by Abigail Kade
Leaning back in his tight grasp, I finally got a breath and told him what I’d realized myself.
“I love you too, Finn. I think I knew you were mine from the first time we met, but I didn’t think I could ever tell you the truth.”
“You can always tell me the truth, Henry. I’ve wanted you for so long, but I couldn’t let myself get involved with a human. Now that I know you’re not, I’m never letting you go.”
As we talked, hands roamed, lips kissed, tongues tangled. All I wanted was to get back to that huge soft bed and make love to my Mage, but with a bang, everything changed.
“Awww, look at the fag Mage and his human toy. Where’s the baby, and we can let you get back to banging on the table.”
Finn and I both let go simultaneously and moved around the room to get to the head of the hallway. Another Dark Fae who looked as haggard and dirty as Claude and Maud had, was standing in front of us flanked by five of the largest vampires I had ever seen. They looked sick and starving, with drool hanging off their fangs and blank expressions in their eyes.
“Don’t look so surprised, Finnegan of the Nightshade Guild. Didn’t you know we can track you now? If the poison had killed you, it would have been a bonus, but since that didn’t happen, the tracker spell did its job. Now, give us the princess, and you can get on with your night. And don’t bother trying to go anywhere. We can track you to every realm we know, even Galila. You’re stuck with us.” The Fae’s bone-thin face split into a grizzly smile, and he wheezed out a creaking laugh. “Stuck, get it? We stuck you with that arrow, and now you’re stuck with us.”
I had heard enough. I clasped Finn’s hand, and he glanced over at me. My blue eyes shone bright, and his had turned silver with the power he was pulling into himself to fight. He was a formidable fighter, I’d seen it first hand, but this was a fight we weren’t going to win. There was only one choice.
“You don’t have to worry about just Finn, asshole. You shouldn’t count me out.”
There was uncertainty in the asshole’s yellowed eyes for a moment, then he sneered, “Why would I be worried about a human? What can you do?”
“If I was human, not much. But I’m not really just human, am I?”
I lifted the illusion of humanity I’d worn for a year, and I showed my true form to them. I had wanted to do this a different way for Finn, but time wasn’t on our side. I could feel it. Like earlier today, there were more coming, so we had to get moving now.
My inner aura of light shone through the room, blinding the evil beings in front of us. My hair glowed golden, and my clothes were drenched in the brightest, clearest light. My wings extended behind me, and I curled one around Finn’s back to pull him closer to my side. He was pure of heart, so my aura wasn’t blinding to him. I looked him in the eyes again, showing him the deepest, truest aquamarine blue and my soul shining through for him. Looking deep into his eyes, I asked him the most important question of the night, “Do you trust me?”
Without hesitation, he answered, “Absolutely. Always.”
In a flash, I took us into the baby’s room and gathered her to me gently. There were shouts and crashes from the living room coming down the hall. Time was up. I settled the baby close against my chest and gave Finn his instructions.
“Hold on to me, and do not let go. No matter what happens, hold me tight. Okay?”
Finn put his arms around my waist, making sure not to catch my wingtips. The sounds in the hall were almost to the door. I placed my hand around Finn’s shoulder and pulled him tight. Against my ear, Finn whispered, “Where are we going? They can track us anywhere.”
I squeezed him tighter and closed my wings around us in an angelic hug of protection.
“Not where we’re going.”
Finn huffed, “And where are you taking me that can’t be tracked?”
I closed my eyes, concentrated on my destination, then answered just before we left the earthly plane, “I’m taking you home.”
Chapter 11
Finn
I woke from a deep sleep slowly. At first, I didn’t remember where I was or what had occurred before I fell asleep. It took a few moments to remember everything that had happened. The baby, Henry, attacks, and angel wings flashed through my mind. Henry had said he was taking me home. That could only be one place. Eden.
The sound of shouting, crashing and more arguing surrounded me as I listened to the unmistakable sound of Henry’s voice arguing with at least three others. It sounded like they were going to come to blows any minute.
