He let me feed until I fell away from him on my own, fully sated and tingling with power. Vampires aren't a weak race by any means, but compared to the Sidhe, we were lightweights. I pulled away from my grandfather and was on my feet in a move so utterly fast, it made my former flashes look like turtle speed.
I scanned the room searching for Irulan and found her standing in a corner sporting a fat lip and a bloody nose. I was by her side before I finished the thought to move. "You...never again do you hear me.” I grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a firm shake. "Don't you ever put yourself in danger like that again, do you hear me?"
Tears pooled in her eyes as she slowly shook her head yes and brought her hands up to draw my face to hers. "I promise baby, as long as you never almost die on me again.” She closed the space between us and slowly ran her lips across mine before claiming them.
The kiss was slow and tender. It conveyed so many emotions, so many words. I'm sorry. I’m glad to see you...grateful you're alive. I love you. I broke the kiss and trailed my lips down her chin. My destination - her neck, my goal - marking her as mine. I trailed small kisses along her neck until I dropped my fangs and drew back my lips to strike.
Irulan caught my train of thought and pulled back at the last moment to put some space between us. "What in the hell are you thinking, Valeria?"
I hissed and flashed forward to pin her against the wall. "I'm thinking you're mine and I want to make it known.” I grabbed her by the chin and forced her head to the side. "I'm not sure if it will work on you, but it's worth a try."
Irulan tried to shove me away from her, but I refused to move, instead I slipped into her mind. ”I can see what you're thinking. You want this as much as I do. Why are you pushing me away?”
"Because," she replied aloud. "I've loved you for years, but this is still new for you, Val. I don't want you to have any regrets. Mating is permanent, it's not like marriage, and it can't be undone.”
“Duh, no shit. Tell me something I don't know, Obi-Wan," I said sarcastically. "Since you know so much, then you also know it's out of my control. My body has chosen you. It was the rest of me that took a while to catch up. I'm just grateful my heart finally agrees with my biology."
Irulan squashed her doubts and pulled her hair away from her neck. I bit into her neck and deliberately released a minute amount of toxins into her blood. Once I was done, I bared my neck to her. "Complete the circle, Irulan. Drink from me."
Small fangs dropped from Irulan’s gums and her hand flew to her mouth in shock. "Told you it would work," I said proudly.
"You never told me I would sprout fangs," she shrieked, her voice off, as she drew back her lips and felt the new additions to her mouth.
I shrugged my shoulders and laughed. "I didn't know you would. Mated couples aren't that common anymore. Nowadays everyone is content with marriage. And the few mated couples I do know had fangs to begin with.” I tweaked her on the nose. "Besides, you look cute with your little baby fangs."
She stuck her tongue out and leaned into my neck. I was prepared for her teeth, but I wasn't prepared for the slow strokes of her tongue up and down my neck. She pulled and sucked at my neck, teasing me, knowing full well I couldn't do anything about it in our current situation. I was ready to wring her neck when she finally bit into my neck.
She may not have been a Vampire, but she inherently knew how to make the bite pleasurable. When she pulled away, I was inches from climax. "Baby," she said, firmly inside my mind. "Pull it together. I think your grandfather is getting impatient over there."
I winced and stood up straight. Of all the things I'd envisioned myself doing when I finally came face to face with my grandfather, making out with my mate in his bedroom wasn't one of the first things that came to mind. I straightened my torn cloak and turned around finally laying clear eyes on my great-great grandfather.
If he weren’t my grandfather, I’d say the man was straight up gorgeous. FaeVar didn't look a day over thirty and the first thing that I noticed was his eyes. They were ice blue with silver pupils just like mine. Tears sprang to my eyes and a sob threatened to escape my lips.
He took a step in my direction but I held up a hand and asked him to stop. "Please, just give me a minute.” He stood patiently while I took in the rest of him. His hair was as white as new fallen snow, and he had Constantine's nose. FaeVar wasn't a built like a powerhouse. He had the long lean lines of a runner or a swimmer but everything about his six-foot plus frame screamed strength.
You would have thought the High King of the Dark Court would be partial to black or maybe navy blue or something. FaeVar was dressed in a rich purple long coat with deep golden accents. In a show that mirrored mind reading, he smiled deeply. "What can I say, youngling, I like the Lakers."
I burst out laughing and he took the moment to cross the room and engulf me in his arms. "I'll tell you what, girl," he said against the top of my head. "I can tell that you’re of my ilk. You certainly know how to make an entrance."
He lifted his head to look at Irulan, "I'm quite certain Kent won’t look upon this union with favor," he said. "But as the mate of my own, you are now a member of my court. Welcome, protected, and entitled to all befitting the station of a princess."
Irulan curtsied. She Curtsied - like medieval, Arthur and Guinevere, Camelot, curtsied! Then, thinking about all the things that I was going to have to get accustomed to, I thought, “Jeez, hope they never expect me to curtsy to anyone – it’ll never happen.
