by Dane, Lauren
“She’s been hit in the back of the head with a blackjack.” Faine wanted to be sure to let Rain know up front because that sort of thing worried him. He knew Helena was tough, but she was his.
“David, please bring me an ice pack and my herbs.” Rain took Helena’s hand. “Come on. You know the drill.”
“Dad, get Faine something to eat and drink. He’ll tell you what happened.”
“Faine will be right here with you and your mother, so I’ll tell them both. Should I carry her, Rain?”
Rain looked a great deal like her daughters as she turned, surprised and then very amused. “Oh that would be delightful to see. But no, she’s going to sit right there.” She pointed and Helena sighed, sitting where her mother pointed.
Eyes closed, one hand on her lower belly, she touched the same place on Helena and frowned. Her lips moved as she slid her palm from Helena’s belly to the back of her head.
Helena’s eyes flew open. “No.”
Rain continued to murmur, ignoring Helena. Faine looked to David, who shook his head.
“Mom, I said no.” Helena tried to move her mother’s hand and Rain’s eyes snapped open and her energy built up hot and fast. Faine stepped back and David appeared just as surprised.
“You will hold your tongue.”
Helena pushed back against her mother’s command. “You’re taking this into yourself. I won’t let you!”
“It’s my gift and I’ll do what I want with it. Stop fighting me. It takes more of my energy and I’m going to win either way. I’m your mother, Helena. Obey me immediately.”
Helena frowned.
“Listen to your mother.”
At David’s terse words, Helena sighed and put her hands back into her lap.
“Why don’t you tell me what happened?” David asked Faine.
He explained it all as Rain worked just a few feet away. David’s frown grew deeper with each word Faine spoke until he slammed his fist into the wall next to the bathroom door.
Rain sighed and looked to them both. “You’d better not have dented my drywall again. Go on out to the dining room. Helena is going to shower and change. Don’t go too far, Faine, I’m going to be looking you over in a few minutes to be sure you’re all right.”
Faine hated leaving Helena alone but knew he had no choice. She was safe here in this house.
“She’s more upset about the way she was treated by that checker than the three who attacked you all.”
Faine nodded his thanks when David handed him a soda water with some lemon. He didn’t know how much Helena would feel okay with him sharing with her father. Which seemed stupid.
“I think so. Using her fists and her magick on strangers? That’s easy for her. Having someone she trusted in some sense betray that? It shook her.”
“She likes to pretend nothing shakes her. I suppose that’s my fault. I raised them hard. Too hard, as my lovely wife likes to say. This isn’t a job or a life for fluffy bunny parenting. Rain did that part. But both my girls have big hearts and a seemingly infinite ability to protect people, and it gets to them more than they want to admit when people can’t see it.”
Helena hated being misjudged. Faine could see that quite plainly after all the time they’d spent together. He hated that for her too, because she was so good and people took it for granted sometimes.
“She’ll be out shortly and I’m sure Rain will want to feed you both. It’s her way of protecting those she loves.”
“You’re a lucky male.”
David paused as he pulled something from the oven. “Yes, I am. And now I suppose I’m going to have to hand over my last precious thing to another male. Yes?”
“She’ll want us to be together when we tell you most of it, but man to man, I want to tell you how much I cherish your daughter. I will take care of her, protect her. The best I can, that is. Your daughter is wily and seems to attract trouble as easily as she breathes. I will spend all my days making her happy and making sure she has everything she needs. Not that she doesn’t have the ability to do it all herself. She’s self-sufficient and eminently capable.”
Her father smiled at him. “She’ll beat your ass if you screw her over. And then I will. And then Lark will. But it’s really Rain you need to worry over the most.”
Faine snorted a laugh. “The Jaansen females are nothing to sneeze at. It’s no wonder that my brother and I found our women in two of them. Intelligent. Powerful. Strong. Beautiful. She’ll be right at home in Lycia among warriors.”
“You could take her there now and keep her away from whatever is to come. Keep her safe.”
Faine laughed. And then he laughed some more. “Nothing happens to your daughter that she doesn’t want to happen. I just watched her beat down two human males who topped six feet and she barely used her magick. However much I might wish to shield her from all this, especially after I saw her stop a bomb, I’d never disrespect her like that. Also, she’d kill me in my sleep if I tried.”
“There is that,” David agreed as he put the bowls of food on the table.
“And to be truthful? I believe Helena is important to all this. She’s integral in how things will play out.”
“Do you say that in general or . . .”
“I have a touch of foresight. Not like my mother, who is quite powerful with it. But enough that my gut tells me she’s part of this in such a way that should she not be around, things would go worse.”
• • •
“GET out of those clothes. I’m going to burn some of these herbs in here while you shower. You’ll absorb them through your skin in the steam.”
Helena knew better than to argue with her mother, so she hoped Faine hadn’t given her any of his love bites.
