Motor City Mage (20 page)

That set off a whole other buzz of conversation among the regents. Finally, the chair turned to him with a disgusted look. “We will vote now. Please step out of the room until we ask you to return.”

The wide double doors opened into the living room of the chairman’s Fifth Avenue mansion, and two armed young
Wyndewin
showed Des and his parents out of the audience chamber. Lien sat in an antique slipper chair and accepted a cup of tea from the butler, while Des and his father paced. Twenty minutes later the young guards opened the door and ushered the Suttons back into the regents’ presence.

“While I am unconvinced this is the right idea,” the chairman said, “the regents have voted. The decision is to take your plan of integrating with other species under advisement. Detroit is to serve as a testing ground for the new policy, with you filling Mr. Brewer’s shoes. You will also take personal responsibility for the conduct of the demon Vindelius. Is that understood?”

Des blinked. They weren’t firing him, they were
promoting
him? How the hell had that happened? He managed a nod.

Mrs. Singh gave him a wink. “We suggest you bring him in as an apprentice,” she said. “So the League can watch him while he adapts to life in Detroit.”

“And we can see how you manage as a director with a non-
Wyndewin
spouse,” the Spaniard added. “I’m looking forward to meeting the young woman. The regents expect to be invited to the wedding.”

“We will also be carefully watching all the mixed-race children your friends are producing,” the Frenchman said. “There is a fear that such hybrids could have powers too great to check, but in my opinion, nature tends to provide balance. Still, we expect you to monitor and be cautious of such power.”

“Of course.” As if he wouldn’t be involved with his friends’ children—and someday his own. Any child with power also needed to be taught responsibility. That was a given.

“Now get out,” the leader snarled. “Sutton, go back to that hellhole you call Detroit and stay there.”

“Yes, sir.” He tipped his head politely. “And thank you, all of you.”

As the Willows’ limo drove them back to the portal house, Des leaned his head back against the seat and grinned. “I think that went well.”

“As well as it could have.” His mother patted his thigh. “Now. Tell me
all
about the wedding in Makra and my new daughter-in-law. I like her very much, by the way, and her parents are good people. So when am I going to get more grandchildren?”

Des looked to his father for help, but Ted winked and said, “Don’t look at me. I want more grandkids too.” Then he smiled. “But, well done, son. On all counts.”

His parents were proud. His sister was happy with her man and their child. His job was safe. He had bloody good friends. And Lana was waiting for him. Life just didn’t get any better than that.

“The Queen will see you now.”

A uniformed page ushered them all into Llyris’s audience chamber. There were too many to fit in her little office. Ric, Meagan and their three-month-old son, Caleb, stood with Aidan, Elise and Dina. Lana caught a hint of pheromones and wondered when Elise was going to get around to announcing Dina’s impending sibling. In another cluster, George and Jase flanked Greg and Fianna who each held one of their six-week-old twins. Fortunately both Mikayla and Nicholas were well fed and asleep, as both of the cubs were already proving to be a handful. Lana had never seen either Greg or Fee happier. The men wore suits, the women wore court gowns, and altogether, Lana thought, they made a dazzling sight, this strange little pack of theirs.

In the middle, she stood with Des, the first ever
Wyndewin
director to have a formal audience with the Seelie queen. Lana had chosen a gown of deep red, echoing the fire in her large ruby engagement ring, which she wore with a gold wedding band etched to match the bracelet that never came off her wrist. Des wore a charcoal suit with a white shirt and ruby-red tie, his wedding ring and bracelet perfect matches to hers.

It was August, just about a year since Ric had found Meagan and set all of this in motion. In that time, they’d all become more than family. To Lana, they were pack. They were hers and she was proud of each and every one of them—especially Des.

“Fianna of the Meadow, I wish to congratulate you on the safe delivery of your two healthy infants,” Llyris said in her usual expressionless tone, though her icy blue eyes regarded the cubs keenly. “As the first-known lupine-Fae hybrids, it will be interesting to watch them grow. I hope you visit court often.” It was one of the kindest things Lana had ever heard the ice-bitch say. “I presume you wish your powers and immortality returned?”

