The Ice Diamond Cuff (Custodian Novel #4) (12 page)

After what felt like an eternity, they
finally reached the dias. Her dads let go of her, and as they
stepped back, Faen stepped forward to take his rightful place by
her side, for now and forever more.

***

"Penny for them."

Faedra looked up from where she was twiddling
her wedding ring around her finger, lost in a private moment. Her
eyes met those of her new Guardian, and a smile curved her lips.
"Hmm?"

"You were miles away. Where were you?"
Jocelyn asked.

Faedra leaned a little more into her
husband's side. He was sitting next to her at the top table,
talking with her dad, Henry. His arm was around her shoulders,
pulling her to him. Even though he was deep in conversation with
someone else, it was obvious that he didn't want to let go of his
new bride. He gave Faedra a squeeze, turned and planted a kiss on
the top of her head before turning back to continue his
conversation.

Faedra's eyes glazed over again. Jocelyn's
question a whisper in her mind. Where was she? She was in
heaven.

She was coming to the end of what had been an
exhausting day. She had married the most incredible man in all of
the seven realms. After they said their vows in front of hundreds
of guests, the newlyweds were driven around the city in a horse
drawn carriage so that everyone could celebrate their union. The
streets had been lined with thousands of fae of all shapes and
sizes. Petals were tossed and good wishes were thrown about along
the route. Faedra wondered if her hand would last the journey. She
waved it the whole time.

Upon their return to the castle, the great
hall had been rearranged to seat the guests for a feast, the likes
she'd never seen before. The room bustled with servants attending
to everyone's needs. A constant flow of food and drinks came to the
tables. After everyone had eaten their fill and the tables were
cleared, they were pushed back to create a space for dancing. The
minstrels had fired up the music, and drinking and merriment
continued.

On top of the first dance with her husband,
Faedra had whirled, twirled and glided around the floor for two
father-daughter dances. But it didn't end there. Etyran insisted on
having a best man dance, Rowan wanted a dance with his new
daughter-in-law and Draconis also insisted on having a dance. Not
to be out done, Faen swirled her around the floor a few more times
before she finally convinced him she needed to take a breather.

"Oh, you've got it bad, girlie," a gruff
voice interrupted her thoughts.

Faedra brought her eyes back into focus to
see Jocelyn and Etyran, who was looking over Jocelyn's shoulder,
smirking at her. Yes, they were flat out smirking at her. "Just you
wait til later," Etyran continued, waggling his eyebrows.

"Etyran!" Jocelyn reprimanded as she turned
and swatted him on the arm.

"I'm just saying."

Faedra giggled. She couldn't help it.

"How dare you!" An angry voice resounded
through the hall.

Faedra felt Faen tense and sit up straight
just as she, Etyran, and Jocelyn turned their heads in time to see
Derian throw the contents of his goblet at Zaven who was standing
by Derian's table. Zaven gave Umor's king a derisive glare. The
contents of the goblet froze in midair before reaching the
ambassador's face. The frozen liquid fell to the floor and
shattered into thousands of tiny icicles that skittered across the
polished stone.

By this time, the dragons had pushed their
chairs back and were standing. Jalia followed and laid a calming
hand on her husband's arm. The minstrels stopped playing, the
dancers stopped dancing and the great hall was plunged into an
eerie silence as everyone turned their attention towards the
dispute. The energy shifted rapidly. Faedra could almost hear the
anxious breaths being drawn in and out of every guest's lungs.

"Derian, please, leave it," Jalia pleaded.
"He is just trying to goad you."

"It's working!" Derian snarled.

The dragons took a step towards the fracas
with lethal synchronization.

"Enough!"

Faedra's eyes, and everyone else's, for that
matter, turned just as her father -- the royal one -- stood and
brought his fist down on the table. Plates and goblets bounced in
protest.

"This is my daughter's wedding," the king
continued. "Zaven, Derian. Do I need remind you of the treaty you
signed to be here?"

The dragons stopped, and all eyes turned back
to the disputing guests.

The king's question hung in the air like a
bad smell. Breathing halted and expectant faces watched the drama
unfold. Faedra felt the tension ratchet up another notch.