“Oh, they ruined your blouse. And it was such a pretty one.” Her mother picked it up and examined it. “I might be able to fix it. The rip is at a seam.” She put it aside and began to set up the brazier where she’d burn the herbs.
“Do I have to use the green soap?” She hated the green soap. It was gross and slick and she smelled like pesto when she got out of the shower. But it was healing soap and she already knew the answer.
“Don’t waste my time with this nonsense, Helena. Make sure you get it on the back of your head where they hit you.”
“Speaking of that.” She turned the shower on and then finished undressing. The crisp scent of the herbs floated her way from where her mother had just murmured her spell and the flame sparked. “How’s your head now?”
“I’m going to drink some healing tea, but really? I’m all right. At first when I drew it from you it was bad. I can’t believe you were even able to stand in so much pain.”
“I was sitting. And Faine nearly carried me to the front door. Also, I’m used to it. You aren’t.” She breathed in deep, knowing the herbs would work better if she just sucked it up and used the gross green soap and let the herbs her mother burned do their job.
“Sweetheart, between your father and you and your sister, I’m quite used to it. And since the Magister my abilities have grown. I’m astonished at how much in some ways.”
“Mine too.”
“Yes, I saw footage of my daughter on her knees, blood everywhere, stopping a bomb. Nothing I’ll be forgetting any time soon. You foolish, foolish girl.”
Her mother’s tone was sharp, full of fear, and Helena knew it wasn’t a rebuke.
“It was so brave. All that you do. Every day. It’s brave and right and I’m so very proud of you.”
Tears stung her eyes so she closed them and pretended it was the soap. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you. Now. What on earth is this mess on your pants?”
“Pie. Those assholes not only ruined the pie I was bringing over, but they got it all over me and Faine’s car too. It’s going to be a sticky mess in there. But it’ll s
mell good.”
Her mother laughed. “I like him. Faine, I mean. I like how focused he is on you without seeming obsessive or creepy.”
“I’m in love with him.”
“That much is clear. He feels the same.”
“Yes.” She rinsed off, feeling much better.
“You have clothes here still. I’ll be back in a moment with something for you to change into.”
She dried off and noted the bruises beginning to appear on her legs and side where she’d hit the car door. They wouldn’t be as bad because of the magick and the “greenwork” as her mother called the herbal magick she used. Her head didn’t hurt so much she wanted to puke anymore. But she’d definitely take some pain reliever once she got food into her body.
“Will he take care of you?” Her mother thrust some clothes into her hands. “Like you deserve to be?”
“Faine?”
She pulled on the yoga pants and an old long-sleeved shirt. “I can’t believe you still have this shirt.”
“You and your sister leave things here. I put them away in case you ever need them. And I like having some of your belongings in the house. It’s a tie to you both.”
She pulled on a pair of thick socks.
“Yes. He takes care of me like I should be. He’s kind. Really bossy. But not in a gross I’m the boss, you do that way.”
“Well, that’s good, as you’d have to punch him in the sac if he acted like that.”
Helena laughed as she finished braiding back her wet hair. She turned to her mother and hugged her. “I love you.”
“I love you too, baby.”
When they both got back out to the dining room, Helena’s stomach growled rather rudely. Faine smiled as he caught sight of her. “You look better.”
Her mother breezed past and took over from her dad. “She’ll be better after she eats. Sit, everyone.”
They filled their plates and ate for a bit, Helena answering questions from her father about the assault at the grocery store.
“I’m afraid we’re going to need to add it to the list of places Others need to be wary about.” They had a list, available at the website, of businesses and places throughout the country that Others had negative and positive experiences with. “I think we should give the owner a chance to issue a statement though. If they deal with this Nancy creature and they’re otherwise fine to do business with, that’s all we can ask really. There are bound to be problem employees all over the place. No matter how awesome the owners and management.”
“You’re probably right. But I want to go over there right now and hit someone. Screw being the bigger person. As they’re so fond of saying, I’m not a person anyway.”
Hearing her normally loving and gentle mother say something like that broke Helena’s heart. She wanted to push that negativity away, even if just for a little while.
“Faine has asked me to marry him. Well, to bind with him. I’ve accepted.”
Her mother’s face lit and she was glad she’d brought it up.
“A binding, like what Lark and Simon have?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Faine nodded, reaching out to take Helena’s hand. “There’s no reason for me to pretend she’s not it for me. This binding is a ceremony older than recorded history. My brother is in Lycia right now, putting all the arrangements in place.”
“It’ll just be a short thing this time. We’ll go, do the binding and have a small family party and come right back. Things are too uncertain here for us to be gone any longer. But we’d like you to be there. Simon and Lark will be as well.”
“Of course we’ll be there. Normally, I’d frown and say it hasn’t been long enough. But you’re not one to make rash decisions. This man has been at your side for months in some rather difficult situations. And he’s proven he can be counted on. It’s something a mother worries over. I knew your father was the one the third day after I met him.”
