Redeemed by Rubies (A Dance with Destiny Book 6)

by JK Ensley

“Nope.” She scrunched up her nose at him. “Now we know about the caves. Before them, it was not possible to bring the whole of my family to Ashgard.”

  “Then… you’ll do it?” Jezreel said happily. “You are simply teasing? You’ll bring the lot of them, right?”

  Jenevier smiled. “Yes, Jezreel. It would be my honor.”

  “So…” Kaleeska whispered to herself. “The entire royal house of Jinn will attend my Amalgamation…”

  When Jezreel and Kaleeska started squealing and discussing more arrangements in rather high-pitched voices, Baytac leaned over to Jenevier and whispered, “Am I going to regret this—having Angels and Shinobi at my wedding?”

  Jenevier winked at him. “Oh, I can almost guarantee it.”

  Then, they too joined in the laughter as well.

  *****

  “I never dreamed you would be the one to greet us.” Jenevier kissed Baytac’s cheek. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready to blend your souls or something?”

  “I couldn’t take all the fussing and primping,” he grumbled. “Coming out to meet you was my only chance of escape.”

  “You look so handsome.” Jenevier smiled as she eyed him up and down.

  “You look pretty good yourself.” Baytac blushed as he gazed upon her, but didn’t look away as he normally would have. “I didn’t realize how beautiful you truly were. I-I mean…” He cleared his throat. “I knew you were beautiful, but… not like this. What are you wearing?”

  Jenevier glanced down. “This…” She held out her arms. “Is a kimono. It is the official dress of my people. My entire family is adorned thusly.”

  “You mean, the people on Jinn… they all walk around, dressed like that?”

  She smiled. “Not this extravagantly, no. I wanted to look extra special for your big day.”

  “I like your hair all done up like that.” He lightly touched the ornate hair stick at the back of her head, then smiled when the little bells upon it chimed softly. “I like seeing your curls dangle here in the front, too.” He gently cupped one as he spoke.

  Jenevier smiled. “I’ve never seen this gentler side of yours, Brother. I like it. No wonder Princess Kaleeska fell head over heels for you. When you let your guard down, you are truly breathtaking.”

  “Yeah, well…” He glanced away, then immediately back to her. “But, you went too far. It’s in poor taste to outshine the bride.”

  “Then you’d best tone it down a bit, Brother.” She adjusted one of his buttons and smoothed down the front of his shirt. “Wow, Baytac. You look as grand as any King. I am truly impressed.”

  Baytac blushed even brighter, then scowled. “Stop it, already. I came out here to get away from such nonsense. Treat me as you normally do… or I’ll be cross with you.”

  “And you are not being cross with her now?” Yui asked, taking his place at her side.

  “Oh, Baytac.” Jenevier took Yui’s arm as she spoke. “This is my husband. Yui… this is my Elven brother, Baytac Mossgrove.”

  “It is a pleasure,” Yui said, inclining his head.

  Baytac managed an awkward bow. “Emperor.”

  As the others began to spill out of the cave one by one, Baytac whispered to Jenevier, “That is your husband?” He snorted. “And you make fun of Kias for being pretty. Your lovely Shinobi has him beat… hands down.”

  When Yui narrowed his eyes at the other man, Jenevier swallowed back a chuckle.

  “Yui is beautiful, yes,” she said. “Even among his fair kind.”

  “If you had asked me to pick out your husband…” Baytac glanced over her shoulder. “I would have said that guy.”

  Jenevier and Yui both turned in the direction the dark Elf was motioning.

  “Him?” Jenevier laughed. “That is my son. Tenshi, come. There is someone I would like you to meet.”

  When everyone was near enough, Jenevier began the formal introductions.

  “This is my son Tenshi… his lovely wife Mika. She is a Shinobi as well.”

  “Magical hair and all?” Baytac asked.

  Jenevier chuckled. “No. Only Yui’s hair is blessed thusly. Mika is invisible… until she speaks. She tries to hum softly to stay visible for company.”

  The Elf furrowed his dark brow. “…Invisible?”

  “Yes.” Jenevier nodded. “And that’s not all. She is master of the throwing knives—could slice those gilded buttons off your shirt at fifty paces and never leave a scratch.”

