Lost in Shadow (A Shadow Walkers Ghost Novel) (33 page)

Emily laughed, “Has she completely taken over yet?”

“Are you kidding, that woman could run the country if she wanted to, I’m in awe and a bit scared of her.” Colin grinned.

“She’s worked with Meg and they’ve taken care of the flowers, cake, food, and drink. All I have to do is finish the license. She even took care of getting movers lined up. They are packing up your cottage and everything will be here in a few weeks. There’s a professor who wanted to buy the place, but she told him she’d rent it, that you wouldn’t want to let it go.” He was watching her closely.

“I don’t need anything except you, my life in Charleston seems long ago and far away. I’ll let Kat know to go ahead and sell it, heck, she’ll get more for it than I would have. I don’t need it. Ravensmore is my home now. You are my home.”

Walking down the street, Emily headed for the car. “Come on, I want to drive back to Ravensmore, I’ll try and drive on the left, not my fault we drive on the normal side of the road and you all have to be different.” Reaching in his pocket, she gave him a caress and laughed when he flashed his eyes at her.

“Better put your money where your mouth is. Better yet, I want your mouth on me.” Colin growled.

“Emily? Is that you? What are you doing in Edinburgh? Who are you with? Yowza, you look great.”

Oh my god, it was Charlie. What was he doing in Edinburgh? Oh this is too perfect, thank you Universe. I’m with my hot fiancé, looking my best and there is jerk face Charlie.
Every girl in the world wishes this scenario when running into an ex-boyfriend. Only usually the girl is in sweats, with no makeup, bad hair and a big zit on her nose or forehead while said ex is with some supermodel girlfriend, happy and glowing.

“Charlie, what a surprise. This is Colin.”

“You’re the bloody stupid bastard who killed Emily?” Colin glared at Charlie and moved within an inch of him. “I should kick your arse right now, better yet, tell me why I shouldn’t gut you from belly to nose and rid the world of some pansy-assed boy who can’t take care of a woman.” Colin sneered.

Realizing he was in serious trouble, Emily tried not to burst out laughing as Charlie backpedaled.

“Hey it’s all good man, saying hi for old times sake. Whatever happened to let bygones be bygones, forgive and forget? Emily, help me out here,” Charlie pleaded.

It was so fantastic seeing Charlie humiliated that Emily started giggling. Clapping her hand over her mouth didn’t help. She started laughing so hard, tears streamed down her face and she started hiccupping.

“Colin, let’s go, he’s not worth your time. Anyway, he peed his pants, and you’re going to be stepping in pee in a minute.”

“Oh hell, you are a loser. Get out of my sight before I change my mind.” Colin sounded disgusted.

At that moment, Emily thought she’d died and gone to heaven as she heard, “Honey, where are you? Charlie, I’ve been looking for you.” A woman, who looked like she stepped out of a preppy catalog, with bobbed brunette hair, beige shoes, and beige handbag, looked down her nose at Emily and said, “Who might you be? I’m Muffy.”

“Muffy, yikes, what a name, I’m Emily.”

Watching the recognition cross Muffy’s face, Emily laughed, “Yes, THAT Emily. You better get your boyfriend home, seems he’s had an accident and pissed himself.”

Muffy’s eyes opened so wide she looked like an anime cartoon. Grabbing Charlie’s arm, she pulled him down the street and Emily laughed as she heard Muffy screech, “Don’t walk near me, how embarrassing. Walk behind me. Disgusting.”

Charlie ran behind Muffy yelling, “Give me your sweater so I can cover my pants. I must be getting sick or something.”

One Week Later

The orangerie was beautiful, the white flowers adding to the heady orange blossom fragrance. Kat and Fred arrived two days before. Fred took to Colin’s steward immediately. They were currently closeted in the study going over ancient account books. He was fascinated with how Colin’s ancestors kept track of everything on an estate the size of Ravensmore.

Fred had been easily won over with a few bottles of Ravensmore whisky he found waiting in the room for him. Kat had said he looked younger in person than that dreadful painting in the museum.

“Emily, he’s perfect for you. A little scary at times, talk about an alpha male—whew! Are you terribly happy?”

