How many tolls would it take? If it came down to it, could I help him in some way? Maybe invoke my runes less?
“No. An’ ye can wipe that troubled look off yer face, Nugget. Isna needed.”
“Swear?” The worry in my voice had him leaning down, nipping my lip on a soft growl.
“Canna put a value on how much yer stubborn arse an’ the wee beastie mean ta me, or this one.” His hand stilled on my belly meaningfully. “On me shriveled up black heart, love, yer troll swears it.”
Arms snaking around his neck, I tugged him back to me. “Thank you,” I murmured sincerely, about to kiss him silly.
“For what?” He frowned, blinking down at me, truly baffled.
“Letting me in, letting me love you.”
“Shouldna I be thankin’ ye?” His confusion just seemed to increase, brows pulled down low over his eyes, shadowing his features. It was too much, and I laughed a little, happiness suffusing me as a grin spread across my face.
“Mmm.” Our noses bumped and I pressed my lips to his for a hard, quick kiss. When he would have scooped me up, I released him quickly, dancing a few steps back. “If you insist.”
“Nugget,” he grumbled warningly, curling the fingers of his outstretched hand towards me as he beckoned me back. Those fiery orange eyes did delicious things to my insides, his naughty smile just this side of troll-ish and wicked.
“Yes, my love?” Cocking a brow, hands primly behind my back, biting my lip to keep from laughing outright, I blinked up at him innocently.
“Come here, bonded.” Grunting as I ignored his command, he took one big step towards me and waited.
“Who?” Blinking up at him, I gave my chest a little tap. “Me?”
Eyes flashing with tendrils of inky black, he bared his teeth, curling his fingers towards me once more, entreating me. The thick ridge slowly starting to rise, firm and seconds away from pressing angrily to the confines of the fabric encasing him, begging to be released, I licked my lips as my gaze drifted up his thick, well-muscled thighs. Mine.
“Mm. Want me? Come get me.” Turning in a swirl of skirts, bare feet, and long orange hair, his growl, as I took off, shook the walls.
Laughing harder at every harsh growl, as I ducked and dodged, and he snarled his displeasure, we both loved the chase.
I didn’t get far before he caught me, barely rounding the table, and just as he pinned me down, fingers snaking below my skirts to flip them over my head, Quaz called out, “Oi! Ye selfish bastards! Let us in!”
Glancing over my shoulder as Troll bent me over the table, swiftly flipping my skirts up and sidling up behind me, his bare thighs tickling my skin, I tossed my head in the direction of the veil to Under.
Grunting, Troll leaned down, nuzzling my nape, grunting when I elbowed him and started struggling to get up. “Let me up!” I hissed fiercely. “They might see!”
“Willna see anythin’,” he muttered, pulling back with an affronted chuff, grudgingly putting my skirts back before adjusting his tamptet. Standing back, he smoothed the back of my rumpled cloths out, huge hands roaming over my ass more than necessary, grinning when I gave him a pointed look.
“Thank you, I think,” I murmured cheekily, allowing my mate-husband to help me up.
“Only ‘cause he has the beastie,” he conceded.
“Of course,” I winked, looping my arms through his.
“Expectin’ ta be fully compensated me later,” he grumbled petulantly, thumbs strumming along my wrist, sending a wave of heat rushing up my forearm.
“Oh?”
“Yeah, oh, an’ ye’ll be sayin’ a whole lot of other- argh.” A low, sexy growl rumbled up Troll’s throat as my fingers slid down his chest, grazing his nipples, arching over every dip and curve sculpting his thick abdomen, and I laughed, giddy. “Playin’ wit fire, woman.”
Reaching over, I pinched his ass, patting the bared cheek when he grunted but didn’t shoo me away. “Don’t you worry, troll-lover,” I winked saucily, a wicked grin tilting my lips, “I’ll hold you to that.”
“Fuckin’ better,” he muttered, covering his nipples quickly, before I could twist one.
“There’s more than one way to handle an Ornthren, Troll,” I teased.
