by Jana LaPelle
“I love you, mate,” my voice thick. His wings lower to cocoon us and I sit up to stroke down over his primaries, his feathers so black that there is a hint of blue. A shiver racks through him at my touch, and he moves faster than I can see. One arm around my back pulls me roughly to his chest, my back arching accepting him as he enters me in one smooth thrust. His growl in my ear has me all but trembling in his embrace as we lose ourselves in one another. No interruptions. No worries for what is to come. Just the two of us loving one another.
Some time later, I rouse to find that Daxell has slipped from the bed and is almost completely dressed in new black leathers. His button-up pants ride low on his hips, that delicious V and his six-pack abs on full display before he shrugs into a fitted matching sleeveless leather vest, the back is carved out to expose his shoulder blades and looks to be designed to accommodate his wings during a shift to his demon form. The sun is now an orangey-red burning ball that sits low in the western sky. Sighing, I know that our little retreat is over. It’s time for us to return to The Otherworld.
Slipping out of his wonderfully soft bed, I pad quietly over to Daxell and wrap my arms around him from behind and say, “I want to come back here. I want to make more memories here with you. Okay?”
“Damn, honey cheeks, I wish we could stay here forever, but we need to get that bracelet off you. Only then will our bond be whole again. We have a lot to do, and a lot of information to relay to your parents and everyone else. I have no doubt that Nyx was ready to get on with her plans and will not waste time doing so. How much time do you think has passed in Faerie since Poppy returned?”
I shrug and step back from him, “Minutes, not really that long. Time passes so much more quickly here. I still don’t have a really good grasp on time in The Underworld. Are you okay with me taking a quick shower? I won’t be very long.”
Leaning down, he kisses me, lingering for a moment on my lips, tasting me, and he murmurs, “If only we could stay here. I love having you naked and in my bed. It’s fast becoming my all-time favorite thing.” Kissing me again, he pulls back, “Go, LJ, before my will power is gone. We need to leave out as soon as possible.”
I reach up to pat his cheek and he captures my wrist, eying the offending bracelet. “All right, I’m ready to get this off as much as you are. Give me about fifteen minutes and I’ll be ready to go.” Turning, I make to head into the attached bathroom and receive a smack on my bare rear, that puts a skip in my step, and a quirky smile on my face. Damn, if that doesn’t sting.
Not having a change of clothes here, I step into worn and somewhat dirty leathers after my quick shower and pull my unruly hair up into a messy bun. As soon as I can I’m going to wash it and get a fresh change of clothes, but all of that will have to wait. Stepping out of the bathroom, I see that the bed has been made and the room is vacant. Walking over to the balcony doors, I step out into the cool twilight. The sun is hidden behind the forest that surrounds the lake here. I take a moment to appreciate what’s left of the orangey-red sunset and the stars as they begin to pop out against the night sky. I like it here. The quiet serenity, but it’s time to go. Turning, I lock up and go downstairs.
“You ready to trace us to Glendale Loch?” I ask as I enter the open kitchen.
“Ready as I’ll ever be. Let me just turn off the light and we can go.” Daxell walks back over to me in the darkening light of the room. Looking down he smiles and twirls me into his arms. “You know what?”
I smirk, “What?”
“I was wrong.”
“This should be good,” I tease.
“You’re my type, princess. I was so wrong before, I had no idea what my type was until you came along. Are we good?” He’s brooding over our squabble from before. The deep V between his eyes gives him away.
Reaching up, I smooth the offending lines away as my fingertips lightly trace his forehead and then his trimmed scruff. “We’re good, Daxell. It was just a misunderstanding. We’re going to have those from time to time. Your hard-headed and so am I.” Standing up on my tiptoes, I pull his head down for a quick kiss, “Now, demon boy, we really need to get going before Poppy starts freaking out. She’s going to think we got stuck in The Underworld.”
Pulling me close he wraps his arms around me and kisses me on the forehead. “All right, where do you want to arrive at the castle?”
“First of all, it’s a Keep, not a castle. Secondly, we should arrive in the courtyard,” I say and wrap my arms around him.
