Forever Fae (Forever Fae #1)(67)
“I hope you plan to stay out of trouble today, Ariella. Fae creatures from all over the Land of the Fae will be here. I trust you to play nice,” I tease, laughing.
Ariella rolls her eyes and grins at me slyly.
“Oh, Calista, you worry too much. When do I ever cause trouble?” She winks at me and says, “I’ll see you down there, Sis.” She turns to leave and then I walk over to Meliantha.
Meliantha is crying softly and has a tissue in each hand. She grips me tightly and pulls me into a hard embrace. Her voice catches as she speaks from crying so much.
“I’m so happy for you, Calista.” She looks down at the ground. “I know I can’t tell you enough, but I am so sorry about Merrick. I know you miss him.”
I’ve cried so many tears for Merrick and I know he would want me to be happy today so I try my best to hold the tears back. I feel him in my heart and I know he’ll be with me today so I reassure her.
“I do miss him.” I lay my hand over my heart. “But he’s in here and he always will be.”
Meliantha kisses my cheek and leaves the room. My two favorite ladies are the only ones left in the room with me. I look at Xylia, and of course she has a different color in her hair today. I am assuming it’s to match the green gown she is wearing. She lost her parents while I was captured and when I came back we had a passing ceremony for them as well as one for Merrick. We are all suffering from grief and loss so we decided to honor them all and make this night a joyous occasion.
I walk over to her and wrap her in my arms. When I let go to look at her face she gives me a pleading look. She bites her lip and averts her eyes. I move my head so I can meet my eyes with hers. She looks worried about something.
“Xylia, what’s wrong? Is there something you need to ask me?” I ask.
She paces for a few more seconds and then begins.
“I was nervous because I didn’t know what you would say, but would you mind if…” She looks to Elvena and Elvena nods her head for her to continue.
“Would you mind if I joined you here in the Fall Court? You’re my best friend and the only family I have left. Will you please accept me?”
I burst out laughing and I grab her arms and swing her around the room. It takes her a second to gain her composure and then she joins in the laughter.
Joyously, I say, “Oh, Xylia, of course I accept you. I love you and I wouldn’t know what to do without my best friend here.”
Elvena has been quiet up until now, but gets our attention by saying impatiently, “OK, ladies, time is almost up. Xylia go downstairs and get in your position. I need time with Calista, too.”
Xylia leaves with a bounce in her step. I can’t believe she was nervous about asking me to stay here. Elvena walks over to take my hand. It’s the same hand that I wear her ring on and she sobs.
“If you weren’t wearing this ring I don’t think you would have made it out.” She sniffles and closes her eyes. I definitely know I wouldn’t have made it and I am extremely grateful that I had her ring.
I take her face in my hands and reply softly, “But I did, Elvena. I’m home and I’m safe. Your ring helped me more than anything and I’m so thankful that you gave it to me.” She opens her eyes and averts them to my necklace. She smiles and I look down at the heart-shaped locket that Merrick gave me for my birthday.
“I feel him, Elvena. He’s here inside me, so I know he’ll never be far away. He saved Ryder for me because he knew how much I loved him.”
“I know, child. What he did was the most courageous and unselfish thing I have ever seen anyone do and he will always be remembered for that.”
We hold each other for the longest time until I hear the music playing outside.
Elvena whispers, “We need to get you downstairs. Your king will be waiting for you.”
She turns to leave the room and looks back at me one more time before turning around to leave. I take a few deep breaths in and out and then I leave the sanctuary of my library to meet the one man that has forever changed my life.
I reach the top of the stairs and I look down and see that my soon to be husband and king is standing at the bottom of the steps. His back is turned from me, but I can tell his body is relaxed and calm. He’s dressed in a black tuxedo, which is not a surprise since he likes black. I try to walk silently down the steps but he hears me anyway. He turns around quickly and gives me a radiant smile. He bites his lip as he watches me glide down the stairs. I sway my hips and give him a sultry look as I caress the banister while looking his body up and down. Completing the bond has been the one thing we have both been longing for all week.
I stop on the next to last step. We are eye to eye and I wrap my arms around his neck. He circles my waist and slowly slides his hands down my back to rest on my ass.
His voice sounds deep and sexy when he says, “Why don’t we hurry this up so I can….” He leans into my neck and lays kisses all the way down to my collarbone. “Ravish your body and taste every inch of you….” He raises one of his hands to cup my breast. “On the inside and out.” Thank goodness we are the only ones around right now or they would be getting a show.
The feeling of his kisses on my tender spots and his hands making their way across my body make me ache for him to be inside me. I feel on fire with a need so great that only he can cool.