Fragile Destiny (The Aether Chronicles)

by Suzanne Lazear

  “You’re queen in your own right. Like Tiana. Only … ” Steven’s cheeks burned. “Unlike her, you have the right to have a king. If you want one, that is.” After everything, he didn’t want to presume. James was right; he’d been a moron. “Also, I’m sorry for being an idiot. I know you always act in my best interest.”

  She sat up and smiled. “Apology accepted. My first act as queen will be to make you king. My second act will be to clear your family’s good name … if it still needs clearing.” Noli looked around. “Who do I tell to make it so?”

  James was right. She knew nothing. But she had him.

  “Noli, do you mean it? Do you really wish to make me your king? Marriage is different here in the Otherworld.” He took her hands, heart leaping while his stomach lurched. Noli made him a better man.

  “Of course I do. This is your dream. You’re getting your kingdom back.” She beamed.

  Any remaining doubt and anger faded away. “We’re getting our kingdom back. It’s going to be a lot of work, but we can do this together.”

  “We always get through everything together. Besides.” Her smile turned bashful. “I don’t know how to rule a kingdom.”

  Their foreheads touched. “Fortunately, I’ve spent my entire life preparing for this.”

  Her face fell. “I can’t be a queen. I can’t even be a lady.”

  “Noli, this is our kingdom. We can rule it however we’d like—within reason. We’ll be more … relaxed. We’ll become a haven for inventors and creators. We can have royal gardening competitions, and”—he grinned—“a royal tree house. We get to make the rules.” None of his plans called for shaking things up, but then again, he’d never planned for an uncommon queen like Noli.

  Still, this could work. No, it would work.

  “A royal tree house?” Her eyes gleamed. “I want one of those hover chariots like the queen has … only I want it to go fast. Perhaps we’ll have races.”

  Now that could be fun. “We’ll help each other, too.”

  “Of course. That’s what we do—make each other better.” She planted a kiss on his nose.

  His finger brushed her ear. The point was gone. For a long moment he studied her. She was just as pretty as before, though her looks had become a little more refined and dignified … as a queen’s should be. The curls had returned to her hair, only they weren’t quiet as unwieldy as they’d once been. Gently, he put his hands on her temples and read her magic, something he should have done before and never had.

  “That tickles,” she laughed, twisting slightly under his touch.

  “Noli … ” He sucked in a breath, she had a lot of magic. “You’re not a sprite anymore.”

  “I know. She took the sprite out of my head and made me myself again.” Noli flung out her arms. “I feel fabulous.”

  “I’m so glad.” He kissed her. Noli was back. A sprite could never be queen. However, he had a feeling Noli didn’t quite realize that she wasn’t mortal. There couldn’t be a mortal queen, either. “Noli … ”

  The door opened and James marched in. “I hope you’ve forgiven each other and kissed and all that because we have work to do.”

  Steven would talk to her about that later. “Yes. Impressions are very important. What happens today will define how people see you as leader.”

  “You mean us, don’t you?” Noli made a face.

  “Technically, since you took the kingdom, you have to actually marry V in order for him to be king.” James grinned, clearly taking pleasure in this.

  Noli nodded. “That makes sense.”

  “So … ” James’ smile stretched so wide it threatened to expand past his face. He gestured to Steven and Noli.

  It took a moment for Steven to understand. “You want me to propose right now?”

  “Not this second, if you’d rather not,” Noli whispered, a tentative hand caressing his face. “I know it’s sooner than we expected. But I want you to be my king, and that means we’ll have to marry at some point, won’t we? We always knew it would happen someday.”

  Someday. It had seemed so far off. After university, when he became an adult and faced Brogan. Now that far-off day was here, so much sooner than expected.

  Steven gulped as his gaze fixed on Noli. “I was hoping not to have to do this twice, but I will. If you truly want to be an us, then we should be an us from the start. Like always, we’ll make it up as we go along.”

  Her entire face lit up. “Really?”

