Rock Bottom (The Gifted Realm #4)

by Jillian Neal

  Rainer hesitated. He wasn’t certain the Angels would win. This hadn’t been their best season, by a long shot.

  “You’ll be amazing, Em. You always are, and I already picked up a grape ring pop for good luck.”

  She giggled sweetly.

  “Aww, you’re the best,” Emily sat up and stretched her hands over her head. “Ok, I’d better take the bride to the farmhouse and get her ready, and you better make sure her groom is standing at the altar at two.”

  “Uh, Em, this is Logan and Adeline we’re talking about. First of all, she’s probably already in her gown, standing outside of our door, patiently waiting on you to get up so she can drive you very carefully to the farmhouse herself. Logan is probably already positioned at the altar in front of your parents’ hearth.”

  Emily giggled hysterically, but then she shook her head.

  “He’s really nervous,” she informed him.

  “I’ll get him there.”

  A devilish grin formed on Emily’s face.

  “And her dress has about a thousand pearl buttons all the way up the back, so she can’t get into it without me.”

  Rainer chuckled as he followed Emily out of bed.

  “She trying to torture Logan, or something?”

  Emily laughed again.

  “Trust me,” she sassed, “I took her lingerie shopping Thursday night, when you and Logan were out with Vindico. Logan is most definitely not being tortured.”

  Rainer chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

  “Well, you go get Adeline all taken care of, and get all dolled up yourself, and tonight I’ll let you torture me,” Rainer waggled his eyebrows.

  With a naughty glint in her eye, she grinned. “I have been looking for a sex slave.”

  Rainer growled, “Where do I sign up, Miss Haydenshire?”

  Emily shook her hips for him as she grabbed her make-up bags and curlers that she’d set out the evening before.

  Rainer swatted her backside as she scooted by him.

  “Behave, Mr. Lawson,” she commanded.

  “Only until I get you back in here, baby.”

  38

  Dr. Pepper Gets Married

  Rainer was seated between Logan and Patrick, amongst all of Logan’s brothers and his father, at Lesco’s. Les had insisted they use the pub for Logan before it opened for a breakfast, and he’d had the chef serve up a delicious meal for them all.

  “So,” Garrett teased, “you’re getting married, and I think it’s time you and I had the talk.” He bit back laughter.

  Logan rolled his eyes. “Thanks, but I think I got it,” he assured Garrett with a great deal of pompousness.

  “No, now, we’re your older brothers, so before you introduce Adeline to Dr. Pepper, we need to go over a few things,” Levi chimed in.

  “Geez, I was fifteen. I will never live that down,” Logan laughed.

  Everyone joined in the teasing as Connor quipped, “Yeah, if you’re good, maybe she’ll let you mount-n-do her.” Logan shuddered and shook his head.

  Patrick grinned. “Well, just until you Squirt.”

  “Ok, that was bad,” Logan scoffed.

  Upping the ante, Garrett husked, “Hey, uh, does Adeline like your cream soda, Lo?”

  “Dad, come on. Help me out,” Logan pled.

  “Sorry, son, I have to give them free rein until she walks down the aisle. Consider it a rite of passage.”

  “This is why I eloped,” Patrick’s confession made everyone laugh.

  “Come on now, Logan and Adeline have been together for a long time,” Will snickered, and Rainer knew that he wasn’t coming to Logan’s defense. “He’s already had some cherry pop,” he drawled, to the groans of his brothers.

  * * *

  After several more rounds of rather dirty puns and general harassment of Logan, the Haydenshire men went to their homes to get ready for the wedding.

  Governor Haydenshire returned to the guesthouse with Logan and Rainer. They were all getting ready together.

  “Hey, Rainer,” Logan called as he was retying the bow tie on his tux for the fifth time.

  “Yeah, man, what’s wrong?” Rainer quizzed as soon as he saw Logan’s face. His shield was pulsing with terrorized, nervous fear. He dragged Rainer into the bedroom and shut the door behind him.

  “Will you do me a favor, and not make fun of me for asking?”

