by Bonnie Lamer
I make it out onto the terrace and down the stairs. I’m even able to get one foot in the sand. And then I’m on his shoulder again with a serious case of déjà vu. Beating playfully on his back, I say, “Kallen, I’m fully dressed. I’ll drown if you throw me in the water.”
“Then perhaps I should make you sky-clad before I toss you into the sea.”
The way he said that, I think he might be serious. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“You are sure of that?”
No. I pound on his back some more. “Let me down. I’m sorry I tipped your stool over.” And then, I’m off his shoulder.
With raised brows, he says, “Can you repeat that?”
“What, let me down?”
He goes to pick me back up again and I’m able to wrap my arms around his neck this time. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry.”
He grins. “You say the words so infrequently. Perhaps you should say it again, so I can savor it.”
I don’t say it again. I kiss him. Hard, deep and passionately. He doesn’t lower me to ground; he keeps me suspended as he holds me tight against him, so I wrap my legs around his waist. I really wish we were up in my room where he could lay me down on the bed and cover my body with his. I want his hands all over me, and mine all over him. He’s right. There more we kiss, the more I want to go farther. The way I’m moving my body against his, there can’t be a doubt in his mind that that’s the case. The moan low in his throat as he shifts my body so I’m pressed even tighter against his confirms that.
“Damn it,” he shouts as he rips his lips from mine and untangles himself from me.
What the hell? If he wanted me to get off of him, all he had to do is ask. I’m about to say that when something about the size of a grape hits him in the chest. In a flash, he has a sling shot in his hand and something larger than a grape is loaded in it. I turn in time to see Kegan trying to take cover behind the terrace wall. He’s not quick enough. Whatever Kallen shot at him hits him in the shoulder with a thwack that I can hear over the sound of the sea. I’m assuming that Kallen ended the kiss so abruptly because Kegan hit him with something. For his sake, that better be true.
Kegan leaps over the far side of the terrace and disappears around the house. Kallen takes off after him with murder in his eyes. I wonder if I should go after them to make sure he doesn’t do any serious damage to Kegan.
“They do this all the time.” I turn around to find Alita behind me. Wow, she’s really quiet. She also must be reading my mind because she says, “Don’t worry, they have never seriously injured each other.”
I shake my head in wonder. “It’s so weird for me seeing Kallen here. He’s different. But, in a good way. He’s more playful.”
“What was he like in your realm?”
Laughing, I say, “You don’t want to know. Let’s just say he grew on me.”
Alita smiles. “You have broken the hearts of many girls by taking him as your own.”
“Yeah, he tells me that a lot.”
Kegan comes tearing back around the house. Alita and I have to jump out of his way as he careens past. About ten feet from us, a huge glob of green goo splatters all over his back, causing him to fall face first in the sand. Eew. It looks like his back has a really bad sinus infection.
Looking back the way he came, I find a smug Kallen walking towards us. “Please tell me that isn’t snot,” I say, causing Alita to giggle.
“It is a combination of seaweed, squid ink and snail slime,” he says as he comes up next to us. “And it is quite difficult to get off. Even with magic.”
“You actually collected snail slime to make a disgusting weapon?”
There’s a twinkle in his eye as he says, “You never know when snail slime will be needed. I like to keep some on hand for just these occasions.”
Kegan has picked himself up and he is trying to get his shirt off without letting any of the goo touch his skin. His voice muffled because his head is covered, he says, “You are a bloody bastard. I will repay you for this.”
Kallen just laughs. “I am sure you will, cousin.”
It’s funny watching Kegan struggle with his shirt. I’m trying hard not to laugh. I’d help him, but I don’t want that stuff on me. Being a much better person than me, Alita risks the goo to pull his shirt over his head. It could be she just wanted to see his muscular chest up close, but I’ll assume she’s being altruistic.
With his shirt finally off, Kegan runs his hands through his hair to make sure it’s goo free. “I thought you had used all of that up.”
Kallen grins. “That is what I wanted you to believe.”
We’re saved from hearing Kegan’s reply when Tabitha’s voice calls out from the terrace. “Our company has arrived. You lot need to make yourselves presentable and then meet Isla in the east parlor in twenty minutes. And Kegan, if you bring that shirt anywhere near this house, you will be scrubbing the entire place from top to bottom with your toothbrush.” That said, she turns and walks back into the house with a sour expression. Yup, she’s still ecstatic over the new houseguest.
No more messing around for us. I’m thinking things are going to get awfully serious around here from now on. That’s depressing.
The four of us walk towards the house with leaden feet. Isla or Tabitha must have filled Kegan and Alita in, because they look just as unhappy as Kallen and I do. There’s something else in Alita’s eyes, but I don’t know her well enough to know what it is.
Trudging up the three flights of stairs to the bedroom floor, we go our separate ways. Kallen and Kegan turn left at the top of the stairs and Alita and I turn right.
