by Godiva Glenn
He struggled to get to his feet but didn’t have the strength. He fell back but didn’t hit the floor, only something soft and supportive. Alethea was holding him across her lap, her palm pressed to his chest. Between her fingers, silver light splayed out, trying to escape. She held it down, but suddenly he realized she shouldn’t be.
“It’s okay,” he said through gritted teeth.
“No...” she insisted. “You can’t...”
He took her wrist and pulled it away. The pain ebbed as the light grew and rose. The haunting agony released him and he saw with clarity what hid in the silver light. He wrapped his fist around the source, extinguishing the glow and the remainder of his pain. The aspect’s tear—the seed that had transformed Blair—pressed into his palm.
“It’s okay,” he said again, as much to himself as to her.
She hugged his head and sobbed. He patted her arm and took deep breaths while he formed a coherent thought.
“I thought you were...” Her words came out punctuated with sharp breaths.
She shuddered with every second, and that brought him more anguish than he’d been in moments before. There was a hazy fog around his head but he fought through it.
“I know. Shhhh,” He pushed himself up and wiped the tears from her face. “I’m going to be okay.”
Her lower lip trembled and she stared at his chest. “What happened?”
He took her shaky hand in his and spread her fingers. “Do you remember I told you of the magic that helped me come here?” He placed the seed onto her palm. “The aspect told me I had to plant this seed.”
“This?” She stared down at it and licked her lips. Her tears had dried but beads of moisture clung to her lashes. “It came from you.”
“I thought I’d lost it.” Brushing through her wild hair, he continued, “I knew it was in my tree, but I didn’t realize what that meant.”
“Damnit... I really thought... I mean the fallen leaves, the light...” She exhaled, trying to calm herself.
He kissed her temple. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what was happening until the very end. I realized all the pain was familiar. The despair... it was everything that fed my tree. I suppose that part of it is still there.”
She sniffled and swiped at her cheeks. “All of that for this?”
“I guess it couldn’t have all been easy. It’s wild magic. Even the aspect didn’t know exactly what would happen.”
“What?”
“You get used to it. Or maybe that’s a fae thing. Magic. Consequences. It’s like breathing,” he said, trying to ease her panic.
She nodded. Squinting, she held the seed between her thumb and forefinger and studied it. “Okay.” She took another deep breath. “Now what?”
“I have to plant it.” He took it from her and rolled it between his fingers. The magic within hummed, though he suspected she didn’t feel it. “The thing is... I don’t know how rooted I’ll be once I do so.”
“You think you’d be stuck again? Not in a little circle...”
“I’m sure not that small, but perhaps. There’s only one way to find out.”
She cupped his cheek and kissed him. The salt of her tears flavored her lips and he hated that she’d had to see him in his state. Relief blossomed, however. He’d thought he was lost. Had thought he only had a limited time left with her. Knowing that wasn’t the case made him want to carry her right back to bed and make love to her again. Slower. Less desperate and feral.
“What are we waiting for?” she asked.
For a brief second, he thought she’d read his mind, but she meant why he wasn’t rushing to bury the seed. “Because...”
“Because it’s forever,” she finished. “Wherever it goes, it won’t move.”
“Alethea I—”
“I love you,” she interrupted. “Plant it here. At our home.”
“That’s what I want,” he insisted. “But maybe you should have time to think about it. Forever is much easier for me to cope with. I’ve already lived a dozen lives. You can take more than a minute to decide something like this.”
She pushed his chest and huffed under her breath. “Don’t start acting like my father and treating me like I can’t make a decision. If it were up to me... we’d be married tomorrow.”
“Really?” His heart raced. This is really happening.
Tears returned to her eyes. “Yes, really. I want to be Mrs. whatever you decide for a last name. I want to marry you. I don’t need to be fae to know what I want for the rest of my life. I want to get knocked up and have a ton of strange half-magical babies... I—”
He kissed her. This time she tasted sweet and pure like sunshine filtering through the clouds. He buried a hand in her hair and kept her close as he spoke. “You’re not fae, and perhaps you don’t realize what a blessing I see that as. I look at you and know that if you’d stumbled upon Prism, you wouldn’t have left me alone. It’s not in your nature.”
“I never could have.”
“You would’ve saved me somehow. I know it.” His eyes stung and he wiped at them curiously. It was the first time he’d cried.
She noticed his confusion and rubbed her nose against his. “Of course I would’ve saved you, silly,” she whispered. “You’re perfect...ly hung.”
Alethea tapped a bright red leaf and Blair flinched. He didn’t feel it, but it seemed like he should have. There was definitely a connection between him and his tree—currently a sapling less than a foot tall. He could feel that it was doing well on the inside. It grew steadily, much faster than it had on Prism since he himself was already full grown and capable of helping it along from the very beginning.
“I still think singing to it has helped,” she insisted.
He didn’t argue. The notion that a human singing to a plant could accomplish anything was ludicrous. “Maybe your singing caused it to split.”
She stuck her tongue out at him. The sapling wasn’t an exact replica of his original tree thanks to one strange development. It had two trunks forming. Strangely, even Blair couldn’t quite explain it. He assumed it was just an anomaly from being planted on Earth, but they wouldn’t know for now. Though it was doing well, he didn’t want to risk digging it up to inspect the roots.
