Chapter Ten
Over breakfast, she tried to focus on the itinerary for the day, but if Aken had been closer, he would have been on her lap. Her skin had completed its morph to blue and was darkening slightly with every passing hour. The gold tone was strong, and her glow was intense. That might have had something to do with Aken's hand on her thigh.
Missy checked her phone and grinned. "Fiora is confirmed for tomorrow morning."
Rehalla asked, "When did you last see her?"
"Six months ago. She invited me to a new club opening." Missy shrugged. "We had a private balcony and lots of tiny food, so it was fun."
Rehalla blinked. "How did she look?"
Missy smiled. "Tall. Strong. That glittering look in her eyes as she kept an eye on staff and patrons."
"That look is something."
"It is, indeed." Missy nodded. "Out of everything I have seen in her eyes, that is my favourite. The new colour on you is rather pretty."
Althuria smiled. "I would agree. Oh, the seamstresses are waiting."
Rehalla sighed. "Right." She looked to Aken and then down to where his arm disappeared below the edge of the table. "Ahem."
He slowly dragged his fingertips across her thigh. "Off you go, Rehalla."
Missy smiled at Tannic. "See you soon. Play nice with the other boys."
Tannic sighed. He leaned down and picked up Smoog. "Will you take him?"
"Nope. Rehalla is going to be undressed, so I don't want him perving in there."
Tannic blinked. "Wait, is that why he is after her?"
"He has a crush on her, which will be uncomfortable when he is a shifter again. She's not the threesome type."
The kitten covered his eyes with his paws.
Tannic sighed. "Right. Out here with me, little guy."
Missy patted his cheek and kissed his temple.
Rehalla blinked. "Wow."
"We are trying it out." Missy shrugged. "Let's see if it can feel normal, not that I am the judge of what is normal."
Rehalla chuckled. "You are your own normal."
Missy cocked her head. "You know how to say the right thing. Let's go."
They linked arms and followed the older ladies. Rehalla asked, "Is Sevval coming?"
"She will be here shortly. Your grandmother called an emergency family meeting. Sevval called it an inquisition."
"Oh."
"You aren't in any trouble, but your parents are going to have to answer some detailed questions. You should never have been allowed near that book, and they obviously coached you through reading it as you were, what, five?"
"Something like that. You returned the book to them?"
"Sure. I am the portal master." Missy snorted and pointed toward her own chest. "It was important that they understood what they did."
There was something about how Missy phrased it. "How long have you known?"
"Five years or so. The exact spell was difficult to find, but the book explained it. The amount of warnings to not cast it on yourself were hard to miss unless you couldn't properly read yet. They just didn't teach you to read them." Missy sighed. "I can understand them wanting to keep you, but their desperation caused you an issue."
Althuria turned slightly and nodded. "It had a ripple effect."
Rehalla nodded as they entered the cooler confines of the palace. A sitting room was full of fabrics, laces, and glittering gems. Yasminia smiled. "Well, as you are becoming a princess, what would you like to wear?"
Rehalla exhaled and stared at the eager djinn seamstresses. "Uh, what would you recommend?"
Althuria smiled. "I think I know just the thing."
"Please. I am open to all suggestions."
The sweet excitement in Althuria's face was unmistakable. She had probably dreamed of spending the day with her daughter, choosing dresses. Now, it was here via a route no one had expected.
Seven hours later, Rehalla was exhausted. Yasminia and Althuria were best friends, and Missy was surprised to have been declared the maid of honour.
Althuria smiled and mentioned that they would supply a few bridesmaids from extended family.
Rehalla looked to Missy. "Anyone from the giants?"
"Just a minute. I believe I can still hear your grandmother yelling. I will send Sevval a note." Missy typed, and then they waited. When the phone pinged, Missy read, "They have five attendants. Tylos needs to know what the clothes need to look like."
Althuria smiled. "Send him the image of the bridesmaid's gown."
Missy sighed. "I think he is going to have an aneurism."
"You can also let him know that we will outfit any of the ladies who arrive. It is easier for us than him."
Rehalla nodded, but she was energized. Four cousins would be with her on the day from her surrogate family and four from her genetic family. Fiora as her defender, and Missy as her maid of honour. It was going to be a fun party.
Missy murmured, "Do you think you will be able to spend the night without Aken?"
"What?"
"They adhere to the separation of the couple before the big day. If you are worried about things catching fire, I can stay over with you."
"Um, I should be fine. The fire is getting what it wants. The building isn't in danger, but where will I sleep?"
Missy lifted her head toward the queen. "Where will Rehalla be sleeping tonight?"
"There is a guestroom available for her."
"Good. I will stay with her tonight. Tannic will have to take care of Smoog."