Smiling to myself as Calder came toddling towards us on his own two legs, holding his arms out as his papa made growling, grumbling noises and rushed over to him, scooping him up in his big, strong arms, pretending to bite his neck as he squealed happily, little pudgy hands batting at his face for more, my heart melted.
Hands resting on my stomach, there was no fear or worry for this little one, only happiness and hope. Though the curse, in so many ways, remained, it was already broken. We were cursed alright, cursed in love. Our love would last longer, and was much stronger than anything the Fates could toss at us.
We couldn’t see into the future, and had no way to guess how things would turn out, but we had each other, bonded through strength and love.
Curses? Hah. Together, we could do anything.
Not Quite The End
Divine Intervention
The Fates
Gathered around, Lachesis hummed quietly to herself, eyes shut tight, hips swaying from side to side as they waited.
Any minute now, they would show.
It was time.
“Children of fate, wrought from the light. Walk a hard path, live a long life.”
Atropos’ head whipped towards her sister so hard her neck cracked loudly across the clearing.
“Think you the only one with things best left unsaid, which cannot be undone?” Lachesis started humming again as tension vibrated off of her sibling. “If I could have spared her, I would.” Fingers fluttering under her hood, she whispered hauntingly, “I’ve already paid my own price, sister-dear, I’m afraid.” The ache in that voice had Atropos’ shoulders rolling as they slowly slid back to their slightly less rigid stance.
Walking over, Atropos pulled her sister into a bone crushing embrace that had Lachesis sighing.
Clothos joined in, in a rare show of affection between the sisters three, resting her head on top of Future’s white blonde, messy mop, ruffling it as she hummed Lachesis’ warning melody quietly.
“It comes over me.” Lachesis sighed resignedly, gently nudging them off before it was time. “They come. Today, tis time.”
Atropos and Clothos shared a long look as they tipped their heads to one another, adjusted their cowls, and took their rightful places. They hated this, loathed it, but this was the way, as it had always been, and up until recently, would have always been.
“Spin. Spin. Spin. Pull the thread, weave the life, cut it down.” Muttering to herself absently as she got that vacant look in her eyes, her humming vibrating her thin frame, it had already begun. “Fate, fate, sisters fate. Thy will be done. Change. A time for change. Ever changing.”
“Thy will be done,” Clothos murmured, snapping her fingers so her spindle disappeared, fingers gripping her spool so tight she thought they might bleed. The change overcame her as well, but she was still fully aware, unlike poor Lachesis. “Winds of change,” she said quietly, fingers running over the small spool of glowing gold thread as her head began to spin.
Atropos remained quiet, fingering the hilt of her scissors at her side, eyes narrowed, lips pressing into a thin, hard line. She didn’t utter the words, refusing to take her place.
“Change. Change. Change,” Lachesis chanted under her breath, a slow, empty smile stretching her lips, swaying faster and faster.
At the low buzz, humming at the backs of their napes, they all froze.
“Come. Time to taste the fires, little dragon.” Bobbing her head along slowly, Lachesis started her little dance, oblivious to the surprised looks that crossed her sisters’ faces.
The Lady was the first to show, emerging from a swirling mist of water, solidifying as she took a deep bow before the three hooded figures, their faces properly masked from view. “Sisters,” she whispered qui
etly, head bowed low in supplication as she took to her knees.
“Niniane,” Clothos murmured in greeting.
“You know what I’ve done,” The Lady admitted quietly.
Without an ounce of remorse, she lifted her gaze, strong in the face of her own judgement, blue eyes vibrant, brimming with life.
Eyes slowly going across each sister, she further tempted fate. “I hold no remorse for my actions, and admit to them freely. I made a vow to Gersthart not to meddle anymore, and promptly broke it. You forbade me from interfering with man’s will, and I’ve done that too. I entwined Gersthart’s line with Phedaenya’s, knowing full well the course. I take full responsibility, but,” she seemed to falter a little, recovering before the sisters could respond, “should you show leniency, I would only commit them again. I have many mistakes to atone for, but fear I haven’t the heart. I’ve failed my sons as their bearer, Gersthart more than most, just as I’ve failed to connect with man as I should.” Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to continue, “You may not see what I’ve done as helping, as I have, but my eldest has found peace. I’m not ashamed of the end, but I regret the pain his bonded endured that led her there. She too, has found her own peace, and they’ve both bonded, in love. I have many sons, spread all throughout Under, reaching far beyond the catacombs, or the cells entombing them within. If I am released, I will only endeavor to find them their own relief. I cannot be trusted, as I don’t know my own mind anymore. I will do whatever it takes, breaking vows, cursing man, changing paths, tempting fate, whatever it takes. They are blood of my blood, heart of my heart. I fear.... I fear, despite protests from my get themselves, I will not rest ‘til my will is done. With that in mind, I would wish that you would end me.”
