by Amy Sumida
I gave up. The tenacity of Shining One kings was legendary. And frankly, the terms “womanhood” and “manhood” were kind of a mood killer.
Torin led me down the hall, into one of the guest chambers reserved for family or important visitors. He opened the door for me, and I froze in the passageway. The room was filled with jewels. Wooden chests sat on the floor, their lids open, as if they'd recently been inspected. Each one was full to its brim with gemstones: sapphire, malachite, diamond, jasper, opal, tiger's eye, carnelian, selenite, kyanite, and blue lace agate –all of the kingdoms who had stood against us in the Sapphire War. There were uncut chunks as well as faceted gems ready to be placed in a setting. The soft gleam set off the more sparkling cuts perfectly.
“Are you satisfied?” Torin's voice dropped to a purr.
“Not yet,” I lowered my voice to match his. “Shut the door, Onyx King. Let's see who gets naked first, this time.”
“How like a woman”–Torin shook his head but shut the door quickly–“to become excited by the sight of jewels.”
“I'm excited by the sight of our enemies defeat,” I corrected him. “And by the fact that my boyfriend has enough power to get me all of this loot.”
“So, it's power that turns you on?” Torin swung me up against him.
“This time.” I started undoing his belt.
“I can accept that.” Torin smiled and laid me down on the rug, right in the center of all the gemstones. “In fact, I think it turns me on a little too.”
“A little?” I reached for the hard length of him between us. “I'd say that's more than a little.”
“And I'd say that you're wise to stroke my . . . ego.” He chuckled.
In minutes, we were naked (I totally forgot to keep track of who went first), pressed tight against each other. I had my thighs wrapped around his waist, and Torin was sliding into that delicious tempo which would undoubtedly bring us both a lot of satisfaction. The jewels gleamed around us, their magic simmering beneath their gleaming surfaces, and I couldn't help but rejoice in my victory –over Sapphire and Onyx.
“Say it,” I whispered to Torin.
“I love you, little bird,” Torin purred into my ear.
“I love you too, Onyx King”–I sighed–“more than the breath that gives my magic life.”
“Then sing for me,” he urged. “Make magic with me now; here, amid the proof of our power.”
I sang until my song surged into completion; until we both screamed the final chords together. What beautiful music we made, the Onyx King and I.
Chapter Five
“I want you to meet my parents,” Torin murmured into my hair after we'd finished our musical interlude.
“Your parents?” I sat up and looked back at him in surprise.
“Yes, the people who gave me life.” Torin chuckled as he sat up. “I've met yours, now I'd like you to meet mine. Isn't that how it's normally done?”
“Yeah, that's pretty normal,” I huffed. “I'm just shocked that I haven't met them before now; that I haven't even wondered about why I haven't. Why haven't I? We've been to war, Torin. Where were they when all that was happening? Didn't they want to help you?”
“They were at home, where I asked them to remain.” He leaned back against one of the chests of gems and ran his hand casually through the contents. “They're not monarchs, so they had nothing to contribute to our war.”
“They could have –I don't know– fought in it.” I grimaced.
“I didn't want them fighting in it,” he said with an exasperated tone. “That's why I asked them to stay out of it.”
“And they just said 'Sure, Son, we'll just sit this one out'?”
“Not in so many words”–Torin rolled his eyes–“but yes.”
“What kingdom do they live in?” I asked, wondering again why I hadn't thought to inquire about such things earlier. Was I that self-centered? Then again, I had kind of been distracted by saving all of the realms.
Torin sighed and made a face. “That's another reason I haven't introduced you yet.”
“Do they live in one of the kingdoms who fought against us?” I was a little horrified. “No wonder you asked them to sit it out.”
“No”–Torin's expression became even more pained–“it's worse than that. They live in Alexandrite.”
It took a few seconds for me to process what he was saying; that his parents not only lived in a kingdom who had allied with us in the war, they lived in Declan's kingdom. Declan –he was why Torin was so hesitant to take me to meet his parents.