Eden isn’t supposed to sound like a war zone, is it?
I opened my eyes slowly, then squinted at the bright light streaming through the flowing curtains around my bed. Windows surrounded the room, and light filled it with a soft white glow. I tried to move but felt stiff. I must have slept a long time for that to happen. Standing up, I noticed my usual kilt and shirt were gone, and I was wearing a long white robe of linen with a pair of pants and a shirt made of a softer silky material. It felt fantastic against my skin and whispered with every movement I made. I found soft slippers on the floor, so I slid into them and walked toward the door that seemed to be muffling most of the noise. Easing my ear to the crack, I listened with astonishment to the argument going on.
“I don’t care if it did cause the paranormal version of an international incident, Father. I had to protect Finn and Ameria from the constant threat to them. I keep telling you I had no choice!”
“Henry, this is a disaster. We’ve gotten missives from the Elvin Kingdom demanding we return the princess that we kidnapped. Kidnapped! They think we kidnapped a baby for a power play, son.”
“I understand, Father, I do. But you need to listen to me. There’s something between us. Finn is important to me. You can’t keep him asleep forever. He’s supposed to hand the baby off to the next Mage in five days. If you would just talk to him, he might know how we can get out of this mess peacefully.”
I stopped listening after he said the end of the month was in five days. They’d kept me asleep for more than two weeks?! I walked through the door, not bothering to knock.
“You’ve had me knocked out for over two weeks? Where’s Ameria? I demand to see her right this minute.”
Henry walked to my side and gave me a kiss and a hug. Whispering to me, “Calm down, Finn. She’s fine. She’s taking a nap right now.”
His white outfit was the same as mine, but with a wide gold sash tied around his waist. His hair was more natural, and the wings were nowhere to be seen. I tried to take a secret peek behind his back, but he caught me.
“We only wear the wings for special occasions. I’ll tell you about it sometime.”
I dropped my hands to my hips and gave him a stern look. Then I raised my gaze to see the room held three other people, who from the resemblance had to be Henry’s relatives. I addressed the older-looking male first.
“I would like to know where my charge is and why I’ve been kept asleep for this long? And what’s this I hear about kidnapping and an international incident?”
The man I addressed walked forward and held out a hand in greeting. I shook it while he explained.
“We’re sorry for keeping you asleep for so long, but there’s a strict protocol for any being that enters our realm uninvited. We had to keep you in isolation for at least that long to make sure you weren’t a spy or meant us harm. We conducted a thorough background check, and your lineage was scoured for ulterior motives. We had to make sure you were healthy. We did find the tracking sequence my son told us about in your bloodstream, but since your blood is mixed with my son’s now, the tracking effects have worn off already. As for your sweet baby, she’s been having a ball playing with the other children and being introduced to all the trees and animals here. She’s a bright light in the world and has been a joy to us all. Even if we might wind up being at war over her very soon.”
There was so much to unpack in what he’d just said that I needed a minute to think. I fell ba
ck on pleasantries because those I wouldn’t take up much thought.
“You all seem to know who I am, background check and all, so who are you?”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. How rude of us. I am Henry’s father. You may call me Mike. This is my wife, Melody, here.” He motioned to a beautiful woman to the side who had the same exact blue eyes as Henry. Then he pointed to a stern-looking man to her left. “And that is Henry’s brother Gabe.” Henry’s mother nodded her head and said hello, but his brother ignored me completely.
The pleasantries out of the way, I tackled the main subject first.
“Why do you think you’ll be going to war with the Elvin Kingdom? They have to know Ameria is safe and still with me, or at least I hope that’s what you told them.” When I saw all of the angels present shoot accusatory looks at Henry’s dour-faced brother, I figured he was the one who’d messed up. “Well, what did you tell them?”
Gabe answered me with an attitude that said he had been defending his position for a long time and he was willing to die on this hill. Great.
