The Ice Diamond Cuff (Custodian Novel #4)

by Alison Pensy

  Faen gave Faedra's shoulders a squeeze. "And you will get through it just fine."

  She gave him a warm smile. Truth was, she was getting very excited. Not just for her marrying the most incredible man she'd ever met, but it also meant she would get to see her friends again. They would all be in attendance. She couldn't wait to hear all about Jocelyn's exploits in Guardian training and what kind of covert mission Etyran and Alyssa were currently executing. They were away somewhere by order of the king but it was all very hush, hush and no one would tell her anything. She was eager to see if she could wheedle it out of them somehow.

  "Oh, that reminds me," Henry said, pushing himself back from the table. "I had a delivery this morning. Want to see it?"

  Faedra and Faen nodded in the affirmative.

  Henry left the room for a moment. Faedra could hear his footsteps as he climbed the wooden staircase and walked along the upstairs hallway above them and into his bedroom. She could feel his energy shift to excitement as he made his way down the stairs again. When he walked back into the kitchen, he was holding up a brown suit-carrier by the hanger.

  "We were going to surprise you," Henry said, hardly able to stand still he was so excited. "But I didn't think it was fair to keep you waiting til your wedding day to see what the father of the bride, well, one of them anyway, was going to be wearing. The king sent some of his seamstresses around to measure me and this is what they came up with."

  Henry pulled down the zipper of the suit-carrier and pulled the garment from its protective covering.

  Faedra sucked in a breath and brought her hand to her mouth. Her wide eyes glistened as she blinked a couple of times to push back a tear.

  "Oh, Dad," she breathed, almost speechless.

  She sniffed, an involuntary response, as she got up from the table and wandered over to where her dad was holding his wedding outfit.

  "Do you like it?" he asked. "I think it makes me look rather dapper."

  Faedra ran her fingers over the luxurious forest green brocade, the same color as the king's velvet robes. The rich material was accented by gold Celtic knot-work embroidery around the cuffs and collar, which continued down the front of the garment. The doublet was belted at the waist, the gold buckle of which was ornately detailed with more Celtic knot-work.

  Faedra let her fingers trail over the belt buckle. Tears continued to prick behind her eyes. Her father, the king, had done this for her dad. No, for her. The garment her dad held up on display was fit for a king; in fact, it was an exact replica of the suit her real father would be wearing to her wedding, also. She only knew that because he had invited her to his fitting a few weeks ago to ask for her opinion. The king had then sent fae seamstresses to her dad to recreate the same outfit. It was a gesture of pure selflessness, a statement for her wedding day that both of her dads were just as important as one another in her eyes.

  "I even get to wear a sword," her dad blurted, as though he were getting his first toy gun for Christmas.

  Faedra turned to face Henry. His expression fell when he saw a tear slide down his daughter's cheek. Deflated, he whispered. "You don't like it."

  Faedra swallowed before throwing her arms around her dad.

  Henry hugged his daughter with his free arm and patted her gently on the back. "There, there. Don't worry, darling. I'm sure I can come up with something else to wear," he said.

  Faedra pulled away and looked into her dad's disappointed eyes. "These aren't tears of sadness, Dad. They're tears of happiness. You'll see why on the day. I love it! It's gorgeous. You are going to look absolutely out of this world...literally."

  Henry's face lit up at Faedra's words. "Phew," he said. "I was beginning to think I might look a bit odd in a tux."

  "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, Dad. You should see what some of the other realms wear...or don't, as the case may be." Faedra chuckled, thinking back to one of her lessons on the various fashions throughout the realms. That was an eye-opener. But then, she guessed if you were made of ice or water, the need for clothing was kind of irrelevant. She was quite intrigued to see how they were going to 'dress' for her wedding. The ambassador for Alsius certainly wasn't big on clothes, but, at least, he formed some breeches to cover himself. Apparently, the two species could shape whatever form they liked around themselves when they were visiting other realms. They did, at least, understand social decorum. Faedra sighed in relief.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  "Jocelyn!" Faedra squealed when she spied her friend across the lawn of the Guardian academy.

