by Amy Sumida
“This doesn't mean I'm going to jump into a relationship with you,” I said quickly. “It means that I will be open to one.”
“In the future,” Raza added. “For now, we focus on this elven threat. Then Seren and I shall be married. After we've settled into our marriage, we will see about consorts.”
“Seriously?” Killian began to smile.
“Seriously,” I nodded.
“Well then,” Killian's expression turned sweetly serious, “thank you, King Raza,” he held his chalice up to Raza.
“You're welcome,” Raza clicked Killian's glass. “Keep proving your worth to both me and Seren, and I won't regret my decision.”
“His decision,” I rolled my eyes. “Okay, whatever.”
“So, uh,” Killian glanced out to Tiernan. “Is the White Knight over there a consort too?”
“He was added first,” Raza gleefully informed Killian. “When your name came up, things nearly fell apart.”
“You're not fooling anyone, dragon,” Killian huffed. “I know you love me.”
“I take it back,” Raza sighed. “I will definitely regret this.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
The scopes and arrows were taken to the armory for safekeeping. Their presence brightened spirits considerably, and the war ceased being such a hopeless, dark cloud looming on the horizon. The extinguishers had reports for me, straight from every Head Councilman of every Human Council House on Earth. Moire had not been seen, not even in Iceland. In fact, Iceland was quiet, the elves hadn't left their enclave at all.
I was surprised that Killian didn't push for more than the elusive promise Raza had given him, but Killian seemed content. They truly baffled me, these men who were willing to share. No, it was more than that, they were willing to share, despite the fact that they didn't want to. That deep down, they would have preferred to be in a relationship with me alone. I used to think that Tiernan's willingness to accept Raza meant that he loved me less. Now I saw the truth, that Tiernan loved me more than his own possessive instincts. And that love wasn't about possession at all.
You'd think that would be an easy concept to grasp. That love wasn't about possession. But don't most of us, down deep, feel that it is? Oh, you would never say it like that, but you wouldn't want your boyfriend sleeping with another girl either. We call it fidelity and trust, but what we really mean is that we own each other, just a little bit. A committed romantic relationship is usually centered around sexual fidelity. By saying I'm someone's girlfriend, I'm making an unspoken contract with him to not sleep with anyone else. This is possession, a lighter version of it, but that's what it is. And what would freedom mean? No commitment, no rules? I couldn't deal with that. Could you? So yes, a relationship is about possession. But love isn't.
I'm sure there are all kinds of forms which love can take, and, no doubt, possession is involved in several of them. That doesn't make it the soul of love, though. It's an aspect. A side effect. Maybe even a benefit. We get possessive because we fall in love. The love itself is not about being sexually faithful. It is simply an emotion. But it is a volatile one, easily influenced by other emotions and conditions. Being able to feel love purely, move beyond those other influences, and put aside the conditions they bring, well that is profound. Humbling even.
How I had wound up on the receiving end of such love from not one, but three men, is beyond me.
At the twilight hour the next morning, Killian came to Raza's door to bid me goodbye. We shared our first kiss. Our first real kiss, one beyond a mere pressing of lips. It should have felt wrong to kiss Killian with Raza lying a few feet away. But instead, it felt normal. It felt exciting. Kissing Killian was like wrapping your arms around a wild horse, you just hold tight and hope your strength will see you through it. Of course, a wild horse wouldn't excite me like Killian.
We ended up breaking apart rather savagely, distancing ourselves to stare, panting, at each other. I just gaped at him. That one taste had been enough to tell me how we'd be together. What making love to him would feel like. A roller coaster without restraints. A dive over a cliff into deep water. Thrilling and dangerous. Something which had the potential to change me irreparably. And not necessarily in a good way. But still, I wanted on that ride.
“I'll see you soon, Twilight,” Killian smiled and left.
“Is it wrong that I'm a little turned on from watching you?” Raza purred from the bed.
I turned to him in shock, to see his hand moving beneath the covers.
