by R. E. Butler
“I was just about to say the same thing to you, actually,” he said, giving her a soft smile. “I hope your parents don’t mind that we’re already mated.”
She shook her head. “They won’t. They’re traditional people, so there are things that are important to them in relation to me and who I spend the rest of my life with, but they’re not so stuck in traditions that they’d be mad we made the choices we did.”
Her father expected Cassian to ask for her hand in marriage whether they were mated already or not. Her dad wanted to walk her down the aisle and give her away, and he’d never forgive her if she did something like elope. Plus, her mom loved to throw a party and she’d be highly pissed if she didn’t get to plan an engagement party and the wedding and reception.
“I guess I won’t ever meet your parents,” she said.
“I wish you could. Well, let me rephrase that.” He cleared his throat. “I wish they were the sort of people who would be happy for me because I found my true mate. But I know they wouldn’t be. All they’d see is that you’re not a mermaid. “ He blew out a breath and gave her hand a squeeze. “You’re the reason I left my clan. So that I could make my own romantic choices, lead with my heart. Even if they didn’t mind that you were a fairy, they would certainly not understand me wanting to choose you because I feel connected to you.”
“So they might understand a mating if it were arranged for political purposes, but not for love?”
“Right. Love and arranged matings don’t really mix.”
“I’d say that’s generally true, but my parents were arranged and they love each other.” She mused on that for a moment. “Although to be fair, I know several arranged matings where the couple is content, they even love each other, but aren’t in love with each other. I just never wanted to risk my future happiness on the king’s ability to arrange a mating.”
“I can relate. I’d never want that kind of responsibility. I mean, what if you picked an asshole male for a female? Then she’d be miserable.”
Zia chuckled. “Thankfully we don’t have to worry about arranged matings anymore, and our children won’t grow up having their choices taken from them either.”
Just the thought of children made Zia want to touch her belly. So she did.
“You think you might be?” he asked with a low, hopeful voice.
“It’s way too early to tell, but part of me believes that I am.”
“Me too.”
They reached her parents’ grand home. The doors swung open as they climbed the steps, and her mother hurried out to greet them.
“I’m so thankful you’re safe, darling,” her mom said. “Both of you.”
“Mom, this is Cassian. Cassian, this is my mother, Olive. Where’s Dad?”
“In the kitchen making punch.”
“Oh, yum! Dad makes the best punch.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Cassian,” her mom said, gesturing for them to head inside.
“You too. Thanks for having me.”
They followed Olive into the house. Cassian set their bags down by the door. “Wow,” he said. “It’s like my clan’s palace.”
“Fairies like to do it up,” Zia said.
“I guess so,” Cassian said with a chuckle.
Zia took his hand, and they followed her mom into the kitchen where her father was stirring a crystal bowl with a long ladle and dropping things into it. She didn’t know his recipe, because he didn’t share it with anyone, but she did know that there was lemon zest, pixy flower petals, and fresh-squeezed blood orange juice. It got its dark pink color from dragon fruit, which she loved.
“Hi, Dad,” Zia said.
Her father set the ladle against the side of the bowl and brushed his hands off on a towel. He greeted them. “I’m so happy to see you, Zia. This must be Cassian. I’m Athene.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Her mother joined them, putting her arm around her father. “We wanted to thank you for saving Zia’s life,” her father said.
“She saved mine,” Cassian said.
Zia said, “I think they mean originally. When I was knocked out and floated into Sable Cove.”
“Oh,” Cassian said, smiling. “You’re welcome. If it weren’t for Delaney’s vision, I might not have been so attuned to what was going on in the bay and I might have missed her.”
Her parents gave him a curious look. “A vision?” her mom asked. “Who is Delaney?”
“A witch,” Zia said. “She touched a candle and had a vision of someone in the bay needing help on the crescent moon.”
“Fascinating,” her father said. “But how did you save his life?”
“That happened today? When you were attacked?” her mother asked.
“Yes. It’s a bit of a long story,” Zia said.
“Then let’s take our punch out to the veranda and chat,” her father said.
He put cups on a small tray and filled them with punch while her mother gathered cookies onto a plate. Once they were out on the veranda and seated on comfortable chairs, Cassian told the short version of his exile from his people, and the fact that Ianessa had been keeping tabs on him all this time. Zia told her parents how connected she felt to sea life.
“It’s not just the plants, although that feels very strong, but I can also sense the sea creatures too. I can’t really talk to them, not like Cassian does, but they did respond to me when I called for help.”
“She saved my life by binding Ianessa in seaweed and forcing her to call off the guards. My friend Venice and I were very, very outnumbered.”
“But fighting valiantly,” Zia said, giving his hand a squeeze.
“Well, we’re just thankful you’re both safe,” her father said.
“Speaking of calling for help,” Zia said, “I wanted to ask you both something important.”
She took a sip of the fruity punch and set the delicate crystal cup down on the table.
“Of course, ask away,” her father said.
