Aidan was in his seat when they arrived, while a pair of burly guards stood over three chained-up prisoners.
Two of her cousins, Meagan thought in disgust. The third, oddly enough, was Aidan’s secretary, Fianna. One stiletto was broken and her suit coat was torn a bit and Meagan couldn’t help but shoot her a “take that, bitch” sort of look. Ric took up a position by the prisoners, standing near Kieran and Sean, who looked mussed but healthy.
Also looking discomposed but intact were Liam and Sinead, who sat in the gallery with the rest of Meagan’s staff, except, of course for Quinn, who had turned out to be in league with Owain. Meagan smiled at all of them for their support and took her seat as the queen’s herald called for order.
The vote was the first thing dispensed with, after swearing in the two new members of the council, since Meagan hadn’t been present for the earlier portion of the meeting. Owain’s heir proved to be a son who was every bit as oily as his father, but without quite as much pull, apparently. Instead of the vote ending in the expected tie, Llyris retained her throne by a landslide margin.
“Now it has become time to see to the punishment of these offenders. Lord Green Oak, whom do you bring before this council for judgment?”
Aidan stood and gestured at his secretary, who slumped in her corner, refusing to look up. “Fianna of the Meadow, my queen. She has admitted to allowing Owain le Faire access to the Detroit portal, which allowed him to bespell it. That spell caused the death of Gunter, one of my men.”
“Fianna of the Meadow, is this true?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It was I who allowed my uncle access to the portal. But I had no idea he planned to place a deadly trap on it. He said his aim was merely to stop the halfling from taking her place on this council.”
“Her rightful place?” The queen glared at the prisoner.
“Humans and their offspring have no place in the Seelie Court!” Fianna was practically spitting now. “She should not be allowed Underhill at all, let alone in a position of honor!”
“Do you seek the penalty of death?” The queen arched an eyebrow at Aidan.
“No. She is only repeating what she was taught. I have a different punishment in mind, if it please Your Majesty.”
“Go ahead.”
“Thank you.” Aidan dipped his head and continued, his gaze focused on Fianna. “The relationship between Fae and human has always been a complex and interdependent one. Without their world, ours would lose many of its new ideas and much of its innovation. As a race, we are actually more fertile if we intermarry and I still believe this genetic co-mingling is healthy for both races. There was even a time I believed my own heir would be of mixed blood, though now I doubt I shall ever sire one at all. But Fianna is young and has not spent sufficient time with humans to begin to understand the richness of their culture, or the vibrancy of their spirit.
“I think this oversight should be corrected, Your Majesty. I believe you should visit on her the punishment you intended for Alaric the Bard. If Fianna is forced to be human for a time, perhaps she will have a greater sympathy for and understanding of our mortal cousins.”
“No!”
Fianna’s scream was completely ignored by Llyris who nodded thoughtfully. “An interesting proposal, Lord Green Oak. Does the council agree?”
Meagan nodded along with the others. “As long as somebody keeps an eye on her to make sure she doesn’t cause any more trouble,” she muttered.
“True.” The queen pursed her lips for a second and looked at Aidan. “Done. Lord Green Oak, you will have custody of the human prisoner, as soon as she is stripped of her powers. She is to be given menial duties outside of the safe-house, but will remain under close observation. Do you agree?”
“I do, Your Majesty.”
“What of the other two? Lady Rose, did one of these miserable excuses for Fae hold you prisoner?”
“The shorter one did, Your Majesty. He said his name was Neal and that he wished to marry me to gain my seat on this council.”
“And the other?”
“Neal said he was ordered to kill me by his brother, who would inherit my seat.”
“I see. I suppose you wish leniency for them as well?”
Meagan weighed that thought. “Well, I don’t think I want them dead. But I don’t want them anywhere near me, either.”
“I’ve an idea,” one of the councilors chimed in. “The safe-house in Brisbane could use a couple new members on the janitorial staff. Human members of the staff, that is. Strip them of their powers too, Your Majesty. Then I’ll take custody of those miscreants and teach them respect for humans.”
Llyris yawned and glanced at Meagan. “Lady Rose?”
“That would be fine.” Meagan smiled at the gentleman who’d spoken. “Thank you.”
