I swallowed the lump in my throat as I looked at him. Danu and Ristan had a rocky relationship, but I knew she had to have loved him back, because she’d used her limited power to right her wrong the only way she knew how.
“I guess giving you back what you lost was the only way she thought she could even begin to make things right,” I sighed. Danu certainly wasn’t the easiest of beings, that was for sure. “Thank you for telling me; I know it couldn’t have been easy,” I said softly. “Have you told Olivia about Danu?”
“No, she knows something is off when others ask me about Danu or my visions. It’s not something that is easy to talk about, but eventually she is going to have to know.”
“Yeah, that’s sort of a big thing. Keeping secrets or withholding something like that is a time bomb. You better tell her; sooner rather than later.” I watched the fairies dance across the glen, pop up, and then dive bomb the Fairy Pools. Iridescent wings touched the water, skimming the serene surface and creating a brilliant glow as fairy dust settled across the water.
“Tonight is your wedding; we shouldn’t be stuck in the past. I’d like you to keep the sex of my child to yourself for now. Olivia is old-fashioned; she prefers to remain unaware until the birth. Unless there’s some secret,” he said, giving me a sharp glance. “Like quadruplets or something, I’d like to give her a heads up about something like that.”
“There’s only one in there,” I laughed.
“How are you feeling about your loss?” His hand slipped into mine as we walked through the glen.
“I don’t feel anything,” I admitted. “Destiny numbed my emotions regarding it, and so far I haven’t been able to mourn for it, even though I know I should. I wasn’t even aware that I was pregnant, so I’m sort of having trouble wrapping my head around it. I know we’ll have more children when the time is right. Sooner or later, we will face the Mages. I hope to be a part of that fight, and not have it be seen as interfering or meddling.”
“Synthia, if you have to pay a price each time you interfere…” he warned.
“I don’t, not when they are here, in this world. Destiny was clear about that. If they threaten Faery, it is my fight. The Guild will be a challenge, but with the Guilds falling, it’s needed more than ever. There has to be a balance kept. I can lead, but I cannot be hands-on. We will need to start recruiting as well. Speaking of which, you heard Callaghan has other Paladins who might be interested in helping. I think it a wise step to bring them on board with us.”
“Hmm, I have also heard rumor that Foul has gone missing.” He smiled. “You wouldn’t know where he is, would you?”
“Of course not,” I smirked. “Did you know some Fae eat other Fae?” I asked innocently as I watched his lips twitch into a blinding smile.
“You don’t say,” he drawled with mock surprise, then laughed. “You’re evil, Flower.” He released my hand and turned towards me. “Let’s get back to the castle so we can get you ready to marry my brother. Lucky fucker probably doesn’t deserve something like you. I knew you’d be good for both Faery and Ryder the day I let you escape—not to mention—I got to kiss the bride before she even knew there’d be a wedding. Even though I saw parts of what would happen in Ryder’s future, I wish I could have been shown things that I could have prevented.”
“Like cutting me open?” I teased, and watched an evil grin spread across his face.
“No…no, that part I wouldn’t change,” he laughed as I slapped his arm.
“Asshole,” I giggled.
“Okay, maybe that part. I’d like to think we could have prevented that, then again, we wouldn’t have a Goddess in our midst. I think you’re right; sometimes the pieces have to be allowed to fall where they land so that we can get to where we need to be.”
“You know something, Demon?” I asked and waited for him to look at me before I continued. “You talk too fucking much. Get my ass home; I need to paint my nails so I can marry my beast.”
“Oh yeah, what color?” he smirked.
“Getting Nadi On My Honeymoon.” I chuckled when he made a face.
“And what color is that?”
“Pink; it’s pretty, and your brother will ask me what color it is too, because he’s been learning to judge my moods from my nails.”
“Smart man,” he said.
“I agree; that’s why I’m planning to keep him forever.”
“Forever is a very long time.”
