by Amy Sumida
I took a relieved breath as I walked with Tiernan and Torquil across the grass of the brightly lit basement and up the winding staircase that I'd raced down just days earlier. I felt like I was ascending from a dream, coming back to the surface of cold reality, and I had a horrible feeling that when I reached the top of the stairs, all of this magic would disappear. I'd be left alone, without stars in my eyes or fairy knights by my side.
We exited the stairwell, out into the second floor, and the men remained. I reached a hand up and pulled forward the purple streak in my hair. It was all still there, it wasn't a dream. I sighed in relief and then blinked in shock; I was glad to be this new me. Seren Bloodthorn Sloane, fairy Princess of the Twilight Court. Damn but I wanted this, I actually wanted this. What would that mean to my human father and what would it mean for my future?
The second floor looked to be in the midst of repairs. Sheets of plastic covered the carpet like a shroud and a heap of broken furniture lurked in the corner like a pile of bones but the room was otherwise empty. I shivered nonetheless, remembering how that furniture had been trampled beneath the monstrous feet of the Sluagh. Tiernan led us over to the elevators and we took one down to the first floor.
Torquil looked nervous the entire time we were in that metal box, glancing around at the polished wood paneling and the numbered buttons. He glared at the speckled speaker in the ceiling which was filling the small space with annoying muzak. I gave his shoulder a reassuring pat and then the elevator dinged, announcing that we were on the first floor. We came out into the main entrance of Gentry and paused just for a moment as the noise and bustle of a prosperous business hit us. Then we strode out past the fascinated stares of both fairies and humans.
Once outside, I saw a shimmer trickle over Torquil and Tiernan, leaving them looking more human. Their eyes toned down, Tiernan's to human gray and Torquil's to baby blue, while Tiernan's hair went fully blonde and Torquil's blue locks turned brown. I thought that maybe I should do the same, at least for my eyes, and as soon as I considered it, I felt a tingle settle over me. Tiernan glanced at me and nodded so I must have toned down the stars enough to pass for human. I didn't think the purple streak would draw much attention so I left it. We were in San Francisco after all. For that matter, the guys could have probably left their hair alone as well.
Tiernan went to the curb and a sleek black limo pulled up immediately. I gave him a surprised glance and he shrugged. “Your father would not have you walking through San Francisco. A princess travels in style.”
He opened the door for me, then paused, his eyes going back over my shoulder. I turned to see Torquil gaping around him like a five-year-old at the zoo for the very first time. I went back over to him and touched his arm gently.
“Torquil?” I gave him a little shake. “You okay, man?” I grinned a little as the words came out of my mouth. I was feeling more and more human by the second.
“What is that thing?” He stared at the limo.
“It's a car, like we told you about,” I pulled him forward. “The carriage with an engine. Come on, you'll get used to it.”
He followed me into the cool interior and settled onto the leather seat across from me as Tiernan came in behind us. Torquil's hands slid over the wood accents and then the crystal tumblers, secured on their shelf beside the little bar. Tiernan shut the door and then tapped the tinted glass between us and the driver. The limousine started to glide forward and Torquil's gaze widened as it shot out the window.
I followed his stare, trying to see the busy streets, filled with all sorts of unique individuals, as a fairy would see them. It probably felt much the same as it had for me when I'd first stepped into the courtyard of the twilight castle. Exciting but also terrifying. I leaned across the open space to Torquil and squeezed his hand. He looked over to me, took a deep breath, and went calm. I felt his pulse through his fingers, slowing to a steady rhythm.
“Thank you, Princess,” he nodded. “I'm alright now.”
“Good,” Tiernan slapped Torquil's shoulder. “Wait till you see the rest of it.”
Torquil swallowed hard and both Tiernan and I chuckled but soon the ride to the Human Council House was filled with questions. As soon as he'd got over his fear, Torquil became immensely curious and wanted to know everything about everything. I even had to explain bagels. It was like riding with a puppy who could talk.
