Dangerously Charming

by Deborah Blake

  “Besides?” he asked.

  She chuckled. “Besides, I am going to enjoy watching you fall under someone else’s charms for a change.” A tiny fist closed around her outstretched finger. “I think you’ve finally met your match, Mikhail Day. I suspect that nothing in either world is ever going to be the same again.”

  EPILOGUE

  WHEN Flora was a month old, Day and Jenna took her to court.

  After all, Jenna had promised the Queen that she would return once the baby was born, and it was never a good idea to break a promise to royalty. Especially that royalty.

  For the moment, the three of them were living in a small rental property not far from Barbara’s farmhouse while they planned out what they were going to do next and adjusted to their new circumstances. Day figured that eventually they would build a home of their own, but at the moment their hands were full enough tending to a very small, very demanding baby, and working with Barbara to explore the boundaries of his new abilities.

  Babs and Liam were always happy to entertain the baby, and Babs in particular was relishing her role as honorary elder cousin, so being close by meant they had not only each other, but an extended family as well. It was more than Day would have ever dreamed of, and he gave thanks every day for the miracle that was his new life. The fact that it was now limited in length only made every moment that much more precious. He supposed that was what it was like to be a Human.

  When Jenna decided that Flora was old enough to take through the doorway, they all dressed up in their best finery—Flora looking particularly adorable in a frilly pink dress covered with embroidered roses—and passed through the closet in the Airstream to emerge into a glorious meadow filled with matching blossoms in every shade from the palest blush to the darkest crimson. A mossy green path led to the castle, which could be seen in the distance, but still much closer than usual, as if to make it easier to reach.

  “What?” Jenna exclaimed, turning around in circles as Flora chortled merrily. “How did she know?”

  Barbara shook her head, looking half impressed, half resigned. “She is the Queen. She always knows.”

  Day thought that was a bit of an exaggeration, since they were all well aware that certain individuals whose names were not to be uttered in court had managed to sneak things past the Queen from time to time. But it was true, she was almost always aware of what was happening with her subjects. Apparently, she had decided that Flora fell under that heading.

  They strolled slowly down the plush corridor, pointing out the sights to a fascinated Babs and to Flora, who mostly blew bubbles and gazed about her with the same wonder she displayed for the world on the other side of the doorway.

  Once they arrived at court, a glossy purple lizard wearing a striped black tuxedo ushered them down to a lake nestled behind the castle. Its waters were a crystalline blue, edged with lavender shadows where the shallows met the shore. Lime green frogs and lemon yellow fish jumped over lily pads in some complicated game involving musical balls and silver rackets they held in their mouths as they swam. Courtiers in silk and velvet crowded the waterline, making bets and cheering on the competitors. The water’s clear, clean smell could be detected even over the clashing perfumes of the ladies (and some lords) of the Queen’s entourage.

  Overlooking the water, the Queen and her consort sat in throne-like chairs carved from ebony and decorated with gleaming rubies, emeralds, and citrine. As always, Their Majesties were glorious and resplendent, the Queen attired in a flowing violet gown with actual violets growing across the bottom hem, and the King in a mouse gray tunic and purple breeches with lavender hose. The Queen’s white hair was piled high on her head with jeweled pins, and an enormous faceted amethyst drop that matched her eyes exactly swung between her perfect breasts.

  “Welcome,” she said as the functionary bowed the group in. “We are most pleased that you have come to visit Us at last.” She actually rose to meet them, a rare honor Day was quite certain had nothing to do with them and everything to do with the tiny babe in Jenna’s arms.

  “You are all looking quite well,” Her Majesty said, nodding her head regally at Barbara and Liam, and venturing a tiny smile for little Babs. Then she ignored them and turned all of her not-insignificant attention on the new parents and their charge.

  “She is so very lovely,” the Queen said in a wondering tone, putting out a slim hand to touch the baby’s cheek. “Worth all the trouble she caused, one supposes.”