  Jocelyn turned her head. Her face lit up when she saw her friend. She turned back to the group she was standing with and excused herself. The others in her group nodded. Jocelyn made her way through the throng of people milling about on the lawn that lay in the shadow of the stately academy building. It was graduation day. Faedra was there with Faen and his parents Janessa and Rowan. Faedra decided she needed to come to an event like this more often. The energy blanketing the entire area was so uplifting. Nothing but positive energy everywhere she turned. Pride mingled with joy and excitement.

  Faedra could hardly contain herself as she watched her young fae friend thread her way through the gathering and finally make it to where she and Jocelyn's family were patiently waiting. Faedra threw her arms around her friend the second she was within reach.

  "It's so good to see you," Faedra said, releasing her after giving Jocelyn a big squeeze. "I've missed you so much."

  "Me, too," Jocelyn said.

  "And just look at you. I don't think I've ever seen you in anything but a dress. You look pretty formidable in that get up. You're not turning into a tom-boy on me, are you?"

  Jocelyn looked down at herself and smiled. The Guardian uniform she had to wear at the academy consisted of dark brown leather boots that came just below her knee, light tan suede leggings, a leather vest the same color as her boots, and a cream-colored, long sleeved tunic tucked in at the waist. The uniform was completed by the obligatory sword, which hung from a belt slung around her hips.

  "Do not worry, Faedra. I still like to wear dresses," the young fairy said just before she was swooped upon by her mother.

  "We are so proud of you, darling," Janessa cooed as she broke from their hug. "I think I may be the only person in Azran to have three Guardians in the family." She dabbed at her eye with a handkerchief.

  "Mother, there is no need to cry," Jocelyn said, placing a consoling hand on her mother's arm.

  "Your mother always cries at weddings and graduations, Jocelyn. You know that." Rowan stated with a wry smile. He wrapped a supportive arm around his wife's shoulders, then turned to Faen and Faedra. "Just wait until next week," he said giving them a wink.

  Janessa doffed her husband playfully on the arm. "Oh, Rowan. I am not as bad as you make me out to be."

  "Really? And how many handkerchiefs did you go through at Faen's graduation?" He leaned over and wrapped his arms around his daughter. "It is good to see you, darling. Congratulations."

  Janessa blushed. "Let's change the subject, shall we? Jocelyn, do you know who you have been assigned to yet?"

  Faedra turned her attention to her young friend. She was eager to find out where Jocelyn would be going. She prayed that it wouldn't be too far. Faen was away from his home for twelve years before he went back. It would be very hard for Faedra if her only real friend in Azran had to leave, as she hardly ever saw her.

  "I do," Jocelyn whispered, shooting Faedra a surreptitious glance, "but it is top secret at the moment. Only the king and I know. I am sworn to secrecy until the king announces it."

  "Oh, goodness." Janessa clasped her handkerchief to her chest. "It must be someone of utmost importance."

  "Yes, it is."

  "'Allo gorgeous," a raspy voice whispered in Faedra's ear.

  Faedra tensed a split second before she spun around… no one was there. She switched her vision to detect energies. "Etyran," she whispered, before throwing her arms around him.

  "Ho
w did you know it was me?" he asked, sounding deflated.

  "Well, for one, it's your signature move, trying to creep up on me and get yourself killed. And two, I can see your energy."

  "Oh, yeah, I forgot about that nifty little trick."

  Faedra felt a shift in the atmosphere around them and scanned the crowd. She was getting a few odd glances from others in the assemblage. She couldn't blame them, she looked like she was hugging the air. They probably thought their future queen was losing her marbles.

  "Oh, for goodness sakes! Show yourself so I don't look like a complete Looney Tunes."

  Etyran unwrapped the light around himself. A six foot wall of muscle and brawn now blocked out the concerned faces. She looked up and soaked in his angular features that were framed by a mop of shaggy brown hair. He smiled, and it reached all the way up to his warm green eyes. The energy around her went back to its previous state.

