by Ann Gimpel
Caelin locked gazes with her. “We discussed this earlier. There’s scarcely time for any type of…indulgence.”
“We’ll be fine,” Barrett assured him, his blue eyes alight with mirth.
“Oh, bosh.” Renn pulled her top open. Her bouncing breasts came into view. Shifting slightly, she rubbed them against the side of Caelin’s face.
“A few minutes won’t hurt a thing.” Keira tried to wipe the smirk off her face. It was good to know her father wasn’t impervious to every feeling. If it took lust to bring him around, what the hell. “Really. Renn taught me how to decipher some of the Gaelic. And Barrett’s here to help.”
A low, haunted grunt escaped her usually taciturn father. Keira felt him summon magic. The air shimmered, and both he and Renn were gone.
A bubbling sound behind her erupted into full-blown laughter. When he could talk again, Barrett said, “Wonderful. Amazing. First time I’ve seen him apologize to anyone. For anything. Ever. Nicely done.”
He mock bowed and went on. “Renn was inspired. What a little hussy she can be. Just what Caelin needs. He’s quite the stuffed shirt, as I’m sure you’ve found out.”
Keira giggled. Barrett’s humor was infectious. His words played through her mind. She basked in his praise until the words about Renn being a hussy popped up and slapped her in the face.
Wonder just what he knows about that, an inner voice muttered darkly. The Fairy had denied it, but still…
She glanced at Barrett from under lowered lids. Dear God, but he was beautiful. His coppery hair, chiseled features, and magnificent body were even better in the flesh than in her memory of him. The feel of his skin and the taste of him flooded her. The wonderful scent that was his and his alone filled the room. Her blood heated.
Whoa! Rein it in. He’s here because Caelin ordered him to help me. No other reason. If I’m smart, I’ll keep that front and center.
“We really ought to get back to my lessons.” She picked up one of the books lying facedown on the floor.
An odd expression crossed his face. Almost like she’d slapped him. Was he that annoyed about being conscripted to teach her? Keira sucked in an unsteady breath, grateful she hadn’t thrown herself into his arms a few seconds before.
“As you wish.” Another mock bow. “What would you like to practice?”
“The spell to shift time. That one’s hard for me.”
“It’s hard for everyone. That’s because…”
Keira listened carefully, and then walked through the steps of the spell exactly as Barrett laid them out. He was a good teacher, more patient than Caelin by leaps and bounds. He was better at pinpointing her errors too, so she could correct them. She felt sad. She’d give anything if he wanted her, loved her the way she loved him. But he didn’t. He’d drawn away from her as if she’d been a sea witch that last night in his bed. They’d both been asleep when they’d begun kissing. Once he realized what he was doing, though, he’d drawn away. And then today, there’d been the slip about Renn.
I don’t know that. Not for sure.
It didn’t matter. Barrett was a magnificent man. He must have a love interest somewhere. It just wasn’t her.
Keira shook her head and refocused her efforts on the casting. The door to the solar blew open. Renn fluttered to her side. The Fairy’s trilling laughter helped lift Keira’s leaden sense of hopelessness.
“Well?” She quirked a brow. “How was he?”
“Now that you mention it—” Barrett grinned “—I’d like to know too.”
“Horny,” she said succinctly. “I don’t think he’d been laid for a long time. Maybe not since he conceived you. It’s why I was gone a while. I brought him off three times before he shooed me out of there.”
“Did he do anything for you?”
“Glad you asked, so I don’t have to,” Barrett seconded, leaning closer.
“Of course.” Renn smiled, her ancient eyes brimming with glee. “I always get what I need. If I didn’t, I’d have held him prisoner until he satisfied me.”
The empty place in Keira’s heart twinged again. “Back to my lessons?” She didn’t want Renn to catch her feeling sorry for herself.
“It’s why I’m here.” The Fairy turned to Barrett. “It feels like you were working on the time spell.”
He nodded. “We were. I think she’s nearly got it.”