Yasminia smiled. "Of course."
They gathered with Althuria, who asked, "I know it is an imposition, but may I stay for a while?"
Rehalla smiled. "Of course."
They were escorted to part of the building far away from Aken's quarters.
The room had a series of daybeds, a huge television, and a pile of pillows. It looked like girls' night had begun. Movies, food, laughter, and Althuria sharing tales of her early days with Irfrenel were all part of it. Yasminia came in and discussed her first days with Akonel, and Rehalla just sat and looked at the two women who had been more affectionate than her own mother had been in twenty years. It was a strange situation when affection was given freely.
Missy smiled at her. "Get used to it and get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day."
"Oh, sure. Now you understand emotion."
"I can always see it. I just can't figure it out. I know you and know your face. This is tense and angry and hopeful and wistful. Now get some sleep, and let Aken try to make you happy and safe tomorrow. No more executions, no more nasty guild folks. Promise." There was steel in Missy's tone.
She got dressed for bed and crawled onto one of the daybeds. "Don't do anything stupid, Artemis."
There was a chuckle, and Rehalla fell asleep with Aken's and her own mother watching over her. It was oddly comforting.
The smell of breakfast and the soft whispers of women woke Rehalla the next day. The moms were gone, and the bridesmaids and everyone involved in prep was there. Rehalla was eased up, bathed, fed, and wrapped in the dress. When they were done, she looked like a bride.
Missy was dressed in sapphire blue at Rehalla's side, and Rehalla had one question. "When does Fiora show up?"
"Oh, she's going to make an impressive arrival on the fighting field."
Althuria smiled. "Good. We are about to go and uphold your traditions."
Rehalla's hands were heavy, her wrists were heavy, her neck was heavy, and she was wearing pounds of gold on her head and everywhere else. "So, is this to keep me from getting away?"
Missy chuckled. "Probably."
"You are really chipper."
"Some of the guild are here to wish you joy." Missy was snickering.
"Voluntarily?"
"More or less. I got to use my archmage status for a fun purpose for a change." Missy pulled her hood up over her head to frame her snowy hair.
They walked together to the vast yard where an astonishing number of extranaturals were gathering.
Rehalla murmured, "Oh, wow."
Aken and his men were on the opposite side of the field, and the giant battle coordinator leaned down and spoke to him. Aken walked forward with his four groomsmen, and Rehalla walked out, Sevval at one side and Missy at the other. Missy hit her phone, and a countdown started. Fiora would arrive in a minute.
The three of them walked to meet with the other five.
Aken looked at Rehalla, and his eyes glowed. "You are stunning."
"I am weighed down. You look very pretty. I had no idea your ears are pierced." She smiled.
He reached for her hand. "As I know, neither of these ladies is fighting for you. Do you concede, and I get everything I want?"
She snorted and looked at Missy, "The count?"
"Two and one."
An explosion of sound, a bolt of lightning, and a heavy wave of energy moved through the soil. Fiora stood up, six foot five, with rippling black hair that was filled with the crackle of energy, giving it a blue light. Her bustier and skirt were in a cobalt blue, and her arms were wrapped with gold ribbons. She looked stunning, ferocious, and festive.
She walked to their gathering. "Hello, I am Fiora, representing the bride. Who is first?"
Rehalla smiled at the stunned expressions of Aken's companions. She asked her groom, "Do you concede, and I get everything I want?"
He looked at Fiora and then at his groomsmen. "So, any takers? My honour is at stake."
A djinn with black hair and royal-blue skin raised his hand, as did a pale elf with silver hair and the look of a fox shifter.
The two looked at each other, and the fox asked, "May we confer?"
Fiora said softly, "Two minutes."
They backed up to a safe distance, and Rehalla smiled. "Fiora, you grew up."
The woman laughed. "Yes, I glamour down for working in town, but I do have to shop in special stores."
Missy smiled. "Where did you get the outfit?"
"Oh, I had it. I just had to add the ribbons." Fiora winked.
Sevval blinked. "You are so striking."
"That is why I am the fighter today. Don't worry. I won't hurt them too badly. Just badly enough."
The ladies smiled, and then the men finished their chat.
Rehalla watched as Fiora walked away from them and checked her nails in the designated fight zone.
When the men started to move toward her, they did it cautiously. Rehalla watched the fox male slowly approach with a charming smile, and the djinn male circled around to the other side.
Rehalla gasped when the djinn disappeared, but Fiora flared to blazing flame to forestall a sneak attack, and the fox rushed her and wasn't burned. Damn. He tried to grab Fiora, and she struck him with a flurry of blows, finally striking his nose and sending him stumbling back to fall on his butt. The djinn appeared, and she elbowed him, bent, flipped him over her shoulder, and pulled a water blade on him, aiming it at his groin.
