Blood Lines: Kallen's Tale (Witch Fairy #3.5) (24 page)

An obnoxious sniffle is followed by Kegan’s voice.  “I do believe I am crying that was so beautiful.”  A bevy of hands reach out to him.  I believe Tabitha gets her favorite spot – the back of his head in a loud smack.  Alita slaps his sternum and he gasps for air.  Grandmother and Dagda both slap his arms causing him to fall backwards from his stool.  My eyes never leave Xandra’s.

I do not believe she was expecting such a proposal for she has a look of wonder on her face.  “You really do love me that much.”  It is a statement, not a question.  I simply nod.  Then she is off her stool and has her arms wrapped around my neck.  The sudden movement causes us to fall backwards as she kisses my lips even as my head hits the tiled floor.  I barely notice the pain.  “Yes,” she murmurs against my lips.  Then she is kissing me again.  Fairly inappropriately considering our audience.  But, I figure if she can ignore them then so can I.  I kiss her back.

“Ahem,” comes from several different mouths.

Xandra giggles as she rolls off from me.  I stand up grinning like a fool and hold my hand out to her and pull her up.  Now that we are returning to reality, the discomfort of being in front of everyone while I poured my heart out in a proposal is making my cheeks want to flame.  Turning to Grandmother, I say, “Have we satisfied this topic so we may move on to how we will save this realm?”

With a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face, she says, “Yes, I believe we have.”

We spend the next several hours coming up with a strategy that we feel will both end the rebellion and remove the danger for Xandra in this realm.  I am more concerned about the last part because I do not want to lose my childhood home again.  I will return to Xandra’s realm with her when she decides to go back, but I want to be able to visit this one. 

After several grueling hours, Grandmother stands up from the counter and says, “I do not believe there is anything new to say on the subject.  We should retire and try to appear well rested in the morning.”  Finally.

After saying good night, Xandra and I walk hand in hand up the stairs.  At the top, I veer right with her instead of left towards my room.  There is no way I am going to sleep anywhere other than at her side and I do not care who objects.  She seems to agree.

As soon as the bedroom door closes behind us, I gather her into my arms.  “I am sorry you have been put in the middle of this.” 

She laughs.  “I believe I’ve put you in the middle of several dangerous things.”

With amusement in my voice, I say, “Are you saying we are even?”

She nods her head against my chest.  “Yes.”  Then she adds, “Would you mind terribly if I take a hot bath?”

A very graphic picture suddenly pops into my head.  “Of course not.  That will do wonders for your current anxiety.”  And for my dreams.  If I get any sleep that is.

She smiles and walks to the bathing room.  I flop down on the bed and try to calm my hormones since she is now only several feet from me completely naked.  My entire body is reacting to the idea.  Standing up, I walk out to the balcony hoping the fresh air will help.  Except it is not really fresh air.  And the view leaves something to be desired as well. 

An idea pops into my head.  I do not know if she is going to like it or not, but it is worth a shot.  I pull magic and push it gently towards the bathing room.  When I feel that my magic has obeyed my command, I walk to the door and open it.  Xandra has her head back against the edge of the tub with her eyes closed.  And everything from her neck down is covered by bubbles.  It would be so easy to pull that magic back, but I do not.

After donning swimming trunks, I pad quietly to the side of the bath.  Crouching down next to her I whisper in her ear, “If I promise to stay on my side of the tub, may I join you?”

Her eyes fly open and after a quick peek at me, they do a modesty check as her already flushed face grows a darker red.  There is some relief in her eyes when she sees the bubbles are still in place.  “Um, okay.”  Not the resounding yes I was hoping for but I am not going to quibble at the moment.  But I can further alleviate her embarrassment.  I put her back in the black bikini she wore so well when we first arrived.  I try not to think of everything else that happened with it.

She smiles up at me.  “You think of everything.”

I grin as I stand up and walk to the other side of the bath and lower myself into the water. 

“I did not come in here to pressure you into a compromising situation.  I simply want to relax with you.”

A slight frown forms on her face.  “Wouldn’t Isla consider this a hand-fasting offense?”

I close my eyes and rest my head on the edge of the bath and say what I have been planning to say since my impromptu proposal.  “Regardless of what happens between us, I will not force you into a hand-fasting and neither will my grandmother.”  I open my eyes and look at her so she can see that I am serious.  “The only way you and I will ever be hand-fasted is if you are one hundred percent sure that is what you want.  Not a moment sooner.”

