by Bonnie Lamer
“Only if you consider a Giant jumping up and down on your solar plexus to be painful,” Garren grumbles. “Good night all,” he says and shuffles off to one of the stalls. I still haven’t told him the spell won’t affect him. That’s okay. He looks exhausted enough to sleep soundly without it. I wonder if he has fully considered what he is getting into if he and Isla marry. It’s not like life is going to get less crazy with me around.
“Ready for bed?” Kallen asks. I nod against his shoulder.
Instantly, one of the stalls is now encased in actual walls. There’s even a door. A second later, the same thing occurs with the stall Dagda and Tana are using. Guess Kallen and I aren’t the only ones who want privacy. Damn it! Why did I have to put that image in my mind again?
“Good night,” Dagda says as he steers his wife toward their stall.
“Good night,” I say, yawning deeply.
Kallen stands and holds his hand out to me. “The comfortable bed you requested awaits,” he says, his voice growing husky. He doesn’t have sleep on his mind at the moment.
I take his hand and walk to the door he created. When he opens it, I can’t help but laugh. Almost the entire area is filled with the bed he made. The big, fluffy feather bed. I let myself fall onto it and I sink in a good five inches.
Crawling onto the bed next to me, Kallen asks, “Comfortable?”
Rolling onto my side, I put my hand on his cheek. “Yes, thank you.” I kiss him gently.
It doesn’t take long for gentle to become explosive passion. The kisses take my breath away. I bury my hand in Kallen’s hair and hold him to me, not wanting this to end. I relinquish my hold, though, when he begins to kiss a trail along my jaw to just behind my ear. He knows well the places his kisses drive me mad.
His lips move farther down and the magic holding my dress in place disappears inch by delicious inch. He works his way back up and I am liquid in his arms. My body is quivering for him. I want to touch him, hold him, drive him insane, but he gently takes my wrists and holds them close to my body. He’s not done exploring yet. Each feel of his lips on my skin, each flick of his tongue is enchanting. Carrying me away from the world around us until nothing exists except Kallen, the bed and me.
By the time he positions his naked body over me, I am putty in his hands. I am experiencing such glorious pleasure, I can hardly move. Until he slides inside me.
My body stirs under him and my hands are everywhere now. I touch every bit of skin I can reach with the same attention to detail he used with me. Rolling us over, I hold his wrists while I bring his pleasure to the edge. The night goes on like this, each of us taking turns pleasuring the other in an erotic dance we have perfected. When we are finally sated, Kallen curls his body around mine and holds me close. As I drift off to sleep, I hear him whisper in my ear, “I love you more every day. You are my definition of perfection.”
Morning comes abruptly as it is accompanied by a pounding on the door to our stall. Stall. We made love most of the night in a barn. I shake my head and push the thought away.
Kallen rises first and is dressed instantly as he moves to open the door. I pull the covers higher to protect my modesty. “What has happened?” he asks a harried Dagda.
“There is fighting in the streets.”
Of course there is. The sun has risen and all the pent up anger from last night is no longer tamed by sleep. “We’ll be out in a minute,” I say, sitting up with the blanket still covering me. Dagda nods and steps back from the door so Kallen can close it.
Crawling off the bed, I wrap my arms around Kallen. A soft groan comes from deep in his chest. “Xandra, we will not be going anywhere if I do not make you clothes right this instant.”
I grin against his t-shirt. “I’m okay with that.” I would love to crawl back into the feather bed with him. Even if we are in a barn.
Chuckling, Kallen disengages himself from me. He holds me at arm’s length trying to keep his eyes above my neck. It thrills me to no end that his eyes refuse to comply. He drinks in my nakedness until I am ready to push him back onto the feather mattress.
Seeing this in my eyes, he clears his throat in an effort to clear his mind. Voice huskier than normal, he says, “Today’s agenda will not require fancy attire. Are jeans and a t-shirt okay?”
With a sex fueled gleam in my eye and a wandering hand, I ask, “Do I actually have to put them on? I’m perfectly comfortable as I am.”
“You, my love, are killing me.” Kallen pulls me back into his arms and kisses me senseless.
