Enchanted Addictions: A Reverse Harem Fairy Romance (The Twilight Court Book 11)

by Amy Sumida

  “Don't you dare finish that sentence!” I snarled and pointed at my husband.

  “Sorry. I briefly forgot who I was speaking to,” Killian looked a little horrified.

  “What do you like to ride?” Rowan asked me innocently.

  “I like to ride Cat in her horse form too,” I said and then kissed Rowan's cheek. “And just a few days ago, I rode an each-uisge.”

  “An each-uisge?!” Rowan's eyes widened. “Was it fun? Did you scream?”

  “It wasn't so much fun. I did shriek a bit but that was because it was scary.”

  “You were scared?” Rowan whispered.

  “Each-uisges are very dangerous, but I had to get it back into Fairy so the humans wouldn't hurt it.”

  “Why did the humans want to hurt it?”

  “Because it, uh, was a very naughty horse. Ah, breakfast! Thank, Danu!” I declared as a maid rolled in a cart laden with trays of steaming food.

  My father and Killian got up to help the maid unload the trays. Up in our private dining room, we didn't have to be so proper about things like being served. Once everything was passed out, we got down to eating without worrying about looking regal while we did it. After a few bites, I told my father more about what was happening in Kansas City.

  “So, you'll be leaving again already?” My father asked sadly.

  “Yes, and I know. I'm not thrilled about it either.”

  “But this time you'll take your Star's Guard,” he said firmly.

  “Dad,” I whined like a child, and my daughter giggled.

  “I let you go on that each-uisge hunt without your Guard because it was just one animal, but you won't be hunting an animal this time, Seren.”

  “I'm an ambassador, Dad. I can't be bringing nine people with me everywhere I go. It's ridiculous.”

  “You're technically a consultant since the Fairy Council hasn't accepted your offer yet,” my father said stiffly. “And I would think that the Human Council would be happy to get eleven people for the price of two.”

  “They'll be giving us an extinguisher team,” I pointed out. “I won't be alone with Killian.”

  “I don't care. You're my heir, a princess, and a queen; you require guards.”

  “How about one guard?” I bargained.

  My father grimaced.

  “Two guards and I'll let you pick one of them,” I tried again.

  King Keir of Twilight sighed deeply. “Fine. Who is your choice?”

  “Conri, of course,” I said immediately. “He fits in the best with humans.”

  “He has ram's horns and fire eyes,” my father said dryly. “Hardly human traits.”

  “He can glamour those away, and I meant his personality and experience, not his appearance. Who are you picking?”

  My father thought about it and said, “Felix.”

  “Felix?” I asked in surprise. “Interesting choice.”

  “His appearance doesn't need glamouring to fit in with humans,” my father explained. “And his mór will be a good counterpoint to yours. He can form a barrier of hail around your entire group if needs be. All Conri can do is howl.”

  Felix's mór was the Frastan, a blend of his parents' mórs—as was usually the case with Twilight Fey. Stormy Air and an icy Water mór had blended in him to create hailstorm. Felix could do all sorts of things with hail of all sizes. One of his specialties was creating a protective barrier with hovering hailstones.

  “Conri's howl can break bones,” I defended my only non-Sidhe knight. “But you're right about Felix, he's a good choice too. So, Conri and Felix?”

  “Agreed.” My father grinned.

  “You would have let me get away with one guard, wouldn't you?” I concluded with a grimace.

  “Perhaps.” Dad smirked.

  “Oh, by the way, Dad, Tiernan's had the Imps working on a magic-powered vehicle too.”

  “Has he?” Dad asked in that polite tone people use when they don't think someone will succeed.

  “They've got a working prototype,” I went on casually. “We went for a ride in it. It works really well.”

  “What?!” My father sat forward and glared at me.

  “I said—”

  “I heard you,” he snapped in irritation. “Imps? I have Imps working on the same project at Gentry.”

  “They must not be as motivated.” I shrugged and hid my grin.

  “I motivate them by paying them,” my father grumbled. “I suppose I'd better offer them a little more motivation.”

  “It's not a competition, Dad,” I said with a smirk. “Tiernan just wanted to help.”

  “Yes, I'm sure, he did.” Dad grimaced.

  “You love Tiernan, remember? He was like a son to you even before I married him.”

  “Yes, I know,” he huffed. “Which is why this is so annoying.”

  “Perhaps King Tiernan's Imps could visit Gentry and offer some assistance to your Imps?” Eibhleann suggested.

  My father scowled but then started to grin. “Yes. Tiernan is my son-in-law after all. He should want to help.”

  “I'm sure he would, Dad,” I said. “And they're currently working on making the cair—that's what they call it—airborne so it doesn't have to travel on the roads and endanger animals. Though, I suppose it is already technically airborne since it rides on a cushion of air.”

  “Does it?” Dad asked with interest.

  “Yes, it's powered by air magic.”

  “Brilliant!” my father declared. “Very well, I'll scry Tiernan later.”

