“Profound, mom, but I know what you did for me and my father. You are more of a hero than I could ever be.” She smiled, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Oh mom, you’ll ruin your mascara.” My mother shoved me on and sent me to the very spot I stood in for the first time nearly a year and a half ago.
The classic wedding march started by my request and honored by Ian. The Fey people were reluctant, but we assured them it was just music and not anything that would taint our day. I breathed slowly taking another step. Sarah walked ahead of me and entered wearing her beautiful floor length green gown much like the one I wore the ceremony night I found out my Ian was the prince of the Fey Seelie summer court and I was betrothed to that very man. Here I stand watching her walk ahead down the same bed of green rose petals where I walked before. I knew that Bane must be watching her and admiring her poise and beauty as she cascaded down the aisle. The music picked up giving me my cue. I let the breath out and took the step I’d been waiting for. I wasn’t as nervous about going as I was about having it done. I just wanted to be able to call him mine.
I walked with a little more vigor than I should have eager to be side by side with the man who could call me his. I saw him on the third step in. He was gorgeous.
Ian had on his green “tuxedo” as I call it though it was way more on the sexy woodsman side with the tie not left lose at the neck like he usually did. His sword was on his side held by his belt, but he was still my Ian. Trailing the length of him, I stopped at the uncoordinated undeniably combat boots that he had always said were his favorite add-on from the human world. He knew I loved them?
I didn’t hold back the sparkle that even my eyes gave away under this veil. It did reach him, but then quickly turned into awe, I think. Yeah! He seemed to just take all of me in at the same time. It was almost like the same look I gave myself in the mirror seeing this otherworldly creature staring at me. Like a plastic Barbie doll come to life with a crown on her head. I understood his awe, but it was more than that. It was love, and admiration. He was in love with me.
I watched Ian. He watched me. I forgot to remember everyone else was waiting. When I stopped moving the crowd must have felt the need to get my attention, but I only saw Ian. Ian must have been drawn out of the same tunnel because he put up one finger in the air and offered the come hither look in front of the whole crowd of hundreds.
The color in my cheeks was hidden by the veil, but Ian knew.
I made it to the place where he stood now and faced him with my father’s help in the last ten steps or so. He released me and gave my covered hand to Ian’s very cold one. If my Ian tunnel vision was on a few moments ago like I thought it was, it most agreeably was turned on now.
Altheon called the room to attention. “We are in attendance today to witness the union of our queen to the son of Lazyra, son of Ikan. We will hear the vows made as with our Fey custom and end with a human custom requested by Ian and his bride to be.”
The crowd murmured a second and then hushed again.
“Do you Ian, son of the late King Ikan and Lady Lazyra of the Seelie court hereby vow to honor this queen in anything she deems worthy as well as pass forth to your offspring the honor of serving her well till death?”
“I will,” he slid the silver leafed band onto my ring finger as I discarded the glove. A certain zap vibrated in my head telling me he was tapping into my mind. I can’t believe I ever hated it.
I will do anything for you, Grace.
He turned to me though I wasn’t facing him. My breath and its erratic patterns alerted him to my silent, but not really, reaction to his mind invasion.
“Do you Grace, daughter of Ginera of the Seelie court and Lord Evan of the Unseelie court….”
The crowd’s reaction was louder than even I anticipated at realizing who the nicely dressed prior Fey Unseelie winter court king now humanized man beside Lazyra was.
“...hereby vow to honor my king in anything he deems worthy as well as serve as a vessel to your offspring in honor of serving him well till death?”
“I will,” I slipped the matching wider ring onto his same finger.
Now, the binding.
Ian and I walked to the very same bowl as we did over a year ago and completed the same ceremonial task but without the wounding of my now husband. Husband.
At the joining of our wrists the binding was complete. Energy surged though my arm and down my body, reversing and backing its way to my wrist again. I felt the searing pain like that of a burn from an ember jumping the flames of a fire and hitting my tender skin. When our arms separated, we each had the same matching maple leaf patterns edged into our skin beside the other. With the marriage and each child born, I would be decorated with a leafy vinethat would slowly creep up my arm. Major binding securities with other walks of life could cause our kind to bind also. To keep the peace within this court, I would add a hundred.
The light in Ian’s eyes were pure pride. This was the moment he had lived for and I was happier than any other moment to be right beside him in it making this one of those top ten moments list items of all history.
The ceremony ended and the dancing began.
Kin looked me over in admiration. I loved the attention, but it being Kin, it made me nervous. I glanced at my feet realizing only now that he did in fact come to the wedding.
“What are you looking at?” he asked gently as I watched over his shoulder at Ian man-hugging several of the guards who were congratulating him.
“Watching for the ice to form?” I popped my eyes up and back down to my feet to be sure his lukewarm expression was what I wanted. “I just want to be sure my feet are planted solid on the ground when it shakes from the quakes of hell freezing over.”
I waited for the grunt or growl of contempt. He didn’t let me down.
“Grace, you’re a force to be reckoned with. Hell froze the day you arrived in our world.”
“And thawed out on several occasions when you thought you might have me to yourself and chose to let fate work itself out.”