  "Thank you," Faedra said, a wry smile quirking her lip. "Although, I should probably have you thrown in the dungeon. I'm sure there's some kind of law against creeping up on members of the royal family in a vain attempt to scare them to death."

  Etyran's eyes widened just a hint. "You wouldn't..." his voice went up an octave, "...would you?"

  Faedra giggled. She gave him a playful shove with her shoulder. "No, of course not, you big goof. What do you take me for? I'd be hard pressed to put my worst enemy down in the dungeons with my darling sister. I certainly wouldn't subject that kind of torture on one of my best friends."

  The Lightbender's shoulders relaxed, and a smile lit up his face.

  "Etyran, my friend." Faen stepped forward and threw his arm around his friend's shoulder. "Good to see you again. It has been a while."

  "You look well, Etyran," Janessa said, stepping forward and offering her hand.

  "And you look radiant, Lady Janessa," Etyran said, bending to graze her knuckles with his lips.

  Faedra's eyebrows shot up into her forehead. Wow, the rough-around-the-edges Lightbender had proper manners. Who knew?

  Janessa stepped back allowing her husband to make his greeting. Rowan extended his hand. When Etyran took it, Faen's father pulled him forward and slapped him on the back.

  "It has been a long time, young man. I am glad to see you are doing well."

  "Yes, sir. I have no complaints."

  Rowan stepped back leaving just one more person to welcome Etyran into the group. Faedra drew in a breath as the energy shifted around her. She looked from Etyran to Jocelyn and back to Etyran. Both sets of her friend's eyes locked on each other. Their expressions were unreadable to the naked eye, but their energies were almost up in flames.

  "Jocelyn," Etyran said with an incline of his head.

  "Etyran," Jocelyn responded with a subtle nod.

  Faedra's lips curved into a knowing smile.

  "Something you would like to share with me?" Faen whispered in Faedra's ear.

  "Nothing to report, as yet."

  "Hmm," Faen mumbled, casting a curious glance to his sister then over to his best friend.

  That's a point, Faedra thought. Where was Alyssa? She did a quick scan around her, but the other Lightbender was nowhere to be seen. Surely, she wouldn't hide herself; Faedra switched to energy vision again just to be sure. Nope. No other energy sources that weren't showing themselves.

  "Where's Alyssa?" Faedra asked and almost immediately regretted it. Jocelyn's energy plummeted. Faedra looked at her young friend, but her expression was stoic, unreadable. She looked up at Etyran, his eyes were cast to the floor and a flush colored his cheeks. "She doesn't like crowds," was all he said.

  Faedra shook out her hands. Standing in such close proximity to such heated emotions wasn't helping her control either. She was saved by a bell.

  "Shall we?" Rowan said, ushering their group towards the expansive entryway into the academy. "I believe the ceremony is about to begin."

  Faedra shuffled her way along with everyone else as they made their way into a great hall.

  "See you a bit later," Jocelyn said as she left the group and headed towards the other graduates to the front of the hall.

  Rowan and Janessa inched their way down a row of seats.

  "You go first," Faedra said, as Faen gestured for her to follow Janessa down the row. He gave her a quizzical look to which she responded with a surreptitious glance in the direction of a particular Lightbender.

  Faen gave her a nod of comprehension before making his way down the row of seats. Faedra seated herself next to her Guardian and was joined on her other side by the remaining person in their party.

  "You still have feelings for Jocelyn, don't you?" Faedra whispered to Etyran as soon as he was seated.

  "What? No!" Etyran spluttered. His expression became hard, defiant.

  Faedra raised a brow. "Ty, it's me you're talking to. Your energy went off the charts when you laid eyes on her. So did hers, I might add."

  Etyran's features softened. "It did?" he whispered, sounding hopeful.

  Faedra rolled her eyes at her friend who was now looking like a lovesick puppy.

  "So what's going on with Alyssa?" Faedra continued.