Surprise flitted across Clothos’ features, the spool she was fiddling with stilling in her hands. “Entwined them how? You’ve no more the power to do so than a human.” Blinking as if she hadn’t read her right, she looked to Lachesis, who could sense her sister’s gaze.
“Atropos has a bigger heart than she lets on,” Lachesis whispered softly.
Gaze darting to Death, she couldn’t believe it. “You helped?” Clothos snapped. “After all... after...” At a loss, pain taking her features as she clammed up, she stomped her foot angrily, pointing to Lachesis accusingly. “How could you?”
Atropos peered at her from beneath the rippling folds of her hood curiously, gaze steady on the two, remaining silent.
“You know we are not to help!” Stamping her foot again, a rare show for the normally placid sister, Clothos whipped her hood off and pulled her long white hair back, silver and shimmering strands of ivory glinting like snow in the waning light. “Do you not see what happens when Fate intervenes?” she hissed, exposing the nubby stumps left where her ears had once been.
“When she knows, it will mean everything,” Lachesis put in softly, trailing her fingers above her hand as she gyrated and twirled quietly to some non-existent song.
Niniane, glancing up, gaped at Clothos wonderingly, shock flitting across her delicate features. “Whom did you help, and to pay such a price? Can you not still hear? When who knows?”
“I read lips! It is enough.” Clothos’ voice cracked across the small clearing on the edge of the Lux, but she quickly pulled herself together. Glancing at Atropos’, whose head was tilted as she eyed her, she quickly looked away. “And never you mind my affairs.” Covering her head with her hood once more, escaping Niniane’s stare beneath the confines of her cape, she once more started to play with her spool of string.
Blinking, as if dazed, Niniane’s gaze snapped to Atropos. “What price did you pay?”
The Elemental gasped, horror dawning across her pale, porcelain-like face as Atropos simply shrugged.
“Fate’s got her tongue,” Lachesis giggled, cupping a hand over her mouth, tongue in cheek.
“You’re voice,” Niniane murmured, pale, thin hands clasping at her own throat.
“Her tongue,” the chortling Lachesis reiterated, as if this was all a game.
Atropos growled at her giggling sister in reply, arms crossed mulishly over her chest.
“You make light of her sacrifice?” Niniane’s face reddened as she gained her feet, water rippling as the length of her gown swirled, melting into small waves that danced about her calves.
Lachesis, unaffected, stopped humming and swaying softly, hand slipping to disappear beneath the folds of her cape, and cocked her head.
Voice deepening, the Fate murmured ominously, “I make light of nothing. She chose, knowing. I could no more help her than I could stop her. She altered a path already set out, she changed a mortal’s fate, thus changing her own. The balance must be kept. Such is the life I am bound to.”
“By mutilation?” aghast, bile rose in Niniane’s throat.
“No different than a fit of pique that killed a village, eh?” Clothos shot back, in their defense.
The Water Elemental immediately snapped her mouth shut, bowing her head, thoroughly chastised. She had no room to speak of such things. “Forgive me,” she murmured, “I forget my place.”
Taking a deep breath, the spinner settled. “We are forbidden from interfering. Punishment was mild.”
“And yet you intervene,” The Lady muttered, thinking of the sniveling human they barred all from touching. She couldn’t help that one, her lips would not remain shut on that account—it still burned in her gut like bitter acid.
“Where Fate has stepped in, Others have before. Two rights do not make a wrong, any more than three wrongs make a right. I merely keep the balance.” Lachesis owned her part in how fate plays out, admitting more than she’d been permitted to.