Our kiss is broken by the same noise we woke up to. “We need to go,” Dagda says. His voice is strained. “If we do not stop this, all talk of peace will come to an end.”
I sigh a deeply frustrated sigh. Looking up into my gorgeous husband’s green, lust-filled eyes, I say, “Jeans and a t-shirt are fine. Make the shirt red in case I get blood on it.”
Chuckling, Kallen makes me a blood red t-shirt and a pair of jeans. He opens the door and we walk out into the center area of the barn. The first person to speak to us is Tana.
“I am sorry we did not heed your wishes and leave your brother at home.” She has a protective arm around his shoulders. Zac is tolerating it, but just barely. He doesn’t like a lot of coddling.
Reading his expression, I know what he wants. “No,” I tell him. “You will stay here.”
He glares at me for a second before his face falls into an impressive pout. “Why do you get to have all the fun?”
“Because the universe played a nasty trick on me before I was even born,” I tell him. Softening my tone, I add, “Tell you what, when you’re older, I will let you protect me from danger.”
He eyes me suspiciously. “Are you just saying that?”
I can’t help but laugh despite the direness of the situation. We’re not far from the Hall of Justice where I assume the fighting broke out. The violence could swiftly move this way.
As if the universe took offense to my statement, a flaming arrow bursts through the door. Both Kallen and Dagda fling their magic toward it and it falls to ash on the floor. I’m not certain who launched the arrow at us, but I do know why they did it. They want to drag us into their war. I knew this would happen.
If that’s what they really want, fine. “Tana, Garren, will you please continue to keep Zac safe?” Without waiting for their response, I give my brother a stern look. “You do what they tell you to do. I’ll leave Felix here as well so you can send him to me if you are in danger.”
Zac is still staring at the pile of ash on the floor just a few feet from where he’s standing. If it hadn’t been stopped, it would have hit him. I think what is happening outside has finally become real. He’s nowhere near as excited and curious about the war as he was a moment ago.
Another arrow streams in and is again doused by Kallen and Dagda. Okay, now I’m pissed. Turning away from my brother, my eyes meet Kallen’s and then Dagda’s. “Are you ready to show them how neutral we are?” I ask. Understanding registers in both sets of eyes.
Glancing back over my shoulder, I say, “Put a circle up as soon as we are out the door. I’ll come and let you know when it’s safe.
Kallen, Dagda and I leave the barn and immerse ourselves in the melee.
12
As soon as we step over the threshold, I feel Tana’s magic. She creates a circle around the barn and within hers, Garren has also created one. My brother will be safe with them.
The road is filled with Centaurs and Sasquatch trying to kill each other. Their weapons of choice are lances and bows and arrows. Some hold medieval weapons such as maces and double sided axes with knife points on the ends. Again, I wonder if the human realm is more or less evolved than this one. There, you don’t need to be present to kill an enemy. Missiles, drones, planes can all do the work from afar. But here, they still see the faces of their enemies as they hurt them or kill them. Yet, that doesn’t stop them from going to war with each other. I guess either way sucks. War is war and the
end result for many is death whether they can see their killers or not.
Walking side by side, I, my husband and my biological father clear a path. Every being we pass is disarmed and their weapons rendered useless. The ground is littered with melted steel. Centaurs and Sasquatch alike are flung far from the road. I don’t believe any of them realized what line they crossed by attacking our family. I am walking with two of the most powerful Fairies alive. They alone are frightening to behold at the moment. Me? I look like an Angel. A winged, pissed off, feral Angel with violence on my mind.
I am not gentle when I fling my magic outward, engulfing warriors from each race in it and rendering them helpless. Not only are Dagda and Kallen disarming them, I am sending bursts of my magic through them. My magic burns through their insides, feeling as if their blood has turned to acid. With my wings, my Angel magic is in full swing and with all of my magic combined in one irate heap, I am unstoppable. The purity of my Angel magic burns so much, smoke rises from several bodies that have been strewn on the side of the road.
“Hey!” Taz grouses. “Watch where you’re throwing the hooved ones. I’ve almost been trampled twice and if I get caught in Sasquatch hair I’ll never get free.” Both are reasonable requests. I try to be more careful where I throw the stunned bodies.
