Etched in Stone: Twilight Court Book 9

by Amy Sumida

  “She's watching,” I said softly. “And I think she would have approved of Killian.”

  “Oh, most definitely.” Keir chuckled. “Killian Blair is the type of man your mother would have been proud to call her son-in-law.”

  “And Ewan,” I whispered. “He would have got along famously with Killian.”

  “Yes; he would have,” Keir said gently. “It's good to know that our loved ones are smiling down upon us.”

  I nodded and took his arm while Cat trotted down the stairs and posed before us in her diamond collar.

  “Yes; you look beautiful too, Catriona,” Keir declared. And for the first time ever, his voice didn't catch on my mother's name.

  The peace in my father's heart was worth nearly as much to me as the peace in Fairy. I stopped to hug him, and he hugged me back in surprise.

  “I love you, Dad,” I whispered. “You are a good man and an even better father.”

  “Seren”—Keir leaned back to take my face in his hands—“I thank Danu for you every day. You are my greatest accomplishment and my greatest happiness.”

  I smiled and kissed his cheek through my veil. And then my father escorted me across the spacious entryway of Twilight Castle. It was full of people—the overflow from the throne room—but they didn't seem to mind being the ones standing outside. They cheered and bowed as we passed, and among them were human children who waved at me like I was a celebrity and savior rolled into one. It made the day even more special to see them there; safe and happy with their new families. Dad and I waved back at the children and smiled at our fairies as we made our way to the open doors of the throne room. As soon as we crossed the threshold, the Wedding March began to play.

  Keir proudly walked me down a center aisle that was lined with benches of smiling people and draped with garlands of pale flowers. I saw my extinguisher friends, both the Human and Fairy High Council Members, Daxon's Elite, my Star's Guard, and then Killian's mother, sitting in the front row with Tiernan and Raza's family. My bridesmaids had already strolled down to the dais and were waiting there with Killian and his groomsmen; who also happened to be my husbands and fiance. Was that weird?

  Then my hands clenched around my bouquet; a spray of lavender roses and wisteria. All of my men looked incredible—three kings dressed in their regalia—but I had just spotted my groom. Killian stood proudly at the center of the dais, and I was struck with a sudden nervousness.

  Killian was dressed in a midnight-purple tunic with black, silk pants and a sable cloak. His face was full of transcendent happiness; something that couldn't be touched. No one was taking this moment away from Killian, and he looked ready to strike down any who tried. His shoulders were set in determination, and one hand rested on the pommel of his sword. Killian wasn't just a bridegroom; he was a hero, fresh from victory. I'd never seen him look so regal; so perfect. It was a little unsettling until I caught his wink, and then I beamed back at him. There was the man I loved.

  Keir took me up onto the dais and then stepped between and behind Killian and I. Cat sat at my side; looking up at me expectantly. I gave her a quick scratch before I handed Aideen my bouquet and then turned to face my groom. Killian took my hand; his eyes roaming my face eagerly.

  “You look amazing, Twilight,” he whispered.

  “You shine up pretty nice yourself, Blair,” I said.

  “Today, it is my great honor to unite my daughter in marriage to this man; Killian Blair,” my father said. “Thank you all for coming to share in our joy and witness this joyful event; not only the marriage of my daughter but the crowning of the new Prince of Twilight.”

  I glanced over Killian's shoulder at my husbands and Daxon. They all gave me encouraging smiles, and I internally thanked Danu for helping me find them. Killian was right about that too; Danu's intercession brought me everything I could have hoped for and more. Being free of her influence wasn't necessarily a good thing.

  “The bride and groom have opted for a traditional, human exchange of vows.” Keir spread out his hands to us. “Killian Blair, do you take this woman, Seren Firethorn, to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do,” Killian said.

  “And do you, Seren Firethorn, take this man, Killian Blair, to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do,” I said.

  “Now, we shall—”

  “Screw this,” Killian muttered.

