Kindred: Book 1 A Realms of the Otherworld Book (7 page)

“I bet you were just a little freaked out. Sorry for that. I guess that couldn’t be helped. Although, I think you’re ahead of me in the introductions department.” I turn towards Alaric, “Alaric, introductions please. I need to offer my sincere thank you to everyone.” I say sincerely.

“No thanks are necessary, my lady.” I hear a male voice say from over my shoulder.

“I happen to disagree. And why has everyone taken to calling me “my lady”.” I mumble under my breath.

Alaric smiles at me and then says, “Men, meet Ashlinn, my kindred. Ashlinn, meet Tolin, Torin, Declan, and Nemus the Druid. You already know Jasmine.” Alaric gestures with his hand at each man in the room so that I may tell them apart.

I take a moment to assess each of the men. Tolin and Torin are definitely brothers, they look so very similar both with long dirty blond hair pulled up in a messy top knot, sporting twinkling brown eyes, and have a mischievous look about them, pranksters to be sure. Declan is much more reserved with his almost military cut short black hair and eyes that appear to be dark as midnight, eyes that never stray very far from Lexie. Again I take note and need to talk to Alaric about that. Last but not least is Nemus, his dark hair is graying slightly at the temples and is kept buzzed short on the sides and longer on top in a wavy mass swept off of his forehead, his slate grey eyes are sharp as a hawks, taking in everything around him. He has an intense look about him and looks to be the only human in the group. All of the men are exceptionally well built as if they train daily. I get the impression that they do.

Alaric continues, “These men are my Guard and are trained warriors.” He gestures to Tolin, Torin, and Declan then he inclines his head toward Nemus, “Nemus’ talents lie elsewhere, he is also trained in defense but is more comfortable welding majic and was instrumental in your awakening.”

I take a deep breath and say, “Thank you all so very much for coming to my aide. I appreciate all that you’ve done for me. Especially you Nemus, without you I might still be stuck in limbo. It was horrible to say the least. Thank you, I will forever be in you debt.” I say and for some silly reason I attempt a curtsey.

I hear Jasmine snicker, evidently she has woke from her nap on the pillow. “That’s as sorry an excuse for a curtsey if I ever saw one. You could have face planted on the ground and it would have been more graceful.” She snorts.

“Seriously, you’re going to make fun of the girl that’s been in a coma for a week and just underwent a transformation from human to I’m not sure yet?” I come back, trying to hide my smirk with little success.

“Hey, don’t get your panties in a bunch; I’m just pointing out the obvious. I have much to teach you before you’ll be ready to be presented at court.” Jasmine says hoovering in front of my face with her hands on her hips.

I laugh out loud, “Jas, you and I are going to get along just fine. Guys, thank you again, I can’t wait to get to know you all.” I become more serious as I gesture to Lexie, “We have a lot to discuss and much to do. Lexie, I really hate to ask but it’s been a week, I believe we have funeral arrangements to make. Are you okay with helping or would you prefer that I handle the arrangements?”

Alaric interjects, “Ladies we can make plans on the way. We really need to get moving. I would like to have you both home before noon.”

Alaric takes control. He seems to be very good at issuing orders. We head out and make our way to the Hummer as Nemus persuades the hospital staff that we’re ready for discharge. He places glamour on those of us with less than human looking ears, sparkly complexions, and Jasmine. We all pile in and surprisingly enough we all fit as the Hummer is more spacious than I would have thought. The ride home is a somber one as we both discuss the arrangements for a family only funeral and make appointments to meet with the estate attorneys. Because it has been a week since the accident we agree on a closed casket service to be held the next morning. By the time we pull into the long drive that leads back past the large fishing pond toward the house I realize that I’m not sure that I’m ready to walk into the house without Mom. The drive splits and Declan stops. I look at Lexie, “Do you want to go home or do you want to stay with me?” We grew up on the same property, Mom owns close to a five hundred acres and gifted Audrey and Daniel land to build on so we have always been close.

“Let’s go to the main house, for now.” She says.