“My apologies, princess. Let’s get you to your Keep.” His laugh is deep and teasing before he turns serious. “It’s time to go, we’ve been gone too long already.” Daxell’s trace is not as seamless as mine and takes just a bit longer in the void between realms, but he’s quickly getting the hang of it. As we step out of his trace, there’s a small congregation around Poppy, now in her larger faerie form. She is animatedly retelling our adventures in The Underworld when she notices us.
“What took you so long? I’ve been here for over twenty minutes. Your Da was about to trace to Luc’s fortress to confront him.” I can’t help the tiny smirk that tugs at my lips and it’s then that she sees that Daxell is in different clothing. Then she points her delicate accusing finger in our direction. “You two took a detour to The Mortal Realm. You did. Don’t deny it.” She accuses.
“We had a few things to work out, Poppy. That’s all.” Daxell replies, his voice deep and growling. Then he turns to my mother, “Do you mind?” He holds up my hand displaying the binding cuff on my wrist. “I hear that you have a way to remove this bracelet.”
Mama looks from me to Poppy, and demands, “Why didn’t you tell us that Lillie has been bound?”
Poppy looks chagrined at her lack of explanation and mutters, “I hadn’t gotten to that part yet?” She shrugs and wrinkles her pert little nose all the while looking utterly adorable until Auntie Jasmine bops her on the head.
Mama looks back at me, “Come here, baby girl, let’s get this horrible bracelet off of you and then we can talk. You too Daxell. We’ll go to the library. I think there is a wooden box in there that we can lock them away in until Dagda gets here. I’ve called for him and your grandparents and Neamhain. I think that everyone should be here before we go much further.” She motions us forward and gives me a quick hug before turning to Dax, she smiles at him and says, “Thank you, Daxell, for bringing her home.”
“I’m sorry.” Daxell looks regretfully at my mother and father.
“For what? You’re family now. I told you that we would be okay with the trade-off. Now let us all go inside. We have a lot to uncover about this Nyx. I hadn’t the faintest clue that she even existed.”
Da swoops in and gives me a huge bear hug, holding me tightly in his arms, his voice gruff, “I’m glad you’re home, Lillie. Now let’s get this binding cuff off of you. I’m not sure how you are dealing with their muting ability. When they were forced upon me I felt like the weight of all the realms was crushing down on me.”
As we enter the main hall of the Keep, I showed them all the bloodstone pendant and told everyone about our theory that it has been acting as a protective hedge from the moment it was placed on me. It only takes a couple of minutes to reach the library and everyone gathers around a large mahogany table in the middle of the overly large chamber that I love. The space is open and airy with the terrace doors open to the afternoon sunlight. The windows that let light into the room are situated far above the many bookshelves that line many of the walls.
“Little Flower!” A familiar voice booms from the terrace entrance and in walks my great uncle, The Dagda, High King of Faerie, “We have all been very worried about you! Lillie, you can na do that to us again.” Dagda strides forward, his height eclipses everyone in the room at almost seven feet tall, his shoulders are broad, hips trim, darkly tanned from spending so much time in the sun, his hair and neatly trimmed beard are more salt than pepper these days. I love the twinkle in his warm brown eyes. I realize tha
t I’ve missed him and his larger than life persona as he pushes Daxell aside to wrap me up in a hug that has my feet dangling about two feet off the floor. Leaving Daxell to suppress a growl.
“I’ve missed you too, Uncle.” Smiling into his chest as I try to wrap my arms around him.
“What’s this I hear that you have been bound? Let me see,” he demands while sitting me back on my feet. I hold the bracelet up for him to inspect.
“Here. It’s not that bad, not really. Mama was about to remove it.”
“Not that bad? The use of iron forged from angel fire has been outlawed, ages ago. Ashlinn, what are you waiting for? Let’s get these cuffs removed.” Dagda demands before glaring at Daxell, “Why is there a demon in our midst?”
“Dagda, don’t be rude,” Mama chides. “This is Daxell, we told you about him.” My mother is quick to interject as she comes around the table and motions to them both. “Daxell, this is Alaric’s uncle, The Dagda, High King of Faerie and father god to us here in The Otherworld, but here at Glendale Loch, he’s just family. As are you. Dagda, you be nice.” My mother chides and pins him with a glaring look.
