Whirling, the Water Queen demanded, “What have you done, Marin?”
Inner guards opened the door and they escaped, leaving loud gossiping voices behind them.
Now-smirking hall guards closed the doors behind them, muttering something nasty in a mer language Kiri didn’t understand. Lathyr whirled and set his hand on the hilt of his sword, sneered something back.
“Easy, lad.” A dwarf appeared and put his hand on Lathyr’s arm.
“They must apologize,” Lathyr insisted. “Or we will fight.”
Chapter 32
“I WILL JOIN you in that fight,” said a smooth voice, an elf, who stepped from behind Kiri to confront the guards, too.
She hadn’t heard either the dwarf or elf arrive and could have sworn they weren’t in the hall when she and Lathyr had exited.
Droplets appeared on the guards’ faces and scales that weren’t hidden by armor.
“As you wish, great guardian elf, Pavan. I apologize to you, woman,” the slightly shorter one said to Kiri, bowing...and keeping his eyes down.
“I, uh, I, too, apologize, Tricurrent.”
“Lord Squall-Tricurrent and Lady Palger,” Pavan corrected silkily.
“Lord Squall-Tricurrent and...Lady—?” The merman stopped.
“The Water King has marked Sir Squall-Tricurrent and Lady Palger as royal questors. According to all our traditions, she is now royal.”
“Until she fails,” the first guard muttered.
“The girl won’t fail,” the dwarf said, a little too heartily. “She’ll—they’ll—succeed at the quest and earn their status and rewards.”
“Apologize to the Lady,” Lathyr insisted.
“I apologize, Lady,” the second guard said, with the shortest bow she’d ever seen, but he kept his face and eyes expressionless.
“Come on, you two,” the dwarf said, shooing them down the hall before him. “You’re guesting in our wing.”
The guards behind them tensed into statues.
Lathyr said, “Salutations, and many thanks, Guardians.” He looked down at her. “These are the two great guardians of the Lightfolk—they...observe...the royals.”
“This was not well-done of Marin,” the dwarf snapped, like shards chiseled from rock. He touched Kiri’s elbow, directing her into a branching, still-dry, hallway. “But it is done...the quest geas lodged within you, and cannot be undone.”
Kiri swallowed. “What does it mean?”
“You will be compelled to search for the great Pearl and complete the quest to prove your magical power is strong enough for you to become royalty,” the elf guardian said.
“And what does that mean?” Kiri asked flatly.
“You’ll be in the line of succession. Currently the female couple who hold this palace are the heirs to the Greendepths. Whether you replace them or fall after them in the hierarchy list will be determined by your quest,” the elf continued, then they headed toward a perfectly circular iron doorway at the end of the hall.
“What happens if I fail?”
“If you refuse the quest compulsion you will wither and die.” The elf bent a stern look on her.
She shook her head. “Not going to do that. This is interesting.”
Both the guardian’s expressions warmed.
“Good you got curiosity,” the dwarf said.
“What if I fail the quest? I don’t become royal, I guess, but what else?”
The guardians shared a look, then the elf said, “We will ensure any consequences of the geas are not fatal.”
The strength of her sigh surprised Kiri, but she hadn’t been able to hold it back. “But I’ll be a failure for the Transformation project.” She lifted her chin. “I want to show them what humans-now-Lightfolk can do.”
“Kiri, we’re not sure what you can do,” Lathyr reminded.
“We’ll find out, and best if I complete the quest. I. Will. Do. My. Best.”
“That’s all anyone can ask,” the elf said as they stopped at the door.
“This is our wing,” the dwarf said gruffly. “It’s dry, three stories and composed of glass and iron and magic.”
“Um-hmm.” Kiri cleared her throat. “Thank you for putting us up.”
The elf smiled at her and she noted he had more lines in his face than any other Airfolk she’d seen, but stronger charisma. “You are welcome to always stay here with us.” He bowed. So did the dwarf and Lathyr in response. So Kiri dipped her knees, too.