Zaven's gaze, glittering with malice, locked
on the king's and held steady. He then inclined his head and bowed
low, sweeping his arms out to the sides in a melodramatic gesture
as he stepped back and away from Derian's table. A few more steps
back, he stood, glared at Derian with untold evil in his eyes and
whirled around before stomping out of the great hall.

A collective sigh bounced off the walls.
Faedra joined in, feeling relief as the tension faded.

"Music, please," the king requested of the
minstrels. They shuffled in their seats, adjusting their
instruments. A heartbeat later, sweet melodies filled the air once
more. The people who were standing stock-still on the dance floor
started twirling around again while the dragons settled back down
at their table.

"What was all that about?" Jocelyn whispered
to Faen, Faedra and Etyran who were all now huddled together at the
table.

Henry joined in the huddle. "Yeah. What
was
all that about?"

"Don't worry, Dad. Their two realms have been
feuding for years. It was probably something silly."

"It didn't look silly to me," Henry
continued. "Looked pretty darn serious. I don't trust that guy. He
gives me the willies."

Faedra looked at her friends and returned
their tight smiles. They were all thinking the same thing her dad
was, only they just weren't willing to say it out loud.

Needing to find a distraction, Faedra turned
her attention back to the party carrying on in full swing before
her. For some unknown reason, her eyes were drawn to the dragon's
table, and it wasn't for the eye-candy. She had plenty of that, and
he was sitting right next to her. As if on cue, Alaris said
something to Ignis, which garnered him a friendly slap on the
shoulder. The blue dragon stood and wandered across the hall to
where Alyssa was sitting alone staring, unseeing at the dancing
couples. Upon his arrival, he put his fist up to his mouth, and she
looked up. Faedra realized he must have cleared his throat to get
her attention. Alaris gestured to the empty chair next to her.
Alyssa nodded and Alaris sat. Not long after, a smile lit up
Alyssa's face. Alaris stood up and offered her his hand. She took
it, allowing him to guide her through the empty chairs and onto the
dance floor.

"What are you grinning about?" Etyran
chirped.

Faedra turned her grin on him. "Nothing."

Etyran narrowed his eyes at her before
looking out over the dance floor. His expression softened and a
small curve hitched at his lips. Faedra felt his guilt ebb away,
just as if it were being soaked into the floor beneath them.

"Come on," Faedra said, grabbing her
husband's hand and gesturing to Jocelyn and Etyran. "Let's go and
dance. It won't be long before the night is over, and I want to
enjoy every last minute."

Faedra scooped up the skirt of her dress with
her other hand and led Faen off the dais. Their two friends
followed close behind. After sweeping around the dance floor to a
couple of jaunty melodies, the music changed pace and everyone
partnered up for one of the final dances of the evening. Faedra
brought her arms up around Faen's neck, and he clasped his hands
loosely around her waist. He leaned in and rubbed her nose with
his. Faedra could feel his energy enfold around her. A blanket of
happiness and love. So much love.

"I'm glad the music slowed down," Faedra
whispered. "I don't think my feet could have taken much more. You
would have ended up carrying me to bed."

Faen's energy shifted, catching Faedra by
surprise. Her breath hitched as she soaked in his hooded gaze.

"My beautiful wife, I have every intention of
carrying you to bed whether your feet trouble you or not," Faen's
husky voice permeated her brain. "In fact, I am done waiting." Faen
scooped up his bride.

Wide eyed, Faedra squeaked, "Faen, what are
you doing?"

"Taking my wife to bed."

Faedra batted Faen on the arm. "Faen, put me
down."

He shot her a mischievous grin. "Say
goodnight to your guests."

Faedra's cheeks burned as the guests around
her stopped their dancing and started staring. All with knowing
smiles. "Faen, this is not funny. Put me down."

A few 'whoops' and 'hollers' rang out across
the hall. Probably from the dragon's table. Faedra put her hand
over her eyes as Faen stepped around in a circle. "My friends,
family, and distinguished guests, we bid you goodnight," he
announced. Faedra felt herself get dipped as Faen executed a small
bow to the gathering.

