MoonLife (4 page)

“Sorry Wendy
,
we were just talking about the wedding and security
,
” I said
.

“We have to be careful. After that little stunt Lars tried back there
,
I fear he may try again before we get to the compound
,
” Sebastian said.

Ludwik looked grim and spoke, “The Protectors Guild had heard that Lars brought in more of the Dracco
c
lan into Sacramento. I don’t think they realized you two were taking off so quickly. We thought they might attack at the apartment before you left. I think we may have gotten out of there just in time. The little stunt back at the airport must have been a last minute attempt because if they would have genuinely tried, they probably would have succeeded. The Dracco clan are immensely talented and we have to be vigilant from here on out
,
” Ludwik stated in a very serious manner. If he was worried about it than we all should seriously be, that is his job and he is highly skilled at it.

“I was not aware that they were pulling in more of the clan into Sacramento. When were you going to tell me?” asked Sebastian in a troubled manner.

“Well
,
I just heard about it this morning. I had planned on telling you, but since we were leaving I thought I would let you know now.”

“From here on out once you hear anything about the Draccos I want to be the first to know. Do you understand? They cannot and will not stop this binding ceremony.”

“I understand boss. Do you want me to call the Protectors Guild and get them to Buffalo?”

“No
,
but I would like you to stay in contact with them and let us know if the Draccos are up to anything. Maybe put some men on tracking them. I don’t care what it costs, I just want to be sure we know what Lars is up to.”

“I’m on it
, B
oss.” Ludwik flipped open his phone and started texting up a storm. Who knew he had such lightning fast fingers
?
“Done
,
Boss
. O
nce I hear anything I’ll let you know. Interesting though
,
it
seems several of Lars’ brothers have been flown in from Greece. They are supposed to be arriving today. Seems they were getting ready for a large party of some sort?”

Sebastian looked grim. Like he understood what that meant even though the rest of us didn’t.

“What Sebastian, what is it? What does that mean?” I asked knowing that he knew something but wasn’t sharing.

“Nothing Sadie, it’s nothing.”

“Like hell it isn’t. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I think he was flying in his family for a wedding
,
” He said, looking off out the window.

A wedding? Why would Sebastian assume that? Dread hit me like a tennis racket to the head.

“HE FLEW HIS FAMILY IN FOR A WEDDING TO ME?” I declared, knowing the answer as I started to hyperventilate again. Sebastian quickly turned to me and grabbed the baggie from behind the seat. He opened it and I started to breathe into again. “What… an …ass
,
” I said in-between trying to catch my breath.  “How presumptuous of him to think that he could kidnap me and I would automatically marry him. How could he think that? He knows I love you…not him!”

“He was thinking he would kidnap you and immediately force you to marry him. Once he had you, it doesn’t matter if you want to or not. They can perform the ceremony and you would be his and there is nothing you or I could do about it. You know that Sadie.” Sadness covered Sebastian like a blanket and I could tell that he was still worried they could be trying to carry this out.

“I would rather die
,
Sebastian
,
than marry him. There is no way, ceremony or not that I would go through with that marriage. We can’t let that happen, we can’t let him get me.” I unhooked my seat belt and crawled into Sebastian’s lap. He put his arms around me and we held each other. After a while, I must have fallen asleep because I woke up to hear the pilot telling the stewardess that we were almost there. I hugged Sebastian tighter; apprehensive of the dangers we might face ahead and worried to myself that they may get me before we have the chance to actually start our life together. Looking up at his face, he smiled a reassuring smile down at me
.
I felt a twinge of excitement to be starting our life adventure together. All we had to do was make it to the compound and this big, tall, handsome man was all mine…forever.

“Are you ready Sadie,
m
y Kali Princess? Ready to make a vow that will bind us together for all eternity?”

“Yes Sebastian, I am ready for you to be my
p
rince.”

“You know
,
Sadie
,
when all your Royal powers come in you will be the
q
ueen, just like you
r
mother
was.”

“Queen? Queen of who?”

“The Queen of all the Magicals and of course
your Kingdom at
the Oubliette Village. That is still your village to rule, if you so desire.”

“So that will make you King of
all
the Magicals
?
” I giggled. Sebastian looked as if he could be King of
the
Magicals
.
I on the other hand looked as if I could be waitressing at Chili’s.

“You will make a fin
e
q
ueen
,
Sadie. You will see. In the meantime, we need to get ready for our binding ceremony. Once we arrive at the house they may separate us. It is the custom of the Manduragos for the women to get the
b
ride ready. I will of course stay with you under the circumstances.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Although I would love to have you with me, we don’t want to threaten tradition because we are afraid Lars might kidnap me. Didn’t you say we are safe in the Mandurago compound?”

“Yes
,
but I don’t want you to be alone. You must have someone with you for protection. With all that is going on, leaving you vulnerable is not an option.”

“I’ll do it
,
B
oss. I can be there and not be seen. That way the girls will feel comfortable, and Sadie will be watched.”

“Thank you my friend, I appreciate all you have done for us.”

“Anything for the new
q
ueen.” Ludwik stood and bowed to us both and then took Wendy’s hand and headed to the front of the plane.

