Keeper: Book 3 A Realms of the Otherworld Book (Realms of the Otherworld Book Series)

by Jana LaPelle

  Alaric hands me Lachlan and takes my other hand in his and lifts it to brush a kiss over my knuckles. “Come on álainn, they’re starting this party without us.”

  He guides us out of the tent, and we make our way over to the enormous spread of food. Almost everyone has finished with the exception of Tolin, Torin, Ferg, and Nym. Those four could make eating a fulltime past time. Tolin looks up and grins, “Looking good, Little Bits. I saved you a seat right here by me. I think you have forgotten your ferocious appetite somewhere in the Badlands. You’re looking a wee bit scrawny these days. It’s time to put some meat back on your rear. That way, when I take you down in practice, you won’t crack your tailbone.” Tolin and Torin both chuckle at the thought, Ferg just snorts his agreement, and Nym hops up to load up his plate again.

  Before I can respond Alaric comes to my rescue, “Tolin, Ashlinn’s rear is none of your concern, and if I catch you ogling it, I’ll be sure to take you down a couple of pegs.” The grin on his face belies his intent, and I know that the two are good. Then turning to me, he says, “Eat. I’ll see to the twins. I’m sure that if I make the rounds with them, everyone will want to say hello. Go on now.” He shoos me away.

  “Okay, you don’t have to tell me twice. I hardly had anything for breakfast, and it’s well past lunch, I’m famished.”

  “There’s my Little Bits. I’m here to serve. What would you like?” Tolin asks.

  My mouth has begun to water, and I think my eyes are becoming glazed over at the thought of real food, not dried jerky or vegetables, “T, I want a smorgasbord. Hit me with a little or a lot of everything.”

  Tolin grins broadly, “This should be good.” Smacking Torin on the back, he says, “Come on brother, it’s smorgasbord time, I’m going to need your help. Ash is hungry.”

  Alaric has only taken two steps away from us and is accosted by Millie and Maith who begin talking baby gibber. He is quickly surrounded by Guardians and some of my Keepers, everyone wants a turn with the twins. Jasmine and Cam pick up the two pups so that they don’t get trampled. Dagda reaches over the throng to scoop Lillie up, and the entire scene brightens my day.

  Tolin and Torin return with several heaping platters of food and plop everything down in front of me. Nym has set a clean plate by Tolin ready for me to dive in, and dive in I do. I quickly fill my plate, making a cheeseburger just the way I like it, a large hot off the grill brat covered in spicy mustard nestled in what looks like an onion bun, red potato salad, corn on the cob, and a helping of baked beans. A large sweetened raspberry iced tea has appeared, and in the blink of an eye, I have consumed everything on my plate. As I’m taking a gulp of tea, a clean plate appears in front of me, and I quickly fill it with seconds. A moan escapes my full mouth as I savor the second round and I open my closed eyes to see TNT, Ferg, Nym, and everyone in earshot staring at me with huge grins on their faces.

  “What? I can’t help it. It’s real food,” I say, but it comes out sounding garbled because my mouth is full. I quickly chew and swallow, “Sorry that was really rude, but I plan on having thirds just so you all know.” Alaric winks at me, and I blow him a kiss.

  Tolin’s chuckle draws my attention, “We do enjoy watching you eat, Ash. Let us know if you need anything else. Go on, eat up Little Bits, I was serious before, you need to be in top condition. I have a feeling that confrontation awaits us sooner rather than later.” With that, the two brothers make their way over to the volleyball court, and I turn to see a replacement platter has been sat in front of me. I make quick work of my third helping and top it off with a tasty bowl of fruit. Now it’s time to put the twins down for a nap, my stomach is so full I momentarily feel as if I’m about to burst open and groan inwardly wondering if the bowl of fruit could have waited a few minutes for my metabolism to catch up. I know this discomfort will not last long, my body will quickly metabolize everything I just ate.