“We have told them nothing. We are a sovereign alternate reality and do not answer to any paranormal groups. We don’t have to explain our actions. We never interfere in the human world. It’s forbidden, and this time it was also forbidden to get involved with this situation in particular. Henry will have to face the consequences of his actions. But as for the Elvin realm and their puny accusations, we have ignored them and will continue to do so. We owe no one any explanations for our actions.”
“Gabe, was it?” He nodded, his pompous gaze threatening me to go against him. “You’re an idiot.”
He started to walk toward me in a threatening manner, but Henry stepped in front of me and held out a hand. “I wouldn’t take another step toward him if I were you. You might be my brother, but I love him more than I love you right now. Don’t push your luck.”
Gabe looked stunned, mouth hanging open, and turned to his father and then his mother for support. When he didn’t get anything but shaking heads and disappointed looks, he stomped toward the door. His father’s words slowed him as he reached for the doorknob.
“Gabe, you’re no longer in charge of this situation. You may go back home.”
His spine stiffened, but he left without another word.
“Now, Finn. What do you propose we do to get us out of this situation? I fear we’ve messed it up royally.”
I looked around and found Henry sitting in a chair behind me, probably staying out of the way. I walked to him and held out my hand. He took it immediately, and when I had his grasped tightly in mine, I turned to address the others in the room.
“I need my phone back, and I’ll take care of this, but first I need food and to see Ameria. I’m sure you understand.”
I walked toward the door I’d come through earlier, but Henry tugged my hand and pulled me the opposite way toward the door Gabe had left through a moment ago. Oh, yeah. I didn’t need to go back to the bedroom yet. Once we were through the door, Henry threw himself at me and hugged me as hard as he could. It hurt, but I returned the tight hold because I felt the same way.
“I’ve missed you so much, Finn. It’s been horrible. My brother took charge and wouldn’t let me say a word. The protocols were set in stone, so I couldn’t argue. I knew when I brought you here, it would be risky, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
I hugged him, and we rocked back and forth in a comforting gesture that soothed both of us. Even though I’d been in a quarantine coma for a couple of weeks, and even though time hadn’t passed the same for me, I had still missed him too.
“It’s fine. They fixed the tracking thing, so that’s one less worry. Now we need to fix this crisis, and it should all be good.”
I let him go and retook his hand. We walked down a long hall, then through a beautiful room with ivory-colored sofas and simple gold accents. The floors looked like marble, but even though everything in the place seemed to be white and bright, nothing seemed cold or sterile. There was a warmth that was welcoming.
“This place is beautiful, Henry.”
He shrugged. “I guess. I like your cabin better. More color.”
I thought of all we’d shared in my cabin and considered something Henry’s father had said. “What did your father mean when he said your blood was mixed with mine now?”
Henry stumbled over nothing on the floor, then righted himself with the help of my hand still holding his. He opened his mouth, then closed it a couple of times before he just blurted out, “I had to use my blood to heal that scratch on your leg. It was spreading the poison fast through your system, and I didn’t know how else to stop it. But that’s not all. My mom told me the consequences of that last week.”
He turned us toward a door to the outside and threw it open before finishing his sentence. I was awestruck by what I was seeing, but I also wanted to hear the rest of what he had to say. He walked me by trees dripping in carnelian, malachite, and moonstone. The fruit hanging from the trees looked like the finest faceted jewels any royal crown would be lucky to own. At last, he stopped beneath a tree that looked like the leaves were made from lapis lazuli, the most brilliant blue veined with gold.
“We’re eternally connected, Finn. As long as I live, you will too because you have my blood in your veins. You’re stuck with me forever. And in my world forever is not just a sentiment, it’s a fact.”
He hung his head as if I was going to be angry with him. I couldn’t let him think I was upset. “How on earth or any other realm could I be angry with a man for loving me enough to risk himself and his eternal future to help me not once but twice, Henry?” He raised his head, hope glistening in his eyes with an unshed tear. “It’s true. I said I love you, and I always will.”