“Forever with that man will never be long enough.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
I was a fucking mess. I was bouncing from foot to foot as my nerves flared. I was worried, ticking off a list inside my head of what could go wrong tonight. Ristan kept frowning at me, certain I would ruin his plans with the wild look in my eyes.
“Calm down,” he chuckled softly. “You have nothing to fear tonight, Flower; your Fairy God-Brother has this shit handled.”
“What if he changes his mind?” I snapped, my palms sweating from a nasty combination of nerves mixed with fear. I had a lead ball in my stomach, and my heart seemed to be stuck in my throat.
“He would never change his mind about you,” he replied softly. “He’s as much of a mess as you are.” He absently raised Olivia’s hand and kissed it. The gesture was so sweet; it had me freaking out all over again.
“She looks like she is going to throw up,” Olivia worried aloud. “Do something, Ristan.”
“I’m trying, minx.” He patted her hand reassuringly. “Talk to me, Flower,” he urged.
“Madisyn isn’t out there,” I whispered as I worried my bottom lip. “They didn’t come because I killed their son.”
“He was an evil fucker; they knew that,” he offered.
“They’re my parents; I have no one here for me. No one, just Adam,” I whispered, as if someone would overhear it.
“I think you’re going to be surprised if that is your worry,” Olivia worried with a gentle smile. “I’m going to go take my place, Demon. My feet are killing me.”
“Kiss me,” he demanded softly, and I watched as he kissed her gently, as if he was afraid she’d break if he touched her too hard.
When she was gone, he turned and looked at me pointedly. “It is time to get you into the dress.”
“Fine, but I swear to the Gods I will rip someone’s throat out if he isn’t at the end of that aisle when I walk out of this room.”
He laughed and shook his head. He’d created a little pavilion with cloth walls. It awarded us privacy as I dealt with my panic attack. I’d never been so nervous in my entire life. Fighting Mages I could handle with my eyes closed, but this? This was ridiculous. I felt as if I was going to implode.
He startled me when his hand touched my shoulder and he turned me to face him. The makeshift tent smelled of fresh peaches, which Ristan had decided would be my perfume. He smiled when I frowned at him.
“I can’t create a masterpiece if you can’t hold still,” he growled, stepping back and releasing me. “I’m thinking something not so elaborate and poufy, because you’re you. Something pretty, but not too long,” he mumbled as he tilted his head from one side to the other. “That’s it. Beautiful.” He nodded approvingly when he’d picked whatever design he’d settled on inside his head. I placed my hands on my hips and was about to speak, when the air snapped with magic and wrapped around me as the soft fabric skimmed across my flesh.
I looked down, finding myself dressed in a beautiful Grecian style wedding gown. It was a stunning dress; vintage and white, with a V-neckline and lace flowers at the midsection and shoulders. It was backless, and had an A-line waist with a gauzy chiffon skirt that fell in soft folds and swirled when I moved. Delicate ruffles edged the hem of it. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was amazing and everything I wanted.
I smiled and looked up
at the Demon. It was perfect, and the length was something I could deal with. I was barefoot; instead of shoes, delicate silver anklets glittered around my ankles. I grinned, thankful that he understood how I wanted to marry my beast. Just as I am. I really didn’t want some over-the-top wedding; it just wasn’t me.
I wanted to be at the glen, in my bare feet, without any makeup on my face. I wanted it to be basic, no fuss or fanfare. Barebones, as Ryder called it. Just the bare essentials.
I tilted my head, feeling the cool breeze as it touched my ass. I frowned and stared at Ristan, who grinned a little naughtier than I liked.
I felt smooth fabric covering my ass, and I frowned at Ristan as he smirked, although it didn’t seem as if he was looking at me. He was concentrating on whatever I now wore beneath the dress. I felt chains as they wrapped around the lower edge of my tummy, delicate ones that made a soft chiming noise as I moved. The panties felt like they were barely there, hardly enough to cover much up.
“Demon,” I warned, wondering what it was that he’d done.
