by Jana LaPelle
“Ash, I’m coming with you. I’ll hide in your clothing or your hair, but I’m coming with you. I won’t have you endure this all by yourself. You won’t be alone.” Jasmine says with determination.
I smile sadly at her because I know that she will not be with me when the time comes. I will be alone. I don't know how or why, but I'll be on my own.
I turn to find Alaric and Dagda in conversation with his parents as Lexie and Declan enter the room hand in hand. I have never seen her looking so very happy and content as the pair share an intimate look as a silent communication takes place between the two. I smile and wave her over before we get started and as my oldest and dearest best friend in all the Realms approaches, I pull her into a hug and just hold on for dear life. “I love you, Lexie. Please don’t ever forget that, deep in my heart I love you, and I’m so happy for you. I’m so glad that you have Declan, he’ll protect you along with the Druids they…”
"Stop that Ash. Stop saying your goodbyes. I know what you're doing, and you can stop right now." Lexie pulls back from me and takes me in, "We're meant to do this together. You and I both know it. Now we have our kindred to help give us the strength we need when we come up short. So all we need to do is come up with a plan. We can definitely do that, so no more of this talk. By the way, I love that jumpsuit, it's to die for. You look amazing." She says with a grin successfully switching subjects.
"Well your little baby doll dress with the leggings is quite the ensemble, I love the off the shoulder sheer sleeves. Very chic.” I say, admiring her, "Both of my best friends are looking exceptionally beautiful tonight." I say to them.
Then The Dagda’s booming voice can be heard throughout the room. “Everyone. Let's gather round the fireplace. It's story time." He says with a grin. I see that Alaric has secured us a large overstuffed chair next to my parents. Danu and Rhespen are looking rather cozy sitting together as my father leans in to whisper something in her ear. I hear her tinkling laughter at whatever he has said to her as she pulls her legs under her on the couch. My father literally can't take his eyes off of her as he wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her closer to his side. He leans in, and I think for a moment that he's going to kiss her cheek. Instead, he runs his nose along the curve of her cheek to just below her ear, and I swear that he's inhaling her scent. I chuckle, must be a shifter thing. It's only about damn time, I think to myself and smile.
Chapter 33
(Ashlinn)
The Dagda begins as everyone settles down. "To understand Tarron as he is now, we first have to begin with his parents and their story. As some of you know, Tarron's father is King Bres of the Southern Territories; he was placed on the throne by his father Prince Elatha of the Fomorians after the Battle of Magh Tuireadh. It was part of the accords to keep the peace. Bres was single, and it was expected that he take a bride that would cement his place on the throne. The expectation was clear; he would not be binding with a Fomorian female but to royalty within one of the many races of Faerie. One day while he was out riding, he came across a woodland nymph named Sarya. From the moment he laid eyes on her, he was smitten. You see Sarya was exceptionally beautiful, and she was a princess among her kind. They began a torrid affair, and before long Sarya became pregnant. Bres made Sarya many promises, one of which was that once the child was born, they would bind, and he would name her his queen. Bres hid her away so that she would not suffer ridicule from her people or from the members of his court during her pregnancy. It would have been frowned upon for a princess to become pregnant outside of a binding." Dagda pauses before continuing. "It is not uncommon for royalty to take consorts and Bres had many consorts in his harem. He sought to shelter Sarya from his consorts as he did not want her to be seen in the same light."
“Excuse me, but did you say harem? I want to make sure that I heard that correctly.” I interrupt.
Dagda chuckles as he replies to my question, "Yes lass, I did indeed say harem. It was rumored at that time he had over twenty females in his harem from varying races. Sarya he kept separate in the royal wing. Soon it came time for her to deliver the babe, and it was rumored that Bres was extremely overjoyed that the babe was a boy, but that joy was short-lived. You see with Bres' mixed blood lines and his joining with a nymph it was uncertain as to what traits the babe would have, but within a couple of days, it was soon discovered that Tarron was an incubus. They are a rare breed, and because of that, they are widely feared. Many liken them to vampires, and many are very leery of their kind."
