Immortal Promise (16 page)

“Kat?” Syna called.

Kat turned to the voice that had called to her. She smiled as Syna made her way over. “What do you need, Syna?”

“Evan thought I might be able to help you and Izzy get things set up out here.”

Kat looked around the courtyard that was quickly filling with the conjured cottages Holly was creating.

Holly had said she wasn’t sure she could create cabins, but she underestimated herself. Small stone cottages were dotting the courtyard, quickly filling the space with shelters for the displaced Fae that were already trickling in. Bain and Kale were working their way through the outer villages and should be done any time now. Kat felt the pressure as the minutes ticked away. Looking up at the sky,
she could see that sunrise was only about seven hours away.

“Sure, all the help we can get would be appreciated.”

Syna grabbed a stack of blankets and followed Kat into one of the cottages. Syna was impressed with Holly’s magic; the cottage was one large room and one small bathroom. The large room had a fireplace, a double bed, and three small, twin-sized beds. In the far corner were a kitchenette and a dining table. It wasn’t fancy, but it was cozy and safe within the curtain walls of the Light Fae stronghold.

“Are you okay, Syna?”

Syna blinked and nodded “Oh yeah, fine. I’m just impressed with what Holly has done here.”

Kat looked around the small cottage. “It is impressive, but what I mean is… are you going to be okay? None of what is coming in the morning is going to be easy.”

Syna smiled softly. “I am trying to be. I never planned to come back to the Middle World, but this side of it doesn’t seem so bad.”

“It’s not. Rowan leads in a much different fashion then Darion does. Are you going to be able to face him come the morning?”

Syna straightened her spine and nodded. “I think it’s time.”

Kat pulled her into a hug. “I will stand next to you. We’ll face him together.”

Syna squeezed Kat and held back the tears that threatened.

“You won’t be standing alone.” Syna and Kat broke apart to see Evan standing with at least two dozen vampires just outside of the cottage’s open door.

Kat’s gaze found Jameson and then Christian
. She smiled at both of them as she and Syna exited the cottage.

“We need to find Cree and go over the plans for the morning, but first I wanted to check on you.”

Syna hugged Evan and whispered something in his ear that Kat couldn’t hear. When she pulled back, a dark-haired vampire stepped forward and patted Evan’s arm as he walked by. “I’ll be right back.”

Sergio moved past the group to where he’d spotted Holly. He didn’t even pause in his movements as he approached her
. Holly turned in time to throw her arms around his neck and let him hug her hard, her feet lifting from the hard ground beneath them.

“I was so worried about you,” he breathed into her hair.

She squeezed him a little harder, and he set her down. “I’m sorry.” She smiled sheepishly. “I didn’t mean to flash.”

He nodded and smiled at her. “I know, but it was before even then.”

She nodded. He had been the one to bring her to safety, to bring her to Evan after the Club was attacked. But he was talking about times long before even then. He’d always worried about her. He had befriended her immediately when Evan brought her into the coven. He had cared for her, and Holly knew that all those times of
harmless
flirting were not exactly harmless to his heart. He loved her. She could see that without question now as he gazed down at her. He knew the truth. That she didn’t love him, not like he did her, and that she wasn’t coming back to the coven.

“I am sorry, Serg,” she said softly.

He smiled and cupped her cheek. “Never apologize for getting what you want and for finally being happy. That’s all I ever hoped for you.”

She threw her arms around him again and hugged him fiercely.

“All I know is you better come visit, and I better get an invitation.”

Holly tilted her head. “Invitation?”

Sergio chuckled. “To the hand-fasting ceremony.”

“What makes you think there will be one?”

“Because I see the way Lothar is looking at you, and it’s not a secret that there was something between the two of you before you came to live with the coven.”

Holly smirked, raising her voice slightly, so all the vampires watching them could hear. “Evan has a big mouth
. He always has.”

Evan chuckled and shook his head. “Come now, Sergio, before you get me in trouble.”

Sergio hugged Holly once more before jogging off to head into the palace with the coven.

Holly turned to see a grinning Izzy. “What?” she asked.

“Did Lothar tell you what I used to do for a living?”

Holly shook her head. All Lothar had told her about the woman was that she took damn good care of her stubborn brother.

Izzy smiled even wider. “I was wedding planner. I hope to be one again soon.”

Holly smiled. “Well, you can start with mine and Lothar’s if he ever asks me for that kind of commitment.”

“Oh, Holly, he’s wrapped around your finger. He loves you and if that is what you want, he will gladly give it to you because I guarantee it’s what he wants.”

“You know them that well?”

Izzy shrugged. “They accepted me into their home and hearts without question. I love each and every one of them, and I have come to know them each quite well. But honestly, it only took five minutes of watching the two of you to know that he is deeply and madly in love with you.”

“You should listen to her. She’s the smartest of all of us.” Lothar wrapped his arms around Holly’s waist and kissed her neck.

Izzy arched a brow and headed into the most recent conjured cottage to make up the beds.

Holly turned in Lothar’s arms. “Did Izzy and Bain have a big wedding or hand-fasting?”

Lothar shook his head. “No, they haven’t had either yet.”

Holly was taken aback. “Are you serious? He hasn’t tied her down yet?”

Lothar shook his head.

“He better get on it before she realizes what a
pain in the ass he is.”

“Trust me, Hols, she already knows.” Lothar chuckled.

A small, little voice screaming Izzy’s name caught their attention.

“Kyra!” They heard Izzy coo the name
, and Holly’s eyes widened.

“Did she just say Kyra?”

Lothar nodded and pulled her towards the door. They stopped as a small child with honey blonde hair leapt from Bain’s arms and then ran to throw herself into Izzy’s open embrace. Izzy’s arms closed around the child, lifting her up to swing her through the air before planting a kiss on the child’s rosy cheek.

