by Amy Sumida
“I'm sorry, but is that an elevator?” I asked him.
“The tower can be accessed by a staircase that curves around the elevator as well,” Kieran said, “but it's a long climb, and I wouldn't recommend it.”
“I believe Her Majesty is simply shocked to find a human feature built into a shining one castle,” Declan explained.
“Ah.” Kieran grinned. “Yes, we Shining Ones like certain human inventions, and this is one of them. After you, Your Majesties.”
We all piled in and were zipped up to the top. The teardrop consisted of several levels of rooms. There was a living area on the first floor, with a dining room and kitchen. The latter was so that my chefs wouldn't have to worry about my food getting cold by the time it hit my table. On this level, there were also bridges extending out to some of the other teardrop towers. I could see them through the floor to ceiling windows that surrounded the entire level. There was a stone balcony beyond the windows, and then the bridges—which thankfully appeared to be much sturdier from that proximity.
Kieran explained that the towers connected to this floor were reserved for close friends or honored guests, but my consorts would have the family towers which connected to the top level of my suite, where my bedroom was. The levels of my chambers were connected by your standard stairs instead of another elevator. A curving glass and wood staircase went up through the center of the whole place. We took it to the second floor, where my private library, music room (loved that!), and sitting room were placed like the slices of a pie, and then went up to the top and final floor.
The railing curved up to half-encircle the open stairwell on this top floor, and the stairs took us out onto a kyanite platform. Then it was just a step out onto the dark, mahogany floor of the massive bedroom. The walls were windows, just like the bottom floor, but they were covered in places by lengths of white silk. The silk flowed down from a central, gold medallion set into the teardrop peak, draping loosely over the carved, pale wood that paneled the ceiling and swirling around cross-beams into the gathered sections that bisected the window/walls. The bed was enormous and made of the same pale wood as the ceiling. It had four posters and was carved to the point of fragility. I was worried that it wouldn't hold up under pressure, as it were. I could be rough on my beds.
“I'll show your consorts to their chambers while you settle in, Your Majesty,” Kieran said before leading the men out onto the balcony and across one of the bridges.
I wandered around the open space, hands trailing over items absently. There was a gold vanity set on a platform like a throne, with a three-sided, gold-framed mirror set on the floor behind it to rise nearly the entire length of the wall behind it. Cosmetics, perfumes, and beauty tools were lined neatly on the surface of the vanity. Just to the side of this beauty altar, a pale wood armoire stretched ten feet long, with four sets of doors. It was full of gowns in my size. Coming around the curve of the room, I next arrived at a sitting area with a fur rug, crystal tables, and enough throw pillows to launch a pillow war. I headed past it toward the only opaque wall in the place; the bed was set up against it.
There was a door to the left of the bed, and I went through it to find a bathroom fit for a goddess. The view was amazing from up there, and whoever had designed this bathroom, made sure to place the monstrous tub at the best spot to take advantage of it. It was set in a raised platform, so that once you were laying within the tub, you would have an unimpeded view over the balcony railing. There was also a shower so big that it didn't have walls, just polished slabs of kyanite that extended out into the wood floor from the kyanite partition wall. The wall was shared with a stretch of kyanite counter that had two sinks, a massive gold mirror hanging above it, and a selection of cleansers set out upon it that boggled my mind. How had they prepared all of this so quickly?
I shook my head and went through the French doors beside the tub, and out onto the balcony. It wrapped around the whole floor, just like each of the lower levels. I walked down the length of it and admired the bird's eye view of Kyanite as I headed toward one of the bridges.
“Sweet stones,” I whispered as I trailed my fingers over the polished granite. “I have a fairy kingdom.”
It's more of a queendom, Kyanite spoke in a deeply masculine tone.
“Oh, there you are,” I murmured. “I wondered if you were going to keep speaking to me.”
Of course, I am; you're mine.
“Leave it to me to get stuck with a possessive stone.” I chuckled.
We are all possessive, as our monarchs should be of us. But you and I are special, Elaria. No other royal in Tír na nÓg has our connection. I have waited centuries for you.
“That sounds rough,” I noted sympathetically, “to be alone that long.”
I can be rough or smooth, it purred, depending on how you prefer me. But I'm not speaking of the time I've spent without a monarch.
“Are you flirting with me?” I asked in horror.
We are in a more intimate relationship than any man could give you. I do not flirt; I speak plainly because I know you are not a Shining One and do not understand the complexities of connecting with a jewel. I can be anything you wish me to be, Elaria. Just as our song declared; together, we shall become legendary.
“Whoa,” I whispered. “Wait; what do you mean you weren't speaking of the time you spent without a monarch?”