“The man deserves that ass wrapped in a bow. After everything you two have been through? You are being served up as a very enticing, pretty present. Besides, it’s my reputation as a Fairy God-Brother on the line here, Flower. Can’t have them not talking about it, right?” he laughed.
“My hair?” I asked, and he grinned.
“All in good time.” He patted my shoulder. “First, jewelry,” he said, and started to wave his magic fingers. I felt pressure on my arms as the silver bands of royalty wrapped around my upper biceps, silver bangle bands with the Dragons of Ryder’s crest engraved on them. Small, thin silver bracelets that made music when I moved my arms encircled my wrist. I smiled, liking the direction he was moving in. If his Demon gig didn’t work out, he could always be a stylist.
He dragged two fingers along my collarbone in a ‘V’ motion and around my neck, and trailed them down my back, leaving behind a necklace that was simple, yet beautiful. The design was very art deco and probably worn around 1912 or so. It was made up of cushion and oval shaped aquamarines that were joined together with tiny diamonds and silver wing-like shapes that comprised the chain of the necklace. Trailing from the clasp of the necklace in the back was a string of diamonds, which trailed down to the arch of my ass.
“Move on to the crown and hair; I want to see Ryder,” I laughed when he stared a little bit too long at the jewels. Any more and I’d never make it down the aisle. His fingers moved, curling my hair as he tied it up and piled it atop my head with tiny flowers mixed into the curls. The crown was a simple platinum band, and in the center was the Blood Kingdom’s mark carved from a ruby.
He tilted his head and then wiggled his fingers again, and when I looked down to see what he’d changed, the aquamarines in the necklace matched the ruby on my crown.
“Do you think they will come?” I blurted anxiously.
“I think they don’t blame you for your brother. He was evil long before you were born. They’ve been quiet, and I have a feeling that they mourn him no matter what he was, or what he became. They were his parents,” he said softly, his frown increasing as he wiggled his fingers again, and my ears were weighed down slightly. I brought my hand up, touching the chandelier earrings that I was sure matched the necklace and crown. “Done; it’s time, Flower. Adam is waiting to walk you down the aisle.”
“Tell him I am ready,” I replied, turning to look in the mirror. “Oh wow,” I whispered as I took in the beautiful bride who looked back at me. “You really rock at being a Fairy God-Brother.”
“Thanks, remember that,” he chuckled as he blurred and sifted from the tent-like structure and Adam entered it a few moments later.
“I was waiting outside…oh wow,” Adam stammered, as he took in my reflection. “This makes three times now that you’ve gotten ready for a wedding,” he said. “I think you get prettier with each one, but this, this is perfection at its best.”
“You look pretty good too.” I smiled as I took in his kilt and sash. “Same outfit as you wore for our wedding.”
“Couldn’t let it go to waste, after all; my glamour isn’t spot-on yet. So, let’s do this, baby girl.” He grinned with a mischievous wink and offered me his arm.
I slipped my arm through his and swallowed as I fought to calm the nerves and butterflies that assaulted me. I stepped from the tent and gasped. The forest was alive with the glitter of a thousand pixies. Small jars hung from the trees, tiny pixies inside of them dancing as their dust lit the jar, giving it a colorful glow.
The lush green forest was carpeted with flowers of every color. The ground that I walked on was covered in blood red roses. Kahleena giggled and tears filled my eyes as I took in her red dress, which was more ruffle and fluff than any girl should ever have to wear.
I knelt down, held my arms out, and caught her as she rushed into them. I hadn’t seen her for days, and each moment had been torture.
“Oh, my sweet baby,” I whispered as I pulled back and looked into the golden eyes that were so much like her father’s. “You’re beautiful.” I swallowed, trying not to cry. I stood up, looking for the boys.
“They’re with your father and Ryder,” Adam offered. I smiled and held out my arm, only to watch as Adam froze in place, along with Kahleena. I searched the area and my blood ran cold as I felt myself falling.
Chapter Thirty-Three
I landed on my feet in a room that had huge fires burning at different locations within it. Flames leapt from the giant cauldrons, and men and women walked around, talking and drinking and in a subdued way, almost looked like they were enjoying a party, until they noticed me decked out in my wedding finery.
