by Jocelyn Fox
“Okay,” Ross said soothingly. She glanced at Vivian’s pupils and found her suspicion correct – her roommate was still high as a kite. “Apparently you’re pretty sensitive to the stuff I gave you, so just try to relax, okay?”
“What do you think I’m doing?” said Vivian dramatically, motioning to the book on her lap. She sighed and then looked searchingly at Ross. “Did you say you had a question for me?”
“Yes,” said Ross, trying not to smile. “Is it alright if we have a few guests for a while?”
“You mean the Sidhe? You’d better mean them,” Vivian said severely.
“Yes. A few are going back to the Fae world, but others are going to stay here. Ramel is too injured to travel, so he and Molly will be here, along with Niall. And then Jess will stay with us for a while too, I think.”
“What about Haze and the twins?” Vivian raised her eyebrows.
“I…actually, I don’t know,” Ross replied honestly. “But would it be all right if any of them end up staying?”
“Of course. I like them. They’re little and fierce.” Vivian nodded. Then she wrinkled her nose. “What about Corsica and Tyr? They kinda creep me out. Well, Corsica does anyway. But Tyr not so much. He’s just really quiet.”
“They’re going to stay here, but probably not in the house.” Ross debated whether she should tell Vivian about the bone sorcerer in his domed cage and decided against it. There would be plenty of time once the medication had worn off. “I’ll tell them you’re on board with it. Are you hungry or anything?”
“I had some of my emergency stash of chocolate,” replied Vivian, turning back to her book. Ross glanced at the nightstand and spied the candy wrappers behind the water. She swept them into her hand.
“How about I bring you some actual food?”
“I can walk,” said Vivian in an affronted voice. “My arm is broken, not my legs.”
“Well, come on then.” Ross stood close to Vivian as the redhead maneuvered out of the bed, tossing her book back onto the rumpled covers. Aside from a bit of wobbliness at first, Vivian was actually pretty steady on her feet. She surveyed her clothes with a frown.
“You put me in bed in my jeans?” she demanded indignantly.
Ross chuckled. “There was a lot going on. And I thought you wouldn’t mind.”
“I do mind,” Vivian replied. She tossed her wild mane of curls. “Although now it saves me from having to get dressed.”
“See? Convenient,” remarked Ross.
With Vivian presiding over a table laden with several different food choices ranging from Jess’s gumbo to a fresh peanut butter sandwich, Ross leaned against the kitchen counter and glanced out the kitchen window. The deep golden light of late afternoon was fading into twilight. It was strange to think of everything that had changed that day. Everything that had changed in the past week, she amended silently.
Two glows zipped through the living room and hovered over the kitchen table. Vivian swallowed her mouthful of gumbo and grinned with unrestrained delight.
“May we join you, my lady?” asked Forin politely.
“Of course,” Vivian said. “Would you like anything?” She gestured to the bounty that Ross had laid out.
“Thank you for your kind offer, but we ate earlier,” replied Farin as he and his sister alighted on the table.
“We saw you throw the spell at the sorcerer,” said Farin with a fierce smile. “You were most brave!”
“Brave or stupid,” Ross said to herself, but she smiled and left Vivian with her Glasidhe audience, who listened raptly as Vivian began recounting her (somewhat foolhardy) decision to use one of Corsica’s spells. Ross nearly ran into Niall in the living room as she walked out of the kitchen.
“I apologize,” said Niall with his typical gallantry. “I did not mean to frighten you.”
“You didn’t frighten me,” demurred Ross, though her heart beat rapidly in her chest. She didn’t like it when people suddenly appeared around corners. “Thank you, by the way, for the coins.”
“It is only proper to pay for the damage that was caused,” said Niall. He smiled slightly. “We haven’t completely forgotten our courtesy.” He glanced over her shoulder. Ross could still hear Vivian, and she suspected that Niall could glimpse the redhead through the kitchen.
“She’s a little loopy on some painkillers right now,” cautioned Ross. “Medication,” she clarified when Niall frowned in confusion at her words.