  “Really.” Actually, they usually made things up as they went along because she deviated from the plan. But that was also one of the things he loved about her.

  “What do you mean, do this twice?” She cocked her head.

  “I should ask Jeff for your hand, to be proper. Well, mortal realm proper.” The idea of asking Jeff made Steven nervous. Vix and her pistol made him even more nervous. What if they said no?

  Noli laughed. “Jeff will be angry if you deny him that.”

  “Yes, he will. Engagements in our realm are different. We don’t use rings. But when we go back to the mortal realm, I’ll buy you one and ask your brother, and then we’ll be proper in both realms.” He had a feeling that would be important to her.

  “Do I get two weddings?” she teased.

  “Unless you want to tell your mother about being a faery queen, then you do, actually,” James said.

  “Oh. Yes, that.” Noli went ashen, probably realizing what she’d done. She’d changed their lives so much.

  But James was right, Steven realized. He’d achieved what he’d wanted for so long. They had their kingdom back. It might not be the way he’d planned, but the important thing was they had it back.

  Also, he’d soon marry a woman who was strong enough to take a kingdom. The inner strength needed to take it and face the Bright Lady was something he’d glossed over. Anyone would be proud to be with such a woman.

  Still, the tiniest bit of doubt niggled at the back of his mind.

  No. He pushed it away, focusing on the moment. On her.

  “Anytime now. We have things to do.” James shifted from foot to foot.

  “We can just tell them we’re engaged, if you’d like to wait to propose until there’s a more romantic moment,” Noli offered.

  This probably wasn’t her idea of the perfect proposal, either. Even though she wasn’t as silly as many wellborn girls, who believed marriage to be their defining moment, she’d probably had something worked out in her head as to how it should be.

  He stood, standing her up. “Are … are you sure you want to do this?”

  Steven’s belly clenched as he waited for her answer. He partially expected her to say no.

  She nodded. “If I have to rule a court, you have to do it with me.”

  “Once we do this there’s no going back, it’s not like an engagement in the mortal realm.” He held her hands tightly.

  “Like ending an engagement—or a marriage—is easy to begin with?” she laughed.

  “All right.” His heart pounded as he pulled out his belt knife and cut his palm. He took her palm, still weeping from the gash she’d given herself before and pressed them together. “May our love be as vast and strong as the very magic that binds us together. May our love be blessed and bound so that we shall never part, even when our bodies fade away. By the Bright Lady and the land herself, make it so.” He nodded at Noli as he intertwined their fingers.

  “By the Bright Lady and the land herself, make it so,” she whispered, her eyes never leaving his.

  The tingling started in his toes. Magic surged through him, probing and testing, making him want to let go of Noli, but he refused. He knew magic was invoked in the ritual, but he never realized it felt like this.

  Do you regret it? a voice whispered in his ear. After all, she killed your quarry, she took your prize.

  T
he anger he’d felt before rose up inside him, stoking the flames of fury. She took the court. She killed Brogan. She snuck off to see Kevighn. Maybe he should just …

  He shook his head, shaking away those feelings of doubt, of wounded pride.

  No, he answered back. I don’t regret it. She didn’t steal my prize. She gave me a gift. I … I don’t think I could have actually brought myself to kill Uncle Brogan. The admission hurt, but it was the truth. I love her and we’re going to do this together … just like everything else.

  You do love her. The voice sighed. It’s so beautiful. Because she loves you so much, I’ve been testing you to see if you were worthy. You have passed.

  Noli had been right? He sucked in a breath. The Bright Lady was speaking to her. And testing him? Was that where the anger and doubt had come from? It must have been. Why me?

  I have a special job for the both of you.

  You do? I am but your servant. What do you need me to do? He felt … humbled, and honored.

  It will be revealed in time. For now, I approve of, and bless your union.

  I … I appreciate that. Magic continued to sear through him. But he wouldn’t let go. He’d never let go.

  My path is not an easy one. May your love always be strong.

