perfectly capable of sitting down to eat. I’ve been managing it myself for over two decades now. I don’t need a man to do it for me.”
He sat in his chair and scowled. “But I wanted to.”
“Don’t pout, there are other things you can do for me,” she whispered as Adelade spoke to the maid and asked to have lunch served.
His eyes twinkled and he looked appeased.
“My, don’t the two of you look cozy. I take it the drink after dinner went well?” Adelade said, a twinkle in her eye.
“She’s agreed to marry me.”
“Oh my, ten thousand years of gallivanting must have made you sure when you found the right woman,” Adelade said dryly.
“You know about me?”
“That you are the Conchobar MacNessa of Faerie legend? One of the legendary Faerie warriors that guards and counsels the queen? Of course I did, I wouldn’t have left Em with just anyone. You do know that Em is a great empath?”
He turned to Em. “I knew she had talent and could read feelings. It’s obvious that she’s special.”
Em smiled at the way he said it so proudly. “You haven’t met the truly special women in my family yet. My gift is nothing compared to my sister’s and my mother’s, and my grandmere is a great seer with great prophetic talent.”
Con’s heart hurt to hear the self-deprecating words from her. Could it be that she truly didn’t see her own gift as important? It wasn’t that he didn’t hear her pride in her family. Clearly she didn’t feel jealousy or resentment about being in a family with other powerful witches, but it did seem to him that she saw herself, her gift, as less than those of the other Charvez women.
Adelade saw the self-doubt as well and sought to confront and correct it. “Yes, the power and skill of the Charvez women is legendary. However, you seem to underestimate your incredible gifts. You’re not just as an empath, but you possess an amazing ability to use intuitiveness in your research. I believe that this incredible gift of intuition comes from your grandmother’s gift of foresight. You’re one of the magical world’s most renowned researchers and you’re still so young. By the time you’re my age you’ll be legendary.”
Adelade was glad she’d followed her instincts and let the Faerie press his suit with Em. Adelade had seen the way the man’s eyes had taken in every detail of Em’s face and mannerisms that first meeting and she’d thought that a big, bold man like Conchobar MacNessa would be a nice match for Em. Em, who many thought shy and bookish, but who was really just quiet and smart. Em was the kind of woman who listened before talking. Adelade respected that quality a great deal.
And Adelade knew of the seductive power of Fae males. Once upon a time she’d learned that firsthand. She just hoped it would have better results for Em and Con.
They ate a light lunch and Adelade showed them both into the library. When Em caught sight of the floor-to-ceiling shelves crammed with books of all shapes and sizes she gave a delighted squeal. Her eyes widened and she greedily took in row after row of books in the massive room.
Adelade looked at Em, pride showing on her face. “It is amazing, isn’t it?”
“Amazing doesn’t do it justice. Adelade, this library is better than chocolate. If I could live in this library I’d never leave.”
Adelade gave a laugh. “Thank you, dear. You should consider yourself invited to visit it at any time. Shall we go on through to the unidentified collection, or the UWB—unidentified written book section?”
Con laughed as he watched the two women wax rhapsodic about the books. He was impressed. For a collection owned by a human it was quite comprehensive. He could feel the magic in the air.
Adelade led them into a side room and Con felt the book at once. As a magical being, he could feel the mixture of very old magic in the room. It swirled around him like the tide. Each kind of magic gave off its own rhythm, its own flavor. Con could discern their different energies. As he mentally searched through this stream of magical information, he found it in short work. Faerie magic gave off a very distinct feel, one that flowed through his veins. It resonated with him, clicked with his senses. He said nothing, not wanting to alert Adelade. He felt like he could trust the woman but he wasn’t going to take any chances.
“Here we are. I’ll leave it to you to decide where to start. I’m guessing that having Con with you will be your ace in the hole—not too many scholars have the depth of experience that he has. I’ve got to run out to a meeting of my charitable organization but I’ll be back in three or so hours. If you need anything just ask my household manager. I’ve instructed her to make everything you need available.” Adelade gave Em a quick kiss on the cheek and was off.
He waited until he heard her leave the house and turned his attention back to Em, who was walking through the room with a dreamy look on her face, running fingertips over the spines of the books. He smiled as he watched her—her love for the books was endearing.
“A ghra, you look so happy I feel jealous,” he teased.
She turned and gave him a smile so beatific that he nearly gasped. “These books have nothing on you, Con, but they are so beautiful, aren’t they? Imagine, witches and other magical folk writing down their Craft for thousands of years in thousands of languages. Each book is a part of them. Even though we can’t understand the languages anymore they are still alive through the pages.”
“I never thought of it like that but you’re right.” He kissed her temple and closed his eyes. He reached out with his power and turned as the Fae magic in the book called to his own. He walked over to a far shelf, slid an innocuous-looking tome out and sighed.
Em hurried over and peered at it. “Is that it?”
He nodded. “I need to take it back to the queen now, Em. I’ll take you back to the hotel first,” he said as he grasped her hand. Suddenly she was back in the penthouse.
