by L M Lacee
“Family!” Sage softly said. “We stick together she will be alright she’s a fighter. You know she is. We know that!”
Hoarsely he said. “I know…I know!”
Ella called to Sage. “Sage, I think the babies are under a sleep spell, they will not wake and I am sure they will need food. We need Edee as well!”
Sage gave Fin’s arm a pat in comfort as she moved to Ella just as Edith arrived. “I am here. Oh my! Pink hair.”
“That is all you can say?” Sage asked her as she turned to where Edith came to a stop. “Well what else. I mean Pink!”
“I don’t know something like where did they come from? What species are they? Anything other than just Pink?”
Edith hummed then said. “So cute. Molly will be jealous.” Sage grinned knowing it will not be Molly as much as it would be Cara who would be jealous. It was a well-known fact, Cara thought she was a unicorn so she should have pink or purple hair. Why she thought this no one knew. It was what she asked for almost daily. To the point Storm asked Sage to change her hair color. She had declined especially when Charlie gave her a long look of retribution if she had dared too.
Sage hid a laugh as she knew Charlie was going to have a fight on her hands, as she was always telling Cara nobody had pink or purple hair. She looked over at the worried Charlie and saw she had not realized that yet.
Sage place her hands over both babies eyes and foreheads saying a few words while a soft blue mist engulfed her hands and flowed out to enfold each little body, then the light winked out.
Within seconds the babies opened their eyes and started to cry softly as new-borns did. “Green eyes now that is even cuter.” Edith murmured as she placed a hand over each little chest. “Pixie and Faerie. Wow I did not think that was a thing?”
“Not usually.” Reighn agreed as he moved to where the young were.
“Although Elijah is Pixie.” Edith grinned. “Well yeah I forget that, so they are two days old or one day. Fin pick one because of the spell it can be either.”
“One day.” He said unsure why that felt right but it was what he decided, so he stuck with it. She nodded. “One day it is.” Mentally she recorded the date. Ella and Sage changed both babies into clean clothes while a bottle for each of them was warmed. Then Edith and Sage took a baby each and started to feed them. Sage grinned at Reighn as she told him. “Well…well look at that, I am an auntie and you are an uncle again.”
Charlie just stared and slowly lifted her eyes to Fin’s stunned ones saying. “This is not going to end well.”
Fin replied quietly. “I know, they will never let us keep them?” Reighn rubbed his head as he stared at the babies. “How the hell did our June get them?”
“Does it matter they are June’s and Fin’s.” Frankie asked of him. Reighn looked at her and frowned. “Unfortunately nothing is that simple, he asked Fin. “Do you want them?”
“My shadow brought them home. This means something. So until she says they are not ours. I will keep them.”
Sharm straightened and stretched his back then he walked to where they all stood. “So it is a good news...bad news scenario.”
“Good news first please, my friend.” Fin said as Sage braced herself. Sharm told them. “I have healed all her wounds, sword and bullet holes, someone tried real hard to kill our June.”
Sage sucked in a breath through her teeth then said. “Just as well she is hard to kill!” As Fin’s face hardened even more.
“Isn’t it though!” Agreed a sardonic Sharm, “Bad news she was poisoned, thankfully with a type of human poison. It was designed to drain the life force of a half shifter. A human or someone who knows magic has developed this.”
“Is it fairy magic?” Fin asked shocked faeries would kill one of their own.
“Sort of and yet no, it is magic with a twist and it is the twist I have no cure for.”
“Sharm my brother that is as clear as dirt!” Sage grumbled.
“I know.” He wiped his face. “So plainly speaking the poison is draining her life force. Thankfully she is wolf and the shifters ability to heal just about anything is helping to slow it down but it will win if we do not find help. I took samples and may be able to manufacture an antidote but do not hold your breaths. Dragon Lady someone is misusing magic. Your department I think?”
Sage snarled. “It is and someone will pay.”
“This may help, it is a variation of what felled Storm.” Sharm told her.