She held another water blade toward the bleeding fox male. "Do you yield?"
He bowed and knelt.
The djinn held his hands up. "Me, too."
She chuckled and looked to the officiant. They nodded, and Rehalla watched her dismiss her blades and help the men up to their feet. They were slightly taller than Fiora but just by an inch.
Fiora cleaned them all up with a blaze of blue fire. She reached out and straightened the fox's nose with a snap and more fire.
Rehalla smiled and inclined her head.
Fiora bowed toward her with a smile, and the battle was over. The ceremony could now begin.
After swearing themselves to each other in the fashion of the giants, they took up seats in jewelled chairs while all the guests came by to offer congratulations and set gifts aside.
Fiora waited in line, congratulated the families, and then handed gifts to Rehalla and Aken. "Congratulations, Rehalla. He looks blissfully normal for a blue guy."
Rehalla smiled. "Thanks, Fiora. I think so, too."
Aken asked, "Where did you learn to fight?"
"My father's side of the family. They are always kicking the shit out of each other." She smiled.
"You are... what are you?" Aken asked casually.
"Part ogre, part inari from a long line of foxes. My grandmother has her own temple."
Aken opened his eyes wide. "Do you visit?"
"No, one of my cousins has warded the islands against me. I can't see her."
"Oh. That sounds like a story."
"It usually does. Congratulations on getting your head out of your ass." Fiora nodded to Aken and made her way through the line, apologizing for the damage she did to the two defenders who were part of the groomsmen collection.
She circulated with the rest of the guests and was easy to spot.
Aken asked, "Why wasn't she a bridesmaid?"
"Missy asked her. She didn't want to show up for hair and nails. It messes with her lightning."
"Ah. Is that your grandmother?"
Rehalla looked at the figure making her way toward them. "No, it is my great-grandmother. She never goes out."
Sevval leaned over to confirm. "Rehalla's not wrong. Nana Grim is scary as hell, but making sure family behaves is her job."
The old woman skipped the line and stood in front of the couple, scowling. "Rehalla, so, you are a djinn?"
"Sort of, ma'am. Half djinn, half outworlder elf."
"Well, that explains the fire. Your mother insisted you were hers when I asked her, but I always saw you surrounded by djinn fire, so it was muddled. Glad to know my senses haven't failed me. You have the deepest apologies from your family; your parents have gone for some therapy to process the guilt over what they did to you. When they are ready, they will come to you and your genetic parents." Her great-grandmother smirked. "I will see to it. Your siblings are a lost cause. You have a better connection to your cousins, and you will continue to be invited to all family events, like Sevval's wedding, if she and Tylos get moving before their child arrives."
Sevval chuckled. "There is just so much going on. We can wait."
Rehalla swallowed. "Right. Thank you for that, ma'am."
"I would like a hug later after this line is complete." She smirked. "From your man as well."
"We stand warned, ma'am." Rehalla smiled. She turned to Aken. "Watch out. She gets gropy."
Aken blinked. "Noted. She looks small for a giant."
"She has height control, like Sevval does. She can be big or little, at her discretion. She has currently set herself to old granny." Rehalla smiled and greeted the next person who had made it to their dais.
People carrying trays of food began to circulate, and the line of people finally trickled to an end. Rehalla had seen a lot of familiar faces and far more unfamiliar ones, but everyone seemed happy for them.
When the line was over, they washed their hands, and Aken helped her to her feet. "Now for the first dance."
Rehalla stepped into his arms, and they moved together in a classic waltz. After they had danced for just over a minute, they were joined by the enormous bridal party. Rehalla looked at him. "So, this very efficient rush was due to your family?"
"Correct. We are particular about conceptions occurring after the vows."
"Classy."
"Because of our nature, we are extra susceptible to curses. That includes the unborn. Once we are wed, our fire protects them. Until then, the onus is on your body. You would be fine, but tradition is tradition. Not all partners of the djinn are djinn."
She looked at her blue-gold arm. "Oh. Right. I forgot."
He smiled. "You looked gorgeous pale as well."
"Thank you. Now, do I need to worry about sunscreen?"
He chuckled. "I swear to rub it all over you before you go to the beach."
"But do I need it?"
"No, but I will enjoy the activity nonetheless."
She felt her cheeks heat, and his eyes twinkled. "So, did you have a bunch of guys in your room last night?"
"No. I spent last night getting advice from my father and yours on how to keep my wife happy and secure."
"Sounds like a boring evening."
"No, it was quite fascinating." He smiled.
"So, why are so many guild members here?"
"They are here to express their enthusiasm for this union and have provided your cancelled contract to my parents. Have you noticed that a few of them are slightly battered?"
