Hope Everlastin' Book 4

by Mickee Madden

  "No, Deliah." Winston's throat constricted. "No' you, too!" He glared at Blue, tears from fear and outrage brimming his eyes. "Do you have the power to save them, or no'!"

  "Blue, I beg o' ye to help ma sister and Master Baird," Reith said. "I know ye still have a heart."

  With a cry of vexation, Blue held out her hands, palms upward. Thunder rolled across the heavens. Lightning mauled the sky like massive claws seeking to claim the occupants by the new oak. Winds rose and swirled with deafening speed around the area, closing them all within its wall.

  "Blue!" Reith shouted in fury, misunderstanding her intentions.

  A ring of what at first glance seemed to be fireflies appeared around Lachlan. The blue-black, ground-length hair belonging to Faerie's queen rose and snaked through the air, outlining her stance. A song crooned from her throat, a hauntingly sweet melody that evoked a warbling sensation in the hearts of the listeners.

  Beth and Roan had scooted back at the appearance of the mysterious ring. Now, they stared at Lachlan in wonder and trepidation. He was levitating three feet above the ground, fully cocooned in a mist of vibrant, rainbow colors.

  Tearing his gaze from the phenomenon, Reith gratefully bowed his head to his wife.

  Chapter 12

  Beth tore her gaze from Lachlan and stared at Blue with burgeoning horror. She wanted to cry out to the fairy queen to stop the theatrics, but she couldn't force out a breath or take one into her aching lungs. The sound of the winds circling them in the elemental prison had dimmed to a tolerable volume, but she was no less aware that she and the others were cut off from the rest of the world. Beth had no way of knowing what the queen had planned for them. That she was outraged to have been forced to leave her realm was obvious. That she was angry at Reith was unmistakable. That she held the human race in contempt was frightening.

  Everything Beth held most dear depended on this magnificent being's ability to show compassion. Without Lachlan, her heart of hearts would shrivel into a hard pit.

  What kind of mother could she possibly be?

  How could she hope to offer her children love when she knew if she lost Lachlan, the wellspring of who she was would be as dried out and as barren as a desert.

  Without thought to her actions, she somehow broke through her fear and approached the queen, stopping within arm's reach.

  Reith, standing to her right several feet away, cast her a look of alarm, but she paid it no heed. There was nothing the black-haired entity could do to her that wouldn't pale compared to the desperation clawing at her insides.

  Vibrant aqua blue eyes shifted to regard Beth with wariness and a measure of indignation. That she considered Beth's boldness in coming so close a challenge was painfully clear, and Beth nearly buckled under the being's intimidating presence. Perhaps she would have if Reith hadn't stepped to her side and entwined the fingers of one hand with hers, in offering of support. He glared at his wife as though daring her to ignore Beth's existence then lifted Beth's clasped hand and pressed its back to his heart.

  The gesture infused Beth with a powerful sense of rightness. Her voice calm yet firm, she said to the queen, "If you do have the ability to save Lachlan, it would be a grave injustice to let him die."

  "And what shall you offer me in return?" Blue asked, her tone edged with sarcasm. "Your firstborn?"

  Beth stiffened and looked defiantly into the mesmerizing eyes. "No. I can't sacrifice one life for another. Not even my own, because Lachlan and I are one, and the children are the product of our love." She hesitated, unsure what to call the queen of the fairies, then continued, "Your Majesty—" She gulped and mentally cursed the tears spilling from her eyes. "Do you know what it's like to love someone so much it hurts to even think of a day when you won't be together?"

  The aqua blue eyes flicked but an instant to Reith then were again staring into Beth's with such detachment, a sob caught in Beth's throat.

  "She knows," said Reith, his gaze on Blue both accusatory and challenging. "It be the shame I brought upon ma wife, ma clan, and maself wha' has embittered her."

  Blue's shoulders drew rigidly back as she met his gaze. Beth could almost feel the animosity emanate from the queen, and it frightened her.

  "My husband is dead," said Blue, her voice devoid of emotion.

  "Blue," said Reith, "he stands afore ye, as weel ye know." He frowned scoldingly, one eyebrow arched and his head tilted to one side. "But this isna abou' us, Blue. Aye, it pains me deeply to see these good people made to suffer, and there be the reason o' yer hesitation to follow the dictates o' yer conscience."

