But this was his project. All that milking of goodwill I mentioned was orchestrated by Az. I think he liked having a mission beyond watching over the world and keeping the superpowers—who weren't all that powerful anymore—in line. Not that we hadn't been trying to increase Fey popularity before Alex got abducted. We had, but it had been difficult. A two steps forward and one step back sort of thing. Especially after Jerry tried to convince humans that he was King Arthur returned to save them from the evil Faerie God. But now, we were moving steadily forward.
I got to the end of the path and stepped up onto the grass-covered platform. There were no seats, and I was grateful for that. The last thing I wanted to do was sit on a throne while I met a bunch of humans. It felt wrong, and I didn't think it would help our cause. Better to stand and meet them like equals. Plus, with our entire family and the Wild Fey kids with their families joining us, it would be a question of who stood and who sat. When you're married to a bunch of gods, you always have to think about equality.
“Just follow the path,” I heard Azrael say.
Although the path wound around some trees, there was still a clear view from the door to the dais. Again, smart thinking on Azrael's part. Before they got in far enough to be distracted by all the shiny things, the humans would be able to see the goal. And we'd be able to see them. I watched the Wild Fey kids come in with their parents and guardians. Some of those guardians—including Alexander's parents—were Fey.
I grinned when I saw Machar, Alex's Red Cap father, nod at Azrael and carry his son down the path with his wife, Slainidh, a Bean-Sidhe, beside him. They were such an odd couple—Machar massive, with bulbous features and Slainidh delicately slim, beautiful, and pale. They might have had children of their own, but only if Faerie, the Consciousness of the Realm, helped them. And Faerie had only done that once—for the King of Water and his Phooka bride. So, Machar and Slainidh were thrilled to adopt a Wild Fey boy who leaned toward Red Cap in the looks department.
Azrael watched everyone make their way down to where I stood, and I helped sort out who went where. When we were all settled, I looked back toward the doorway to find Az waiting, his stare on me. I nodded to let him know we were ready, and he left.
A few minutes later, I heard Az announce that introductions would now commence. Then he returned, striding down the sparkling path with purpose, his leafy cape fluttering behind him even though his wings were tucked in against his back. He came up the two steps and took his place on the dais. Some of the citadel knights followed Az, but not to the dais. They took positions at the door and among the plants to guard us. When Az was settled, he nodded at the knight at the door.
There was an instant rush of people.
Or there was for one second. And then whatever the knight said sank in, and they saw all the delights waiting for them along the path. The first couple—an old man with a young woman—hesitated.
“It's all right,” Azrael called out in his booming Faerie God voice. “Take your time and enjoy the journey. I've laid treasures for you to find along the way. Partake of food and drink to your heart's content, but the crystal charms are only one per person. So be careful in your selection.”
At the mention of free loot, the woman gave a little squeal and hurried forward. Her much older companion tottered after her, an indulgent look on his face. Behind them came more people. No one rushed. They were too eager to see everything Az had prepared for them.
“Nicely done, babe,” I said. “Crystal charms?”
“They aren't enchanted or anything,” Azrael said. “Just pieces of crystal etched with runes.”
“To make the humans think they're magical,” Re said and chuckled. “Nice.”
“It would disappoint them to come here and not leave without a little magic,” Azrael said. “And hopefully, this will stop anyone who might be tempted to steal a memento.”
“You did make gift bags for them, right?” I asked. “Events like this usually hand out gift bags.”
“Oh, yes, they'll each get a basket full of lovely things. But this is something they can pick out for themselves and it's before they leave. They won't get the gift baskets until the end of the night.”
“A treasure hunt. Yes, it's a wonderful idea.”
The woman squealed again and held up a crystal to showher husband.
He took it, nodded, pocketed it, then waved her on. “You can choose for me as well, sweetheart.”
“Thank you!” She sounded like Lesya.
I rolled my eyes. But hey, they were two adults—one of them just barely, but still—and maybe she really loved him. Or maybe she was with him for his money. Either way, none of my business. I had a friend who once told me, “The hardest thing to sell is your body. Never look down on a woman for selling hers.” I agree with that. This girl, if she did marry for money, had chosen it over love, and that's a tough choice. I looked over at my family, each one of them so essential to my happiness, and was truly grateful that I'd never had to make that choice. I got to have it all.
So, when the couple joined us at last and Azrael introduced us, I greeted them both warmly. And the woman turned out to be delightful. She gushed over my children, tried not to ogle my husbands, and thanked both Az and me for her gifts, even showing us the ones she'd chosen.
After her, the guests were rather tame and a little boring by comparison. My children started to get restless, but the guest list wasn't a long one. Only about fifty people had attended the fundraiser. So it wasn't long after Sebastian started squirming and asking to fly that the end of the line reached us. The last couple was on the younger side, maybe mid-forties. The husband had light brown hair cut short, and the woman had dark hair worn in a stylish bob.
“Oh, please let him,” the man said. “I would love to see him fly.”
Azrael looked at me, and I shrugged.
“Very well,” Az said and lifted our son. “Go on, son.”
With a delighted shriek, Sebastian launched himself outof his father's arms and flew across the room.
“Do not leave this room,” Az called after him.
“Mommy?” Dominic looked at me with wide eyes and fluttering wings.