"Yes."
"Missy had a word with them. She's very proud of it. She's on house arrest again, but I don't think anyone wants to try and enforce it."
Rehalla laughed. "They wanted her more interested in others. Now they have it."
"I believe they have regrets."
She paused. "Do you?"
"No. I look forward to growing extremely old with you, surrounded by our children and grandchildren."
Rehalla leaned against him. "Let's try for one, and if it shows up, we can make additional plans."
"Deal."
As they twirled around, she saw her genetic parents moving gracefully with a sort of satisfied glow on their features. Aken's parents had the same energy smirk.
"Aken?"
"Yes, Rehalla?"
"Have you ever been engaged before?"
He nodded. "Oh, yes. From birth."
"Uh-huh. Where is the unfortunate soul that you were bound to?"
He swirled her around, and she clung to him. "Right where she is supposed to be. Safe, with me, and enough mating fire to repopulate the entire city."
"Wait. Is that what that means?"
"You have a passion for life, all kinds of life. That includes the small portable kind."
"Oh. Someone should have told me."
"Well, that was the thing. Your parents had agreed to leave you with your surrogate family, and they had no idea that things had changed the moment they left." He held her close and swayed. "So, I waited for my fiancé, not realizing that it was you until Irfrenel and Althunia confirmed your identity. At that point, a whole number of things made themselves clear to me. My mother's suddenly warming to you was the largest hint."
"So, we have been engaged this whole time, and you still didn't want to have sex with me?"
Aken stumbled.
He muttered, "I am regretting that at this precise moment."
"Really, too bad. We still have to get through the rest of the party, and I am not going to try anything on an empty stomach. I am a princess, after all."
He grinned and pressed her against him until she had doubts about separating them.
* * * *
Missy smiled as she danced with Tannic. "Well, that turned out well."
"You planned this?"
"No. I just hoped she would land somewhere safe. She looks pretty safe." She looked up at his astonished face. "What?"
"You are... emotional?"
"I am. I know what I am feeling; it just doesn't show, and I don't necessarily react the same way someone else would. It doesn't show, but it's still there in one form or another."
"So, if I kissed you, you would react?"
She gave him a challenging look. "You won't know unless you try."
Tannic slowed and bent toward her, kissing her slowly on the dancefloor of her friend's wedding. She leaned up to catch the pleasant tingle that started in her lips and moved through her body.
She could feel his emotions, and he could feel hers. It wasn't the level of intimacy that some of the people around them were engaged in, but it was a start. It was a solid start.
When their lips parted, she whispered, "Is Smoog still in the shrimp dish?"
"Yes, he is mourning the chance with Rehalla."
She sighed. "Of course he is. She is so out of his league."
"Am I in your league?"
Missy nodded. "For as long as I last. So, do you think you will revert to a birdbrain after I pass on?"
"I think that you will live a lot longer than you think. How long is your house arrest this time?"
She genuinely grinned. "Three years. Apparently, you aren't allowed to beat the hell out of the other archmages. I checked the rules, and I will be filing an appeal next week."
"Are you attracted to trouble?"
"Of course. It means I get to use my mind, body, and instincts. That makes me feel."
He understood. "You are looking for excuses to feel."
"I am. Rehalla used to tell me how important it was to fake it until I made it."
"Why are you such good friends if she was trained as an executioner?"
"Oh, easy. She's a caretaker. I needed a lot of fussing over to keep me moving forward. The only reason she was ever successful at killing was because they chose her targets. Those who preyed on others. That is how they made her into a killer. Her fire didn't like it, but it did it because the subjects needed to die."
"Ah. That is interesting. Do you think Aken knows?"
"Oh, yes. His fire would have told them. They are like symbionts. The fire lives inside them and holds them together. We will know how bright they burn together when they retire for the evening."
"Wait. We have to wait for that?"
"Yeah. It's important. It will mean their parents were right to match them."
"Wait. What?"
Missy listened to the tale of destined mates parted by fate. She looked toward her friend and smiled. "Looks like fate can't be denied. I wish it took an easier path though. She didn't deserve that."
"It made her what she is today, flaws and all."
"No flaws. She's perfect."
Tannic smiled. "Fine. She is perfect to you."
She nodded. "Now, what about our courtship?"
He chuckled. "What about it?"
"When does it start?"
"Oh, we are already well on the way." He twirled her, and they continued dancing until dark fire wrapped the entire castle, and the djinn talked excitedly.
It was a very good omen, and there was talk of fertility coming to their kind. Missy just enjoyed the dancing and eventually grabbed a comatose Smoog, cradling a shrimp like a teddy bear. With Tannic, Smoog, and mighty yawn, Missy portalled them home. She would start house arrest later.