Siren's Song: The Gray Court, Book 5 (21 page)

“Remember when I told you that I had more than one gift for you?”

Cassie smiled, turning to face Oberon. She was in his office sipping her morning coffee and mentally preparing for her day while her bondmate got dressed and dealt with one of the three million things that always hit right before breakfast. How the man found time to eat, let alone sleep, was amazing. It seemed everyone wanted the High King’s opinion on something, from treaty negotiations to what color they should use when they hosted
the
soiree of the year.

Lucy, thank the gods, took care of a lot of it. Without her help Cassie might have run away the first day, completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of requests the palace received on a daily basis.

But Cassie hadn’t run, and tomorrow, her bonding ceremony would take place. They’d discussed all of the details, confirmed all of the attendees. Her dress had been completed in record time, a blending of silver and aqua that was certain to please her picky man. While he never tried to convince her to wear anything but what she was comfortable in, his smile always seemed a little brighter when she wore “their” colors.

Oberon had even gone so far as to add various turquoise or blue cufflinks to his suits. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

She smiled and held out her mug. One of the things they’d figured out was that they both liked their coffee creamy and sweet. Most mornings they wound up passing back and forth a single mug as they dealt with the workload that the High King couldn’t hand off to his assistant. “Good morning to you too.”

He took the mug out of her hand and placed it on the table. “We have some time. Would you like your present now?”

Cassie was so excited she actually bounced. “Yes, please.” He’d been spending some time at what he called his forge, and what the Hob described as a place of power. While she didn’t sense anything magical on her mate, the satisfaction humming along their bond was undeniable. Whatever he’d set out to do, he’d succeeded, and now he wanted to show off his skills to her. But he was also nervous, tension tightening the corners of his eyes. Whatever he was going to give her, he was terrified she’d hate it.

As if. Her bondmate was giving her a gift. He could give her a single daisy and she’d love it, because it came from him.

Oberon held out his closed hand. “Ready?”

“Oh, is it reveal day?”

Oberon scowled at the disturbance.

Cassie bit her lip, trying not to laugh at Oberon’s disgruntled expression. He was almost pouting at being interrupted. “Good morning, Robin.”

“Good morning, my queen.” Robin appeared, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief, his long red hair bound in a tail. “You look particularly marvelous today.”

Cassie laughed. She was wearing her rattiest jeans and a T-shirt that declared
Goonies Never Die
. Her feet were bare, her hair scraped back in a ponytail, and she hadn’t even bothered with makeup. But she made Oberon happy, so in Robin’s eyes she was the second most beautiful woman in the world. “Thank you. I love your coat.”

“Really?” The Hob twisted, showing off the double-breasted pea coat. “My bondmate has fallen in love with this BBC program about a modern-day Sherlock Holmes.”

Sherlock’s coat was black. Robin’s was blinding white, with black piping and lapels. And she doubted Sherlock ever wore skinny jeans and black leather knee-high boots. “It looks fabulous on you. I’m sure she’ll love it.”

Robin beamed. The man did love his clothes. All the fashion and color sense Oberon lacked had latched onto Robin, giving him a double-dose.

“Why are you here, my Hob?” Oberon seemed less pleased to see Robin, eyeing the Hob with a grumpy expression that had Cassie grinning. She loved watching the two of them interact, the obvious ease and affection they had for one another. Those who thought Oberon cold had never seen the love he had for his Hob.

Robin took off the coat, revealing a black collared shirt with a white stripe down the center. For Robin, it was downright subtle. “You promised the same gift for Michaela, if you recall.”

“Ah.” Oberon’s expression eased. “I hadn’t forgotten. I was planning in gifting you both tomorrow, but we can do it now, I suppose.”

Robin bowed. “The sooner, the better, my king. I find my lady gets into trouble whenever I take my eyes off her.”

“Where is she?” Cassie couldn’t resist asking.

Robin shot her a sour look. “Sleeping. I hope.” That last was muttered under his breath, barely audible.

Oberon shook his head at the Hob’s antics before turning back to her. “Still want your present?”

She nodded eagerly. “Gimme.”

He opened his hand, revealing a silver ring.

She hadn’t been expecting something so…plain. The man had been in his workshop for
days
. Maybe making jewelry was new to him? If so, it was a stunning silver ring, the metal polished to an almost mirror shine. “It’s pretty.”

Robin laughed, but there was an edge to it. “It’s much more than that.”

“Hush, Hobgoblin.” Oberon kept his attention on her, his tone absent as he chastised Robin. “Do you like it?”

