Till Demon Do Us Part (Paranormal Wedding Planners Book 6)

by Jones, AE

  The females dragged Darcinda into the house to work on breakfast while they asked her if they would need to start calling her Your Majesty.

  McHenry sat through breakfast in a fog, eating after being asked twice if something was wrong with his food.

  After breakfast, the room was cleaned up and everyone started to pack. McHenry went out to his workshop to get some air.

  Moments later he sensed her standing in the doorway.

  “I bet you’re ready to have your house back again.”

  He wiped down his workbench. “Aye.”

  She walked over so she was looking at his profile. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m overwhelmed, to be honest.”

  “I can imagine.”

  McHenry put down the rag and faced her. “But then you must be too. You’ll make a good queen.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to think about that right now.”

  “Understandable.”

  “I was going to head back to my house.”

  “That’s a good idea.” He cleared his throat. “I want to thank you again for what you did for me and my family, Darcinda.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “That sounds like a goodbye to me.”

  “I’m sure you’re more than ready for things to go back to normal. We’ve taken you away from your life for long enough.”

  “You didn’t force me to come here. I did it on my own.”

  “Aye. Healer’s prerogative, you’d say.”

  She frowned. “It’s more than that.”

  He sighed. “Lass, I think we need to step back a bit. We’ve been caught up in the emotions of…well, everything. We need to get some perspective.”

  “Perspective?”

  “You need to consider the high councilor’s offer. You don’t need me around to muddy the waters.”

  “Because the two can’t be part of the same picture?”

  “I don’t see how.”

  She sighed, and he almost reached for her.

  “I know you need some time. You have a lot to think about, now that you’re free of the curse.”

  McHenry nodded. “I have options that I need to think through.”

  She crossed her arms. “So, is that your way of saying that you don’t want me around to muddy the waters?”

  He looked down at the workstation for a moment. “I can’t do this, lass. I need to be on my own.”

  She swallowed hard before taking a step back. “I get it. Your life has been upended. I can’t expect you to automatically jump into a relationship, especially if I’m going to remind you of the curse.”

  Damnation, that isn’t what he meant. But he couldn’t be with her.

  Not now, and maybe not ever.

  The truth was, the idea of setting foot off his property scared the ever-lovin’ life out of him. How could he be the male she needed him to be? Especially if she became queen? He had sworn he would never hold anyone back and that was especially true in Darcinda’s case.

  She deserved someone less damaged and more able to support her in her new role.

  He hated to admit it, but for him the curse was far from over.

  Magic can’t erase fear.

  Chapter 32

  Darcinda entered the exam room and smiled at Alex and the always cheerful JT.

  “How is my favorite patient?”

  “He hasn’t levitated anything today, so we’re good.”

  Darcinda walked over to the exam table where JT sat with Alex’s protective arm around him.

  “You been picking things up with your mind, buddy?”

  “Bah, bah.”

  “He has a plastic monkey that he chews on for his sore gums. He was fussy yesterday, and I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I put him in his high chair to get him a snack, and when I turned around, the monkey was floating in the air toward him.”

  Darcinda rubbed his belly. “You’re a powerful little thing.”

  JT giggled.

  “He’s going to give me gray hairs before he’s a year old.”

  “You just have to keep a low profile with humans until he’s a little bit older and understands that he mustn’t show his powers. But since your business caters to paranormals, that part is more or less taken care of.” Darcinda held up her hand over JT’s head and let her healing senses out. “He’s good. How about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “Have your powers showed up again?”

  “I can feel something prickling under my skin at times, yes.”

  Darcinda nodded. “I think it’s here to stay. I’d be happy to work with you to harness your powers, and together we can figure out what gifts you’ve been given.”

  “I don’t know.”

  Darcinda wasn’t having that. “No backing out. We work together, and then when JT gets older, you can help him understand his magic.”

  “I have a feeling JT will be teaching us a thing or two.”

  Darcinda chuckled. “Absolutely.”

  “How are you doing?” Alex asked.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Have you decided if you’re going to throw your hat into the ring to be faerie queen?”

  Darcinda’s stomach dropped. “Not yet.”

  “Well I think you’d be a kick-ass queen.”

  Darcinda smiled as she picked up JT and cuddled him close to her chest for a moment.

  “Have you talked to McHenry?”

  Darcinda’s heart fell while her stomach lurched. “Not since I left his house.”

  JT looked up at her and placed his small hand in the center of her chest. Maybe she was right and the boy was going to be empathic. But even with his powers, she didn’t think he could heal her.

  She kissed him on top of the head before she handed him back to his mom.

  Alex gazed at her for a moment, as if making a decision. “Here’s what I find interesting. As long as I’ve known you, you’ve refused to take no for an answer. You’re outspoken and gutsy. You’re the faerie equivalent of a bulldozer.” Alex held up her hand. “And yes, there is irony in that statement, since the same could be said of me. But you let McHenry push you away, and you didn’t fight for him.”