  Knowing that a full belly always helps the twins to drift off, I decide to nurse the two and allow Alaric time to eat. We have found a natural rhythm when it comes to caring for the babes. Alaric has found a double sized lounge chair that is perfect for the task at hand. He helps me get situated untying my bikini top allowing it to fall away. Lachlan is the first to latch on, and then Alaric gives me my daughter. Settling back, I sigh, as the two take what they need from me. I’m not surprised that they are eager to eat so soon. Their meal was cut short earlier when my vision kicked in, but now is not the time to dwell on that. The day is utterly beautiful, not a cloud in the pristine cobalt sky. The temperature is ideal, and at this moment the world is simply perfect.

  Lexie takes a seat next to me and the two of us quietly bond while nursing our children. All around us, we can hear laughter, and the mood is jovial. Some of the Keepers have joined in on the fun, and my Guardians are certainly enjoying the attention of the females as harmless flirting takes place between them.

  It doesn’t take long for the twins to drift off to sleep, their bellies full and Lexie and I put our children down in the cradles available for their afternoon nap. Millie and Maith promise to keep an eye on them, so we head down the beach. Alaric and Tolin are playing Declan and Torin in a game of two-on-two volleyball. I still for just a moment and watch the four of them. I have never seen so many males in one gathering that was so beautifully sculpted. Each one of them is a work of art, but truth be told, I have eyes for only one male. I watch as he dives for the ball, arms outstretched bouncing the ball up in a perfect set for Tolin, who leaps up and spikes the ball down toward the back corner by Declan, who at the last minute is under the ball, popping it up in the air keeping the ball in play. Alaric is back on his feet, his bare chest covered in sand looking every bit like a sculpture showcasing his chiseled six-pack abs.

  “I had no idea that they even knew how to play volleyball. They could play in a professional league back home.” Lexie loops her arm through mine, “Come on, I’ll race you to the buoy with the yellow flag.” She takes off dragging me behind her before I give chase and race after her in earnest, savoring the last image I have of the love of my life. Kicking sand in our wake, we hit the water and both dive forward slicing through the water at a shallow angle. I keep pace with Lexie not wanting to out-pace her. More than halfway there she comes up for air, and I follow suit. “Ash, I know you had this, why would you pull up?” She’s not mad or aggravated, just curious.

  “Because today is not about competition for me, but about having fun, what fun would it be if I left you in my wake? Then I would be alone out in the middle of the lake. You put together the most perfect afternoon, and I’m not going to mess it up.” I take a moment to just savor my surroundings, “Wow, the water feels good. You know the lakes back home were never this clear. Look you can see the bottom of the lake. I bet it’s really deep. Let’s see if we can touch the bottom? Just like when we were kids. Ready?” I challenge.

  “Yeah, I was always better at this than you were. You ready?” Her challenge is clear, and her laughter rings out over the water.

  Laughing, I correct her, “That was when we were like five and six years old. I’ll take that challenge. Let’s go.” Smiling at one another we take several deep breaths and dive straight down. I’m surprised by the depths of the lake. It is truly deceiving. After several long downward strokes, we are probably about ten feet down, Lexie looks over to me her surprise evident in the clear water. I point down, and she shakes her head pointing upward, her flaming red hair swirling around her. I nod, and motion for her to surface and then I continue my downward trek in an attempt to reach the sandy bottom, which is still out of reach. I’m officially out of air and move to make my way back to the surface. I urge myself upward, my legs kicking. The air in my lungs running out replaced by a burning sensation as I struggle to reach the surface, in a desperate attempt I kick harder. Just when I think I’m toast, I breach the surface, gasping for air. “That was… way deeper… than I thought… it would be…” I continue gasping for air when steel bands wrap around
me pulling me close and keeping me above water.

  “Ash, what were you thinking?”

  Laughing, I admit, “It was a challenge. How deep is it out here anyway?”

  Alaric tugs me to his torso as we tread water, “At least fifty feet deep this close to shore and further out it is deeper yet, hundreds of feet deep.”

  “I thought you were playing volleyball, who took your place?”

  With raised eyebrows, I can tell that he’s irritated with me for switching subjects but he motions toward the shore, and I see Dagda and Tolin and…, “Is that Lugh on Torin’s side?”

  “Yeah, he said he wrapped things up early and headed our way.”

  “This is not exactly how I wanted to welcome him back to the realm. Alaric, we should do something.”