With a look at his shadow’s strained face and Fin’s closed one. Reighn said. “I am tired of this. It seems like every time we turn around we are confronted with another type of poison. Call the Faeries.”
Charlie nodded as she pulled her phone out. Sharm turned to the two babies. “Now who do we have here? It seems like they are two little pixies.” Ella nodded in agreement. Edith smiled. “Half right. Pixie and faerie. What a combination, their parents were brave. Very brave to go against the faerie rules. Must have been love.”
Fin took his eyes from the green eyed, pink haired babies and looked at the erected screens where his June was behind being washed. He looked at Reighn. “What do I do?”
“Well my friend.” Reighn shook his head as he told him. “Your shadow has brought you trouble. June has taken them as yours which means before she wakes. We have some decisions to make.”
“First thing!” Sage said. “Let us get the faeries here. Who is available?”
Charlie grimaced. “Only Prince Tarin again.”
“Why Scarlett and Elijah were here earlier with Kai.”
Charlie nodded. “True, but they all returned to the High Queens Grove before the confinement starts.
Sage pouted. “Shoot!”
This announcement was met with silence until Sage shrugged and said. “Call him anyway, we will do damage control later.”
Charlie nodded. “I have already!”
Sage told them. “Look! Let us see what we are dealing with here it may not be as bad as we think.”
Fifteen minutes later Sage’s hopes were dashed. “They have to go to the Grove.” The pompous faerie Prince Tarin announced.
“Do their lives depend on it?” Fin asked mildly as he watched Verity coo to his daughters in their baskets.
“No not their lives but...”
“But nothing,” he answered, “they stay until their mother says otherwise.”
Reighn grunted and hid a smile. Tarin had been at the Grove for almost five months visiting the Queen and King. In that time he had been allowed the run of Dragon’s Gap. While here he managed to piss off Harper to the point she had almost killed him twice. Charlie only once. June three times. He had heard, if it had not been for his personal guards the Queen and King had given him, he would surely be dead.
It was unfortunate Elijah and Scarlett were absent. When Tarin had arrived and Reighn had asked him to look the hatchlings over. He had taken one look and started making pronouncements and demands. First he demanded to know how June had obtained the twins, which they had no answer for. Sharm told him. “Somewhere between dropping her car load of females and young off, and Fin finding her and the twins only that day. She had encountered someone with swords and guns that tried to kill her.”
Sage told him she June had rescued two half-blood faeries only a day old and until she woke they were still in the dark.
The Prince nodded several times when Sharm and Sage finished recounting the events leading up to him being summoned. Then he decided he had not pissed Fin off enough. So he looked Fin over then smirked as he said. “Dragon Fin, I do not think you realize the political dilemmas you will be causing by not giving the half-breeds to me.” And Reighn wondered if the male could get anymore patronizing. Fin nodded and then replied. “You are right, but that makes no difference to what will happen. Especially if you want to remain alive.”
Reighn watched Tarin try to, out position Fin. He had reports of the male having the occasional temper tantrum that faeries were known for.
The hurt feelings he had caused in the first two months after his arrival had been easily settled by either Frankie or June. Reighn had kept out of it but as he watched Tarin try to demand, not persuade or convince. No! Just demand Fin and a room full of females and males, who were not inclined to let him remove the hatchlings. That the little ones must be removed from the castle. And Dragon’s Gap! Preferable, Reighn was sure before June woke and decided to use her guns.
He could see Sage was furious, her friend, her sister, lay weak and unable to defend herself or her hatchlings and this male thought to take them from her. This was not going to end well for the Prince. Because Reighn knew, just like he knew the sun would come up tomorrow, that his shadow would never allow those hatchlings to be taken. That was of course if Fin even thought to allow it. This was not going to happen. Regardless of what the Prince said. There was no one more stubborn than his friend Finlay Slorah who had said only a handful of words since the Prince arrived which consisted of mainly. No!