Sighing, Emily smiled and hugged her best friend, “He’s my one true love, corny as it sounds. I thought I loved Charlie, I was wrong…Colin showed me what love really is.”

“You’ve been through so much, I’m glad you’ve moved on and found someone to share your life with. Please tell me the Charlie story again, talk about karmic justice.” Wiping her eyes, she’d laughed so hard, she cried when Emily related the story of running into Charlie and Muffy.

“I would have given anything to have been there and see him pee his pants.” She howled with laughter, making Emily laugh harder. Colin found the two of them in tears, cackling. Shrugging at Matt, they went outside so Colin could point out the path down to the water and a few choice fishing spots.

“Look, I know my sister is crazy about you, but if you hurt her I’ll have to kick your ass.” Matt looked a little sick as he said this.

“I would expect nothing less. Point taken. Now shall I show you where the fishing gear is? I hear you’re quite the fisherman.”

She had a moment’s sadness wondering how they would explain not aging as the years passed; she’d have to ask Colin how they would handle it. She couldn’t bear never seeing any of them again.

The day before the wedding, Robert arrived with Monroe in tow. Monroe looked tired and drawn after his brush with death; he’d gotten out of the hospital the day before and insisted on attending. Emily had sent flowers when she found out what had happened. “Great to see you, mate. You remember Monroe?”

Robert slapped Colin on the back and swept Emily up into a hug, kissing her on the cheek. He hastily put her down when Colin growled at him.

“Monroe, up and about I see. No criminals lurking about, why are you here?”

“I sure as hell didn’t come to see your ugly mug. I’m here to wish Emily well, to see Miss Chandler again, and meet her husband.”

“Monroe, I’m so glad you could make it, Are you feeling OK?” Emily fussed over him. “I know Kat will be so pleased to see you. I think she and Fred are exploring the dungeon.”

“I hear congratulations are in order. Walk me to my room? This place is huge.”

“Absolutely. I’ve seen that look on Colin’s face before; let’s go.” Emily and Monroe turned and headed for the stairs.

Grunting, Colin turned away, jerking his head at Robert to follow him around the corner.

“The cop’s going to be a problem. We don’t need him sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. Thorne is going to rip your head off when he finds out what you did.”

“The guy deserved some closure, his woman’s death was eating him up from the inside. Anyway, we could use a mortal’s help here and there. I’ll talk to Thorne…eventually.”

Colin shrugged, “It’s your head.” A small change in the air pressure was the only warning Colin and Robert had before Thorne materialized into the hallway. “Talk to me about what? About how you broke the simple rules I’ve drilled into your head. Maybe about how you involved a human in Shadow Walker matters, or maybe how you cocked it up when you told him all about our merry little band, hmmm.”

Robert paled. Fuck me, he was here. This was so not good. At least Thorne had his human guise in place though at six foot seven, giving off the whole I’ll kill you with a look vibe, he was the kind of guy people instinctively backed away from. Today he was wearing a black tux by Armani, his silver hair pulled back in a ponytail, his icy blue eyes, sparking with anger, looking like he’d walked off the pages of some men’s fashion magazine.

“Guess that about sums it up,” he shot back, cocky.

Landing against the far wall of the great hall, he decided it wasn’t the best way to start the morning by getting blasted by a bolt of energy. At least it wasn’t full force—if it were he’d be dust by now.

“While you made a few relevant points to Colin, how do you know we can trust this human?” Thorne raked a glare over Robert. “I’m trying to decide whether I should send you back to the Shadow Walker realm and have you beaten for a few hundred years for your insolence or…guess what, he’s your responsibility. The cop fucks up anything, talks about us to anyone, your life is forfeit. Are we clear?” Thorne was right up in his grill. Robert wanted to back away but showing weakness would only earn you a bitch slap or something worse. He stood his ground.

“Crystal.”

“I’ll be back for the wedding.” With that the god vanished.

Later that evening Monroe pulled Emily aside. “Look, are you sure you know what you’re doing? What do you know about this guy? You only met him, now you’re all I do, down the aisle?”