“Ah.” Niall smiled again. “Then I should go introduce myself properly. Ramel needs my supervision the most, but I would like to make sure her arm heals well.”
It seemed that Niall didn’t expect a reply, because he slid past her without waiting for one. Ross watched him for a moment. He selected a seat further down the table rather than one right beside Vivian, listening attentively as Vivian finished her story for the Glasidhe. Farin leapt up and greeted Niall affectionately.
“Look at us, a happy little family,” commented Duke as he passed her on the way to the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. “Want one?” He already had the second bottle in his hand before she nodded.
Ross accepted her beer and watched Vivian happily conversing with a patient Niall and the two Glasidhe. “One happy, weird little family,” she agreed, taking a sip of her beer and letting herself lean against Duke again. He kissed her temple and she smiled. For all the weird happenings during the course of the day, she was all right with it. They had all survived, and she got to drink a beer with her favorite person in the world, watching her roommate have the time of her life with three Fae at the kitchen table.
Chapter 34
“I wish there were a way to send messages between the worlds,” Tess said.
“I know, and you’ve already said that a dozen times,” Molly replied. They sat on the floor of the study, each with a pint of ice cream and a beer. Tess was eager to return to Faeortalam with the Lethe Stone, but she also wanted to savor a small sliver of time with her best friend. Jess had somehow overheard their conversation – or Molly had told him – and he’d picked up a variety of ice creams along with the impressive inventory of beer that now resided in the refrigerator.
Tess sighed. “I just…I want to know you’re okay.”
Molly gave her a crooked smile as she licked her spoon. “I think I’ve done all right so far on my own.”
“Don’t remind me,” said Tess.
“No, you’re not going to start that guilt trip again,” ordered Molly, pointing at Tess with her spoon. “You’re the Bearer. You did what you had to do. If you’d talked yourself out of escaping Darkhill to go find the patrol in the forest, then I probably wouldn’t be sitting here with you.” She scooped a glob of cookie dough out of her ice cream. “I mean, none of us would be here. The Fae, I mean.”
“You probably would’ve figured it out,” said Tess with a shrug. To her surprise, the Caedbranr remained silent; apparently it wasn’t interested in their conversation.
“Nope, not even a little bit.” Molly shook her head and took a swig of her beer. “Just face it, Tess. You’re a hero. You saved an entire world.”
“With help,” Tess pointed out.
Molly grinned at her discomfort. “Jeez, you’re still not used to it, are you?”
“No.” Tess shook her head and dug into her ice cream. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be.” The Sword, laid on the floor nearby, eyed her lazily with its flashing emerald. Her traveling pack rested by the battered sheath, packed and ready for the journey back to Faeortalam.
“Eventually,” Molly said with a confident nod. She glanced at Ramel every few minutes. The Unseelie Knight looked a bit better, but concern still etched lines into Molly’s forehead.
“You’re in good hands with Niall,” said Tess.
“I know, I’m not questioning that,” Molly said. She sighed. “I’m glad to be back but I also don’t like not knowing what the future holds for us. After all, he’s still one of Mab’s Three. It’s n
ot like he can just quit.”
“Just focus on getting him better,” said Tess in encouragement. “And we’ll figure out the next steps when I come back.”
Molly nodded. “You know, Ross and Vivian are pretty cool. A little crazy, maybe, on Vivian’s part…but they seem like good people.”
“They are, as far as I know.” Tess smiled. “When Vivian finds out that you’re half-Fae she’s probably going to ask you a million questions.”
Molly gestured grandly. “Ask away. I’ve got all the time in the world, after all.” She scraped the last of the ice cream from the bottom of her carton. “I win again!”
“Like I’ve always said, it’s not a race,” said Tess, repeating her timeworn argument. “You should savor your ice cream.”
“Why?” demanded Molly.
“So you don’t get a brain freeze?” suggested Tess with a chuckle.
“I think one of my Fae abilities is to eat ice cream as quickly as I want without getting a brain freeze,” replied Molly. “No, seriously, think about it! Did you ever hear me complain about a brain freeze? Nope. Even that one time I drank a whole Cherry Coke Slushy without stopping because it was free slushy day and I wanted a top-off before we left.”