It took her a second to realize that he was asking her, not Robin. “I love it.” She would have loved a half-formed piece of clay if he’d made it for her. The man wasn’t used to these kinds of gestures, not after centuries alone. She planned on encouraging every little attempt he made in order to let him know how deeply they were appreciated. She smiled at him, hoping he saw the gratitude in her expression. “I love it.”

“This is your bonding gift.” Oberon closed his hand over it once more, the nerves he’d been trying to hide showing once more now that he was focused on her and the ring. “I will wear a similar one, of course.”

Wedding rings. He’d made their wedding rings. “Oh.” Suddenly she couldn’t stop her tears. “That’s so sweet.” She kissed his cheek. “I have a gift for you too.”

“Oh?” He placed the ring on the table next to the coffee mug. “And what would that be?”

She pulled away from him and walked toward his desk. “I put it here for safekeeping.”

“In my desk?” His amusement overrode his nerves, bubbling down their link like champagne.

“In a drawer you never use.” She winked and bent, opening the bottom drawer where Lucy assured her he kept files he never accessed. In the back was a simple package wrapped in tissue paper. “Here it is.”

“I can’t remember the last time someone gave me a gift.”

Robin sighed. “My king…”

“No.” Oberon held up his hand. “I meant a lover, Robin.”

Robin tilted his head. “You don’t have lovers, my king.”

“Exactly.” Oberon frowned. “I’m sorry. None of this is coming out right.”

“Have some coffee.” Cassie handed him the mug and the package at the same time.

“What is this?” The flat package had his complete attention.

Cassie bit her lip. “It’s something a siren only gives to a truebond.”

His gaze lifted from the package. He stared at her intently, the heat in his gaze warming her, before he ripped the tissue paper away.

He drew in a startled breath at what lay in the tissue paper. “Oh, Cassie.” Oberon ran his finger down the opalescent scale, shivering as quiet notes filled the air.

Their shared song could now be heard by anyone whenever he chose, confirming that Oberon was now truebonded to a mermaid. It would sing for him whenever he wished, wherever he wished. Not only that, it would balance his harmonies, healing him and giving him strength when needed. For anyone else it would be a gift beyond price, but Cassie’s power was a drop in the bucket compared to Oberon’s. She doubted her song would strengthen him much, but she couldn’t help but give her truebond her all.

Anyone who heard their song would hear her love for him. It was one of her scales, enchanted with the magic of their bond. She would forever have a bare patch on her tail where the scale had been, one that would glow with his mer-light, the dark gray spot marking her as taken as much as their song did.

She felt a sense of pride as he lifted the chain the scale was attached to, placing it reverently around his neck. “I know what this means to the merfolk.” He caressed her cheek. “Do you want me to say it back?”

She glanced at the ring on the table. “I think you already have.”

The look they exchanged had Robin sighing dramatically. “Ah,
l’amour
.”

Oberon glared at the Hob, who was grinning at him cheekily. “Robin.”

“Hmm?” The Hob was staring at the scale around Oberon’s neck, his grin so wide Cassie was surprised she couldn’t see his back teeth.

“Isn’t your mate due to wake up any minute?” It was clear Oberon wanted to be alone with her.

It was equally clear Robin was having too much fun messing with his friend. “Yes.” He brushed invisible lint off his black sleeve. “But you said you would have something for me, remember?”

Oberon rolled his eyes and pulled away from Cassie. “Remember what I told you about these.”

Cassie’s brows rose as Robin nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes. I will remember.” It seemed he was just as eager as she was for a gift from the king, for when Oberon handed him the package he clutched it greedily. “Thank you.”

“Michaela will know immediately what this is, even if she can’t explain it.”

Robin nodded as he ripped open the package, laughing when he saw the red-gold rings inside. “Perfect.”

“You know what to do with them?”

“Indeed.” The sheer deviltry in Robin’s tone surprised her. “I’ll make sure it’s done properly.”

Huh?

Cassie listened to the two men talking, her curiosity growing stronger with every word they exchanged. Something about ley lines, and runes, and a few words in a language she didn’t recognize had her studying her own ring with new eyes.

What was it about that ring that had Robin so eager to get a similar one on Michaela’s hand?

Cassie picked up the silver ring and put it on.

“No!” Oberon’s horror rang out, souring their song.

A flash of light on her hand startled her, aqua and silver dancing around one another, surrounding her before sinking into her skin. The tingle of Oberon’s magic sank inside her, a warm embrace almost as good as being in his arms.

The light in the ring dimmed, settled into glowing aqua runes, a pretty flowing script she was sure predated the Sidhe language.

“You gave your truebond the One Ring?” Robin’s voice wavered between awe and amusement. “Why am I not surprised?”

“Hob.” Oberon’s tone, on the other hand, brooked no argument. He wanted Robin gone.

