“Meline and Thomas both fell during the fighting right at the end,” Liam began. “They’d have gone sooner if Nix hadn’t switched after … Laerni. You know about Quinn and Willa already. The two of them along with Andrew, who was amazing, kept the circle of witches safe long enough for you to do your thing. Richard. After he gave the order to bring the jet—which you and I are going to have a very long talk about later—he had the witches help him and a small army get into the Magi’s realm. You should have seen them, like a wicked wind rushing through the trees. We couldn’t have held off the majority of the wild ones if it hadn’t been for them. James was hurt pretty badly, but he’s healing, so I hear.”
I let those names settle around my heart where I’d keep them forever. “Laerni?”
“Her spirit has returned to Freymoor,” Gallagher said with a smile.
“What do you mean, returned? There’s nothing there but ash.”
“Ah, you have forgotten the story Laerni told you upon our first visit, I see. They are true immortals. One day, like the phoenix, they will be born again amongst the ashes of their previous lives. You will meet her again.”
About a million pounds left my shoulders at that. She’d be with Alogason again, and Galati. Their forest would grow while it waited for them to return. I’d see her, my surrogate mother, my friend, again. She’d once told me, at our first encounter, that an elf could know all that a person was and wanted to be, their hopes, dreams and desires. Their past and the skeletons that lay within it. The instant we saw one another again, she’d experience every moment we’d ever spent together, the good and the bad.
Liam’s mental fingers wandered into my head just as I thought of Parthalan. “He kissed you?”
I snorted, elbowing him. “He’s dead, Liam, and he caught me off guard.”
“Yeah, well, when I die one day, he and I are going to have a chat.” He said it all through a crooked grin. “You’re all mine, and I don’t share. And if he thinks he’s going to date one of our daughters, then he’s even more insane now than when Alseides had him on a string.”
“Ditto on the sharing and Parthalan as a son-in-law. If I catch you kissing anyone, dead or not, you and I are going to have our first real fight as a married pair.”
“I think we should expand this garden into a playground,” Gallagher said, gazing around with a smile. “I was never blessed with children, but I am looking forward to seeing Iress filled with young ones I can spoil and love.”
I patted his arm and kissed his cheek. “Since we probably won’t have much need for such a formal Court anymore, I think this would be a perfect arena to fill with the laughter of children while we conduct our business.” Taking Garret from Liam, since I could scarcely bare to have him out of my arms, I said, “Now, boss man, I want to see every inch of this city, see every fae, and find out what’s happened now that I’m alive and full of energy, starting with Neve and Andrew.” I needed to know he’d be okay after what he’d been through. Somehow, I knew he would need the most healing.
33
Before we made it to the gate, Neve stepped through. Eyes glassy and startled, she paused. Her cotton candy hair had been secured in a bun at the back of her head, and stress clung to her like a dark shroud. “Lila? When did you … so Gallagher … it worked?”
I went to her, stepping carefully as I thought she might turn tail and run. “How’s my other favorite captain? I hear the city was in good hands while I was gone.”
She glanced around as if looking for assurance that she wasn’t imagining me. “Gallagher … you’re really awake?”
I set Garret at my feet, and Brígh set Faith down beside him. Neve remained rigid as I drew her into my arms. A moment later, she collapsed against me, sobbing.
“I’m sorry I left you for so long. I know what it can do to the psyche watching over a city like this. I hope I’ll never have to ask you to do it again.”
“I will never be you.” She pulled back and palmed the tears from her eyes. “When the Host told me what was happening, that you’d gone up like you did, I thought … I didn’t know what to do.”
“She did great.” Brígh came in behind her sister and hugged her. “Kept us all calm and doing what we were supposed to be doing. You’d have been proud. When the vision of our destruction disappeared, I’d have just about had a cow if it hadn’t been for her.”
“I am proud.” I leaned in and kissed them both, siphoning away the remaining shreds of fear and doubt from them both. “Of you both. I knew I chose wisely.”
Neve, gnawing her lip, smiled and let out a breath that might have been cooped up in her for months. “About the captain business … the witches and I … we opened a clinic for everyone who might need medical attention and can’t heal themselves.” At my arched brow, she explained. “Everyone stayed, the selkies, witches, even the wood elves. There are lots of babies who will need to be delivered pretty soon.”
It took me a second to figure out what she was saying. “Are you resigning?”
She bit her lip. “It was never my calling. Yeah, so … I could have been really good at it I think, but I’m a midwife and nurse of sorts now. It makes me happy.”
“Well, then,” I said with a smile, “I’m going to miss you, and I guess we need a replacement.” I turned to Liam and Gallagher. Cas took my left hand, and Neve, my right. Brígh rested her chin on my shoulder and leaned against my back. “Can someone fill me in on the ceremony my mother used to choose her captain and point me to the closest seamstress?” I said. “I need a new dress, because I’m in the mood for a little pomp and circumstance. Court in one hour. Everyone needs to be there. With bells on.” Bright grins shone back at me from my company.
Gallagher began a round of “long live the queen!” with everyone joining in. For once, I didn’t correct him. I was queen of the fae, and I wanted to greet my people in style beside my king. It would be a homecoming none would soon forget. Especially me.
