Motor City Wolf (18 page)

“Thanks. I guess sleeping with my secretary has perks I didn’t think about.” He grinned and unbuttoned his shirt. “How are you feeling?”

Her smile turned sultry. “Absolutely fine. I’ve missed you these last few nights.” She licked her lips and watched him undress.

“I’ve been right beside you.” Greg heard the rough huskiness in his voice. Tonight was going to be fast and furious, but he didn’t think she’d mind.

“You know what I mean.”

Yeah, he did. He stood to unbuckle his slacks.

“It’s Not Easy Being Green” blared from his cell phone.

“What the hell does Aidan want now?” Greg thought hard about ignoring the call, but if Aidan was calling this late, tonight, it had to be important. “What?”

“The queen wants to see you. Now.” Aidan’s voice was grim over the line. “Sorry.”

“It can’t wait until morning?”

“You’ve met Llyris, right?” Greg could picture Aidan rolling his eyes. “She doesn’t give a damn about time zones. She wants you and Fianna at the palace, pronto.”

“Fuck. We’re on our way.” He flipped the phone shut and picked up his shirt. “Get dressed, princess. We’re off to see the queen.”

Fianna wanted to scream in frustration the whole way to Grosse Pointe. They’d been so close. She hadn’t pushed Greg for sex in the last few nights, but she wanted him desperately. Katy had warned her that her hormones might make her needy, but Fianna didn’t think it was that. She just wanted Greg. She wanted to hold him in her arms, take him into her body and maybe kiss away a few of the lines of stress and worry on his face. She wanted them both to feel alive.

What the hell did Llyris want this time?

She shook her head. She’d given up trying to understand Queen Llyris a long time ago.

They reached Aidan’s estate and were ushered inside to where Aidan and Elise waited with Ric and Meagan, all dressed in Fae court clothing.

“What does she want?” Fianna asked. She handed her coat to Mairead, who waited nearby. “Thank you.” A year ago she wouldn’t have thought to thank the servant for doing her job. Waiting tables had certainly changed her outlook on life.

“Who knows?” Elise shrugged. “Aidan told her about the funeral and everything, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Aidan, Elise, Ric and Meagan had all attended the funeral, and had to be more than ready for bed themselves. It meant a lot that they were here to support her and Greg now.

“You want to change?” Elise eyed Fianna’s severe black funeral suit. “We can lengthen something for you on the way.” The two were about the same size, except for Fianna’s extra six inches of height, and magic made that sort of thing ridiculously easy.

“No.” Fianna took Greg’s hand and smiled at him. “I’m human and part of the lupine pack. I’ll go dressed as such.”

Meagan grinned. “Good for you.”

A few minutes later they were all through the portal and waited outside the queen’s private office. Fianna blinked. She’d never even heard of this room before, let alone been in it. Elise shrugged. “If she wants to see us in her office, she’s either in a really good mood or a really bad one.”

Greg squeezed Fianna’s hand as they were all ushered inside.

Three chairs faced the ornate gilt desk where Her Majesty sat in as simple a gown as Fianna had ever seen—a medieval-styled number with no waist and long belled sleeves, free of gems or ornamentation. Her hair hung down her back in a tail held at intervals with platinum bands that matched the circlet on her forehead. Apparently, this was Llyris going casual. Only Madog remained in the room, in a corner behind the queen.

After making their bows, the three women sat while their husbands stood behind them, with Fianna and Greg in the center. All six of them looked to Llyris and waited for her to speak.

“My condolences, Prime. I understand your pack lost a number of members. That’s never easy for a leader to face.” She tipped her head at Greg.

“Thank you, Majesty.” He nodded back every bit as politely.

“I also understand that you have either stopped the trade of the Fae-specific drug, or at least greatly hampered its distribution. Is this correct?”

Aidan answered. “As far as we know, Majesty. We continue to investigate.”

“Good.” She turned to gaze at Fianna. “And you. I’m told that once again, you risked your life to help others. And that you were instrumental in the elimination of the demon who created the drug. You have my thanks.”