“I’m sorry to interrupt again but can you please explain to me what an incubus is? I mean I know what legend says in the Mortal Realm, I want to know what they really are.” I ask.
Jasmine pipes up excitedly, "Incubi are smoking hot and highly sexual creatures. I have never seen one that's not drop your panties gorgeous. Tarron included. When they lay on the charm, they are difficult to resist as they release a pheromone that is said to seduce their prey. I don't think that they are really picky as to the race of female when they're hungry. It is said that they need to feed off of the sexual energy created in their prey during foreplay and intercourse. Can you imagine? I mean Edward Cullen eat your heart out." She concludes with a swoon, and I fear that she will literally fall out of the air and plummet to the floor before she recovers. I swallow hard as realization begins to set in as to exactly what I'm up against.
The Dagda clears his throat before continuing, "Lady Jasmine is somewhat correct in her assessment, incubi feed on the essence of their prey. It is said that they feed during sexual activity, but they are not limited to feeding during that time. It is my understanding that it is more enjoyable for both parties during the act and, how should I put it…? Heightens the experience? In this regard many consider them to be demons as well. Now moving on, we will address Tarron's incubus status a little later. Let’s get back to Bres and Sarya. Once it was determined that Tarron would need special care in order to thrive, he sent Sarya and Tarron away from court. Once Sarya was gone from court, it was rumored that he began visiting his consorts with a renewed vigor, and after a time he attempted to cut his ties with Sarya and his son. A year later Bres meets Bridgid, my sister, goddess of spring and fertility. Some say that it was love at first sight, but others think that it was a calculated move to seduce Bridgid and make her his queen. After all, it was well past the time that he was supposed to take a bride. They entered into an affair, and before long Bridgid became pregnant, at which point there was a quick and private ceremony binding the two together before the news of her pregnancy got out. An announcement was made to everyone in the Realm that King Bres had finally taken a bride and chosen his queen. Sarya could hardly believe her ears as she heard the news once it finally made its way to her. She gathered young Tarron up and made her way back to Bres' court to confront him. By this point, Tarron was almost two years old, but incubi grow rather quickly, and he appeared to be much older than he was, so when Sarya and Tarron were presented to him in front of his very pregnant queen, he publicly denounced his bastard son. Stating that even if Tarron were his child, his queen would bear the first heirs to the throne, Bridgid was pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl. Bres' actions cost Sarya greatly. Her father renounced her title as princess, and she was banished from her clan effectively cutting her off from everyone she had ever known or loved, leaving her a broken shell of the female that she had once been."
"Oh, my… How very sad for both Tarron and his mother, what became of Sarya?" I ask, as I try to wrap my mind around this tragic story.
"Well, that's where Alaric comes in. A couple of years had passed, and Alaric was a young boy of fourteen and had come to visit me here in this Keep. It sits on the southern border of the Northern territories, and one day he was out exploring in the forest when he came across Tarron and Sarya. They were living in a rundown shack in the woods barely making it from one meal to another. Alaric convinced Sarya to come to the Keep. Because she was so weak, he made h
er ride his pony while he and Tarron walked. Once here Alaric ran to get me, and I listen to Sarya's story as the two boys played. I gave them shelter and food, and once I had seen to the young boy's needs, I decided to pay Sarya's father a visit and then Bres.