The breeze brought the clean scent of the garden swirling around him. This time around, his tree wouldn’t be alone. Herbs and flowers, fruit trees, he had a little bit of everything arranged into his private garden. So far, his magic hung on and allowed him to keep everything healthy even with the changing season. He dusted off his hands and looked to the sky. “Do you see that?”
She walked over to him and glanced up, her hand shading her eyes while she searched.
His hand slipped to his back pocket and he pulled out a delicate ring of gold and intricate gemstones. He took her hand as he fell to one knee, and when she caught him her eyes became round and bright.
“You!”
“From the moment I met you, I knew you would be a fixture in my life.”
“Oh, gods...”
“I love you with all of my spirit and heart. Alethea Spiros, would you do me the honor of marry—”
She tackled him to the ground and murmured, “Fuck yes,” against his mouth.
“Whoa... ring...” He fumbled with it, trying not to drop it on the ground and risk losing it in the grass.
Straddling his stomach, she sat up and held her hand in front of his face. He slipped the ring on and her face went from jubilant to soft with awe. Her father had given him the ring as well as permission to propose, and it wasn’t just any ring. It was her mother’s engagement ring. With further permission, he’d had it redesigned. Tiny rubies framed the large round opal in the center, but instead of the plain band of before, it now had intricate golden leaves scattered with emerald accents.
“One hundred and ninety-eight days,” she said staring at her hand.
“I suppose we broke a royal record,” he said. “I thought it would take a few years.”
&
nbsp; “I’m impatient.” She smirked. “I didn’t like your calendar.”
“I didn’t like my calendar. But if you’re fine with me being disrespectful by shacking up with you, et cetera, I’m okay with it,” he teased.
“Mmmhmm.” She held her ring to the side and watched the light sparkle through it.
He rubbed her exposed leg. For working in the garden, he’d managed to get her into shorts. He’d just about fallen over seeing her in them. But he’d probably rip them off her later.
“I’m just surprised the King gave his blessing,” he murmured. That was the most stressful part. Getting permission to be in love seemed ridiculous.
She pursed her lips for a moment. “Don’t be surprised if he lets it ‘leak’ that we’ve been secretly dating for a year or two.”
“If that’s what it takes.” He stared up at her.
The sun was behind her, surrounding her in a halo of bright light. It wasn’t the first time he’d looked at her and thought she looked unreal, and he suspected it wouldn’t be the last. His curvy angel or goddess, or whatever the best Earth word could be. He hadn’t yet figured it out.
“Maybe we should retire for the day...” she hinted.
“Can’t.” He sat up and they stood together, brushing the grass from their clothing.
“Why not? I’ve got nothing else planned today.”
He scoffed. “Right. That doesn’t sound like the impatient woman I just proposed to.” He checked his watch. “Nikki will be here any moment. She said she can call Vevina and get her involved via magic and internet and video—all those things. Meanwhile, Pavel and Marko are waiting for me.”
Emotions ran across Alethea’s face, too numerous and racing to catch. “You’re serious,” she stated. “You won’t even attempt to convince me that we need to wait the proper average of fourteen months of engagement?”
“You already know the average?” He plucked a blade of grass from her messy bun.
She made a strangled noise. “I may have looked it up.”
“I won’t last a year, lovely,” he said seriously. “I’ve been waiting over two thousand years to fuck my wife.”
“Two weddings in less than a decade,” Vevina mused. “I suppose that’s what happens when the human and fae worlds collide.”
“Fae don’t marry often?” Alethea asked, snatching a few pastel macaroons and dropping them on her plate.
The reception was starting, but Alethea hadn’t eaten all day and dinner had yet to be served thanks to an accident in the kitchen. To make do, she and Vevina had snuck into the closed-off ballroom to find snacks.
Vevina grabbed a pouch of chocolate buttons and slipped it into the pocket of her deep teal bridesmaid’s dress. “The fae are old. Most have found their soul mates. Though even then, marriage isn’t for everyone. Plenty prefer to just have fun.”
“Marriage can be fun,” Alethea said with a cluck of her tongue. She shuffled along the buffet table, trying to keep a safe distance so that none of the chocolate or icing-coated treats touched her gown. A row of mirrors lined the buffet, allowing her to see her ridiculous reflection. A designer gown with a lace capelet and massive satin skirt, with plates of pilfered cookies balancing on each arm. If my father saw me now...
“That’s the goal, at least,” she said looking away from herself and back to the rows and rows of tiered offerings.
“You two were definitely a perfect match. I can only imagine Gerri’s smug face right now,” Vevina said. She scooped a hefty spoonful of fruit dip onto her plate and loaded it with berries and grapes. “Or maybe she’s too wise to be smug. Shifters...”
A soft laugh carried through the room and they spun around guiltily to find Gerri standing in the doorway, arms crossed and bright eyes twinkling. Her long, cobalt dress swished as she crossed the floor to join them.
“I didn’t mean...” Vevina squeaked.