“That wasn’t thawing, that was boiling hot. My love for you was all I had.”
He used the word love.
“Okay, change of subject. This is my wedding party after all. Thank you for what you did, at your court. I know that was hard for you. And thank you for my father. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me.”
He smiled shyly. Well color me surprised. “I hope you are happy,” he asked.
“I am Kin. I am.”
He kissed my cheek and turned sideways revealing Ian behind him. He’d said it for his benefit. Ian had heard.
I smiled up at Ian’s to die for smile and braided his hand in mine, letting go my other hand from Kin. He disappeared into the crowd as I followed Ian to the middle of the big group.
Standing now, back in the very place where I danced for the first time with Ian a year ago, I took his hand as he placed his on the small of my bare back. I breathed in and arched at his touch. He smiled at the desired effect and dug his hand in deeper as if he needed to hold on.
I rested my head on his chest and let him move me to the sound of the soft music playing. I was in peaceful bliss and nothing or no one could diminish my high as we started to sway. The scent that had always made me fight to focus was surrounding me as I breathed in deeply. I felt him shiver and press his lips into my neck.
“May I break in?”
I looked up reluctantly at Ian for an answer. I wanted to close some doors, but I didn’t want to leave Ian. I stood back for a brief second taking in the sight of my husband and receiving a mischievous arched brow in return.
He bowed and handed me off to Pike. I watched him take his mother’s hand and pull her out to dance. She was happy and carefree at the moment and that seemed to make Ian happy. I watched them dance.
“I wanted one last moment before I lost you completely.”
I blushed at the reference to my wedding night ahead.
“I would have done anythi
ng to have that blush meant for me.”
“Pike,” I whispered pleading for him not to do this.
“No, I want to do this and then I will move on with my life. I needed to see you happy. I couldn’t accept anything else and there were times that Ian did not make you as happy as you should have been.”
I started to reprimand his own behavior, but he cut me off.
“Now I know you’re thinking I was such a heathen myself, but I only acted that way to preserve my own dignity. If I couldn’t convince you I was loyal way back when, then I could not live with myself. Know that you will always be my first love.”
What? Did he just say love?
“Yes, Grace. I love you. I will always love you.”
Why, oh why did Fey men like professing their love for me? At my wedding.
“Pike,” I repeated.
“I will not ever leave you. If you need me for anything, I am there.”
“You need to move on,” I pleaded.
“I will. I am to return to my domain and remain head of the guard over the summer court and liaison to the winter court by Kinsler’s decree.”
“Oh, wow! I am so excited for you. I get to see you again for real.”
He tilted his head down, “You will.”
I reached up and kissed his cheek. He leaned his head over and whispered, “You look beautiful today.”
I smiled into his cheek and kissed it once more. “Thank you. Now go dance with you mother. She is staring at us.”
He looked her way, smiled wide like a wonderful son would, and stepped back from me. Her beautiful raven hair was up and framing her sweet face. Her mind may be erased, but she was happy nonetheless. He took my hand in the air and kissed it like the charming knight in shining armor that he was.
“Does she still not know that you are her son?”
“I’ve told her, but she doesn’t remember that so much as she at least knows that I was someone she cherished.”
He’s used so many non-manly words for Pike lately. I had a feeling I wouldn’t see much more from him in the future unless a chance happening with him alone and a topic like this arises. Ones I would avoid.
“Go, go!” I pushed his arm gently and he turned back on the bad boy charm he showed in front of others. Ian had watched this entire display. I’d kept my mind open for him to hear and knew he’d listened without blocking. To know he’d soon be able to read them without effort on my part was scary.
Several times I felt his secret glance wash over me and back again while I was not beside him attached at the hip.
As he moved towards me after kissing his mother’s hand like Pike had just done, I watched in silent admiration for the umpteenth time at the amazing way he looked in the hunter green tails tux he wore with the sword at the side. He was so tantalizing hot I sometimes wondered how I’d been so lucky as to snatch him.
“Hello hotness,” I crooned as he sauntered towards me with a definite teasing swagger in his step. He offered a delicious smile meant only for me and let on a promise of what was to come.
“I believe that is “Your Royal Hotness to you.”
Huff! “I believe that is Your Royal Pompous....”
“I see a punishment coming soon to my queen.”
“Bring it on!” I was standing in a fighting stance amongst the ruffles of my skirt and holding my hands out like the great chase was about to begin. A low growl began to rise in his chest as he grabbed my arms and twisted me against his own chest. His breath was warm against my ear. My own breathe hitched and I pulled my chest up tighter to hold in the excitement.
“I am ready to take my bride for her punishment.”
He was so-so....
“Then take me!” I challenged licking my lips nervously. His eyes flashed and he immediately looked away. His growl grew, his hands gripped harder. I separated my teeth and watched his do the same. I held and watched it make a fluttering current forcing his eyes to close and open again. They were glowing. I tossed my head around, but not a soul was looking. “Too bad you have to wait till after the dinner.”
“Who says?” Ian’s growl mixed with his words.
“I say.”