  Baytac’s eyes went wide when Mika purposefully fell silent… and faded away.

  Jenevier chuckled again. “Oh, and this enchanting young woman here is their daughter and my only grandchild, Lala.”

  “Nice to meet you, Milord,” Lala said while curtseying properly, then bowing as well.

  Baytac only stared back at her, uneasily.

  “Oh, don’t let her pleasant demeanor fool you, Brother.” Jenevier elbowed him. “She is Angel and Shinobi.”

  “Yeah… that’s what I figured.” He swallowed hard. “So… where do her talents lie?”

  “She is master of the wind.” Jenevier smiled proudly. “Can call forth a tornado by simply raising her arms.”

  The leery Elf then looked to the last man standing there. “And who might you be? A Dragon in disguise?”

  Jenevier giggled. “No, silly. This handsome man is Duhrias Rogallis. We just call him Dimples.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  Baytac took Duhrias’s proffered hand. “Are you a Shinobi, or an Angel?”

  “I am neither.” Duhrias smiled. “I am the Spirit of the Rogall River, and only sworn Knight to the Empress of Jinn.”

  “River Spirit, huh?” Baytac grumbled. “I can see why they call you Dimples.”

  “Mama has spoken quite often of you, good Baytac,” Tenshi said. “It is nice to put a face with the name. Congratulations on your pending Amalgamation.”

  “Gratitude, Prince Tenshi.”

  Baytac cleared his throat then, but just stood there.

  “…Well,” Jenevier said. “Aren’t you going to lead the way?”

  “There is time yet,” Baytac said, eyeing his new company.

  “You are ill at ease?” Jenevier asked.

  “Not truly,” he said. “Just thinking. That’s all.”

  “Well stop.” Jenevier poked him on the chest. “We are here for love, not war. Don’t always look upon the negatives, Brother. Look at it this way… if an enemy crashes your party, they don’t stand a flippin’ chance.”

  Baytac snorted, then smiled.

  “Is Alastyn here yet?”

  The Elf looked down at her from the corner of his eye. “Yes. The King arrived a short time ago.”

  “Is Izadori with him?”

  “Of course.” Baytac turned to face her fully. “Her niece is getting married. Why do you ask? Is there contention between you two?”

  “No,” Yui said, taking Jenevier’s hand. “Yet, my wife does tend to have a bit of a jealous streak… where all her men are concerned.”

  “Selfish, is she?” Baytac chuckled. “Yeah, I should’ve seen that. She likes to take charge. Doesn’t like sharing much, either.”

  Yui smiled sweetly at Jenevier. “You have no idea, good Elf.”

  Jenevier suddenly gasped. “Oh my goodness. I nearly forgot. I promised Nilakanta I would greet him at the field. If you would excuse me for a moment…”

  “You brought the Dragon, too?”

  She tilted her head to the side. “Baytac, where I go, he goes.”

  When Jenevier suddenly disappeared, Tenshi tried to fill the uncomfortable silence her absence had left.

  “Mama brags on your might with a blade.”

  “Your mama talks too much,” Baytac mumbled. “Never shuts up, is more like.”

  “She favors you,” Lala said. “Whether she admits it or not, she respects you.”

  The Elf looked from the raven-haired Princess up to her disgustingly handsome father. “You do not favor Yui, good Prince.”
>
  “I don’t know why I should.” Tenshi smiled. “Master Yui is my Senpai, not my father.”

  “Oh…” Baytac furrowed his brow, blushing as he turned away.

  “I am her fourth husband,” Yui said. “Tenshi’s father was her first.”

  “Yeah… I remember her saying she had buried all her former husbands,” Baytac half whispered. “She didn’t really want to talk much about it, though.”

  “Yes,” Tenshi said softly. “Mama suffered through horrific tragedies with Varick and Finnean.”

  “Which one was your father?” Baytac asked.

  “Oh, no.” Tenshi blushed. “My father yet lives. Although, Mama was married to Varick before I was born. Alas, I never actually got to meet him.”

  “Why?”