“Oh really?” I smirked, closing the door and locking it. “Starting to see the positive aspects of this situation, are we?”
I prowled to the bed, removing my clothes as I went.
“Oh yes,” Raza threw back the blankets and revealed just how positive he was feeling. “But I'd like a closer look.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
I started wearing my ring on the correct finger, as my engagement ring. It was the ring Raza had given me, that had once belonged to his mother. Two gold dragons twining around each other, holding a faceted red diamond between them. The degree of detail done on the dragons was like nothing you could find in HR and the stone... I hadn't even known red diamonds existed. This one was flawless, no blemishes to mar its crimson depths. A perfect engagement ring to declare that I was taken and by whom.
I showed it to my father when I scried him. Keir had already seen it of course, Raza had given me the ring awhile back. But Keir hadn't seen it worn with this intention. On the finger which meant something to us humans. My father was overjoyed. Then I told him about Tiernan and Killian. Keir nearly fainted from happiness. Yes, my father actually supported the fact that I'd be in a relationship with three men.
But my impending marriage and polygamous status were not the most important order of business. My father had been conducting his own investigation into the whereabouts of his sister. He may not have been raised with Moire, but Keir was very familiar with her and her tricks. They also had more in common than just blood. They had both loved their brother, Uisdean. But Keir had been the one to bury Uncle Uisdean, which meant Moire had no idea where her brother's grave was located.
A fact which my father was using as bait.
Keir was in HR. He'd gone without telling me, leaving our kingdom without a regent in residence. Something which generally was not done, and especially ironic since he'd recently insisted Raza remain in Unseelie instead of going to HR with me. But Twilight was different than Unseelie. The twilight fey loved their king completely, and would never try to usurp him. The mere thought was ridiculous. Still, Keir didn't leave his kingdom often.
“Why didn't you tell me?” I growled at him. “I would have gone home so you could leave.”
“No, you would have tried to talk me out of leaving,” Keir settled his perceptive amethyst stare on me. “I needed to handle this, Seren. Moire is my sister. At its heart, this is a family affair.”
“Your sister who tried to kill you,” I rolled my eyes. “Do you have any relatives who haven't tried to harm one of us?”
“Shane didn't actually assault you,” Keir mused.
“He tried to destroy Earth, Dad,” I rolled my eyes.
“Well, Dylan has never hurt either of us. So we have him,” Keir grinned, much more chipper than that statement should have made him. “And I'm confident that if we can rescue Bress in time, he will continue down his path to becoming a good man. Then there are your upcoming nuptials, which will add even more family members, whom I'm fairly certain will not try to murder us.”
“This is a strange conversation.”
“You started it.”
“What are you doing there, Dad?” I peered behind him and noticed the office furniture. “You're at Gentry?”
How did I not see that earlier? He was at Gentry Tech, his research company in HR. So obvious, but I was distracted by my romantic issues and hadn't noticed. I needed to focus. Romance wouldn't matter if we were all dead.
“I've attended a few parties,” Keir
shrugged. “Got my face photographed by paparazzi. Given them quotes about being in town to lay my brother to rest.”
“You...” I blinked. “What? What are you talking about? Isn't Uncle Uisdean buried in Twilight?”
“In the family plot,” Keir nodded. “He's the first to be interred there.”
“Wonderful,” I rolled my eyes. “Shouldn't he have been buried in Unseelie?”
“Unseelie didn't want him,” Keir grimaced. “And he's of better use to us where he is.”
“He's of use to us dead?”
“Oh yes,” Keir smiled. “The human media has just sent a message to Moire for me.”
“What message?”
“That I have Uisdean and I'm in the Human Realm,” Keir smirked. “I won't have to find my sister, Moire will come to me.”
“Dad,” I leaned into the crystal ball. “Moire has iron weapons. You're not safe in HR.”
“And this is exactly what I knew you'd say to me,” Keir nodded. “Some things are worth jeopardizing our safety over, Seren. You know that. Moire must be stopped. Her war will threaten all of Fairy. I am the King of Twilight. It's my duty to prevent war between the kingdoms in any way possible.”