  “Hey, I’m the best man. That’s my job.” Rainer didn’t point out that he was the only guy seated at the table at Lesco’s who hadn’t teased Logan.

  “Will you just go up to the house and check on her, please? Just make sure Mom and Em aren’t getting to her, and that she really wants to do this.”

  “Of course, but trust me, she really wants to do this.”

  “I know I’m not supposed to see her, so would you just give her this?” Logan held up a note, folded tightly, before he continued. “And just make certain she really wants to do this today.”

  Logan Haydenshire was starting to unravel before Rainer’s very eyes.

  “Ok,” Rainer took the note. “You sure you’re ok?”

  “Yeah,” Logan hesitated. “I just don’t want her to do anything she doesn’t want to do, you know? I don’t want her to feel forced into this because of her mom.”

  “Ok, why don’t you grab a beer? I’ll be right back,” Rainer soothed.

  With a slight nod, Logan drew another deep breath.

  “If she’s not dressed yet, get Emily to give it to her,” he commanded.

  Rainer couldn’t hide his slight eye-roll. He chuckled.

  “Logan, I’m not gonna walk in on your bride without her gown on, ok?” He willed Logan to think rationally, if only for a moment.

  As he pulled on his shoes and tossed the jacket onto the couch, he caught Governor Haydenshire’s eye and gestured to Logan who’d begun to pace nervously.

  Governor Haydenshire smiled as he nodded to Rainer.

  “Logan,” the Governor moved to his son. “I know it’s a little chilly out, but grab your coat and we’ll take one last walk around the lake, for old time’s sake. What do ya say?”

  “Ok,” Logan looked relieved.

  Rainer tried to hide his smirk as he held up the note to show Logan what he was going to do.

  * * *

  A short while later Rainer returned, but found Logan more nervous than when he’d left.

  “Is she ok?” Logan panicked. “Em’s not putting tons of that crap on her face, is she? She’s beautiful just the way she is. I don’t like it when she wears tons of makeup.”

  After quickly sharing a concerned expression with the Governor, Rainer nodded.

  “She’s great, Lo. She didn’t have her gown on, but she was wearing some of your sweats, so I gave her the note. She…uh… cried, but like in a really good way. You know, I could tell she thought it was sweet,” Rainer explained quickly.

  “And she gave me this for you,” he handed Logan the note from Adeline. He felt a little like he was in fourth grade again only, this time, he was delivering notes to girls via his Porsche instead of his bike. “Em’s doing her hair and make-up, but it’s not weird or anything. She looks beautiful.”

  “Of course she’s beautiful. Wait, what do you mean she’s beautiful? I’m marrying her,” Logan pounced. He was furious all of a sudden.

  “Ok,” Rainer shook his head. “You need to chill. Here,” he handed Logan a beer from the refrigerator and guided him to the couch. “Read the note.”

  Logan seemed to realize he was being slightly insane.

  Whatever Adeline had written caused Logan to become choked up, though he tried very hard not to let his father or Rainer see him blink back tears.

  * * *

  An hour later, Rainer helped Logan shrug into his tux jacket, and pinned on his boutonnière.

  “You ready?”

  “Yeah,” Logan’s nerves seemed to have been replaced with excitement. Something caught Rainer’s eye as Logan turned towards the door
.

  “Hey, there’s something on your tie?” Rainer wondered if Mrs. Haydenshire could get whatever it was out before Adeline walked down the aisle on the Crown Governor’s arm.

  “Huh?” Logan panicked. He lifted his tie to inspect it, but then they both saw it. Something was written on the underside of the tie. Rainer tried not to read it, but he was standing right beside Logan when he’d revealed the words.

  Don’t be nervous. I can’t wait to be Mrs. Haydenshire, so come kiss me because I love you! Adeline.

  Logan grinned. His breathing steadied.

  “She’s kind of amazing, you know?”

  “I know.” In that moment, Rainer did know that Adeline was amazing, and he tried not to lament the fact that maybe she knew Logan Haydenshire even better than he did.

  * * *

  All of the furniture had been moved out of the living room and replaced with white folding chairs, in just enough rows to form a very short aisle.

