by Cara E Holt
Blaine rushes to crouch before her and check her over. He grimaces. “Yes baby, you have the symbol on your forehead.”
He helps Alana to her feet and she rushes over to me.
“Do you feel it? I feel different?”
I nod and grin. “I think somehow they blessed us and in doing so increased our magic.”
Alana stares at me all incredulous as she holds out her clench fist. Sitting there in her palm is a large red stone. I lean in and stare at it. I can feel the pulse of its magic. Almost like a heartbeat.
“Is that..?”
Alana smiles. “Yes. It’s the stone of destiny. That once sat in the stone altar where the Kings of Ireland were crowned. Macha gave it to me.”
“Wow.” I exclaim. “What does it do?”
Alana laughs. “I have no clue, but it looks very pretty. You boys have any ideas?”
They both shake their heads.
“No, but I know someone who might.” Lorcen announces.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE.
Drustan holds the jewel in his hands like it is the most precious gem in the world. He studies it in detail, bewitched by it.
“I never thought I’d see the day, where I hold the stone of destiny in my palm.”
“What can it do though?” I ask. I’m eager to know if this stone may help us beat Devlon.
“There are lots of opinions about its purpose. The most common is that it foretells prophecies.”
My head whips around to Alana. “Macha could tell of prophecies.”
“So you think..?”
“I think she gave you that stone so that you could do the same.” I can’t hide the excitement in my voice.
Alana furrows her brows. “But I don’t know how.”
Drustan carefully passes the stone back to her “You need to keep that safe.”
“We could have it placed in a gold clasp and it could be worn as a necklace around your neck.” Blaine suggests as he sits beside Alana staring at the stone in her hands.
“I think keeping it with you at all times is important.” Drustan tells her. “If it gets out that you have this, many a relic hunter will try to take it.”
Alana lifts up the top of her dress and pops the stone down it. “For now it’s safe.”
I was pleased to say that the triskelions that our ancestors had burned into our foreheads had now faded and could not be seen by the naked eye. I had a feeling they were still there and would make an appearance again, but I was kind of relieved that they were not a permanent feature on our heads, because yeah, that would be a little weird.
“Okay, two more steps forward and then you can stop.” I guide my sister into the room. She is currently blindfolded and has no clue where she is. The royal garden in the seelie court had been decorated with hanging lit lanterns and beautiful floral chains. Megan, Taylor, Queen Arliss and Queen Eira were all gathered waiting for her. I had petitioned to the seelie king and queen to allow Taylor into their realm. Humans were not allowed in the fae realm under any circumstances but they had agreed for Alana’s sake. Taylor had squealed like an overexcited toddler when I had told her she would be attended a hen party in the fae realms. For days beforehand at school she had badgered me about how we would get there, could she eat the food, what she should wear and so on.
“Okay. You can take the blindfold off now.” I step from behind her and go and stand with the others.
Alana unties the mask covering her eyes and startles when we all shout ‘Happy hen party.’
“Oh wow.” She exclaims looking round the room. “This is beautiful. Thank you, all of you.”
Taylor bounces forward and places a sash over Alana’s head with ‘Bride to be’ written on it in pink writing. Then everyone else comes forward and greets her with a kiss on the cheeks.
“Okay. Take a seat. We are having afternoon tea.” Queen Arliss tells her, holding out a chair for her. The large round table was filled with every cake and pastry you could think of. Tea was being served in beautiful silver cups. There may even be some saffron cakes that I had managed to get Lorcen’s grandma to supply on the quiet too. Well, this is a hen party after all. What Alana didn’t know was that this was the tame part of the hen party. Later we were portalling to club Elysium where I had hired a booth in the V.I.P section reserved for other realm creatures. Now though with both queens present we were having a civilised tea party. A fae servant comes and pours us our tea and we all fill our plates with the delicious cakes on offer.
“Alana.” I stand from my seat. “We have all bought you a small gift.” I hold out a small box. “This ones from me.”