“I do.” Fee handed Mikayla over to Jase and knelt before the queen, while Greg gave Nicholas to George and did the same. “I also ask that you allow us to life-bond. Otherwise, I would prefer to remain mortal.”

“I have already agreed.” Llyris touched Fianna’s head with a crystal-topped staff, and Fee gasped as her powers returned. A visible aura surrounded her, letting even someone as non-magical as Lana see what was happening.

“Now before you make your vows to one another, I have something else to propose,” the Queen said. Greg and Fee backed away from the dais, where she sat on a gem-encrusted throne. “I would like Jason Monroe and Desmond Sutton to approach.”

Jase handed Mikayla back to her mother and the two men stepped forward.

“Each of you has some Fae blood in your veins, correct?”

Des nodded while Jase shrugged.

“You do,” the Queen assured him. “I have a request put before me by two members of the Seelie Council, and I’ve considered it carefully. Each person in this room has performed a service to benefit my court and myself, often at great personal risk. It seems I do, in fact, owe a debt of gratitude to each of you—even those who are not under my direct authority.”

They all held their breath. As Lana had learned over the last year, a favor from Llyris could be amazing, or terrifying. Sometimes both.

“Since without Lord Green Oak, Lady Rose, and the rest of you, I would not currently have my throne, I have decided to honor the request. Just as I was able to strip the powers of Fianna, I have the power to grant certain Fae gifts to anyone who carries even a small amount of what you would call Faerie DNA.” She nodded toward Jase and Des. “Lord Green Oak and Lady Rose have asked that I grant the two of you the Fae’s decelerated aging process. Each of you is mated to a lupine, so life-bonding would then extend the lifetime of your mate as well. Be warned, however, there is a price.”

Lana’s heart pounded. Des could be made virtually immortal? And Jase? She and George would be able to life-bond like their friends, not aging and dying while the others stayed young?

“What is the price, Your Majesty?” Trust Des to be the rational one. It was one of the reasons she loved him so much.

“I wish to initiate formal relations with the lupine and
Wyndewin
powers on Earth. You two would be my liaisons—my ambassadors if you will, to your respective groups. This will not always be an easy task. You will report to me.”

“Thank you for your honesty.” Des bowed to the Queen. “I will not betray the League, Your Majesty. But I will vow to use what influence I have to maintain peace.”

Llyris gave him a curt nod. “Acceptable.”

He tipped his head and turned to Lana, holding out his hand. “
Chán-láng?
It’s up to you.”

“It won’t always be easy,” Lana said, barely daring to hope. “The League is bending about some things, but this will be a lot for them to swallow.” He’d have a hell of a time balancing things, at least in the beginning, but if anyone could handle it, Des was the one.

Des shrugged. “They’ll accept it, or I’ll find something else. All that matters is if you want this. If you want to be stuck with me for several lifetimes.”

There was so much tenderness and love in his voice that tears filled her eyes as she ran to him, nodding.

George hugged Jase as well. “Yes!”

“Very well.” Llyris tapped Jase and Des on the head with her staff, and again, the magical glow surrounded them, shimmering like fireflies for a few moments before dying down.

“Now, Lords and Ladies Rose and Green Oak and I will stand witness to the life-bondings.”

Lana turned to Des, taking both hands the same as George and Jase did and Greg and Fee. Ric and Aidan took the cubs, while Meagan held Caleb and Elise clasped Dina’s hand in hers.

Family.
And now she’d get to keep them all for a long, long time.

Soberly, Lana gazed into Des’s eyes and repeated the words that would bind them together for centuries. It was their third wedding. Besides the one on Makra, they’d had a lupine and legal ceremony in their back yard, a few blocks over from Greg’s, in April. This wedding though, was literally magical. She could feel the mystical bonds linking their lives together after they were done.

