Magic After Dark Boxed Set (Six Book Bundle)

by Deanna Chase

  Irrepressible as always, Tiernan gave her a full-on dimpled grin. “That, or maybe they sense how perfect we are for each other and want to set us up on a date.”

  “I think that we need to get to the Council Chambers now, Godfather Tiernan.” With that, Reina marched forward.

  For having such a fearsome effect on any Fairy summoned to it, the Council Chamber was nothing special, a room that contained a long table housing five chairs behind it. Still, entering the room, and seeing the Top Tier—the five women who were the leaders of all Fairy Godmothers—was a nerve-wracking experience.

  “Sara, my love, you are looking radiant as always. Immortality obviously agrees with you.”

  Correction, it was a nerve-wracking experience for any Fairy with sense, a description that had never included Tiernan.

  “Godmother Reina, Godfather Tiernan, good of both of you to come,” Sara replied, as if there were any choice in the matter of a Council Summons. “Tiernan, your eyesight is obviously as perfect as always.”

  Tiernan had once told Reina that Godmother Sara, the Supreme Leader of the Fairy Godmothers, looked exactly how mortals thought FGs were supposed to look and showed her a print to prove it. Reina had to agree that the older, portly woman with curly gray hair and the cherubic air seemed to be an exact match for the picture.

  Of course, mortals were shortsighted as always. FGs could take on any appearance they desired in the Mortal realm, any Faerie could. Still, Reina wondered if Godmother Sara had appeared to the exact right mortal in her true form, resulting in being forever known in their books and pictures.

  Tiernan placed his hands on the table and leaned down, bringing his face on the same level as Sara. “When are you going to give up being overlord of all the FGs and run away with me?”

  “Tiernan, I cannot abandon my post,” replied Sara even as Reina could not stop herself from palming her face in her hands. “And as much as I hate it, it is my post that demands I bring you before us today.”

  Though Sara’s voice held a hint of warning, Tiernan showed no hesitation in responding. He pushed himself away from the table and said, “I live to serve you always, ladies of the Council. Please let me know what is troubling you.”

  Irene, the second in command, thin and pale where Sara was round and rosy, spoke. “Tiernan, you are aware that as the only male ever to be given a place amongst the Fairy Godmothers, you are under more intense scrutiny than any other in our ranks.”

  “Yes, Madam, I am aware and very proud of my unique position here.”

  “We do not wish to be perceived as being harder on you than any other. Though you have gone through some adjustments, you have done an admirable job thus far,” Irene continued.

  “I only wish to be a credit to you always,” Tiernan responded, and Reina could see the old fairies eating him up, the gallant words paired with his very commanding presence. Reina had to give him credit—the man was a master in the art of BS.

  It took Irene a moment before she was able to continue, but Reina could see the distress coming into her eyes, her already thin face becoming alarmingly drawn. “Tiernan, though we may not like it, we are answerable to others outside this organization, and we have been told...”

  Irene’s breath contracted as if she was getting near tears. Sara leaned over and patted her hand, then took over the conversation. “Irene is trying to be diplomatic in her wording, Tiernan. Here is the straight scoop. Everyone watches you, trying to see if you will mess up. We on the Council have never wanted to be perceived as being harder on you than the others, so we have let a few things slide. We don’t regret that because you are very entertaining and have never done any major damage. However, a situation has come up that demands our immediate attention, as those outside this organization are starting to question us.”

  At her pause, Tiernan nodded, letting her know he was truly listening. “What is the situation?”

  “Tiernan, why have you never had a Happily Ever After?”

  Ah, the elusive Happily Ever After. That’s what brought this on.

  “Is that all?” Tiernan’s body relaxed, and it wasn’t until then that Reina realized beneath the smiles and charm, he had been tense. “Godmothers, HEAs are notoriously difficult. Even for the advanced and highly experienced Godmothers, such as Godmother Reina, there is a very low HEA rate.”

  “This is true, Tiernan, but in over three decades, you have never even come close to having one.”