Alana wrinkles her face in excitement as she takes the parcel from me and carefully opens it.
“It’s a lucky sixpence to wear in your shoe on the big day.” I can see confused looks from our fae party members. “In the human world it is seen as good luck to have a six-pence on you when you wed.”
“How quaint.” Queen Arliss comments. Leaning in to look at the small silver sixpence in Alana’s hand.
“Thank you sis.”
“Now mine.” Taylor announces and holds out a wrapped gift.
Alana tears into the wrapping paper and laughs when she looks at what is inside. “A how to work the husband manual. This should be a funny read. Thanks Taylor.”
Taylor bobs her head with a smile. “You’re welcome.”
“Here’s mine.” Megan quietly pipes up and stands and offers Alana a blue box with a silver ribbon tied around it. “It’s something that all fae brides have on their wedding day.”
Alana opens the box and pulls out a beautiful chain of silver coloured flowers that sparkle and glisten.
“The Amari flower symbolises eternal love, brides wear the flower chain in their hair for the ceremony.”
Alana holds up the delicate chain and it catches the sun creating rays of light in the colours of the rainbow. “It’s stunning Megan, I can’t wait to wear it.”
It was stunning and even better given that Megan had made it herself.
Queen Arliss magic’s a large gold box onto her lap. “This my dear girl is for you.”
Alana places the box on her knee and on opening it she gasps and puts hand to her mouth.
“Wow. This is just, stunning.” She looks up at Arliss with amazement in her eyes.
Arliss pats her hand and smiles. “It is a family heirloom. Each royal bride has worn it on her wedding day.”
The present is a lace veil that is intricately sewn with beads and pearls. It looks very old and very treasured.
“It’s your something borrowed.” I tell her smiling.
Alana tears up. “Thank you for welcoming me into your family.., I know....you were probably hoping for a bride of full fae blood and...”
“Now stop there.” Arliss says holding her hand up and shaking her head. “You have made my son so happy. When we thought he would go without a true mate, it devastated us to see him so down. Then you came along. He walks with a spring in his step now and his heart seems lighter. You did that for him and we could never be more grateful. I am honoured to have you as my new daughter.”
A tear falls down Alana’s face and I wipe at one that is threatening to fall from mine.
“Okay.” I clap my hands together. “No tears today, this is supposed to be a joyous and fun afternoon. Now for a game of Mr & Mrs.” I look to my Mother-in-law and queen Arliss. “It’s a human television game show for couples. Just err, go with and you’ll see.”
Mr & Mrs is great fun and it is clear that Alana knows Blaine quite well considering the short time they have been together. The afternoon draws to an end and I announce to Alana that we are heading back to our human realm to change and get ready for the evening part of our hen celebrations.
“Okay, now I’ll guide you okay. Just a forewarning, we are going via portal.” I tell Alana. She stands in front of me blindfolded.
Megan stands before me and opens a portal.
“Holy crap.” Taylor exc
laims, her mouth hanging wide open. “Are you sure I won’t disintegrate or burst into pieces if I go through.”
We all chuckle. “Trust me Taylor. If I thought there was any risk to your life, I would not be taking you through.”
“But I’m human.” She points distrustfully at the glowing portal. “That thing might accept you freaky magical people but it might spit me back out.”
Megan takes her hand, trying to stifle a laugh. “Come on Tay. I’ll take you through. Just breathe okay.”
Taylor takes a deep breath and allows Megan to take her forward. I laugh when I hear her swear ‘fuck’, as her form disappears.
“Did she disintegrate?” Alana asks with a chuckle.
“Let’s hope not or Scott will kick my ass. Come on.” Tell her as I place my hands on her shoulders and guide her to the portal. “It’s hen party time!”
We portal into a side street near the club and head over to where people are queueing outside. We head straight for the V.I.P entrance and are given immediate access, the Fae bouncers recognising us and bowing their head in respect. It is still strange to get my head around being recognised by Fae but I had been plastered all over the Fae news channel when it was announced that the girl had been a match to two princes. We head inside and the place is already pretty busy, we are ushered up into the V.I.P section. Odhran the fae who runs the club is waiting to greet us.
