by L. S. Darsic
“Get some rest my beautiful girl” Finn says as he peppers my face, lips, forehead and hair with kisses and then quietly leaves the room. I really didn't think I was tired, I was just using that as an excuse to get away from everyone and all the new information they crammed into my head., except as soon as I laid down I fell right asleep.
I wake up and see the setting sun outside the window and realize I had been asleep for several hours. I must have been exhausted. I look around and see Egypt standing in front of the bedroom door still as a statue.
“Come here E, what are you doing?” I coo as I pat the bed for her to come over. Finally she makes her way over to me and bumps her head against my shoulder in comfort. She is so sweet, even though she can't talk, she has a way of making me feel calmer. While I pet Egypt, I think of everything that was told to me earlier. I just can't grasp one feeling about this whole thing. I'm horribly sad that my mother and family have all been killed but I am so happy that my father is alive. I'm sickened by the resentment my foster family had towards me. I am nervous of the arrangement Finn's family made with mine and that we are supposed to be mated. What if he doesn't like me anymore after he gets to know me? I'm terrified to meet my father, what if I am a disappointment to him? What if he is terribly mean to me?
As I slowly drive myself insane I hear the door open and see Finn standing in the doorway with a warm smile which helps calm my nerves.
“You had a long nap” Finn says as he walks over and sits on the bed next to Egypt and I “are you feeling a little more put together?”
“Ha, no. In fact I have about one billion questions running through my head right now”
“Well, how about you ask some of them to me and I will try to help you with them?” Finn says as he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear
I sigh dramatically and say “alright, well how about you tell me this, why was my foster family so mean to me?” I ask as tears well up in my eyes, Finn sees me getting upset and pulls me onto his lap and leans back against the headboard
“I wish I could answer that for you, but I can't. I can tell you that you have a family with me now, you never will be treated like that ever again”
“W-what if you get to know me better and you end up not liking me? You've only known me a short time, I will probably drive you crazy” I ask worriedly as I pick at imaginary lint on the bed
“Alex” Finn says and pulls my chin up so I look at him “I have the same worry, what if you don't like me and I drive you crazy? I have the same concern as you”
“Pfft, right. I am pretty positive that will never happen. You are like a god, you could never be anything but perfect” I say as I point my finger in his chest. This guy is nuts, he is sweet, generous, loving, protective, kind and not to mention drop dead gorgeous. Pretty sure he is getting the short end of this stick.
“Alex, I would say the same about you. Except I have to live up to the fact that you are the daughter of an angel which makes you even closer to perfect than any other I know”
“What if he doesn't like me?” I whisper, I just don't know how could take being rejected again from another family.
“Alex, he will love you. He already does. Earlier, he came close to breaking the door down in order to see you” Finn says happily as he smiles at my wide eyes and mouth hanging open
“H-he is here? He was in here? While.....w-while I was sleeping?”
“Yes. I was in the sitting room when he just about blew the hinges off the door. He demanded to see you but I explained that you were upset and exhausted, so he sat and talked with me for a bit. I admit I was quite nervous, chatting my father in law and all” Finn says laughing “but he was actually less scary than I remember. While we were talking you must have been having a bad dream because we head you cry out in your sleep. Cian burst through your door like he was running into battle, as soon as he saw you and that nothing bad was happening to you, he walked over to you and just stared at you. When you cried out again he touched your forehead and you calmed instantly. He explained he has the ability to induce sleep and to calm the mind. I think that might be why you slept so long”
“Oh” I whisper. Really, its all I can come up with at this point. My father was in the room with me and I didn't even know it. “Do I....do I look like him?”
“I can see the resemblance. My mother said you look like the perfect combination between your mother and your father” Finn smiles “he is ready and waiting to meet you. How about you take a shower and we will go see him when you are ready?”
“Yeah, that is a good idea”
Finn moves me off his lap but leans in and gives me a long kiss which I get into a little more than I expected. My emotions are all wonky so making out with Finn seems like the best way to iron them out. Finn stands me up and gently pushes me towards the bathroom door which makes my eyebrows dip in confusion
“Your father is here, I don't want him tearing my arms off if I get too frisky with his only daughter” Finn laughs nervously
“Don't worry Finn, I would just tell him I took advantage of you” I laugh over my shoulder as I head into the shower.
Chapter 22
Once I am clean and a bit more relaxed I walk out into the bedroom to find Natalia and Presley waiting for me.
“Hey” I say cause I really have no clue how to talk lately
“We are here to help you get ready” Natalia says kindly
“I'm fine, but thank you”
“Sorry ass-hat but the reason we need to help you is cause -” Presley starts to badger me
“Alex, your father is an angel, he is the highest ruler of us all. It would only be fitting if you were presented to him wearing the proper attire. We all will be dressing up formally” Natalia explains as I take a good look at her and Presley. How on earth did I not notice that they were wearing silk robes with their hair done up and tons of jewelery hanging all over them?