Tarin was getting a little annoyed. His guards, who understood and read the anger in the room better than the Prince did were becoming restless. If the clenching and un-clenching of their swords' hands were any indication. Any minute now the Prince was going to screw up and Reighn was going to let him. He did not like the male and had very little patience for him. With the next words out of the young males mouth. Reighn was proved right.
“I do not think you understand dragon Slorah. These half breeds belong at the Grove but under the circumstances it will have to be the Northern Grove. Where I will undertake their re-education. It is what must happen. You and your female are not permitted to keep what you do not own. That is if they survive the next few days. We own the half-breeds as is our right. So I demand you hand them over to me now!” As the Prince spoke his voice rose enough for all to hear. Fin straightened from his relaxed pose against the door frame leading into the utility room, the twins had been fed, bathed and changed and were now resting in baskets Verity and Grace found for them, they looked adorable, every now and again his eyes drifted to them and his dragon crooned in pleasure.
All Fin wanted to do was take his family to the home waiting for them so his brogue was more pronounced with the impatience he felt and his dragons anger at the delays. “I understand you are a Prince and that you have only been here a short while. I have been here less, even though it is my home. So I am going to let your poor choice of words pass, other than to say Dragon’s Gap, has no half-breeds. That includes these hatchlings here. So if I was you, I would rephrase what you are trying to say and before you speak again. Think! Now as to the matter of removing my hatchlings to a Grove, any Grove! It will not happen.”
Just then four small figures flew into the room as they landed they grew. Fin raised an eyebrow in amusement. Prince Tarin swirled around and bowed as Queen Scarlett and King Elijah and their guards stood there. Displeasure radiated from the Queen and King. The Prince again unable or unwilling to read the feelings emanating from the new arrivals and thinking he was backed up and ignoring the warning looks his guards threw at him, puffed out his chest and said. “Oh please dragon Slorah you were saying?”
Fin eyed the male and his guards and then the newcomers, shrugged and said as he straightened from the wall where he had relaxed back too. “I was going to say, I have no idea what re-education is, nor do I care to know. What I do know is that my shadow, not my female as you so eloquently put it will not allow her babies to be taken by you or anyone. I, of course, will have to agree with her. They are our hatchlings, not yours, they stay here with us.”
Tarin inclined his head in a mocking salute to Fin. “I understand what you are saying, we of course must take into consideration the feelings of your shadow, maybe we could come to some arrangement.”
Reighn stood, head bowed as Sage looked over at him uncomprehendingly when she heard him mumble. “Do not say it you fool, it is not worth your life.”
The Prince smirked as he said. “We could, of course, offer a monetary compensation for the half… Sorry young!” Every female growled at his audacity as anger swamped Sage and she threw a blue ball of magic at the male dropping him to his knees. “You dare! My sister’s hatchlings are not property to be bought and sold. You disrespect our young and you disrespect our home.”
She lifted her eyes to the screen June was meant to be lying behind and found her standing there. Her eyes were on fire as they locked on Fin, he was by her side in a second. “No my love! No, they will remain with us. I will never allow it. Your family will not allow it! Come let me take you back to bed.”
She nodded and looked at Sage who said. “I have this, go sweetie.” June sighed and her eyes rolled back up into her head as she passed out once more. Fin swept her up into his arms, carrying her back to the bed. Claire hurriedly went with them.
Reighn looked at the Prince now on his knees. “Queen Scarlett, King Elijah you should explain the facts to the young Prince and while you are at it, tell him whose territories these are. It may stop any complications in the future and possibly keep him alive.”
They both inclined their heads as the Queen answered. “Thank you for your understanding. The facts will once again be discussed with him.”
Sage released him, and he stood scowling at her. The King looked at Reighn. “She will not heal completely without our help. It is why we are here. May we?”
As the Queen eyed the Prince, she said. “One of the reasons. You Tarin will stay here until we have seen to our friend.”