“Finally, I’ve an announcement that the succession is secured for one of our noble houses.” Llyris smiled briefly at Blaine. “Lady Night Sky has been delivered of a healthy set of female twins. Congratulations, my lord.”
Blaine grinned like an idiot as the assembled crowd echoed the queen’s good wishes.
“Now if Lady Rose, Lord Green Oak and a few others would get on with their duties in this respect, this council would feel greatly reassured.” Meagan caught Ric’s eye and blushed. He didn’t look like he had any objection to helping make that a reality. Aidan, on the other hand, looked sad. What had happened with him? Meagan started to put together a bunch of seemingly unrelated details and decided that she really needed to talk to Elise. Meagan had a sneaking suspicion that Aidan already had his heir.
A little girl named Adina Sutton, with eyes as green as Meagan’s own.
When the meeting ended, the queen stopped Meagan from leaving with a raised hand and gestured for Ric to meet them at the rail. She waited till most of the crowd had left before turning to the pair of them.
“The joining ceremony will be held within the week.”
It was an order, not a question, but that was fine with Meagan and Ric didn’t voice an objection either. “I presume you wish to host it at Rosemeade?”
Meagan nodded. She’d love to marry Ric in the same rose garden where her parents had wed.
“Acceptable. Schedule it with the lord chamberlain. Most of the council will wish to attend. I suggest you get busy. I expect to be well entertained.”
Then she turned and swept away, leaving them both gape-jawed in her wake.
“Did she invite herself to our wedding?”
Ric nodded. “I believe she did.”
“What about our other friends, like Greg and Jase? Will they be able to come?” She had no idea what the rules were on inviting humans—or werewolves—to fairyland.
“I think we can work that out. We’ll also have to get married back there as well, if you want things to be legal in your world.”
Oops, she hadn’t thought of that, but of course he was right. She remembered hearing something about Las Vegas and her parents. “And I want to meet my grandparents. Maybe we can invite them to that wedding, too.”
“Whatever you want.”
A loud yowl erupted from the back corner of the room and Meagan spun. It sounded like Calculus.
Ric started to laugh. “Another country heard from.”
Meagan dashed over to the cat carrier and pulled Calc out into her arms. Ric approached cautiously, giving Meagan a crooked smile when Calc ignored him.
“Well, my lady, I guess we’ve got weddings to plan. Shall we go back to your place and get started?”
“Hmm.” She smiled up at him. “Maybe even get a head start on the honeymoon.”
Ric picked up the carrier and started toward the door.
Meagan fell into step beside him, her heart overflowing with happiness. He murmured in her ear, “And I think tonight would be a good night to get started on that heir the queen wants.”
“If you’re interested.” Actually, she thought it might have already happened that afternoon. She hoped he didn’t mind
.
“I can’t think of a single task I’d enjoy more.” He dropped an arm about her waist. “If you’re sure you’re ready.”
Her life had changed so much in such a short time, but she knew with all her heart that it had all worked out exactly the way it was supposed to. If a child was on Fate’s agenda for them, Meagan didn’t have any complaints about that at all.
“Bring it on, bard.” She chucked Calc on the head and leaned into Ric. “I can take anything you feel like giving me.”
About the Author
Cindy Spencer Pape is an avid reader of romance, fantasy, mystery, and even more romance. According to The Romance Studio, her plots are “full of twists and turns that keep the reader poised at the edge of their seat.” Joyfully Reviewed said her “colorful characters and plot building surprises kept me spellbound,” and RT Book Reviews says her “characters are appealing, and passionate sex leads to a satisfying romance.”
Cindy firmly believes in happily-ever-after. Married for more than twenty years to her own, sometimes-kilted, hero, she lives in southern Michigan with him and two teenage sons, along with an ever-changing menagerie of pets. Cindy has been, among other things, a banker, a teacher and an elected politician, but mostly an environmental educator, though now she is lucky enough to write full-time. Her degrees in zoology and animal behavior almost help her comprehend the three male humans who share her household.
Cindy loves to hear from readers. To contact her, or for more about Cindy and her books, you can find her on her Web site, www.cindyspencerpape.com, or her blog, www.cindyspencerpape.blogspot.com.
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ISBN: 978-1-4268-9004-8
Copyright © 2010 by Cindy Spencer Pape
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