  “Indeed, Your Majesty,” Jenna agreed, curtsying the best she could considering her current burden. “And we are most grateful for all your assistance in the matter.”

  The Queen waved one white hand languidly through the air. “We did nothing more than give you a small space of time in which to arrive at the solution yourselves,” she said, although Day could have sworn he saw her wink at Barbara, almost too fast to see.

  “What have you named the child?” the King asked from where he sat. “Not one of those foolish modern appellations your people have become so fond of, One hopes. Apple or Pear or something.”

  Day grinned at him. “I assure you, Sire, we stuck with the traditional. Although I did vote for Turnip. Her first name is Flora, after Jenna’s grandmother, who fought so hard to end her family’s curse.”

  “Ah, lovely,” the King said. “So her full name is Flora Quinlan? Or, perhaps, Flora Day?” He returned Day’s smile, seemingly confident of what the answer would be.

  Jenna gazed at the Queen. “If it pleases Your Majesty, we named her Flora Titania Quinlan Day. Mick told me that Titania was one of the names you were known by, and we wanted to acknowledge her connection to this world.”

  Day held his breath, since you never knew how the Otherworld’s volatile sovereign was going to react, but it appeared that Jenna had chosen well, as the Queen’s normally solemn face lit up with unambiguous delight.

  “Indeed, it pleases Us greatly,” the Queen said. “We are quite honored.” She looked unaccustomedly hesitant.

  “Would you like to hold her, Your Majesty?” Jenna asked.

  The Queen nodded, and Jenna put little Flora gently into her arms. One tiny hand rose up to grab on to the amethyst pendant with a grip like steel. Jenna winced as the priceless jewel was tugged downward toward Flora’s rosebud lips, but the Queen just laughed, apparently not at all concerned about drool on her jewelry. The King rose and came to join them, standing tall by his lady’s side.

  “I had forgotten how small they are,” he said softly. “And how fragile.” He looked at Day. “Are you not afraid you will drop her, or injure her in some way?”

  Day exhaled loudly. “You have no idea, Sire. But apparently babies are tougher than they look.” He grinned at Jenna. “Or so I am repeatedly told.”

  The Queen finally handed Flora back to her mother, and she and the King returned to their seats.

  “You must come back to visit Us often,” she said in a tone that made it clear that this was a command and not a suggestion. “Perhaps it will be good to remind our people of the joys of having little ones around.” She and her consort exchanged a glance that held longing so intimate and raw, Day had to look away.

  “We would be honored,” Day said.

  “Of course you would,” responded the Queen, sounding more like her normal self. “Now that we have met Our namesake, perhaps you would all like to join Us in a picnic.” She swept her arm out to indicate the many tables laden with food that surrounded the scattered seats and benches nearby. The aromas that rose from the plates were enough to make any five-star restaurant on the other side jealous, filling the air with the scents of exotic spices and hints of sweet caramel, chocolate, and strawberries.

  Day bowed low. “That would be very nice, Your Majesties, but I wondered if first it would be possible to ask a small boon.”

  The royals smiled at each other, looking the tiniest bit smug. “We believ
e we have anticipated your requests,” the King said. “And are happy to grant them.”

  Requests, plural? They had only one. Still, it was never good to question the King or Queen. He supposed they’d find out soon enough. Hopefully, their exalted majesties hadn’t seen fit to gift tiny Flora with her own dragon, or something else equally unsuitable.

  The Queen snapped her fingers and a small page ran off to a canopied tent tucked into a sheltered glade nearby. He came back with three people in tow: an attractive elf couple with delicately pointed ears showing through long straight hair as blond as Day’s and fine elegant features. The man wore a dark blue velvet tunic and hose and the woman was dressed in a Grecian-style toga made of white silk and decorated with complicated embroidery.

  With them was a dark-haired boy of about nine with striking icy blue eyes. The boy simply looked excited to be at court, but his parents both wore matching expressions of anxious apprehension, inadequately hidden behind their polite formal demeanor.

