by S Cinders
The Lions roared with approval as their King ruthlessly kissed my sister.
I felt my fingertips tingle and knew what needed to be done.
Raising my hand once more, I reached out and granted Mombi her dearest wish. How I had known, I couldn’t tell you. All I knew was that it was the right thing to do.
She felt the changes in her body and whipped around to face me.
“I brought her here,” her anguished words floated across the distance between us.
I shook my head, “No, Mombi, you didn’t. It was an accident.”
A tear slipped down her face, “I can’t thank you enough, Indy. It was you all along and I was too caught up in my own life to realize it.”
“You are my sister, and mate to the King of Lions,” I grinned, “You had enough on your plate.”
“What did she do to you?” Jake pulled Mombi closer into his broad chest.
Mombi winked at him and then shifted into the largest, fiercest lioness that I had ever seen.
The Lions roared again with their approval, and Jake turned to me, bowing in respect, and then shifted himself.
“El, can you get some monkeys to take the pride home?”
My sister raised her brow sassily, “Are you asking as my Queen or my sister?”
I rolled my eyes, “I am asking so that once these two-start going at it, we will be far away.”
She laughed as Glinda and Greggory gagged.
“Ride to the edge of Mount Munch,” she yelled to the pack. “The monkey’s will be waiting for you.”
Steele approached me, “I have been this monster my entire life, I don’t suppose there is anything you can do?”
I placed a hand on his arm, “The magic is old and different from what I am used to. I know that you and Scarecrow hold some of the same traits. And that he is also half unicorn, so we have that to deal with. I can’t promise you anything but know that I will move heaven and earth to find a way.”
“Did you ever think we would end up here?” Scarecrow wrapped his arm around my waist.
I sank into him, “No. But I have found that it’s not where you go, it’s who you meet along the way.”
He turned me around and gently tucked my hair behind my ear. It had thankfully gone back to normal. But the magic I felt brewing just under the surface of my skin, assured me that things would never be the same.
CHAPTER 54 - PART 5 – Indy
“Because of your great honor and valor, I hereby proclaim my final act before ascending the crown. Steele, for as long as you reside in Oz, you will age like a normal man and you will still retain the powers and gifts of your forefathers. However, because of your great capacity to give of yourself, you will be a beacon to those that feel they are without heart. A heart is not judged by how much you love, but how much you are loved by others. I bequeath to you and El the ability to leave Oz if you should wish to. There is much good you could do in the world and I look forward to seeing what you make of it.”
My father anointed Steele and wrapped El in his arms for a tight hug.
Then turning to Jake and Mombi, he said, “Jacob, King of Lions, you have learned that sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’ I knew your plight with my daughter and your pride. The courage that you showed, by allowing them each the time needed to grow into what they were meant to become, shows me that you are worthy to rule the Northlands. So, I hereby bequeath to you and Mombi the Pride Lands. Save it for your sons and daughters, protect it with your lives.
Mombi and Jake were each embraced before moving to stand next to El and Steele.
Next my father smiled upon Gregory and Glinda. “Gregory, you said to me, ‘I know I am not the wizard you were expecting, but I might be the wizard that you need.’ You, Gregory are not a wizard.”
There was a faint murmur of nervous laughter and my father smiled.
“But you are the man that my daughter needs. I give you permission to marry my youngest daughter Glinda. May you always be happy, and may all your dreams come true.”
It was finally my turn. My father’s green eyes so like my own alighted on my face. I felt emotion balling up in my throat.
“Scarecrow, my faithful servant, you shall be given the same gift that Steele has been given. For as long as you reside in Oz, you will age like a normal man. You will still retain the gifts and powers from your forefathers. However, I would like to give you a piece of advice. You have searched the world over looking for where you belong, these are my words for you; home is knowing. Knowing your mind, your heart, knowing your courage. If we know ourselves, we are always home, anywhere.”