“Princess welcome.” He kisses both my cheeks. “It is an honour to host your night.”
“Thank you Odhran we really appreciate it. This is my sister Alana and soon to be princess of seelie court.”
“The talk of your resemblance was indeed true. You are like mirror images.” He takes my sisters hand in his and kisses it. “Welcome to my club my lady.”
Fae and other realm beings watch us and whisper behind hands. This celebrity status would never be something I would grow used to. Odhran leads us to our private booth.
“A complimentary bottle of our finest champagne for the bride –to-be and her guests.” He clicks his fingers and ushers a waitress over. The Fae waitress looks at us with wide-eyes as the realisation hits as to who we are.
Odhran leaves us and we settle down in the booth and toast to Alana with our champagne. Megan uses her magic to put up the ‘Bride to be’ banners along the top of our booth. I magic a blow-up man who has blonde hair and fae ears to make him look like Blaine.
Taylor digs around in a large paper bag she brought with her and pulls out a veil and an ‘L’ plate. She places the ‘L’ plate over Alana’s head to rest like a necklace and fits the veil onto her head.
“There, now you look like a real Bachelorette.” She goes back to digging in the bag and pulls out a large plastic blue dick that appears to be on a head-band. “It’s dick hoopla!” She tells us delightedly. “So we take it in turns to try and get the hoop over the dick. If you fail you take a shot.
I groan. I was never any good at scoring in netball at school. Alana picks up the hoop to go first.
“Wait, wait!” Taylor holds her hand up. “My dick’s falling off.” She readjusts the plastic band so that the blue dick sits centre on her forehead. “Okay, I’m good.”
Alana goes first and misses and takes a green shot, she winces as it goes down. “Woah, that stuff is strong.”
Megan goes next and the hoop lands over the plastic penis. She fist bumps the air and does a little celebratory dance.
Taylor eyes her suspiciously. “Did you use fae magic? That is not allowed.”
“Of course not.” Megan protests but winks at me as she hands me the hoop.
I squish my eyes to try and line up my target. I pull my hand back and release it. The hoop whizzes over the top of Taylor’s head and lands smack in the middle of a man’s forehead in the next booth. “Crap!” I giggle, ducking down and covering my mouth.
“Does this belong to you ladies?” A deep voice asks and I look up sheepishly into the eyes of Roth. Prince of the Elven realm.
Chewing on my lip, I give him a wave. “Hey there Roth. Sorry about the hoop.”
Roth grins, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Girl’s night out?”
I point to Alana. “Hen party or Bachelorette party, depending on where you are from.”
“Holy smoke! Are there any ugly men in your world?” Taylor says in a very loud whisper to Megan that has Roth laughing.
“Girls. This is Roth. Prince of the Elven Realm. My sister Alana, Megan and my human friend with the big mouth – Taylor.”
“Ladies.” He bows his head in greeting and Taylor fans herself with her hand. He looks at Taylor, his head tilted as he takes her in. “You do know you have a large plastic cock strapped to your head?”
Taylor nods and gives the plastic penis and affectionate pat. “It’s dick hoopla. Want a go?”
“Of course he doesn’t” I hiss mortified, but Roth holds his hand out to shush me.
“I never refuse a challenge. Although I have to say this is an unusual game.” With his eyes full of amusement he flexes his shoulders, lifts the hoop and throws it. It lands perfectly on the plastic penis.
“Well done Elf man. And if you think this is strange, just wait until we get out ‘pin the dick on Blaine.” She tells him, attempting to pull the hoop off the cock on her head.
Taylor offers the hoop to Alana again and Roth stays stood beside me watching.
“I heard you were back home?”
I nod. “Where did you hear that?”
“Kol.” He tells me, his eyes watching my reaction.