“Oh, come on!” I growled as I stomped forward, sensing Destiny before I saw her at the front of the rather large crowd. “I was getting married!” I snapped, and then paused as I noticed the blood that was spattered across her robes. Her nose dripped with blood, as if she’d been in a fight recently.
“Synthia,” Destiny said in a meek tone I’d never heard her use before. She turned to stare at a man who watched me as I slowly walked forward. My every move was accompanied by a faint chiming sound. The delicate jewelry I wore announced every move I made. “It is time for you to meet our King,” she murmured softly as she nodded towards a beautiful man, who watched me with chocolate brown eyes. There was a radiant glow that emanated from him that almost hurt my eyes. “He has been known by many names. Some have known him as Atum, others have worshipped him as Chaos…he was there in the beginning. The first of us.”
His hair was a white-blonde shade, reminiscent of the color of the sandy shores of the Caribbean. He was bronzed, as if he spent entire days upon those beaches, and the ozone that wafted from him spoke of immense, electrical power. I wasn’t sure if I should curtsy or get on my knees.
“Why am I here?” I inquired, and winced as the people in the room erupted in chatter about me and my lack of manners.
“You will be silent until I allow it to be otherwise,” Chaos or Atum, or whatever his name was, snapped. I decided his looks could cause chaos wherever he went but it sounded weird in my head to call him that. “She is very new, and definitely not Fae pretending to be one of us. Interesting; you look just like her. Danu has chosen to sacrifice her life for yours. In doing so, she has given you her life,” he murmured, forcing me to strain my ears to hear him. “I thought you were like the others; Fae pretending to be a God to collect followers, and fast food.”
“I have heard of Fae doing so, yes. I’m not one of them,” I admitted.
“What do you intend to do with her sacrifice?” he asked, ignoring the Goddesses and Gods who snickered behind me.
“I plan to continue what she started. I want the Fae to stay where they belong: in Faery. I will do my best to keep her alive, no matter what the cost is. I understand that the F
ae flooding the humans’ realm is something that none of you want, and I intend to ensure that they don’t stay there.”
“You did not let them out; it should not be your problem,” he responded, as though what I intended to do puzzled him. “Why do anything about it?”
“Because she is my mother, and they are her people. Because I was raised as a human and care about them too? Why wouldn’t I try to keep the Fae in check?”
“Because it is Danu’s problem, and easily fixed.” A deep, sensuous voice called out behind me. I turned and looked at the speaker, and found the most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen in my entire life observing me.
“Easily fixed?” I asked.
“Who do you think neutralized her first race? She created Dragons and other creatures that were not bound to any one world, and they threatened many of the world’s we Gods have created.”
“Zeus, introduce yourself to our visitor,” Atum admonished.
“Zeus,” he said briskly.
“Synthia,” I greeted with a firm nod. “I am aware of the first race, but I wasn’t aware that you helped her put them down. The Fae think she made them turn on each other.” He gave me a condescending look, as though he pitied me.
“Most of them were put down, but not all of them. Then she created the High Fae and the rest of the castes and creatures and bound them to Faery. She failed to bring it to us, or to disclose what she had done. Those ancient beings share a world with you,” he said softly with a wicked smile as he took in the look of confusion in my eyes.
“And you’re sure of it?” I asked.
“Do you think I lie?”
“I don’t pretend to know you, or if you would lie. What I do know is that I have been told by multiple beings that if Faery dies, all of the creatures of that world will try and jump to the world that is intended for humans. If that happens, both worlds will be destroyed. I grew up in that world and I think she wanted me there so I could care about the humans too. She wanted me to appreciate both worlds, so I intend to do my best to stop the destruction of Faery and look for a way to heal that world. I will, to the best of my ability, try and police the Fae who have escaped and have them comply with the laws of the Horde, as well as try to keep the remaining Fae in Faery.”
Unraveling Destiny Page 29