  Etyran dropped his gaze to study his hands that lay in his lap. He started twiddling his thumbs around each other, and released a heavyhearted sigh. "I love Alyssa. She's one of my kind, but I'm still in love with Jocelyn." He turned his eyes, fraught with worry and confusion, and stared at the Custodian. "What do I do, Fae?"

  Faedra clasped her hands together and rested her chin on them. She turned her head to the side and gave her friend a long considering look. Did she have an answer for him? Her only experience with love was with the extraordinary fae sitting to her other side. She didn't think she was qualified to give an answer. She cared about Alyssa, but Jocelyn was her best friend whom she loved like a sister. What would her dad tell her to do in a situation like this? She drew in a breath and smiled. She knew exactly what her dad would say.

  "You have to follow your heart, Etyran," she whispered. "Just because Alyssa is one of your kind doesn't mean you are bound by any laws to love her. It wouldn't be fair to either of you...or Jocelyn, for that matter."

  "But what do I do?" Etyran said, his voice small and meek. "I don't want to hurt anyone."

  Faedra drew her lips into a grim line. "Sorry, big man, but that's the name of the game," she said, placing a comforting hand on his forearm. "You'll figure it out."

  "But what if Jocelyn doesn't want me back and I lose Alyssa, too?" Etyran hung his head and closed his eyes for a long moment.

  Faedra's heart went out to her friend and thought the situation somewhat ironic. Here she was trying to give love advice to, A) a man, and B) someone who was probably ten times her age. Surely, he had more experience with this than she did.

  "Keeping Alyssa hanging just because Jocelyn may not come back to you isn't right, either," Faedra whispered. "If you don't have feelings for her that way, you have to tell her. It's the right thing to do. Yes, she may be hurt to start with, but she'll find someone else."

  Etyran sighed again. Faedra was relieved she wasn't in his shoes. She smiled. "Oh, and by the by," she said quirking her mouth to one side. "I wouldn't worry too much about Jocelyn. Your two energies will not stay separated for long."

  Etyran brought his melancholy gaze up to meet Faedra's bright, sparkling eyes. His lips twitched, an attempt at a smile that touched his warm eyes.

  "You'll make a great mum, you know," Etyran said.

  Faedra's jaw dropped. The Lightbender's unexpected statement startled her. A nervous knot tied itself deep in her stomach.

  Etyran turned to face the front where the ceremony was starting to kick off. "I wish I had a mother like you when I was growing up," he murmured barely audible. But Faedra heard him and a sadness washed over her; it was Etyran's energy. At that moment, Faedra realized she had no idea about Etyran's upbringing or even if he had a family. He'd never mentioned one, and she'd never thought to ask. Was he an orphan? At
what age did he lose his mother? She felt her heart ache. He may be rough and tough on the outside, but, on the inside, he just wanted to love and be loved. Sometimes, having a power like hers could answer a lot of questions without ever needing to ask them.

  Faedra turned to the front just as one of the tutors of the academy stood to start his speech.

  The graduation ceremony didn't take too long. There were not too many fae that made the grade of Guardian. Before Faedra knew it, the ceremony was over and everyone was milling about outside again.

  "We have a celebration dinner laid out at the house," Janessa announced. "Etyran, you are welcome to join us."

  "Thank you, My Lady. I would be happy to accept."

  Faedra looked between her two friends and shook out her hands again. Good grief. Was she going to have to deal with this kind of energy all night? Although, she had to admit, it was preferable to the hatred that was aimed at her by Zaven a few days ago.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  "You look adorable," Faedra cooed as she watched little Skylar twirling around the room in her flower girl dress. It was everything a little flower girl's dress should be. The material was satin, the color of a rich green forest. A fitted bodice laced down the back covered Skylar's torso and was accented with gold braid. From the waist, her skirt fell over many layers of petticoats to mid-calf and was covered in a layer of tulle. A pair of dainty slippers, also with gold trim, finished off the ensemble. She looked up at Jocelyn. "And as for you," she said walking up behind her friend and looked over her shoulder to study their reflections in the mirror, "you look stunning."