Now a grin lights up her face.  “You’d risk Isla’s wrath for me?”

I close my eyes again and lean back.  Since she did not immediately declare the engagement off, I am going to assume she is fine with it.  “Of course.  I have you to protect me.”

She laughs and splashes me.  “What would all the female Fairies in this realm think if they knew you had to have me fight your battles for you?”

I raise a brow as I look at her again, “They would still find me irresistibly attractive and swoon at my feet.”  She splashes me again.  Time for a topic change.  “You know, it is not fair that you have the warm side of the tub.”

She cocks her head to the side.  “Really?  Sure you just don’t want to join me on my side?”

I put on my best offended face.  “That would be highly inappropriate.  Just the fact that you suggested it has me dismayed.”  She splashes me again so now I switch from offended to hurt.  “You doubt my intentions?  I am deeply saddened that you would think such a thing.  I was simply stating a truth.”

“Of course you were.”

“You could always see for yourself. This side of the tub is practically frozen.  I am surprised I have not turned into an icicle yet.”

She is tempted now, I can tell.  But, she says, “Maybe I should just take your word for it.”

“And have you forever doubt my intentions.  I could not live with that.”

“Fine, I’ll come half way and see for myself.”

“I am glad to hear that.”

As soon as she is within arm’s reach, I grab her arms and pull until she is seated on my lap.  “Do you see what I mean?” I ask.

She is attempting to hide a smile.  “Actually, it seems fine to me.”

“Perhaps you are colder blooded than I am.”

Turning around so that she is straddling my lap, which is about to send me places I am not ready to go yet, she whispers, “Shut up.”  Then her lips are on mine.  I pull her closer, situating her body in a way that does not help my body’s impatience, and murmur against her lips, “It is amazing how warm the water is now.”

Capturing her lips again, I deepen the kiss to a level that has both my mind and my body reeling.  My hands find the strings holding her bikini top in place and I tug lightly until I feel them fall away.  Bringing my hands back around, I stroke her until her back is arching and soft moans are coming from her throat.  Our kisses become fiercer, more passionate and I am going out of my mind.  I want so badly to push things farther and I believe she does as well.  But, we do not.  We simply enjoy what we are feeling at the moment and savor it for a long time.  When we finally leave the bath, we are both exhausted from the amount of emotion we poured into each other.  I fall asleep with her head on my chest and her arm and leg across my body.  This is heaven. 

Chapter 24

“Rise and shine,” Tabitha says loudly.  I would attempt to ignore her but Xandra sits up and stretches.  In the low cut, black silk negligee I dressed her in last night.  She almost falls out of it.  Perhaps it will go unnoticed.  

Nope.  Tabitha narrows her eyes at me.  “Apparently, Xandra needs a new tailor.  Your services will no longer be required.” 

I believe it is time for a quick retreat.  I stand up and walk a wide arc around Tabitha.  “I will make sure that everyone is ready.”  I am already out the door when I finish my sentence. 

I find everyone else in the living room looking morose.  Am I the only one hungry for breakfast?  Flopping down on one of the sofas, I try lightening the mood by saying, “You are all looking way too cheerful this morning.  Will you please tone it down a bit?”  I receive several dirty looks.  I guess I should leave the humor to Kegan.  Picking up a couple of figurines on a side table, I begin to juggle with them to stem off some of the anxiety that is crawling up my spine now.  Grandmother narrows her eyes but she does not tell me to stop. 

I put the figurines back on the table when I hear Xandra coming.  I stand up and turn in her direction.  It is a good things I already put those items down because I surely would have dropped them now.  Xandra is absolutely gorgeous.  Scratch that, she is always gorgeous.  At this moment, she has surpassed that description.  Her face is framed by wisps of hair but the rest is pulled back, letting the beauty of her face shine.  And the way she is dressed?  I will never see another woman who looks better in a bra top and sarong.  Everything else in the world has disappeared as I lose myself in her beauty.  There is simply Xandra and me and the love and passion that we have for each other.

“If you are done ogling your betrothed, perhaps we can get on with this?” Grandmother says evenly bringing me crashing back to my surroundings.