Chapter Eleven
Keira adjusted the slim silver circlet holding her hair in place for the umpteenth time. Her blonde locks were swept into an up-do and seeded with tiny pearls. Renn, in her preferred place on Keira’s shoulder, had plucked curls to curve around her face. Keira gazed into the mirror in her bedchamber and smoothed the fine white silk covering her from neck to hem. Runic symbols embroidered in gold were woven through the fabric. A golden torc circled her neck with an ankh suspended from it. Her feet were encased in golden sandals.
Today was her twenty-first birthday. Caelin was certain Danu would appear. Even if the goddess didn’t show, he was determined to present Keira to the Daoine and all the rest of the Sidhe as well. Invitations had gone out a few days before, and a host of Fairies descended on the house and grounds yesterday to decorate them.
“Nervous?” Renn asked.
“Oh hell, yes.” Keira turned her head to smile at her friend. “Mostly, though, I’m relieved I didn’t wake up this morning with three heads or channeling Medusa. The amount of power was a bit of a shock, though. It’s going to take some getting used to. Seems like it could get out of hand pretty quickly. It was hard enough to manage before, once the bracelet wasn’t holding it at bay.”
The Fairy laughed. “You always tended toward the dramatic. What happened?”
“I heated tea water in that cup—” she pointed “—and set the bed curtains on fire. It’s why it still smells smoky in here. I was being really careful, but as soon as I visualized heat, everything went poof.” Keira shook her head. “My own fault. I was too lazy to walk downstairs to use the microwave.”
Renn smiled. “Yes, it takes a very gentle touch and a constant guard on your thoughts. You’ll get used to it, but the first few months will be a struggle. If the worst is singed fabric, you got off cheap, honey.”
Keira didn’t like the sound of that. She stared at her friend, and her eyes widened. “You knew about me all along?”
Renn nodded. “Seems your mind-reading skills got a tad sharper too. I wanted to tell you in the worst way. Especially watching Caelin make such a botch of things, long before Danu reminded him about you. I even petitioned our Council to suspend the Covenant just this once.” She snorted. “They’re about as straight-laced as your father, so that went nowhere, even after I warned them the bracelet might mean your doom. Plus a whole bunch of things we couldn’t predict from the outpouring of power.”
“Thanks.” Keira smiled fondly at the Fairy. “Whatever you’ve been doing with Father has certainly improved his disposition. He’s been downright pleasant these couple of days.”
The Fairy shot her a lecherous grin. “I knew he’d come around. Nothing like a steady diet of mind-blowing orgasms to bring a man to heel.”
“I heard that.” Barrett rounded the corner separating Keira’s room from the hallway and stopped dead. His gaze latched onto her as if he were drowning. Color stained his cheeks. He bowed low. “My lady. You are truly stunning.” He backed out of the room, nearly tripping over his feet in his haste to be gone. “I, uh, still have to dress. I’ll see you downstairs.”
Keira smiled at his departing form, but she felt sad. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and drag him off somewhere private just like Caelin had dragged Renn. Daoine Sidhe be damned. She didn’t know enough to be bonded to her people. The one she wanted to be bound to was him.
Renn looked at her. “As bad as all that?”
Keira nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She didn’t want to cry.
“Maybe we can make this your wedding day as well as your coronation. After all, quee
ns need prince consorts.”
“Y-you don’t understand. He doesn’t want me. He just rescued me because Caelin ordered him to. He couldn’t wait to get rid of me once he got me out of Were Calls. Did you see how fast he left just now? He was practically running.” The air in front of her crackled in a mini-lightning strike. Another blasted off to one side.
“Crap.” Alarm filled her. More lightning strikes. A leather bound book on her bedside table smoldered and caught fire. “It’s getting away from me. Help.”
Renn flew to the book and wrapped it in a towel.
The Fairy fluttered in front of Keira and locked gazes with her. She placed a small hand on either side of Keira’s face. “Look at me. Into my eyes and breathe with me. In and out. Again. Yes, that’s it. Keep going I’ll be right back.” She went to check on the book, but the fire seemed to be out.
The Fairy hovered in front of her again. “Better?”
Keira drew a shaky breath. “I think so. I could really hurt someone if I wasn’t careful.”
