Kindred: Book 1 A Realms of the Otherworld Book (27 page)

“Wait, can we go back to you two being sisters? And how did I summon you?” I ask as Alaric and the others come to the terrace doors and begin to gather outside before I continue, “Alaric, Clíodna wants to know when we want to have our official binding ceremony, I’m thinking as soon as possible, when do your parents arrive?”

“This afternoon, we could have it this evening and make it very simple. Just family.” He says and I know that he is including everyone in attendance.

“What do you think Jas? Can the sacred meadow be ready for a very impromptu binding ceremony?” I ask of my best little water sprite friend. Thinking about the Tree I get stuck on a thought as Jasmine is quick to answer.

“You know that we will do anything we need to make it happen. I can talk to the dryads to spread the word and the meadow will be made ready to welcome you and your kindred and guest. If that is your will, I have much to do.” She says, eying me and waiting for my response.

I look to Alaric and thru our bond we are both in agreement. “Make it so Jas. It should be simple. The meadow itself is beautiful on its own.” Jasmine takes off flying low over the water creating little water funnels in her wake. The girl is on a mission.

Turning back to Clíodna I say, “I hope you are available tonight because it looks like we’re having an impromptu binding ceremony. Now, you two are sisters? And how did I summon you?” I ask Clíodna.

Clíodna shakes her head. “There is so much you have to learn but lesson number one, all the gods and goddesses in this realm are brethren. We were created by our father in the Overworld as angels and then given a task as gods and goddesses to oversee the two realms.”

“So you could have taken either human or elven forms? How did that work?” I ask truly curious.

“Those that over saw the mortal realm took on a human appearance while those of us in the Otherworld took on the elven appearance. It seemed the best solution for the immediate issue at hand. I have become rather partial to the elven race and form. Now that all of us are bound to Faerie some of the other deities wish they had taken the elven form because here they are seen as lesser gods and goddesses. Some have gone into seclusion, while others grow restless or bored. Others have forgotten their way and now seek to gain power and rule those they see as lesser beings.” She pauses before continuing while eyeing me and my kindred. Her smile brightens her face for a moment before her smile slips just a little as she says, “It brings me great pleasure to see your kindred markings and your auras are utterly magnificent. They were before but now they shine so much brighter with pink and reds and even some white wrapping around you binding you together. It is its own special majic. But I digress, Ashlinn you have the ability to summon any god or goddess that has granted you favor. When I blessed your binding, I granted you favor. You now have a direct line to me for as long as you deem necessary. Although it does not go both ways and therefore I cannot summon you. You are in my favor for the task that is to come and I will provide as much guidance and counsel as I can.” Clíodna explains.

I muse more to myself but speak aloud as Alaric takes my hand, “The more I hear the more worried I become for all the Realms. The Tree of Life is just a side effect from the balance being broken some time ago. Are all the gods and goddesses confined to this realm now? I’m assuming that they have access to the Mortal Realm as well but it has long lost its appeal. Where they were once great in their own realm they became accustom to that power and prestige and now they must bow to the gods and goddesses of Faerie. I am surprised that it was The Morrigan that sought to gain power over all the Realms and not another that was forced out of the Mortal Realm.” I say looking over my family and the god and goddesses standing around me on this beautiful morning. Then I direct my gaze toward Danu, “Mother, you said there was a prophecy, we need to get our hands on the prophecy. The most accurate accounting in written form, I want to study it. Clíodna, we need to know everything you know about strengthening our bond so that when the time comes for Tarron to evoke the blood contract we have a fighting chance. Nemus, we need to know everything we can about blood contracts. Will it hold? Can we break it, etcetera? Dagda, we need to work on gaining allies. Guys, Lexie and I need to be trained in combat. We need a schedule. Lexie what do you think? We can train in the morning in combat and afternoon lessons in the histories and elemental majic. If there is time before dinner we can target practice. We’ll have to work in endurance training as well. Will that work for you?” I ask holding my hand out to her.

Lexie smiles back at me taking my hand in hers as she says, “Works for me. I may actually be able to teach you a thing or two. While you were otherwise “occupied” I’ve been working my ass off.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know that I’m behind. Quit talking smack already. I need to be brought up to speed.” I say with a smile. Then look at Lexie and back to Nemus, directing my question to the quietly observant druid in our midst, “Have you talked to Lexie yet?”

