The Reluctant Amazon (Alliance of the Amazons)

by Sandy James

  Sarita nodded but gently laid another lock of Rebecca’s unbound hair over her shoulder. “It’s just—this is her day. I want everything perfect for her.”

  The threat Helen held like the sword of Damocles over Rebecca’s world constantly weighed on her. This evil was far from over. She, Artair, Johann and the Amazons had to face the fact that Helen needed to be brought to justice.

  But it wouldn’t be today.

  “Trust me,” Rebecca said, hoping to soothe the nervousness of the other Amazons. Her heart warmed realizing how important it was to them that this day was special. She could feel their joy wrapping around her heart and wished they would one day find the same contentment. “Everything is perfect. My aunt’s here. I have my sisters at my side. My daughter’s with her nannies. And the man I love is waiting at the altar.” She sighed, thinking of the only thing that could make her sad on this day. “I still can’t believe you’re all leaving.”

  “Things are different now,” Gina replied, looking a bit wistful herself. “We’re trained. We can fight. We don’t all need to stay in Avalon, waiting around for trouble to happen. Just the Guardian needs to keep the vigil. Besides, you’ve got so much to stay for. Artair and Bonnie. Johann’s staying for a while too. Once he’s got us all hooked up with our computers, we can talk all the time online.”

  “We know you’ll call us when we’re needed. Right, Guardian?” Sarita threw Rebecca a beautiful, sincere smile. “The more we’re living in the real world, the more able we’ll be to notice when Helen makes her next move. Plus there are always plenty of demons to slay. We’ll keep busy.”

  Rebecca nodded, sniffing back tears at the notion of her sisters not being near, especially Megan. But their bond was unbreakable. For a moment, she thought about Sparks. For the first time, she finally understood why Sparks had been so obsessed with finding Trishna and Helen. If one of her sisters was missing, she’d use all her powers to find her.

  “But we’ve been together since the start. I’ll miss you, Rebs.” Megan’s voice quivered.

  “I’ll miss you too.” Rebecca dabbed at Megan’s eyes with the embroidered handkerchief Aunt Kay had given her before she went outside to wait for the ceremony.

  Gina handed Rebecca the small bouquet of wildflowers tied with a green ribbon that matched the outfits worn by the three bridesmaids. Each woman revealed her inner Amazon in the style and color of her outfit.

  Megan chose a strapless, skintight red dress. Sarita wore a blue sari. And Gina wore white leather pants so tight, she’d probably have trouble walking.

  “It’s time,” Megan said after glancing at the clock.

  Rebecca nodded. Although this was merely a formality—Artair was already her husband—the event was still something she wanted to enjoy, something she wanted to savor. Her fingertips brushed the brooch pinned over her heart before her hands smoothed the plaid that draped over her shoulder and around her waist.

  Beagan and Dolan had brought Artair’s old plaid to her that morning, saying they had rescued it from her destroyed cabin after they’d returned to Avalon. She’d squealed and given them both a kiss on their heads. The blushing changelings had morphed into rabbits and hopped away.

  Running her hands over the long skirt of her ivory brocade dress, she smiled, thinking of how different she was than she’d been on the day she’d planned to marry Rick. Her dress now was as down-to-earth as she felt. Simple and elegant. She wore a crown of wildflowers Beagan and Dolan had brought along with the MacKay plaid, and she would walk to the altar like a good Earth—with bare feet.

  Following the Amazons out the front door of her new home, she turned back and smiled. The place was wonderful, and Rhiannon astounded Rebecca with her generosity. They now lived in a Cape Cod house the goddess had given them for their little family. It appeared very out of place next to the stark cabins. Artair still wasn’t quite used to the opulence, often complaining he would grow soft staying there.

  Bonnie’s room was next to the master suite. Beagan and Dolan could be found there at all hours of the day, fussing over the beautiful baby who thrived on their attention. Rhiannon was known to pop in from time to time with yet another toy for the child she swore would be the most powerful warrior the world had ever known. The nursery was littered with wooden swords, toy horses and a bow. Rebecca had removed the arrows.

  With a contented sigh, she followed her sisters toward the makeshift altar.

  Nestled by a small grove of maple trees, the ancient stone altar had appeared the day before when Rhiannon visited. In her typical bossy fashion, the goddess announced that a handfast wasn’t appropriate—her Amazon and Sentinel required a celebration of their union. Setting Beagan and Dolan to making plans for a proper marriage and a feast, Rhiannon informed them of the time she would return for the ceremony.

  Rebecca was surprised Artair hadn’t argued. In fact, he’d embraced the notion with open arms. Of course, he didn’t have much to do to prepare for the wedding other than throw on his plaid and wait.

  Now, she followed Megan, Sarita and Gina as they paced to the altar. Rhiannon stood as the one to officiate the ceremony, and Johann stood in as Artair’s best man. Beagan and Dolan waited near the Amazons with Bonnie cradled in Dolan’s chubby arms. Aunt Kay kept a watchful eye on all of them. The other three patron goddesses had come to the wedding as well, each in the festive dress of her culture.

  Rebecca’s groom stood tall and proud in his MacKay plaid, his shirt white as snow against his bronzed skin. He was so utterly handsome.

  Artair nodded to each Amazon as she approached the altar then moved to one side. He held out his hand to Rebecca.

  The hand was the same one he’d extended when she’d walked away from her last wedding, her near-wedding. In taking that hand, she’d forever changed her life, just as taking it now would again lead her to a new existence. Amazon. Wife. Mother.

  “’Tis time.” The same words he’d given her that day. His green eyes held a mischievous twinkle.

  “Aye, Artair. ’Tis time.” She took his hand.

  Artair led Rebecca to stand in front of Rhiannon and the altar.

