Faeleahn Read online

  “What is it?” I asked, feeling a bit foolish and worried I might offend her.

  “A locket. I have a similar one,” she responded.

  Danua reached up and pulled on a chain resting against her neck. A silver oval, almost identical to mine, emerged from her bodice.

  “Open it,” she insisted.

  I did as I was told, carefully unsnapping the tiny clasp and letting the two halves of the locket swing open. On one side, there was a tiny portrait of sorts. It looked almost like a photograph, but it could have also been a very well done painting. The image sat beneath a smooth piece of glass. I ran my fingers over the cool surface and smiled.

  “This is you,” I said, without looking up.

  “I thought it might be nice for you to have my picture. Look.”

  I glanced up. Danua had opened her locket as well and was showing me a picture of two people, one a young woman and the other a small boy. Me and Aiden.

  I shot my eyes up to hers, and she gave me a warm smile. She had been trying those on of late. I liked them much better than the frosty quirk of her mouth she often displayed for people she found particularly stupid or tiresome.

  “I keep the people I hold most dear close to my heart,” she murmured, snapping the locket shut before I could get a closer look at the image on the opposite side. She slipped the necklace back down the front of her bodice where it had been before.

  Since I hadn’t finished examining my own locket, I dropped my eyes once more and tilted it to the side so I could get a better look at the picture opposite my mother’s. I felt my forehead crease as I studied the unfamiliar face. It was the image of a young man, a handsome young man with blond hair and fierce blue-green eyes whose corners tilted up ever so slightly. There was something I recognized about him, a subtle familiarity that resided in his bone structure or in the way his hair fell across his forehead. I studied his angular jaw line and felt my eyes widen a little in surprise when I noticed his ears. Pointed at their tips, like one of the mythical elves in all the fantasy books I had read back in the mortal world. I returned my scrutiny to his eyes, and that’s when it dawned upon me.

  I shot my gaze up at my mother. In a wistful voice I asked, “This is my father, isn’t it?”

  She nodded. “His name is Taerinth. I don’t think I ever told you that.”

  Her smile wasn’t entirely sad this time. A hint of remembered happiness gathered around the edges of it and sparkled faintly in her eyes.

  “Taerinth,” I said, trying it out. I felt my own mouth curl into a grin. I liked it. “He looks like Aiden,” I added, as I studied his features more closely. “I mean, they don’t have the same hair color, and his features are a little sharper, but I can see a resemblance.”

  I took my index finger and traced his ear, laughing a little. “Like an elf. But Aiden and I have ears like the Faelorehn.”

  I looked up at my mother, and she shook her head. “That particular trait is recessive. Only those who are of pure Fomorian blood will have pointed ears.”

  For a few moments, I held my mother’s gaze. There was something in the strength of her spirit, in the way her eyes didn’t falter, that made me realize something.

  “You think he’s still alive, don’t you?” I asked, my voice a mere whisper.

  Danua jerked her head once in a nod. “I must not lose hope, Meghan. I will never lose hope.”

  There were a thousand more questions I wanted to ask her, all fluttering around in my mind like a cloud of butterflies, but I couldn’t grasp a single one. Turns out they would have to wait because at that moment Enorah stepped into the room, not bothering to knock. I snapped the locket shut and looped the chain over my head, being careful not to mess up my hair.

  “Are you ready?” she breathed, eyeing my mother dubiously.

  Enorah looked beautiful in her dress, the deep green color a perfect complement to her skin and golden-brown hair. It was still difficult to grasp, though. I was so used to seeing her in her forest huntress garb that I caught myself holding back a small snicker as she stepped farther into the room. Either she was completely oblivious to my reaction, or she was ignoring me. I would put my money on the latter. I shook my head slightly and cast a sideways glance at my mother.

  Taking a deep breath through my nose, I reached out and gave her hand a quick squeeze.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Danua turned to join the rest of the guests waiting outside on the terrace, but before she left the room, I took her hand once again.