Helena settled in and ate, listening to her mother tell the story of their courtship. Her father leaned toward his wife, a grin on his face. Faine laughed here and there, nodded, and the sounds of it, the sheer, wonderful normalcy of it, healed her far better than a hospital could have.
Chapter 22
FAINE kissed her awake. “Hello there.”
“Not that I am complaining about the kisses, but it’s really early.” She turned to look at the clock. “Like two in the morning early.”
“Card just called. They’re ready for us.”
“Like binding ceremony ready?”
He nodded. “Are you ready?”
Yes, she realized, she totally was. She tangled her fingers with his. “I am. Let’s call everyone. I take it you’ll have to be with my parents to get us all through at once, right?”
“Card volunteered to do it. He’s going to be with his wife, who is Fae, and her ability to travel between the Veils is pretty awesome.”
“Let me call them to let them know what to expect.” She did, and once her father knew she was calling for something good instead of another assault of some kind, he perked up and said they’d be waiting for Faine’s brother when they arrived.
She went into the closet and stood. “Oh my goddess. I have no dress. I don’t know what to wear.”
He brought her a garment bag. “I saw this and I thought you might like it.”
“You bought me a wedding dress?” She laughed. “Really?” He did have great taste so it wasn’t like she was worried. “You’re incredibly sweet, you know that?”
“Yes. Well. I want you to be happy. I know this is all very rush rush and not probably what you dreamed of as a girl.”
She took the bag but before she unzipped it, she looked up into that gorgeous face of his. “I dreamed of weapons when I was a girl. I never dreamed of a big wedding. And I have my dream man right here.”
He smiled and kissed her quickly. “Good. Then you should know your roundhouse kick needs some work. I’ll help you with it later today.”
She laughed, unzipping the bag. “Okay then.”
Inside the bag . . . wow. A pale blue dress. Vintage styled. Chantilly lace, low in the back, draped at the front with a formfitting bodice. It was classic and simple and very elegant. And chosen by a man who clearly understood her better than she could ever deserve.
“This is . . . I honestly couldn’t have picked a more beautiful dress on my own.” It was perfect. “You know me well.”
“I hope to love you as well as I know you.” He then drew out a ring box and got to one knee.
“I’m going to cry.”
“You’re supposed to. Will you marry me, Helena?” He opened the box and inside was a single ring made of three interwoven bands studded with diamonds. “A band for you, a band for me and one that symbolizes us.”
Crying, she took it out and he slid it on. It was perfect. Like he was perfect. “Where did you come from and whatever did I do to merit such a blessing?”
“Good answer.” He stood. “Wait to get dressed until we get to Lycia. I’ve already called Simon and he and Lark will be there waiting. I figure you’d want to have your mom and sister help you get ready.”
He drove them to the spot he said they’d use to go to Lycia. “The Fae can travel a lot easier. They sort of fold space and move through it. Like in Harry Potter. But we use thin spots. One is just here. We can hold a corridor open and go through that way.”
“Can anyone do it? Is it magick? Is it guarded on the other side? What if humans came through with an army?”
He kissed the top of her head and led her to the clearing. They were about forty-five minutes east of the house.
“I’ve been to this park before. There are ley lines here.”
“Maybe that’s why we can cross in this spot. It is magick in its own way, yes. Yes, it’s guarded on the other side. Though there are many spots here
on this side of the Veil, they all open to the same place in Lycia. And no, humans can’t cross it. Only those carrying Lycian blood can do it.”
“Oh. Well that’s good. Safer.”
He saw her disappointment and grinned. “You’ll be able to do it once we’re bound. Lycia will recognize you as her own.”
She perked up. “Cool!”
She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but he drew a hand through the air in front of them and they kept walking, and then they were standing in a field with a whole different sky.
The magick at her feet surged to greet her, rushing through her veins. “Holy cow. That’s good.”
He turned. “What?”
“The magick here. It just filled me up. The earth recognized me immediately.”
He smiled. “Really? I like that.”
Someone hailed them and he waved, speaking another language briefly.
“My brothers are here. Come on then. Welcome to Lycia.”
She wished so much that they could stay for longer than just a few hours. It was beautiful there. The stars burned bright overhead as they headed toward a grouping of buildings ahead.
“This is Leviathan ground. All the eye can see belongs to us. The biggest building over there is a meeting hall. We’ll have the binding there. That’s my parents’ home just ahead.”
He was unbearably pleased with how much joy she wore on her features. He’d seen her in a pretty wide array of situations and moods, but this Helena was so full of wonder and happiness that he found himself unable to stop smiling. He held her close, an arm around her shoulders, and she slid hers around his waist as she peppered him with questions.
Up ahead, his parents came out of the house and waved, both wearing smiles. Lark and Simon, along with Helena’s parents, approached from the gate as well. This was a good thing.
And with so many bad things occurring with alarming regularity, good things were to be treasured.
His mother approached and simply pulled Helena into a hug. “Welcome to you, daughter.”