Tess grinned at the memory. “You’re right, I should have totally suspected that you were half-Fae when you didn’t get a brain freeze.”
Molly laughed. Ramel stirred at the sound of her mirth and she instantly set down her beer, sliding over to his bed. Tess finished the last of her ice cream and discreetly gathered Molly’s carton and beer bottle. Ramel didn’t open his eyes, but Molly murmured to him until he settled again.
“Take care of him,” Tess said quietly. “And don’t forget to take care of yourself, too.”
Molly smiled. “I think that’s a bit of the pot calling the kettle black, huh?” But she stood and hugged Tess. “Travel safe. Don’t let Mab turn you into a mortal Popsicle.”
“A not quite mortal Popsicle,” said Tess with an answering smile.
Molly chuckled and then became serious. “We’ll be waiting for you.”
Tess nodded. “Beer and ice cream to celebrate my return,” she said.
“That’s a promise.” Molly nodded.
Tess swallowed against the knot in her throat and slid the strap of the Sword over her shoulder. She wouldn’t say goodbye because goodbyes meant leaving. She didn’t want to leave Molly and Ramel. She was tired of goodbyes. Picking up her pack, she slid one strap onto her shoulder.
She moved into the kitchen and threw the ice cream cartons into the trashcan, rinsed the bottles and set them on the counter to be recycled. Such ordinary actions, just like the morning before the great battle at the Dark Keep. That was life, she supposed, ordinary actions bookending moments of chaos.
Vivian and Niall still sat at the kitchen table with Forin and Farin. This time, Niall was telling the story. He paused as Tess approached.
“Thank you,” she said to Vivian. “Thank you for taking in Luca and Merrick, and helping us.”
“Well, the taking in part was mostly Ross,” Vivian replied with a smile. She looked a little tired now that the medication was beginning to lose its effect. “But you’re welcome.” She pressed her lips together as if debating on speaking her next words. Tess raised her eyebrows expectantly. “I was just…wondering. Merrick said that maybe…maybe I could travel into the Fae world. Someday.” Though she tried to say it nonchalantly, Tess saw the hope flaring in her eyes.
“After your arm is healed,” Tess said slowly, “I’ll consider it.” She smiled. “I have a feeling that a lot of things are going to change soon.”
Vivian grinned and then remembered that she was trying to act casual about her inquiry. She swallowed and said in a measured voice, “Thanks. Good luck with traveling.”
Niall stood and to Tess’s surprise he clasped her hand. “Be strong,” he told Tess, his fingers cool around hers. She nodded, though she had little idea of what he meant, and he took his seat again.
“Tess-mortal!” trilled Farin. “I shall stay, I think, to guard the dark mage!” She brandished a small blade.
“Very well. I am sure Niall will be grateful for your help,” Tess said. Niall nodded gravely in agreement. “Haze?”
“I shall return with you,” Wisp’s cousin said. “I think I have now met more mortals than my esteemed kin.”
Tess chuckled. “I would believe it.”
Haze leapt from the table and followed her as she walked to the door. “Lady Vivian is very keen on traveling to our world,” the Glasidhe said as they crossed the front porch. The shadows pooled around the house as the sun sank red behind the trees. Tess glanced up at the sun and thought it strange that she had only been in the mortal world for two days, and yet it felt like it had been weeks. To her surprise, she found that she missed Faeortalam. The air tasted different and the light of the sun struck her face just so in the Fae world. It felt strange to her now in the mortal world, like she was slightly off balance. Maybe it was simply the fact that she was absorbing much more taebramh. She wondered if the feeling would subside the longer she stayed in the world of her birth, or whether Faeortalam would always call to her now.
Luca sat on a stump near the tree line, sharpening one of his axes and glancing up every so often at Gryttrond in his glowing cage. Kianryk lounged in the reddening light of the sun, his eyes half-closed. Corsica crouched on the opposite side of the runetrap, still as a statue save for when she licked her lips, staring at the bone sorcerer like he was her next meal. Tyr still walked in his circuit around the glowing dome, pausing at each rune-stone.
