The Ice Diamond Cuff (Custodian Novel #4) (5 page)

Faedra turned to the front just as one of the
tutors of the academy stood to start his speech.

The graduation ceremony didn't take too long.
There were not too many fae that made the grade of Guardian. Before
Faedra knew it, the ceremony was over and everyone was milling
about outside again.

"We have a celebration dinner laid out at the
house," Janessa announced. "Etyran, you are welcome to join
us."

"Thank you, My Lady. I would be happy to
accept."

Faedra looked between her two friends and
shook out her hands again. Good grief. Was she going to have to
deal with this kind of energy all night? Although, she had to
admit, it was preferable to the hatred that was aimed at her by
Zaven a few days ago.

CHAPTER FIVE

"You look adorable," Faedra cooed as she
watched little Skylar twirling around the room in her flower girl
dress. It was everything a little flower girl's dress should be.
The material was satin, the color of a rich green forest. A fitted
bodice laced down the back covered Skylar's torso and was accented
with gold braid. From the waist, her skirt fell over many layers of
petticoats to mid-calf and was covered in a layer of tulle. A pair
of dainty slippers, also with gold trim, finished off the ensemble.
She looked up at Jocelyn. "And as for you," she said walking up
behind her friend and looked over her shoulder to study their
reflections in the mirror, "you look stunning."

Jocelyn's dress was the same color as
Skylar's. Her fitted bodice also laced down the back. The neckline
was square and was accented by gold Celtic knot-work embroidery.
The dress had straps but no sleeves, baring Jocelyn's flawless pale
shoulders under her tumbles of sleek, wavy black and white hair. It
had a drop waist which was also accented with gold embroidery. The
skirt fell straight to the floor at the front but was fuller in the
back, creating a small fishtail train.

Jocelyn's smile split her face in two. "Thank
you, Faedra, but you are the one who looks stunning." Jocelyn
turned, took Faedra by the hands and stepped back. She ran her
appraising gaze up and down the length of her friend. "My brother
is a very lucky fae," she said. "The seamstresses have done you
proud."

Faedra looked down at her ivory dress.
Jocelyn was right; the seamstresses had done her proud. The satiny
material skimmed over her body like a whisper, pooling around her
feet so that when she walked it would train out behind her. The
bodice was fitted and heavily embroidered with gold Celtic
knot-work down the front, just like the pattern on both of her
father's doublets. The sleeves were made from a gauzy material. The
seams of which ended at the elbows where the material then fell
open and draped almost to the floor. The dress was completed with a
sash of satin for a belt that nestled low on her hips and tied
loosely below her waist, the ends of which flowed to the floor and
blended with the skirt. Faedra giggled at her reflection and
twirled around, too.

"We all look gorgeous," Faedra announced,
pulling Jocelyn and Skylar in for a hug. "What do you think, Lady
Allora?" She looked up to where Skylar's mother was seated in a
tapestry covered wing-backed chair. The lady sniffed and, fishing
out a linen handkerchief, dabbed at her eyes.

"Mama!" Skylar cried. Breaking from the
group, she ran over to her mother's side. "Why are you crying?"

Allora sniffed again and wiped away another
tear. "You all look so beautiful," she said.

There was a knock at the door. Everyone
turned.

"Come in," Faedra called.

The door opened just enough for a beautiful
young girl to poke her head around.

"Excuse me, Your Highness," she said, a flush
blooming on her cheeks.

Although Faedra knew everyone must address
her formally, she wondered if she'd ever get used to it. Inside,
she still felt like plain old Faedra. "Yes, Callie?"

"Your father requested your presence. The
guests are starting to arrive. He would like you to meet him at the
fountain in front of the castle."

Faedra's heart leapt to her mouth and her
heartbeat quickened. This was it. It was really happening. She was
only a couple of days away from her wedding day. Then something
struck her as odd. Why would her father want to meet people at the
fountain? Didn't he usually greet guests in the great hall?

"Tell him I'll be right down," Faedra said,
as she turned to allow one of the seamstresses to undo the pearl
buttons that ran the length of her back, and then some.

"Thank you, My Lady," Callie said, backing
out behind the door.