I clear my throat in an attempt to push my hormones back down my throat.  And away from other places.  It does not help.  “Of course,” I say and walk to Xandra.  Taking her hand in mine, I lean down and whisper in her ear, “You take my breath away.”

“Thank you,” she says with a smile that further enhances her beauty.  Oh, I am in so much trouble here.  My soul would never be the same if anything happens to her today.  Refusing to let that fear show on my face, I give her hand a squeeze and lead her out to the beach.

Once there, we assume our agreed upon places.  Grandmother is standing close to Xandra hoping to mask the fact that it was Xandra that cast such a powerful spell.  Dagda is on her other side for the same reason.  Just as Dagda taught her in training, it is never a good idea to show all of your strength up front.  Surprise is a powerful weapon.

“Are you ready to say the spell?” Grandmother asks her.

Xandra looks a bit uncertain.  “Can I say no?”

“No.”

“Then I guess I’m ready.”  I smile at her reluctance.  I have no doubt that she will handle this with strength and courage.

Grandmother hands her the ancient grimoire and she begins to read.  “As the wind blows south, east, north, and west, I call again my plea to the great mistress.  During this, my hour of need, when malicious forces came to feed, you granted your power and wisdom, allowed in this realm a protective schism, between virtuous and baneful, well-being and peril.  My sacrifice made, my blood paid, your eight legged creatures I had bound, the magic now to be unwound.  Finding my heart to be just and pure, my safety you did help ensure. Please guide me now in tearing down this wall; the time has come to answer thy enemy’s call.”

It is apparent when the spiders answer the call of the spell.  Shrieking as if the realm is being torn to shreds commences.  I am somewhat disappointed in my fellow Fairies.  No one on this side of the web shrieked like that.  Except Rhiannon.  Then again, we did have some idea of what to expect.  Regardless, I grin at their reaction. 

It does not take long for the top of the web to open as the spiders return to recycle the web by eating it.  The first rays of sunshine pouring through are a little hard on the retinas.  It was not dark under the web during daylight hours but it was not lighter than an early twilight, either.

The wall comes down a lot faster than it went up.  I doubted Grandmother when she said the process would only take about an hour.  Yet, after forty-five minutes the faces of the rebellion are already staring back at us.  Mostly in shock and awe.  There is quite a bit of magic pulled on that side of the web but no one seems to want to use any of it against the spiders.  I believe that at this time it is pulled simply in case self-defense becomes an issue.  It is not until the last spider has disappeared into the sand or the woods that anger ebbs their fear aside. 

Now I can clearly see the Fairy who has spent years attempting to make me miserable.  Seeing her face this close makes me want the spiders to return.  I find their company more enjoyable.

“Kallen,” she says in that voice that she believes is sexy but it only serves to put pictures of injured Tasmanian devils in my mind.  “I am so happy you chose to do what is best for our kingdom.”  Turning to Dagda, she says, “Oh, Dagda, whatever are we going to do with you?  You and I have had our fun, but now, I am afraid I just do not need you anymore.”

She cannot possibly be implying that she and Dagda had an affair.  Granted, my aunt did leave him when she could no longer bear his dark moods, but that still does not make him free to have an affair.  That would make him the realm’s largest hypocrite.  I am relieved when he says, “I am afraid you are giving the wrong impression of our relationship.  I was your mentor, nothing more.”  I believe him but I can tell that Xandra does not. 

Grandmother nudges Xandra so she stops looking at Dagda with disgust all over her face.  That slight movement draws Xenia’s attention to her.  “I cannot believe, Dagda, that you have been trapped in a house for two days and have not found the opportunity to kill your little mutt.  Another weakness on your part.  One that we will take care of shortly.  We will also find your wife, though you did hide her very well, I will admit.” 

Xandra starts pulling magic so Grandmother and Dagda do as well.  I can feel Xandra struggling for control but she is doing okay so far.  Xenia is not going to goad her into showing her strength quite yet.

Xenia has a malicious smile on her face.  The only part of it that reaches her eyes is the malicious part.  “Tsk, tsk, you two.  You may be strong, but we outnumber you greatly.” 

She takes a couple of steps forward to get a better look at Xandra.  Just as we knew she would.  Her overconfidence will be her doom. 