  “Thank you,” I said fervently, touching my fingers to the silver oval hanging from the chain around my neck, “for the locket. I will treasure it.”

  “I’m sorry your father cannot be here to walk you down the aisle, Meghan,” Danua said. “He would be so proud of you. I thought having his portrait, although it isn’t nearly the same, would help.” She smiled, her eyes shining. “But I guess in a way, he will be walking with you down the aisle.”

  She reached out and brushed her fingers over the silver oval.

  I was tempted to burst into tears, but I couldn’t. I wanted to look my best for Cade and all our friends. I could hold it together for a bit longer.

  Danua left me with Enorah then, stepping through the doorway so she could head out onto the back terrace where Cade and all of our wedding guests awaited my arrival.

  “Here,” Enorah said softly, handing me a beautiful bouquet of peach and deep blue colored flowers.

  She reached out and clasped my free hand, tears glinting in her eyes as she smiled at me. “I am so very happy, Meghan. And it’s not even my wedding.”

  I gave a slightly strangled laugh, still trying to fight back my own tears.

  In the distance, I heard the musicians begin playing the beautiful melody heard at Otherworldly bonding ceremonies. Enorah’s eyes grew huge, and her grip tightened.

  “This is it!” she hissed, beaming.

  I drew in a deep breath through my nose, praying to whatever gods or goddesses were listening that I wouldn’t trip over my own skirts.

  We left the room behind and started walking, heading for the tall doors at the end of the hallway. Birgit and her sisters waited there, the young girls clutching baskets full of blush and cream colored petals, the former in a beautiful butter colored dress.

  “Oh, Meghan!” she exclaimed softly, pressing her hands to her cheeks, “You are so beautiful!”

  I grinned, and blushed, trying very hard to keep hold of my nerves. “Thank you, Birgit.”

  She took her place behind her sisters, their heads swiveling back to catch glimpses of my dress, their eyes going wide at all the sapphires sewn into it. Birgit kept snapping directions at them to be alert since their job was very important.

  Enorah moved in front of me, giving me a smile and a wink.

  I didn’t even notice the Dagda, dressed in his absolute best, until he stepped from the shadows of the circular alcove and reached out an elbow. I blinked up at him to find his pale blue eyes alit with mirth.

  “Well, Meghan girl, are you ready to forever bind yourself to that foster son of mine?”

  His voice was raspy with emotion and, not for the first time that afternoon, I was ready to give in to my own. Instead, I fought back the tears and said in as haughty a voice as I could muster, “I’ve been ready since the night he told me he loved me.”

  The Dagda beamed and patted the hand I had clasped to his elbow. “Aye, Lass, he is clearly getting the better end of the deal with you.”

  He leaned down and kissed my cheek, then whispered in my ear, “And don’t you ever let him forget that.”

  As we waited for the ushers to open the doors that spilled onto Luathara’s back terrace, my mind swept through so many memories at once, some from my childhood, some from my earlier teenage years. Many of those recollections covered the time period from when I first met Cade up until this very afternoon. I had regrets, of course I did. Who went through life entirely free of regrets? I didn’t think
that was possible. Right in that suspended moment, however, the only one that stood out was the fact that my mortal family and friends couldn’t be here to share this with me. I gave a mental snort. If that was the biggest regret I had, then I was truly blessed.

  Without warning, the great oak doors swung open in smooth unison, and the golden light of afternoon flooded into the hallway. I had to squint until my eyes adjusted, and then the splendor of the enchanted scene displayed before me took my breath away. The stone terrace, stretching several yards until it met up with the hillside and its rushing waterfall, was decorated like a dream. Trestle tables covered in clean linens and topped with floral arrangements in peach, pink, blue and ivory took up the back half of the patio, while pale wooden chairs adorned with great blue bows sat in neat rows in front of them. Thin, white ropes fanned out from the corniced rooftop above like spider silk, the opposite ends tied neatly to posts set on the far edge of the terrace. Tin lanterns punched with delicate Celtic designs housed unlit candles, and streams of gauzy fabric clung to makeshift columns set up along the edge of the terrace, the material reminding me of wispy clouds.