“Our apartments are heavily shielded.” His eyes gleamed. “And we have Meld and a state-of-the-art office, including a number of electronics that run on Meld.” He rubbed his hands.
Kiri sighed. “Sounds good.”
“Kiri needs water chambers.”
“We have that,” the dwarf mumbled. He set his palm on the door and it opened. “We have areas for all elementals.” He laughed like the sound of cheery pebbles slipping down a hill. “And unlike the rest of the place, Jenni Emberdrake keeps our wing balanced with elemental magic.”
“We prefer it that way,” the elf agreed. He, too, put his hand on the door and sang a few spell rhymes. “We have keyed the portal to you and Kiri, Lathyr.”
“Our thanks,” Lathyr said, at the same time Kiri said, “Thank you.”
The door opened and she walked into a room that reminded her of the Castle. A room that could be in any inland human’s home and tears gushed down her cheeks.
Lathyr was there, his arm coming around her waist.
“What is it?”
“I haven’t talked to my friends, Shannon and Averill in...” She’d completely lost track of time.
“Only five days, and I think you told them you were going on a trip?”
“Yes, but still...” She counted days. “I missed the Mystic Circle Fairies and Dragons they joined, whatever emails they might have sent. That would have concerned them.”
“Jenni would have tried to soothe them.” Lathyr stroked Kiri’s long hair down her back.
“It’s not the same.”
“No,” the elf said.
The dwarf grunted loudly and they looked at him. He pulled at his beard. “Summons from the Earth King. Gotta go.”
He pointed a thick forefinger at Kiri. “You remember, girl, that you can do this.”
She met his intense dark brown eyes. “You think so.”
A nod. “I do. Later.” He tromped back out, apparently not in a hurry to answer the king’s summons. Must be nice to be more powerful than the royals.
The elf said, “Come with me. We have video conferencing in our office.”
They walked through the entrance room that looked like a living room, into a hallway.
The elf waved to a staircase curving up to the left, watery green light filtered down from the stairwell. “The third-floor apartments on the left are my rooms.” He gestured to the right. “These are my fellow guardian’s, the dwarf Vikos.”
Didn’t sound like they were lovers, but they hadn’t acted like it. More like business or soldierly partners—army buddies. Not that she knew much about army buddies.
They reached a round-arched door and it swung open, revealing a small, round and domed chamber. Like the gaming room at Eight Corp, a wooden counter-desk curved along most of the wall. Kiri’s eyes widened as she saw a stack of unique-looking tablet computers, and another set of handhelds. Four large monitors were hooked up to desktops and there were game pads, gloves and visors, game sticks, keyboards, microphones and speakers.
“Wow,” she breathed, and tension left some of her muscles.
“Do whatever you need to do to reassure your friends, explore the wing.”
Lathyr had gone to one of the stations and turned on a computer.
Kiri stepped to follow, then looked down. Grass grew thickly on the floor. She trod on it, loving the feel on her soles.
“By the way, Lathyr,” the elf said, standing at the doorway just as Lathyr had in giving his parting shot to the royals.
Lathyr tu
rned from the computer counter and straightened, his shoulders in a taut line. “Yes.”
The elfman smiled, amused. “Good job on finishing the Water King off.” The guardian tilted his head toward Kiri. “Your lady set him up and you finished him off.” The elf paused a beat. “Which means we will not have to intervene. His wife and the other royals will discuss his behavior with him. Finally. A good option for Vikos and me.” He winked at Kiri, “Call me Pavan.”
She’d figured out being gifted with the guardians’ names was an honor. Once again she did a bow, which was getting really tiresome.
“The Waterfolk suite is a two-story circular area off the living room as we came in,” Pavan said. “Part of it is dry, the rest water.”
“Thank you.” Lathyr bowed.
Pavan waved his hand and left.
Application icons appeared on the huge monitor’s screen. One was for a video conferencing program she had an account with. Another little sigh. She put her hand around Lathyr’s arm.
“Thank you for standing with me.”
He glanced up at her with a smile. “Always.”
“Do you have any idea what the time might be in Colorado?”