  “Mama was stolen from their home, the day before I was born. Then… the same day Varick finally found us, was the same moment he died. He saved my life… but, I never knew him.” Tenshi sighed softly. “And Finnean… well, that was later on. I was grown by then, and they lived on a different layer. And although I did get to meet her rare white warrior… we never actually got to know each other.” He swallowed hard. “Yui may not share my blood, but he is the man who helped raise me.”

  “So…” Baytac narrowed his gaze. “Your father is the Prince of Hell, then. The one who started—”

  “I’m back,” Jenevier announced happily.

  The tension in the air now seemed very nearly tangible.

  “What’s going on?” She looked around at each of them. “What happened?”

  “Nothing,” Baytac said softly. “Your son was simply filling me in on some of the sadder bits you left out.”

  “Come now.” She slapped the Elf’s broad shoulder. “Today isn’t for past pains. Today is all about future happiness. Let us go, Brother.” She took Baytac by the arm. “Let’s go get you married off, shall we?”

  “Tell me, Angel,” Baytac whispered for her ears alone. “How much does the boy favor his father?”

  “Save for his curls,” she whispered back. “You cannot tell them apart.”

  “Yeah.” He smiled with only one corner of his mouth. “That’s what I figured. So, in truth… I did pick out your husband”

  She smiled. “Perhaps you know me better than I thought you did.”

  Baytac grunted. “I highly doubt that.”

  Jenevier playfully pinched the dark Elf’s muscular arm, and they shared a quiet laugh as they made their way into Arbordell.

  *****

  “Although I may not be able to match your grace, Emperor Yui,” Alastyn said as he bowed. “May I be permitted to dance with your lovely wife?”

  Yui graciously placed Jenevier’s hand in the King’s, then led his own beautiful niece into the dance circle.

  “What did you think of the Amalgamation, Prince Tenshi?” Dofarel asked as he refilled the sapphire Angel’s goblet.

  “I have never seen anything quite like it,” Tenshi said, smiling.

  “True,” Duhrias said. “It gives a whole new meaning to bound for all eternity.”

  “Yes.” The Elven King nodded. “We do not take commitments lightly. A pact with an Elf is an unbreakable thing. Marriage is sacred. And with an Elf…” He smiled. “…it is forever.”

  The laughter continued to ring around them as the wine flowed and the music never waned.

  “I believe that completes your second dance, Your Highness,” Tenshi said, taking his mother from Alastyn’s arms. “The Empress is much in demand. As I am sure you are as well.” He bowed slightly. “I will take it from here.”

  “He can be a bit… protective,” Jenevier whispered.

  “As well he should be,” Alastyn said. “Well done, good Prince. Apologies for my selfishness.”

  When Alastyn walked off, Tenshi mumbled, “Just don’t let it happen again.”

  After quite some time, Jenevier finally made her way to Baytac and pulled him to his feet.

  “Come, Brother. I will not be denied. Dance with me or duel me… your choice.”

  The dark Elf mumbled something under his breath, but followed her without resistance.

  “I’m not good at this,” he grumbled.

  “Neither am I.” She smiled. “I just float along with the tune.”

  “More lies.” He grunted. “I’ve been watching you.”

  “More lies?”

  “Well… you don’t lie so much as you just… paint pretty pictures around the truth.”

  She giggled. “That’s not a bad thing, you know.”

  “What I do know is… you could fit perfectly with the Elves. When you were dancing with Kias, everyone stopped and just watched. Even Kali. Same with the Olden King… and that ridiculously pretty Emperor you’re married to. I am a poor substitute as your partner.”

  “Now you are the one telling lies. I think we go great together.”

  “In battle, perhaps. Not dancing.”

  “In both.” Jenevier lightly touched the new white strands now framing the right side of his face. “This is my favorite part of the Amalgamation. It suits you, and Princess Kaleeska is even more beautiful with your ebony highlighting her misty tresses. I will not say the same for Izadori,” she mumbled. “But Alastyn… well, he is gorgeous no matter is hair color. Yet, when Elves marry Elves, this magic goes unnoticed.”

  “I am an Elf,” he softly grumbled.

  “Yes.” Jenevier smiled. “But you are a special Elf, and my very favorite one.”

  Baytac was still blushing when the song came to an end.

  “Empress Naga.” Duhrias hurried over to them. “Have you seen Lala? I can’t find her anywhere.”