  The burning sensation subsided and he opened his eyes, looking at Noli, who blinked.

  “I … I guess that’s a yes,” she whispered.

  “She … ” It had been real.

  Noli nodded. “Yes. I didn’t realize engagement was like that here.”

  Actually, they didn’t have engagements, not like what Noli knew in her realm. They had betrothals, but that was different. He wasn’t about to give his mother the power to forbid him from marrying her. They’d speak of it later. Surely, Noli wouldn’t mind the fact that he’d just married them magically. She’d still get her wedding, both here and in the mortal realm. He’d see to it.

  “Are you done now?” James twisted uncomfortably.

  Steven looked at Noli. He grabbed her and kissed her. Her eyes went wide. Looking at James, he released her and grinned. “I’m done now.”

  “Good. Here.” James put a ring on Noli’s hand. “Since we’re all the House of Oak here, you should wear it.”

  Steven eyed the tiny ring. “Where did you get that?”

  “Same place I got this.” James looked smug. “A queen needs a crown, especially if you’re going to face Tiana.” He placed a crown of metal oak leaves on her head. “Perfect.”

  “Really, James?” Steven’s voice hushed. “What exactly are we doing here?”

  “Plan C, sending a message.” James’ chest puffed up. “What else tells Tiana that we’re here to stay more than Noli wearing her crown and ring? After all, she has no claim to them anymore. They’re Noli’s. Also, don’t you owe her a gift?”

  Noli touched the crown, running her fingers along the metal leaves. “They were hers?”

  “They’ve belonged to many, many queens, not just her, and I’ll get you a proper gift,” Steven assured her, his belly twisting a little at the ire this might invoke. However, his brother had a point about messages. Also, subtleties were wasted on Tiana.

  “And finally.” James put the little golden sword around Noli. “You should never be far from your weapon or your guards. We’ll continue your lessons.”

  Noli paled. “People will try to kill me?”

  “They might.” Steven wrapped an arm around her. “James, where did you get that sword?” It wasn’t their mother’s sword.

  James shrugged. “I found it at the big house. It’s a girl’s sword, so I thought it would be perfect for Noli. Now, come on. I found some allies and they need to meet with us before Tiana arrives. Also, I need to put the artifact pieces, Quinn’s research, and the jewel someplace secure. Is father’s safe in his private library too obvious?”

  “The jewel is here?” Noli shot him a hard look.

  “I didn’t want to leave it at the big house where it might be stolen. Kevighn’s broken in before—he might do so again,” he lied. Also, they still needed to get Elise back. “How do you know the combination?” But then that was probably where Tiana’s crown and ring had been.

  James grinned. “Secret. Now … allies, they’re waiting … ”

  Allies? Then again, most swore allegiance to his uncle not because they supported him but to avoid exile—or death.

  Steven had a thought. “Do we have a moment?”

  “A quick one.” James made a face of boyish disgust. “No, we don’t have time for that.”

  He swatted James. “Not that. If I’m really going to take a stand against Tiana, it would make sense to greet her while wearing Father’s crown.”

  Noli grinned. “I like that idea. I don’t care if we didn’t have a wedding yet. You’re already my king.”

  His heart leapt. Noli was his. Forever. But first things first. “James?”

  James took something out of a bag and placed a crown in his hands, a larger, more masculine version of Noli’s. His grin went wide. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  Thirteen

  Adventures

  Kevighn doubled over the table in the tavern kitchen like a drunken ogre as the magic punched him in the gut. He hadn’t felt a shift like that for some time. Lunch finished, he’d been nursing a glass of ale while waiting for the children to return. If they didn’t come back soon, he’d go find them.

  “Kevighn, Kevighn.” A panic-stricken Ciarán jogged into the kitchen.

  “Did you feel that?” Kevighn rubbed his stomach. “What happened with the magic?”

  Ciarán shook his head. “I don’t know, but we have no time for that.”

  The terror on Ciarán’s face made his belly churn. “What happened? What did Tiana do now?” he asked.