Oh my…the new
q
ueen? Here we go…

Chapter Four

I’m not sure what I was expecting Buffalo to be like
.
I had sort of assumed that all of New York State was like New York City. That there would be enormous sky scrapers and taxi cabs everywhere. Carrie Bradshaw and her girls would be running the streets, people would be pushing and shoving us and it would be a large metropolitan city. Boy was I wrong! What I found was a small airport where I could see the main street from the runway and beyond it was small town USA.  This was definitely not a
Sex in the City
moment, although I did have my Mr. Big with me.

We got our things together and got off the plane. I was excited to be in Buffalo and
hopefully
far away from the Dracco clan. Sebastian and Ludwik were going over security plans while Wendy and I climbed down the stairs and enjoyed the view. It really was pretty from the runway, but someone should have warned us how cold it would be. Wendy and I were still dressed for autumn in California. Autumn in Buffalo felt like an Alaskan winter to me. Talk about cold, I was worried I wasn’t going to feel my hands again if we didn’t get inside soon.

Wendy and I talked about maybe doing some shopping later, picking up some parkas and gloves. I laughed knowing that would never happen, not because we didn’t need them but because there was no way Sebastian was going to let us out of his sight. I could feel Sebastian’s thoughts and knew his plan was to get us to the Mandurago compound and not leave there until we were officially bound. Feeling his ideas made me remember to put on my
mental
metal magic ski cap. Many Magicals can read thoughts, so to protect myself, I came up with the idea of the metal magic ski cap. Ludwik had told me a while ago that my thoughts were so open it was like reading a book. So I just imagine putting a metal hat on my head. Mine looks like a black ski
cap;
it ties under my chin and even has little pompoms on top and all. I imagine that it’s metal and nothing can get in or out. Sounds silly but it works and with both of us going into Mandurago central, I am going to need to protect my thoughts.

“Ready to go
,
my
l
ove?” asked Sebastian as he came over to where Wendy and I were waiting. “We are to meet my brethren at the baggage claim. I am excited to see them. It has been far too long since I have been to a formal gathering of the Mandurago, let alone to the compound.”

“Well
,
let’s not keep them waiting
,
” I said as I leaned up and kissed him softly on the lips.

We headed into the airport not knowing what to expect. The airport was cute, smaller than I had originally expected but clean and neat. There were pictures everywhere of the sites in and around Buffalo and of course of Niagara Falls. I hadn’t realized
t
he Falls were right here near Buffalo until that moment.

“Oh
,
Sadie
,
look
!
Niagara Falls. We should get the guys to take us while we’re here, that would be so romantic. Maybe we could stay at the cabins like in the movie
Niagara;
you know that Marilyn Monroe movie? That could be quite fun
,
” Wendy said with a naughty look in her eyes. She was undoubtedly gaga over Ludwik. I hadn’t seen her like this over anyone in our whole lives. I would not be surprised if they slipped away and got married while there were here. Wait
–
is Niagara Falls like Vegas? Can you slip away and get married?  I made a mental note to myself to find out for her.

“Sadie…did I lose you? You look lost in thought again
,
” Wendy asked.

“I was just thinking about Niagara Falls. Hey
,
where do you think the baggage claim area is in this airport?”

“Can’t be far, this place is tiny. The guys sure seem to know where they are going.”

We caught up to the guys who were two steps ahead of us and Sebastian took my hand, pulling me up close to his side. His hand was warm and comforting. I knew we were meeting friends of his, but I was still a little nervous. Here I am marrying one of their group and never had met any of them. Plus, they think I’m some big
p
rincess and I look like your average chick. I am hoping they aren’t let down with the realization of me.

We turned the corner and came to the baggage claim area. I thought we would have to look around for them and hunt a bit, but I should have known better. In front of us was a large, black belted turnstile with all types of luggage rotating on it. People from different flights were going in and out of the little area picking up their bags. They were talking, laughing and just enjoying the end or beginning of their trips. Amongst the coming and goings stood four hulking figures, each one bigger than the next, neither of them talking, smiling or laughing. They stood there like stone figures waiting to come alive. I removed my mental
metal
ski cap for a moment to speak silently with Sebastian.

They blend right in. Are you sure they are on our side?

Well
,
they aren’t used to having to blend in. I can feel your concerns my
l
ove, don’t be nervous they are here to help us. And remember Sadie…I love you.

I love you
,
too.
I put my mental cap back on and held his hand a little tighter as we headed over to them.

“Brothers
,
it is good to see you.” Sebastian embraced the first man, shook his hand and moved on to the next. They really were big. Two were blonde like Sebastian and two had very dark
,
almost black hair. The two with the black hair had to be actual biological brothers, they were almost identical. The two blonds couldn’t have looked more different. The first blond had long
,
wavy
,
strawberry blond hair that he had tied back with a leather band. The little waves of hair were escaping their bondage around his broad, handsome face. He looked as if he could be working the fields in Ireland. Do they have fields in Ireland? Anyway, the other blonde had sharp features and short, bleached
,
spiky blonde hair. He wore ripped up jeans and a leather jacket. He looked as if he should be heading up a rock band somewhere. The two dark hair brothers where dressed in suits and had short, well groomed hair. They definitely looked dressed for business.