© ItalRT4u, 2012

     Hellish nightmares of my captivity with Matt had come back to haunt me last night; the only difference was that Matt had managed to morph into Gage.  Sleep refusing to come to me peacefully, I pressed my body closer into Cane’s chest and side, his arms tightening his hold around me as though he sensed that I needed the added sense of security.  I needed some respite.  Part of me was worried about Cane becoming distant again, much like when I had come home from my hellish abduction – I hoped it wasn’t the case.

     “Stop it.”  He whispered to me, causing me to lift my head to look up at him.

     “I’m fine.”

     “Are you sure?”  I searched his face for any ounce of doubt; searched his emotions for anything negative – there was nothing.

     “I’ll do you one better.”  He winked at me, the sly devil that he could be which made me give him a sleepy smile.  “I’ll show you.”

     Rolling me over onto my back, he slowly crawled over me, kissing and nipping gently at my collar bone, neck, jaw, up to my ear.  I couldn’t help the low moan that erupted from my throat; this man was insatiable.

     “You don’t know how hot that sound makes me.”  He whispered on the soft spot below my ear, following his words with a harder nip to which I submitted to another moan.  If this man didn’t finish what he started, I’d be forced to take over.  “You wouldn’t.”  He mumbled against my skin after reading my thoughts to look at my face.  My breathing hitched as I felt one of his hands slowly and almost painfully sliding down my front, trailing a fiery trail until he had reached the top of my underwear.

     “I would.”  I captured his lips in mine, demanding more from him.

     Morning came speedily as I woke to Cane’s hand gently rubbing soothingly over my arm.  We were still naked from last night’s erotic escapade.  My body tingled in delight at his touch and then I remembered – the witch!

     We had all met for breakfast in MacDougall’s dining room.  Aside from another woman that sat silently, eyeing me speculatively from her perch across the table from me, I knew everyone present.

     “I’m sorry for my tardiness.”  Angus finally sat down.  “I believe introductions are needed.  Payton, meet Elizabeth.”  Acquaintances made, Cane, William and I had discovered that Elizabeth was MacDougall’s clan’s witch.  She was quite young; let’s face it, I’m used to seeing the stereotypical old hag or the Hollywood version, much like in Charmed.  Yes, more undeniable proof of my sheltered life away from all things Fae.  I couldn’t help but wonder why Elizabeth couldn’t keep her eyes off of me – it was rather unsettling.

      “Elizabeth?”  Cane paused; reading into my anxiety.  Letting his fork down onto his plate and placing his hand on top of mine that rested on my lap, he gripped it gently.  The witch nodded in acknowledgement but her gaze remained fused to mine.  “May I ask you what it is that has you so infatuated with my match?”

      “You haven’t touched your food dear.”  Angus made the point.  She broke her gaze and looked over to our host and blushed shyly as she realized that most of us had already emptied half our plates and hers still sat there filled.

      “I-I’m…  My apologies.”  She said meekly, bowing her head.  After this, she had buried her nose in her plate, pretending to be entirely engrossed with the food presented before her.  I immediately began to relax, but only slightly.  I wondered what that was all about.  Was she sizing me up?  Was she trying to figure out if I was the real deal?  Would I encounter this with relatively every new person I met from now on?  Were they all skeptical of me, who I proclaimed to be, if the stories they had all recently heard were true?  Realistically, they were well within their rights but I refused to be intimidated by anything or anyone.  Or was it something entirely different than the above preconceptions I’ve just formulated?

     Angus escorted Elizabeth on his arm toward his den as Cane and I had been instructed to follow.  Tonight, we finalize the bonding process – that’s if Cane will have it.  I still hadn’t managed to know if his sleepy reply from last night was in fact a yes.  Tomorrow, we headed back to America.  This night, we were to meet the local clans and present ourselves at their own request.  Angus seemed relieved that we had decided to let Elizabeth conduct this bonding ceremony – Cane confirming that he indeed looked forward to the process.  Cane, William and I honestly felt a little foolish for assuming that this union that Angus had brought up on the men’s last visit had nothing to do with a wedding like any ordinary Fae folk; I doubted that Angus was going to let us live that down.  Whence this ceremony was performed, nothing shy of death would be able to tear us apart hence rendering us the most powerful couple in the Fae world.  As liberating as that idea felt, I knew that just because you hold power, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be taken away; take Matt for instance, or every other Fae leader that has been eradicated, murdered, or forced to submit due to the age old feuding – hell, families have been driven to extinction, reduced to mere memories of their existence, no heir to continue their lines.  With Cane’s consent, instead of having us a small ceremony with just the two of us and the witch, we figured we’d give the people what they wanted by doing it publicly thus, erasing any shred of doubt as to our proper matching.  Elizabeth seemed like she wasn’t fond of that idea and seemed a little jittery but Angus managed to convince her that it was for the best; he seemed like a bubbly teenager, excited that things might actually start looking on the up for the Fae people.

     Separated from Cane for the remainder of the day, eight hours from now, we would be surrounded by pure strangers, with the exception of the few we know as we took our final steps to solidifying our Fae bond.  Apprehensive of being away from Cane, William had offered to come and check up on me frequently throughout the day.  Angus was looking after Cane between tending to the evening’s preparations while Elizabeth tended to me.

      “Here.”  Elizabeth handed me a satchel.