  Darcinda’s heart hammered. “I’m not going to force anyone to be in a relationship with me.”

  Alex bounced JT on her hip. “I think you aren’t fighting back because this time you have something invested in the game—your heart.”

  “You are a bulldozer,” Darcinda muttered.

  “Takes one to know one,” Alex countered. “Just so you know, as far as I’m aware, McHenry hasn’t left his land yet. We’ve tried to coax him away, and he’s given us a bunch of excuses.”

  Darcinda’s heart hurt for him. “If he’s not ready yet, there’s no sense in pushing him.”

  “There’s the fighter I’m used to seeing. And don’t worry, we know pushing him is only going to make him dig in his heels and revert back to the cranky McHenry of old. We’ve got a plan in place to help. As a matter of fact, it should be starting as we speak.”

  Did Darcinda dare ask what the group had planned? More than anything, she wanted McHenry to be healthy and happy, and that wasn’t just because of her damn healer’s prerogative, either.

  Her heart was invested, and that hadn’t happened in a long, long time. In the past she hadn’t dared open up her heart for fear it would be broken again. But was she better off if she didn’t feel anything?

  The healer in her said no, but the female in her wasn’t so sure.

  * * *

  McHenry stood in the workshop at his design table with a sketch pad and pencil poised and ready to write down the answers to his questions. If only there were actual answers forthcoming.

  “What shape table do you want?”

  “Round,” Olivia said.

  “Square,” Connor said at the same time.

  The couple looked at each other. McHenry had almost told them no when they first called him. But when they asked to come to his h
ouse instead of trying to get him to leave his land, he agreed to discuss building a metal table for them.

  “Round is fine,” Connor said.

  “Seating how many?”

  “Four,” Olivia said.

  “Eight,” Connor replied.

  McHenry set his pencil down. “What are you using this table for?”

  “Patio,” Connor said.

  McHenry frowned. “Don’t you live in a high-rise condo?”

  Connor looked over at Olivia. “For now. But we’re putting it on the market. We want to buy a house.”

  “Well, I’m thinkin’ you might want to hold off on the table until you have the house and an idea of what kind of space you want to create.”

  Olivia shook her head at Connor. “Jamie and Andrew are out with the animals. Why don’t you go play with Matilda?”

  Connor nodded, looking a little too happy to be leaving his workshop.

  McHenry sighed. “You’re not really here to talk about a metal table.”

  “Not really. I’m here to see how you’re doing.”

  McHenry crossed his arms. “Are you talkin’ to me as a psychiatrist right now, Olivia?”

  “I’m talking to you as a friend who happens to be a psychiatrist.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “Fear is a palpable thing.”

  “Olivia—”

  She interrupted him. “Do you remember the first time we met, when Connor brought me here?”

  “Aye.” He would never forget how scared she’d been.

  “I was broken, so fragile that I didn’t know if I would survive. And you welcomed me into your home without batting an eye. Then you brought me to this workshop, and I helped you work on one of your projects. Do you remember what you said to me about Connor?”

  He shook his head. He had said a lot of things that day to try and help the lass.

  “You said if I felt something for him, I shouldn’t let anyone, human or wolf, come between me and an opportunity for happiness. And I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t let a curse come between you and happiness.” Olivia rested her hand on top of his. “Will you let me help you get over your fears the way you helped me?”

  How could he be terrified and hopeful at the same time? But he couldn’t keep going the way he was. Before, he’d used the curse as an excuse for not living.

  No more. He needed to live, and in order to do so, to open his heart.

  “Aye, lass, I need some help.”

  Love is magic.

  Chapter 33

  It had been two weeks since Olivia visited his workshop. And since then McHenry met with her several times. If anyone could help him get over a lifetime of baggage, it was Olivia.

  Today not only had Olivia come to see him, but the twins and Julia tagged along as well. He had actually walked into the forest—beyond the boundary of his land—with the twins. And they spent time exploring and talking about nothing in particular. But he managed to do it, and the world hadn’t stopped turning.

  Now he sat on his front porch with the four of them, feeling proud, although happiness still eluded him.

  “What’s the scowl about?” Connor asked.

  “Connor…” Olivia said.

  “What? He should be happy. He went past the barrier today and didn’t have a panic attack.”

  Olivia dropped her head into her hands.

  McHenry patted her on the shoulder. “It’s okay, lass. There’s no controllin’ him.”

  Connor winked. “I’m glad you acknowledge that. So let’s talk about the elephant in the room.”

  A squeal had them turning to look across the courtyard. Selina, Andrew, and Roderick were grouped together and Selina had her arms wrapped around her father’s neck. As soon as she finished hugging him, Andrew held out his hand and Roderick reached across and shook it.

  They walked over to the porch.

  “We’re officially engaged.” Selina beamed.

  Hugs were exchanged as the trio joined them on the porch.

  “Love is in the air, McHenry. Which brings me back to what I want to talk to you about.”

  “Connor!” Olivia said.

  Roderick looked at McHenry. “It sounds like we interrupted something interesting. Please continue.”