34
After a visit to the seamstress, a whirlwind tour where I greeted every fae in the city except for one, and a marathon primping session at Brígh’s, it was late afternoon when I arrived back at the gates of the Court.
Lisa stood beside me. “I remember Arianne, Lila. I can’t believe how much you look like her in that dress.”
“Thank you. I think she’d like this one.” A smile stretched my lips wide as I smoothed my hands down the gown of cream silk that hugged my waist and flowed out to brush the ground. The deep ‘V’ of the bodice showed just enough boobage to look good and not dip into hooker territory—a request I’d made of the seamstress. A golden chain encircled my waist. Simple and elegant, two things I’d never considered myself to be, but the combination was just perfect.
Despite Brígh’s insistence that I allow her to do something spectacular with my hair, I’d opted to leave it flowing loose in natural curls. I raised my Light just enough to tease the ribbons of gold and cream above my head before nodding to my transporter friend. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Lisa took my hand. The air crackled before we zapped out and appeared on the dais in the center of the Court. The chairs had been removed at my request—Liam and I would hear the troubles of the fae one on one as they arose, wherever they arose.
A hush fell over the room, save for Andrew who shouted at Liam, his back to me. Gallagher stood nearby holding my son, earning me a smile that threatened to make me cry right then and there. The murmur of all other conversation ceased in favor of gasps. I held my finger to my lips as I looked around the room at everyone, at the pride and excitement shining back at me.
Andrew, his shoulders hunched, said, “I knew there was something wrong when you sent me to that stupid selkie bar. They don’t fight. Ever. Yet, all of a sudden they’re at each other’s throats all damn day? Where is Lila?” he asked in a tone sharp enough to
shave with. He pointed at the spot where I’d lain for six months. “I’m her effing guard, and I demand to know where you’ve moved her to.”
I came up behind Andrew, and Neve stepped in beside him. “It’s all right, Andrew,” I said to the back of his head, my face heating at the bedroom stare Liam gave me over Andrew’s shoulder.
“No, the hell, it is not all right!” Andrew froze, the sounds of his exhalations rising above the hush of the rest of the bodies in the Court.
I turned him with a hand to his arm, but he wouldn’t raise his gaze to me. “I don’t bite,” I said, fighting my grin. “Well, maybe once in a while, but you’re a tough guy. I think you can take it.” When he still wouldn’t look at me, I slid a finger under his chin and lifted until I could see his eyes.
Arms shaking, he scooped me up, squeezing the crap out of me. A storm of quiet curses left his lips before he said, “I can’t believe … I thought you’d … how the … when?”
I held him back until he calmed, stroking my hand down the back of his shaved head. “You did it. They didn’t beat you, didn’t out-power or outsmart you in the end. We made it home. Your father would be so proud of you.” After kissing his cheek, I stepped back and faced the rest of the guard, who remained in a line below the dais. They all wore matching black suits as per the ceremony Neve had outlined for me.
Brígh and Gallagher came from my left, holding two ornamental swords I’d had one of the shifters create for the occasion.
“Welcome to the last session of formal fae Court we will ever hold,” I said in a voice so like my mother’s it made me jerk back. Selkies lingered near the front in their seal skin cloaks. Wood elves, wearing feathered hats, had claimed a section near the back. The remaining witches scattered about with the rest of the fae in sequin gowns or tuxedos. They all faced me with shiny eyes. “I am so happy to see you all here. We had some dark days. Some sad days. Now we are one, whole, together as we’re all meant to be, and ready for a new era of peace built on the foundation of your sacrifices and unwavering spirits. I stand before you now for one reason—because you all cared enough to share your energy with me while I healed. There aren’t words for me to give proper thanks for that.” Instead, I opened myself to Liam, and we sent the flavor of our joy into the air, to spread up the hill and roll over everyone in the garden. I let them all into my soul to feel the swelling of my heart. Cries and cheers went up as I turned and offered a wink over my shoulder to Neve, who balanced little Faith on her hip.
When the noise died down somewhat, I said, “It seems that my captain has her hands full with a new passion and has requested to leave her station. Today, I will choose her replacement.”
“What?” Andrew all but growled it at his mate. “When were you going to fill me in on that little detail?”
Liam patted Andrew on the shoulder as he came around to stand with me, motioning to Cas so he’d join us.
I moved closer to Andrew, put my hand on the shoulder of his black suit jacket, and whispered in his ear. “I’m going to ask you to kneel before me this one time and never again.”
He staggered back a step, looking left and right, as if searching for the punch line. “I don’t … what? You can’t … me?” The stunned look on his face almost put me in stitches.
“Do you really think there’s another guard here who can deal with my temper?” The rest of the guard laughed, but Andrew continued to appear as if he’d stepped into a prickle bush. I grabbed his face and kissed his cheek. “I trust you with my life, but no more calling me boss lady. And when I kiss you in a minute, you won’t pull any of that fancy orgasmic stuff on me, or I’ll pound your head in. Deal?”