  Alaric’s laughter rings out over the water, “What would you like to do? Interrupt their game? Did you take notice that he’s actually having a good time?”

  I watch as Dagda and Lugh taunt one another over the net like long lost brothers and in a sense they are. I decide to just go with it, “I guess you’re right. Where’s Lexie?”

  “With Declan and I think he has the right idea.”

  I look over to see the couple in a serious make-out session and smile to myself as Alaric pulls me closer, trailing kisses down my neck as our limbs tangle together while staying afloat. Pulling back, I tug Alaric after me. “As much as I would love to make out with you in the water I believe that I should go greet our guest. Don’t you think?”

  He pulls me back, “I would much rather we stay out here for a bit, the twins are sleeping, a good time is being had by all, and I suggest that we follow their lead, mo grá.” He nuzzles into my neck again, and I’m on the verge of giving into his seduction. I am, after all, a sucker for all things that have Alaric’s bare torso pressed against me.

  I hear a squeal coming from the shore and look up in time to see Camoryn racing toward the water with Jasmine slung over his shoulder. He powers through the water before launching them both into the shallows. Jasmine comes up and morphs to her fun size, as I like to call her sprite form, hovering over the water with several water spouts in her wake, all of which are aimed right for my favorite satyr. By the time Jasmine is done, Camoryn is totally drenched, and Jasmine has morphed back to her faerie form laughing and launches herself into his arms. He gladly welcomes her, his laughter rings out over the loch. It warms my heart to see them so happy together. I’m thrilled to see that everyone is having fun, all of my Guardians and my Keepers, all of my family and friends.

  Turning to Alaric, emotion overwhelms me, everyone is happy and having fun, the mood all around is lighthearted. Tears spill from my eyes and I cup his face in my hands as my eyes roam over his handsome features, memorizing every last detail. Aloud I say,” I don’t want this day to ever end.” I trace my fingers over his face, starting with his forehead, tracing his perfectly etched dark eyebrows. I run my fingers over the sides of his face tracing his cheekbones and his jawline, reveling in the stubble on his jaw. My thumbs make their way down to his chin, and there they trace the cleft in his chin only to roam back up to trace the divots in his cheeks that form his perfect, beautiful dimples. “I love you Elf-Man. I will move heaven and earth to be with you. She will not have you without feeling my wrath. It’s time to fight fire with fire.”

  Alaric’s mouth lands on mine in a searing, possessive kiss, a kiss of affirmation, a kiss of promise, a kiss of retribution to any that would dare to keep us apart. I’m lost in his embrace, in the feel of him as he envelopes me, of the two of us reaffirming our need to connect on every level possible. He whispers against my lips, “It’ll be okay. If there is anyone that will find me, it’s you. I love you mo grá. What will be, will be, and we will deal with it as we always do… together. Distance may separate us, but that is all. Nothing can but a wedge that large in between us. It may take some time, but we will always find our way back to one another. Always, have faith, Ashlinn.”

  Leaning in, I rest my forehead on his and close my eyes and just breathe, “You don’t deny what I saw. This is what you have been worrying over, isn’t it?”

  “I believe so, as soon as I saw the replay in your mind, I knew that this is why I’ve had this sense of dread as to what is to come. It won’t be long now. At least you will be safe from her wrath.”

  “Not true, Alaric, as long as she has you, I will not stop, and that in and of itself will put a target on my back. We will have to let everyone know tonight after dinner. We will have to prepare ourselves for our response to whomever she takes.” In my heart and soul, I know it will be Alaric. We make our way to shore hand in hand, Lugh and Dagda see us and both wave and pause their game which now has quite a few spectators. Most of which step aside so that we can greet the sky god. I take him in. Someone must have had an extra set of swim trunks. My guess is that it was Dagda since the print is busy with tiny multi-colored fish.

  He inclines his head, “Ashlinn, it is good to see you again. What a lovely gathering, I’m enjoying myself immensely. Fenwick sends his regards, he is most taken with you by the way, but you should know that brownies do not feel comfortable outside of the house they make a home. He will not be alone. I have reached out to others in my territory to help restore my home to its former glory. He is eager to take on the task at hand.”