“I’ll be back when I can. It might be a while—time passes differently in Tir na nOg. I’m going to speak to the queen about you and when I get back we can discuss everything.” He kissed her lips and was gone before she could reply.
Chapter Nine
Con stalked into the queen’s private audience chamber and got to one knee. Holding out the book he looked into her eyes, “Here is the book, Majesty. Safe.”
Aine smiled at him and took the book. “I knew you would not fail me. Not once in all of these millennia have you failed a task. Sidhe and humankind alike are safer now that this is back with us.” She waved at him to stand. “I take it you had no problems with the human woman?”
“She did not want the book for herself, she wanted to keep it out of hands that could harm her family. She did not argue with my bringing it back here.”
“Good. Thank you for your service, Conchobar. Is there a boon you wish in return?”
“Yes. The human woman, I am in love with her. I wish you to administer the spell of immortality upon her.”
Aine raised one beautiful golden eyebrow. She’d thought that this was where he was headed when he’d come to her before but she needed him to be absolutely sure. “I have not used that spell in three thousand years. Are you sure this human deserves it? Are you sure you love her, Con? Once she is brought over you know she’ll need someone to show her all she needs to know. Are you going to be the one to show her how to wield her powers, to inform her of our rules and customs? You simply cannot walk away once you’ve tired of her.”
“Majesty,” he looked into her sky-blue eyes, “Aine, this woman is my heart. I knew it as I watched her for you. I knew it the first time I bedded her.” He looked down at his hands a moment and smiled. “No, I knew it before that. I knew it as I watched her cooking and working in her family’s shop and going about her human life. She has embedded herself in my soul. I feel her when I breathe, when I laugh or am sad. She is my first thought
upon waking and my last as I fall into sleep. I will never be tired of Emily Charvez.”
Aine’s laugh was musical and seductive. “I never thought that you would be one for love. But I am so very glad you have found your fated one. You’re giving up a lot, you know. Once you take those vows and the ceremony is finished, you’re bound to each other for as long as the two of you are alive.”
He nodded solemnly. “There’ve been thousands of women over thousands of years, I’ve been infatuated and loved many. I’ve never been in love with a single one. Em is my match and it’s all the more sweet that it took ten millennia to find her. She is of pure heart and soul, Aine. She will carry her power with honor. I will see to her tutoring in our ways.”
Aine inclined her head to him. “I loved someone once. He was my other half, but I was foolish and my mistakes led him to another and I lost him forever. Hold onto this woman if you love her, Con. Bring her to me and I will do this for you.”
“Thank you, old friend.”
She waved him off with a dainty hand. Laughing, he turned and left to seek out his brother and mother.
* * * * *
Bron sat up in his bed, the shock of magic arcing up his spine signaling that the book had been returned to its proper place.
Even though it had been lost, it was tied to all of them—to all Fae including the exiled Dark Fae. He had no doubt that others felt something at that moment too, although he doubted they’d understand the importance of it.
He snorted derisively. Those Fae that Aine ruled had no idea what power they all had. Or if they did, they had no real grasp of just exactly what they could do with it. No, they lived here and obeyed the Concordat. They rejected their immense power and left the humans alone or worse, protected them.
It was an offense against the oldest ones to kowtow to the weaklings called humans. Bron’s father knew what it was to live up to their full potential as a species. He refused to obey the Concordat, instead, living as a Faerie should. They were immortals, gods! They were not meant to protect humans. Humans were nothing!
And yet, it was humans who got his father executed and Bron would never let that go unpunished. Humanity was a pathetic plague on their plane of existence. Their weakness and whining to the Fae like Aine got Aillen killed and Bron would not rest until Aine no longer sat on the throne, Conchobar MacNessa was with his father and humanity was enslaved to whatever future the demon lord had in store for them.
After Bron had made his deal with the demon lord, he’d continued the negotiations with the Fae. It was easier to fake it all without Conchobar’s presence. Jayce MacTavish was a problem but at least Bron could be in the same room with him without wanting to kill him.
He’d worked with the rest of the Dark Fae, both those hidden within the ruling Fae and the ones who’d been exiled, to get their plans in place. Once Bron got that book to the demon lord and the human witches were felled and he’d destroyed the queen and her most trusted Councilor they’d move and they’d install their own queen on the throne.
With a triumphant smile, he smoothed a hand down the front of his shirt and set off to find his spy within the Court and then to seek out the demon.
* * * * *
“Finn!” Con called out as he approached the home in the middle of the forest where his brother and sister-in-law lived. He saw Finn on the shores of the lake playing with his three young sons, Cara, Con’s golden lab was swimming with a stick in his mouth.
Finn looked up and grinned. “Con!” He strode toward his brother and took him into a crushing hug, slapping his back. “It is good to see you. What brings you to our home?”
“I have come to tell you of my new wife.”
Finn’s eyes widened and he began to laugh. “The human you were watching?” His arms were wrapped around his ribs he was laughing so hard. Cara ran around them all barking and shaking out her coat.
“What’s so funny?” A curvy woman with a head of blonde curls came down the slope toward them wearing a wide smile.
“Magda, my darling sister. How are you?” Con asked, kissing her square on the mouth just to tease his brother.