“You could have brought them here.” I pointed out.
“Again, I remind you that I didn't want them anywhere near the war,” Torin said. “Now that it's over, yes, I could ask them to visit. But that seems both childish and somehow cowardly.”
“Maybe because it would be,” I offered brightly.
“Don't enjoy this too obviously, little bird”–Torin leaned forward and kissed my forehead–“or I'll be forced to make your flower-gifting friend very uncomfortable.”
“Torin, you're a jackass,” I said simply and stood.
“What? Why?” He stood as well, but only so he could loom over me and frown at me better.
“You won.” I slipped on my underwear and handed him his pants, slapping them to his chest. “Get over yourself. You got me, Declan didn't, and now he's trying to get his piece back on the gameboard. You can't fault him for that; it's exactly what you would do if you were him.”
“Not true.” Torin smiled wickedly. “I would simply put my piece”–he grabbed me and yanked me against his solid chest–“wherever I wanted. That would get me back in your game.”
“And now you're an arrogant jackass.” I shook my head and pushed away from him.
“Women like confidence,” he declared as he dressed.
“Confidence perhaps,” I agreed, “but not arrogance. Tone it down, King Narcissist, or you won't be putting your piece anywhere near me for a very long time.”
Torin sighed heavily. “I concede. Winning this debate will only lose me more in the long run. Now, will you meet my parents?”
“Of course I'll meet your parents.” I looked at him in surprise. “That was never in question. You're my boyfriend and we've been together for over four months now; it's time I meet your parents.”
“Oh. Well, that's good then.”
“You were worried?” I went on tippy-toes to kiss the end of his nose.
“No.”
“You were.”
“I was unsure if you would want to take this step.”
“Uh-huh.” I handed him his tunic. “Come on, you insecure narcissist, let's go meet your parents.”
“Now?” Torin's eyes widened as he followed me out of the room.
“Yes, now.” I stopped and looked back at him. “What did you do with the flowers Declan sent me, by the way?”
Torin gave me a guilty grimace.
“I knew I was going to regret giving you that key.”
Chapter Six
The Alexandrite Kingdom happened to be located right next to Onyx; another fact that Torin had failed to mention to me. Even more interesting was that he had been raised in Alexandrite, and was close friends with Declan until their recent squabbles –his words, not mine.
“How close were you two?” I asked Torin as we rode through the crisp mountain air, making our way down a road which led from Onyx into Alexandrite.
“We are still close,” Torin admitted. “I'm just annoyed with him at the moment.”
“So the plot thickens,” I teased. “All this blustering about Declan, when actually he's your buddy.”
“Which makes his pursuit of you even more of a betrayal,” Torin growled.
“All's fair in love and wine,” I said.
“Love and war,” Torin corrected me.
“Nope, here in Fairyville, war has rules,” I complained. “Wine, however, is a different matter. As soon as you Shining Ones start drinking that magic-
infused, libido-enhancing libation, all rules fly out the window –along with a lot of clothing.”
“I can't decide if you truly believe that you're humorous, or if you just enjoy vexing me,” Torin mused.
“Ha-ha.” I grimaced. “Can we get back to Declan? When did you two become friends?”
Torin sighed deeply.
“Torin, come on,” I urged. “This is your past, I want to hear about it.”
“I told you, I grew up in Alexandrite.”
“So, you were children together?” I asked.
“No.” Torin frowned at me in consideration, blinked, then broke into a wide grin of realization. “You have no idea how old he is.”
“Declan?” I blinked back at Torin. “No, I guess I don't. Is he really old? Like, older than Cerberus?”
“Hmm”–Torin squished up his face in thought–“perhaps not quite as old as that. However, Declan was King of Alexandrite long before I was ever born.”
“No kidding?” I made an impressed sound. “I never would have guessed. He's adjusted to the times well.”
“Most old ones learn to.” Torin scowled. “It's not a huge accomplishment.”
“So Declan was king when you were living in Alexandrite?”