  “Godmother Irene, that is because I do not waste precious time hoping for a near impossible HEA. I go for a solid happy ending, and make sure my clients are well and in love, instead of possibly destroying any chance of them ending up together by going for the impossible.”

  “Tiernan, we are Fairy Godmothers. Going for the impossible is our job,” Irene said, and Reina could hardly believe her ears, because for the first time it sounded like she was scolding Tiernan.

  Even in the face of this highly unusual development, Tiernan kept his cool. “I must humbly disagree. Being the only one here who was once human, I can assure you that a human will take what they can get happiness-wise. HEAs are unnecessary.”

  Sara shook her head at him. “Tiernan, it is precisely because you were once human that I don’t think you see the whole picture. More than anything, humans need hope. They need to believe the impossible just may happen. The happiness you procure is indeed a wonderful thing, but as a Fairy Godfather, it is not a good sign that you dismiss the possibilities so easily.”

  Tiernan nodded, but Reina could tell it was more as appeasement and less that they’d actually convinced him. “I will indeed take your wise advice to heart, Council. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

  Sara sighed. “It’s not that easy, Tiernan. Unfortunately, that laxness of attitude we have been displaying towards you has come back to bite you in the butt.”

  As usual, Tiernan’s reaction was the opposite of what Reina would expect. He gave the council members an indulgent smile, letting them know whatever came next, he in no way blamed them. “What has happened, Sara?” he asked, his voice low.

  For the first time Reina could remember, Godmother Sara looked visibly upset. “Your lack of HEAs has been brought to the Elf King’s attention.”

  “No.” The word was reflex; Reina had no idea she was going to say it until she heard it in the air. This was not good. The Elf King hated him, had wanted to get rid of Tiernan for a long time, and he was not a being you wanted to be on the wrong side of.

  It was said that he despised Tiernan because Tiernan slept with his daughter yet refused to marry her, but Reina did not believe that for a moment. While she didn’t doubt that the King sincerely believed this, she in no way could believe Tiernan had slept with the princess. Tiernan simply had to snap his fingers to get the pick of the FGs, let alone the greater female populace, so he had no reason to sleep with a princess who was not only unfortunate looking, but had a nasty, spoiled personality to boot.

  “Oh just great! I knew I should have slept with that princess, ugliness be damned.”

  Reina’s shocked gasp filled the chamber. “Godfather Tiernan!”

  “What? She was an oinker. Don’t ever make the mistake of swearing not to do something unless pigs fly, because she has wings and you’ll see her overhead.”

  Reina’s eyes rolled so far into the back of her head, she was sure she wouldn’t see anyone in front of her until they smacked her to announce their presence. When she turned her attention back to the council, though, she saw the Godmothers covering their mouths, trying not to laugh, their spirits obviously lifted.

  It would be giving him too much credit to assume his outburst was because he wanted to alleviate the tense atmosphere that was affecting the Godmothers, so she refused to even contemplate such a motive.

  Tiernan spoke again. “I assume the Elf King acted in some way on this information?”

  “He went straight to the Green Man. Told him you were sullying the honor of the Fairy Godmo
ther system.”

  Tiernan sighed, a great expanse of breath. “What does the Green Man think?”

  “You may not believe this to hear it, but The Green Man is a great romantic. The Green Man doesn’t care about you personally one way or the other, but he is a huge supporter of the HEA system.”

  A resigned smile curved Tiernan’s lips. He turned to look at Reina then, his sky blue eyes direct on hers, holding her captive. “I guess this means your wish came true, Reina. They are going to move me.”

  Reina had a hard time swallowing as she met that intense gaze. Where was the ecstasy, the jubilation? Finally, she was vindicated, and Tiernan was to be removed. Why weren’t her lips twisting in glee at the thought of finally being rid of him?

  Sara’s voice cut through Reina’s confused thoughts. “The Elf King has called for complete revocation of the wish, not reassignment.”