Alita stops when I open my bedroom door. “Xandra?”
“Hmm?”
“Tabitha said that I am invited to stay, but I do not know why Isla would want me here. My magic is nothing compared to the rest of you. I can be of no help.”
I smile. “You can help keep me sane. That would be a big help.”
“That is very kind of you to say, but I am sure King Dagda would not be pleased if he knew that I am here.”
I crinkle my forehead into a frown. “Why?”
She sighs heavily and doesn’t meet my eyes. “I am twice tainted.”
I still don’t know what she’s talking about. “How about if we go in my room and you can tell me what the heck that means. But, whatever it means, I don’t care at all what Dagda thinks. I want you here, okay?” She nods but she doesn’t look any happier.
Once we’re in my room and the door is closed Alita starts wringing her hands. I sit down on the chair near the terrace and wait patiently for her to gather the courage to say what she wants to say. Finally, she walks around the low table and sits in the other chair.
Staring at her hands in her lap, she says, “I have told you that my mother is a Cowan.”
“Yeah, and I told you I don’t care.” I don’t see the problem here.
“What I did not tell you, is that my father,” she pauses for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she finally spits it out. “My father is a Cowan Fairy. That makes me twice tainted.”
I stare at her for a moment waiting for the awful news she wants to share with me. When she doesn’t say anything else, it sinks in that she already did. “So.” Her eyes shoot up to mine. “I’m not sure what you expect me to do with that information, Alita. I’ve already told you that I don’t care what kind of blood you have. Do you not want to stay here?” Maybe I’m assuming too much here.
She nods her head. “I would be honored if I am truly welcome. But, King Dagda does not like the fact that my father brought my mother into this realm. He nearly had him imprisoned as a traitor. I do not want to be a reminder of how angry he was.”
“I don’t care what Dagda thinks about your blood, or your parents. He will not do anything to make your life more difficult because then he would have to answer to me.”
She stares thoughtfully at me for a moment. “You are the oddest Fairy I have ever met.”
I laugh. �
�I hope that’s a good thing.”
“You truly do not care about blood lines, do you?”
I point to my chest. “Witch Fairy, remember. My blood is just as ‘tainted’ as yours.”
A little smile touches her lips. “It is not quite the same.”
Shrugging, I say, “No, I guess not. But if I don’t care about your blood, I really don’t see a problem here. You’re a new friend, and no pressure here, but you’re actually my only friend – other than Kallen, but that’s different. If you are able to stay, I was being honest when I said you could help me stay sane. Things are going to be pretty tense around here, and it would be nice to have someone to talk to about it. And honestly, I think the fact that you are not a full-blooded Fairy is an asset in this friendship. You know what it feels like to be different.”
Her face brightens. I think she’s finally starting to believe me. But then a shadow crosses her eyes again. “My magic is very weak. I cannot even dress myself.” She looks down at her hands again. “My father must do that for me every morning.”
That wouldn’t be awkward at all. “Do you want to know a secret of mine? You have to promise not to tell Dagda.” Her curiosity obviously peaked, she looks up and nods. “I can’t dress myself, either. The first time I tried was yesterday, and I ended up putting everyone in the house in a black bikini.”
Her eyes are saucers. “Everyone?”
I nod. “Yup, everyone. Tabitha, Isla, Kallen and Kegan.”
She brings her hand up to cover her mouth in dismay, but then she starts giggling. “How did Kallen react?”
“Exactly as you would expect.”
My door opens and Tabitha bustles through it. “Enough chit-chatting ladies. It is time for you to be heading downstairs and Isla does not like to be kept waiting.” Yeah, I can see that as one of her personality traits.
“Xandra, we will keep your hair and makeup the same. It looks like you need more lipstick, though.” The accusation in her tone makes my cheeks instantly turn red.
About two minutes later, both Alita and I are dressed and ready to go. Tabatha makes me a royal blue dress with an empire waist and it drops down to just above my knees. Alita is wearing a pale yellow dress that shows off her figure quite nicely.
“Ready?” I don’t know if I am, but I try to sound like I am.
Alita is back to looking nervous again. “Can I say no?”
I laugh and hook her arm with mine and start urging her towards the door. “Sorry, not an option.”
“Xandra.” I turn back around to Tabitha. “I am an old woman and I have my fits, but I am proud of you for standing up to Dagda like you did. Isla told me all about it. I do not like having that man under this roof, but your safety comes first.”
“Thanks, Tabitha. That means a lot to me.”
Putting her hands on her hips, she says, “Those will be the last nice words I say about this whole situation. From now until he lives, I am going to be one crotchety old woman.”
I laugh. “Understood.”
“Alright, you go on now. Alita, you stay close to Xandra. She needs your moral support.”