“After work, I believe.”
Kiri nodded. “And I’ll have to tell my friends that I’ll be going away again. Does anyone know where the great Pearl is?”
Lathyr blinked in surprise. “Of course. It is in the deepest part of the ocean.” He touched the tip of one ear. “I doubt I can swim that far down.”
Biting her lip, Kiri scoured her internal database.
“What humans call Challenger Deep,” Lathyr said, “In the Mariana Trench.”
“The Mariana Trench, near the Mariana Islands? What ocean is that?”
“Tell your friends you are going to the Philippines. That should sound fine to them.”
“Yes. It might.”
He held out a chair for her and she slipped into it, logged on to the program.
And got an immediate ding from Shannon. She was sitting on the old love seat she and Kiri and Averill had shopped for when they’d first married.
“Kiri, it’s so good to see you! What’s been going on?” Shannon’s eyes narrowed. “You look a little rough.”
Kiri licked her lips. She didn’t want to lie any more than necessary to her friends. “It’s been a very intense few days.”
“You’re okay?” Shannon asked sharply.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Shannon’s lips compressed and her face moved closer to the screen as if she examined Kiri. Squinting, she said, “Who’s that in the background?”
Lathyr came up and put his hand on Kiri’s shoulder.
Suddenly it was easier. “My new guy.”
Shannon’s expression lit with happiness. “You have a new guy!” She moved over a little on the love seat and Averill joined her.
Now Averill narrowed his eyes. “Who is he?” he asked, at the same time that Shannon said, “Is it serious?”
Lathyr kissed her hair.
“Maybe.” She found herself flushing...she could still do that. “I’ve been busy,” she added weakly.
“I completely understand,” Shannon said, with one of those explosively relieved breaths she had.
“Who’s the dude?” Averill said louder.
Lathyr lowered until the camera caught most of his face. Shannon made a yummy noise. Averill nudged her. She glanced at her husband. “Not my type, you know that, but very nice to look at.”
“Thank you,” Lathyr said politely.
“Hey, good to see you,” Shannon said.
“Hello,” Lathyr replied. He nodded to Averill. “My name is Lathyr Squall-Tricurrent and I work for Eight Corp.”
“Human resources,” Shannon said promptly.
Kiri choked. That had a whole different meaning to her now.
“That is correct,” Lathyr said.
“So you’re Lathyr, and you’re Kiri’s new guy.”
“I am her lover.”
Shannon laughed and Averill scowled. Kiri felt fluttering in her middle, glanced at Lathyr’s face. Intent, as always. Surely the quest would begin tomorrow, so tonight... Yes, she wanted to have sex...love with him, again.
“Mind if I do some checking on you, Lathyr?” Averill asked. It wasn’t truly a question, just something to say while that sharp brain of his calculated angles.
“You are welcome to,” Lathyr said. “Though I doubt I am much on the internet.” He hesitated. “If you wish to confirm my character, you may speak with Alex Akasha, the CEO of Eight Corp.”
“CEO,” Averill said neutrally.
“We are—acquaintances. I believe he will vouch for me.”
“Where do you come from?” Shannon asked.
“Currently I am living in Mystic Circle.”
“Yeah, we knew that. Kiri spoke of you. Hey, Kiri, can we ask Jenni Emberdrake about him?”
“Yeah, sure,” Kiri said. Her eyes slid in Lathyr’s direction.
“We’ll ask Jenni,” Averill said. “We know her a little now from playing Fairies and Dragons.”
“You’re good, Kiri?” Shannon asked.
“Yes, I’m very good,” Kiri said steadily.
Shannon’s expression turned sly. “But you’re going to be busy some more and probably out of reach?”
One way to put questing under the sea. “That’s right.”
“Okay.” Shannon took Averill’s hand. “We’ll try not to worry.”
“You take care of her,” Averill said to Lathyr.
“I promise,” Lathyr said.
“I suppose you can’t stay and talk.” Shannon sighed.
“Not right now,” Kiri answered.
“We have a plane to catch,” Lathyr lied.