      “What is it?”  I asked, peering into it, noticing the sweet pungent smell.

      “A mixture of herbs.  You’ll bathe in them in a little while.”  She announced.  “But now, we need to cleanse your soul.”

     After learning that I’d have to be asleep in order for this to happen, I was thankful that I would get some shut-eye but terrified of being in a room, unconscious with this person, I wasn’t entirely sure I could trust.  Elizabeth had left my room to make her special tea and I had requested that William be there for this entire process.

     Wearing nothing but this long white satin gown, loose sleeves that fell delicately over my shoulders, Elizabeth indicated that I lie down on my bed.  I eyed William who sat at the desk and nodded in reassurance and then followed her instructions.  She recited a few incantations, peppering my bed with what looked and smelled like rose petals mixed with a slight hint of lavender.  Offering me the tea cup, I took and sipped it down quickly, seeing as it was now only slightly tepid in temperature.  I felt a certain calmness begin to take over; my body turning to jelly; my limbs urging me to give in; to fall back and let myself go.  Feeling my eyes fall heavily, I listened to Elizabeth’s incantations; her words, almost music-like in sound and soothing me to my very core. 

     Darkness never fully took me however; not completely.  I remember relatively every word spoken, every smell that invaded my nose, every minute detail of the visions that played before me.  When I awoke, I had never felt that refreshed in my entire life; not that I could remember anyway.

     “How do you feel?”  Elizabeth’s soft voice graced me.

     “Refreshed and energized.  How is it so?”  I asked her confused.

     “No one truly realizes how much weight our lives actually produce.  That our bodies will carry it around if not released.  How our past follows us spiritually.  This cleanse was literally a wiping of the slate so to speak; for you to start anew.”  She explained.  I looked over at William who sat there, a warm smile on his face.

     “How long do we have?”  I asked him.

     “You’ve been out for nearly four hours.”  Elizabeth interjected.  “For someone who hasn’t been around the Fae and its realities for all that long, you sure had some cleansing to do.”

     “I was out for that long?”  I asked disbelief present in my tone.  Elizabeth nodded.  “It felt like maybe an hour at the most.  I mean, I heard you and smelled everything.”

     “It’s part of the entire process.  Everyone’s is slightly different but the visions and everything play their role as well, no matter how insignificant they may seem.”  She explained.

     “Thanks for being here Will.  I think we’ll be fine now.”  I looked at him.  He got up, kissed the top of my head like a father would his daughter and left with a quick wink before he shut the door behind himself.

     Bathing in that mixture of herbs had felt magical; the fragrances were amazing, my skin felt remarkably smooth and in the end, looked flawless.  Like before, Elizabeth was present with her various chants and incantations.  She had poured a small vial of liquid in the tub which made every inch of my submerged skin tingle from my fingertips down to my toes; it smelled much like rosewater but I doubted that’s what it was.  Regardless, it made me feel fantastic – like true royalty.  Never had I been pampered like this or imagined my life turning out this way.  I felt silly for ever doubting Elizabeth and her character; as quiet as she was, she seemed quite sweet.

     “I need you to get out, dry off, and wrap yourself in the robe I left on the back of the door and come out to the room when you’re done.”  She instructed.

     “Thank you.”  I said softly, appreciation in my voice.  She nodded, turned, and left me alone.

     I stood in the bedroom, waiting for Angus to stop by.  He was to escort me downstairs to his large den which was where everything was going to take place – the expansive room doubled as a ballroom of sorts.  I was beginning to think that being high up in the Fae clans had its benefits.  Sure, I’ve only seen three households – them being William’s, Angus’, and Matt’s homes.  Their homes were more than large; they were mansions – something befitting royalty.

     “You look beautiful, my Queen!”  I heard from my perch by the window as I watched various people trotting onto the property, dressed to the nines.

     “Thank you.”  I bowed my head, a gesture of gratitude.  “Why do I have a feeling that normally, a ceremony such as mine is not this formal?”

     “Because they aren’t.  This is different wouldn’t you agree?”  He stated.

     “Hmm.”  I agreed.  “I understand but other than it being slightly more private, how so?”  I eyed him suspiciously.

     “We have some additional guests than anticipated this evening, for one.  Two, you and Cane have caused quite a ruckus by choosing to do this whole thing publicly; everyone is abuzz about it.  On another note, it’s not every day that Royals are in our midst, and let’s face it, I can never pass up throwing a formal party.”  He was giddy with that same bubbly excitement as earlier.

     “Can I ask you something?”  I inquired.

     “Anything, my Queen.”

     “I know why I’m being called Queen but shouldn’t there be a coronation of sorts involved to make it official?  Or does it simply have to do with finalizing thebonding?”  I asked.

     “What do you think?”  He asked.

     “I think, my dear Angus,” I grabbed a hold of the arm he held out for me, as he gestured toward the door; “that you have something up your sleeve.  You’re a man of many riddles wrapped into multiple others.”

     “Right you are.”  He bellowed a deep laugh.  “Needless to say, our evening is now outdoors in the gardens.”

     “I still think there’s something you’re not telling me.”  Angus MacDougall simply patted the top of my hand that was resting atop his forearm, letting out another one of his trademark boisterous chuckles.  I had an inkling I was right in that analysis.

                                          *************************************

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