Scarecrow nodded, “Yes, Your Majesty. I have finally come to grips with my past. I am at peace.” He wrapped an arm around my waist, “I am convinced that the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones. For the common folks are like leaves on a tree, they live and die unnoticed.”
My father smiled, “And you, Scarecrow, are most definitely noticed.” He turned to the crowd assembled, “Bastinda of Oz, having won by honorable combat the right to succeed to the Throne. You have been given victory over the field for the greater honor of your people. We would welcome you as our successor to this Crown and Throne. Will you now swear fealty to the Kingdom and populace of Oz?”
I stood before the throng, my robes billowing out behind me, “Here do I swear by mouth and hands, fealty and protection to the Kingdom of Oz. I will uphold the laws of the Kingdom to speak and to be silent. I will do and to let be, strike and to spare, punish and to reward, in such matters as concern the Kingdom. In need or plenty, peace, or war, living or dying, until I depart from my Throne or death take me or the world end. So, say I, Bastinda of Oz.”
There was a great cry that rang through the crowd as my father placed my crown upon my head. It felt heavy, permanent, and right.
I couldn’t tell you what we ate at the royal dinner or whom I danced with at the coronation ball. I would later be told by my sisters that I had a wine stain on the bodice of my gown half the night. But even that wouldn’t deter from the amazingness of that day.
Our worlds were changing, each of us breaking off to go their own way, but I had finally learned that change was not necessarily bad. That if you shared love between you, no amount of time nor space could diminish it. Nothing was impossible if I just put my mind to it.
At the end of the night, Scarecrow carried me up the stairs to the newly appointed king and queen’s royal chambers. The past few weeks had been spent thoroughly renovating them so that they would be ready for this night.
He carried me over the threshold, set me on my feet, then sank to one knee.
My hands covered my mouth with surprise.
“Queen Bastinda,” he began, and I wrinkled my nose with distaste.
“No, Scarecrow, there is none of that between us.”
Scarecrow’s lips twitched, “Are you trying to tell me how to do this, Indy?”
Heat suffused my cheeks, “Of course not!”
“Then perhaps you will let me proceed because I wanted to tell you, how much I adore you. How proud I am of the woman that you have become, and to beg on bended knee for you to be my wife. To be the mother of my children and to be my love forever and always.”
A giant tear escaped my wet eyes, “Oh, Scarecrow!”
The left side of his mouth quirked up, “Is that a good ‘oh, Scarecrow?’ Or should I stop making a complete ass of myself?”
I launched myself into his arms, kissing every available inch of skin I could find.
“I love you, Scarecrow, I want to marry you. I adore you as well and want to be together forever and always.”
He kissed me hard on the mouth, “You forgot, become the mother of my children.”
I flushed once again, “That situation won’t need altering.”
He cocked his head to the side, an argument on the tip of his tongue when he seemed to make out what I was telling h
im.
“A baby?” he rasped.
He picked me up and gently laid me back on the bed. Then he set his head on my flat stomach.
“Are you sure?” his voice thick with emotion.
I nodded before realizing he couldn’t see me, “Yes, for a few weeks now. Just after we got back from Mt. Munch actually.”
“That long?” he tipped his head to meet my eyes. “You, Indy, are no longer given a choice. You are mine and I will have you!”
I laughed at his possessive streak, “And why should I allow you to be the boss?”
His eyes glinted dangerously as he hovered over my trembling body, “Because you fucking love it.”
And I did.
Epilogue
“Nessa Rose! Do not eat the flowers!” El turned a frantic eye to me, “Are you sure she will be safe with Steele and me?”
I laughed as my twin raced after our two-year-old daughter Nessa Rose, who was named after our mother.
“Rose!” I called sharply, and Nessa Rose stopped to grin at me. She had her daddy’s inky black curls and my green eyes. “Listen to Aunty El, do you understand baby?”
Rose giggled and nodded before turning back to the plants and eating the petals.
“Did you get a chance to read that book, Steele and I found when we were visiting the human world?”