“So I...umm...have to wear a bathrobe or do you guys have something cool on under those robes?” I ask laughing as I see Presley scowl
“No dumb ass, we just haven't gotten dressed yet because YOU need our help. Stop being a dick” Presley retorts as she drags me to the bathroom sitting tables and begins to brush roughly though my long blonde hair
“Owwwww! Take it easy, I need some hair left if you want to do anything with it, bitch”
“Presley, I will do her hair and makeup, how about you go get the clothes ready?” Natalia says calmly as she pries the brush from Presley and then watches her stomp away into the other room
“Thanks for taking that away, she is dangerous with a hairbrush because she never brushes her own skanky hair” I say loudly
“I HEARD THAT YOU BITCH!” Presley yells from the other room as I laugh
“How are you feeling Alex?” Natalia says serenely, she is good at getting us to stop bickering. She just calmly brushes my hair and begins arranging it so the top and sides are up but the back hangs down with curls and braids
“I'm still overwhelmed but not much I can do about any of this but go with the flow. Worrying about any of it isn't going to get me anywhere I suppose” I explain. Natalia is like a hair dresser and makes me want to spill all my life secrets. Once she is done with my hair she adds light touches of make up to complete my look.
“It is understandable that you are overwhelmed and you are correct, worrying about it will not change anything. You are very mature to realize that before it eats away at you. You will do great things in your life if you take time to think things through before you react to them” Natalia says with a smile as she leads me back to the bedroom where Presley is unzipping a garment bag.
My breath whooshes out of me as I see the dress that Presley pulled out for me. It is a silk full length gown, off white with square cut across the chest and long sleeves. It is so simple yet beautiful. I step into the gown and Natalia buttons it up the back.
“Whew! I'm so glad that part fit. I was worried I had the wrong size in the boobage
area” Presley says as she looks me over.
“What do you mean by that part?” I ask warily
“Now we add your tartan overlay” Presley answers as she reaches into the garment bag again and pulls out a plaid dress. Whenever I thought of plaid, I thought of lumberjacks that wore the red and black. This is not what I was expecting. The plaid is emerald green, deep purple, black and white. Presley quickly pulls the plaid over my dress and Natalia sets to buttoning it up the back again. Finally when they are done I look in the mirror and can't believe what I see. The plaid fits around the white part of the dress so you still see the white dress mixed in which makes it not so much plaid. The plaid dress is smaller than the white dress so around the neckline you see white, as well as the ends of the sleeves. The bottom is bustled higher so you see the white dress more. It is like nothing I have ever worn before.
“Wow, that looks great on you! Who knew you could make plaid work but wait till you see mine” Presley winks and heads into the bathroom
“This plaid is beautiful” I say in awe as I continue to stare at myself in the mirror
“This your families' tartan mixed in with mine, they are very similar so they mixed quite well” Natalia explains as she kisses my cheek quickly and heads to the door “I need to finish getting myself ready now, I will see you down there”
I begin to walk around to get the feel of my dress when I realize I have no shoes to wear with this. I rummage through the bag my dress was pulled out of and find a pair of black lace up boots that come to mid calf. Perfect.
I want to sit but feel like I shouldn't so I don't wrinkle my pretty dress, so I pace around in the room while I wait for Presley to finish getting ready.
“Hey, so what is protacol for this? Why are we getting all dressed up?” I yell to Presley through the bathroom door.
“All of the royal family and clan has been called to gather, you will be announced formally so everyone knows you are your father's daughter. Then we relax and have a good time. Eat, drink and be merry, you know” Presley says as she opens the door.
Holy shit! “What the hell are you wearing?!?!” I ask as I look over Presley with wide eyes. She is wearing an shinning silver breast plate that pushes her boobs up even higher than they normally look, arm and leg guards. She has on a white flowing dress under it that stops just above her knees but is longer on the sides. On her feet she has gladiator type sandals. Strapped to her side is a long sword and several daggers. She looks bad ass.
Presley shrugs “consider them like dress blues that the guys have to wear in the military. I have to wear this shit when in formal situations” she explains as she pulls a disgruntled face
“What do you mean formal situations?”
“Ah, well your daddy is going to acknowledge me as one of your formal guards, blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada. All very droll if you ask me” she says as she rolls her eyes. Yeah boring to her but not to me, the one who has never done anything like this in her entire life. I am about to continue to question but am stopped when I hear a knock on the door to the sitting room. Presley motions for me to stay as she goes to answer the door. I hear the door open and see Egypt trotting in wearing a sash around her neck of the same plaid I am wearing. She looks adorable!
“Awe, E, you look so cute!!” I say as I squish her face next to mine and give her kisses on her snout.
“Pfft, only you would tell a Cir Sith that they look cute” Presley calls from the other room. I look up to take a dig at her but the words are lost in my throat as I see Finn standing in the doorway.
My gosh, he looks incredible. The guy looks great in anything but he is looking extra fine wearing full Scottish regalia. He looks like he could captain an army to hell and back and still come out kicking ass. His plaid is emerald green, black and white like mine but missing the purple. He has a sword hanging on his side as well as two other daggers visible.