  One of the musicians hit a flurry of happy notes on his or her flute, and Oriana and Wynne began walking down a path of dark blue material, scattering petals as they went. Birgit soon followed, her attention almost entirely on her sisters. And then, Enorah was casting me one last encouraging look before leaving me alone with the Dagda. I took in a shaky breath and realized I was trembling.

  “You’ve got this, Meghan,” he whispered, out of the side of his mouth as he took the first step, gently tugging me along.

  He was right. I had accomplished so much in my life so far. I had defeated the Morrigan and lived to face another day, several in fact. I could walk down the aisle and pledge my eternal life to Cade. No problem.

  “Look up, my dear girl!” he chuckled lightly. “Look at your young man waiting for you.”

  I did as he said, jerking my head up ... and my breath caught again. The music faded away, the large gathering of guests with their bright smiles and colorful wedding clothes melting from my mind like sugar stirred into a cup of hot tea. The beautiful decorations fled my vision, and the Dagda’s strong, supportive touch was gone. Even Lugh, the golden god of the Celts, standing beneath the wedding arbor and waiting to perform the ceremony, and the dark, good-looking Bowen acting as Best Man, were not bold enough to stand out. Suddenly, there was nothing else in the world but me and Cade. He stood there, watching me. Tall, strong, unshakable, exuding that familiar masculine pride and confidence I had come to expect from him. Gone was the lingering aura of uncertainty and aggression he had carried around before the fall of the Morrigan. Cade, the real Caedehn MacRoich, was burning bright this evening, and he was burning bright for me.

  His hair was neatly slicked back, and he was clean shaven, his face a chiseled display of Faelorehn perfection. He wore a fine cream colored shirt covered by a deep blue, close-fitting jacket which emphasized his athletic build. The kilt he wore contained threads of green, gold, grey and a dark blue to match my dress. A pair of polished black shoes and knee-length hose completed the outfit. He looked like a Highland warrior out of one of the romance novels my mom sometimes read, and if he had been wearing this the night I met him, I probably would have followed him into the forest without a second thought.

  Swallowing back my dumbstruck awe, I lifted my eyes to his and felt my knees go weak again. His eyes never left my face, and his irises glimmered a brilliant green I had never seen in them before.

  “Breathe, Meghan, we are almost there,” the Dagda encouraged.

  I sucked in a breath, then another, and before I knew it, I was standing by Cade’s side. The Dagda kissed my cheek once again and gave Cade a rib-crushing hug, then took his seat next to Danua. I hadn’t even noticed her as I’d walked up the aisle. She flashed me a brilliant smile, and I returned it.

  Birgit and Enorah found their places to my left, and Cade took my right hand, lifting it to his mouth to give it a kiss. An electric current seemed to course through me, and I felt my glamour swell in a rush of heat and power. I searched his eyes and wondered if he, too, was fighting the urge to cry. The thought made me smile.

  Lugh quickly took over from there, introducing us to our guests and speaking about the joy and happiness brought about during a bonding ceremony. I had a hard time following him. I was far too conscious of Cade’s strong, warm fingers laced with mine.

  “You stand before your loved ones, friends, family, fellow Faelorehn of the Otherworld and promise to bond your spirits, one to the other, for the remainder of your immortal lives. Are you, Caedehn MacRoich and Meghan Elam, ready to pledge your love, loyalty and lives to one another before these people and the ever-present Spirit of Eile?”

  Lugh eyed us both, his blue eyes flashing with serious intent and bright elation.

  “Yes,” I rasped, the same moment Cade did.

  “Then,” Lugh boomed, his voice strong and reassuring, “as one of the royal members of the Tuatha De Danann, and with the blessings of our queen, the mother of the bride, and the Dagda, foster father of the groom, I declare you both to be bound together and recognized as the new Lord and Lady MacRoich of Luathara. You may now seal your binding with a kiss.”