Watching their comrades in arms fall so easily, both sides are retreating. They give us a wide berth as we continue to walk. It is fortunate neither side has many in number. As a compromise for the peace talks, the Centaurs moved the bulk of their army south, several hours away from this village. The Sasquatch entered the realm with only as many as there would be Centaurs here.
One brave Sasquatch, well, maybe brave is the wrong word. One stupid as hell Sasquatch thinks it’s worth a try to attack us from behind. Even without my wings, I can generally sense when I’m being attacked from any side. With my wings, it is with pinpoint accuracy that I can locate the attacker and send a burst of magic forward before the attack can even begin.
It doesn’t take long to reach our destination. The doors to the Hall of Justice are wide open. Not in invitation. They have been damaged in the fight and are hanging uselessly from one or two of their hinges. Inside, a group of Fauns are huddling in a corner petrified. I can’t blame them. It looks as if the fight may have begun in here. The Faun’s desks are tipped over and have been trampled upon. Several of the Fauns are bloody. I think these injuries are more due to not being able to get out of the way in time versus being attacked by Centaurs or Sasquatch. Poor things. I put a wall of magic around them so they won’t suffer more injuries. They won’t even know it’s there unless they try to move from that spot and I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.
There is less damage where the Centaurs work. Only a couple of tables knocked over, probably due to the hurry to get involved in the fight. I wonder what the Centaurs and Fauns do at their desks. Do they have a bureaucracy like the human realm? Do they have stacks and stacks of paperwork for everything? There is a lot of paper on the floor, so probably.
In the room with the white marble tiers, we find who we are seeking. Both Kings and their number ones. There is shouting and cursing. Pushing and threatening. More than one punch is thrown before they notice our presence. It is with great self-control that they step away from each other to acknowledge our entrance and more importantly, the anger seeping out of our pores and crackling in the air. Wait, it’s just me doing that. I need to calm myself before I set the air on fire. I’ve done it before. I concentrate and manage to send my wings back to wherever they are when they are not with me. Raziel still hasn’t told me where that is but I keep pestering him about it.
Dagda’s words surprise both Kings and bring about resounding silence. “You brought war upon my family. We answer your call for neutrality and mediation and we are repaid with flaming arrows and attempted murder. You have both declared yourselves enemies of the Fae realm and I will not hesitate to declare war and secure your realms as outposts for Fae forces. I will personally kill all four of you if any harm comes to those I love before we leave.”
Um. I didn’t see that coming. A quick glance at Kallen shows he is less surprised than I am. Makes sense. It’s the kind of thing I would say and everyone tells me I’m like my biological father in this regard. Kallen expected one or the other of us to say something of the sort. If anything, he’s simply surprised Dagda said it before I could.
“No Centaur would bring harm to the door of an honored guest,” Bayard declares. He seems to mean it.
Then again, so does Yerwen. “You insult us with your accusations. The Sasquatch are above such a thing. Initiating this attack must be the result of Centaur savagery.”
“Do you truly believe it matters who started this?” Kallen asks, his voice harder than the marble in the room.
All of them begin talking at once. Shouting, rather. Accusations are flying, punches are being thrown again. Are these really grownups? Because they’re acting like a bunch of playground bullies. Not that I know exactly what those are like. I was homeschooled.
I have had it with their bickering. Once again proving our neutrality, I send all four of them slamming against the walls of the room. I hold them there with my magic. No amount of struggling on their part loosens my hold.
Turning first to Bayard and Pholos, I say, “I was having a hard enough time trying to ignore your misogynistic society and superior, racist ways in regards to your treatment of the Fauns.” To Yerwen and Kono, I say, “You are here demanding land that is in no way owed to you. There is no possible excuse to justify you being here other than you are bullies and want to take something that isn’t yours just because you can. The only way I’ve managed to remain neutral is because I can’t decide who is worse!” My voice rises at the end. I expect Kallen to do something like put his hand on my shoulder to calm me down, but his face remains stony. Dagda’s as well, but lurking in his eyes is something that looks very much like pride. They’re both okay with me spilling my guts like that? Huh.