With a barely perceptible shake of his head, he then says, “Not without your leave princess.”

“Nemus, there’s no need to be so formal amongst us. Everyone here I consider family and friends.” I say as everyone looks at us curiously. It truly is an amazing day and Alaric and I have been indoors for too long. The sun is out and there’s a breeze as we stand in the shadow of the Keep overlooking the lake. The temperature is perfect. “Everyone take a seat here on the terrace and gather round.” I pause before I pull Lexie to sit beside me. Alaric on my other side and Declan on hers, I know deep down inside that this is important and my Mom tried to prepare me for how to break the news to Lexie. I take her hands in mine as I move to sit directly in front of her before I begin. I feel Alaric thru our bond sending me reassuring thoughts. While I notice Declan tensing not knowing what’s going on.

“You’re scaring me Ash, what the hell are you trying to tell me. Am I dying? What? You look so serious.” Lexie says.

“No silly, bear with me Lex. You know that we have always been close and felt a special bond, right? We have always been more suited to be sisters and not aunt and niece. Do you remember all the times that Mom told us how special we were? How one day we would make a difference in the world? Do you remember what she said? That it would be you and me against all odds, do you remember that?” I ask. I now have her undivided attention as she looks at me with wide eyes and nods. “Okay… When I read the letter that Mom left for me, toward the end of her letter she basically stated that we needed to stick together and that just like me, you were not what you appeared to be.” I pause to get her reaction.

“What do you mean? I know I’m not like you I won’t suddenly turn up to be an elven, demigoddess princess. So what are you getting at Ash?” She asks.

“Well, later that day I caught Nemus studying you at the practice range, like he was trying to figure you out.” Declan bristles at this and I have to interject, “Declan. Not like that. Nemus was merely looking at her as if she were an intriguing puzzle.” Turning back to Lexie I take a deep breath and ask biting my lower lip, “Are you ready for this?”

“Spit it out already Ash, the suspense is driving me mad. What the hell is it?” Lexie demands.

“Okay. Don’t get too excited. Not yet. But we think that you may be a descendant from a line of Druids. If that is the case we should be able to unlock your majic” I say holding my breath to see how she reacts.

Lexie just stares at me trying to comprehend what I have just unloaded on her. Then she narrows her eyes and looks around the terrace at everyone in attendance before coming back to me and asking, “Ash, do you mean that it’s possible that I belong here just as much as you? That I’m supposed to be here with you? That all of this is not a cruel joke with me coming up on the short end of the stick? Are you effing kidding me? Are you serious?”

“Yep, I’m serious. I’m not sure if Mom knew why but she knew something. She’s been preparing us with all those self-defense classes and archery so that we could have a chance once we got here. I don’t know, but once I saw Nemus trying to puzzle out the enigma that is uniquely you I had to ask. Nemus said that if what we suspects is true that we should be able to determine it fairly easily and unlock your majic. Nemus, I will allow you to take over at this point.” I say.

As always Nemus is so very serious, “If you are druid we can determine it with a simple incantation. Think carefully about what you want. Once we unlock your druid side we cannot undo this.”

Lexie is quick to answer, “Yes! We do this today!”

Declan stands abruptly and storms away. He paces the length of the terrace while trying to compose himself, which doesn’t work as he grinds out a resounding, “No! I can’t let you do this!”

Thru our bond I say to Alaric,
“Well crap on crackers. That went about as well as I thought it would. Declan’s over protective nature kicked in and by the look on Lexie’s face, she’s having none of it.”

“Declan, what is your problem? I could really be a part of this world. Of this realm and you say no? Why? Is your need to protect me so great that you will not allow me to be who I’m destined to become? Because if that’s the case? We end this relationship now. I’m sorry Deck, but I can’t be with you if you’re constantly trying to hold me back just to keep me safe. I thought we were past this? I will not be some item to collect and sit on a shelf to be admired. You heard Ashlinn, we’re meant to do this together. I feel it deep down inside of me just as I know that you and I are destined to be together. But if you can’t let this need to protect me at all cost go? I will walk away. It’s your choice Declan. What’s it going to be? You can stand by me or you can leave.” Lexie ends her proclamation on a quiet note.