  Keir gaped at Kill in surprise while my other men groaned. But just as I had vowed to him, I knew Killian would never disappoint me, and I only smiled at his interruption.

  “That's not enough, Twilight,” Killian said. “Yeah; I promise all those things, but there's so much more between us that needs to be said.”

  I smiled wider and nodded. “I got you, baby. Go ahead; lay it all out.”

  “Twilight... Seren,” he started, “you're it for me. I can't even remember what wanting another woman feels like. But this is far more than desire; this is sacred. I swear to you that I will never betray this; I will never give my loyalty or love to another woman. I will support your dreams and your vengeance. I will be your ambassador and your defender. But most of all, I promise to put us first, before anything else in my life. No argument or enemy will ever destroy my love for you. I am yours from this second forward.”

  My father smiled approvingly and looked at me. That was a hard speech to follow, but I already knew what to say. It was simply what I felt for Killian and what I wanted to promise him.

  “Killian, you and I connect in ways that no one else in Fairy can understand,” I said. “I promise to never take that for granted; to never take you for granted. I will treasure your heart, your mind, and your body equally. Well, mostly equally,” I teased.

  Killian chuckled with the crowd.

  “I swear that I will honor you in my heart and mind every minute of every day,” I went on. “That even when I'm angry with you, I will not stop respecting you or loving you. I will not give up on us, Killian. Not ever. From this second forward, I am yours.”

  Keir laid his hands lovingly on our shoulders. “Now, for the exchange of rings. Killian?”

  Killian took a silver band from a pouch at his waist and held it up to me. “You ready, Twilight?”

  I held out my right hand, and he slipped the ring on my finger.

  “With this ring, I thee wed,” he said in a strong voice.

  Aideen slipped me Killian's band; a matching silver ring. I slid it onto Killian's right hand, ring finger.

  “With this ring, I thee wed,” I repeated his words.

  “And with the power invested in me,” Keir's voice boomed out, “as King of Twilight, I declare you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  Killian lifted my veil and pulled me forward into a passionate kiss. The crowd cheered mightily as my father retrieved an item from the table behind him; the Prince's crown. Killian and I eased apart and looked expectantly at my father.

  “It's my right as King to crown our new prince,” Keir said. “But I give that honor to my daughter, so that she may have the memory of crowning her husband.”

  Keir passed me the crown.

  “Thank you, Dad,” I whispered and hugged him.

  “You're welcome,” he whispered back.

  “And thank you for that.” Killian nodded toward the crown.

  My father had Killian's original crown toned down and made a bit more masculine. It was now a thick, silver band with one single star at its center. The Prince's crown sparkled, but not as much as Keir's or mine. I lifted it above Killian's head and smiled at my new husband.

  “I crown you, Prince Killian of Twilight,” I declared as I lowered the crown onto his head. “May Danu bless y
ou and your reign.”

  Killian grinned widely as he stood and then took my arm. We turned to face the room.

  “It's my honor to present to you the Prince and Princess of Twilight!” My father declared.

  The assemblage surged to its feet and roared with applause and cheering. Killian and I strode down the aisle as lavender rose petals rained over us; cast down by pixies flying above. We walked out into the foyer and through the waiting crowd, to make our way to our wedding feast. As we went, the people called out their blessings and scattered more rose petals over us.

  “You made them pick roses?” I whispered to Killian in horror.

  “Head Councilman Murdock brought them over from Earth,” Killian whispered back. “I couldn't marry you without them; not after I saw you standing on those rose petals.”

  “What a romantic,” I teased him.

  “Wait till you see our honeymoon suite,” he shot back.

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  It was a strange thing to celebrate my marriage to one man while my other two husbands and my fiance watched. Even stranger to dance with them at the reception—after my first dance with Killian, of course. But strange had become my wondrous norm. As I was twirled around the dance floor by Raza, I once more thanked my lucky star; the Twilight star. It seemed that everything began with that symbol; first with the pendant my father had secretly given to me, and then with my crown. I was now the Queen of Seelie and Unseelie, but Twilight would always be my home. This was the place I had become a fairy, and this was where I had found my family.