My grandfather grabbed my hand and led me to the door. "Come, we have much to talk about. And there many arrangements to be made, this occasion calls for a celebration."
We followed him through the grand halls of his palace and for the first time I noticed the absence of Kether. I looked to my side at Irulan. "Where's Kether, he didn't..."
"No, it's nothing like that," she said, cutting me off. "I sent him into the forest and away from the action when I saw we were in for a fight.” She brought her lips together and whistled. A few moments later, he flew in through a window.
"FaeVar," he said as he bowed. "It's been awhile, Majesty."
My grandfather held his palm up for the Pixie to light on. "A long time indeed, Kether. How is your Monarch?"
"Queen Danzie eagerly awaits the return of your granddaughter. I've been tasked with returning the Abomination’s eyes after she dispatches him."
FaeVar came to a stop and turned around. "What's he talking about, child?"
"I'm here in a working capacity, sort of. I'm hunting a fugitive from the CMS."
He looked from me to Irulan. "She's here for the Abomination that your court harbors?"
Irulan nodded. "She is."
"And you support her, knowing full well the consequences if you move against him?"
"She doesn't have to worry about that," I said before she could answer. "I'm going to take care of Tristan on my own. Irulan isn't in any danger of banishment."
FaeVar laughed and continued down the hall, talking as he went. "You are going to be an exciting addition to the family, child. Just the thought of a Fomori Princess bringing battle to the heart of Tir Na Nog is enough to keep me in good spirits for weeks to come."
I looked at Irulan and shrugged my shoulders. How was I supposed to respond to that? "Glad I could help," I said, not knowing what else to say.
We followed FaeVar through the palace until we reached his throne room. The room was huge, larger than the lobby of the CMS. Tapestries hung from the high walls and thousands of candles floated in the air, bathing the room below in a soft glow. Objects made from every precious metal, stone and jewel imaginable decorated the impressive room. Bronze shields bearing FaeVar's crest and gleaming swords were strategically spaced in easy reach should someone need them.
I was so busy taking in the lay of the chamber that I didn't even notice the hundreds of Sidhe that had gathered inside. By the time I did see them, it was too late. FaeVar hauled us to the dais in front of everyone and pu
lled me to his side.
"People of Mag Mell," he called out, his voice a boom that carried across the immense room. "What once was lost has found its way home. I give you a Child of the Lands, my granddaughter, and your Princess, Valeria."
The bottom dropped out of my stomach, but I don't know why. I was used to attention. The paparazzi have hounded me for years, but this was different. Celebrity hunters didn't look at me as if I was the second coming. These people looked at me as if I was the center of their universe, and that made me uncomfortable.
I wiggled a few fingers and moved closer to Irulan so I could grasp her hand. That caused more than a few eyebrows to twitch. My grandfather smiled, caught our joined hands, and raised them in the air. "Today is a day to celebrate not only the return of my granddaughter to me, but her union as well."
The collective gasp that came from the crowd sounded anything but positive. FaeVar ignored it and kept talking. "By taking Princess Irulan Nightingale as her mate, my granddaughter has brought the two great houses of Light and Dark together, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since the days of the Nemedians.” He dropped our hands and pushed us ahead of him. "This isn't a time to let old grievances cloud our reveling. Nightingale is a child of my own now."
As we stood there, the gasp turned to shouts and cheers. Irulan giggled and leaned towards my ear. "This is why I don't look down on the Dark Court like other Seelie. They definitely have their prejudices, but if you win the king over, then you've won them all."
"It's good I had an advantage then.” I nodded at a face here and there but after a few moments, I'd had enough of being the center of attention. I waved at the masses, and then turned to face my grandfather. "As much as I appreciate the applause, FaeVar, I need to speak with you privately. There's a lot I need to know before we leave for Tir Na Nog."
He nodded and spared another look towards the celebration that was beginning before turning and leading us down another corridor. This time he led us to a small library. Once we were inside, he waved his hand across the door and I felt the unmistakable hum of magic engulf us. I raised my eyebrows as I looked at him.
"I assure you it's just a precautionary measure. This old palace has ears.” He pointed at three plush chairs before sitting down himself. "So, child, tell me what you need to know."
"Well for one, do you have any idea of what's happening to me? What changes can I expect?"
FaeVar frowned. "No, Valeria, you're the first such child that I have come across. I have no idea how the Sidhe and Vampire will combine, but I can tell you this. Our family is gifted with the power of mind over matter."
I looked between him and Irulan, "You mean like telekinesis?"
"Exactly," said Irulan. OK that's definitely cool.
FaeVar held out his hand and an old, worn book floated from its resting spot and into his hand. "This book holds the history of our family.” He opened the large tome to a page containing a family tree. I gasped when I saw that my name was already on its own neat little branch.
"The Land knew you the moment you set foot here. Your name appeared in the book over an hour ago. I just wasn't expecting to find a Vampire at my door."
I shrugged. "I'd apologize, but I can’t help what I am."