“All right, all right, I’ll be nice.” He grumbles, “but Lillie needs -”
“Her binding cuff removed. Can we please step outside,” Daxell interjects quickly. I have a feeling that he and Dagda are not going to hit it off right away, but I can’t worry about that right now.
At Daxell’s urgency, I can sense the bloodstone heat. Aunt Lexie moves toward me, pushing her way through all those that have gathered around me and exclaims, “Where ever did you get that stone?” Lexie stands transfixed in front of me, her concentration on the pendant. Gingerly, she reaches out to touch it and an electrical charge connects with her fingers. She gasps and pulls her hand away, “Oh my, that’s the most powerful bloodstone that I have ever encountered.”
“Are you okay, Aunt Lexie?”
“Yes,” she rubs her index finger and thumb together. “Come, Lillie. Daxell is right, we need to remove your binding cuff. The bloodstone is working overtime to try to counteract its effects.” And just like that, the Mother Druid in our midst has confirmed our theory.
“Why should we go outside?” Lachlan asks as he shoulders his way through the gathering, pushing others aside to get to me. “Stop getting into trouble, little sis.” He pulls me into a hug and for a moment I just wrap my arms around him and squeeze him close to me. Wanting everything to go back to the way it was before my ascension. Knowing that it can’t and that things are about to change between us once again.
Poppy is quick to answer, “I think that Daxell is worried that Lillie JoBug will release her wings involuntarily.”
“Poppy?! That was supposed to be my secret to tell!” I scold.
“Whatever, Lillie JoBug.” Smiling broadly she continues, “Her wings are magnificent, but she has no control over them so if I were you? I would back the heck up.”
Daxell and my parents join me and Lachlan along with Timbra as we make our way out to the banks of the Loch. “She’s right. When I ascended, they were like dead weights on my back. I hope that won’t be the case the next time they appear.” My disappointment in the fact is clear for all to hear.
“Ah, Lillie, never fear, just you wait. Once that binding cuff is off, your ascension will seem tame.” Lachlan wraps me in an impossibly tight hug. “I love you, sister. Break the chains that bind you so that I can find my place as well. It’s time.”
He pulls back, grinning down at me, a twinkle in his eyes. Tugging him back into a fierce hug of my own I experience a fear I’ve never known. “Forgive me, Lach,” I beg on a jagged whisper, worried that he will hate me once his memory of his time as Adam is restored.
He looks alarmed when he pulls back, confusion marring his handsome face, “There’s nothing to forgive.”
“Just remember that in this lifetime you are my brother and I love you with all my heart. Soon you will understand.”
Mama and Da watch the two of us, both with knowing glances at one another. Mama steps forward, her pendant in hand. Smiling up at me she tucks a strand of my hair behind my pointed ear, not that it stays put. The breeze has picked up and the once clear skies look to be carrying a spring storm our way. Our hair blends together as it dances on the wind, Mama’s caramel color strands stand out against my darker locks. Cupping my cheek gently, a loving smile on her lips, she says, “I’m so very proud of you, Lillie Joanna. Now, let’s get this wicked bracelet removed.” With deft fingers, she seamlessly unlocks the shiny silver bracelet on my wrist, it drops to the grass-covered ground with a dull thunk and lays there looking as if it has been neglected for a thousand years. Tarnished and … unused. Its transformation is mindboggling.
The bloodstone burns hot against my skin with a sudden burst of power and suddenly I feel as if the weight of a thousand pounds has been lifted from my shoulders. My connection to my majic is back. Testing my ability to pull the fire element to me, I form a blazing ball of flames in my hand. Laughter burst from me and I look up to see Daxell watching with the hint of a smile, our bond is no longer blocked and I definitely share his pleasure at that. It’s then that I feel movement along my back under my skin, as if they can no longer be contained, my wings unfurl and burst from my back with a resounding snap. At the same moment, something fractures deep within me and I sense the moment that she gains consciousness. Nemesis pushes forward with a strength that I could not have anticipated. I push back, but she’s strong and has taken me by surprise.