  Tiernan’s laugh was low, the gallows evident in the sound. For some reason, Reina could not comprehend the sentence that had just been uttered. Yes, she knew the words, but she must have somehow switched meanings in her mind. That sentence could not possibly mean what she thought it did. “Godmother Sara,” Reina began, then stopped as no sound passed her tight throat. Why was her body not under her control?

  Tiernan’s hand curled around her wrist, pulling her into the curve of his body. “Godmother Sara, I want Reina to leave. I’ll do whatever is required, but I refuse to allow her to see my death sentence carried out.”

  Reina’s face burrowed into his neck, Tiernan’s words unlocking her body as their truth cut through her denials. Tiernan had wished to become a Fairy Godfather as he lay dying. Revocation of the wish meant he would be returned to the instant before he made the wish, scant moments before his mortal body would have expired.

  She wanted to be free of him, hadn’t she? And how pathetic her reasons sounded now when she was faced with her wish being granted. Please no, I don’t want a world without him in it. I don’t want him forever gone from me. I want...

  “Don’t give up the ghost quite yet, Tiernan,” said Sara, and both Tiernan and Reina startled, turning their gaze to her. Reina, aware of how entwined their bodies had become, wrenched herself from his grasp.

  Tiernan made no move to stop her, absorbed in the Fairy in front of him. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice cautious.

  “I mean that your boss was able to do some nifty neat negotiating on your behalf.”

  An open mouthed smile came over his face. “You sly fox. Marry me.”

  “Don’t tempt me, boy. I just might force you to waste yourself on me. It boils down to this, Tiernan. You have one last chance to prove yourself. Your next assignment ends in a Happily Ever After, or the Elf King wins.”

  “Not a problem. You want it in one day, or two?”

  Sara’s laughter rang out, welcome after the uncomfortable past minutes. “Well, I am glad to see you in full spirits, Tiernan. It bodes well for your success. Don’t take this too lightly though. This is beyond the Council. You must produce a HEA, because if you don’t, I can do nothing else for you.”

  “You’ve done so much for me already. Don’t think I’m not appreciative.” He closed his mouth, his brows coming together, his fingers tapping his leg in a quick staccato movement. “The Elf King will not be happy about this last chance, and I’m sure he’ll know all the details of your bargaining. He’ll do anything to stop me from getting a Happily Ever After.”

  Sara’s hands clapped together, and she rubbed them furiously together. “Now that, we can help with, and that is why Reina is here.”

  Tiernan’s eyes once again turned to Reina, gleeful calculation replacing the relief that had been in them. Now on her guard, Reina asked the council, “How am I to help?”

  Sara was practically vibrating in her seat, and Reina knew she wasn’t going to like what was said next. “Reina, you are going to be sent with Tiernan to prevent any attempts by the Elf King—or any other outside party—to stop Tiernan from getting his HEA.”

  Almost as an automatic response, Reina began shaking her head. “Godmother Sara, there must be others besides me who are more suited for this job.”

  “No, Reina, there is no one else.” Sara gave her a hard look. “Let me continue my frank speech because I’m enjoying it so much and I don’t get to do it often enough. It is a well-known fact that you are against Tiernan being in the program. If I send anyone else with him, should Tiernan get a HEA,” she turned her gaze to Tiernan, “and I am fully expecting you to get one, boy. Nevertheless, with anyone else, the Elf King will bring charges of collusion. If he tried that against you, people would hurt themselves falling down laughing. Beyond that, you are strong enough to take on any challenge that the Elf King would send to prevent Tiernan’s HEA.”

  Oh yes, Sara was very serious about this. Short of holing up in an enchanted castle, there was no way Reina was getting out of this one. “What would be my duties?”

  “You are to assist Tiernan. You are not in any way to interfere or take lead; you are there to follow his directions. The HEA must be his alone. If you discover someone from our realm trying to disrupt the HEA process, you are to immediately neutralize any threat. Is this understood?”