"No, child, that's not what I meant. I would have held my guards at bay if I had known.” He turned to Irulan and smiled. "I owe you a debt of gratitude for returning her to the Lands before it was too late, and for watching over my progeny all these years. It seems my son and I have a lot to discuss."
Irulan dipped her head and smiled. "There's no need for thanks, FaeVar, but there is something that I might ask of you."
"Just name it. If it is within my power, you'll have it."
"Once I return home with Valeria, my court isn't going to recognize a Vampire mating. We're going to need a proper Sidhe ceremony, or I can't guarantee her safety once we get there."
FaeVar laughed and clasped his hands. "Is that all? It would be my honor to preside over the union. I'll begin the preparations immediately.” He stood, rushed over to a shelf, and pulled down a small bowl filled with an iridescent liquid. "We will hold the ceremony at Avalon and call all the lower kings to bring their entire courts..."
I jumped up and threw my hands out. "Hold up, slow your roll, gramps.” I looked back and forth between the two of them, not knowing exactly where to start.
"You," I said as I pointed at Irulan. "You know we don't have time for a wedding, or whatever it is you're asking for.” I pointed to FaeVar, "And you, I know you mean well, but I don't want to be the center of attention for the entire UnSeelie population. I've lived the last fifty years in front of the media's cameras. If I have a wedding, I want it to be mine, not everyone else's."
FaeVar sat the bowl on a nearby table and closed the space between us so he could take my hand. "Anything you like, Valeria, but your Irulan is right. You need to be joined in a Sidhe ceremony before you leave my kingdom."
"So go ahead, let’s do it right here, right now."
My grandfather frowned. "My word, you aren't a typical princess, are you? Your aunts would have never been satisfied with such meager settings."
I smiled and shrugged my shoulders. "What can I say?"
He laughed and pulled me to his side. "It's rather refreshing. I'll tell you what. Give me half an hour to prepare."
I warily eyed him, and looked out a window at the darkened sky. Another hour or so shouldn’t hurt our travel time by too much. I had at least four more hours of night left before I had to take cover from the sun. "OK, thirty minutes, then we do this ceremony. After that we need to get on the move or I'm going to lose the cover of night."
FaeVar kissed me on the forehead and headed for the door. "Take the time to familiarize yourself with our history. You might find something in the book that could be of service to you."
He left and I sat down on the floor pulling Irulan and the huge book with me. "Come on, study buddy," I said. "If I've got to spend this time with my head stuck in a book, then so do you."
Irulan stuck her tongue out at me as she flipped the book open. "Unlike you, Valeria, I don't look at the pursuit of knowledge as punishment."
"Oh no, you didn't," I giggled as I poked her in the rib.
"Oh yes, I did," she laughed as she tackled me. We rolled across the floor, giggling as we each tried to best the other and land on top.
After a little struggling, I came out on top and pinned Irulan's arms to the floor over her head. I was going in for a kiss when she flipped me over her head and crawled away from me. "Uh-uh, no. We aren't going to accomplish anything at this rate.” She held up the book and waved it at me.
"I don't remember you being such a spoil-sport with your other girlfriends," I said as I crawled to her side and took the book from her."
"You're not my girlfriend, and you need to at least look at a few of the pages. You just might actually learn something."
I took the book and opened it. As I started to read, I was pleasantly surprised that it held my attention. Usually if the book didn't have Marvel or classified stamped on the front, I didn't give it the time of day. Before I knew it, FaeVar was looking down on us with a broad smile.
"I trust the book proved helpful."
"Actually, yeah, it was."
He looked puzzled by my skepticism. "You didn't expect it to be?"
Irulan laughed and kissed me on the cheek. "Your Highness, we're dealing with someone who doesn't read books unless they come with pictures in them, so please overlook her for the moment."
I shoved her away from me, "You fucker.” I held out the book for my grandfather to take. "I'm not much of a reader, but it's not bad."
FaeVar frowned ever so slightly. Great, now the man thinks I'm a dunce. "Ok, well then. If you're ready I can perform the ceremony now."
I grabbed Irulan’s hand and nodded. "If it's necessary, then yes, we're ready."
"Very well," he turned his head towards the opened door as he talked. "The one e
lement that we were missing was one that couldn't be overlooked. A Sidhe wedding needs two kings present, one to represent each party involved.” He spared Irulan a glance before turning back to the door. "Since Kent can’t be here, I required the time to await an appropriate substitute."
Irulan smiled as a man who was the spitting image of my grandmother Caroline walked in. "Mikilos, it's good to see you after all these years."
He slowly walked into the room. "Father," he said with a nod before he came over and took Irulan’s hand. "Thank you for everything you've done.” He looked at me out of the corner of his eye before frowning. "Although, I must admit, I wasn't expecting you to bed one of my daughters. Nevertheless, I daresay, she's lucky to have you. Your father would have smiled upon the union."
Crimson Dawn Page 24