“Yes. He”–Torin's expression softened–“was kind to me when I was a child. He often stepped in between me and the other children on my behalf.”
“So how does that sort of relationship morph into an adult friendship?”
“We are long-lived people.” Torin shrugged. “Just because we watch a man grow from a child, it doesn't mean we cannot relate to the grown man as an equal.”
“Interesting.” I nodded. “Tell me more. When did you become friends; as in adult friends?”
“I couldn't tell you the exact moment.” Torin frowned. “It was a gradual thing, and it's been a long time.”
“So you gradually became friends with the Alexandrite King,” I said. “Then you became a king too. Did Onyx just pop up beside Alexandrite because you wanted to stay close to your bestie?”
“He's not my bestie,” Torin growled, “and you forget that my family lives in Alexandrite as well.”
“So, Onyx did appear next to Alexandrite because of your intentions?” I lifted my brows.
“Of course,” Torin huffed. “Everything about Tír na nÓg is because we Shining Ones wish it so.”
“There's Mr. Arrogant again.” I rolled my eyes.
“It's not arrogance when it's the truth.” Torin smirked at me.
“Why do I love you?” I shook my head.
“That too, was because I wished it.” Torin smiled wider.
“Incorrigible,” I proclaimed.
Around us, the group of knights, who were escorting us to Alexandrite, chuckled. They'd once been shocked by my interaction with their king, but they'd gotten over it fast. Now, they were used to the irreverent way I spoke to Torin . . . and how much Torin loved my irreverence.
The scenery changed abruptly, and it became obvious that we had crossed over into a new kingdom. The kingdoms of Tír na nÓg were each unique, each one boasted a different landscape as if it were the Kingdom flag. Where Onyx was a cool, evergreen, mountainous region; Alexandrite was closer to a South American countryside: all rolling hills spotted with lush woodland. The meadows were bright with flowers, fruit hung heavy on the trees, and sunlight warmed my skin. I sighed in appreciation.
“Yes, it's lovely here,” Torin agreed with my unspoken sentiments.
“You say that like it's a bad thing,” I observed.
“I just don't want you getting too . . .”
“Attached?” I asked with a twinkle in my eye. “Interested? Covetous? Desirous?”
“Elaria,” Torin sighed.
“I'm in love with you, not your kingdom,” I said. “Though you know I find Onyx to be very beautiful. I love both mountains and ocean; it's my mixed heritage. I can't help it.”
“I know,” Torin muttered.
“Again with the gloomy tone.” I scowled at him. “What's up with that?”
“There's one other aspect of Alexandrite I haven't told you about,” Torin said as we rounded a bend and came out on a rise.
Alexandrite was spread out beneath us; a picturesque land with a sparkling, color-shifting castle stretching up in its center. Sunlight caught the alexandrite walls of the castle, changing them from blue to deep violet. It wasn't just a play of light either, the stone actually changed color depending on the type of light hitting it. Stunning, absolutely breathtaking. I'd yet to see a castle as beautiful as the one in Alexandrite. But what really stole my breath away was the ocean edging the far end of the kingdom. It gleamed like a mirror beneath the Tír na nÓg sun, and a hint of salt carried over to us on the breeze.
“Alexandrite is the only kingdom in Tír na nÓg that touches the Sgàthan Sea,” Torin said reverently. “No matter how power shifts the landscape, King Declan manages to hold the shoreline.”
“Mountains and ocean,” I whispered. “Right beside each other.”
“Well, not beside exactly,” Torin grumbled. “Close.”
“Yes, close. As close as you claim Declan and you still are.” I looked over at Torin and smiled. “But a sea won't sway me, Onyx.”
“It's far more impressive than flowers,” Torin mumbled, but he looked relieved, all the same.
Chapter Seven
The Alexandrite Castle seemed to grow as we approached. It spread out to either side as well as upward, in gravity-defying spires with dizzying amounts of details cut into them. In normal stone, these details would have been stunning; cut into alexandrite, they weren't just architectural adornments, they were facets which made the castle sparkle. I'd seen sparkling castles in Tír na nÓg before, but combined with the shifting color of the stone itself, the edifice became a mind-boggling display of color, design, and light. It made me feel like squinting while simultaneously struggling to keep my eyes open, so I wouldn't miss a single aspect.