  “You look happy enough to burst into tears,” Raza noted.

  “It happened just as you said.” I laid my hand on his cheek. “No more battles, and no more killing. Only life.”

  Only life, Danu whispered in our minds.

  I blinked in surprise as I felt her touch flutter over my belly.

  “What is she saying?” Raza whispered.

  I stopped dancing and turned to find the other men. They had heard Danu too and were already striding over to us. The rest of the dancers paused in confusion; no doubt wondering why the Royals were gathering in the middle of the dance floor to have an impromptu discussion.

  “We're here,” Killian said to Danu as he took my hand. “What is it, Danu?”

  First; my blessing upon your marriage, Prince Killian and Princess Seren.

  “Thank you,” Killian said as he shared a wary look with Raza.

  “Is something wrong, Danu?” Tiernan asked.

  Nothing at all, Danu said. I have given you a wedding gift; one for each you. Seren, I shall let you tell them. May your life be filled with love and laughter, my daughter. May all of your tears be cried in happiness.

  Danu's voice faded away, and the men looked to me for an answer. I gaped at them as my hands went to my stomach. I could still see the glorious picture Danu had put in my mind; of my baby girl with stars in her eyes. I started to cry, and the men laid their hands on me in concern, but it was as Danu had wished for me; they were happy tears.

  “We conceived a child last night,” I said to them.

  “What?” Raza asked; his eyes going wide with amazement. “Did Danu tell you who the father is?”

  I started laughing and laughing and laughing. The men looked at me as if I had gone mad, the music stopped, and the celebration came to a halt. My father strode through the shocked dancers with Lady Eibhleann (Aideen's mother) on his arm.

  “Seren, are you all right?” My father asked as he looked over my face in concern.

  “I'm pregnant,” I whispered. And then I said it louder. “I'm pregnant.”

  “With whose child?” My father asked with shocked joy. “Who is the father?”

  “All of them!” I started laughing again. “I'm having four babies.”

  “Four?” Tiernan asked in shock. “With each of us fathering one? That's impossible.”

  “Danu,” Raza whispered. “I knew I felt her magic upon us last night!”

  “Holy shit, I'm having four babies,” I whispered as it sank in. “I'm going to be huge.”

  “We're pregnant!” Killian shouted as he lifted me off my feet and above his head.

  The room burst into applause as I was passed from Killian to Tiernan, to Raza, and finally, to Daxon; each man hugging me tightly.

  “A child,” Daxon whispered as he laid his forehead against mine. “We'd best make you an honest woman soon.”

  “Soon,” I agreed as I was eased back into the circle of my four, amazing men; soon to be amazing fathers. “I saw them. Danu showed me our children.”

  “Don't tell me!” Killian said. “I want to be surprised.”

  “I don't,” Raza said. “Tell me about our child.”

  “She has crimson hair,” I said softly as I touched a strip of red in Raza's hair. “And emerald eyes with golden stars over them.”

  “A daughter,” Raza whispered as his eyes filled with tears. “A little girl with stars in her eyes. You'll be the first person to make a dragon-djinn's wish come true, mo shíorghrá.”

  “She's beautiful,” I whispered. “And so are her wings.”

  “She'll be a dragon?” Raza blinked in shock.

  “Another gift from Danu.” I nodded. “A daughter to carry on your race, if not rule your kingdom.”

  Raza fell to his knees and hugged me to him; kissing me over my stomach.

  “I'll show you the sky, little one,” he promised her.

  “And our child?' Tiernan asked eagerly. “Will it be a boy or a girl?”

  I turned in Raza's embrace—his hand trailing over my belly—and faced Tiernan. Raza stood and stepped back; letting me have my moment with Tiernan.

  “A little boy with shadows in his hair and a streak of silver at his temple,” I answered Tiernan. “Silver that matches his eyes.”