“Dad,” I shook my head. “I'm twilighting over there as soon as I can.”
“No,” Keir said firmly. “You need to stay-
A large boom resounded and the image in my crystal ball shook.
“Dad!” I screamed.
Keir turned away from the crystal, to speak with the guardsmen who had rushed into his office. More booms came, peppered with shouting. Keir bent his head closer to his men to hear them. I saw him nodding, then he turned and reached for something beside his desk. Keir picked up his sword and strapped it on his waist.
“She's here, Seren,” Keir bent to the ball. “I'll scry you when it's over.”
He lifted a hand to wipe away our connection as I screamed at him. The ball went blank and still, I was shouting.
“Seren!” Raza came rushing up to me. “What's happened?”
“I need to get to Gentry Tech,” I screeched. “My father's under attack.”
“What?”
“He lured Moire to him,” I was shaking, unsure of what to do. “Fuck!” My eyes fell back on the crystal ball. “Councilman Alan Murdock,” I called out and leaned over the ball.
The ball misted, and then a young councilman came into view.
“Hello,” he said. “May I help you?”
“Get the Head Councilman,” I growled and the boy flinched. “Now!”
He ran out of the room.
“Dusk is an hour away,” Raza peered out a nearby window.
“I know,” I hissed. “My father's being attacked by that bitch and I can't reach him.”
“King Keir is a seasoned warrior,” Raza tried to assure me. “He will be victorious.”
“Iron arrows, Raza,” I shot him a dark look, and he went silent.
“Princess Seren?” Murdock's face appeared in the ball.
“Murdock!” I leaned in closer. “I need you to get to Gentry Tech now. My father is under attack. It's Moire.”
“Damn it all!” Murdock swore. “It's done, Princess. We're on our way.”
The ball cleared and I was left staring at my fun-house-mirror reflection. Even that long, wobbly version of my face looked scared. Terrified actually.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
I gathered my Guard and waited for twilight. There was nothing more I could do. Tiernan paced Raza's library with me, the two of us like caged tigers waiting for someone to be brave enough to open the door. Though only one of us would be able to walk through it. Raza just sat and watched us, a grim look on his face. He couldn't go with me either, and I think that was the worst part for him. He couldn't even send troops with us, they weren't twilight, so they couldn't use the Between. This made for a very unhappy dragon.
But I was too upset to deal with Raza's issues. I had lost my mother, then Ewan, who I'd thought of as my father. Bress was just taken, and frankly, there was no love lost between me and my other relatives, so Dad and Uncle Dylan were the last men standing as far as family was concerned. And they were both at Gentry.
A chiming filled the room, and everyone froze. We all turned to the crystal ball in the corner. It was filling with mist. A scry was coming through. I raced over to the crystal ball, the chiming becoming strident in my stressed mind. I skidded to a stop before it and brushed my hand over its surface. Murdock's face came into focus... his bloody face.
“Murdock!” I shouted. “What happened?”
“Your father lives,” he said first, bless his human heart. “But he's been wounded, Ambassador. Badly. He's in with a fey healer now. Thankfully, he had several on staff at Gentry.”
“A healer?” I sat heavily in the chair Raza placed behind me. “For a fairy to need a healer, it must be bad.”
“He was shot with an iron arrow,” Murdock said. “We arrived just in time to assist your father and his soldiers. We prevented the battle from spreading to the streets, and were able to contain it within Gentry Tech with the help of-”
“But he's alright?” I interrupted Murdock. “The healer is treating him for iron poisoning?”
“Yes, King Keir is going to be fine, Ambassador,” Murdock said gently. “Your uncle is alive as well. But I think you should come over. Twilight is soon, is it not?”
“Yes, sir,” I said, slipping back into my extinguisher habits. “I'll be there as soon as I can. My father is still at Gentry, you said?”
“In one of the labs,” Murdock nodded.