  Connor jumped right in. “McHenry, have you talked to Darcinda?”

  McHenry’s heart raced. “Not since she left. Has she been chosen as the faerie queen?”

  Julia shrugged. “I don’t know for sure. She has to give them her decision soon.”

  Connor groaned. “That’s it? You’re just going to let her go? If you don’t have feelings for her, then fine. But if you do, you need to do something about it.”

  McHenry shook his head.

  “Don’t blow it, McHenry. If Devin, Tim, and Charlie were here right now, they’d tell you the same thing. Every single one of us pushed our mates away at one time or another. Don’t follow in our stupid footsteps.”

  “You told me I was blowing it with Julia,” Jack said.

  “And that I was screwing up with Olivia,” Connor said.

  “And you both were.”

  “So, then take your own advice, you big oaf. Go after that faerie and tell her how you really feel,” Connor said.

  Roderick coughed into his fist.

  “Do you have something to add to the discussion?” McHenry asked, his patience hanging by a thread.

  “I knew you were in love with her when we were trapped in the book. You were so mad when she showed up. And then you sacrificed yourself to help her escape the curse. Don’t be an idiot like our grandfathers.”

  “I don’t want her to lose her right to be queen. What if they tell her she can’t be with a demon? A demon who was under a faerie curse?”

  “Don’t you think you owe it to her to let her make her own choice instead of making it for her?” Julia said. “You, better than anyone else, know what it’s like to have your choice taken away.”

  Julia’s insight sucker punched him. Hells.

  Andrew walked over to stand in front of him. “Uncle Mac, if I can ask the demon king for permission to marry his daughter, the same demon king whose family despised ours for over a century, I think you can tell Darcinda how you feel.”

  Andrew held out his hand, and McHenry grasped it as he got to his feet.

  “It looks like I’ve got a faerie to woo.”

  A small cheer went up.

  “But I’m going to need some help.”

  “You got it.”

  “Anything.”

  “Absolutely.”

  He smiled at the group smiling back at him. He was lucky to have them in his life. Now he needed to see if he could convince Darcinda to give him a chance.

  * * *

  Darcinda cut some herbs and laid them in the basket on the grass next to her. She would spread them out to dry later.

  She needed to leave soon, or she would lose her nerve. Normally when she made a decision, she plowed forward, but this was life-changing, so she found herself taking her time, like giving in to the need to cut herbs first.

  She put the basket and shears next to the back door and reached for her apron tie. A sound had her turning, and the apron was abandoned as she watched the male emerge from the back forest onto her land.

  McHenry.

  Please don’t be a mirage. The Fates couldn’t be that cruel, could they?

  He walked toward her and stopped several feet away as if afraid to come any closer.

  “You left your land.” Real smooth, Darcinda.

  “I did.” He gestured over his shoulder. “Jack and Connor brought me here since everythin’ is new and I don’t know my way.” He looked at her healer’s bag sitting on the back stoop. “Were you goin’ somewhere?”

  She nodded. “I was just heading out for an important meeting.”

  “Can I have a few minutes of your time?”

  She nodded.

  “I…miss you, Darcinda.”

  Her breath came out in an une
ven rush. “I thought you were better off not letting the world in. Staying on your own.” Argumentative? Is this the way I want to handle this?

  He looked at her for a moment. “Aye. Well, I think a lot of things, but it doesn’t make them right. I was dead wrong. I can’t go back to the way things were.”

  “Why not?” She held her breath.

  He swallowed. “Because I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

  “McHenry—”

  He took a few steps closer. “I’m an idiot, Darcinda. I’ve spent my life alone not relyin’ on anyone. It started because I was trapped, but it became an excuse for me to keep others at a distance. I told myself I couldn’t ask someone else to be stuck with me on my small piece of land, but if I’m honest with myself, it’s because I wouldn’t risk my heart.”

  She gazed up into his amber eyes. “And now?”

  He reached out a large, callused hand and took hers. “Now I would risk everythin’ to be with you.”

  She looked at the stubborn demon standing in front of her. She couldn’t believe he’d actually come here and said what he said.

  She loved him.

  But that didn’t mean they didn’t need to figure some things out. “We need to talk.”

  McHenry smiled. “I’ve been doin’ more talkin’ over the past couple of weeks than in my entire lifetime. Olivia’s been spendin’ time with me.”

  Her throat tightened. “Olivia is very good at what she does.”

  “She is.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.”

  He shook his head. “That is on me for pushin’ you away.”

  “It’s not all on you. I let you do it and didn’t fight back. You’d been locked down for decades. No one’s going to bounce back from that overnight. And I was scared too.”

  He frowned. “Scared of what?”

  “Of really feeling. Letting someone into my heart. I’ve always found it easier not to risk it. It was damaged when I lost my mother, after watching her waste away for years after she lost my father. I decided then not to let anyone have that sort of control over me.” She looked down at her hands. “The irony is, I’ve also been wasting away, but just in my own way.”