Tess walked through the long grass toward Luca, savoring the sight of him. She quietly delighted in the way that the setting sun burnished his golden hair and outlined the broad strength of his shoulders. Being near him again settled her in a way that was difficult for her to describe even in her own thoughts, but she did know that the raw sorrow that had settled to an aching sense of loss since the battle had subsided. Luca’s presence spread balm over the wounds that her taebramh was not able to heal. He sharpened his axe with skillful strokes and then tested the blade, pressing the side of it with one finger and then carefully shaving a small portion of the white-gold hair on his forearms, nodding as the blade apparently met his standards. After he slid the axe back in its loop on his belt, he caught sight of Tess. His pale blue eyes leapt with joy and he didn’t try to suppress the grin that spread over his face. She felt an answering grin on her own lips – they had been apart for the better part of an hour, and he reacted as though he hadn’t seen her in days.
Luca didn’t leap up to meet her, but let her approach through the long grass, following her movements with his eyes. His gaze lingered appreciatively on the contours of her body, and though she wore a simple outfit of a white shirt and green breeches, the look on Luca’s face made Tess feel as though she were wearing a ball gown spun of silk and diamonds. Even in her simple attire, his eyes made it plain that he found her beautiful. They had trained and traveled and slept together under the stars; they had ridden muddy and bloodied across the Deadlands and into the Dark Keep; they had hunted a dragon and escaped sirens and survived the greatest battle the Fae world had ever seen. And Tess somehow knew that through it all, Luca had seen her as beautiful. He had always emphasized her strength and her tenacity, but she understood now that he had been encouraging her in the way she needed most. They would never stop facing challenges, but Malravenar was broken and bound into the river stones, and Gryttrond was trapped in his glowing cage. She could let herself recognize her own beauty without the misplaced fear that it would make her weak or distract her from her duty as the Bearer.
Luca finally stood when she came within arm’s length. She tilted her face up to him in invitation, and he obligingly kissed her. Tess closed her eyes and lost herself in the delicious sensation of his lips upon hers, his kiss gentle at first, kindling a warm glow within her. One of his strong, calloused hands found her waist and firmly
drew her closer. She felt her knees go weak as a torrent of desire roared through her at the feel of his muscled body against hers. He held her with gentle strength and deepened the kiss, sliding her lips apart with his tongue. She pressed into him, sliding her hands under his arms and up his back. A very feminine satisfaction rose up within her as she caught his lower lip between her teeth, eliciting a low growl of passion from him.
Tess vaguely heard a trilling laugh from Corsica and a whistle of approval. She struggled out of the haze of desire and they both drew back, smiling. Luca brushed a thumb over her tingling lips, his eyes very blue as he said, “Tonight, we will sleep under the stars of Faeortalam again and we will delight in each other.”
A pleasurable shiver ran through Tess at his words. She smiled crookedly and arched an eyebrow. “Is that a promise?” she asked huskily. He kissed her swiftly in reply and she drew back, laughing. They stood together and surveyed the bone sorcerer.
“Is it a mistake to leave him alive?” Tess asked softly. The Sword hummed in its sheath on her back.
“We will not leave Gryttrond alive for long,” said Luca in a low voice. One of his hands stroked the handle of his axe. “He has many crimes for which he must answer.”
Tess nodded. “I know. But I mean…do you think it’s a mistake for us to travel back to Faeortalam with him still alive?”
Luca took a deep, measured breath. “All my instincts tell me to kill the kinslayer now.” He bared his teeth. “But I would not force Merrick to break his word to the Exiled.”
“Maybe we should wait until the Exiled have found out what they need to know and then kill him before we return,” said Tess. She still shrank from the thought of executing Gryttrond. Thrusting her sword through Malravenar had been almost too easy, when it came down to it. Would sliding her blade into this dark mage offer her some twisted pleasure?
“You don’t want to execute him,” said Luca quietly, his voice free of judgment.
She swallowed. “No. I’m afraid that I’ll…that it’ll be too easy. That I’ll enjoy killing someone in cold blood.”