  "You're incapable of caring for anyone but yourself!"

  Releasing Beth's hand, he stepped up to Blue, too close, for her right hand shot up and smacked against his chest, stopping further advance on his part. With a sigh of impatience, he glanced down at the long-fingered barricade and placed one of his own atop it. She attempted to withdraw her hand and looked startled when he held it firmly in place, his unwavering gaze locked with hers.

  "I care, especially for this mon, Lachlan," he said, his voice inordinately deep. "Aye, as laird o' this outer world, his hirin’ me thwarted yer banishment o' me from the land, too, and how tha' must gall ye. But I know ye will no' permit an innocent to die."

  She wrenched her hand free and reared back, her wings fluttering in cadence with her anger-induced pulse rate.

  "To spite me," he challenged, "would ye truly disgrace yerself, ma queen, ma wife, ma love? For disgrace ye would bear were ye to let Lachlan die. He be no' like ither men. No ither mortal. Why else would Deliah risk her life to give him mair time?"

  When she remained belligerently silent, his temper flared. "Och, yer stubbornness be unfounded in this matter!"

  "It's not a fairy’s place to interfere with a mortal's fate," Blue declared.

  With a guttural sound of frustration, Reith threw his hands up then slapped his thighs. "I demand an audience wi' MoNae!"

  "She is far away on a dire mission concerning one of our cousin kingdoms," said Blue coldly. "I did try to summon her. To no avail."

  Reith's face darkened. "Then hear me weel, Yer Majesty. Afore ye make an error o' which I vow will haunt ye the whole o' yer existence, think wi' yer mind, and no' yer heart!"

  "Are you threatening me?"

  A sour laugh escaped him. "Wi' wha'? I be stripped o' ma powers and ma status. But make no mistake, Blue, I allowed all tha’ to be."

  "You arrogant—"

  "Twas penance proper for ma crimes, but it be ye who be arrogant if ye fancy the notion I couldna have countered the spell!

  "Ye talk o' no' interferin’ wi' wha' fate degrees on mortals?" he asked snidely, his hands on his hips as he leaned his face closer to hers. "Wha' o' The Sutherland, and the mortals we rescued? I dinna recall us questionin’ fate then!"

  Blue's nostrils flared. "It was to free our own."

  Reith flagged a hand in exasperation. "The mortals worked wi' us, mayhaps ou' o fear for their own lives, but fought alongside us, nonetheless. MoNae didna frown upon tha', did she? No." He pointed to his sister. "And wha' o' Deliah? She be wi' a mortal's child, and carryin’ it in the mortal way. A uirisg has been but a myth in the past. Do ye think yerself so grandly empowered now tha' MoNae's wishes be beneath ye? Och! Surely Deliah couldna be wi' child wi’ou' the blessin’ o' our goddess!"

  Suddenly, as if too drained to defy her any longer, he sank to his knees. His arms hung limply at his sides as he lowered his head in deference. His tone low and pleading, he said, "Do wha' ye feel ye must to punish me, but dinna make these people pay for ma mistakes. Long ago, this land was cursed wi' The Sutherland. Tis Baird land now, and this mon has given the earth his heart and soul, and a respect and love only equaled by tha' o' a fairy kingdom."

  "Don't make him beg for us," said Beth softly, her face wet with tears. "I don't know what happened between you two, but the Reith I know and the Reith Lachlan cares deeply for doesn't deserve your anger."

  Blue stared
at Beth for a long moment, her expression unreadable, her posture regal, but no longer hostile. "If I grant your man his life through the magic of the circle, it will open the two worlds to one another. I must first consider the welfare of the kingdom."

  "We're no threat to you or your people," said Winston, coming to stand to Beth's left. He gave a curt, awkward bow of his head to Blue then released a shuddering breath. "Deliah told me about the warlock, and how the kingdom vanished."

  Blue nodded grimly. "My people were held captive for over three hundred years, Mr. Connery. We've barely settled back into our home."

  "I know." Winston cleared his throat. "I-um, picked up tha' piece o' information when I invaded yer mindspace."

  One of her eyebrows quirked up in disapproval.

  Winston shifted with unease. He couldn't help but wonder why the queen's feet never touched the ground, but forced himself not to scan her for the answer. Instead, he stated, "Your Majesty, Lachlan has brought his own element o' magic to this place. He has this ability to bring light to darkness, and hope to despair. All the mortals you see before you are better people because o' Baird House."