“Declan, take the drive to the right.” He slowly continues up a drive that is now flanked on either side with trees as he pulls up in front of a large two story craftsman style cottage with a wraparound porch. I’m surprised to see Millie and Hank are waiting on the porch for us. They weren’t supposed to be back from their own vacation for another week. They must have heard about the accident and made it back from Ireland earlier than expected. Millie and Hank are like family. Millie takes care of the house and cooking and has been like a second mom to me and Lexie. Hank takes care of the grounds and has been the only manly influence that I have ever had. We slowly begin to exit the vehicle and as Lexie and I make our way up the steps to the porch Millie holds open her arms wide to pull us into hug. Hank stands behind her with his hands on her shoulders giving her his silent support. Lexie and I cling to Millie for a few moments, trying to hold our tears at bay before we pull away.

“Millie, Hank, we have some friends that you need to meet.”

I turn and gesture towards the guys and begin to introduce them only to hear Alaric say, “It’s good to see you Millie. Hank.”

My mouth drops open as I look back and forth between them. Stunned, “You know one another?” I ask.

He just looks at me and smiles, “How did you think I was able to keep dibs on you without having eyes and ears here? Millie and Hank have been keeping me abreast of your wellbeing for some time now.”

“Really? How is that even possible?” I ask looking back and forth from the couple on the porch to the group standing at the base of the steps. I narrow my eyes and say, “Then I think we all have much to discuss.” I turn back to Millie and give her another hug and then smile up at Hank and reach out to him as well pulling him in for another welcoming hug.

Chapter 9

(Ashlinn)

Jasmine the Myna bird flitters about my head for just a moment until Nemus drops the glamour that conceals us all. With the exception of Lexie and Nemus, that’s when I discover that Millie and Hank are also both elves. To say that I didn’t see that one coming was an understatement. Then Millie takes one look at me and begins to gush, going on about how beautiful I am and how she always knew that I would be something special.

Being home should be comforting but I find that I’m feeling oddly out of place. Walking into the house I take in all the familiar surroundings and swallow back the tight knot in my throat. I already feel her absence from this place as we make our way into the back of the house where the oversized kitchen and sitting room are located. Everyone begins to settle in talking amongst themselves. When no one is looking I quietly make my way out the back door to the back deck that overlooks a gentle sloping yard to a tranquil brook. The house and yard have been nestled back into a wooded area that I have always thought looks like a place out of story books. I’ve always loved the back yard area the most, with the surrounding woods, the sound of the gurgling water in the brook, and the afternoon sun light filtering its way thru the trees. It has always felt majical to me.

I find that I’m craving the serenity that this place holds for me. I wander out into the yard and down to the brook to the tiny but serviceable arched bridge that Mom had put in, just for appearances. I love that bridge. There are four Adirondack style wooden chairs and a fire pit that have been put in by the brook, a patio of sorts. Mom always had a green thumb and when she was not at work I would find her puttering around out here putting out all sorts of plants and flowers creating this tranquil place that I love. I find what I need to start a small fire in the pit, just because I long to hear the crackle of the fire mixed in with the sounds of the brook and then sit back to take in the familiarity of my surroundings. I can no longer hold my tears at bay and I cry for everything that I have lost. I cry for all that I do not know and I cry for my lost innocence as I sit by the quiet babbling brook.

“Please don’t cry, my lady.” I hear a tiny little voice.

I look around with a tear streaked face. “I’m sorry, who are you? Where are you?” I ask.

A tiny sprite bashfully looks out from behind a giant mushroom not far from me. She is tiny, much smaller than Jasmine with long brown hair with a sort of circlet crown made from leaves, tiny twigs, and flowers, her brown eyes look sorrowful, her skin, wings and dress are all designed to blend into her surroundings. “I’m so sorry for the loss of your mother; she was always so good to the trees and the flowers, and everything around the house. She took care of her land; I wish that I could have thanked her personally for the care she took. Such an amazing soul is with the gods and goddesses now. Please don’t fret, my lady, I will take care of this place while you are away.”