  Follow his directions? Put herself in the hands of that arrogant, cocksure male? Screw the castle; she was going to get her very own pet fire-breathing dragon. “Perfectly, Godmother Sara.”

  Reina could feel her face taking on a pinched look, and this was confirmed a moment later when Tiernan burst out laughing. He leaned over and whispered, “You look like you’ve just eaten a basket of lemons, Godmother Reina.”

  Once this was over and the Elf King dealt with, she was going to make it her life’s mission to get him reassigned and away from the Fairy Godmothers. Once that was accomplished she would dance a jig, she would cavort naked in a meadow, she would never, ever, ever offend the heavens again by having a second of hesitation with her feelings of him leaving. On all that was sacred, this she promised.

  Chapter Three

  Reina was walking at a good clip ahead of him as they exited the Council Chambers and went to her offices. Tiernan’s eyes wandered down her body, past those squared shoulders, continuing down the long column of her back, until they settled on that delicious backside he so adored. Even when stomping mad, Reina’s body had an instinctive seductive sway, all the more enticing because Tiernan knew there was not one shred of artifice in it.

  In fact, she would probably start walking under a tent if she ever realized how the movements of her body were so well known to him.

  He followed, keeping slightly behind her to enjoy the view. Since it also allowed her the illusion of control, it was a win-win situation as far as he was concerned.

  As the cool early evening breeze swirled around him, he let himself recall the feeling of Reina’s body pressed against his. She fit him, every curve aligned to a hollow of his body. He’d discovered that in those scant moments where she forgot to be unyielding and clung to him. Now, if only he could find a way to get her to do that without his death as a motivator.

  He also wondered about Sara. Not that he minded, but there were others besides Reina who should have been chosen for this job. Instead, once again she had put him and Reina together. Sara always had, right from the beginning. When she had Reina train him, he assumed that it was a backdoor way to get out of the wish, putting him under the power of a person she knew didn’t like him. He was wrong about that, though. Sara knew if he passed under Reina’s instruction no one could say he did not deserve his place amongst the Fairy Godmothers.

  Sara also knew what Reina was. Reina was tough, but she never did anything underhanded to try to get him kicked out of the program. He would succeed or fail on his own merits.

  That was Reina, honor and inherent fairness underneath sternness, using propriety to try to hide an innate sensuality that could never be quashed, no matter how she tried.

  That a woman so sensual would try so hard to d
eny that part of herself had him very curious as to why. It didn’t take much to find out what drove some of her animosity. Some light flirting, some seemingly random questions about her to different fairies, and he heard of the scum who broke her heart, very nasty, very public.

  His favorite fantasy involved throwing the bleeding carcass of that sorry excuse at her feet in tribute, then letting her go to her knees to reward him.

  “I received the file earlier,” Reina said as they entered her office and took their respective seats around her desk.

  “What file?” he asked, partly to annoy her. No, make that completely to annoy her.

  She gave him a disbelieving look. “Your HEA file? Your last chance file? The file that will determine whether you live? That file?”

  “Oh, my next assignment, you mean. You talk as if you think it’s a possibility I’m going to fail.”

  He nearly smiled as he watched her control her tongue. She was just too much fun to tease. He wondered what she would do if he told her seeing her in a temper caused him to get harder than seeing any other woman naked.

  Hmmm, if he decided to do that, he should probably get used to the idea of eating flies and hope green was a good shade on him.

  “Godfather Tiernan—”

  “You can just call me Tiernan,” he interrupted.

  She tried again. “Godfather Tiernan—”

  “”Didn’t Sara just tell you that you had to follow my directions?”

  That pushed her over the edge. “Do you truly think you are going to secure a HEA when you haven’t been able to do it yet?”

  He let out a derisive snort, but immediately realized that was a huge mistake. Her face lost her usual look of annoyance crossed with bemused tolerance, leaving pure ice in its place. “This is why men should not be allowed into the Godmother program. None of you have any respect for Happily Ever Afters.”

  “I never said I didn’t believe in HEAs” he began, but she cut him off.