  Her gaze shifting, Blue pointed to Taryn, who jerked in alarm and indignation. "That one cannot be trusted."

  Beth almost felt sorry for Taryn, for suddenly all eyes were on her, suspiciously questioning the queen's declaration. But Beth's sympathy went only so far, for if Taryn in any way ruined Lachlan's one chance to live she vowed she would choke the life out of the woman.

  "My sister hasna been here long enough to—" began Roan but Taryn heatedly cut him off.

  Her face pale and gaunt, she kept her arms folded against her midriff. "Who the hell do you think you are!" she cried at Blue. "You don't know anything about me!"

  "I know enough."

  "Be silent," Roan demanded of his sister, but she was too incensed to listen.

  "You think I'm going to write about this?" Taryn laughed at Blue. "Lady, I could publish a piece declaring the president was from Mars, and it would read more believable than anything I could expose about what I've seen here!"

  "Taryn, let it go," warned Beth.

  "Why is she picking on me? I've taken all the guff I'm going to! It's one thing to get ragged on by someone of my own species, but this winged wonder declaring I'm untrustworthy goes beyond my tolerance!"

  "You're an outsider," Blue said, not unkindly.

  "Only because o' circumstance no' o' her doin’," said Roan, surprising Taryn in his defense of her. "Yer Majesty, Taryn may be a wee rough around the edges, but she isna heartless." He passed his sister a fond although sheepish look. "She willna expose the existence o' yer kingdom. No' because she's worried no one will believe her, but because she understands tha' there are some realities the world doesna need to know."

  Blue sighed as if bored. She looked down at Reith's bent head and said curtly, "Get off your knees."

  A moment passed before Reith stood and stared into her fiery eyes. Beth's gaze darted between the couple. She couldn't begin to imagine what Reith could have done to warrant his wife's mistrust and contempt, but they were a stunningly beautiful couple, and she was struck by a strong notion that Blue did in fact still love her husband, and that her austere demeanor was but a front to conceal her raw emotions.

  Winston returned to Deliah, who was barely conscious, lifted her into his arms and returned to Beth's side. Blue's gaze lowered to Deliah's wan features, and her expression melted to one of poignant sorrow. She grazed the fingertips of one hand along Deliah's clammy cheek then sadly looked into Beth's eyes.

  "In all good conscience, before I can bring your world and mine onto one plane of understanding, you, Beth, must choose one amongst you to represent a Pledger. It shall then fall upon this mortal the responsibility to protect our realm from outsiders, and to arbitrate matters which will come to concern fairies and mortals alike."

  Beth's head shot around in Roan's direction. After a moment of hesitation, he came forward. He stood behind Beth, his hands on her shoulders, and uneasy looked at Blue, who stared at him through a guarded expression.

  "I choose Roan," said Beth, "because he is the new laird of the Baird estate. He is also a man of compassion and honesty."

  "Wait, Beth," Roan murmured. He stepped to Reith's right and, keeping his gaze on Blue, said, "It would be an honor to accept this position o' Pledger, but I canna help but feel Lachlan would choose someone else, and it is his life we are bargainin’ for."

  Blue nodded slowly.

  "There is someone Lachlan is verra fond o'," Roan continued, sparing Beth a quick glance. "Someone he trusts, and someone I believe Lachlan would say was best to negotiate matters atween our worlds."

  Blue's wings batted the air in a flurry of irritation. "I will not accept him."

  Beth's face brightened, and she smiled as she locked gazes with Roan. Then they both looked at Reith, who glanced at each of them as if unaware of what was coming.

  "Reith has lived in both worlds," said Roan, resting a hand on one of Reith's shoulders.

  "He was banished with just reason," Blue said defensively.

  Reith's breath hitched as he gratefully nodded to Beth then Roan. He met his wife's heated gaze and said calmly, "Ye canna accuse me o' no' offerin’ ma life to protect ma people, nor can ye say I dinna have respect for mortal ways. Aye, Blue, I be the best Pledger, for I can and will guard both worlds to the best o' ma ability."

  He grinned ruefully. "I understand yer loathin’ o' such an appointment. Tis far easier for ye to keep yer heart hardened against one ye dinna have to face."

  "You will abuse the position," Blue accused.