When we pulled up to the curb in front of the joined Victorian houses, my stomach clenched. I was actually nervous to see my father. Would he even be here or would he have gone back to Hawaii to wait for me there? I chewed my lip as Tiernan helped me out of the car.
Before we reached the door to the house on the right, someone came barreling out of it and flew into me. I caught her and laughed, hugging Abby with relief. My whole body shuddered as I realized that I'd been anticipating the opposite reaction from my Extinguisher friends.
“Unfuckingbelievable!” She shouted as she pulled away and looked me over. “What happened to your hair?” She touched the purple. “And your clothes,” she looked over the tunic and pants. “And what's with Fairy Ken over there, he looks lost?” She jerked her thumb at Torquil, who frowned at her in confusion.
“Whoa now,” I held up my hands, laughing. “I assume they told you about my...”
“Your fairyness?” She guffawed. “You really are a fucking fairy princess?! What the hell? I thought it was a joke.”
“So did I,” I joined in the laughter.
“Extinguisher Seren,” a stern voice came from the doorway on the left and we all looked up to see Councilman Murdock walk down the steps. “We're relieved to see you're in good health,” he paused, looking at my head strangely for a second before he blinked and went on. “Please come inside with your entourage.”
“My entourage?” I whispered to Abby and we giggled as we followed Murdock inside.
“Your father has been...” Murdock glanced at Tiernan and Torquil as he shut the door behind us, “unstable since he heard the news.”
“Is he alright?” I instantly went serious.
“He's unhurt physically,” Murdock sighed and gestured to a sitting room on our right. “Please, sit down and I'll have some refreshment brought in. Extinguisher Abigail, return to your duties.”
“Yes, sir,” Abby said immediately but kissed my cheek and whispered to me before she left, “I'm so happy you're back.”
We all sat down as Murdock went to tell someone to bring us tea and I began to fidget nervously. This was weird, he was treating me like visiting royalty instead of an Extinguisher. Was that what I was now? Were they kicking me out? I looked up as Murdock returned and waited for him to sit before I spoke.
“Am I still an Extinguisher?” I saw that the question had startled him.
“Do you want to be, Your Highness?” He asked carefully.
“Your Highness? Really?” I grinned at him. “Come on, Councilman, it's still me. I used to play dodge-ball with your son in your backyard, remember? You don't have to call me that.”
“Oh thank god,” he groaned and then gave an unsteady laugh. “I had no idea how to proceed with you. There's no precedent for this.”
“Well, let's just figure it out together,” I offered. “I don't know how much time I'll be spending here anymore but I do want to continue being an Extinguisher.”
“Princess Seren,” Torquil blinked wide eyes at me. “I don't think your father will agree to that.”
“Sir Torquil!” Tiernan snapped and Torquil pressed his lips together tightly and straightened in his seat.
“My apologies, Your Highness,” Torquil said stiffly.
“Relax, Torque,” I nudged him. “You can speak your mind to me. I know King Keir will have issues but he's going to have to deal with them. I'm not a normal fairy princess.”
“That's for sure,”Tiernan rolled his eyes.
“I don't know what kind of position we could place you in, Seren,” Murdock frowned. “But having a fairy princess working
with us would be an advantage that I'm sure the Human Council would be pleased to have, even if we don't know how to use you yet.”
“You will not be using her at all,” Tiernan said in a vicious, low tone and Murdock lurched back automatically.
“I didn't mean it like that,” Murdock lifted his hands, palms out.
“I know, Sir,” I elbowed Tiernan with a chiding look. “He's just a little on edge since there's been a few attempts on my life.”
“There has?” Murdock's eyebrow lifted as a lady came into the room carrying a tray of tea and tiny cakes. He waited until she left before continuing. “Would you not be safer here, Seren?”
“Actually, no, I don't think so,” I sighed but gave Tiernan a grateful smile when he poured me some tea. “I think Fairy is where I need to be right now but I do want to continue work as an Extinguisher and I'll want to spend time with my dad. There must be a way I can help the Council even when I'm not here.”
“Well, there's always diplomatic missions,” he offered but before I could reply, Ewan Sloane came stumbling into the room.