Henry let that single tear fall from his golden lashes, and right there beneath the ancient tree of knowledge, I kissed my eternal mate. It was a sweet, chaste kiss but held all the promise of what would come. I gave him a quick hug, and then we continued walking.
“I need to see Ameria for myself, then can you find my phone? I need to make a few calls and straighten this all out.”
I followed him down the jeweled path, knowing that no matter where we went from now on, we would go together.
Chapter 12
Henry
“Did he say how he’s going to work this all out, son?”
For the thousandth time, I answered, “No, Mother. He just got his phone and said he was making some phone calls. That’s all I know.”
“Well, he’s been in there for a long time. You think you need to go check on him and make sure everything is okay?”
I heaved a heavy sigh and reminded her, yet again.
“He said he didn’t want to be disturbed. He has Ameria in there with him, and I’m sure he’s doing some kind of proof of life conference call. I don’t want to bother him. He’ll come out when he’s ready.”
“But, maybe—”
I cut her off. “No, Mother. Why don’t you go ask Father if dinner is ready? I know Finn will be starved when he’s done. And ask him if the other things are ready too.”
This brought a smile to her face, and she rushed out of the room to go check on the preparations. Just as the door closed behind her, the opposite door opened, and Finn came out of his bedroom holding the baby in his arms.
“Hello, princess.” I reached my hands out to her.
She reached for me, babbling, “Baba tree, pup pup.” She growled an adorable play puppy growl, then said, “Gorm,” followed by another growl.
“What’s this Gorm she keeps talking about, do you know?” Finn looked concerned, but I hadn’t found anything that could even remotely be called Gorm for her to be upset or mad about.
“I have no idea. She started saying it after we got here, and it’s always with her puppy growling when she says it. Maybe it’s a game she made up to play with her puppy.”
Finn didn’t look convinced, but it was the best I could come up with. He let Ame
ria down, and she walked and crawled around the room, exploring with her puppy while we talked.
“How did the calls go? I didn’t hear any shouting, so that must be a good sign.”
Finn stroked his beard, then uneasily slid his hand to the back of his neck and rubbed it a few times without making eye contact.
Uh oh.
“What? What happened?”
“Hear me out. I called one of the other Mages, and she’s in a relationship with Ameria’s relative. She was pissed until I explained the situation. She gets it, and so does Marik. She acted as a mediator between her father, who is on the Elvin council, and me. It took a while, but he’s agreed to hold the council off. I assured him that Ameria is perfectly safe. She hasn’t been kidnapped, and that the Fallen do not want to interfere in any way after this. But they did have a few demands.”
Finn didn’t continue right away, and that made me very nervous.
“And?”
“They demanded that someone come here and make sure Ameria is safe and happy, but I told them that was impossible for a million reasons. So, as an alternative, they wanted to have a video call where they saw her interacting with all of you, so they know she’s not scared or being mistreated. I told them I’d call them at dinner tonight if that’s all right.”
I was so ridiculously excited about this that I threw my arms around him and kissed him silly before letting him go.
“It’s better than all right, Finn. It’s perfect! Call them right now and tell them to get ready to sing.”
Finn scrunched his eyebrows together as if he thought I was crazy. Maybe I was, but this was too perfect.
“Just trust me. Come on. You’ll see.”
I gathered the baby, and Finn took care of getting everyone on the call while we walked to the dining room. I was lucky that my parents had let us stay in their house. They had more than enough room and guests, and they loved to entertain. This night was a treat for them.
As we walked in, the room burst with colored balloons, confetti, and streamers of every color. The table was set with brightly colored decorations and hats. Finn was scowling next to me at all the noise and mayhem being caused by my parents and my siblings, who had small children. The discordant sound of people singing Happy Birthday at different levels of talent spread through the air all around us.