"Callie, wait," Faedra called. The young
fae's face appeared at the door again, her expression curious.

Faedra looked over her shoulder at the
seamstress who was industriously undoing the fastenings down the
back of her dress. "On second thoughts tell my father I may be a
little while getting out of this dress. I'll be there as soon as I
can." She followed her request with a lighthearted smile.

Callie inclined her head and left. Faedra
turned to Jocelyn and took hold of her hands.

"Oh, my God," Faedra squealed. "This is
really happening, isn't it?" The two friends started bouncing up
and down with excitement until the seamstress gave a disapproving
grunt and Faedra stilled, realizing the poor woman was still trying
to extricate her from the dress.

"It is, Faedra," Jocelyn squealed back. "In
just two days, I can officially call you my sister."

There was a sob from the couch and both
Faedra and Jocelyn turned to see Allora dabbing at her eyes again.
The Lady held up her hand and waved it dismissively. "Don't mind
me," she said between sniffs.

Faedra and Jocelyn fell into fits of
giggles.

***

Half an hour later, Faedra made her way down
to the fountain as instructed. She saw her father and her
groom-to-be. They were standing in front of the ornate water
fountain that adorned the front flower garden in the castle
grounds, watching intently. She wandered over and stood in between
them.

"Hi," she said. Both men turned their heads
and greeted her with a warm smile before returning their eyes to
the fountain. "Have our guests arrived yet?" she asked.

"Not yet," the king replied, not taking his
eyes off the fountain.

Faen took hold of her hand and twined his
fingers with hers. A jolt of electricity shot up her arm. She
concentrated on her energy, not wanting to shock her Guardian, then
she realized it was his excitement that was racing through his
fingers.

Curious, Faedra looked up at each of them
with a questioning glance, but they had their attention firmly
rooted on the fountain before them and didn't respond. Faedra
scrunched her mouth to one side and turned her attention to the
fountain, also. It was just a fountain. She had walked past it
countless times in the past year. Water trickled with a soothing
flow from an angled jug, held in the arms of a beautiful statue of
a fae maiden, into the massive reservoir at the bottom. She
couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. Subconsciously, she
scratched her head.

A few moments passed and her curiosity got
the better of her. "Why are we staring at a fountain?"

"You'll see," the king answered.

Okay, why was he being so cryptic? Faedra
wondered, casting her father another confused look; and why was her
fiancé so excited about watching water trickle down a fountain.

She didn't have to wait long for her
answer.

Faedra took a step back when the water in the
lower basin started to bubble with wild abandon. Her eyes widened.
"I'm not doing that...honestly," she said, casting her father and
Faen a worried look.

Her father responded with a warm smile. "I
know."

"Well...what is?" Faedra squeaked.

"Patience, my dear. You will see in just
moment. All will be revealed soon enough."

Faen squeezed Faedra's hand. Distracted, she
tore her eyes away from the bubbling water and looked up at her
Guardian. His warm, reassuring energy was an instant balm. Faen
returned his attention to the fountain and his look of reassurance
turned into a look of recognition. He encouraged Faedra to follow
his line of sight. She did and sucked in a gasp.

The Custodian blinked a couple of times.
She'd seen a lot of weird things since finding out who she was, but
this...this was something else entirely.

There were three circles of bubbles raging
within in the basin of the font. Faedra's eyes widened as her brain
registered three shapes forming from the bottom up. It was like
someone pouring water into a mold. The transparent water sculpted
calves, knees, thighs, a skirt-like piece of liquid clothing. Up
higher, and now three stomachs were bared to her, perfectly shaped.
One male with well-defined abs, two females with soft waistlines.
Up even higher, and the male form was shaping a perfect set of
pecs, the two female forms were shaping form fitting bras over trim
bust lines. Continuing upwards shoulders were generating, as they
did, long muscular arms were being created from the shoulders down.
Then came necklines. The male's was thick and muscular, both
female's slender and long. Finally heads and faces. The male's face
was strong, commanding. The females were beautiful, delicate, with
long, sleek liquid hair that spiraled down as soon as the head was
fully developed. It fell in long sleek waves over their shoulders.
The hair on the male's head was shoulder length and mussed.