“Con is in love, Mag m’dear,” Finn said laughing as he scooped his wife away from Con’s grasp.
Magda smiled and reached around her husband to hug Con. “That’s wonderful! She must be an amazing woman to snare you. Is she the human you were watching for the queen?”
Con smiled, thinking of Em. “Yes. Her name is Emily Charvez. She comes from a family of powerful witches. She’s a feeler and a scholar. Hair as dark as a raven’s wing and hazel green eyes. She’s tall for a human, lithe. Quiet, but strong. You’ll love her, Mag.”
“Of course we will. When do we meet her?”
“The queen has agreed to give her immortality. I’m going back to make plans with her. She’s very close with her family and I expect I will meet them. I’ll bring her back here as soon as I can.”
“You’ll have the Joining ceremony here, right on the lake. Your mother and I will grow flowers so thick they will be a carpet under your new bride’s feet. Have you told her yet?” Magda asked with some trepidation. Titania was not an easy woman and she had a very low opinion of humans.
“I came here first. I thought she might be here visiting the boys.” Con watched his nephews splash about in the water like fish.
“She has been on the western shore for the last while,” Finn said, a line of concern between his eyes. “She won’t take it well but she’ll get over it soon enough.”
Con had been hoping his mother was with her grandsons, it made her more mellow. She was a grand lady but a terrible snob. Knowing that Em was not only lacking regal Faerie bloodlines but human too would definitely not make her happy. Underneath all of that though, she loved her sons and would come around and happily take Em into their family…eventually.
He allowed himself to be talked into staying for a meal with his brother’s family to delay the inevitable.
* * * * *
The sun had set when Con shimmered in front of his mother’s home on the western shores. She was sitting on a chaise lounge looking out over the sea and noticed him standing there. She stood up with a happy cry and came down the steps to greet her youngest son. The lavender-hued dress she was wearing fluttered against her golden skin in the sea breeze.
“Conchobar! My darling boy, I’ve missed you so!” She gathered him into a hug and kissed his cheeks. “You look well. Relaxed, even. I take it you are finished with your latest job for Aine?” She wrinkled her nose in distaste. “Imagine sending you to watch a human! Any old Faerie could have gone but she sent you!”
Con laughed and led her back to the chaise she had been seated on earlier. Titania was a small woman. She had golden blonde hair that she kept in an upsweep at the nape of her neck but Con knew that it shimmered in a river of gold long past her waist. When he was younger he’d watch her brush it out every night. Her eyes were the clear blue of the summer sky. She had regal features—high cheekbones and perfect rosebud lips. Hers was one of the most regal Houses of the Fae.
He created a goblet and poured himself some of the fruit nectar she’d been drinking and sat down across from her.
“Mother, I’ve got wonderful news.”
“Yes, darling?”
“I’ve found my fated one.”
Titania smiled and grasped his hands. “Oh, my darling! How fabulous. Who is she? What family is she from?”
“Her name is Emily Charvez and she’s a witch. She lives in New Orleans in the human realm.”
His mother paled. “A human? You must be joking, Con! You can’t join with a human! You descend from the kings of old!” She stood up and crossed her arms. “I won’t have it. You will not sully our bloodlines with a human, Con.”
He checked his anger and took a steadying breath. “Mother, she is more than worthy. You’ll love her once you give her a chance.”
“I’ll do no such thing! Conchobar MacNessa, what would your father say if he
were with us?” Her hands waved about. “You’re just confused. You’ve never settled for one woman for longer than a few months, here and there over the years. Once or twice a few years. She’s a passing fancy. By the time you decide to sift back she’ll be old and gray and you’ll move on.”
He stood. “Mother, I will not move on. Don’t you think that after all of this time I know the difference between a passing fancy and my wife? She and I are fated, look into my heart and you’ll see her there.”
She spun and did just that. As his mother, she could see right into him. This woman was not only in her son’s heart but in his soul, wrapped around him like tiny brilliant strands of golden thread. Their connection had healed old hurts, made him stronger, fulfilled him. She couldn’t argue against that. Couldn’t stand in the way of any woman, Fae or not, who made her son so beautiful inside.
She sighed and sat. “I see. Well, one can’t fight fate. Bring her back to us, you have my blessing and I’ll be honored to welcome this human into our family. I assume you’ve asked Aine to bring her over?”
“Yes and she agreed.”
“As well she should. You’ve served her well and faithfully for millennia haven’t you?” his mother sniffed. She’d never thought that slut Aine was good enough to be queen. “You’ll stay the night with me. I’m sure your Em won’t begrudge a mother a few precious hours with her son.”
He stifled the urge to laugh at his mother’s dramatics. “Of course, Mother.”
Chapter Ten
After he’d spent the next morning and early afternoon with his mother he sifted back to the penthouse, but it was empty. Em’s scent was there but very faint. He walked about the rooms but they were empty except for the diamond earrings he’d given her that had been laid on the bed.
A sinking feeling hit his gut. He shimmered to the newsstand and saw on the front page of the Guardian that it was September. Three months had passed here in the human realm since he’d been home in Tir na nOg!