Sarya's father had regretted his rash decision and asked that I take him to her, but I refused, stating that if it were Sarya's will then and only then would I bring them together. I just needed to know if it were a possibility. Then I went to Bres. He was thrilled that I was paying his family a visit until I asked him about Sarya and Tarron. My sister became very agitated as I pressed the issue as she was once again with child. Bres denied that the boy was his until I asked if he had seen him recently. He stilled as I continued. I told him there was no denying the resemblance, Tarron may have been only four years of age, but he looked and acted much older as his growth rate was accelerated. As High King of the Realm, I demanded that he set aside a residence in his territory for his former lover and son. From that day forward they would be taken care of as they should have been all along. Bres placed them as far away from his castle as he possibly could, and in doing so, they were just several miles from this Keep on the other side of the border. The boys became inseparable as they grew into men. Tarron faced several struggles as he strived to control his nature, but he was determined to get a handle on his need to feed." Here he pauses, and I find that I'm totally enthralled in his reflection of what had happened.
“So, is that all of the story? What happens after that?” I ask.
Dagda looks to Alaric to continue, and he picks up where his uncle left off. "Well, we were pretty inseparable for a time. We were total opposites in every way, but for some reason, we clicked. Tarron quickly caught up with me in form and mentally in age. Soon we were both growing into our manhood, and we were thick as thieves as we attended the academy together as well as training in the guard. His mother became a recluse, refusing to see her father and even Bres when he would visit. Not that he would visit often but after Dagda lit into him, at least he tried. It ended up being a pathetic bi-annual visit. At first, Tarron couldn't get enough of the visits that Bres made but, after a time, as we grew into adults Tarron began to resent the visits and his father." Alaric pauses as if in recollection of the events that took place, the firewood popping and cracking in the fireplace as the storm rages on outside. A server makes her way to all of us delivering glasses of wine as we contemplate the story thus far.
I savor the taste of the robust dark wine on my taste buds as I ask, “I don’t understand, what happened to Tarron then?”
"Well, he eventually could no longer tolerate anything having to do with his father. He became resentful of his father's wife and children. He literally wanted nothing to do with them. Bres approached him one day with an offer to make him Captain of Arms, and he went off like a lit fuse. I had never seen him so angry. That was the first day that I began to worry about my friend. From that day forward we continued to grow further and further apart. When I ask him what was going on, all he would say was that I would never understand. That I had everything that was important in life and had never had to endure what he had. He began avoiding me and pushing me away until one day when we met in passing; I addressed my once friend, and he turned his back on me never to speak to me again. Until this evening we had not spoken since. Now I see that not only did Tarron resent his father, but he has also grown to resent me. It would appear that I have everything that he has been denied." Alaric concluded with a sad, distant look in his eyes.
The room is silent as the fire continues to snap and crackle in its grate, casting a warm glow around the room. I move on to his lap and look deep into my kindred’s eyes as I ask him, “He means something to you. Doesn’t he? There is still light in his soul. He’s not completely lost Alaric.” I say looking deep into his eyes. “What do you want to do moving forward?”
"I don't know. All I know is that you will be put into harm's way and that doesn't sit right with me. In fact, I'm barely able to contain the need I have to ride over to his Keep and beat the bloody hell out of him. Ash, he means to take you from me, and in his now twisted mind, he has justified that he is well within his right to do so. We will never be friends again mo grá. He has crossed a line where you are concerned, and I will never be able to forgive his transgressions against you and me." Alaric says grimly.
“But...”
“No buts, Ash. I know what he’s thinking. He means to go after The Morrígan and take the Fomorian throne. I believe that being denied his rightful place has made him hunger for power to show his father that he is indeed the material kings are made of. The Morrígan is already after you and will stop at nothing to see you dead and out of the way so that she can achieve her ultimate goal. If Tarron succeeds in evoking the blood contract, then you will be placed right in her line of sight putting you in danger. He's about to engage in a deadly game, one that I want you very far away from." He finishes letting me know exactly where he stands.
“Alaric, I’m very much right in the center of things as it is. What if I were able to change his mind? What if I were able to convince him to fight with us?” I ask.
“Ash, Tarron would have to want to change. He has let the bitterness of what his father did to his mother and him eat away at him for so long he is no longer the man I once knew.”
