Blown Away (Rogues Shifter Series Book 4) (33 page)

"We're all very happy for them."

"And how do you feel, Jacqueline? You look to be in very good health." Kellaine was a down to earth, practical fae, with lovely dark red hair and a warm smile.

"Life has been crazy, but I'm feeling very well." I automatically placed a hand on my belly.

" In honor of your child, Ashlyn and I are making a sculpture for you and Garrett to put in your garden, if you'd honor us in that way. Liam seems to feel that you would like it."

"We'd treasure it, thank you."
I glanced again at Sinlae, whose mouth was open in astonishment. "Liam, Kellaine, have you met Sinlae pixiekin?" I sent to them privately
, "She has a huge crush on Liam. Maybe you could give her a little thrill."
They both smiled and nodded.

Liam looked directly at her and she started t
o tremble just a bit. "I have met Sinlae. She is perhaps the most beautiful of the pixiekin." He extended his index finger toward her. "Would you honor me, Sinlae, on the day of my brother's binding?"

She squealed, bowed deeply at the waist and then bit viciously into Liam's finger, gulping down four or five drops of his blood, before she pulled away looking sated and wired. Blood was sm
eared on her face and had even dripped onto her lovely Grecian-style dress, giving her a creepy, horror-movie look, but she didn't seem to mind at all. She quickly unsheathed a tiny dagger, slashed her own palm and pressed her bleeding wound to his. "You honor me greatly, Liam, Faelord of Cascade, and Sinlae will never forget Lord Liam's gift. Nor yours, Lady Jah-kee Shifterkin Healer and Demonspawn." She bowed again and sporting a huge grin, flew away, managing to ignore Kellaine completely. As she disappeared into the distance she began to glow.

"Oops. I didn't know she could hear our private conversa
tion so I didn't block her out."

He looked amused. "She will continue to call you lady from now on. They carry racial memories of centuries of fae history and so once something is implanted in their brain, it is there for all time. Sometimes they seem slightly scatterbrained, but don't be fooled."

"Is it true that their blood offers protection from magic?"

Kellaine
answered. "Yes. At court, the queen has them kept in cages, so the royals can take their blood whenever they wish. The tiny fae fade quickly there. They only thrive when they're free to work in their gardens and socialize. They need to eat often because of their very fast metabolism, and they eat all manner of things, not just blood." She looked distressed. "In the cages they lose their appetite and waste away. It was one of the things that angered our Elders enough to move away from court and found our own sidhe."

Liam looked in th
e direction Sinlae had flown. "They are small, but they're still fae and deserve our respect and our protection. Here there are thousands of them living freely." He turned to me with an arched brow. "That one, however, has a troublesome attitude and is not well-liked. The pixies work hard tending Faerie's gardens. Different family groups are responsible for their own section. Sinlae does not enjoy working with the flowers, but her vegetable garden is remarkable. Our family looks to her for our produce. I fear that her siblings know this and are jealous. They force her to work the flower beds, beating her into submission because she won't cooperate any other way."

"They won't be beating her for awhile now. Not with Lord Liam's blood." I felt a
certain amount of satisfaction.

Garrett was back, snaking his arm around my waist. "Who's not getting beaten? Have you sworn to stop kic
king Aedus' ass, Liam?" We laughed, even Liam. Aedus was around 6'6" and Liam was my height, around 5'9". He was just as powerful magically, but sometimes when all else is equal, size
does
matter.

"I've taken him down on many occasions, but we don't spar against each other anymore. It's for the best."

I pulled on Garrett's sleeve. "We were speaking about little Sinlae. She gets beaten up by her family. It's upsetting.”

Garrett grinned and pulled me a little closer. "She'll be the next one you add to your collection, I suppose."

"I don't recommend it, Jacqueline. She's a vicious little devil." Kellaine was shaking her head.

I started to protest, but Garrett nudged me toward the central clearing so we could greet the couple who'd finally finished thanking most of the others who'd attended the ceremony. Philladre and
Aedus both surprised me with affectionate hugs. The fae tended to be reserved, but I suppose they thought I'd appreciate the gesture—and I did. Maybe growing up without experiencing a lot of hugs, made me more touchy-feely.

"Congratulati
ons to both of you." I took Philladre's hands and looked at her glowing expression. "You look so beautiful, like every little girl's dream of a magical fairy princess. How's the baby? Is she flutter kicking like Charlie is?"

"Yes,
but it's wonderful."

"Yeah,
I think so too." I looked up—and up, at Aedus. "You are a most fortunate male," I teased him. He laughed good-naturedly and took possession of Philladre's hand. "Take time off together before little Jackie shows up. Doctor's orders."

"I will always take orders of that nature to heart, especially coming from you, Doctor. " He was grinning widely as he nodded to me with hi
s hand on his heart, a sign of great respect between fae. It was an honor not lost on the other fae at the gathering.

Garrett draped his arm over my shoulder before he spoke. "Would you two please visit us in our home sometime soon? You could relax there, away
from all the pressure." We stole a glance toward the Elders, who were huddled together, probably already making plans for the new couple. Third in line for the throne of Faerie, Aedus had been told by the Elders to play the field, but the two of them had been in love and together on and off for centuries. Now they were an official Lord and Lady, a permanently bound pair, so their lives were not completely their own any longer.

Aedus kissed his mate's hand then pulled her closer against his side.
"We would be honored, Garrett, Jackie. Thank you." Philladre leaned against her newly official mate and he  smiled widely. When I'd first met Aedus, he'd rarely smiled. He was reserved like the majority of the fae, and although he was always polite, I would never have thought of him as friendly. However, after recovering from his injuries battling Lord Kennet, the most serious one being psychological, the difference in his personality was astounding. The newer Aedus actually cracked jokes, was openly affectionate with Philladre and smiled as much as any shifter.