“Is there a witch or warlock in our family history?”
They both looked at her in surprise. “No,” her father said. “What’s prompting you to ask?”
“The witches who helped us when we were attacked told me that they were called by a witch needing help. When the mermen were trying to kill me I was screaming for help in my mind, hoping someone might be able to help me get free before it was too late. The witches said that they didn’t know who was calling them but they were certain it was a witch. I was the only one calling for help, so...” she let her voice trail off, not finishing the sentence.
Her father hummed. “Well, I know of nothing like that in either of our families. We’re all fairy, all the way back to the beginning. You’ve seen our family tree.”
Zia nodded, chewing on her bottom lip. In the study, there was an enormous old painting depicting their family tree, the branches reaching back many generations. She’d studied that map as a child, curious about the people who made up their family. Her parents had both been only children, and her mother’s parents were both dead, as was her father’s father. The only living relative she had aside from her parents was her father’s mother, Iris, who Zia called Nonni.
She lived in a cottage nearby. Her fairy power was connected to birds. She had a large aviary attached to her cottage where unique and exotic birds nested.
Zia sat back in the chair with a sigh, feeling frustrated. She was honestly hoping that her parents would just blurt out that the big family secret was a witch in the line, and that would explain why she’d been able to reach out psychically to the witches. Since that didn’t happen, Zia was left wondering why the witches had been called to her.
“Maybe they simply answered the call of someone in distress,” her mother said. “We’re magical, after all. It’s a different type of magic from witch and warlock magic, and also from merpeople magic. But magic is magic, and you cried out for help and they answered. However that happened, we can be thankful for it.”
> “True,” Zia said. “It was weird though.”
She let the subject drop as her parents turned their attention to Cassian and asked about his life in Sable Cove. They clearly liked him, and Zia was really happy about that.
“I didn’t know there were actual lighthouse keepers in the states anymore,” her father said.
“There aren’t many. It’s all so automated now,” Cassian said. “I enjoy it though. Even in the summer when the beach gets crowded during the day, the lighthouse is relatively private, and it’s got a great view.”
“I think you would both love Sable Cove,” Zia said. “You’ll have to come visit.”
“We’d enjoy that.”
Cassian gave Zia a little nudge. “I’d like to speak to your father for a few minutes.”
“Let’s tidy up the kitchen,” her mom said, standing and lifting the tray of empty cups.
Zia kissed his cheek and smiled at her dad.
“Let’s go for a walk down to the pond,” her father said.
The decorative pond had koi fish and water lilies. Her father had built a gazebo for her mom on the water’s edge so she could enjoy the pond without having to sit on the grass. She watched as her mate and her father walked out of sight.
“So?” Zia asked, leaning her hip on the counter as her mom filled the sink with hot water and soap.
“He’s a very nice male. And you two look so happy together.”
“We are. Especially now that we know we’re safe and that mermaid can’t harm us anymore.”
“It’s a shame that she was so crazy she couldn’t let go of what happened between them.”
“Hopefully she’ll be able to now.”
Zia pulled a hand towel from a nearby drawer and dried off the cups as her mom washed them. She set them gently on the counter. “I think he’s asking Dad for his blessing on our marriage. I told him it was important to Dad.”
“I’m sure he is too. It’s good he’s doing it; your father will be so pleased.”
“He’ll say yes, right?” Zia asked.
“Of course!” her mom said with a laugh. “Remember that we’re having dinner with Yarrow and Hazel tomorrow night. Although we told them we wanted something casual, you know how Hazel is.”
“Any excuse to wear a fancy dress,” Zia said. “I haven’t let Joy know we got in. I should call her.”
“She’ll miss you when you move away.”
“We haven’t really talked about where we’ll live.”
“Well, he’s a lighthouse keeper. We don’t have one in Trieve.”
“Good point, but he was also a guard and a teacher in his clan. He could do that anywhere. He suggested we stay here for a bit and then in Sable Cove for a bit and see how we feel. I don’t care where I live so long as we’re together.”
“That’s how it’s supposed to be,” her mom said, nodding.
Zia nodded in agreement, her gaze slipping to the window over the sink. She couldn’t see Cassian and her father, but she had a feeling that something amazing was about to happen and she couldn’t wait to find out what it was.
Chapter Fifteen
Cassian wasn’t a nervous male by nature, but he had a definite case of nerves as he walked out of Zia’s grand home with her father, Athene. The house was surrounded by beautiful gardens.
“Did Zia plant these?” Cassian asked as he stopped to touch the head of a dark yellow flower.
“She and her mother. Olive’s nature power is related to plants like Zia’s. They have the gardens arranged so there is something growing year-round. Even in the winter, there are holly bushes and miniature pine trees dotting the landscape.”
“Your power is water?”
“Yes. I can bring water up from underground, cause tides to fluctuate, and even make it rain for short periods of time. I took Zia fishing once when she was young and the engine went kaput, so I used a tide to get us back to shore.”