He was stumbling drunk and spitting mad.
“So you are here,” Dad snarled at me and both Tiernan and Torquil shot to their feet, hands going to their sword hilts.
“He's my father,” I snapped at them as I shot to my feet and rushed over to my dad. “I'm sorry I haven't been able to contact you. Were you worried?”
“Worried?” He scoffed. “About who? Some fairy's brat or the bastard child of my treacherous wife? Who should I have worried about, Seren?”
“I'm still your daughter, no matter who my biological father is, you'll always be my dad,” I reached a hand out to him.
“I have no daughter,” he shoved my hand away and I drew back as if he'd slapped me.
“Come on, it's me; Seren,” I whispered. “You've been my father since the day I was born. I love you, nothing can change that.”
“You don't even look like Seren anymore,” Ewan growled as a length of spittle flew from his mouth. “Why is there purple in your hair? And it's longer, like one of the sidhe. You're different, I can feel it. Even your aura is different,” he waved a hand towards my head. “You're not my Seren.”
“My fairy blood changed me a little but it's only physical,” I tried to explain. “I'm still me inside.”
“You're no blood of mine,” Ewan narrowed his eyes on me. “I don't know why I didn't see it before. You're a foul fairy and you don't belong here. Go back to your own realm.”
He turned to leave and I shouted after him, “Dad!” His body jerked but he kept walking. “Dad, please,” I went to follow him but Murdock grabbed my arm.
“Seren, let him go for now,” Murdock said with deep sympathy. “He needs to work through what Catriona did. He feels betrayed and you're the living proof of that betrayal.”
“Dad!” I shouted, ignoring Murdock. “Dad, come back, it's you and me against the world, remember? It's you and me. Dad? Daddy!”
I crumpled, feeling suddenly like an orphaned child, and burst into tears. Muscled arms slid around me from behind and Tiernan's rich scent flowed over me. I collapsed back into him and then turned to hide my face in his chest.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“I've planned an evening out,” Tiernan announced as he walked into the suite we were sharing with Torquil.
It wasn't the same suite we'd been in before, I think my father still occupied that one, but it had the same layout; open socializing area with an attached kitchen and rooms off to the sides. I'd been in the little kitchen, making me some tea, when he'd walked in.
“I don't want to go out,” I said immediately as I turned to face him.
I froze, the rest of my refusal dying on my lips. Tiernan was dressed in jeans and a cornflower blue, button down, silk shirt. The sleeves were rolled up, showcasing muscular forearms; the kind warriors got from swinging swords and lifting heavy shields. His long hair was simply blonde again but it streamed across his shoulders in careless luxury, like an expensive accessory he'd forgotten about. His eyes were glamored deep cerulean and although the coloring was completely normal, it was a striking look for him. The blue was nearly as brilliant as his natural silver and it commanded almost as much attention as the rest of him.
I wanted to keep staring into those eyes but his body was hard to resist. The sleek cut and thin material of the modern clothes gave more glimpses of Tiernan's mouthwatering physique than any velvet tunic had. The girth of his biceps was distractingly distinct and the silk clung to his chest, slipping into the dips and angles of his barbarian-like build as if it were purposefully trying to drive me insane.
The muscled man parade didn't stop there. Torquil stood beside Tiernan, dressed in a similar fashion; jeans and a collared, silk shirt. His was ivy green. Torque's hair was pulled back into a ponytail and was glamored jaguar-black this time. It suited him better than the brown, making his baby blues spotlight bright. He filled out his clothes as well as Tiernan but I restrained myself from ogling him and instead, set my gaze resolutely on his. Torquil looked a bit nervous but managed to smile.
“Aren't they frickin' hot?!” Abby burst through the center of them like a showgirl out of a cake.
“Did you do this?” I asked with a chuckle.
“Uh, yeah,” she said like duh. “You think they could have pulled this off on their own?”
“I'm sure I could have managed to dress myself,” Tiernan gave me a beleaguered and affronted expression.
“Maybe you but definitely not him,” Abby jerked a thumb at Torquil. “Fairy Ken almost looks human, eh?”