Faedra stood rooted to the spot, her jaw
slack.

"Breathe, Faedra," Faen said, squeezing her
hand.

Good idea, Faedra thought, dragging in a deep
breath. She looked up to see her Guardian's amused smile.

"Derian, it is good to see you again, my
friend," the king greeted.

Faedra turned her attention back to their
guests. All three of whom were now stepping from the basin of the
fountain, perfectly formed beings made of nothing but water. She
could see right through them, but it was distorted, like looking
thought a glass bottle. They didn't have any color to speak of, but
the odd sparkle would reflect off them in the sun's rays.

Derian and the king bowed to each other, then
the king turned his attention to the older looking of the two
female forms.

"My Lady Jalia," he said reverently. He
leaned over and placed a kiss to the back of her offered hand. "You
look beautiful, as ever."

Watery lips curved at the king's compliment.
The lady inclined her head and took a step back allowing the last
person in the group to step forward.

"And Princess Eadlin," the king said, "My,
how you have grown." The king duplicated his gesture and kissed the
back of her outstretched hand. "Welcome to Azran. I am pleased to
welcome you as my guests and will make every effort to ensure your
comfort during your stay."

All three of the newcomers inclined their
heads.

"Thank you for the invitation, Kenreth. We
are honored to be here."

The king turned and took Faedra's hand,
pulling her forward. Faedra snapped her jaw shut, realizing she was
still staring, open mouthed, at the spectacle that was unfolding
before her.

"May I introduce my daughter, Princess
Faedra," the king stated. "Faedra, this is King Derian, Queen
Jalia, and Princess Eadlin of the realm Umor."

Say something, Faedra, she told herself
brusquely. She was still in shock from seeing three perfectly
formed beings mold themselves out of the water in her father's
fountain.

"Um, hello," she managed to splutter.
"Pleased to meet you." Is that what you said in a situation like
this? She couldn't remember. All her 'princess training' had just
packed its bags and was heading for the station. She cringed, Saxen
would be having a conniption if he could see her right now. She
pushed the thought to the back of her mind and decided to do the
best she could with the manners her dad had taught her growing
up.

She thrust out her hand to King Derian for
him to shake. A perfectly formed liquid eyebrow twitched at her
gesture, and Faedra found Savu's fire to be an immediate problem.
Her cheeks burned red, and her whole face felt like it was on fire.
She was obviously not doing this whole
greeting-rulers-from-other-realms thing the way she was supposed
to. At least, if the being before her did decide to take her hand,
she was relieved by the fact that she couldn't burn him.

Derian's look of confusion turned to one of
amusement. He leaned forward and took Faedra's hand, turning it
over to bare her knuckles to him. As soon as he did, there was a
loud sizzle with steam rising from where their fingers touched.
Faedra wanted the ground to swallow her up when she saw the
startled expression on Derian's face. She retracted her previous
thought. She may not be able to burn him, but, at this rate, she
could probably evaporate him to death.

Faen and her Father took a step forward.

"Oh, God," Faedra whimpered, her expression
tortured. "I'm so sorry." She tried to tug her hand away from the
visitor's, but Derian held fast. The steam hissing between them was
doing nothing to quell the Custodian's rising panic, which, in and
of itself, was making the matter worse. Derian held up his free
hand to halt the king and Faen in their tracks, not taking his eyes
off the fear-filled ones of Azran's princess. He tilted his head,
the startled expression giving way to a look of consideration. A
smile tugged at his lips. He leaned in to kiss her on the knuckles.
Steam hissed from his lips and wafted up from either side of his
face. Faedra's eyes widened in disbelief. What was he doing? Didn't
he value his life? But even as she thought the questions, she could
feel a cooling sensation around her hand. Her brows creased. What
was happening? Whatever it was, she certainly hadn't experienced
anything like it since absorbing Savu's powers. The cool sensation
continued up her hand over her wrist and along her forearm. It felt
icy hot, like one of those balms athletes rub on sore muscles after
a workout. The sensation traveled up her arm, along her shoulder
and made its way to her face. The burning in her cheeks ebbed and
her head felt cool for the first time in a long time.