Blinking, I take a look around me to get my bearings.
Suddenly my mind is clear.
My purpose is my own.
I am Nemesis.
I am Retribution.
I am back.
Now that I’m free from unwanted bindings, my wings snap to attention, at last. In two downward strokes, I’m above my friends and family, but are they my friends, my family? They are Lillie’s family. I am Retribution. In two more downward strokes, I’m ready to leave them all behind me. The only reason why I pause is that Daxell has followed me into the air. His demon form is magnificent. Our mate is truly a sight to behold.
A harsh laugh escapes me, “I’m awake, at long last. So long I’ve slept. I’m finally free. Free from all my bindings. Daxell, it’s so invigorating. Come with me! We have much to do. Souls to conquer. Souls to send to The Underworld. So many souls in this world and the next. So much to do. First, I must wake my mother. Nyx has no idea who she really is.”
“LJ? This is not you. Come back to me, honey cheeks.”
“We’re bonded? You and I? Surely, you can accept me as Lillie accepted your demon.” Nemesis coos as I struggle for control.
“Daxell, help!” I scream through our link.
“I’m afraid that may prove to be an issue, Nemesis. The only way that I will be able to accept you is if you are playing for the same team. Freeing Nyx is not on our agenda. Now, be a good little primordial and let Lillie free.” Daxell demands, his demon’s eyes flash in anger.
It’s like I’m watching a damn movie and someone else has the freaking remote.
Cocking my head, I observe him for a moment before flicking my hand out in a shooing motion which sends Daxell cartwheeling through the air, “If you are not with me then you are against me, … mate.” The words are devoid of any emotion while I’m screaming at the deranged bitch that has highjacked my body. I just can’t seem to take control. Nemesis is now front and center and I’ve taken a back seat to her will, her desire to control me like a puppet is unnerving and I need to break free of her hold. Daxell reaches out to me through our bond and latches on to my very essence, giving me strength.
“The bloodstone, Lillie Joanna. Use the bloodstone!” My aunt Lexie calls from below me as I steadily climb higher on the wings I so desperately wanted. The same wings that are now betraying me under Nemesis’ guidance. Carrying me away from my family.
“Everyone. Help her.” My mother shouts and my Keeper bond flares
to life. Keepers and Guardians alike lending me their strength, bolstering me as I latch on to them and the majic of the bloodstone.
Nemesis falters.
Love. Overwhelming and beautiful outpourings of love have the great Primordial goddess faltering. “What is this?” She whisper asks.
“Love. Have you never felt Love?” I ask her.
“Never. Not like this. It’s beautiful.” She sighs, marveling in the outpourings of strength and love from my fellow soul keepers.
“It really is a pity, Nemesis. You’ve missed out on the one thing that could have made a difference in your existence. You can have this, but we must come to an understanding.”
“An understanding?”
“We must integrate.”
“No. No. This … this love I feel, it is for you. Not me.”
“That’s not true, you are part of me now.”
“No. You try to trick me. I will rule this vessel.”
“Bitch, I asked nicely. Now I’ll do what must be done.” Pulling on the power of the bloodstone, and the strength of Daxell and my family, I imagine the two of us meshing together, pulling the most important parts to the forefront and the less desirable aspects pushed to the back, praying like hell that I won’t be forever changed after this is done.
“What are you doing?” She screeches and we falter in mid-flight. The sky around us has become dark and menacing.
“What must be done. Nemesis, you will live once more through me. It is what our creator wanted. We will be one and we will be Retribution, not as you once were, but as we are now.”
The wings beating at my back continue their slow downward strokes as Nemesis and I forever change, becoming one with the other. She has a particularly nasty outlook on every soul, something that I will have to get used to and temper. She also has a vile, wicked tongue that will be useful on certain occasions. Pulling one final time on the strength that my family, my order, and my kindred are feeding me, I unceremoniously shove Nemesis into a box that will allow her and me to become one. Finally, the combining of our souls, our very essence is complete. Sighing, I realize that I’m still me with subtle changes as we continue to merge.