“Bite your tongue, woman,” Torquil huffed.
“This is his first time out of Fairy,” I explained to Abby.
“Yeah, he told me,” she laughed. “In between all the questions.”
“Now, back to my plans,” Tiernan came towards me.
“Wait,” I held a hand up and he stopped halfway across the room, looking confused. “I need to see the back of your outfit first.”
“What? Why?” Tiernan frowned as Abby giggled.
“I just want to make sure Abby got you the right pair of jeans,” I blinked innocently. “I can't be seen in public with men in bad jeans. It would ruin my reputation.”
“Your what?” Tiernan frowned deeper. “Are you jesting?”
“Just turn around, Tiernan,” I huffed.
“Oh for the love of the Goddess,” he groaned and turned, holding his arms out to the sides in exasperation. The jeans hugged the muscled curves of the most glorious pair of buttocks I've ever seen. Full enough to grab but so solid, I doubted it would be an easy task.
“Yep,” I swallowed hard, “those are definitely the right jeans. Definitely.”
“Pretty nice, huh?” Abby smirked. “I know how to pick a pair of jeans.”
“Damn those ass covering tunics, may they all burn in Hell,” I mumbled.
“Are you satisfied?” Tiernan asked as he turned around but then he caught my hot look and his expression changed entirely. A slow, knowing grin spread over his face as he approached me. When he was close enough to share body heat, he whispered, “Or could I do anything else to satisfy you?”
“Not presently,” I took a shaky breath. “But this is a damn good start.”
“Are you guys going to make out now?” Abby interrupted. “Cause Torquil and I can leave.”
“No we cannot,” Torquil admonished her.
“You're a bit of a prude, huh?” Abby grimaced up at Torquil. “What are you, her chaperon? You know she's a grown woman, right?”
“I am a knight of Fairy,” Torquil huffed. “A member of the elite Star's Guard. I am not a prude or a chaperon, I simply cannot leave my Princess unattended in a hostile world.”
“Uh, first of all, what's the Star's Guard? It sounds like a celebrity bodyguard service,” Abby frowned. “And second, she's not exactly alone, Prude, and this is hardly a hostile environment. Unless they like things rough, in which case... I'm
going to have to insist on video surveillance.”
“I have my own guard now,” I explained, ignoring her porn request. “Pretty groovy, huh?”
“Oh damn,” Abby laughed. “Extinguisher Seren and her band of fairy men.”
“Shut up,” I laughed as Tiernan casually slid an arm around my waist. I admit, it felt good standing there with him like that. Almost normal.
“Seren Sloane and fairy dudes runnin' through the forest,” Abby sang, “Oodalalee, oodalalee, golly what a day.”
“I am not a prude!” Torquil shouted, interrupting Abby's rendition of the Disney classic.
“Sheesh, relax T,” Abby huffed. “I said dudes not prudes. Besides, you'll have lots of chances to prove that you're not a prude tonight.”
“What is it with you Extinguisher women and your penchant for shortening names to their first letter?” Tiernan asked me.
“We like things short and snappy,” Abby snapped her fingers. “Like me.”
“I don't know,” I cast a glance back at Tiernan's behind. “I think I prefer things high and tight.”
“And she's not talking about your haircut either,” Abby laughed as she came over and bumped fists with me. “Now, where are we going, Mr. Tight Ass?”
“Do not ever call me that again,” Tiernan growled but his lips twitched as he did so.
Chapter Thirty-Three
“Monarch?” I looked from the sign above the club entrance to Tiernan as Abby and Torquil got out of the limo behind us.
“Where else would a princess party?” Abby laughed. “Well done, Mr. Ti-”
“Do not,” Tiernan held up a finger to her.
“Tiernan,” she smiled sweetly, “I was going to say Tiernan.”
“Uh huh,” he grimaced.
“What does XXX DVD mean?” Torquil was staring across the street at a large sign which announced the availability of DVDs and an arcade.”
“I rest my case,” Abby shook her head. “He's a prude.”
“Princess?” Torquil looked to me for help.