“Yes, you could. Which means you need to pay attention all the time. Now about Barrett.” Renn skewered Keira with her multicolored eyes. The Fairy looked as serious as Keira had ever seen her. “You don’t know any of the things you said about him not being interested in you. Not really. It’s conjecture on your part. I’ve known Barrett for many hundreds of years and—”
“Yes, yes,” Keira interrupted. “I'm sure he's trustworthy and honorable and all.” She shrugged. “Sex was great, but I know men and that’s all it was. I suppose I could weave a spell, but I don’t want him that way.”
“The guests are beginning to arrive.” Caelin strode into the room resplendent in form-fitting black linen pants, a cream-colored silk shirt, and a gold cape. His fiery hair had been brushed till it shone. It was braided in the ancient Daoine Sidhe warrior pattern and set with emeralds and rubies.
“You ladies are looking lovely.” He actually smiled at them, and Keira couldn’t believe the transformation. Caelin was a very handsome man when he smiled. He held out his arms.
Renn flew to him and settled on his shoulder. Her violet wings caught the light filtering through leaded glass windowpanes.
“Come on.” Caelin beckoned to Keira. “How’s your magic doing? I haven’t heard any screams, or crockery breaking, or smelled too much smoke, so I assumed things weren’t too bad.”
Amazed he could joke with her, Keira shrugged. “It’s going to take some getting used to. There will be a lot of people here today. It, uh, might be best if you didn’t leave me alone.”
“I don’t plan to,” he said gruffly. “We want the people to accept you, not see you as some crazed harridan who can’t control her magic.”
He stopped at the door of her bedchamber and turned to her. “This is hard for me to say, but I’m proud of you. I know I can be a bastard, and I’m not an easy taskmaster. Despite my heavy-handedness, you’ve done well and learned an astonishing amount in the short time since you came to live here. Far more than I would’ve anticipated. Strong work, Daughter.” He bent and kissed her forehead.
The compliment was so unexpected, tears gathered. She forced them back. The air took on an iridescent hue. “Awk. Damned magic’s loose again.” Keira batted at the multihued strands in front of her. “Go away.”
Caelin laughed, waved a hand, and the air was just air again.
Keira straightened her shoulders. “Thank you.”
“You’re most welcome. Keep a lid on those strong emotions. Now follow Renn and me.”
They made their way downstairs and outside into gardens festooned with all manner of magical decorations. Ribbons and figurines twined together with miniature carvings of all species of animals. Tables set with lovely flower arrangements spilled through the yard. Fairy dust floated everywhere, lending the air an even more festive aura.
Caelin hadn't been joking about people arriving. Keira was amazed at the numbers of Sidhe milling about the house and gardens. From what she could tell, all varieties of her people were represented. Fairies flew among them, directing newcomers and offering food and drink. Keira smiled. Mead and nibbles were packaged in Fairy-sized portions, but she didn’t hear any complaints.
“Were you expecting this many?” she whispered to Caelin.
He shook his head. “No. Word must’ve spread. We haven’t held a celebration since before the war. Maybe that’s what drew everyone.”
Keira gazed at the crowd, hunting for Barrett, but she didn’t see him. Even though he didn’t care, her life still felt empty without him. The past few days after he’d arrived had been wonderful. He’d spent hours with her and Renn working on her magic skills. Maybe there’d be some way she could persuade him to join her court…
She shook her head. Having him so close would be torture. If he took up with another woman, she’d scratch her eyes out.
It’s not if, but when, an inexorable inner voice pointed out. The air in front of her crackled ominously.
“Easy,” Caelin spoke into her ear. “Take my hand. Whatever you were thinking about. Don’t.”
She made a grab for his proffered hand. Something like warm honey flowed into her, thick and soothing. Keira emptied her mind. If she could just get through the next few hours without setting someone’s dress or cloak on fire, it would be a miracle.
Sidhe were still pouring in. Caelin eyed the angle of the sun. “Everyone isn’t here yet, but it’s time. We have to begin now. Your coronation must coincide with sundown, so you will have blessings from both the night and the day.”
He placed a hand under her elbow and guided her to a raised dais at one end of the expansive gardens ringing the house. Though it was early November, flowers still bloomed, no doubt nurtured by magic.