Thru our bond I ask,
“Oh my freaking goodness. What is he going to do? Tell me he’s not going to walk out? If you think for one moment that is going to happen you need to intervene.”

“Mo grá, this is their life and they have to live it but I will intervene if I think that Deck is going to make an ass of himself.”

“Thank the gods, because I think it’s getting ready to happen.”

“I will never let you go, Alexia! You are mine! I will protect you…” Declan all but shouts.

“Will you protect me to the point of suffocating me?” She demands. “If you cannot love me for who I am no matter what then maybe we shouldn’t be together Declan. That’s what love is. Being able to overlook a person’s faults and accept them for who they are at the core and support each other in all things.” Lexie say with unshed tears clinging to her eyes, ready to fall at any moment. “I need that from you Declan. Please?” Lexie whispers the last.

Declan looks like a caged animal as he paces but he only has eyes for Lexie. Wanting to try to help reason out why this could be a good thing I say, “Declan, if our suspicions are correct then she will be stronger for the fight ahead of us.” With that he just glares at me as if I’m the root of all evil.

Then I turn to Alaric and ask, “Why the hell is he acting like an overbearing ass? We have been through this before and it has gotten him nowhere.”

“Because the kindred bond is not yet complete, this is all new to Declan and his first instinct is to protect. They will need to complete the bond before he will feel comfortable about this turn of events.” Alaric explains.

I give Lexie’s hand a quick squeeze and smile at her before saying, “Then by all means you two need to complete the bond. I say that we have a double binding ceremony tonight. Ours is just a formality at this point anyway, a reason to throw a party and celebrate. Before you both say a word, think about it. Clíodna, what are your thoughts on the matter at hand?” I ask as I turn to our resident goddess of love.

Everyone turns there attention to Clíodna as she addresses the couple in an authoritative tone. “Declan, come sit with your kindred. She needs your support as you need hers. You both are two halves a whole coming together. Sometimes it takes a bit for the two halves to find a comfortable fit. Declan, any male in this room understands the need to protect your kindred. She is a woman. She beautiful and fragile in the way we women are. She is to be the mother of your children. You must also learn to trust that she is strong, stronger than you know, in ways you have yet to see because you are so hell bent on protecting her.” She pauses as she pins every male in the room with a look and addresses them all in turn, “You males need to understand that we females are in many ways stronger than you and we will not be sidelined due to your sense of duty to protect. Our creator knew what he was doing when he gifted you males the female race. You are stronger with us. Without us you are weak! Remember that. Our creator knew you could not survive on your own!” Turning her attention back to Declan and Lexie she says, “Declan will you bind yourself with your kindred completing the bond? Will you accept Alexia for whom and what she is in all things? If you do this you will know what it means to surrender to your own vulnerabilities and in doing so, you will become stronger than you are now.” Clíodna concludes.

I hold my breath as I wait for Declan’s answer, taking comfort in my mate. Everyone is quietly waiting for his decision as he looks at Lexie and says swallowing hard, “I’m just so damn scared. Scared of losing you, I’ve just found you. You’re so young and tiny. Even though we have only just met I don’t know what I would do without you, if anything were to ever happen to you. I don’t think I would survive in this world without you. Clíodna is right, I’m the one that’s weak and it scares me to acknowledge that. I worry that I will not be strong enough to protect you. I’m sorry for being an overbearing ass. I worry that I’m not good enough for you Alexia.”

I look at Lexie to see her reaction and with tears shimmering in her eyes she is literally glowing as she smiles and reaches over to cup Declan’s face in her hands, “That has got to be the most romantic thing you have ever said to me. You’re forgiven. I love you Declan but you have to trust that we need to be equals in this relationship. I may be young and I may be petite but that does not equal me being a child and I will not be treated as one. I love you and your overbearing tight ass.” There are snickers all around the terrace. “I want this, I want us, and I want to go through with the binding tonight. Are you agreeable to that with everything it entails? There is nothing that I want more in this world than to be your mate in all things. What do you say? Will you complete the binding?” She asks, hope shining on her face.