“Very well. I am pleased with you all. Now good day.” And with that, Llyris waved them from her sight.

Back at Aidan and Elise’s on the other side of the portal, they held the party planned for Greg and Fee, now expanded to be a triple reception. Lots of friends and family were there, including Vin, who was an apprentice detective with the League and had taken Lana’s old apartment over the bar. Lana’s folks were thrilled by the news, and the other Fae were delighted to welcome the newcomers into their midst.

At home that night with her husband, mate, and now life-bonded mate, Lana sighed against Des’s shoulder. “I’m still not going to let you put white carpet in the family room, you know.”

“Why not? I just got us an extra thousand years or so together. I can’t have white in one room?”

“Not that one, you idiot.”

He grinned down at her, teasing gently. “Oh, and why not?”

“Because it’s the
family
room.” She tugged him with her down onto the comfortable cherry-red sofa. “And even with magic, you can’t possibly get grape Kool-Aid out of white carpet.” Of course he probably could, but that wasn’t the point.

“Yes I can. Besides, is grape Kool-Aid likely to be a problem in our immediate future?” They’d still been kicking around the timing of starting a family, and he gave her a pointed look. Since he’d just turned forty, Des had been starting to get anxious. Now, they wouldn’t have to worry about that.

“Not just yet, if that’s what you’re thinking.” He’d know when she got pregnant. Werewolf hormones would make her even crankier than usual, but she trusted him to put up with it. “But eventually. Besides, with all the nieces and nephews we have in and out of this place? One of them is sure to be a grape fanatic.”

“I suppose you’re right.” He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her until her toes tingled. “But no purple, either. Not with a red couch. Deal?”

“You are so easy, Sutton.” She unbuttoned his shirt and slid her hands underneath. “I love you.”

“And I love you, Mrs. Sutton.” He slipped his hand under her skirt and discovered her little surprise—she’d ditched her thong the last time she’d gone to the bathroom. “Holy shit, woman. I just became immortal and you’re trying to kill me.”

Lana giggled. She was rubbing off on him. Even his language had loosened up. “Nah. I just like making you crazy.” She loved it when his eyes unfocused. This man who had been so prim and stuffy was now a marshmallow, and all hers.

He unzipped his trousers and pulled her skirt out of the way, bringing her down on top of him.
Hmmm. Perhaps marshmallow isn’t exactly the right word.

And then she forgot to think at all.

Not ready to leave Motor City’s strange side behind just yet? Download the first three titles in the Urban Arcana series, available now.

Motor City Fae

Detroit artist Meagan Kelly has a hard time believing the news that she’s a half-elf, half-human heiress. But she can’t deny that Ric Thornhill is Fae—a tall, blond, handsome, pointy-eared elf—and a man she just can’t get enough of. The more time Ric spends with Meagan, the harder it is for him to see her as a political tool to prevent an all-out war between humans and Fae. Now Meagan’s in a race to master her newly released powers in time to prevent the conflict…and build a life that straddles two worlds.

Motor City Witch

Once, Elise Sutton had been a powerful witch and paranormal enforcer, madly in love with Fae lord Aidan Greene. But when their relationship ended and Elise was almost killed by a demon, she decided to live a quiet non-magical life—with her daughter, Dina. Now, Dina has been kidnapped and Elise has no choice but to turn to Aidan for help. As they search the Faerie world to find Dina they may find each other as well.

Motor City Wolf

Fianna Meadows was a pampered noble in the Faerie court—until she was exiled, turned mortal and forced to work for a living in a werewolf bar in Detroit. Still, her new life isn’t so bad thanks to Greg Novak, the bar’s sexy owner. Greg finds it challenging to keep his hands off Fianna, but his sense of honor won’t let him get involved. Fianna isn’t Greg’s only problem. Someone is killing werewolves and attacking paranormal beings in Detroit. He vows to do whatever it takes to protect both his pack and Fianna—even if that means giving her up…

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