Xenia looks Xandra up and down and her face scrunches up into a most unattractive expression.  I am not sure what she is trying to convey.  “Kallen, I can see that she is reasonably pretty, but you cannot be serious.  You were going to stay in the Cowan realm for this scrawny thing?  I am sure at this point you are ready for a woman in your life.”  She turns her eyes to me and there is no guessing now what is on her mind.  It is a good thing I did not eat breakfast this morning.  I may have tasted it twice.  “Fortunately for you, you already have a wife who will take care of any needs you may have.”  That brings bile to the back of my throat.  It does not seem to make Xandra happy, either.

Regardless, Xandra sticks to the plan.  While Xenia is engaging me, Xandra sends her magic out over the crowd and uses it to immobilize several Fairies in the back.  With all the magic present on the other side, no one notices a thing. 

Xenia moves towards me and I find that I am now the one having trouble keeping my magic at bay.  I would love nothing more than to send her flying into the ocean.  “You are quiet this morning, my love.  Would it help if I told you that I will make your little Witch Fairy’s death quick and mostly painless?”

My rage is almost beyond control.  Xenia takes a step back as I say, “You will not harm the woman I love.”  I have veered from the plan but my anger does not care. 

“Love?” Xenia scoffs.  “What a ridiculous notion.  We do not need love.  We have power.  That is infinitesimally more useful than love.  We also have attraction.  That will get us by just fine.”  She must believe there is enough attraction on her side to make that true because there is none on mine.  I cannot respond to her insane ideas because I need all of my internal resources to keep my magic in check.

Which pisses her off even more.  Her jaw tightens as she waits just a little too long for a response.  Xandra uses the uncomfortable distraction to incapacitate more of the crowd. 

Finally, Xenia gets a creepy smile on her face and says, “You know, Kallen.  If you would like our reign to be platonic, I can always keep your cousin in my room for my entertainment.  His Cowan blood makes him useless for anything else than a toy.”

Kegan must not have eaten breakfast either.  If he had, it would be all over the sand if the green hue of his face is an indication of his gastrointestinal discomfort.  “I would prefer that you kill me.”

Xenia reacts with her magic.  Once again, my cousin has managed to use his mouth to his detriment.  Instantly, he is on the ground writhing in pain.  Out of the corner of my eye, I see Dagda and Grandmother restrain Xandra.  I hear Grandmother say quietly, “He is strong.”

We may be attempting to keep Xandra’s strength under wraps but not mine.  I will not stand by and allow her to hurt Kegan.  I am the only one that gets to intentionally cause him physical pain.  My magic rushes towards him and I begin to push Xenia’s magic out of him.  The meeting of our magic is not comfortable for Kegan, but the relief on his face tells me that he does not care.  It only takes a moment to prove I have the stronger magic.

Xenia smiles at me.  “I love it when you show your strength.”  My god, she is practically drooling.  I will never get that disgusting image out of my head now.

I have to turn away from her before my tongue is overcome with horror.  My response would be graphically specific about what I find unappealing about…all of her.  My eyes find Xandra’s and Xenia’s image in my mind is found to be fleeting rather than permanent.

Xenia seems to have figured that out as well.  She stomps through the sand until she is in front of Xandra.  “I understand that Maurelle and Olwyn were but putty in your hands.  You will not find me as pliable.  I am a full-blooded Pooka warrior, I am not tainted.”

Xandra’s knack for verbalizing all of her thoughts strikes again.  “Not tainted, just insane,” she says. 

Those are the words that make Xenia snap.  Her magic attacks Xandra and I attempt to send telepathic messages to Xandra reminding her of how she is supposed to react.  Much to my surprise, that is exactly how she reacts.  She pretends to be bowled over by Xenia’s magic even though I can tell that it has barely registered on her pain scale.  We should have had her practice her acting, though.  She does a terrible ‘I am in pain, help me’ act.  To my relief, Xenia does not seem to notice it is fake.  She is stands above Xandra with a sadistic expression.

“Xenia, let her go,” I demand.  I think it sounded pretty convincing.

“So that you can pine for her the rest of your days?  Definitely not.” 

When Xandra fell to the ground, she sent some magic towards the house.  She really is sticking to the plan.  It is only a moment before Rhiannon comes running out of the house to help provide a distraction while the rest of the plan falls into place.

“Xenia, stop, she is the Witch Fairy!” Rhiannon shouts as she tears down the terrace steps towards her sister.