The Ice Diamond Cuff (Custodian Novel #4) (20 page)

Confused, Faedra looked up at her new
Guardian, then at her husband in turn. "What?"

Jocelyn and Faen exchanged glances again
before Jocelyn cleared her throat. "Um, we thought you were going
to take off to Azran."

Faedra's eyebrows launched themselves into
her hairline. "On my own? With no powers?" Faedra had the urge to
go check herself in the mirror to see if she looked that
insane.

Jocelyn dropped her gaze to the table.

"Well, Adkara. You have been known to be a
little impulsive in the past," Faen soothed.

"There's a big difference between being
impulsive and downright stupid," Faedra grouched under her breath,
then announced, "Besides, I have an idea, but it means you getting
all up close and personal with your best mate again."

Etyran groaned. Henry rested his forehead in
his hand.

"Faen, Etyran can wrap the light around the
both of you. The emerald staff will take you directly to the ruby
staff. Get in, grab it, get out. When we have both we can move
around the realms and go and ask people if they will help us."

"I like that idea," Henry said rubbing his
daughter's hand. She offered him a small smile.

"We will set up headquarters here at the
cottage," she continued.

"That idea, I'm not so sure about," Henry
said, although, he couldn't hide the twinkle in his eye.

Faedra turned to her human friends and
family. "Uncle Leo, could you, Nicki, Amy, and Zoe help set up the
cottage? We'll need to feed quite a few people and also find places
for them to sleep." They nodded.

"Good, thanks," Faedra said. She stood and
turned to her husband. "We need your father."

Faen nodded. "When we have retrieved the ruby
staff, we will bring him and my mother back here."

Faedra nodded before wrapping her arms around
him. She could have happily lost herself in his arms and stayed
there forever, but Etyran, at least, was showing good sense. He
cleared his throat before tapping her on the shoulder. Faedra
pulled away from her husband.

"Ready, mate?" Etyran asked.

Faen cupped Faedra's face and leaned down to
place a kiss to her lips.

"Good luck," she whispered when he pulled
away.

"I don't need luck," he said with a smile.
"I've got Etyran."

Faedra choked down the urge to throw out some
sarcastic remark, only because that had been the norm between her
and Etyran ever since they first met. But now was not the time, and
Faedra had to admit, the Lightbender could be pretty handy in a
fight. She knew without a doubt, he would do anything in his power
to keep her husband safe. She also knew her husband would do the
same for his best friend.

Etyran rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the
smirk that nudged the corner of his lips.

"Okay, let's do this," Etyran said, opening
up his coat. "And don't go getting too cozy in there."

Faedra smiled. Thankful that even in such
dire circumstances, the Lightbender could add a little humor to the
proceedings and lighten the mood, if only just a tad.

Faen stepped forward and wrapped his arms
around his friend. When he was situated, Etyran wrapped his coat
around Faen. He held out a hand, and Faedra passed the emerald
staff to him, her expression tense with anxiety.

"Don't worry, My Lady," Etyran winked,
noticing Faedra bristle at his address. "I'll keep him safe."

Etyran and Faen disappeared from view.

Gasps were heard from the human side of the
table. It wasn't the first time… doubtful it would be the last.
Faedra caught herself wondering how many more times her friends
would let out gasps of surprise before this whole debacle was over.
More than a few, she would wager.

Tiny green lasers lights swirled like a slow
moving vortex right where her husband and his best friend had been
standing. Those, too, disappeared.

Faedra slumped back down into her chair. All
she could do now, was wait.

***

"Cup of tea?"

Startled by the sudden touch to her shoulder,
Faedra tore her gaze away from the window. Her dad was standing
next to her holding a cup, its contents steaming.

His smile faltered. "I'm sorry, darling. I
didn't mean to make you jump."

"It's okay, dad. It's not you, I'm just more
jumpy than usual right now." She cupped the mug with her palm.
"Thanks."