  "No. I be no' tha' younglin’ who nearly destroyed Faerie and betrayed ye. I earned ma measure o' trust wi' these people. Mock me if ye so deem it necessary, but MoNae, ma parents, ma kingdom—and aye, ye—will one day welcome me home. Till then, I will serve as groundskeeper and Pledger, and no' regret anither day o' ma life."

  "Your intentions are as flighty as the winds, and about as reliable as chance."

  "In the past, aye. But I know ye now see me as tha' prince ye once held so dearly in yer heart. Blue, I do no' accept the position o' Pledger to get closer to ye, but because it be right for both fairies and mortals."

  Blue's head jerked to the left, and she frowned. She pointed in the direction of the carriage house, which couldn't be seen through the swirling winds, and she opened a small gateway with an impatient wave of a hand.

  Kahl, Kevin, and Alby dashed into the circle, their faces red and swollen from crying. The older boys ran to Laura, while Alby headed toward Roan. Reith intercepted the boy and lifted him into his arms. Roan went to Laura, knelt, and enclosed the boys in his embrace, for Laura still held Ciarda and could do no more than sit on the ground next to her nephews.

  Beth nestled Broc closer to her body and watched Blue's wistful expression when Alby's small arms wrapped around Reith's neck. Somehow she knew the Faerie queen longed for a family of her own, and sensed such a vastness of loneliness in the being that she wanted to weep for her. Over Reith's shoulder, Alby stared miserably at Lachlan's body as it hovered. Sobs racked his small frame, and he whimpered, "Uncle Lannie."

  "Dinna worry, lad," Reith soothed, and kissed Alby on the cheek. When Alby's blue eyes searched Reith's face with an unspoken question, Reith smiled. "Do ye believe in magic, young Master Alby?"

  He nodded vigorously.

  "Weel, lad, let me introduce ye to the queen o' all Faerie's wee folk. Her name be Blue, and she holds in her heart the makin’ o' the magic o' this land."

  Alby twisted around to stare at Blue. Beth noticed the queen was ill-at-ease now, unnerved by the attention of the boy. Blue shrank back when Alby held out his arms to her and, hurt by her rejection, he wept hard against Reith's neck. Blue glanced at Beth, conveying her regret for her reaction. Then she hesitantly glided closer to Reith and held out her arms.

  At first Alby refused to release his hold on Reith, but the Pledger lau
ghed softly and murmured in the boy's ear, "Ye startled her. Can ye no' find it in yer heart to give her a wee hug?"

  "She hates me!"

  "No," Blue said, gently placing a hand on Alby's back. "A hug would surely brace me for the magic to be conjured up to save your Lachlan."

  Alby turned and permitted Blue to take him into her arms. He stared in wonder at the wings at her back then briefly looked her in the eye before linking his arms around her neck. A mask of serenity fell across Blue's face. She looked at Reith with uncertainty, her heart warring with her mind, her hand stroking the back of Alby's head with the tenderness of a mother. Finally, she sighed and held the boy out to look into his expressive eyes.

  "Your Lachlan must be a very special man," she said softly.

  Alby nodded then touched her cheeks with his fingertips.

  "We were sad when Beth and Lannie went to Heaven, 'cause we thought we wouldn't see them no more," he said, his voice hitching now and then from crying so hard. "The boogeyman tried to kill Lannie. That's not fair. The boogeyman wanted to hurt everybody. He was bad. I'm glad he's dead."

  "I don't mean to be disrespectful," said Winston anxiously, "but while we stand around chatting, Deliah and Lachlan are dying."

  "They're in stasis," Blue assured.

  "Do you have lots of magic?" Alby asked hopefully.

  "The kingdom has lots,” said Blue. "I'm only the Channeler."

  "If you help my Uncle Lannie, I promise not to cry no more," he said, his chin quivering.

  "It's good to cry when you hurt," Blue said, her eyes misting. "We will all save your Lachlan."

  "I don't have no magic."

  Blue smiled. "Ah, but you do, in here," she said, tapping a fingertip to his heart.

  His eyes wide with awe, Alby said, "You can have it all, if you want."

  "We'll share, okay?"

  He nodded.

  "All you have to do is wish as hard as you can for Lachlan to accept the magic."

  "Wish hard?"

  "Very hard. Can you do that, Alby?"