  The goddess smiled. “A first in the history of the Amazons. A Sentinel and an Amazon have come to pledge their lives to each other the way they have pledged their lives to the service of their goddesses and to humanity. Now, before their patroness, they will state their vows.” Extending an elegant hand to Artair, she nodded.

  He took Rebecca’s right hand in both of his. “Becca mine, I promise to love, honor and protect—”

  She gave his hand a hard squeeze.

  He took the hint. “To love, honor and cherish you. Through the good times and the bad. I will be faithful, and I will be yours in this life and the next.”

  Rebecca’s heart sailed far above her beloved Earth. “Artair, I vow to love, honor and cherish you. I hope we share more laughter than tears, but I will be by your side through both. I’m yours forever.”

  Rhiannon held up two gold rings. “I give you these rings as token of my benevolence to my Amazon and my Sentinel—”

  “Our Sentinel,” Freya said just loud enough to be heard.

  “—and ask that they exchange them as a sign of the vows they have taken here this day.”

  Artair took the smaller ring and slid it on Rebecca’s finger.

  A tear slid down her cheek when she gave him his.

  Raising her hands high, Rhiannon said, “What I have joined should never, never be parted.” She smiled at the couple, then nodded at the groom. “You may kiss your bride, Arthur.”

  “With pleasure,” he replied. Gathering Rebecca into his arms, he kissed her with far more passion than was probably appropriate.

  She didn’t mind in the least, feeling his kiss to the tips of her toes.

  “Now,” Rhiannon said. “Your goddesses have a gift for you.”

  Her arms still wrapped around Artair’s waist, Rebecca gaped at Rhiannon. “A gift? But you’ve given us so much already
.”

  “Rebecca MacKay, you have been restored.”

  “Restored?”

  “Your womb will bear the fruit of Artair’s seed. When I cast aside the powers of the Ancients, I restored that which was lost to you, that which you restored to your sisters. Even now, a son grows inside you, planted the day after Artair MacKay died for you—planted after you selflessly gave up your claim to divinity, your chance to have powers equal to the Ancients. You only used those powers for good. You used them to restore his life and to help your sisters, and your goddesses wished to return that kindness. You will bear a son to thank you and our Sentinel for your sacrifices in our service.”

  “A son?” Rebecca’s hands dropped to cover her belly, hardly believing what she’d heard.

  Megan’s laugh filled the air. “Rebs! It’s what you always wanted.”

  Rebecca suddenly found herself scooped up in her husband’s arms.

  Twirling her around, Artair’s laugh reached her heart. The man she loved had all he’d ever wanted.

  “Do you still wish to foster my new Earth?” Rhiannon asked as Artair put Rebecca back on her feet.

  “Oh, aye,” Artair answered, staring into Rebecca’s eyes. “She’s our daughter now.”

  Rebecca smiled and nodded. “Our daughter.”

  “There is one more thing,” Rhiannon said.

  Rebecca’s heart was so full, she wasn’t sure she could absorb another surprise or it would surely burst. “What is it?”

  Rhiannon smiled, her face still full of mischief. “’Tis not a gift I give, but a gift you gave your husband. A gift you gave him when you restored his life.”

  “I don’t understand.” How Rhiannon loved her riddles, but Rebecca wanted this one quickly solved. She had a honeymoon to go on, after all. And she wanted some privacy to celebrate with Artair the news of their son.

  “When you breathed life back into his body, you restored his humanity.”

  Artair cocked his head. “M’lady?”

  “You are now mortal, Sentinel.”

  “No,” escaped from Rebecca’s lips. “He can get hurt? He can die?” And she would outlive him. Sparks had told her Amazons had potential lifespans of centuries. She didn’t want to live that long if she would lose Artair. “No.”

  Freya rushed to add, “Aye, but do not frown. This news is good. You bonded your life force to his, gave him part of your life to restore his. Your souls will forever be joined, and your lives destined to end at the same time, the very same hour, the very same minute. At least in this lifetime.”

  Rhiannon stomped her foot, setting the ground to rumbling. “I wished to tell them.”

  Freya laughed heartily. “Then you should have been more timely with the telling.”

  “I don’t understand,” Rebecca repeated.

  Rhiannon, probably wanting her moment in the spotlight, hurried to explain. “Your lives are joined, not just in marriage, but in reality. Should evil not befall you, you shall live a long life, Rebecca MacKay, with Artair at your side. And on the day you die, he shall as well. So you best guard your life with care, Guardian. It no longer belongs to only you.”

  Artair kissed her forehead. “What are you thinking, sweeting?”

  “That I’m completely, utterly, truly happy.”

  “As am I.”

  As Rhiannon led the group toward the feast that was spread in the waiting lodge, Artair pulled Rebecca aside.

  Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her long and deep. Then he rested his forehead against hers. “So, lass. We are bonded.”

  “So we are.” She sighed. “Can you stand being married to a kick-ass Amazon for the rest of your life? Things will never be boring. That I promise.”

  His chuckle was warm and genuine. “Aye, lass. I love you, so ’tis a burden I can bear. Can you handle being married to an ill-tempered Sentinel, especially knowing all our days will be spent together? ’Twill nae be boring for you, either.”

  Rebecca gave him a quick kiss and answered him in his own brogue. “Oh, aye, Artair MacKay. I love ye with all my heart. ’Tis a burden I will gladly bear.”

  * * * * *

  About the Author

  Sandy lives in a quiet suburb of Indianapolis with her husband of over thirty years. She’s a high school social studies teacher who especially loves psychology and United States history. Since she and her husband own a small stable of harness racehorses, they often spend time together at the two Indiana racetracks.

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  ISBN: 978-14268-9430-5

  Copyright © 2012 by Sandy James

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