  Next to him, Day could feel the tension vibrate off of Jenna like a lute being strummed. She’d been afraid the Queen would refuse to let her meet her brother; neither of them had considered that her Majesty might have anticipated their request and been prepared to grant it on the spot.

  “We introduce to you Larissa and Kelvin, and their adopted son Syrius.” The Queen inclined her head toward the couple, and then back toward Jenna and Day. “Larissa and Kelvin, you are probably acquainted with the former White Rider, Mikhail Day; this is his lady, Jenna, and her infant child, Flora Titania. We believe you have much to discuss.” She sat back on her throne-like chair, looking as satisfied as a cat with cream on its whiskers at having brought them all together.

  Day and Jenna glanced at each other, not sure what to do next, when the boy walked up to stand in front of Jenna and bowed, his innocent face alight with curiosity.

  “Is it true?” he asked, gazing up at Jenna’s features, so much like his own. “You are my sister from the other side of the doorway?”

  Jenna handed little Flora to Day and knelt down to be at the boy’s level. “It is,” she said. “I wasn’t sure if your parents would have told you about me.”

  The boy nodded solemnly. “After you and the White Rider saved me from the faery Zilya, they told me all about the curse and how our mother was forced to give me up. They said it must have made her sad, but that having me in their lives has given them much happiness.” He looked back over his shoulder at them, and Larissa nodded, biting at her lip but encouraging him to continue.

  “It did make our mother sad. More sad than you can imagine,” Jenna said. “But she would have been very happy to know that you had people who loved you and took care of you. And now you have a sister, too, and a little niece. I hope that is okay.”

  Syrius nodded. “It is a good thing to have a sister. Will I be going to live with you now? On the other side?” A shadow crossed his face, wiping away his cheerful manner like a sponge. “I am not sure I would like it there. I have always lived here.” He looked back at his parents again, lower lip trembling a little, and they took a few steps forward until they were standing behind him, one hand each on his narrow shoulders.

  Jenna stood up. Day could see all the emotions crowding her thoughts, but they had already discussed this moment many times, and he knew what she was going to say.

  “You love him very much, don’t you?” she said to Larissa and Kelvin.

  Kelvin’s visage was grim, like a man facing a fatal blow. “We do. We are sorry for the tragedy that has befallen your family, and we know we should have turned away the faery when she came to us all those years ago with an infant in her arms and lies on her lips, asking for gold and favors in return.” His hand tightened on his son’s shoulder until the boy let out a muffled squeak of complaint. “But he was so beautiful and we wanted a child so much.”

  A tear trembled on the edge of Larissa’s pale lashes. “We have raised him from that day onward and given him all a boy could want. He is well treated and treasured and knows only this world and us as his parents. Please, please, don’t take him away from us, I beg of you. We offer you all that we have, knowing it can never be equal to his value. Please do not take our son from us.”

  The Queen leaned forward, her face as calm and unrevealing as the lake behind them. “You have the right, Jenna. He is your kin, wrongfully stolen from your family. If you choose to reclaim him, We will not stand in your way.”

  The courtiers who had been watching the entire scene unfold all grew so silent, Day could hear the grass growing under his feet—although admittedly, in the Otherworld, grass grew with greater than usual exuberance. Even the betting stopped, although those in the court tended to wager on anything at all. Immortality could grow boring after a while.

  Jenna leaned down and hugged the boy, her brother for whom she had longed her entire life. And then she gave him a gentle shove in the direction of the two who stood behind him.

  “I know what it is like to lose someone you love,” she said to Kelvin and Larissa in a soft voice. “I fought Zilya so she would not take my child from me; I do not have it in me to do such a thing to another.” She gave them a tremulous smile. “He is your son. It is enough for me to know that he is cared for and loved. And perhaps, you will allow me to visit you from time to time, and get to know him better?”