Patting his shoulder, she told him, “No need to worry. Yes, it’s fast but I’m more sure about Colin than I’ve ever been about anything in my life. Sometimes you go through an…event in life, it changes you. Afterwards what’s important seems to be clear, the rest is noise, it falls away. Please don’t worry, I’m happy.”

He blew out a deep breath, “Ah, then, I’ll be checking in from time to time to see if you need anything.”

She bid him goodnight and crawled into bed in one of the many guestrooms. She’d refused to kick Colin out of their bedroom. It was strange sleeping alone after being with Colin every night. Emily had insisted in keeping the tradition of him not seeing her the night before or day of the wedding.

Fresh from her shower with a cold Pepsi, wrapped in a cozy robe, she thought about the night before. A feast, lots of toasts, surrounded by those she loved, all there to see her married. Colin’s friends would be in attendance, he told her his boss was putting in an appearance. She only wished her parents were alive to see her married, her dad here to walk her down the aisle, her mom to help plan things. Wiping a tear away, a knock on the door made her jump, pulling her from her memories.

“It’s about time you’re up; we have so much to do today to get you ready. Come with me, I’ve taken over a room called the lady’s solar. I have a hairdresser, manicurist, masseuse, waxer, and Meg all waiting to get you bride ready.” Kat blew the hair out of her eyes. Standing there, Emily was overcome with emotion, jumping up and hugging her tight.

“Thank you again for coming on such short notice. I need you here, you’re more than my best friend to me, you’re my sister, I love you, Kat.”

Wiping her eyes, Kat playfully smacked her on the arm, “Don’t put my waterproof mascara to the test, it’s going to get enough of a workout when you walk down the aisle. Come on sleepyhead, I brought Pop-Tarts…”

“You are an angel. You know Pop-Tarts and Pepsi are my favorite breakfast.”

Screwing up her face in distaste, Kat grimaced. “See how you know I love you, I bring you horribly processed food to eat. On the bright side, if there’s a siege, you can survive on Pop-Tarts. I think they’re like Twinkies, they never go bad.”

Half dragging her to the solar, Emily came to a full stop in the doorway to the room, her mouth open. It looked like…a spa exploded in the room. Emily took a deep breath and put herself in their hands.

A rap on the door, had everyone’s head turning as Robert walked in. “Well, this is my kind of place, a room full of beautiful ladies, I think I’ve died and ended up in the hall of beautiful women.” He flashed his pearly white teeth at them and a few of the women giggled, making eyes at him. Emily was willing to bet he wouldn’t be spending the night alone.

He stopped next to Emily with a horrified look on his face, “What on earth are you eating?” Kat busted out laughing. Emily was indignant. “Do not make fun of the Pop-Tarts. These are one of the best inventions in the last hundred years.” With that, she stuck her nose in the air. His hands up in front of him, Robert roared, “I’ll take your word for it.” Kneeling down to sit beside her, he looked a little nervous, pulling a box out of his pocket.

“I wanted you to have this; it belonged to my sister a long time ago. I know you need ‘something borrowed’ but consider it a wedding gift; she’d have liked you wearing it.”

Opening the box with a gasp, everyone crowded around Emily for a closer look at the stunning bracelet. It was fashioned into flowers and vines. The vines were tiny emeralds, the flowers alternated between sapphires, rubies, and diamonds.

“Oh, Robert, it’s stunning. I would be honored to wear it but I must give it back. You’ll want to give it to the woman you marry someday.”

A shadow crossed his face, leaning down so only she could hear, “No, lass. ‘Tis unheard of for one of us to break our curse, I don’t expect to see it happen again. I gave up on love a long, long, time ago.”

Straightening up, he turned on his heel, “I’ll leave you ladies to your rituals.”

“Robert, wait.” Emily rushed over to him, shyly handing him a box. “Would you please give this to Colin? It’s his wedding band; I understand he is supposed to be wearing it when the ceremony starts after sunset tonight.”

The band was a plain, wide gold band with the old Celtic symbols for love, life, eternity and energy engraved on the outside, very masculine just like her warrior. Inside the band, she’d had engraved,
My heart belongs to you.