“Did you get to fly with
Daddy?” Izzy asked excitedly.

The child nodded emphatically. “Yes, I can’t wait for my wings so I can fly.”

Bain made his way over and lifted the little girl onto his shoulder. “All in good time. I don’t want to you grow up too fast. You’re still my baby.”

Kyra sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. “I am almost six now,
Daddy.”

“That’s right, Bain
. She’s turning into a lovely young lady.”

“See, Izzy knows
,” Kyra said.

“Alright, you want to meet your Aunt Holly?”

“Very much. Do you know Aunt Holly?” Kyra asked Izzy.

“I do, I got to meet her last night.”

“You guys should have come and gotten me then. Daddy says I look a lot like Aunt Holly. We have the same color eyes and hair.”

Izzy tapped her chin and studied Kyra playfully. “You know what? Daddy’s right.”

Kyra leapt from Bain’s shoulder back into Izzy arms. “Can we go meet her now?”

“You bet,” Bain said

Izzy set her down and held her hand as Bain took the other. Together, they walked towards Lothar and Holly, who still stood in the entrance of the cottage.

“Wow,” Holly breathed, tears pushing up in her eyes. “They make a beautiful family.”

“Uncle Lothar!” Kyra screamed and pulled away from Izzy and Bain to run towards him. Lothar smiled and picked the child up, squeezing her gently before pulling back to see her staring at Holly.

“We do look alike
,” she said before leaning towards Holly to wrap her arms around her neck. Holly wrapped her arms around Kyra and lifted her from Lothar’s arms to hug her tightly against her chest. “I’ve been waiting all your life to meet you.”

Kyra pulled back and nodded. “You are very pretty.”

Holly laughed and hugged Kyra again. “So are you,” she breathed against the wild mass of honey curls that hung from the little girl’s head.

Cree dropped to the plush covers of his and Rowan’s massive, silk-draped bed. He pulled off his boots before standing and stripping as he made his way to the bathroom. Turning the water to scalding, the bathroom quickly filled with steam. He was just thoroughly soaked when he heard the bathroom door open. Rowan made her way to the large square that was the shower and stepped in with him.

“Can you cool the water down a bit?”

Cree smiled and turned the knob. The water cooled slightly, and Rowan stepped into his arms and under the water.

“You okay?” he asked.

The past few hours had been rough. After Bain and Kale returned from gathering the Fae from the northern villages, they had all come together to stand at Rowan’s side as she addressed her people and soothed their concerns. By this time, they had a plan; one that was simple but gave them the best odds should this turn into an all-out battle.

Rowan lifted her beautiful lavender gaze to his and nodded. “We’ve had a semblance of peace for so long. I should have known this day would come. And to be honest, Darion does not deserve to lead after the way he has treated his people.”

Cree nodded. He agreed one-hundred percent and if
he
were being honest, he would have voiced that he didn’t believe Darion deserved to live. “Whatever tomorrow brings, you stay close to me. You got it?”

Rowan shook her head. “You forget, I trained as a warrior before I became a leader
. I still know how to kick some ass.”

Cree sighed. “I know, Ro
. Believe me, I know how strong you are, but I am still asking that you stay close to me.”

She nodded and turned off the water. “Fine.” She smiled. “Now let’s get some rest.”

Cree grabbed a towel and dried them both off before lifting her into his arms and carrying her off to bed. He lay on his back and kept her tight against him, finding comfort in her slight weight as it pressed against his chest. “I love you so much, Ro.”

She lifted her head from his chest and smiled. “I know, and I love you too.” She kissed him gently at first but
, as his fingers dug into her hips to adjust her body so she straddled him, the kiss deepened and his body responded.

Rowan slid up his body slightly to rub his cock with her silk folds
. Lifting slightly, she adjusted her position so when she came back down, she took him deep inside of her. His movements were slow as he rolled them over and hovered above her. With languid thrusts, he made love to her, his lips exploring a body he knew well but would never tire of. Their lips met once more as heat plumed deep inside of her and her walls began pulsating against him, pulling him over the edge with her. As their respective orgasms took them both on heated waves, Cree was slammed with visions of Rowan.

Her eyes closed and her body still in his arms.

Her fading from his arms as Acacia stood before him, tears streaking her ethereal face.

Rowan’s eyes looking upon him with confusion.

Her smile unsure as she looked at him, Bain, Izzy, and Jelena.

The final vision hit. This one more than just flashes, emotions
flowing over him as the vision played out.

Her hair was darker
, and he couldn’t see her eyes as she turned from him. She was not the same Rowan that he held now and made love to, but she was still his Rowan. His arms wrapped around her, keeping her from fleeing from him. With tear-filled eyes, his head fell to her shoulder and his wings wrapped them together in a cocoon of need and love. Her resistance to his embrace waned, but sadness engulfed him.

The vision faded
, and Cree fought for breath as he rolled off her and pulled her as tight as he could to him. Rowan sighed with satisfaction as she burrowed deep into him and fell to the exhaustion the day wrought.

****

Izzy whimpered in her sleep, and Bain felt a tear when he cupped her cheek. He pulled her to him and whispered sweet nothings into her ear as he stroked her back. He felt her relax in his arms, and he kissed her forehead.

“Whatever it is, my sweet Izzy, it is just a dream. You’re safe.”

A sigh fell from her lips, and he felt them pucker and press to his bare chest. A sleepy kiss that turned him on.

“That’s my girl, you’re safe, and you’ll always be safe with me.”

“Bain?” Izzy mumbled his name. He lifted her chin to look down at her.

“I am here, Iz.”

“I love you,” she murmured.

He smiled and kissed her lips. “I love you too, Izzy
. I will forever.”