“You do. You? Just you?” Canting her head to the side, eyes narrowing suspiciously, Niniane waited.
“How life wills it,” the alotter’s hand reappeared as her fingers danced in front of her, shoulders lifting in a careless shrug, “I cannot say. We are the overseers. Unless called upon, we’re only meant to ‘see’ and watch, to keep. We carry out life’s thread. We do not choose, exactly, but have barred any more intervention in the one you call Phedaenya’s life. She has been tampered with enough. It was willed she would live it on her own, from now on. You understand? As well as all others involved, for that matter.” Tacking the last part on, and quite meaningfully, she made her point crystal clear. That meant the human male too.
“More than I wish too,” she gritted out. Even now, Niniane’s fingers itched to drag the vile excuse for a male that had violated Troll’s bonded to her lake, do a little cursing of her own. It really is my fault, what happened to her, she thought. All my fault.
Giggling again, Lachesis shook her head. “No regrets, you say? You claim you’d interfere again, if you thought it would bring your offspring peace? Even if it meant they walked the same path as poor Nugget?” Her lips, just barely visible to the Elemental as Niniane’s eyes hardened with rage and anger, then guilt, tipped up as she watched the byplay. “Hmm. And yet you think you fail to connect to man?”
Stepping back, Niniane shook her head, kneeling. “Don’t romanticize this. I am bad—have done evil things. I’ll make the same mistakes twice, mark my words. Somehow, in my quest, I’ll curse and crush others. I don’t deserve to serve this realm, and maybe I never did. You must do as you should have long ago.” Shutting her eyes tight, she tilted her neck, hands fisted at her sides, and waited. “I should never had gone so long unchecked. Fate has erred, it would seem. Right this wrong. Tis my time.”
“Your necklace? The medallion?” Clothos asked curiously, gaze scanning the Elementals bared neck.
Fingers fluttering over the creamy white expanse, Niniane cleared her throat. “Tis where it should be.”
“Pity. I rather liked that necklace.” Fingering her own neckline, her hood dipped.
“A wise choice, though.” Lachesis smiled slowly, tilting her head to expose a little more of the lower half of her face. “And you think yourself unfazed by you
r time with man, even now?”
“I... I would do anything for my children,” the Lady whispered fiercely, ducking her gaze, referring to things she’d done to try and secure her son’s union, things she wished not dwell on, hands fisted tight in her lap. “Anything.”
Those thin, bowed pink lips widened into some semblance of a wide, slightly scary smile, and Lachesis made a popping noise with her lips and tongue. “I see.”
“And the verdict?” Clothos asked slowly, catching something in her sister’s voice the Elemental did not.
Snapping her fingers, a spark of black and gold shooting off of the tips, mixing with white and red to float, like dust moats, all around them in the air, Lachesis hummed a funny, offbeat version of the Lady’s lullaby in the back of her throat.
“As fate divines.” Gesturing to Atropos, Lachesis took a step back.
Leathers creaking as she closed the space between them, Atropos ripped the ties of her hood off, the billowing mass of fabric tumbling behind her. Exposing a slim body encased in leather battle armor, a thick belt tied around her small waist. Black eyes, full of the promise of the afterlife, she approached.
Eyes snapping open wide, horror suffusing her, Niniane gulped, fisting her hands in her lap to hide her tremors.
Long, lithe, and predatory, Atropos’ smooth gait just made the Water Elemental’s nerves worse, her heart beating wildly in her chest.
Warrior braids on either side of her temples, streaming with bits of brown, tangling in her long, flowing milky white locks, Atropos gripped Niniane’s chin in her hand, forcing her to meet her eyes.
“I am ready,” Niniane croaked, heart pounding in her breast when she heard the metal snick of fate’s scissors, coming closer and closer, waiting for it.
“So many worlds. So little time. Not long for oversight in this one. What say you next, Atro, the land of fire and scales?” Lachesis started up her humming, grass crinkling beneath her feet as she danced in place.
“You speak of nonsense,” Clothos sighed heavily, lifting a hand to rub at her forehead, as if they were used to this sort of thing by now, but thoroughly tired of it.
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