  “I think the children are missing.”

  “Missing? I thought they’d gone out to play?” Kevighn froze. Missing?

  “Aodhan left me a note.” Ciarán clutched something in his hand so tight his knuckles went white. “It says gone adventuring, back later.”

  That sounded like something he and Ciarán would have done as children, not that they ever bothered to leave notes. “Does he often do that?”

  “Never. He’s not even supposed to go beyond the glade without me.” Ciarán crumpled the note in his hand.

  It was interesting how protective Ciarán was of the boy, considering how wild the two of them had been at that age. Adventuring in the Blackwoods would have been a given. Still, with how important those children were, Kevighn could also see why he was panicking.

  “It doesn’t seem like something Elise would do, either. She’s such an obedient girl,” Kevighn replied. Especially when compared to Noli.

  “I have no idea why they’d do such a thing.” His eyes glimmered in a way that made Kevighn instinctively lean back. Ciarán could be unfathomably rational at times, but he hadn’t gotten his position through reason.

  “How are we going to get them back?” Kevighn asked.

  “We?” Ciarán’s dark eyebrows rose. “You’re the one who wanted to do something interesting. Find them.”

  “Let me get something to use for a tracking spell.” He stood at the order, giving his glass of ale a forlorn look. Later. Orders were orders.

  Ciarán shook his head. “Aodhan’s hard to track. I wonder where he got that?”

  Quinn always had been difficult to find. “Elise then? I’m sure they haven’t gotten far.”

  “Here.” He took the sigil off from around his neck and handed it to Kevighn. “Use this.”

  Kevighn pulled his hand back, gazing at the near black stone that went red when held to the fire, wrapped in a spider web of silver wire. It was the sign of a once great house, a house made great again when Ciarán took the dark court. It had been stupid, but when you
were that age stupid things often sounded like good ideas. At least they’d been successful.

  “Go on.” Ciarán sighed. “You can touch it.”

  Usually a peasant such as him couldn’t. Though he trusted Ciarán with his life, old habits were hard to break.

  “I noticed you gave him a sigil.” Kevighn gingerly took it from him, not completely relaxing when nothing happened.

  “I was protecting him.” A hint of defensiveness tinged his voice. By giving the boy a sigil, Ciarán had made Aodhan part of his family.

  Kevighn held up his free hand in surrender; he took no issue with that. It was more than he could do for the boy.

  “For that I’m grateful. You took care of him when I couldn’t.” Kevighn felt the tiniest stab of guilt for that, even if it had been for the best.

  “I have one for you, too. When you’re ready. I’d give it to you now, but I don’t want you to run again.” Ciarán’s look softened.

  “What?” Kevighn nearly dropped the sigil.

  Ciarán put a hand on Kevighn’s arm, steadying him. “Kevighn, you’ve been my family for a long time. You’ve finally come home and we want you to join our family for good.”

  All he could do was stare at his old friend. Him, gifted with a sigil? They were closer than brothers, but this was a gift beyond gifts—even greater than Ciarán making sure his cabin and Creideamh’s grove remained intact after his exile. Still, the implications …

  “You know the word of power associated with it. Go find them and bring them home.” Ciarán closed Kevighn’s fingers over the sigil, the touch suddenly so much … more.

  Things he hadn’t felt in a long time overwhelmed him. Kevighn held the sigil to his chest, in a fist over his heart. This was much more than a mere order. “I … I will. I promise.”

  Elise clutched Aodhan’s hand as they walked through the tall rowan trees, which cast ominous shadows around them. They’d been walking for ages.

  “Does any of this look familiar?” Aodhan asked. “I’m hungry.”

  “Me too.” Her stomach growled. They’d already eaten the cookies they’d brought. “I was so small, I barely remember.” Elise gazed up at trees so tall she couldn’t see their tops, obscuring the pink sky. A pink and purple sky! If she were queen she’d pick a more sensible color, like blue.