  Cade reached for me and pulled me forward before Lugh was even finished speaking, kissing me for several long seconds while our guests shouted and whistled their approval. When Cade finally pulled away, he placed his hands at my waist and lifted me up, spinning me around to the continued cheers of the crowd. We both laughed, and I pushed my fingers through his hair, burying my face in his neck.

  The ceremony was quickly followed by a feast the likes of which Luathara had never seen. Cade and I found our places at the head table and took turns feeding each other savory bits of roast beef and perfectly seasoned potatoes and vegetables, another masterpiece organized by the talented Melvina. People ventured over to our table every now and then to wish us happiness and joy before returning to their own places, and I made it a point to speak a little with all of them. By the time the plates were cleared, my face hurt from all the smiling, but I didn’t complain, nor did I care.

  Darkness settled in, and some of the men and women moved the tables away while others lit the hanging lanterns and candles placed along the terrace wall. The band regrouped in the corner and took up their instruments, signaling the start of the dancing portion of the night with a quick, spirited Celtic tune. Bowen asked me to dance, and I gladly accepted as Cade joined hands with Birgit. We spent the next several minutes switching partners or gathering together in a large group as we kicked up our heels to the rhythm of the music. At some point in time, I joined forces with the Dagda while my mother accepted a dance from Cade. I had to laugh at the sight of my new husband trying to lead Danua around without accidentally stepping on her toes. I didn’t want to think of what she would do should that happen.

  Finally, the musicians slowed their tempo, and Lugh called out for everyone to clear the dance floor. Cade searched me out in the small crowd. He offered me his hand, and I allowed him to pull me to the center of the patio. As we enjoyed our first dance as a married couple, the rest of our guests gathered around, whispering and crooning in hushed tones. I picked up some of their words, compliments on my dress and Cade’s kilt, joyful comments mentioning what a happy, handsome couple we made, a few sniffled phrases about how our wedding was such a nice close to all the hardship Eile had suffered through in the past several months.

  Some of those gathered tried climbing onto the flower beds and the few remaining tables so they could get a better look at us. Many of our friends and family realized that the best view could be achieved from the far edge of the patio where the stone met the hillside, and an even smaller number climbed over the barrier to make use of the trees and hill itself as viewing locations. I didn’t care one bit whether they could see us or not. I was far too happy and comfortable in the arms of my husband to be concerned about any
one else.

  Cade leaned in and pressed his lips to mine, his kiss close and intimate. When he drew away, it was just far enough to allow him to speak.

  “Do you think you can, Meghan?” he asked, his voice husky. “Love me for all eternity, that is?”

  I gently nipped at his lower lip, reveling in the soft groan that escaped his throat at my act. What a ridiculous question!

  “Oh, for that long and much, much longer, Caedehn MacRoich.”

  He hugged me close for several heartbeats, whispering endearments into my ear in the language of Eile. When he stepped away from me, there was an entirely mischievous grin on his face.

  “What?” I asked, suspicion rising in my own tone.

  “Look.” He indicated the wide terrace surrounding us.

  I glanced over my shoulder and felt both my eyebrows rise. The vast patio was entirely devoid of people. Trestle tables, with their white linens flowing gently in the light breeze like skirts, stood empty. The flames of the torches and assorted candelabra set in sconces and perched on the edges of the flowerbeds flickered from side to side, and the petals of the floral arrangements broke loose and tumbled away like pale blush and creamy white autumn leaves.

  “Everyone’s gone!” I said, in surprise.

  Had Cade and I been so absorbed in one another we’d completely missed the evacuation of our guests? How much time had passed?

  I turned to look at him and that rakish smile was still there. I bit my lip, feeling myself go a little red. Honestly, we had been living as husband and wife for months now, and here I was on my wedding night, behaving like this would be the first evening the two of us ever spent alone together.

  Cade stepped farther away from me but took me by the hand. “Come along,” he said softly.

  I resisted at first. “Where are we going?”

  His green eyes flashed and then darkened. “You’ll see.”

  I continued to stare at him for a moment, trying to read his thoughts.