I swallow back another sob and ask, “What’s your name? And have you always been here? If so, why am I just now seeing you?”

“Talila, my lady,” she says. “I’m a wood sprite and made this place my home not long after you came to live here. I have always been around keeping an eye on things along with Millie and Hank. As a wee child you would chase me thru the trees but as you got older you could no longer see me. You were being raised as a human child by a human mother. But now that you have gone through your awakening all things fae will be seen by you.”

As I ponder her words I vaguely remember playing in the woods and telling Lexie about my wood faery, she never saw what I saw and as I grew up I stopped looking for my imaginary friend and that makes me sad, “Talila thank you for reminding me of that majical time in my childhood, I remember you now. I’m not really sure what happened to make me forget you, but I’m sorry that I did. Everything is so confusing now. There’s so much that I don’t know. So much to learn and you’re right I do believe that I will be going away. Can I trust you to keep an eye on things here? I think that I may be gone for a while and I don’t want my home to disintegrate into disarray. Thank you, for always being here. I’m comforted in knowing that.” I say with a heavy sigh, “I don’t wish to be rude but I need to be alone for now there is much for me to ponder Talila. Maybe we can talk later?” Talila smiles sadly and nods her head in my direction, “Of course, please don’t worry about anything here, all will be taken care of.” She says and flits back into the trees. Just then I feel Alaric walk up behind me.

“Will you send me away too?” He asks.

“Of course not, come, sit. I just needed some me time. So much has changed. I’m burying my mother, sister, her husband, and my nephew tomorrow. I don’t know how Lexie is holding it together. I love this home so much but everything is so different now. The mother that I have always known is gone. I’m saying good bye to her forever in the morning. She was everything to me.” I sob. “She was my whole world. I don’t know how to move on right now. I know that I have to but she has always been there to pick me up when I fall. Who’s going to do that now?” I ask as I look up at him tears running down my grief stricken face.

“I will.” He says quietly pulling me to my feet and into an embrace. “I will always be here for you and though I could never ever take the place of your mother in that regards, know that I will do my best to be the partner you need. To be your friend, your confidant, your kindred, I will support and protect you always.” He gently pulls my face up from where I have laid it on his chest and looks deeply into my eyes. “It’s time for the two of us to get to know one another and though it is true that I have waited eighteen years to be in this moment with you I want you to understand that I will take things slowly because I know that you’ll need time to adjust to everything, to feel the bond between us and to allow that bond to grow.”

As I look up into his beautiful blue eyes I see the truth of what he says and ponder the bond that I feel for him. It is strong, more so now than before when I was in limbo and I know that in this moment he has branded himself across my heart and I will never want another. It’s true that we have only just met and I know not the first thing about this elf man and his life in the Otherworld but I want to learn everything I can about him because his presence in my life is something that I crave deep in the core of my being. I push myself up on my toes and take his handsome face in my hands and say softly, “Kiss me, Alaric.” He looks down at me with serious eyes and then a smile begins to appear as he gently cups my face with his large hands and strokes the tears away. Then he lowers his head and ever so lightly brushes his lips against mine. We let the kiss linger as we breathe each other in. The attraction and need to be closer to him is overwhelming and I decide to give into this pull as my hands go around his neck tugging him closer. I respond to his kiss, opening for him as our tongues lightly brush against one another lighting a fire within me. Need for him shoots straight thru me as I mold my body against his and he pulls me closer still and I’m lost in the feel and scent of him. Our kiss becomes more urgent, more demanding and the pull I feel to him is electric, my body is on fire and I crave his touch. As if he has heard my thoughts his hand moves to the back of my neck pulling me in for more as he hoists me up against him cradling my bottom in his hands. My legs wrap around him as the pull we feel to one another demands a more intimate mating. Our mouths and tongues dance across one another and I hear a moan that starts deep in my soul escape into his mouth and at that moment I rock my hips into his and feel evidence of his desire in the length of him. Desperate for more, I tighten my legs around him and deepen the kiss yet again. His mouth is a wicked pleasure that is fast becoming my addiction.