“And what about my aunt?” I started thinking a little clearer, now that I knew my dad would be alright. “Did you catch Moire?”
“No, I'm sorry,” he sighed. “If she was there, she was glamored. We didn't see her, and we were only able to apprehend three of the attackers.”
“You have elves in custody?” Raza leaned forward to ask.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Murdock straightened. “Two dark elves and one light. We have them in a holding cell. You may interrogate them if you wish.”
“I'll leave that to Seren,” Raza said grudgingly. “I'm unable to twilight over with her. Damn it all, now I'm using the term.”
“Twilight is coming,” I said to Murdock. “My Guard and I will be there shortly. Are you back at the Council House?”
“Yes, we've just returned,” Murdock nodded. “I wanted to scry you first and let you know about your father. I knew you would be worried.”
“Thank you, Head Councilman,” I sighed. “I am beyond grateful.”
“I'm glad we could be there to assist,” Murdock said. “And I'm also relieved that your father is alright. We'll see you soon, Ambassador.”
“Goodbye, Councilman.”
I sat back and let out a huge huff of relief. Cat laid her head on my lap, and I hugged her.
“Nearly here, Your Highness,” Conri said.
“Right,” I stood. “Raza,” I went to hug him goodbye. “Don't worry, I'll be careful.”
“Be more than that, mo shíorghrá,” Raza smoothed my hair back and kissed me. “Be certain. Don't take any risks. And come back to me with the dawn.”
“I'll slip into bed beside you,” I promised. “You'll wake up to find me there.”
“The way I wish to awaken every morning,” Raza purred.
Tiernan didn't say anything, but when I passed him, he snatched my hand and gave it a quick squeeze. I nodded, conveying more than I could have with words, then went to stand with my Guard. Conri picked up Cat, as was becoming his habit, and then we hovered. Twilight came, and we left, shooting through the In-Between like rockets through space. And yes, I realize that paints a ridiculous visual, but I needed some levity. I wouldn't be at peace until I saw for myself that my father was alive.
We emerged in my father's office a few moments later. It was empty, of course, and the only sound came from the gentle whir of the air conditioning vent above us. Everything seemed
so peaceful, even the city, spreading out below me. But there was still that anxious feeling in my gut, and not even the view of San Francisco, and its windswept bay, could calm it.
I hurried out into the large waiting room Keir shared with his brother, Dylan. Dylan ran Gentry Tech for my father, but Keir was still the owner, so they halved the top floor between them. Not only did they share the top floor and its waiting room, they also shared a secretary. A very competent woman who was not at her desk.
“Well, that doesn't bode well,” I muttered as I passed the empty secretary desk.
“You've already been informed that the King is alive and recovering,” Torquil said gently.
I looked at Torquil in surprise. He wasn't usually the comforting type.
“Thanks, Torquil,” I said. “I know, it's just...”
“He's your father,” he nodded.
“Damn,” Conri shook his head, “you do have a heart.”
“Pay up,” Ainsley motioned a hand at Conri.
“You bet on my emotions?” Torquil narrowed his eyes on the two men.
“It was a joke,” Ainsley gave Torquil's shoulder a pat. “We didn't actually wager on it. I was teasing.”
“Oh,” Torquil settled down.
“Could we not?” I looked from Ainsley to Conri.
“Sorry, Princess,” Ainsley bowed his head.
“Yeah, sorry,” Conri grimaced.
But as soon as Torquil turned his back, Conri handed Ainsley a few fey coins. I rolled my eyes. Sometimes it was like being guarded by dangerous toddlers.
The elevator dinged and we all piled in. Gentry's labs were on the two floors just below my dad's office. We stepped out on the first of those, took a look around, and decided it was abandoned. One more floor down was the direct opposite. It was absolute mayhem. People were rushing about, with jittery crowds gathered in a few areas. I headed through the mess, scanning the room as I went, until someone noticed me.
“Princess!” I didn't recognize the fairy, but I was relieved that he had spotted me. “Your father is this way. Please, follow me.”