“He's brilliant, isn't he?”
“Not the word I would have used.”
“Come on, Cat,” I stood.
“Cat is staying here, with Tiernan,” Raza insisted.
Cat whined.
“But...”
“It's our honeymoon, mo shíorghrá,” Raza said gently, “do you truly wish to bring her?”
“Oh fine, you're right,” I grimaced at Cat. “Sorry, girl, I gotta leave you behind again.”
She gave me her sad, puppy dog face.
“It shall only be a few days,” Raza promised her. “And Rayetayah is here for you to play with.”
Cat perked up.
“I love you,” I hugged her, then I stood, and took Raza's hand. “And I love you too.”
“Every heartbeat is yours, mo shíorghrá,” Raza kissed me tenderly.
“You're such a romantic,” I teased.
“For the next few days at least,” he teased me back.
Then Raza nodded to Mufasa, our djinn steward. Mufasa went to stand before the high table.
“The King and Queen of Unseelie shall now depart for their harmonious moon!” Mufasa declared.
Raza cleared his throat, and Mufasa looked back to him.
“It's called a honey moon,” Raza corrected him.
“Your pardon,” Mufasa said to the crowd. “They depart for theirhoneymoon. Please follow us outside, to the courtyard, where they shall take their leave.”
“Our leave?” I asked as I stood with Raza. “Carriage?”
“Dragon Airlines,” he grinned.
“Perfect.”
The whole party trooped out with us, and Raza stripped before everyone. The man had no shame.
“Dear God,” Karmen cried, “I can die happy now!”
Raza seemed to ignore the comment, but I saw him smirk before he shifted into his dragon form. Servants came forward to hand him our bags, wrapped in a heavy, rope net. Aideen brought me a fur-lined cloak and helped me into it. I hugged her goodbye, then the rest of my family and close friends. Karmen was crying, and I wasn't sure if it was because he was happy for me, or because Raza was leaving. Raza took the net in one claw and me in the other. Then, as I waved to the shouting well-wishers, Raza leapt off the ledge, into the open air.
I snuggled within the cage of his claws and watched the fairy world pass beneath me. I had never felt safer. My loved ones were all together, celebrating my happiness, and I was on my way to do a little more intimate celebrating with the dragon I loved. Bliss.
Fairy was quiet beneath us. Lights sparkled here and there, but mostly, the land was bathed in shadows. Nocturnal birds cried to each other, fey creatures prowled the thick forests, and the scent of night-blooming flowers drifted up to us. A gibbous moon hung overhead, it's mostly-full face illuminating our kingdom softly. A lake came into view, a mirrored surface reflecting my dragon husband in sinister shades. His shadow self. I loved that part of him too. The darkness and the light. Like the elves, they were the same to me.
After an hour or so, Raza started to circle downward. I glanced over the rim of his massive, scaled claw, and saw nothing but rock. I had no idea where we were, but I was certain I'd never seen this part of Unseelie. Raza landed carefully, dropping our baggage first, then placing his back feet upon the ground before he released me. I strode forward, stretching my limbs as I took a look around. There was a cave just ahead.
“We're going underground?” I asked him.