  Governor Haydenshire was already upstairs, awaiting his cue to walk Adeline down the aisle. Mrs. Haydenshire was seated beside Tad and Nathan, and Nana and Paps.

  Grandpa Haydenshire had refused to come. He wasn’t all that pleased that Logan was marrying Adeline. Logan had informed him that he wouldn’t be missed.

  Rainer suspected that Grandpa was smarting over the fact that Adeline had turned out to be an Australian Realm princess instead of the ‘stray cat’ that he’d insisted she was for so long.

  All of Logan’s brothers and their dates filled the rest of the rows behind Mrs. Haydenshire. Elite Iodex and friends of Adeline’s from Georgetown filled the other side. Rainer and Logan made their entrance from the kitchen to stand beside the minister.

  Music played softly, and Emily made her way down the stairs. She was beaming at Rainer. His heart raced. He suddenly found himself wishing that it was his wedding day; he was tired of waiting.

  She was dressed in a simple, jade sleeveless dress that cinched at her waist and fell to her knees. She was stunningly beautiful, and he wanted so much, in that moment, to make her his wife.

  Rainer winked at her as she took her place. He put the wistfulness away for the moment; their turn would come.

  Logan shot Rainer a terrified glance, and Rainer smiled.

  “This is all you’ve wanted since orientation night, man. Just remember.”

  Logan nodded and turned back to look at the stairwell in his parents’ home. The music swelled from an enhanced speaker system under Nathan’s casting, and everyone stood.

  A moment later, Adeline appeared, holding the Governor’s arm and Logan choked back tears. She was exquisitely beautiful, dressed in a sleeveless, mermaid gown with pearl and lace detailing over the satin.

  Her hair was gathered loosely on her head, with several tendrils falling to her shoulders. There were dozens of pearl buttons up the back of the dress that Rainer was certain Logan would waste no time working through.

  He chuckled softly as he took in his best friend. Logan looked like he would love nothing more than for everyone else to just leave him alone with his bride.

  Governor Haydenshire kissed Adeline’s cheek, and took his spot next to his wife as everyone watched Logan vow to love and adore her, to be there for her, and to take care of her for the rest of their lives. She pledged the same to him.

  Tad had designed beautiful wedding bands for both of them, and sweet, tender tears leaked down Adeline’s face as Logan slipped the ring onto her finger.

  Wolf whistles filled the room as the minister gave Logan permission to kiss his bride. She threw her arms around his neck as he leaned her back and kissed her heatedly, to the applause of the small crowd.

  Rainer was absolutely certain that he’d never seen Logan Haydenshire so pleased as he appeared when he turned, and the minister announced that they were now Mr. and Mrs. Logan Aaron Haydenshire.

  39

  The Right Combination

  Rainer walked Emily into Angels Arena the next afternoon, while letting their morning replay slowly in his mind.

  He bit back a moan as he recalled being awoken to Emily kissing down his chest. She’d just kept going south, until he was panting, and thrusting as she pulled him deeply in her mouth.

  He shook himself from his reverie and kissed Emily’s cheek. They were waiting on Chloe to unlock the locker room. She and Fionna approached a moment later.

  “So, you’re sure he’s coming today?” Fionna tittered nervously.

  Chloe nodded. “And to the party tonight, Crown Governor’s orders. You should wear that black leather skirt you bought. I, oddly, have a really good feeling about tonight.”

  “Uh, obviously,” Fionna beamed. “I look so freaking hot in that skirt.” She and Chloe promptly cracked up. “I have a good feeling, too,” Fionna admitted. Her tone changed completely.

  Rainer watched a faraway stare steal Fionna away. He wondered what she was seeing. Emily tried to hide her frown as she turned back to Rainer.

  He took her engagement ring, dropped the chain necklace through it, and fixed it around his neck. He hid it behind the Angels shirt he was wearing.

  After quickly switching it for the duplicate ring, Rainer supplied her with her customary ring pop, and Emily glowed.

  “Good luck, baby. I know you’ll be amazing.”

  “I hope,” she willed nervously.