I've known of you since your birth, and have waited patiently for you to accept your destiny, and allow the relic to lead you to me.
“You knew that I would come here and that the relic would give me a sliver of kyanite?” I gaped at the landscape before me. “How is that possible?”
Sometimes Fate sets things into motion far in advance. It is as patient as we stones are. Your path, in particular, was planned when the relic was first created.
“That's a long time to be planning someone's life,” I murmured, unsure of how I felt about it.
You are blessed to have been chosen, Elaria. You will never be alone again. I am your rock from this day forward. If you falter, I shall steady you. I will share my power with you, and you will share your magic and love with me.
“You want love too?” I huffed. “What is it with magic and love?”
They go hand in hand. Love empowers magic, as does hate. But I prefer love, don't you?
“I do,” I said thoughtfully. “Do you know of my troubles?”
The spell inside you?
“Yes.”
I know. I saw it and spoke with it.
“You spoke with it?” I asked in surprise.
It is a part of you.
“Yeah; I got that.”
Unfortunately, I cannot fuel your spell. Our relationship will only be an exchange between us; the power I give you will not be able to merge with your floundering fowl magic. However, I will help you to fulfill the bargain you made with it.
“That would be greatly appreciated.”
I have only just found you; I will not let you die, Elaria.
“That's rather sweet, Kyanite.” I smiled. “I'll do what I can for you too.”
Just keep singing. I've never known such power or such happiness as when you gave me a true voice.
“And you gave me music.”
Just so, it sounded pleased. No other stone has such an avatar. We will be the envy of Tír no nÓg.
“Have you never chosen a king because you think of yourself as a man?” I asked suddenly.
Perhaps, Kyanite went pensive. But you are not an average queen, Spellsinger. I believe a king might give us an even closer connection, and perhaps strengthen us.
I was about to ask Kyanite what it meant by that when Kieran strode across the nearby bridge. He spotted me and smiled, heading over to where I stood.
We will speak more later, my Queen.
“Kieran,” I said in greeting.
“Do you find it to your liking?” Kieran waved a hand out to the kingdom.
“It's impossible not to like.” I smirked
. “Thank you for being so thorough with your tour.”
“There is still more left to explore.” He shrugged. “But I went over the main areas. You can discover the rest on your own. Unless you'd like me to go further with you?”
I lifted my brows at the obvious double entendre.
“I think I can manage,” I finally said.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Kieran bowed his head. “But I'm always available; should you need anything at all.” He took my hand and kissed it lingeringly.
“The Queen will keep that in mind, Duke Kieran,” Declan said with pointed menace as he stepped over to us with Banning. “For now, we have all that we require.”
Kieran remained where he was, looking to me for instruction.
“Thank you, Duke Kieran,” I said. “I'll see you tonight at the feast.”
“Will you be honoring us with a song?” Kieran asked hopefully. “I'm not the only one who is disappointed in missing your duet.”
“Not tonight, but perhaps tomorrow,” I murmured. “Are there any musical instruments here?”
“Yes, several,” he said immediately. “What would you prefer?”
“A guitar would be best.”
“I'll have one brought to the dining hall for you.” Kieran bowed. “By your leave, my Queen?”
“Yes; thank you, Kieran, you may go.”
Kieran left with a smile, and as soon as he disappeared down the staircase, my men burst into laughter.
“You may go,” Banning mimicked me.
“You did well, sweetheart,” Declan said, but he was still chuckling.
“I'm trying,” I huffed.
“Yes, you are,” Declan acknowledged, “and, as I said, you did well. It's just strange to see you behave like that. You're usually such a casual person.”
“Just throw a few cuss words in,” Banning suggested. “Then I won't worry that someone has taken over your body.”
“Fuck you,” I growled.
“Perfect!” Banning declared.
“Our queen is upset with us,” Declan noted to Banning.
“Perhaps we should do our best to change that,” Banning suggested. “We need to have our own celebration, after all.”
“And I think we should test the strength of that flimsy-looking bed.” Declan nodded.
It turned out that the bed was not as flimsy as it looked. Not at all. We tested it in all sorts of ways, and it passed with flying colors. Making love in my new bedroom was like having sex in a very luxurious nest. The siren in me approved.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The first celebration feast went without a hitch. It seemed that my court had decided to be careful around me until we got to know each other better. They were playing it safe; speaking respectfully to me and without much opinion. I had a feeling that when I became more familiar with this land and started making decisions regarding it, they'd show their true colors. But I had too many other issues to deal with at the moment; I wasn't about to go changing things in Kyanite and jeopardizing this tentative peace between its nobles and me. So, I suppose I was playing it safe too. And perhaps I didn't want to know what the kyanite shining ones truly thought of their new spellsinger queen with not only a shining one lover but also a blooder. It was better to be blissfully ignorant. I went to bed that night with a full belly and a happy heart.