More catcalling ensued.

"Oh, God," Faedra groaned. Could she feel any
more embarrassed?

Goblets started banging on tables along with
the whole hall erupting into a shameless raucous at her expense.
She dared herself to look up at the top table. Her dad would surely
be embarrassed for her, too. But, no. She gaped as she spied him
banging his goblet on the table in time with her other dad, the
king. Cheeky grins on both of their faces.

Faedra shook her head and rolled her eyes.
Accepting defeat, she stuck her hand in the air and waved at
everyone. Cheers erupted around the great hall as Faen carried her
towards the door.

Faedra narrowed her eyes at her husband. "I'm
going to get you for this," she warned, not very convincingly.

Faen cast a glance down at her, a wry smile
curving his lips. "Promises, promises."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Faedra breathed a deep satisfying breath and
stretched her arms above her head. She turned her face and found
herself caught in the beautiful gaze of her husband who was lying
beside her with his head propped up on his hand. Faedra soaked him
in. She reached out her fingers and traced them over a softly
defined eyebrow, pushing away some errant strands of sleep tousled
blond hair that was partially covering one eye and lying across his
cheek. Allowing her eyes to follow her movements, she tucked his
hair behind his ear before letting the pads of her fingertips
travel over his cheek, along the strong bridge of his nose and down
to brush along the soft skin that covered his full lips. They
parted just a fraction under her touch. The hitch in his breath
forced her eyes back to meet his.

Faen took hold of her hand and pressed a kiss
to her palm.

"How long have you been watching me sleep?"
Faedra asked.

Faen replied with a languid curve of his lips
under her palm. He let go of her hand and grazed her cheek with his
knuckles before leaning in to claim a kiss.

Faedra brought her fingers up to caress his
neck; it was all the encouragement needed. Faen wrapped his hands
in Faedra's hair and positioned his face above hers. When he pulled
away, Faedra's lips curved in a drowsy smile. "I could get used to
waking up like this," she said.

Faen looked down at his wife. "I think I can
oblige," he murmured, his fingers gently stroking her cheeks. "You
need to pick a surname for me," he said.

Faedra scrunched her eyebrows at his sudden
change of subject. "Sorry?"

"We do not use surnames in this realm, but
you do in yours. When we get married there, you need to be Mrs.
something."

"Good point," Faedra conceded. "That means I
can choose any name I like?"

Faen shrugged, "I guess."

"That's going to be tough. There are so many
to choose from."

Faen smiled and dipped his head to kiss
Faedra on the neck just below her ear.

"I am sure..." he said before trailing kisses
around to her throat, "...you will..." his lips danced on her skin
around to her other ear, "...think of something."

Faedra sighed. "Not with you doing that, I
won't." Faedra saw his mischievous grin a split second before he
planted it on her lips again.

There was a knock at the door. Faen tensed
and lifted his lips from Faedra's. They exchanged bewildered
glances. "What time is it?" Faedra asked.

"Day time," Faen answered.

"Very helpful."

Faen shot her a look that spoke volumes of
how much he cared about what time it was.

"Behave yourself," Faedra said as she turned
her head towards the door, which opened her neck up to the marauder
beside her. Faen took his chance and nibbled at her ear.

"Who is it?" Faedra called in a strangled
croak. "Stop that," she whispered to Faen. He refused. Faedra
fidgeted. "Oh, God," she groaned.

"Your Highness, it is Erin," a voice called
from behind the closed door.

"Erin, someone better be dying," Faedra
replied, trying, but failing, to remove her husband's lips from her
neck and deciding she didn't really mind them being there. She
giggled. "Will you stop that for one moment?"

Faen broke away from his ministrations and
gave her a thoughtful look. "No," he said before continuing his
onslaught.

"Who are you? And what have you done with my
stuffy Guardian?" Faedra asked between giggles.

Faen brought his head up again. A wicked
glint in his eyes. "Stuffy, you say? I'll show you stuffy."

Faedra's eyes widened as Faen brought his
hands down to her ribcage and commenced his attack.

"No, Faen! Stop!" Faedra squealed between
gasps of laughter.