“I love you too,” he said, and she exploded. She shuddered against him, and he shook as he climaxed. Her name was ripped from his lips as though in devotion to the divine.
The pieces of her flew apart, and she broke in the most glorious of ways. She wrapped herself around him and let him gather up her pieces, remaking her, fitting sections of his heart into hers, and keeping some of hers for himself. They were entwined in a way she’d never experienced. Never heard of. They had to be in order for her magic to work. In order for them to create greatness. They had to be…in order to trust each other as they did. With more than their lives, with their souls. With everything they were.
His breath was heavy as they came down. An image ran through her mind as he shared his thoughts with her.
A stunning, magical scene came into focus. He walked around a bush in the wylds and caught a sight that made him hitch in his step. A bird perched delicately on a branch. He held his breath, as if breathing might scare the creature away. The little body glowed with vibrant, iridescent colors. Golden-orange hues glimmered along its tail and wings, with a teal and emerald body. The wings shimmered with a trail of light made of soft,glowing particles. Surrounding the bird, delicate white blossoms and green leaves danced and swayed in the breeze.
He stared in wonder, in astonishment, because the sighting of such a bird was so incredibly rare. They were almost a myth, these creatures, existing so deep in the wylds and being so elusive that seeing one was a once-in-a-lifetime event. A privileged, rare occurrence.
As he watched, it cocked its head. It launched off its perch and dove in a stream of light. Nearly at the ground, it spread its wings for a fast stop before raking its claws across the eyes of its prey. It pecked and gouged, waiting for the creature to shriek and roll before digging in for the heart. They were predators, these beautiful little birds, but one would never know it by their appearance. They drank honey and blood and sang so sweetly that it would make a minstrel weep.
“That is a dove in Faerie,” he whispered. “That is what you reminded me of the moment I met you. A rare sighting that I would remember for the rest of my days.”
“Yet you marked your kills with a human dove.”
“I couldn’t very well try to track down a Faerie dove. It would kill me for stealing one of its feathers. They’re small, but they’re fierce.”
“It’s not the size of the ocean. It’s the motion of the waves.”
“What?” He paused, digging through her memories for what she meant. He laughed. “In my case, dove, it’s both. Come on. Let’s switch to Niall’s favorite chair and I’ll prove it.”
Prove it he did, over and over. They fought the dawn, relishing in the night. In each other. All too soon, though, the fates came calling. The power that had given her magic was a power that expected its due.
35
Daisy
They walkeddown the corridor hand in hand. A Celestial and a human. A joke in the making.
A Celestial and a human walk into a bar…
He wore princely attire, clothes he’d had made years ago, using them as a carrot to keep him motivated. His hair was straight and flat as befitted a Celestial, the effect applied with magic and savingso much time.
She wore something he’d recently had made for her, taking his favorite designs from the human world and having the fae tailors bring his vision to life. He couldn’t have known at the time how perfect the result would be.
The straps at the shoulders looped down to the bodice, mostly open at the chest, revealing the gorgeous diamond-dust tattoo, sparkling and shimmering in the hall lighting. A wide belt of fabric circled her waist before the silk cascaded down her legs and flowed around her feet. A cape-like addition was attached at her shoulder straps and trailed out behind her, giving her presence a majestic feel. A queenly feel.
It was a real pity he hadn’t had a tiara handy.
Nobles pushed back against the wall, hands often at their chests, looks of reverence or fright covering their faces. Those with tainted magic often tried to slip away, and Tarian let them. He would not play judge and jury. He’d let the cleansed Faerie magic do that. He’d let Daisy initiate that.
Servants didn’t run like their noteworthy counterparts. Instead, they faced the pair and bowed, their hands not on their chests in fear, but on their hearts in respect. Help had come. The fear of turning twisted like their employers was at an end.
They continued on, his measured pace befitting someone of his rank. She couldn’t help thinking of it as a death march, though. Butterflies filled her stomach, but she did not balk. She did not allow the tension to stiffen her shoulders.
Instead, she thought about her family. She thought about their good times, recalling a memory with each one.
Play them for me,Tarian said, and he slowed a little more.Play each memory for me so that I can bear witness.
She walked closer to him, their arms touching. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked over at him, then nodded in thanks. He’d carry their memories on for however long he remained here.
Even though Lexi had saved her, she played memories of Mordecai first. Of that morning in the hospital when he’d been cured. Of the hope in his eyes. The subsequent spring in his step. His miracle.
Lexi was, of course, next, Daisy thinking of all the times Lexi had worried about her “kids’” wellbeing. All the stress she’d endured on their behalf. Then of the day she’d realized her kids were taken care of and their money troubles were over. Daisy would never forget the look of supreme relief on her face and the love in her eyes.
She thought of the rest, of their banter and laughter, their fierce expressions when telling Daisy to stay out of trouble. She had so many uncles and aunts now. So many people who cared about her.
She wondered what they’d think of her, with this crazy though exhilarating magic. With the ability to shrivel a person’s magic or take it away entirely. The latter likely wouldn’t kill a human, since the magic worked differently there, but it would certainly surprise the hell out of them. And in that time…she’d dance a little closer and slit their throats. Easy-peasy.