The next morning, I met my personal staff, picked a lady's maid, and looked over menus for my private meals and the celebration feast. A herd of high-ranking women helped me dress for dinner with fawning words and fluttering hands. They said it was traditional, but Declan and Banning watched it all with deeply amused expressions from their chairs in the nearby sitting area. The men were allowed to dress themselves, and I was seriously jealous. But, no matter; I ended up looking quite nice. My gown was a shimmering blue silk accented with gold, that went well with my crown—my only piece of jewelry. This was mandatory, especially at my first inter-kingdom feast. I had to show that I didn't need to be draped in gemstones to access Kyanite's power.
I pointed out that the message would be stronger if I went without the crown, but they had been so horrified that I let it go. A crown is the original status symbol; so much more than any other piece of jewelry. After my shocking crown comment, they worked my hair around it, designing a style that would also ensure that I didn't remove my crown; those sneaky Shining Ones.
After I was primped to their standards, the gaggle of fairy gals left us, and my lovers escorted me down to the dining hall. I was hoping things would go as smoothly as they had the night before, but the second feast had a host of shining ones who didn't give a fuck about being careful around me. They were there out of political correctness, tradition, or simply because they were curious.
Torin hadn't responded to the invitation at all, but he showed up anyway. Yeah; he was that guy. I was seated at the high table at the end of the dining hall, with Declan on my right and Banning on my left, when Torin walked in with a stunning redhead on his arm. My jaw dropped. Mere days ago he was pining for me in his tower like Rapunzel, but now he had a new woman to attend my feast with? WTF?
“It's Queen Eileen,” Declan hissed in horror.
“Who?” I asked, still working through the shock of seeing Torin with another woman.
“The Copper Queen,” Declan turned to me with wide eyes. “I'm sure you'll recall her husband; King Lorcan.”
“I do,” Banning growled. “The last time I saw him, he was a little broken up... into pieces.”
“Oh, fuck me,” I whispered.
“Eileen and Torin used to be lovers.” Declan nodded to Torin, who nodded back with a grim and antagonistic grin.
“Yes, I seem to recall hearing that,” I muttered. “I'm a little shocked that she'd go back to him after he had a hand in her husband's death.”
“Under the circumstances, they may have bonded over that fact.” Declan grimaced. “Or she may not know about Torin's part in Lorcan's death at all.”
“This is going to be awkward,” Banning murmured.
The three of us watched as Torin and Eileen were shown to seats of honor, just to our right. Awkward indeed; especially since I was three seconds away from scalping that redheaded harlot and hanging her ridiculously colored hair from my balcony. Okay, that was so unfair; I recognize that. But I was a tad upset to find myself replaced by someone whose husband had tried to kill me.
“Don't do anything rash,” Declan said gently. “The next few hours will be like a preview of your rule. It's important for things to go smoothly.”
“Smoothly.” I sighed. “Sure; no problem. Just pass me the wine, and keep passing it.”
“My lady's wish is my command,” Declan teased, but it was with a serious tone, and said as he filled my cup.
“Oh, no fucking way. Her too?” Banning groaned.
I looked up and saw Queen Oonagh walk in, escorted by some blond, buff hottie. I think he was a loup.
“Oonagh with a shapeshifter,” Declan mused. “Interesting. I hope it's not a full moon.”
“My rule is fucked,” I declared.
Don't surrender just yet, Kyanite said with a teasing tone. This is an opportunity.
“How so?” I asked.
“What's that?” Banning lifted a brow at me.
“I'm talking to Kyanite,” I said distractedly.
“Do you guys do that?” Banning whispered to Declan.
“We do, but it isn't something that happens often,” Declan sounded as speculative as the look he gave me.
I ignored Declan and Banning both, and listened to my jewel.
I've felt your love for Torin. Now, here you are, at a feast in your honor, where you've agreed to sing. What would you like to say to him? This is your chance, Elaria.
“That's a damn good question,” I said before taking another swig of wine. “Let's find out, shall we?”
I waved William over and told him I was ready to sing. He looked excited at first; then he noted my expression and his shifted
with it. He hurried over to a group of fairies and fetched the guitar I'd be using. Then he strode to the center of the open space before the high table. The dining room was arranged with a long table on a dais for the kyanite royalty, and more of the rectangular tables placed along the walls at angles, like the veins of a leaf. It left a center aisle open for dancing or approaching the queen... me. But I was doing the performing tonight, so I would stand before the high table myself.