  Rainer kissed her again and then went to join the rest of the Haydenshires and the Vindicos in the Angels box.

  He’d gone all out for the final challenge and worn the ‘My Girl’s an Angel and I keep her Tank Full’ t-shirt with Emily’s number on it. He grimaced when several photographers snapped his picture as he made his way to his seat.

  “Rainer, can you tell us if it’s true that Logan married Adeline Parker yesterday?” rang from every reporter within earshot.

  Someone had leaked the story, but obviously it wasn’t considered to have come from a credible witness.

  He said nothing and picked up his pace. He sprinted into the Angels VIP box. Vindico gestured to a seat beside him. Rainer nodded, grabbed a Dr. Pepper, and took the seat.

  He had a sneaking suspicion that Vindico wanted to sit beside him because he was already annoyed with his mother and sisters, who were to his left. Rainer decided not to be offended.

  Garrett appeared a few minutes later, sporting one of Chloe’s numbered t-shirts.

  “I thought Serenity wanted you full time,” Will chuckled.

  Garrett scoffed. “Uh, I don’t do ‘full time’. You know that,” he assured his older brother.

  “Ok, so I’ve been doing some research on which of the Australian Caliph’s sons might be Ms. Parker’s father,” Vindico began as soon as he had Rainer’s attention.

  With a slight chuckle, Rainer understood that Vindico was desperate to work on something, even if it wasn’t Wretchkinsides.

  “Great, but I’m pretty sure that she never wants to be called Ms. Parker ever again.”

  Vindico grimaced. “Right, I forgot.”

  Rainer wondered what exactly had been on Vindico’s mind when he’d sat in the Haydenshires’ living room and watched Logan and Adeline get married the day before.

  Patrick and Lucy appeared just then, and Vindico turned back to Rainer.

  “Do you think Logan would mind me calling her Adeline? There’s getting to be too many Mrs. Haydenshires,” he chuckled as he gestured from Emily’s mother, to Brooke, and then to Lucy.

  “Adeline is fine, I’m sure,” Rainer laughed.

  With that, Vindico began going over all of the research he’d done. He produced the blueprints of the Caliph’s massive castle home, and the names of his servants.

  Rainer shook his head. “You know you’re supposed to be relaxing,” he reminded his boss.

  “Yeah,” Vindico huffed, “I don’t relax. I just don’t think it’s in me, but I’m trying,” he turned to glance back at Governor and Mrs. Haydenshire, who were seated two rows behind him, each holding one of the twins. The Gov
ernor nodded to Vindico, who returned the gesture.

  “This isn’t what I’m not supposed to be working on,” he justified. Rainer supposed he had to agree.

  Just two minutes before the challenge courses were revealed, Logan and Adeline rushed into the box. They were being followed by dozens of reporters.

  “Nice of you to join us,” Rainer chided.

  With a wry grin, Logan nodded. “I was busy.” He waggled his eyebrows and effectively cracked Rainer up.

  The press was frantically buzzing outside the doors to the box seats, and security was having trouble keeping them at bay.

  “They got a shot of her ring when I parked. Now, they’re like vultures,” Logan huffed indignantly.

  “I forgot to cover my hand,” Adeline lamented.

  Logan scoffed and shook his head. “You’re not supposed to cover it up, baby. I want everyone to know you’re mine. I just don’t want them bombarding you everywhere we go.”

  The buzzers sounded, and the course was revealed.

  Logan grimaced. “These are always tough. It could be anybody’s challenge.”

  Vindico and Rainer nodded their agreement.

  It was a Tesslometer course. Four supersized, semiconductor diodes were positioned on each side of the field, in a square.

  Along the sides of the course were different forms of energy that could be harnessed and pushed into the iodes. Screens on the opposing walls of the arena would show when the teams had the correct form of energy in play and then in the correct iode. A team could burn up a great deal of time figuring out the pattern of energy to make each iode convert to electricity.

  Either Emily or Fionna would have to force the electricity to travel along the square course and free their iode. Each Receiver would also only be allowed to convert the energy once. If the conversion was incorrect, they would have to return to the energy provided for them on the sides of the field.