  I leaned over to wipe a smudge of egg yolk off Rowan's lips. “I'm sorry I have to leave again so soon, Ro-Ro.”

  “It's okay, Mommy. I'll see you when you get home.”

  “You're such a good girl.”

  Rowan beamed at me. “And we have all of today to spend together.”

  “That's true,” I agreed.

  “Maybe we can go riding and scream as loud as we want,” she suggested.

  Killian snorted some of his coffee and choked.

  “That sounds like fun, baby.”

  “It does indeed,” Killian agreed. “I love it when Mommy screams.”

  I gave him my you-will-pay-for-that-later glare.

  Chapter Eleven

  After a long day of horseback riding with Rowan—or pukaback riding rather—Killian and I kissed our daughter goodbye and left her in the capable hands and paws of my father and Cat. Killian, Conri, Felix, and I twilighted to Kansas City, which was not in Kansas but Missouri—I have no idea why. Killian directed our travel and we reformed on a lush lawn in front of a palatial, three-story, red brick home with three chimneys, a covered porch, and two balconies above the porch—one directly above the porch and one above a room that opened onto the first balcony so that they looked tiered.

  “Nice place,” Conri said as we headed toward the front door.

  “Is it?” Felix asked with genuine curiosity. When you live in a castle, it's hard to judge such things.

  “It is,” I confirmed.

  Conri had his Bargest horns and fire eyes hidden under a glamour but otherwise still looked like himself. The brown eyes he went with worked well with his dark, unruly, badboy hair and his thick body kept Killian from standing out so much. His features were on the rough end but his full lips softened them a bit. The blue jeans , T-shirt, and black leather jacket he wore looked perfect on him. Felix, on the other hand, didn't have to hide anything, but his slim shoulders kept stretching uncomfortably against the human clothing he wore. He had his long, raven-black hair pulled back in a ponytail and his sky blue eyes scanned the area professionally despite his unease. He radiated bodyguard vibes.

  When we angled around the house, I noticed matching, tiered balconies on the opposite side, and another narrow balcony on the third floor at the front-center. All of them had wrought iron railings and those weren't just for decoration. Iron is poisonous to fairies and adorning a house with it was akin to hanging strings of garlic up to ward off vampires. A perfe
ct lawn stretched out around the house, providing a buffer between it and its neighbors. In short, it was a grand home.

  “I have to admit, this wasn't what I was expecting from Kansas City,” I added.

  “The Council bought property here ages ago,” Killian said as we went up the front steps. “Just like they did in many major cities. But here, land was a bit cheaper and they could afford to buy a substantial property. Now, this is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Kansas City and this place is worth millions.”

  “Makes sense.” I slid my hands in the pockets of my leather jacket. “Most of the Human Council's houses are worth a lot. I just thought Kansas City would be a bit more... industrial. Not so picturesque.”

  “I don't know if I'd call it industrial but it is a bustling city. A little on the gritty side depending on where you go but then, aren't all cities?” Killian shrugged, then knocked using a brass knocker.

  He flicked a glance at me, and I realized that he'd hidden his snake pupils under a glamour so they looked normal. It shouldn't have been so startling—they were just pupils—but it was. I'd gotten used to him looking a certain way.

  A woman opened the door and exclaimed, “Killian!” She was trim and fit, with blonde hair held back in a loose, short ponytail and the kind of tan you pay money for. Her full lips relaxed into a sexy pout as she leaned forward to hug my husband. “It's so good to see you.”

  Conri cleared his throat to cover a snicker. The woman looked over at the rest of us as if she'd just realized there was a rest of us.

  I cocked my head at her and lifted an eyebrow. She met my blatant, what-the-hell-are-you-doing-hugging-my-husband-like-that stare and flinched, then frowned in confusion. I waited patiently for her to figure out who I was while Killian desperately tried to disengage himself from her kung-fu grip.

  “Uh, hey. Nice to see you too.” Killian finally managed to extricate himself. “Seren”—he grabbed my hand like a lifeline and yanked me closer to him—“this is Extinguisher Janelle Sloane.”

  “Sloane, eh?” I smirked at her, then at him.

  He gave me a help-me look before finishing the introduction, “Extinguisher Sloane, this is my wife, Ambassador Seren Firethorn Sloane and her guards, Conri and Felix.”

  “Oh,” Extinguisher Sloane said in an almost petulant tone.

  “Yes,” I said firmly. “And, just to be clear, if you approach my husband in such a familiar way again, I will knock you on your ass so hard that your ass will go numb.”

  Killian pressed his lips together to keep from laughing.

  Conri felt no such compulsion and blatantly chuckled. He even went so far as to add, “I'd pay money to see that.”

  Felix knocked his fist into Conri's stomach.

  “What the hell?” Con growled at Felix.

  “Since Gradh isn't here, I must take up the slack,” Felix said primly—with twitching lips.

  “I... but I didn't—” Janelle stammered over the argument brewing between my guardsmen.