“Appreciated, Your Majesty.” Fianna bowed her head. “I may no longer be Fae, but those who are still have my loyalty, as much as my new family and pack. I bear no resentment for my change in circumstances. In fact I want to thank you, and the lords and ladies beside me. I could well have been killed for my role in my uncle and cousin’s schemes. Instead I have found a new life that suits me very well. I’ll understand if you feel the need to inflict a new punishment since the last one turned out to be a gift.”
Please don’t ask me to give up Greg.
That she knew she could never do. She loved him with all her heart. Deep down, she thought he loved her, too. He simply hadn’t figured it out or admitted it yet.

“Your punishment was to learn humility and the value of other beings,” Llyris said gravely. “I believe that has been accomplished. You are free to live as you choose with your mate and offspring.”

The breath whooshed out of her chest and the room spun for a moment with the enormity of her relief. She mouthed her thanks, but no sound emerged from her throat. Tears blurred her vision.

Greg squeezed her shoulders. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Your powers will be unblocked as soon as your children are safely delivered,” the queen continued. “There’s a small estate adjoining Oakwood that’s been vacant. Since you were disinherited by Owain’s heirs, you may have Stoneheath for yourself and your own descendants. Green Oak will be your overlord.”

Fianna reeled. Not only was she forgiven, but granted her powers back and an estate? It was unheard of. She swallowed hard, tightened her grip on the arms of her chair and shook her head. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I’m overwhelmed at your generosity, but sadly, I must decline your gifts.”

Llyris pierced her with a gaze. “Explain.”

Fianna looked up at Greg and hoped her love for him showed in her eyes. “My mate has responsibilities in the mortal realm as Prime and alpha of his pack. He believes that a virtually immortal Prime would be damaging to their pack structure. I love my husband and respect his judgment. Since he wouldn’t be able to life-bond with me, and I have no desire to live for centuries without him, I must ask you not to restore my powers. Perhaps one of our children might like the estate someday, though, so if Greg doesn’t mind…”

“Of course not.” He lifted his head to look back at the queen. “But my mate is mistaken. I will not have her give up immortality to be with me. After talking to my betas and some of the other pack alphas about this possibility, I believe I have come up with a solution. From now on, Prime will no longer be a hereditary position, but one voted on by the alphas in the territory. The title will carry a term of twenty-five years.”

“And…?” Llyris raised one dainty eyebrow.

“And this will leave me free, after my term, to live Underhill, if Fianna so wishes. Or to split our time, like our friends do.” He looked down at Fee and bent to kiss the top of her forehead. “I love my wife with all my heart. We’d be delighted to accept your offer to return her powers when it’s safe, and to allow us to life-bond in the Fae manner.”

The queen actually smiled. “So be it. You are both free to travel back and forth through the portals as desired. Mr. Novak, welcome to Underhill. If you like, someone can take you to Stoneheath now.”

Greg shook his head. “We have obligations tomorrow and the next day. After that, though, I think we deserve a honeymoon. May we return in a few days to take up residence for a week or so?”

“Whatever you wish.” She nodded crisply. “Good night. Madog, show them out.”

As they walked from the room and back to the portal chamber, Fianna could only think of one thing.
Greg loves me!
She hugged herself as she stepped through the portal, back to what she now considered the real world.

He’d blown that, big time. You weren’t supposed to tell the world you loved your woman before you admitted it to her. Greg really hoped Fee would forgive him for that.

They didn’t talk at all on the drive back to what he still thought of as his grandparents’ house. Soon, he hoped, he’d think of it as the pack stronghold, or even Derek and Katy’s place. All the hard feelings should have died with Ivan, who’d certainly come through for Greg in the end.

Back in their bedroom, they both undressed, still silent. Finally, Fee sat nude in the center of the bed and toyed with her hair. Her eyes gleamed at him as he stood in the bathroom doorway, having finished brushing his teeth.

“Come to bed? I think we can manage to finish what we started earlier.” Her soft, seductive tone beckoned him forward.

“If you’re not too tired.” He sat beside her on the bed and picked up the hairbrush she’d abandoned hours before.

She leaned into him as he began to use the brush in long, smooth strokes. “I’m not that fragile, Greg. I want you, maybe even more than I did before.”