  “Well, it sounds as if we will see a lot more of you, Lugh. Good to hear. Please, make yourself at home, you are welcome here, and we hope you enjoy your stay. Your chambers should be made ready for you if you choose to stay the night. Although this is not exactly how we planned on welcoming you this evening,” I say with a smile.

  Laughing, he replies, “This is perfect, I have missed this type of comradery. I had no idea how much until you and your little ragtag group showed up on my doorstep. Here I can see how you and Alaric interact with those that pledge themselves to your cause. I can see that you view them as family, and not just a means to an end. Not that I for one moment thought otherwise.”

  I’m quick to reply, “They are family, those that are close to me and those that pledge themselves to the cause that I have never met are precious to our father and to me. No sacrifice in this war will go unnoticed.”

  “I didn’t think otherwise, little Keeper.” His smile is genuine.

  Dagda comes up and claps Lugh on the back while Alaric wraps a sun-warmed towel around me, “It’s good to have you here brother, I have missed your company and your counsel. We will have to go one on one to show them how a proper game of volleyball should be played. Are you are up for that? Have you seen their too wee babes? Come they are a sight to behold.”

  Lugh winks at me, and Alaric’s arm wraps around my shoulders possessively, and I hear Lugh’s reply in my distraction, “I believe that the two will be full of surprises. Where are the two little tykes?”

  From over my shoulder, I hear, “Mo solas! What a fun afternoon you have planned. And just why was I not invited?”

  Lexie’s voice calls out from the beach, “Don’t even go there Tarron, you know you were invited. You just showed up late for the party. No doubt wanting to make a grand entrance. Where are those swim trunks you just had to have?” She’s not having it.

  Smiling I look up at Alaric to see the scowl on his face. He still struggles to let the past go and as much as I want to see Tarron in a pair of barely there swim trunks, I let it go.

  Alaric growls, “I heard that.”

  “Elf-Man, you know that you are the only one for me, but even you have to admit that Tarron is seriously smokin’ hot, and every female in the area is waiting to see him strut his stuff. Besides your taken and Tarron is quite the eligible bachelor. I’ve never seen anything like the show of beautifully toned male bodies in one place. Mortal males, at the peak of their physical fitness, cannot compare to the likes of any of you. So give a girl a break okay?” Switching my attention to Tarron, I shout over the crowd so he can hear me, “Tarron, you’re a little overdressed for the party.
Show us what ya got!” An afterthought hits me, and I’m quick to add, “Tarron Airlon Rí, Horde King! I have a bone to pick with you!”

  Lugh leans in to get our attention, “That’s The Horde King?”

  Alaric and I both laugh, “Yep, that’s him. Where I’m from he would be mistaken for a surfer dude, not a king.”

  “What pray tell is a surfer dude? Never mind. Okay then, I guess it’s past time that we shake things up in this realm.” Lugh steps forward and offers his hand in greeting, “I’m Lugh, god of the skies, I have pledged my support to Alaric and Ashlinn. It’s my pleasure to meet the male that will lead our dark fae.” He gives a slight bow.

  Tarron inclines his head and says, “It is an honor to meet you, I’m glad that Alaric and Ashlinn were able to find you so quickly and in light of what you have heard, have decided to join forces with us. I look forward to getting to know you and work with you in the future. If you will excuse me, I need to find out what has Ashlinn ready to pick my bones. I can’t imagine that can be a good thing.”

  Shaking my head vigorously, I say, “That’s not what I meant. It’s a saying from back home meaning that I have a… what’s the word I’m looking for, a grievance to discuss with you.” I cock my head to the side and shoot him a glare, all the while tapping my bare foot. Just thinking about the Púca and their intent has my blood boiling.

  Tarron looks affronted for a moment, and we engage in a stare off before Alaric intercedes, “Ashlinn, it’s not fair to place the blame of what the Púca attempted to do squarely at his feet. He wasn’t there and besides what’s left of this afternoon should be spent enjoying the rest of our day.” He spins me to look at him, “Let it go for now. We can bring him up to speed later. Okay?”

  Nodding my head in agreement I turn back to my favorite incubus, “You’re off the hook for now. Why don’t you make every female’s day and go pull on your swimwear.”