“You accuse us of misogyny?” Pholos growls. “We worship our females.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m sure you do. As long as they stay home where they belong.”
“You come from a realm where most land has been obtained by force,” Kono reminds me. “How are we any different?”
Well, she does have me there. “I am not here to defend the human realm. As for your argument, just because something has been done many times that does not make it right.” I feel like I’m giving a sermon.
Pholos attempts to be the reasonable one here. “We have no quarrel with the Fae. If I knew you were in danger, I would have posted guards around your shelter. What can we do to assure you that the Centaurs are innocent of the charges you bring to us?” His voice is remarkably calm and level-headed for a warrior currently pinned to a wall.
Kono will not be outdone. “We will get to the bottom of this. I will personally discover who attacked you and bring him or her to justice whether it be Sasquatch or Centaur.”
There must be truth in their words because I have not felt a single bug crawling on me. At least, they believe what they are saying. They didn’t give the order to attack us. But there are many sides to the truth. They may not have given the orders, but they may condone the behavior despite their words.
“We did not come for declarations of peaceful intentions,” Dagda tells them. “My army is ready to cross over at my command.” It is?? “We are leaving you to your war unless further provoked. If this happens, I will bring my army into this realm and we will finish this war our way.” When I’m Queen, I really hope I sound that mean when I’m making threats. If only my voice was deeper.
As we are turning to go, Bayard stomps his hooved foot on the marble. “No! There will be peace!” he insists. “Bring your army. Not for war, but to ensure peace until our realms find a reasonable compromise.”
We were so close to leaving. So close to getting away. But we can’t leave a request like that hangi
ng. I’m supposed to help bring peace to the universe. That’s not Dagda’s main goal, but as a good King, he doesn’t want to enter into war with two different realms if it can be helped. He will if he must, but if it can be avoided by choosing a better path then that’s what he will do.
Dagda’s eyes bore into Yerwen’s. “Are you in favor of this request?” Good thing he didn’t ask Kono. There is no way someone can look so irate and still agree to a plan of peace.
The Sasquatch King takes a moment to consider. Seeing the impatience on our faces, he comes to a quick decision. “Yes, bring your army here.”
“Xandra,” Kallen says quietly. “Perhaps this is a good time to exercise your newest gift.”
Is he saying what I think he’s saying? I peer more closely at him. Yup, that’s what he’s saying. I inwardly grown but I step forward. “I will seal this agreement with a handshake.” If one of their deepest, darkest secrets is about kinky sex, I am never touching a stranger again.
Nonplussed, Pholos asks, “Is this the Fairy way now?”
My power is on a need to know basis and he definitely doesn’t need to know. “Yes,”
Dread fills me more with each step I take toward the Sasquatch and Centaurs. Horrible images are already filling my mind as my overactive imagination kicks into gear. I do not want to touch any of them if even half the things I am imagining are true.
I’m not going to touch Kono and Pholos. I seriously doubt their deepest, darkest secrets have changed in a day. So, I focus on the Kings. I reach Bayard first. I force myself to hold my hand out for the Centaur to take. I need to reach up and he needs to bend down for our hands to meet. As soon as our skin makes contact, I am speeding down a dark tunnel.
Bayard’s walls are a lot like Tana’s. They bend and bow as if he doesn’t know if what is at the end of the tunnel is what he really wants. It’s making me seasick. I’m relieved when I finally reach his secret.
His secret isn’t about the war. At least, not directly. It doesn’t surprise me to discover he knows Pholos wants him dead. What Pholos doesn’t know is that his father has no intention of leaving the throne to him. He has already discussed different options with his advising council and taking Pholos out of the picture in regards to ruling the Centaur realm. Apparently, Pholos is not Bayard’s only son. He’s also not the oldest. Bayard had a son from a previous mating, the term Centaurs use for marriage. The mating was brief. Very brief. Bayard’s father was pissed he ran off with the female and forced them apart. He covered up the whole thing and even kept the secret of her child from Bayard. But Bayard eventually found out. So, he has a son eligible to take the throne before Pholos.