He wanted her with a hunger that was just short of frenzy, but he knew what he had to say first. “I meant it, you know. When I told Llyris I love you. I didn’t expect it, didn’t see what was right in front of my eyes. I’ve loved you since the day you took a bullet for a little girl you didn’t even know. It took me a while to figure it out.” He hated that his voice sounded tentative and thick.

“And I’ve loved you since the moment you offered to put me to work so I’d have someplace safe to go when my powers were blocked.” She paused and turned to smile at him. “I didn’t want to—not because you aren’t worthy of it, but because I didn’t think I was. You’ve given me the self-confidence to love and be loved.”

“You’ll always be my princess.” He tugged a lock of hair playfully. “And I can’t tell you how much I love you, and our twins. You’re going to be a wonderful mom.”

“And you’ll be the best father ever—if only because you know exactly what not to do. There’s so much love in you, my heart. For your brother, your cousins, even your grandparents. They all know it, too, even if you never speak the words. Our children will be blessed.”

“Not as blessed as I am.” He threw the hairbrush to the floor and tumbled with her to the sheets. There was no more talking for quite a while, and then only a soft whisper of, “I love you,” and a gentle snore.

Two more days of work, then a whole week Underhill, to do nothing but make love from morning ’til night.

Greg smiled in utter contentment as he turned off the light.

The New Moon was swarmed with friends and family as Greg and Fianna celebrated their return from their honeymoon and the bar’s grand reopening some two weeks later. The Kreellers, a Detroit Celtic punk band, played loud and fast on the rebuilt stage. Atwater beers were being sold by the pitcher for a discounted price, and the new assistant managers, a pair of young lupine brothers from Redford, were hustling around along with the waitstaff, under Lana’s watchful eye. Greg and Fianna sat at a big table in the corner with Ric, Meagan, Aidan, Elise, George, Jase, Lana and Des, smiling out at it all. Fianna could hardly contain her happiness at being home and surrounded by everyone she loved.

“It seems that was Nightshade you killed,” Des told the others. “We haven’t heard that name come up at all, and there’s no trace of his designer drugs on the streets.”

“That’s wonderful.” Fianna lifted her glass of sparkling water. “Hear, hear!”

The others clinked glasses and drank.

“However, his death may have opened up a new can of worms. There’s a flood of demons coming in, from both Gravaki and other similar planes. They’re wreaking all kinds of havoc. We’ve got to find their portal and shut it down. I suspect it’s in the salt mines.”

Everybody groaned. George thunked his forehead on the tabletop.

Lana punched Des in the arm hard enough to make him yelp. “That’s for ruining a celebration.”

The laughter that ensued eased the tension of the moment.

“On a brighter note, we found a house in Boston Edison,” Greg told the others. “Two houses actually. There’s a nice-sized Queen Anne, with a smaller, Craftsman-style bungalow, right next door for George and Jase. Both owners accepted cash offers and we can move in right away.”

That brought a round of cheers.

“Even though we’d
just
bought the house in Royal Oak,” George teased. “But this one’s bigger, and we’ll be closer to the club.” And their family. Fianna understood the unspoken subtext and smiled back. She was glad her babies would have their uncles right next door.

The band segued into a slower number and Paul, the lead singer, yelled, “This one is by request for the newlyweds. Let’s give it up for Greg and Fianna Novak.”

The dance floor cleared and Greg led Fianna to the floor. “I love you,” he whispered as they danced. “Now and forever.”

“Hmm.” She smiled as couple by couple, their friends joined them on the dance floor, until the only ones left were Lana and Des. With a shrug, Des grabbed Lana’s hand and tugged her out to the floor, as well. Fianna laughed at the scowl on Lana’s lovely face. “Those two are so going to do it someday,” she told Greg.

He frowned, and then laughed. “Maybe. Lana’s a big girl, and he’s a good guy, despite being a
Wyndewin
prick.”

Fianna chuckled and snuggled her head into his shoulder. Her husband, her mate, her love.

“I have a funny feeling that everything is going to be fine.” She gave a happy sigh. “Oh. And I love you, too. Now and forever.”

The band kept playing as they danced.

Fae, werewolves, witches…. The streets of Detroit hide more than you ever imagined in Cindy Spencer Pape’s Urban Arcana series. Don’t miss previous titles available now:

Motor City Fae

Motor City Witch