“Where?” Shannon asked, again leaning forward.
“We are going to the Philippines.”
“The Philippines!” Shannon said.
“Eight Corp is considering an Asian office and wants me there,” Lathyr said. “I have permission to take Kiri.”
“Nice.” Shannon grinned, then wiggled her brows at Kiri. “Have fun.”
“I’m sure it will be interesting,” Kiri said primly, also fibbing with her tone.
Averill grunted. “This gonna be a permanent office that you or Kiri or you both might man?”
“Unknown,” Lathyr said. “I reiterate my promise to you to take care of her.”
“I can take care of myself,” Kiri grumbled, even though she doubted. She had a lot to learn.
But Averill and Shannon smiled, then blew kisses at her. Though Kiri just wanted to look at her happy friends more, Lathyr signed her off. She sagged in the chair.
Lathyr swiveled the chair and lifted her from it. “You need food and rest....”
“And loving.” She stroked his cheek. “That, too.”
Chapter 33
LATHYR’S EYES DARKENED, the iris becoming blue-black, gaze intent. With a single sweet note he had the door opening and slamming behind them.
Then he just stood, cradling her, and it felt good and right...for now.
Slowly he walked back the way they’d come to the entrance room. The atmosphere charged around her, as if every molecule that held a bit of water slid against her skin, leaving a tingle.
He said, “There will be a warm, natural pool in our suite. Will you let me take you there and make love with me beneath the water?” His voice lilted, his mer accent noticeable.
She stared up at him, matching his gaze, her mouth drying. “I...I’m not sure how that is done.”
His head tilted back as he laughed, then bent and kissed her temple. His pace picked up. “Much as humans mate. We use our legged form. But...in the water, it is a true dance, our coming together.”
She thought of the glass walls of the palace, was sure that the Waterfolk area would be surrounded by ocean, and wondered how the pool would look, what kind of light might be there. What other mers might be outside watching.
�
�Um, we’ll be private, won’t we?”
“Yes, lovely Kiri. All the panes in the palace can be tinted to various shades that will shield our loving. Don’t worry and don’t plan. I promise you will think of nothing. You will only follow me into blissful sensation.”
He couldn’t enthrall her again with glamour, but she didn’t want to deny him or herself. Just thinking of the sensual excitement ahead had her nipples beading, her breasts feeling heavy, her sex aching. She stared once more into his indigo eyes. “I would like that very much.” Her own voice whispered from her lips.
As they left the warm living room behind them and stepped into a glassy area, anticipation wound tight within her. This was special, a loving in the night, in the water.
Soon they were in a dry chamber with a pool inset into the floor. The glass walls on three sides of them appeared clear but Kiri sensed a magical coating. There were mers swimming beyond the windows, though those outside paid no attention to her and Lathyr.
A slight whisk of air brought the scent of night-blooming jasmine. She could almost believe this was the conservatory at the Castle in Mystic Circle...then schools of colorful fish swam by.
Lathyr put her down, and keeping his eyes on hers, he took off his robe and her own, then led her into the pool. It was warm, and large and...deep enough.
And as they circled, danced, swam, sliding hands, teasing with light feather touches, and magic enveloped them as much as the water—hers matching his—she understood that in this matter, it would be harder for a male to force a female. And that she was being wooed and seduced by a master.
Kiri panted as they came together, then rocked with her lover until waves of sensation crashed over her and she swirled away in pleasure.
* * *
Early the next morning they stood in the top dome of one of the glass towers that was designated as a transportation room.
Though they’d spent the night in submerged chambers, this one was dry. It even had a huge tree growing in the center. Nice magical trick.
Kiri was getting very good at changing from form to form, breathing with her bilungs, and using her nictitating eyelids. She was sure she’d learned more in the past couple of days than she would have in weeks if she hadn’t gone into the Mississippi River. And time was so relative! Those hours did feel like weeks ago, her job at Eight Corp months ago...and it had been at least a year since she’d been human.
Enchanted Ever After (Mystic Circle) Page 30