“I am sorry, I haven’t yet. But I am not sure why it has you so upset,” I scooped Rose into my arms, “What did I tell you about eating things that aren’t food?”
“Momma, Momma, Momma,” Rose chirped happily and offered me a sticky handful of rosebuds.
I laughed as El scowled.
“Don’t you understand?” El was losing her patience with me as well. “That bitch had to write it. You were in there and the house and even your damn red shoes!”
“So, what? Dorothy went back to the human world and wrote a book about the land of Oz. It’s not a crime, you know.”
El’s face turned scarlet, “Fine, I will tell you the worst of it! She wrote me as the bad guy! Me! Called me the Wicked Witch of the West. She stole Steele’s nickname, Tin Man, and turned him into an actual man made of tin! She said Scarecrow kept losing his straw, like a real scarecrow! And she hardly mentions Mombi, but has Jake as timid as a tomcat. But this isn’t the worst of it!”
I was starting to laugh. I couldn’t help myself. "It sounds like a rollicking good time.”
“Oh no, Indy, no. She calls Glinda the Good Witch of the North, and she made Gregory the damn hero. That is the final straw. I went hunting her down, but she doesn’t live in Kansas anymore. She’s made millions, Indy! Millions! And Gregory the Gross is the hero. I can’t even bear to say it.”
Laughter rolled out of me, and I threw my head back, whipping the tears from the corners of my eyes.
“This isn’t funny!” El stamped her foot, and Rose wriggled down so that she too could put her hands on her hips and stomp her tiny feet.
“Alright you two troublemakers,” I shook my head in amusement. “I had better get back to the palace. I have loads to prepare.”
El swooped down and picked up Rose, “Your momma would be mad if she were the bad guy!”
I paused, “How did she defeat you in the story?”
El’s face got even hotter, “Stupid bitch! She throws water on me, I melt like a fucking popsicle.”
I roared with laughter as my sweet sister flipped me off and stormed back into her and Steele’s home, slamming the door.
I knew that the moment I had some free time, I would be reading Dorothy’s account of Oz. But for now, I had a husband to seduce and a kingdom to run.
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Did you love Witch Queens - Tales From Oz? Then you should read Applebottom Magic by S. Cinders!
Applebottom Magic
A slapstick often naughty but always funny paranormal romance.
For Apple, a horrid family vacation turns into the ride of a lifetime. Finding out that she descends from a long line of witches, Apple pulls up her big girl panties and dives into getting to know her grandmother and aunts.
However, Apple's life is turned upside down when her 'soulmate' shows up on their doorstep looking like the centerfold for latest fireman's calendar. Moreover, trying to arrest her grandmother.
Join Apple as she and her new friends meet three hot heroes, a missing sister, a 121-year old virgin, the find a missing family wand, uncover an ancient prophecy and discover that COW can stand for a whole lot more than a hamburger.
Of course, there is a whole mess of steamy lovin' you don't want to miss wrapped up in some Applebottom Magic!
Applebottom Magic has several couples that intermingle with each other on their path to Happily Ever After.
Read more at S. Cinders’s site.
Also by S. Cinders
Dark Fairy Tales
Witch Queens - Tales From Oz
DBS
The Dirty Bird Series
The Dirty Bird Series II
Rakes vs. Wallflowers
Finally, Phillip
Dancing With Daniel
Better With Benjamin
Finding Frances
Sinfully Samuel
Melt Me Miles
Sisters Before Misters
Sisters Before Misters
Standalone
Mr. Wayland, and Other Mistakes I've Made
Hunter & Holt
Applebottom Magic
Blowing Kisses
Barefoot & Pregnant
Watch for more at S. Cinders’s site.
About the Author
S. Cinders began writing romance novels as a teenager. Instead of paying attention in class, she was busy scribbling out scenes in spiral notebooks to entertain her friends.
A lifetime later, or one marriage, three children and eleven different moves across the country. S. Cinders decided to try her hand at writing again.
She currently has over twenty titles and is a best selling author on the Radish App.
Read more at S. Cinders’s site.