Jazz watched the two as he kissed her forehead and then her fingers. What a special love they shared. How complete. She turned and looked at Trevor who she discovered was watching her. He leaned over and said in a low voice full with emotion, “I love thee just like that. Please know that always, my very own Jazmine Decker.”
“Then accept the fact that I always want to have your back, Trevor of Lugh,” she said on an emotional note.
He lit up. She saw him simply glow as he pulled her close against his rock hard body and said
in a throaty voice, “Aye then wench have me, my back, my front, and my all.” They shifted to MacTalbot Castle.
Deimne shifted just behind them, and in time to hear all of this. He watched them go and said softly to Aaibhe, “I must join them Queen Aaibhe.”
She nodded her approval and as Deimne shifted out he heard Breslyn begin a series of mild Danu curses.
~*~
Jazz saw this beautiful dusky haired young woman rush towards them. A big, dark haired buck at her side had looked stern and was ready for a fight.
Maxine’s green eyes were alive with excitement. Jazz thought that she may be mortal, but she didn’t seem to be afraid.
Maxine looked at her curiously but turned to Trevor and said hurriedly as she turned her head toward the big Dark Prince on the other side of the ward.
“Pestale’s brother, Graely is right there on the other side of the ward. He says he doesn’t mean us any harm, but must speak with you.” She looked up as Deimne glided easily to her side, pulled in his beautiful wings, took her by the waist, and drew her to himself with obvious pleasure. “High Druid Priestess,” he said fondly.
“Deimne! Oh, it is so good to see you,” she said and hugged him fiercely.
His glittering eyes were alive with a tease. “Have you decided to leave this Druid Priest and fly around the world with me, my sweet love?”
She laughed and as her husband the Druid Priest in question, had stepped up at that moment to offer his hand which was heartily taken. A moment was lost in the greeting and Jazz managed to get a good look at her surroundings.
They were in an open field with what Jazz assumed to be MacTalbot Castle in the distance.
She saw Graely standing very still and looking solemn. At his back was a Pine Forest that loomed dark and mysterious. She looked into his black eyes and found the amber light glittering in them. He was not like his brothers.
Jazz turned back to look at Maxine whom she had heard so much about. She knew that Maxine and her husband Julian had fought during the time of Gaiscioch not so very long ago. Their personal story was very intriguing, however at the moment it was Graely that held her totally and seriously, too worried to think of anyone else.
She returned her attention to the Dark Fae and studied him. He wore simple, aged brown leather pants and sandals—nothing else. He was as tall as any of the Royal Fae and muscular. He was handsome, but he looked as though he never smiled. His black hair was slicked back, braided, and tied in a knot at the nape of his neck. His tats were intricate. He wore a band around his biceps and a large Celtic cross at his left shoulder that tipped onto his chest. He wasn’t covered in them like Hordly and Pestale.
He stood quietly watching and waiting. When he brought his coal black eyes up and met Jazz’s gaze, she felt a wave of sympathy for him.
Jazz wondered what it was about this Dark Prince that was so very different than his brothers. She was certain he was different. She couldn’t forget that he had jumped in and saved that mother and child from one of the Unseelie monsters. He saved them when she would have been too late. Surely his brothers would have been upset had they known.
“Maxine—Julian, I am sorry, but you two are mortal and we don’t want you at risk,” Trevor said as she turned back to him. “Will you return to the safety of your castle while we deal with this Dark One?”
“No,” Max said staunchly. “We have been a part of this from the beginning and we mean to see it through…right, Julian?”
“If I could, love, I would send you back to the house and remain here, but I know you too well,” Julian said. Jazz liked him at once. There was something deadly serious and honest about him and yet she sensed he was gentle and caring.
“Maxine, you don’t know me well just yet, but one of these days you will. In the meantime, I think if you and Julian would wait for us up at the castle it would be a good thing. By staying here, Julian also stays and both of you are in mortal danger,” Trevor persisted.
Max frowned as she thought this over and lifted something she had tucked into the waist of her jeans. “I have this. Aaibhe’s Rowan wand and it has seen me through a time or two.”
Deimne chuckled, “I can attest to it.”
“Still it would be better if you were out of harms way,” Trevor insisted.
Maxine shrugged and said with a frown, “Maybe, but I don’t think, that one…,” she turned to Graely, “…means us much harm. As long as you promise to come on up afterward and tell us everything.”
“I promise,” Jazz said with a reassuring smile. She liked Maxine, a whole lot already.
Jazz turned and saw Trevor step up to the invisible wall and go face to face with the Dark Prince and her heart trembled. In spite of the fact that she agreed with Maxine, she did not think Graely meant them harm.