“I keep the smug on the inside and the happiness on the outside. For any couple I don’t have to lecture and bully, at least,” Gerri said.
Alethea would’ve hugged her if she wasn’t holding two overflowing plates of sweets. “I’m so glad you made it. Have you seen Blair?”
“I have. Handsome and tall as ever. But look at you.” Gerri’s eyes swept Alethea from head to toe and back up, attention landing on her delicate tiara. “Magnificent.”
Warmth flooded Alethea’s cheeks. “Thank you. For everything.” The door on the far side of the room opened and a startled server froze in the midst of entering. “I think we should get back to our tables.”
Gerri nodded and followed Alethea and Vevina through the roped-off hallway they’d snuck in through.
“How did you find us?” Alethea asked.
“My sense of smell is a bit more developed than yours,” she replied.
Vevina made an amused sound. “All I smell is sugar-coated everything.”
They quieted down and slipped back into the room. Alethea made her way to the front table where Blair sat waiting for her, while Vevina returned to the table right beside them to sit next to Nikki. Gerri vanished into the crowd, but Alethea guessed that they’d see each other again. Her father was standing nearby, speaking to Nikki’s mother, but he took enough time to give Alethea a flustered look.
She didn’t let it get to her. Weddings weren’t his thing, even when he wasn’t annoyed with his daughter for sneaking around in search of food. She knew that deep down he was only thinking what she was. It would be nice if mother was here to see this.
“Is this good?” Vevina asked Nikki.
Alethea glanced covertly to her side to watch the two.
Nikki glowed as she scooted close to Vevina and tried a strawberry covered in dip.
“You’re staring,” Blair whispered to Alethea, not glancing over.
She grinned and looked politely around the room. Under her breath, she replied, “I can’t understand what’s going on. They’re so happy together...”
“And?”
“And they haven’t seen each other in forever. And Vevina leaves in a few days.” Alethea’s heart broke for her cousin. It was painfully obvious how she felt.
Blair placed his hand over hers on the table. “If it’s meant to be, even the galaxy between them won’t stop it.”
She wanted to believe him. It had happened for her, after all. She took a bite into one of the macaroons and nearly died at how wonderful it tasted. Really, it could have been stale and bland and her stomach wouldn’t have known the difference.
“I thought Nikki was in charge of making sure you ate today.” Blair glanced at her bounty. “Something about weddings... women always forget to eat.”
“I didn’t forget. I was too busy. Hair. Makeup. Last minute alterations. Plus I had to squeeze in a meeting with Helen and listen in on a call with the bank about the last round of payouts.” She snapped a sugar cookie in half and wagged it at him. “The closest I got to food was a raspberry floating in my champagne while the seamstress sewed blue satin into my shoes, because of course I forgot that tradition.”
He tsked at her. “You’ll be glad to know that our honeymoon plans are finalized. We’re packed and our things are already on the jet. Though I’m still waiting on whether you want to spend the night here or head out immediately.”
“I don’t know...” She nibbled the cookie.
Everything was smoothly running and there was no reason for her to fear leaving for a little while. But since that island escape with Blair, she’d not taken a break from her duties, and the hustle and bustle felt right. As much as she wanted to sit back and just bask in his presence, she now understood why her father rarely went on vacations. Not because he was stuffy and old, but because people relied on him.
“Did you give Vevina her gift?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Of course. She couldn’t believe it, of course. As I’ve said before, twin saplings are incredibly rare. That’s why I thought for so long it was simply split at the base. I had no idea there
were two trees growing from the seed.”
Alethea looked to her side at where Vevina and Nikki were actively chatting with the rest of their table. “I think it’s perfect that she’ll have it, though. A reminder of you.”
Nudging one of the small plates of treats toward him, she felt a moment of deja vu. Does he know what everything on the plate is? It had been a while since they’d found something new. She saw the curious look in his eyes as he lifted a syrupy, fried flat-cake and sniffed it. Nope. He has no clue.
Someday they’d run out of new things. Maybe they’d run out of first. But they’d never run out of love and they’d never be bored. Alethea scanned the room as she soothed her empty stomach with pastries. Pavel hid in a corner with his brother, avoiding attention even though he was the best man.
“He was talking to Gerri earlier,” Blair said between bites.
“Really?”
“I don’t know when she finds time for everyone. But then again, I still marvel at how you balance your days.” He squeezed her knee, which was hidden under the table cloth and layers of satin.
The most pda they could get away with, even at their wedding, was hand-holding and polite kisses. Considering that made the decision easier.
“We’ll leave tonight,” she said.
“Perfect.”
Alethea sipped her wine, thoughts racing. In a few hours they’d be jetting across the globe. Their honeymoon was going to be a full-on Earth tourist extravaganza. Blair didn’t even know everything she had planned. In the next month he’d see oceans, mountains, the rainforest... and even a desert.
She took in the room and all the happy faces of her friends, family, and acquaintances. Though she wanted to enjoy every second and make it last, she was also counting down to their honeymoon. Just the thought gave her chills. Their first night as a married couple, then a grand adventure. And really, this was just the beginning. They’d find more firsts. More lessons. Enough memories to last a lifetime and then some.