Turning back to the window, she stared out
again. Although, mostly all she could see was her own reflection
staring back at her, and now that of her dad who was standing
beside her. It was dark outside. The window acted more like a
mirror than a portal to the outside world. Behind them, she could
hear the bustle of people in the room and the one next to it,
moving furniture and making room to put up camp beds for all the
extra guests to sleep on. Her uncle volunteered at the local
adventure scout group and was able to borrow as many camp cots as
they needed. They even had some tents available, should the
potential inhabitants of the cottage expand to beyond what its
ancient walls could hold.

"They'll be okay," her dad said, sensing
Faedra's unwavering anxiety as to the whereabouts of her husband
and his best friend.

Faedra dropped her unseeing gaze from the
window to her steaming cup of tea. "They should be back by now.
Something's happened."

Henry wrapped his arm around his daughter's
shoulder. "They've only been gone an hour, love."

Faedra turned her head to face her dad. "An
hour in our time is much longer in Azran. To them they've been
there half the day already." She turned back to the window and lay
her head on her dad's shoulder and spoke to his reflection. "I'll
die if anything's happened to him, Dad."

"Nothing's going to happen to him, darling.
I'm sure he and Etyran make a formidable team."

Faedra hoped so. She couldn't contemplate a
world without Faen in it. Then out of nowhere, another thought
penetrated her psyche, as random thoughts have the urge to do when
one is suffering from shock. "Thanks for letting us use the
cottage, Dad," she said. "I hate to do this to you, but its wards
make it the safest place for everyone to congregate."

Henry rubbed his daughter's arm. "Darling,
you don't need to thank me. This is your home, too. Truth be known,
I find it all just a little exciting. Beats watching cricket on the
tele."

Faedra pulled her head up and shot her dad an
odd look.

"That's not to say I'm not dreadfully sorry
about what happened to the king, you understand."

Faedra smiled and gave her head a subtle
shake. Diplomacy never was his strong suit. She laid her head back
on his shoulder.

"I know, Dad. I know."

***

Her mug was empty, the cool ceramic warmed
only by the flesh of Faedra's palm. Arms crossed over her chest,
Faedra held herself together by sheer will alone. Another hour had
passed and she still stood at the window...waiting...hoping. She
could hear the clanging of pots echo down the hallway from the
kitchen, followed shortly thereafter, by the comforting aroma of
stew and dumplings. It was getting late, and people were hungry.
Her human family and friends had nipped home and changed into
something more appropriate for managing a battle headquarters and
plotting a counter-attack. Now they were in the kitchen with her
dad, preparing something for everyone to eat.

Another reflection joined hers. Draconis.

"Staring out of that window isn't going to
make them appear any sooner," he said.

Faedra swallowed but didn't respond. The last
thing she needed right now was a dragon to drive the point home.
She was disgusted at how weak and fragile she now was. Had she ever
felt this helpless in her life? She didn't think so. If she'd had
all her powers, she would have gone with them, made sure they were
safe. She looked down at the diamond cuff, her lip curling with
distaste.

"Don't worry, little one. The king of Alsius
will pay for ordering this strike against your father and his
realm. When we capture him, we will force him to release your
powers from the cuff."

Faedra turned her face to look up at the
dragon, his emerald eyes sparkled in the light from the sconce by
his head. His handsome face blurred as her eyes glistened with
unshed tears at the mention of her father. The image of his
blood-soaked body swam in her mind.

"Is he...?"

"No, my child. We moved his body from your
room. His pyre is complete. When your husband returns, we will give
him the funeral he deserves."

A tear slid down Faedra's cheek, she brushed
it away with her fingers. "Thank you," she whispered.

Draconis inclined his head. "It is the least
we could do. Kenreth was noble and honorable, he was also a good
friend to Zutherindal and deserves nothing less than our utmost
respect." He paused for a moment, considering his words. "I also
believe he has left his realm in good hands."

Faedra turned back to face the window.
"Don't," she murmured, her gaze dropping to the floor. She still
wore her pink fluffy slippers, as if they could shield her from the
insurmountable responsibility that had, not more than a few hours
ago, been planted squarely on her shoulders.