The Prince paled when the Queen motioned to the four guards. “Make sure he stays.” She said to the two guards that were with Prince Tarin. “Daru, Mercca. I apologize once more for your discomfort.” They both bowed and the one named Daru responded. “It has been illuminating our Queen.”
“I am sure it has been.” Was the King’s dry response as he and his Queen followed Frankie behind the screens. Reighn turned to the Prince. “You are an idiot aren’t you? Is that why you are here?”
“I do not know what you mean. I do not have to answer to you Dragon Lord.” Even now he sneered at Reighn who took one step towards him and then Storm was in front of the Prince which may have saved his life as he punched him hard in the stomach and dropped him to the floor, looking down at him without expression, not a person moved. Storm was Commander of the Shields and one of the most fearsome of dragons it was not that long ago he was border line rogue. The Prince made to get up, Storm pointed a finger at him as he said. “Stay down you fool. You just insulted our Lord in his home on his lands. You know you are a guest at his benevolence. You will apologize now.” Storm’s voice was calm and controlled which made it all the more frightening.
Tarin gulped the hot words on his tongue while anger with a healthy dose of fear entered his eyes, sulkily he said. “I apologize for my words Dragon Lord.”
Reighn felt his dragon stir at the look of contempt that entered the faerie’s eyes, his guards must have felt it as well because one of them, the one named Mercca decided it was time to introduce himself and Reighn did wonder if it was to save the Prince from Storm’s wrath.
“My Lord, please let me introduce you to my Queen’s guards Rumoh and Dumoh they are brothers and have been with the Queen and King for many years.” They both bowed from the waist and ignored the now trembling Prince as he shakenly rose.
Tarin finally realized the predicament he was in when none of the Royal guards had stopped the male Storm from hitting him or reprimanded him, in fact they seemed to radiate quiet satisfaction.
“I am Mercca and this is my partner and friend Daru.” They also bowed to Reighn and Sage. The guard Daru said. “To answer your previous question. Yes, he is an idiot and yes that is indeed why he is here, it is his last chanc
e and he has succeeded in making sure it would fail, to what outcome my friends and I have no idea.”
The other guard Mercca told them. “I would also like to apologize for not thumping him in the mouth as I should have or let my partner do it when he was talking earlier. I did not because Fin was handling it, if I had known Lady June was here. I would not have been so tolerant.”
The guard Daru said. “We count both Fin and Lady June amongst our friends and have spent many delightful days with Fin at Broadswords. “How dare you!” Tarin spluttered.
Without even looking at the Prince, Daru said. “Shut up Tarin you are beyond your home borders and in trouble. Our Queen is very tolerant, yet even she has had enough. Your parent’s last resort was to send you here. So I advise you to be quiet.”
The Queen and King re-entered, the Queen enfolded Sage in a hug and said. “She will be well. Elijah rid her of the remaining infection or poison. It was as Sharm said a mix of human and faerie magic. We will send the information to the High Queen and my people will track down how these thugs got a hold of it. We will need to talk to June when she is well. For now, know she will recover and her daughters will thrive and be well enough to give her shadow a merry dance.”
Sage laughed and hugged her back. “Thank you Scarlett. I was worried.”
The King hugged her as well. “You are welcomed, she is as dear to us, and without June we all would be lost. She is our glue!”
“She really is.” Sage agreed tearfully.
Elijah said. “Now the young are as you know half faerie and half Pixie. In as much as I dislike our Queen mother’s nephew’s words, he is correct. In that they will have needs that June and Fin will be unable to manage.”
Fin walked out from behind the screen. Elijah nodded to him and continued. “Tarin was incorrect as to where they could receive an education, they will be helped and given their normal tuition here. I am full blood Pixie. I am sure Tarin just forgot that or he would have told you I am quite capable of undertaking their education.” He held his hand up when Fin went to speak. “It will commence if and only if they show abilities. They are what used to be referred to as grey ones, so abilities can appear at any time.”