Sarah’s voice sounded distant to me until I realized she was standing right beside me. “My queen,” she bowed giving me the knowing look she knew I was flustered. “My king,” she bowed to Ian. That was strangely exciting, but not from my closest friends. “You are needed at the table now.”
She bowed to both of us and left with crimson red plastered all over her pretty face.
“Saved. For now.”
I sizzled at the possibilities.
The dinner was fantastic. The laughter was contagious. The growing excitement inside my belly was unbearable. I was beyond acting all seductive and flirtatious now, I WAS SCARED!
The dinner ended and everyone clapped as the two of us stood to make our leave. We walked through the court as dozens of Fey lined the walls to lead us to our marriage chambers known as our room.
I’d asked Tren to inquire to others who would know a million more times if it really was sealed with protections of privacy. She assured me that Lazyra and Altheon had made it so and checked it several times over at my own request. He said that a powerful magic hovers over our bedroom. No one can break through it. Lazyra’s gift to us. Privacy!
We walked into the room like a paraded set of clowns and when the door finally closed my mouth was dry and my heart was racing. I watched the door not knowing where else to look giving the room barely a glance. Something in the room was different, but my mind was elsewhere. Of course, he knew my fear despite my playful attitude of late. I just stood and stared. His body was closer to me now. I knew because his heat radiated from anywhere semi close to me. The heat between us was hotter than the candle burning on the table across the room. I knew it was there, I could smell it. Fabric moved around and shifted. His hands were on my shoulders now.
“Turn around,” he whispered hoarsely.
With my eyes closed and my body shaking I pivoted my feet to stand directly opposite from where I was. He wasn’t behind me when I opened my eyes.
Red! Red, green, yellow, pink and every color rose petals covered the entire floor and bed and everywhere I could see. His thumb brushed my bare shoulder and I tensed knowing his shirt had dissipated. I felt so foolish for being nervous.
“A bath or shower.” Was he asking or telling?
He didn’t wait for my answer. His warm hand fell against mine and tugged my fingers towards the huge tub and five man shower that I’d admired for over a year now. The cords in his neck flexed and danced before me. The candle burned on.
Letting someone see me so exposed and open was like giving someone a knife to cut open my heart and look inside. Essentially, that is what I was doing. And he me!
Chapter Forty Three
power-n. the ability to do something or act in a particular way
The night was like a magic all its own. I would never feel as amazing as I felt with Ian in the amount of raw feelings he’d made me privy too. I was bound to him and him to me.
And then the other reality hit me as I stood here in the shower sensing the heat rise around me like a sauna. I was marked and every male eye who looked at me today would know it. Ugh!
But the other result would surpass the downside. I no longer hated the idea of Ian reading me so well. After what he made me feel in the last twelve hours, I couldn’t imagine not being able to keep myself open to feel that again. It wasn’t that it was a helpless feeling, it was like an awareness. The stroke of his fingers against my shoulder now sent sensations of pure excitement, what was to come. Yes, the nervous tension was there, but it changed. It was anticipation and adoration all mixed into an intimate picture of bliss and contentment. Everyone would know, no probably already do know I feel that way too. I knew the powers they said would come, came to me now, and would for all of my life.
***
Breakfast was served in our room. It was ther
e when we surfaced out of the bathroom in the late part of the morning. The incredible smell of fresh baked bread filled the room as well as freshly squeezed oranges.
A table was placed in the room with two chairs that weren’t there before. I blushed at the thought that someone had been in our room while we were locked in the bathroom. We were married.
“Who did this?” I had to know. I tried to control the warm cheeks that surfaced. I sat carefully in the silver silk robe I’d had since moving here a year ago.
“Tren.”
Oh! Good! I was distracted helplessly at Ian sitting only in his boxers with his wet hair falling in his left eye as he sat down across from me. Would he always wear so little in here?
Ian nodded.
Help me now!
I cleared my throat erasing my thoughts by shutting my eyes tight for a second. When I opened them, he was grinning all impish and cute in the same way.
I could feel the desire rise in me. Geez! Ian could tell too.
“These powers are definitely stronger.” I couldn’t stop my palpitating heart.
“Yes, they are.” His smirk widened.
I stared at his rock hard chest that severely distracted me still, “Do you think you could put on more clothes?”
Ian chuckled under his breath and reached for the black jeans hung at the front of his side of the closest that Tren had spent the last week rearranging.
I heard the buckle and zip and saw him come around me to sit again. The powers were stronger and I could feel his desire over everything else since the wedding.
I looked him over only able to see his backside. I mumbled really low, “Like that’s gonna help me behave either.”
He stinking laughed under his breath again. I couldn’t read all of his thoughts though, only snippets here and there as if they were as sporadic as my own. And they were dangerously similar to my own.
“These powers are going to be the death of me.”
“Oh, death isn’t what I had in mind,” Ian’s voice was deep and low. I thought of every scar on his body and where they were. I knew them all now. I love knowing that the scar on the back of his left thigh is from falling on his own knife once when he and Pike were playing around as boys. The scar just below his stomach was a slice wound from sparring with one of his new recruits long before I was born even. And the scars on his ribs, chest. They were because he would do anything to protect me.
Betrayal Page 28