As if reading her mind, Draconis pushed the
curtain of hair that shielded her face, behind her ear. It was an
intimate gesture, one only a close friend would dare to make.
"Fluffy slippers do not make you any less a queen," he said. "Or
the new ruler of Azran. Your people need you, Faedra, and no amount
of wishing it away will do you, or them, any good whatsoever."

Faedra sniffed. He was right, of course.
However much she wanted to curl up in a ball and hope this would
all go away, she couldn't and it wouldn't.

She turned to face him again. "But, I don't
know anything about war or winning battles. Without my powers, how
can I possibly be of any use to anyone?"

"Little one, you are not alone in this. No
one is expecting you to come up with a battle plan. We will form a
council; you will have many of us who have experienced this kind of
thing before and dealt with it. Rowan is an expert in this field,
having helped lead the attack on Savu. Odin, another expert in his
field. The druids, though not hostile, have much knowledge to
share. King Derian would like nothing more than to see Zaven
brought to his knees. I'm sure he will do anything in his power to
help you. And then there is myself and my realm. Our resources are
yours." He leaned in and cupped Faedra's cheek. "We will take Azran
back and protect the World of Men. We will avenge your father. You
have my promise."

Faedra offered him a weak smile. She opened
her mouth to say something, but a light in her peripheral vision
had her tearing her face from Draconis's hand to look out of the
window. She put her face up against the cool glass and cupped her
hands around her eyes.

"Laser lights," she murmured, as she saw a
few red dots swirl on a spot a little further down the driveway. A
second later, the few dots turned to masses, and, within another
heartbeat, a swirling vortex of ruby spun on the gravel.

"They're back!" someone shouted from near the
front door.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Dropping her empty mug on the soft pile
carpet, Faedra tore past Draconis and dashed through the living
room before bursting outside into the cool night air.

She hesitated for a moment, her gaze
following that of the vicar and two Messengers who were looking
down the driveway. She pushed her way gently between the vicar and
one of the Messengers. Upon seeing her there, they stepped aside to
let her through.

"Oh, thank God," Faedra whispered, as four
figures materialized within the ruby vortex. Faen was holding onto
the ruby staff and Etyran the emerald staff. They had completed
their mission and gotten home safely. Behind her, she heard her new
Guardian, Jocelyn, burst out of the house. There was a catch in the
young fairy's breath as she stood next to Faedra. Faedra looked
over at her friend and took hold of her hand.

"They're home, Jocelyn."

As soon as the red lights dissipated, Faedra
and Jocelyn took off down the driveway towards their returning
loved ones.

"Faen!" Faedra cried.

Faen handed the ruby staff to his father and
took a step forward, his face lighting up with a broad grin. He
held his arms open for his wife as she launched herself at him,
wrapping her arms around his neck. She buried her face in his neck
as he held her around her waist and spun them both around.

When he came to a stop, she leaned back
slightly and cupped his face in her hands, staring into his
beautiful blue eyes and scanning his face as if committing to
memory every last inch of it. "Oh, thank God, you're okay. I was so
scared," she breathed before leaning in and kissing him like it
might be her last chance. Faen loosened his grip on her and let her
slide down his body until she was standing, then he brought his
hands to her face, returning her kisses with as much passion as he
possessed.

A man cleared his throat.

"Oh, Rowan," Janessa chastised, nudging her
husband in the arm with her elbow. "Give them a minute. They're
newlyweds. What do you expect? I can remember a time when you
kissed me like that."

Faedra and Faen stopped their kiss at his
mother's words. They smiled against each others lips. Encircled
within his strong arms, Faedra laid her head against Faen's chest.
She looked over to see Jocelyn in the exact same position within
Etyran's arms. The two girls smiled at each other, a wordless
acknowledgment of relief.

Faedra released her grip from around her
husband's waist. As much as she wished she could stay there and
never leave the safety of his embrace, she couldn't hide from the
fact that there was a battle to be devised and a war to be won. She
held her hand out to Rowan expecting him to shake it. "I'm so glad
you are both safe."