“Alex” Finn breathes as he stalks slowly towards me “you look magnificent”
“T-thank you. You look so handsome and pretty bad ass” I laugh a little
“Bad ass?” he asks with a quirk of his eyebrow
“All your knives and shit. Going to war or something? I'm kind of jealous that I don't get a knife myself” I say and then hear Presley laugh from the other room
“I'll get you a knife of your very own, Princess” Presley snorts from the other room
“Bitch” I mumble loudly as I hear her snort again
“Ready to go?” Finn asks as he holds his arm out to for me to take, I nod my head and put my arm through his as he leads me out the door with Presley and Egypt in front of us. My heartbeat is beating the shit out of my chest. We walk back through the castle and down the winding staircase that brings us to the main doors. We stop at the main doors and wait for someone to open them. Why are we going outside?
The doors open as I hear someone announce “His Royal Highness, Prince Finnigan escorting Princess Caitriona, daughter of Cian” what the what? Who is Caitriona? And what the hell? Finn is a prince? I look up at Finn in confusion but he just gives me a tight smile as he leads me past Presley and Egypt out the door.
The grounds all around the castle are full of people, not just nephilim but all sort of “others” all staring at us with interest. Finn leans down and whispers “remember I am right here with you, Mo Chridhe'” which makes me feel a tiny bit better. I look around and see Anja, Jace, Xander, Ian, Elle along with Alec and his family who are standing behind Brennus and Natalia, all are wearing traditional Scottish attire. Standing next to Brennus is a large dark hair man in full Scottish regalia as well. The man is frighting, he is so big, taller than Finn's 6 foot 4 and more muscular. He is staring at me with a big smile on his face but he is someone you never want to see do anything but smile at you. Probably before you even realize he isn't smiling anymore you will be dead. I search his face to find any familiarity but I find none. His hair is black, unlike mine but his eyes are bright green so that is all I can see I got from him. I give him a shy smile and move closer to Finn for support. The man, ah, my father smiles back quickly and then his face morphs into that of one who means business and is a stone cold bad ass as he nods his head to Brennus.
Brennus moves to the front of the stairs and speaks calmly to those who are gathered at the base.
“As many of you know, the Hunter clan was at war many years ago with the Black clan. Many of you fought along side of those in clan Hunter. When the war was over we all returned home and thought everything would be peaceful again, but tis not what we thought. The Hunter clan children were sent away and kept safe but those remaining of the Hunter clan were murdered brutally. While these are reasons to mourn, today we celebrate! Cian has returned to claim his place as the chieftain of clan Hunter and ruler of Scotland Nephilim once again. Along with Cian returning, Princess Caitrionia and her cousins from the Hunter clan have returned to us as well. I summoned you all here to celebrate and witness the rebuilding of our long time allies, the Hunter clan” Brennus finishes with a flourish. The crowd is quiet and looking at us expectantly, for what, I have no idea.
Suddenly I hear a ripping sound and look over to see Cian walking confidently forward as massive black wings sprout from his back and rips his shirt to pieces which leaves only his plaid sash across his chest. Holy shit. Now......I know what I am, and who I came from but to see it is a whole different thing. Never, have I ever seen an angel, even though I know I was made by one I never really considered wings.
“I am here to lay protective claim over my only daughter, Caitriona and my kin of the Hunter clan. Heed this warning, should anyone attempt to harm any of my clan, you will pay with your life” Cian says menacingly. His voice is deep and guttural as if it is almost a growl. Yet another thing I would never had thought of when I think of an angel. I have to get the idea out of my head of a peaceful being who does nothing but smiles and sprinkles fairy dust on your head, because that is exact opposite of Cian. I'm so enchanted, frightened and amaze
d by Cian that I don't even notice that Finn has left me and is striding confidently over to Cian.
“I lay my life and my sword to protect Princess Caitriona and the Hunter clan” Finn says as he bends to one knee and presents his sword to Cian. What. The. Fuck.
“I accept your life and your sword as protection of my daughter and my clan” Cian says as Finn stands up fluidly and paces back to my side. I look up to him with wide eyes and a “whatthefuck” look on my face but he doesn't acknowledge me at all.
Next I see Presley stride confidently to Cian and says “I, Randgridr, Shield-Destroyer of the Valkyries, give my shield and sword to protect Princess Caitorina and the Hunter clan” as she lowers to one knee and presents her sword to Cian. I don't get why they are doing this? Am I supposed to do something too? Why didn't anyone tell me? I don't even have a sword to present.
“I accept your shield and your sword as protection of my daughter and my clan” Cian replies. Presley or whoever the hell she said her name was, shield-destroyer, rises and walks by me with a wink. She thinks this shit is amusing?
Brennus and Natalia walk to Cian side by side and both drop to one knee “as the cheiftan of the McTaverish clan, I pledge my sword and my clan as protection of Princess Caitorina and the Hunter clan”