“You’ve seen him?” I ask my head whipping round to meet his eyes.
“I have.” He continues watching the girls.
“How is he?”
Roth shrugs his shoulders. “He’s okay. He’s doing what most men do when they lose the woman they love. Drinking and whoring.”
I wince. “Don’t mince your words hey Roth?”
He shrugs again. “Don’t worry about Kol. He’s a big boy, he will bounce back.” He claps his hands when Megan gets the hoop on again. “No news on Devlon?”
“None. I like to tell myself that no news is good news, but...”
“But this is Devlon we are talking about.” He finishes for me and I bob my head in reply. He gestures his head to Taylor. “Is the blonde single?”
I roll my eyes, men! “No she isn’t. She is dating my brother, so stop making eyes at her.”
He grins, amused and winks. “Is she always this vivacious?”
I scoff. “Always, she’s like a whirlwind of energy.”
“I should get back to my friends.” He leans in and kisses my cheek. “Give my regards to Lorcen.”
“Of course. You sure you don’t want to stick around and play ‘pin the dick’?”
“Thank you but playing with cocks isn’t really my thing.” He snickers. “Have fun ladies.” He says a little louder getting their attention. They all give him a smile and a wave.
“Ebs. Your turn.” Taylor informs me, thrusting the hoop in my hand. “Okay. Second time lucky.”
I don’t get second time lucky or third time. Three shots later and two glasses of champers, we move onto the pin the tail. Alana manages to stick the paper penis on Blow-up Blaine’s chest. I get stomach and Megan his arm. Taylor is the one who gets closest, placing it on his hip. We spend the rest of the night drinking and dancing, there may even have been a point where Taylor danced on the table with the dick strapped to her head. All in all, I think we give my sister a good farewell to her single days.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR.
A large wet tongue licks at my face. I groan and roll over onto my other side.
“Failinis. I don’t appreciate the wash.”
My wolf hound makes a grumbling noise and jumps on the bed and nuzzles into me.
“Come on boy, I’m tired.”
“Hung over more like.” Says the teasing voice of my mate. I open one eye and then open two when I see Lorcen walk back into our bedroom in just a towel. Now that w
oke me up.
“You’re staring.” He tells me, his back to me as he riffles through his drawer.
“Too right I am.” I lean on my hands and watch him. His broad shoulders flex as he looks for whatever it is he needs. “I should be feeling much worse than I am.”
Lorcen turns and smiling at me he comes and sits on the bed beside where I am lay. “You’re not human. You process it through your body much quicker. One of the many perks of being fae.”
I nod, impressed. “Excellent. So, what are we doing today?”
He playfully ruffles my hair. “We are going home. I want to take you somewhere.”
I sit up intrigued. “Ooh, where?”
Lorcen shakes his head and taps me on the nose. “Wait and see love.” I jump up and clamber onto his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Come on Lorc, give me a little clue.” I lean in and kiss up his neck.
“Are you trying to bribe me with kisses?”
“Totally.” I reply as I kiss up behind his ear. “Is it working?”
He laughs. “No. It’s making me want to keep you in this bed all day.”
I lift my head and meet his eyes that are now all heavy with desire. “While I would ordinarily be very down for that, I want to find out where you’re taking me. You can have a kiss though.”
He cocks a brow. “Oh can I now?” his hands grab me by the waist and and rolls on top of me. “I think I want more than one.” He leans and starts raining kisses all over my face making me giggle. Its times like this that I can forget the cloud hanging over us. When we can be just two people in love, being playful and having fun.
“Come on, get your pretty ass up and dressed.” He drops a big kiss on my lips before standing and leaving me with the view of his superb ass as he drops the towel and uses magic to put on his clothes. Damn if that view was not the best I had ever seen.
I stroke Swiftwing’s nose and she leans into my hands. “Hey girl. Have you missed me?”
We were stood in the stables at the unseelie castle. “Erena has been taking her out regular, making sure she gets exercise.”