When he appeared as if he’d come apart, he gave a gleeful shout, grabbed me and swung me around again. “Deal, frickin’, yeah!” Leaving me, he grabbed his little one from Neve’s arms and tossed her up, her delighted squeals pealing into the day. “Hear that, Faith? Daddy’s gonna be the captain of the guard just like Grandpa!”
Once Andrew came down from his high, he knelt beside Cas. Although Cas was already Liam’s captain, he’d missed out on the official naming, so we’d decided to include him. They both smiled with pride as Liam and I stood before them.
“It’s said that the queen—or king—is the heart and soul of the fae,” I began in that multi-faceted voice that carried without effort, “but I don’t agree with that. You, my friends, my family, are the heart of this nation. Liam and I will bask in the heat of that heart, will hold it up with our hands, with our wills, to keep it strong and whole.” Cheers erupted as I slipped my fingers between Liam’s and squeezed, flashing a smile at him before looking over the excited masses again. “It’s been so long since the fae had two standing here before you, and two are more powerful, more driven than one. Add to that our captains, and we become the strength of four.”
Andrew practically jittered right off the edge of the stage, pride and glee radiating from his skin in a soft white glow of Light.
“Andrew Damien Marren, son of Damien, captain of Queen Arianne, son of Loress.” I paused while Andrew squared his shoulders and lifted his chin, making him appear as if whatever had been broken in him reformed before my eyes. “I call you forth to service with your true name, your whole name, which, when used by your queen this day will bind you to any oaths you give her. How will you answer?”
“By my blood, by my Light, by any arms I shall take up to defend you, I am yours, my queen, in body, soul and service until the Goddess sees fit to grant my leave of this world.” His answer came deep and resonant, with enough of his soul in the words that he must have kept them in a corner of his heart, repeated them a million times since he was that boy in Granny Flowers’ garden of stones.
I took the sword from Brígh, whose smile I imagined matched mine in intensity, and turned back to Andrew. With the golden weapon in my right hand, I held out my left to Andrew. “Your hand, Captain, to seal your bond to your sword.”
Without hesitation, Andrew thrust out his right hand, palm up, eyes shining with a childhood fantasy fulfilled. “By my blood. By my sword.”
I drew the keen edge of the weapon across his palm, wincing internally at that part of the ceremony, until a red line of his lifeblood appeared. Tucking my skirt under my knees, I knelt before him. I placed the hilt of the sword in his wounded palm and used my free hand to wrap his fingers around it. A flare of magic lifted my hair and tingled my skin, and Andrew gasped, his eyes fluttering closed.
“Remember your promise,” I whispered before leaning in and placing my lips on his, thankful when I didn’t explode with an orgasm. “Your oath has been given and sealed in blood. Sealed with a kiss. Rise and take your place beside me.” I’d edited that part from take your place behind me.
Liam put his hand on Andrew’s shoulder and flashed a smile.
Nodding at Liam, Andrew said, “Yeah, I know. Just like you said.”
I almost asked what they were talking about, but I realized it was another of those guy moments I had no business intruding upon.
While Andrew stared at the sword in his hand, as he would the Goddess herself, Liam moved before Cas and repeated the ceremony. The only difference was that Liam kissed Cas on the forehead instead of the lips as was usual between a king and his captain. Cas came to a wobbly stand holding his new sword, tears in his eyes. “By my blood. By my sword.” He turned to me. “My dad was right that day—so long ago it seems like another lifetime. He told me that if I stayed right, it would always lead me toward the light no matter how dark the world became. I always tried to do what was right with no regrets, no hurt that wasn’t worth it. You are that Light. You, Liam and Garret, and I will follow and protect you always.”
I hugged him so hard it was a wonder he could breathe, but he squeezed me back with equal ferocity.
“Yeah, ditto on the last part,” Andrew said, and elbowed the young fae as
I released him. “Thanks for showing me up, ya little punk.” The two of them burst out laughing as others came forward to congratulate them.
High on the day, on life, and with the extra energy continuing to swirl in my body, I took Gallagher’s advice and released it into the ground. The Court expanded into a vast garden with a children’s playground, fountains, pools for wading and swimming, and walking trails that Garret populated with the most fragrant wildflowers I’d ever smelled. The selkies and elves produced unusual instruments and began to play, their song a sweet harmony above the chatter and laughter.
After copious quantities of elfish wine had been consumed, we all listened, riveted, as all who’d survived relayed wild stories about what they’d done the day we took down the Magi. Although the details hurt my heart, the sheer triumph in all of them took over, and made my soul shine.
I learned that the never-ending buffet Laerni had left continued to produce food. One of the wood elves used it to open a restaurant in one of the shifters, offering both elfish and other delicacies she made herself. The selkies had opened several pubs, where they drank some sort of beer they made themselves and had brought to the celebration. Whenever my arms tired, Liam didn’t try to take my sleeping boy from me, only wrapped his arms around both of us to help me carry him.
Just as the selkies struck up another song, I noticed Gallagher smiling at the spirits from the edge of the crowd. I left Liam chatting up Cas and went to my aide, unsure if I should since it seemed like he was having a private moment, but my curiosity got the better of me. “Are you okay, old friend?” Garret stirred against my shoulder, but didn’t wake up.
Rise of the Magi Page 29