“That’s a very handy power to have.”
“You can talk to fish, though?”
“For the most part. Some sea creatures are more articulate, like dolphins or whales, but if they don’t really speak to me in my mind, I can generally get a feeling for what they want to tell me.”
“You think she gained some of your powers from your mating?”
They reached the edge of a pond and stepped into the gazebo. Half of the gazebo was set on low pilings in the water. Cassian leaned on the top rail and looked over into the water. There were koi swimming around, some headed his way, curious about his appearance.
“It appears so,” Cassian said. “She was able to call for help and dolphins answered.” And then there was the odd way the witches had shown up, but he kept that thought to himself, since her family was certain no witches or warlocks were in their family line.
“Well, that’s wonderful,” Athene said. “Now, you wished to speak to me?”
“I did.” Cassian straightened and turned to face her father. “I’d like to ask your permission to have Zia’s hand in marriage.”
Athene grinned. “You have my blessing. And her mother’s too.” He extended his hand and Cassian shook it, his nerves easing swiftly.
“Thank you.”
“We’re so happy you two found each other. It’s quite miraculous the way you met, like kismet.”
“It feels like it, especially after the prophesy.” Cassian looked over the water again, then said, “I haven’t asked Zia to marry me yet. We’ve talked about it, but I don’t have a ring for her. What’s the process for marriage with fairies?”
“Well, we’ll have an engagement party to announce it officially. I don’t want to rush you, but if you were to propose while you’re here we could have a party the following night.”
“I just need a chance to go for a swim,” Cassian said, explaining what he would need.
“I can arrange that,” Athene said. He hummed in thought. “After Zia’s asleep, I can take you to the sea and wait while you do what you need to do. I also know a male with power over metal, and I’m certain he’ll be able to help.”
“Thank you so much,” Cassian said.
“Once you’re engaged, it’s just a matter of deciding where the marriage will occur and setting a date.”
“I like the gazebo,” Cassian said. “It’s like a perfect blend of water and nature.”
“That’s why I made it for Olive. I think Zia would love to have a ceremony here, the question is whether it will be soon or in the spring.”
“We can leave that up to the girls to choose.”
“Smart male,” Athene said with a chuckle. “Shall we go back to the house?”
Cassian nodded.
“Since you and Zia are mated that makes you family,” Athene said.
Cassian was humbled to the core. Zia’s parents were kind and sweet; it was easy to see where she got it from.
They walked back to the house, and Cassian smiled when Zia ran out of the house and greeted him with a hug. “Did you like the gazebo?” she asked.
Her father left them and went inside. Cassian and Zia sat on the steps of the deck, and he put his arm around her. “I did. I think it’s perfect.”
“Perfect for what?”
He realized he’d almost let his plans slip. He would have loved to ask her to marry him right then, if he had a ring. He’d ask her the following night, and plan something romantic, perhaps in the gazebo.
“It’s a perfect blend of water and nature. Your dad said that’s why he built it.”
“I used to play out there when I was little. When I was learning how to control plants, I’d call vines to me to wrap around the slats and rails. Dad used to get so irritated when I’d leave them like that, because then they’d grow all over everything and attract bugs.”
He chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “Are you telling me my beautiful mate was a troublemaker?”
She pinched her finger and thumb together. “Only a tiny bit.” She peeked up at him, her eyes glittering w
ith happiness and curiosity. “Did you have a good talk with my dad?”
“I did.” He rose to his feet and pulled her with him. “You mentioned you’d take me on a tour of the city and the sun is getting ready to set, so maybe we should go do that before it gets dark?”
“Sounds good to me.”
They stopped in the house to tell her parents where they were going, and then walked around the city, from the royal palace which was a stunning, sprawling estate, to the market in the town square which would open at dawn for fairies to sell their goods.
“We can come back in the morning,” she said as they headed back to her parents’ home. “It’s nice to walk among the stalls and see what people are selling.”
“I’d love that,” Cassian said.
“Then we’re having dinner with the king and queen tomorrow night,” Zia said. “I talked to Joy and she’s excited to meet you.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting all your friends and family members.”
“Well, it’s just my parents and my dad’s mom. Neither of my parents had siblings, and their parents have passed on except for Nonni.”
When they reached a little cottage near her parents’ home, she said, “And this is my house. Well, ours now. We can keep it for when we visit.”
“You don’t want to live here?”
“I think Sable Cove is home for us, don’t you? I mean...I know it hasn’t been long, but I already miss being there.”
He met her at the front of the car and took her hand. “Zia, you’re home for me. Here, there, wherever. I just need you.”
“You’re so sweet, Cassian. You’re home for me too.”
He swung her up into his arms and kissed her. She hooked her arm around his neck and kissed him. “How about a house tour?”
“That can wait, sweet fairy. The only room in the house I care about right now is the bedroom.”
She hummed softly, the scent of her arousal blooming. “You have the best ideas.”