Our debate continues as we look at one another and everything else fades away. He may not want to admit how important Tarron is to him, but I get it, and I silently vow to try to bring the two together again. "I get it," I say as the music continues softly from the corner. I hear the others in the room begin their debate of what our next move is as I look at Alaric's sad but resigned face.
"Ash, I know what you're thinking, and you need to stop. Where you are concerned, he will never acknowledge that you belong to me and me to you. He's staking his claim. He called you his chosen. He believes that you belong to him and only him. There is nothing we can do to change his mind. I saw it in his eyes tonight. Once he saw you, it was game on. He was unable to pull his gaze from you even when he was addressing me. Where we were once friends, we will, forever more, be enemies. Now we need to prepare a plan moving forward. If you end up in his court, you need to be prepared." He says darkly.
“Surely that is a bit extreme, don’t you think?” I implore Alaric.
Dagda is the one to answer, "No, lass. Alaric is correct in his assumption. Tarron wants you now by any means necessary. He will evoke the blood contract, and even if that does not work, he will eventually try to take you by force. Tarron's story is a tragic one, to be sure. Make no mistake there is more of his father in him than he will ever admit. Bres is cold and calculating, how my sister has na come to see that I do not know. She is completely devoted to him and continues to bear him young. Each time I see her, she is heavy with child, and over the years she has given Bres six children. Bres struck the proverbial jackpot with my sister, and I have no doubt he will continue to utilize Bridgit as his broodmare for as long as she is willing to bare him young. She is after all the goddess of spring and fertility, and it would appear that her fertility knows no bounds. With each child she bears Bres, Tarron is that much further removed from the throne. By rights, he should be next in line, but due to his status as an incubus he would never be accepted by the people, sad, but true."
“So, nice to see that this Realm isn’t perfect. Prejudice is alive and well.” I say sarcastically.
"No, Faerie is far from perfect, lass. I would have done anything in my power to see that Tarron were to usurp his half-siblings before he cut us all out of his life and embraced his dark nature. He was at one time pure of heart, but he has allowed his dark nature to rule his being." Dagda responds.
"So… What? We just cut him off and allow him to fall further into darkness? I don't understand. Just hear me out, okay?" I pause as I address the room, in particular, Alaric and Dagda. "I'm terrified that there is dark majic at work here.
I want nothing to interfere with my bond with Alaric. That being said, I want to put some things into perspective, if I may. I was brought up in a loving home. My Mom doted on me but made sure that I had a good foundation to fall back on. Mother, I mean you no disrespect. I know that you did what you needed to in order for me to survive. The important thing was that I felt loved and cherished and never once, even though I knew I was different, did my Mom make me feel anything but loved. Now let's look at you Alaric. You were born to a King and Queen of the Northern Territories. You were brought up with a purpose. You were loved and acknowledged and given every opportunity to better yourself preparing you for your place in the Realm. Now let's look at you Dagda. You were created by your Creator. He was wise and gave you council. He watched you grow and succeed. He gave you a purpose when he chose you to oversee the Realms of the living and had faith in you to do what was right and honorable. Now let's look at Tarron. Tarron was turned away by his father, basically banished from his court. How could that not be interpreted as anything other than shame as to what Tarron was? His mother became a recluse and hid herself away from society after her own father cast her out, because of Tarron, the result of her indiscretion with Bres. Tarron was born to be king but has been hidden away like a dirty little secret that his father continues to denounce at every turn. The only reason Bres has even made an attempt at a relationship is because the High King of the Realm declared it so. All the friends in the world could not take that shame away. Not only did his father denounce him publicly but his mother became a recluse effectively announcing to the entire Realm her shame over an affair gone wrong. The one person in his life that probably loves him most and she sees him as the reason for her fall from grace. Who does he have?" I pause letting that sink in. "If we're going to save the Realms then we need to stop picking and choosing who is worthy of being saved and who is not. Everyone should be given the opportunity for redemption!" I declare.