  “What do you mean, you can’t find her?” The smile melted completely from Jenevier’s features. “How long have you been looking for her? When and where did you last see her?” She didn’t wait for his reply. “Tenshi! Lala is missing.”

  The sudden blue aura that burst forth from her son caused the entire forest to fall silent.

  “Who was the last to see her?” Jenevier coolly scanned the startled crowd. “Step forth, now!”

  One of Kias and Jezreel’s daughters stood on trembling legs. “I-I spoke to her… only just. She wished to find the ladies room. I sent her to our home.”

  The girl raised a shaky hand and pointed.

  “Duhrias, check it out,” Jenevier commanded, before turning back to the terrified Princess. “What is your name, child?”

  “Adarell. Pr-Princess Adarell.”

  “Were you the last to see her?”

  The girl cowered under Jenevier’s glare. “I suppose I was… I’m not sure. We were sitting next to each other. She turned to me and said she needed to be excused. That’s when I told her how to get to my home.”

  “She isn’t there,” Duhrias said, breathless.

  “Adarell.” Jenevier kept her gaze fixed on the girl. “Go back with him. Double check. And… return with fair news.”

  Jezreel slowly stood. “Jenevier, you cannot possibly think that—”

  “Sit, Jezreel,” she snapped. “What I think is that these damn woods are a curse unto me. I mean you and your people no harm. Yet, I will not apologize for doing whatever I have to do to see my granddaughter safe from harm. Understand?”

  Jezreel only nodded her head as Kias took her hand and helped her to sit.

  Jenevier glanced up when the tips of Nilakanta’s wings sent leaves raining down upon them from the treetops.

  “We are not your enemies here, Naga,” Dofarel softly said. “We are your family. Let us help in the search as well.”

  “You cannot guarantee me there is not another Trelaina in your midst!” She took a deep, calming breath. “Please… just sit, Elf King. We can handle this. The more people there are running about, the harder it will be for my Dragon to spot Lala. You will hold until I command you otherwise.”

  “She’s not there!” Duhrias called out before he even made it back to the gathered partiers.

  “Tenshi,
call Daichi down. Take Alastyn and search every house. Yui, Duhrias… comb the streets. Perhaps she had too much wine and simply lost her way. Baytac, you’re with me. We’ll flank the perimeter of the city before spreading out into the forest.”

  When her heavenly blue Blessing landed in the midst of them, the ground trembled.

  “Lala is gone,” Jenevier said, her voice low and glacial. “Tear this place apart until you find her, Daichi. Bring my little Angel back to me.”

  When Rixx suddenly appeared out of nowhere, Jenevier’s diamond wings immediately expanded… the tip of Amatiste was pressed firmly under his chin before anyone else had even registered the Nephilim’s odd presence.

  “Did you watch evil befall my only grandchild?” she hissed, her eyes glowing with a wild, pink fire. “If you say one word that displeases me, I swear by all that is holy, your wretched blood will forever stain this ancient forest floor.”

  “I did not have my eyes on the Princess.” Rixx slowly held up his hands. “Always am I watching you, Milady.”

  “Why the hell are you here, then? Speak now!”

  When Rixx tried to take a step back, Jenevier was immediately behind him, her fingers locked tight within his dual-colored tresses. She yanked his head back, fully exposing his pale throat… and the tiny trickle of blood now running down from the spot where her glowing purple sword was firmly pressed.

  “This is not the day to play with me, Nephilim,” she hissed into his ear. “My anger is at full mast. I want to slice your head off so badly, my bones ache from the desire. Say what you came to say. You may still die, but you will do so with a clear conscience.”

  “I did not see your granddaughter,” he rasped. “I only came to tell you that I saw an oddly familiar flash of light in the forest beyond the city.” He pointed.

  Jenevier released the Nephilim and looked up to her Dragon. Nilakanta immediately took off in that same direction.

  “Why did you say it was oddly familiar?” She looked back at Rixx. “What kind of light was it? Describe it.”

  He swallowed hard. “It was a silver, white light… tiny. I only noticed it because the flashing became quicker… almost pulsing. Then it was gone.”

  “Was it one, or two?”

  “Wh-what?”