"
Liam can cook for you." I pointed out with a laugh. Of course, Liam showed up at that exact moment and pretended to scowl.

"I don't believe that my brother will appreciate my fine culinary faire."

"Well we can't serve the royal couple boxed mac and cheese." Liam laughed and Aedus looked confused.

"That does sound rather horrendous. What is it?" he asked.

"Fast food." I giggled.

"Perhaps I could order a pizza. I have always wanted to do
that." Philladre's face brightened.

"Sure. You can a
lso bring your tablet and mp3 player and we'll give you lessons. Maybe it's time for you to join the rest of us in the twenty-first century."

Aedus looked lovingly at Philladre's excited face and laughed. "I think you'll be seeing us soon." Aedus glanced up
and his expression grew serious, so I turned to see who was behind me.

Lord Caelen
was as handsome and as tall as his elder son, looking almost like an older brother, rather than a parent. His deep purple eyes glittered with warmth for his son and new daughter but his manner with me seemed cautious. The last time I'd seen him, he was in my kitchen asking me to give my baby to a fae couple to raise. I wondered how he felt about our decision to raise the child ourselves.

After the usual nods, I decided to break the ice
. "Congratulations. You must be a very happy Father today."

"Thank you, Jacqueline. Lady Silvus and I are well pleased with our son's excellent choice. And how are you feeling?"

"Very well, actually. Has Liam told you?"

"Yes. You've decided to raise the fae child yourselves."

My eyebrows shot up. "He
's
also shifter, or perhaps sorcerer, and somewhere in there is some demon blood too, in case you've forgotten."

"I have not forgotten.
He is a powerful mixture of magical races and, although I have no doubt that the two of you will be excellent parents and that Charles will not lack in love, you may still need guidance. I would be happy to act as the child's sponsor here in Faerie."

I was relieved when Liam answered for me. "That's not necessary, Father, because Jackie and Garrett have honored me with that position. I'll teach him everything he'll need to know regarding his fae heritage, including the language. It's best for him to be prepared for every eventuality."

Aedus, Philladre, Garrett and I remained quiet as a mind to mind conversation took place between father and son. Neither of them betrayed what was being said, other than an occasional twitch of an eyebrow or turning down of the mouth. The whole thing probably took about thirty seconds, but it seemed much longer to me as an observer. The tension between them was palpable.

Suddenly it was over and Lord Caelen turned back toward Garrett and me with a wan smile and a chill in his voice that hadn't been there before. "Forgive me, but I must return to Lady Silvus. Perhaps we could meet again soon to discuss your plans, such as they are." He nodded to us and then began to turn away.

Before I had time to think it through, I instinctively reached out and touched his arm. The conversations around us quieted instantly as Lord Caelen, the three thousand year old Fae Elder, turned toward me, his dark purple eyes intently curious and his power drawn around him like the core of a nuclear plant approaching a meltdown. He was angry with our decision and could have brought Garrett and me to our knees if he chose to disregard the alliance he'd initiated between us. But his sense of honor held him in check. This man had been more than a political ally to us and I wanted him to know how I felt.

"Lord Caelen." I nodded deeply, showing him the respect he'd ea
rned, then took Garrett's hand. "Thank you for all the help and guidance you've given Garrett and myself in the past. I'd like to think that if we needed your assistance we could still call on you, despite our differences. Liam and Aedus believe that you still consider us allies and I hope with all my heart that's true. I will always look to you for advice.

"Liam is your son. F
or that reason alone, he'll be a perfect sponsor for Charles. He also spends half of his day in our home, so our son will have his constant guidance." I looked around at the other faces, some smiling, some unsure. "You and your entire fae community have our team's support as always, and I am at Cascade's disposal as a healer whenever you need me, as I have been in the past."

H
is incredible power brushed across my aura, possibly as a warning that confronting him as I had, here in the middle of Faerie, was a dangerous and possibly foolish move. But as he looked into my heart, I knew that what he would find there was only the truth of my words. The surrounding groups of fae were standing as quietly as the woods after a heavy snow, their faces all turned toward our silent drama. Lord Caelen sighed and glanced in Aedus' direction, and that's when I allowed myself to relax and breathe normally again.

I was surprised and relieved to feel his hand gently resting over the one I'd placed on his arm. He knew that I'd played my trump card, reminding him on the day of his son's greatest joy, that using m
y healing abilities, I'd saved Aedus' life. But I also hoped he'd understood the depth of my gratitude and respect for the trust and friendship he'd shown to Garrett and myself in the past.

The corners of his mouth twitched but he held the smile in check. "You are bot
h valued allies and friends. I am sorry if you felt there was any doubt. You are right to remind me, Jacqueline." The warmth had returned to his eyes as they looked from me to Garrett to both of his sons and his new daughter with her hand on her belly. "Today is a day to celebrate and to put aside other worries. Good journey to you both." He smiled, nodded once more and left.

Liam and Aedus were grinning like chimps
. Aedus shook his head saying, " I know you weren't using healing energy, but you touched Father's heart. You have a magic of your own not connected to the lines."

"It's a cheetah thing." Garrett gave me a hug.

Liam said, looking contrite, "Brother, I'm sorry to say that I'm back on the black sheep list, so you can wear the tee shirt again."

"Tee shirt?"

"You know—the one in my closet that says 'Favorite Son'."

Aedus pretended to scowl. "That shirt has never left my closet except for the times when you snuck in to steal it." They both broke out in laughter as if all the tension of a moment ago had been only a dream. "You're only the black sheep because you choose to be. Father already misses you and you've only been gone a few days."