A fresh water moat, full of gleaming fish, separated the castle and its courtyard from the rest of the kingdom, and a massive stone wall, just regular granite, rose up around the castle grounds. The guards at the gate waved us through with warm greetings called down to us. Torin was a little hard to mistake. His bulk alone was a dead giveaway. And then there was his recent fame due to our winning the Sapphire War. All of that combined to make for an easy passage through the many kingdoms of Tír na nÓg, but in Alexandrite, where Torin was almost as well known as in his own kingdom, it practically made him a superstar.
Stable boys rushed up to take our mounts, but even before we had climbed out of our saddles, a woman was standing beside us, arms outstretched to Torin. She was dressed as a royal: sweeping, velvet skirts, elaborately coiffured hair, and a noted lack of jewelry. Shining Ones used gemstones to enhance their magic, but the more powerful they were, the fewer gems they had to wear. Torin, for instance, could access his personal stone's power no matter how far away onyx was. So basically, the more jewels a fairy wore, the less power they had. This woman wore a single, alexandrite pendant; a subtle signal that she was magically kick-ass.
Her hair was deep black, with a blue sheen to it, and her eyes were the blue of a robin's egg. She was tall, even among the willowy Shining Ones, and her body was much too lush for her to be purely sidhe. Added to her obvious joy at seeing Torin, I came to the conclusion that this was his mother. When he jumped down from his horse and went straight into her arms, I was certain of it.
“My son,” she confirmed it, “I've missed you.”
“Mother”–Torin smiled brightly–“you look beautiful, as always.”
“Thank you.” Her eyes shifted to me. “And is this who I think it is?”
“This is Elaria.” Torin reached for me, and I edged forward. “Elaria, this is my mother, Duchess Ceana.”
“Nice to meet you.” I held my hand out to her.
“Don't be ridiculous,” she scoffed as she pulled me into a hug. “I'm
so happy to meet you at last. I wish I could have gone to war with you, but my son was adamant that my presence could be used against him, and my king agreed with him.”
“Declan forbid you from fighting?” I lifted a brow.
“Declan?” She lifted her brow back at me. “That's rather familiar of you.”
“We're friends.” I cleared my throat as Torin grimaced.
“Yes, His Majesty has spoken highly of you,” Ceana said. “In fact–”
“In fact, His Majesty is right here.” Declan stepped up to our little group. “Elaria, I'm honored to welcome you to my kingdom and my home.”
“Hey, Dec,” I said automatically, then saw the surprise on Duchess Ceana's face, and the irritation on Torin's. “I mean; Thank you, Your Majesty. Your castle is very beautiful.”
“It fades to insignificance when such women stand before it.” Declan waved his elegant hand to include me and Ceana.
“Declan,” Torin growled.
“Can't I even give her a compliment?” Declan asked innocently, but his eyes were twinkling with mischief. “Welcome back to your birthplace, King Torin.” He held out a hand to Torin.
“Thank you.” Torin sighed and returned the handshake. “It is good to see Alexandrite again.”
“You two are something else”–I shook my head–“at each others' throats one minute, and then shaking hands the next.”
“Kings.” Ceana shrugged, slid my arm around hers, and led me inside the castle. “Now, sweetling, Torin tells me you're a spellsinger; a rare bird indeed. Perfect for my son. He needs someone special, but also someone who can be firm with him, and he's confessed that you can be challenging.”
“Mother!” Torin stomped after us. “You betray my confidence.”
“To your lover.” Ceana shrugged. “You told me you trust her implicitly.”
I lifted my brows at Torin and then looked eagerly back at his mother. “Do go on.”
“I just want to see where her intentions lie,” Ceana said primly to Torin. “After that Oonagh debacle, I want to be certain your heart isn't in danger.”