  Tiernan started laughing and then threw his head back and shouted with delight, “A son!” He scooped me up and swung me around in a circle. “We're going to have a son. My life is complete; I can ask for no more.”

  I kissed Tiernan gently before I looked over at Daxon. “Do you want to know?”

  “Hell yes, I want to know,” he said. “Do we paint the room blue or pink?”

  “Paint it to match your hair,” I smiled widely at him. “It will match his as well.”

  Daxon swooped in and kissed me passionately before he hugged me close. I felt the dampness of his tears on my neck.

  “May Danu help me to be a good father,” he whispered.

  “She wouldn't have given him to us if you weren't going to be,” I said. “We both have faith in you.”

  Daxon swiped at his eyes and then took my hand to kiss it romantically. “I will do my very best to be worthy of that trust.”

  “All right,” Killian huffed. “Tell me. I don't care what the sex is, but now that everyone else is getting a preview, I want one too.”

  “Our child will have pale green eyes and a smile to match yours,” I said.

  “Stop teasing me,” he whined. “Is it a girl or a boy?”

  “She will be the first nathair-sith born in Twilight,” I proclaimed.

  “A little girl,” Killian whispered. “Fuck! What am I going to do with a little girl?”

  “Good luck with that, man.” Daxon pounded Killian's back good-naturedly.

  “At least the girls will come equipped with some powerful defenses,” Tiernan noted.

  “If you mean their fathers, you'd be correct,” Raza declared arrogantly.

  “Thanks, dude,” Killian held out his fist to Raza.

  Raza frowned at the fist and then sighed deeply before he bumped it with his own.

  “Yes!” Killian shouted. “You all saw that, right? I got the dragon to fist-bump. That's right; we're besties now, so nobody better mess with our daughters or the Reptile Brothers are going to bring the pain.”

  “I am not a reptile,” Raza growled.

  “Come on, man; I'm going for solidarity here,” Killian huffed.

>   “I will accept 'beast' before 'reptile.'” Raza grimaced.

  “The Beast Brothers it is!” Killian declared. “That sounds better anyway.”

  “Oh, sweet Danu.” Raza sighed. “What have I done?”

  “I think you made a pact with the Snake Prince to be brothers,” I said casually. “Just don't go cutting your thumb with him or he'll pee himself with happiness.”

  “Cutting my thumb?” Raza's eyes widened. “No; this pact is over.”

  “Damn it, Twilight,” Killian growled. “I was just making headway with him.”

  “Wait till after the babies are born,” my father suggested. “A man holding his baby girl in his arms is vulnerable to all sorts of suggestions.”

  Raza glared at Keir, but Killian laughed.

  “You're a devious man, King Keir,” Killian said. “I look forward to learning from you.”

  “You can call me 'King Father' now,” Keir said primly.

  Killian gaped at my father while we laughed at him.

  “I'm jesting, Son,” Keir said. “Call me 'Father.'”

  “Father,” Killian tested out the word. “And I'm going to be one too.”

  “You're going to be a grandpa,” I said to my dad.

  He blinked and then smiled brilliantly. “I am!”

  “Grandfather Keir,” Eibhleann said sweetly as she stroked my father's arm.

  He beamed down into her adoring eyes, and I knew Danu's blessing had just cemented their relationship. I had a feeling that there would be another wedding in Twilight soon, and I wouldn't be the only queen in Fairy for long. I was delighted by both of those prospects.

  “Congratulations, Son,” Elara Blair (Killian's mother) said as she stepped up and hugged him. “I couldn't be happier for you.”

  “Mom,” Killian whispered. “I'm going to have a daughter. I'm so fucking scared. Shit; I just got married, and we're already having a baby.”

  “It'll be okay, Killian.” Elara laughed and stroked Killian's back as she glanced over at me. “Take a good look, sweetheart; this is what you have to look forward to. No matter how old they get; they'll always be your baby.”