  “Oh, yes you did,” I cut her off. “I'm half Fey, I can sense these things.”

  “The Fey can't do that!” Janelle protested. Then she frowned. “Can they?” She looked at Killian for an answer.

  Killian nodded with a yep-girl-you've-been-caught expression, his lips still pressed together tightly.

  Conri gave up on fighting with Felix to support my lie, “We most definitely can, and I'm a Bargest, I can smell it on you. Felix is single, though, if you're looking for some fey action.”

  Felix glared at Conri.

  “Well, I—” Janelle gave up, turned around, and fled.

  As soon as she was out of hearing, Killian let out a low laugh.

  “You should have warned me about her,” I chided my husband as we stepped inside.

  Felix shut the door behind us.

  “What, and miss all the fun?” Killian shot back. “Not a chance. And thank you, by the way. That woman does not understand the word no.”

  “My kind of woman,” Conri murmured.

  We all gave him stern looks.

  “If I were a free man,” Conri added. “Which I'm not.” He glowered at us. “Stop looking at me like that, I offered her Felix, didn't I?”

  “Yes and thank you for that,” Felix grumbled sarcastically.

  “Payback, my friend,” Conri declared.

  “Yes, it's a—”

  Conri growled before Felix could finish the sentence. Canine-shifters tended to be sensitive about the B-word.

  “All right, enough,” I ordered and the men went silent. Then I lifted my voice to add, “Hello? Is there anyone here who is brave enough to face me without fleeing?”

  “Seren,” Killian chided me but laughed harder.

  A hesitant sound came from above and then the thump of several pairs of boots. Men and women came streaming into the foyer, looking as if they were about to face an adversary. They pulled up short when they saw us.

  “I suppose I should have worded that better,” I noted dryly.

  “Ambassador Blair?” A man stepped forward.

  He was muscular in the way that older men are when they've given up on a vigorous weightlifting routine and decide to make do with a few days a week on a treadmill. Nut-brown hair swept back from his stern face in a trim, military cut, and washed-out blue eyes narrowed at me and my guards suspiciously.

  “Sorry for that, Head Councilman.” Killian reached forward and shook the councilman's hand, using the opportunity to lean in and whisper, “Janelle opened the door. My wife was not pleased.”

  The councilman blinked as his expression went slack and then wincing. He looked over at me apologetically. “Welcome to the Kansas City Council House, Ambassador Seren. I'm Head Councilman Dan Teagan and I'm sorry you weren't greeted... properly.”

  “It's fine, Head Councilman. I took care of it.” I winked at him.

  “I'll bet you did.” He grimaced, then turned to his people. “All right then, back about your business, it's only our ambassadors here to help.”

  The extinguishers exchanged confused glances but dispersed.

  “These are my guards, Sir Conri and Sir Felix,” I introduced them to Teagan.

  “Thank you for coming, all of you,” Teagan said as he shook Conri's and then Felix's hand. He turned and headed back for the stairs. “This has been a head-scratcher.”

  We followed Teagan upstairs and down a hallway to an office at the end. It was the room attached to the lower balcony I'd spotted outside. His desk faced that balcony and its tranquil view but it didn't look as if the councilman spent a lot of time out there; the furniture on the balcony was covered and those coverings were strewn with leaves. The room itself was sparse in a pleasing way, with two chairs before the desk, one behind it, and bookshelves behind that. A small meeting table sat between the desk and the balcony and a single potted palm stood near the balcony door as if trying to lure the hardworking man outside.

  Teagan waved at the meeting table where stacks of papers and photographs waited in neat piles. “This is what we have so far. Oh.” He frowned. “Coffee? Food? Are any of you hungry?”

  “Coffee would be appreciated,” I answered for us all. “We've had dinner already, but thank you for your hospitality.”

  “Of course, er, do I call you Ambassador or...”

  “Seren works for me but if you want to get fancy, Ambassador is good. Technically, though, I'm just a consultant.”

  Teagan's face fell into relief. “Thank God you're not a stuffy royal.”

  “She's definitely not that.” Conri smirked.

  “I was an extinguisher first,” I said to the councilman.

  “And thank God for that as well,” he said in a more serious tone. “And please, call me Dan.”

  “Will do.”

  Dan went to the door, flung it open, and yelled, “Tom! Get us some coffee, will ya? Enough for five.”

  “Yes, Sir!” came the response.

  Then Dan joined us at the table and flipped open the
files. “This is the first death.” He tapped a picture of a man sitting propped against a dirty brick wall. “You're welcome to read the medical report but all it says is that they think it's an overdose. They don't even speculate on which drug they think he took.” He rolled his eyes. “The kids got more attention but again, the report only says it's an overdose and doesn't list the drug. However, they note that they attempted to determine what the drug was and could find no match. Now, these are our reports.” Dan fished out a folder and set it before Killian and I. “Again, inconclusive except that we determined that magic was involved.”