Remington (Queen's Birds of Prey 5)

“No, she said for you to take him to task in all, and then she listed some of the things we’re going to bring up here. She also wishes you a long and happy life.” He looked down at the child in his arms and let the tears flow onto his soft cheeks. “Basil, she said to tell you that you’re not to worry over what happened to Sorrel. He honestly was not your child.”

He burst into tears then. “I thought he might have been. You’ve no idea how much I wanted it to be so, right up until he was killed. Then I thought of all the things I knew about Rosemary and Juniper, and I was heartbroken to think, even for a small time, that they’d stolen away my son.” Remi put her hand onto his as he held the child to his heart. “Thank you for that. Remi. You’re going to be a wonderful, compassionate queen.” She snorted, and he laughed. “Or perhaps we’ll leave that part to Harlin.”

When Juniper was brought from the cave he’d been housed in, Basil could see that his magic was fading. He’d be dead by the end of the week. Perhaps sooner. Wondering where the magic was going, he only had to look at Remi when she stood up to go to her mate to see that she was getting all of it. Then she spread out her wings when Harlin did.

“Good Mother Earth.” He’d not meant to say that out loud, but now that it was out there and everyone had turned to look at him, Basil stood up and went to the couple. “You’re them. The King and Queen of Forever. I never thought to see such a sight as I see before me now. You’re the couple this world and many others have been waiting for forever.”

“You’ll have to explain that to us later, Basil.” He nodded and started away when he realized that Harlin was right. “No, please stand with us. We’d both like to have your input on this as we go on.”

“Yes, all right.” Juniper stood up and asked where Rosemary was. “She’s dead, Juniper. She let the magic go and has left this earth. She has asked that I forgive her, which I’ve not decided to do as yet. She also gave this couple a list of misdeeds that the two of you were up to when you were still within the boundaries of fae territory.”

“I wish for you to forgive me as well, my brother. I have messed up badly, and I ask for your mercy and forgiveness. I do not wish to be put to death but to serve the time left to me by making up for what you deem as doing bad deeds.” He told him it wasn’t up to him. “Sure it is. You can ask them to do whatever you want. I just lost my son and my wife. The very least you can do is to consider that punishment for everything else.”

“I don’t have any say in what you’re going to be tried for, Juniper. But I would like you to know that I am no longer your brother. I am taking away any and all magic you received as suc

h. Once I touch you, all that you had, all that I gave you in the form of magic and longevity, is no longer yours to use. The things you stole from the fae are now on your head. The deaths of Rosemary and her son Sorrel are not your fault solely. You are related to me no more, by the law of the fae.” He watched his brother as his words sunk into his mind. Before he could say anything, even had he anything to say, his body began the process of aging. “You will now be dust, so your remains will be cast out and put to sea, so you will never rise again with any magic.”

The screams could have been heard for miles, Basil was sure. When Remi put her hand onto his arm, he could feel the power surging into her. It wasn’t gentle either, the hold or the magic, but he stood there while she got everything that was for her to use.

“By order of the king of all fae, Juniper Herb, you are hereby sentenced to death. You will pay for your crimes by becoming no more.” Juniper was suddenly nothing more than skin wrinkled around bones, his heart slowly pumping the last of its life-giving blood.

His beating heart was then lifted from his body and destroyed by Remi. She did nothing but squeeze it tightly in her fingers before it was nothing more than particles of dust that fell to the earth rather than fly away on a breeze. Then his head was removed, and his skull crushed beneath her booted foot. The removal was complete. The same ritual had been performed on Rosemary’s body earlier. It would be as he had said. Neither Juniper nor Rosemary would ever be able to rise again in a faerie circle.

Basil didn’t know what he expected from the crowd, but cheering and happiness would never have been on his list. They were beyond thrilled with the events, he thought and wondered how much more he’d missed while being king. When people came to him, thanking him for a job well done, he tried hard to make sure everyone knew that he was no longer their king. They didn’t seem to care about that either and greeted the new couple with hardy handshakes and hugs.

“That really wasn’t a trial.” He grinned at Alma. It had been a very long time since he’d seen her. “Not that it didn’t end as it should have, but as for trials, that one sucked. How are you, Basil?”

“I’m wonderful now that I’ve found your son and daughter-in-law. They’re a magnificent couple.” He kissed Alma on the cheek and stepped back. “Alma?”

“Yes, we are mates. I’ve known for some time now. It’s your smell, you see. When Harlin came to see you, I would smell your scent on him and knew what it meant. To think that we both went a different path and still ended up together.” She laughed a little. “I guess the fates, they knew what they were about. I’d not have Harlin as my child had we gotten together long ago. Don’t you think? You do want to be my mate, don’t you?”

“Yes. Yes, and yes more.” They were both laughing, and it occurred to him that they’d been speaking in fae. When he turned to Harlin, he knew then that he was well versed in the language and decided he’d have to remember that in the future. “Do you mind so much, my king? That I have your mother as my mate?”

“So long as you understand that I’d not hesitate a moment to do worse to you than anything anyone has ever done to his victims.” Basil shivered. “I’m very happy for you both. You deserve a lot of happiness. Later we’ll talk about this couple thing you were talking about. I’m assuming it’s something extraordinary?”

“You have no idea.”

They were both laughing as he and Alma walked away from the couple. They held hands as they spoke to people. They asked a lot of questions of him, and when he didn’t have an answer, Alma did. It was wonderful, he thought, having someone at his side that didn’t take swipes at the people they were around. Alma didn’t even mind when people hugged her.

It was nearing midnight when the crowd started to disburse. He’d connected with a great many friends he’d not seen in some time, and he was able to be with Alma. They’d made a lot of decisions when they were alone tonight, and he was as happy as he’d ever been. They were going to find them a home tomorrow, one close to the kids, and he was excited to start the next chapter of his life with her.

He was headed to bed for the last time in the castle when a whisper of his name floated from down the hall toward him.

“Hello, Basil.” He didn’t see the person until they stepped out of the shadows. “I cannot stay here long, but I wanted to wish you well in your new life. The fates have given me this time to assure you from my own mouth that Sorrel wasn’t your son. I am both glad and sad about that.”

“Rosemary, how are you here?” She told him again that she’d been granted this special boon to tell him about Sorrel. “Thank you for that. I know you said it in the letter, but it was difficult for me to bear.”

“I never loved you, not like I should have. I don’t think I even loved Juniper like I should have. You are lucky to be able to find love now. Alma is a good woman.” He nodded and told her he hadn’t been this in love either. Rosemary laughed. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong.”

“No, it was just right. You never loved me either. Which is good. It will be easier for you to move on now.” She looked to her right, and he did as well. There was nothing there for him to see, but Rosemary nodded and looked at him. “I have one more gift for you. You don’t have to worry about it harming you, but it is there in your room.”

“Thank you again. I wish we could have at least parted in a better way. Did you enjoy your life with Juniper?” She didn’t answer him, and he thought that was right too. “I’ll miss you, Rosemary. I truly will.”

“You were too good of a man for me. I should have seen that before. You were the best there was in all that you did.” Again, he thanked her. “I must go. You and Alma will be happy. I know that.”

Then she was gone. He moved into his bedroom, careful of where he was stepping. He realized then that he didn’t trust Rosemary even after death. Striding to his bed, determined to forget the way she had come to him, he nearly flopped into the bed. A soft mewing sound came to him as he jerked back the covers.

The baby. It was just a tiny little thing staring up at him as hard as he was her. When she smiled at him, he could see that she was full of magic too. Her tiny body seemed to be vibrating from it. Picking her up, he knew she was fae, and that was when he found the note attached to her little outfit.