  Larissa threw her arms around Jenna’s neck and kissed her soundly on both cheeks. “Thank you! Thank you! You are welcome anytime, I assure you.” Kelvin was more restrained, but Day could see the relief draining the strength from his limbs as he put arms that trembled around his wife and child.

  “We look forward to becoming better acquainted with our new family,” he said with hard-won dignity.

  The boy beamed from ear to ear. “I get to stay and I get a new sister? This is the best day ever!”

  “It is a good day, isn’t it?” Jenna said, smiling at Day. He was so proud of her strength and her wisdom, but most of all of the huge heart that had attracted him to her in the first place.

  “A very good day indeed,” the Queen said, her voice ringing like a bell through the clearing. “Well chosen, young Jenna. We are quite pleased with how all has unfolded.”

  Jenna curtsied, unobtrusively brushing away a few stray tears. “Thank you, Your Majesty. So I have your permission to come from time to time to visit my brother and his parents?”

  The Queen gestured to one of her ladies in waiting, who came forward bearing an indigo velvet cushion with a silver bracelet sitting atop it. The bracelet was wide and gleaming, carved with mysterious runes.

  “More than Our permission,” the Queen said. “Our blessing. We have had this token created especially for you, so that you may come and go to Our lands at will. We consider you one of Our subjects now, with all the rights and obligations that come with such an honor.”

  “Oh boy,” Barbara muttered from her spot not far from where they stood. “That could get interesting.”

  Day thought things were quite interesting enough, thank you. “You are most gracious as always, Your Majesty,” he said, as the lady-in-waiting presented the bracelet to Jenna. “But we have imposed upon your hospitality long enough. It is time to return to our lives on the other side of the doorway.” He glanced down at the droopy-lidded baby in his arms. “I believe your namesake is ready for her nap.”

  The Queen gave him a slight smile, amethyst eyes glittering. “Ah, but you cannot leave yet, White Rider. We still have another request to grant, do you not recall?”

  Jenna and Day exchanged bemused glances. “I don’t believe we made a second request, Your Majesty,” Jenna said. “Begging Your Majesty’s pardon.”

  “I’m afraid this one is down to me,” Barbara said, stepping forward.

  Day was completely confused. “What?”

  The King smiled at Day. “We have long searched for a gift that would be ade
quate to thank you for your long service to this kingdom and to the Baba Yagas. It was Barbara who gave Us a suggestion for something you might wish to have. Or should I say, someone.”

  He gestured for Day to turn around.

  Behind him there stood a figure he had not seen for more years than he could count—a tall woman of upright posture, with pale green hair in many tiny braids that reached below her waist, wearing a loose tunic and trousers of supple leather dyed in multiple shades of greens and browns so that their wearer would vanish into the forest like a ghost. On her face was a smile so bright, it almost outshone the light of the moons and artificial sun overhead.

  “Mother!” he said, so stunned he couldn’t move. Jenna plucked the baby out of his arms before he could drop her and gave him a little nudge.

  He had sent out inquiries, but had been unable to go out and look for her himself, unwilling to venture into the depths of the Siberian forests until Flora was a little older. Of course, even with her limited access to the other side of the doorway, the Queen had resources well beyond any he could ever have hoped to muster. No doubt she had simply sent out a royal request to all the nymphs and tree sprites who had remained behind, until one of them had been able to search out his mother’s hidden retreat.

  “My darling Mikhail,” the woman said, reaching out both hands and clasping his, before pulling him into a bone-crushing embrace. “It has been too long. I am glad to see you looking so well. When the Queen told me of your ordeal, I was beside myself that I had not been here for you during your long recovery.”

  “It wasn’t your fault, Mother,” he said, embracing her in return. He was rocked by the depth of his emotions at this unexpected reunion. “I haven’t been very good at keeping in touch.”

  Barbara gave a cough that sounded suspiciously like “Understatement,” and he raised his head to glare at her over his mother’s shoulder. As one might expect, the Baba Yaga was completely unimpressed.