Renn left Caelin’s shoulder. She was joined by a dozen other Fairies. They hovered behind Caelin and Keira, chatting in the kindhearted buzzing of their language.
Caelin raised both hands before him and waited for the murmur of the crowd to die down. “Thank you all for coming. I am most humbly grateful.”
Keira sensed magic beneath the words and knew he wove a subtle compulsion spell. Though she still had much to learn, she’d been thankful her power had felt natural and controllable once the iron bracelet was removed. At least until today.
I’ll figure this out too. It will just take a while.
She listened while Caelin shared the high points of her conception with the assemblage, glossing over exactly why she’d spent the next twenty years at Were Calls.
A Daoine Sidhe with blond, warrior braids, dressed in a blood-red cloak, stepped to the dais. “Please do not take this wrong, Caelin. How do we know you speak true regarding this woman?” He pointed at Keira. “Your account verged on the fanciful, even for those of us steeped in magic. You said Danu would be among us to corroborate your tale, yet I do not see her.”
A rumble rose from the crowd with many reiterating the blond warrior’s question.
Caelin drew his brows drew together. Keira knew him well enough to sense anger stirring and hoped he wouldn’t do something he’d regret. Or get so wrapped up in his own rage, he couldn’t help her if her magic jumped the fence again.
Standing next to him, she squared her shoulders and faced the assemblage. “I know my story is hard to believe.” Keira augmented her clear, musical voice with magic, so it would travel to the farthest reaches of Sidhe ringed about. “I had a very hard time accepting my father’s tale. In truth, I still do. The Fairies, who know everything but are bound to silence, can corroborate what Caelin says.” She smiled. “Or they could if they were free speak of such things.”
At least they’re not throwing things at me.
Encouraged, she hurried on. “Up until a week ago, I was an indentured servant for the Weres. I have a lot to learn—about myself, about you, and about how to rule. I’m hoping each of you will wish me well enough to assist me and help me acquire everything I need to be a wise, fair, and compassionate ruler. I cannot do t
his by myself.”
The air near her heated and took on a numinous glow. Keira raised her hands to draw power. It would be very like the Weres or Witches to take advantage of having a lot of Sidhe in a single place to attack. Lightning crackled around her. At first she was afraid her magic had run amok again, but then it felt different. Her energy, but more than that. The crowd drew back with a gasp. She risked a glance at her father. To her amazement, he was smiling. “What?” She tossed her head toward the glow.
“Danu. She came after all.”
The glow solidified into a tall woman clothed in flowing silver robes. A roar rose from the crowd. They pushed toward the dais. Danu’s eyes gleamed silver just like Keira’s. Blonde hair cascaded down her back and shoulders. A raven perched on one shoulder. She walked to Keira and gathered her into her arms, lightning bolts and all. Keira had never felt anything like the warmth of those arms or the affection encircling her.
The goddess kissed her forehead. “Rule well, Daughter. If you ever have need of me, you have only to call. Take this—” she handed Keira a golden scepter set with colorful gemstones “—as symbol of your office and to dissuade naysayers.”
The goddess stared at the Sidhe in the red robes.
“Forgive me for doubting you, Goddess.” Color flooded his face. He dropped to one knee and bowed his head, his blond braids brushing the ground.
Keira turned to thank Danu, but the goddess was gone. She rubbed her eyes and looked at Caelin. “If it weren’t for the scepter, I might think I imagined her.”
“Much like commanding troops,” he spoke into her mind. “One learns to seize the moment.”
Caelin draped an arm around her shoulders and faced the assemblage. “I present your queen, blessed by Danu herself. Keira has requested your assistance to help her rule well. I fully expect you will give her whatever she requests. If we all work together, she will strengthen and consolidate the peace that has eluded us since the war’s end.”
The crowd went wild, clapping and screaming blessings and good wishes. They flowed up onto the dais like a brightly-hued river. Keira was hugged and kissed so many times, she began to feel like a manikin. At least her magic had behaved itself since Danu’s impromptu visit. She shook her head. Her enhanced powers were like playing host to a cobra, beautiful and seductive, but deadly.