I wonder if Tabitha had heard part of our conversation. Not like it matters. She was supportive of Alita down in the kitchen earlier, so I wouldn’t expect anything less now. Turning back towards the door, we go in search of the east parlor. I’ve never been in a house with any parlor, let alone multiple ones that need distinguishing names like east parlor or west parlor.
Kegan is leaning against the hallway wall when we come out of my room. His arms are crossed over his chest and he has a grin on his face. “You are the two loveliest ladies in the entire realm.” I roll my eyes, but Alita blushes fiercely. Pushing against the wall and standing up straight, he says, “I have been instructed to show you to the east parlor.” He holds an arm out to each of us. We both reluctantly put ours around his. Reluctantly on my part because I don’t want him to get any ideas, and reluctantly on Alita’s part because she is so shy and infatuated.
The east parlor is on the second floor, so I see a little bit more of the house. A gallery of portraits lines the walls and several doors open off the long, wide carpeted hall. I pull us to a stop briefly to look at a portrait of two boys who look so much like Kegan and Kallen, they have to be their fathers when they were young. My heart saddens as I remember the circumstances under which Kallen’s father died. Kegan urges me forward towards the last room on the right.
I sigh as we pass so many doors. I definitely need to explore the house more thoroughly; if for no other reason than to see the places where someone could hide and ambush us. I need to figure out the best line of defense to keep Dagda safe. Wow, listen to me. I sound like a real body guard. That was not one of my career aspirations as I looked through college catalogs.
Hmm, I wonder if Mom and Dad would have let me go off to college, or if they just let me believe that until they told me about my magic. I’m betting it’s the latter. There’s no way Mom would have let me leave that mountain if my identity was still hidden.
I take a deep breath as Kegan opens the door to the parlor. I’m determined to have more control than I did this morning. The door swings inward and I take in the people in the room. Wow. Does no one want me to learn control? If they did, they’d stop doing stuff that annoys the crap out of me. On the other hand, I guess I need to learn control when things annoy the crap out of me.
Isla inclines her head towards the three of us from her winged back chair and she gestures towards a comfortable looking settee. The room is decorated in soft hues of green and gold with several other chairs in varying fabrics of the same color scheme. Isla definitely has good taste in furniture. Kallen is seated in a chair close to her.
I’m trying hard to keep my face a blank page as I take in the five people standing behind Dagda. I’m going to assume that they are just here to get him moved in. He couldn’t possibly expect them to stay.
When I’m seated, Isla says to me, “I was just explaining to Dagda how surprised I am that he felt the need to bring his own bodyguards.”
I take a deep breath that doesn’t do a thing to ward off the escalation of my blood pressure. I try to keep my voice even when I say, “That’s ridiculous. Any of these five men could turn against him any minute.”
Five glowering Fairies turn their eyes to me. Dagda is the one who speaks, though. He leans back farther in his chair with a practiced nonchalance and says, “It would be more ridiculous for me to assume that you genuinely care if I live or die. These men have been my loyal guards for a very long time. I trust them to do what you may not.”
So much for the blank page I was trying to make my face. Instead of getting angry, like he probably expected me to do, I start laughing. The more I laugh, the darker Dagda’s eyes get. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Isla struggling to keep a smile off from her face, but Kallen doesn’t bother.
“What exactly is it that you find so amusing?” Dagda practically growls.
It takes me a second to get my voice under control. “What’s funny is that you still don’t get that everyone around you is suspect. You have some strange confidence in the idea that your fellow Pooka still respect you and care if you live or die.” He doesn’t say anything but his face has darkened to a deep shade of red that’s almost purple. “You’ve already proven that you can’t accomplish what they want. Any one of these guys probably wouldn’t hesitate to stab you in your sleep. And what’s even funnier? The idea that you think they could protect you from me.”
Two of the most furious of his body guards start walking towards me. I raise my eyebrows in a subtle challenge. Where did all this bravado come from? I’m not usually this blatantly confident. Before they come out from around his chair, Dagda holds up his hand and they stop.
Assessing me for a moment, he asks, “How am I to know that you will not ‘stab me in my sleep?’”
Damn Kallen and his crossbow. It’s like he’s five and it’s his favorite toy. I don’t even have to co
nsciously think about throwing a wall up around Dagda as I narrow my eyes at Kallen’s amused face.
Now, all five guys start to come around Dagda’s chair and their target is Kallen. Unfortunately for them, the wall is around them as well. One of them must not be able to see the shimmering lines of the magic wall because he walks right into it. I wonder if he’s nearsighted.
“As you can see,” Kallen says with a smug smile, “her reflexes are lightning fast. If she wanted you dead, she would not need to stab you in the back.”
Dagda’s eyes are riveted to Kallen. “That was a risky display of her talent. Are you that sure of her, or are you the traitor I once thought?”
The smug smile on Kallen’s face melts into a thin line. “I am loyal to this realm.”