“Ah. And that would be my cue to leave.” Robin bowed, disappearing as silently as he’d arrived.

“You could have harmed yourself by doing that.” Oberon stalked toward her, his anger and fear swamping them both. “You were supposed to wait, allow me to place it on your hand.”

“Sorry.” She tried to tug it off, but it wouldn’t come free. “It didn’t hurt.”

“I know, which is why I’m not yelling.”

She blinked. “You yell?”

His eyes narrowed. “I use my indoor voice.”

She bit her lip, trying not to laugh. “Good boy. Your mommy must be proud of you.”

“Cassie.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.

“Hmm?” She put her arms around his neck, thrilled when the scale between them hummed quietly.

He opened his eyes and put his forehead against hers. “Oh, well. At least I’ll never be bored.”

“That’s what I love about you. You always look on the bright side of things.”

He chuckled before taking his first kiss of the day.

Chapter Twenty

“Ready, sire?”

Oberon took a deep breath. This was it, the day he’d been waiting for since he saw Cassie in that car on the highway, pleading with him to let her help him.

Today was his formal bonding ceremony, the day Cassie officially became his in the eyes of his court.

Cassie was in a separate room, hiding from him. She said it was tradition that the groom did not see the bride’s gown before the ceremony.

He was certain it had more to do with her overwhelming fear, not of bonding with him, but how the court was going to react to her. Oberon intended to crown Cassie queen, not queen-consort. She’d have the same power over the Gray Court that he did, making her the most powerful woman in the fae world.

And some had made it clear that they were not happy about that. While he was certain none of the complaints had reached Cassie’s ears, it was only a matter of time. Lucy, Harold and Javier had closed ranks around Oberon’s queen, protecting her from the worst of the gossips and naysayers, but not even their efforts would keep all of the protests from reaching her.

Cassie was strong, though, and used to the intrigues of a court. Maybe he was worrying over nothing, but if Cassie was upset even the littlest bit, Oberon would make it clear to everyone else just where his priorities lay.

“Sire?”

Oberon shook himself. Those dark thoughts had no place on this day. He’d deal with the court later, at his leisure. Those who supported Cassie would earn Oberon’s approval.

Those who didn’t…

Well. He wasn’t the Lord of the Gray for nothing.

“Let’s do this, Harold.”

Harold nodded and opened the door to the throne room. “Good luck, sire. And may I say, I couldn’t have picked a better woman for you to bond to.”

Oberon smiled. “Thank you, Harold.”

“You’re welcome, sire.” Harold cleared his throat and banged his staff on the marble floor three times. “High King Oberon, the Gray Lord, Lord of the Fae.”

The entire court whispered as he entered the room in full regalia, bowing deeply as Oberon made his way toward the throne. He settled himself in his seat, his sword,
Claíomh Solais
,
strapped to his hip. The Sword of Light had been Nuada’s last gift to him before the king passed. His crown was firmly on his head, not in the shape he often wore it when he used it to clasp his long hair back but his actual crown, signifying the magnitude of this event. He’d even agreed to allow Robin to pick the suit he wore today, a dark charcoal gray with a silver shirt and charcoal tie. The tie pin was adorned with a blue diamond the shade of his mate’s hair. His cufflinks matched the tie pin.

The colored stones and the Sword of Light seemed to stun his court. It was rare for Oberon to wear the blade. It was usually mounted above the throne, its light shining upon him whenever he sat, proving his right of sovereignty.

Today he would use it in the crowning ceremony of the Lady of the Gray.

Harold’s staff clacked on the floor three times, silencing the still murmuring crowd of courtiers. “Princess Cassandra Nerice, truebond of the High King, Lady of Atlantis.”

Cassie entered the throne room on her brother’s arm, and Oberon bit back a smile. His lady looked stunning in her silver gown sprinkled with tiny aqua gems. Her brown hair was bundled up in a complicated knot that showed off her slender neck. The crown of the queen was not apparent, as technically she would not wear it until after their bonding ceremony, when Oberon would take her oaths as his co-ruler and Cassie would drop her Seeming before the court.

Cassie glided forward, the grace inherent in all merfolk apparent in her movements. The courtiers bowed to her, not as low as they had to Oberon, but showing their respect for their new queen nonetheless.

Soon they would bow as deeply to her as they had to him. While he could have chosen to name her queen-consort, limiting her powers, he would not. He trusted her completely, valued her opinion, and wanted her on the throne when he couldn’t be present himself. The only other person he believed in as much was Robin, proving it when Robin was forced to reveal that he had been named not only a prince of the Gray but Oberon’s successor.

Now Cassie would take Robin’s place as Oberon’s successor should something happen to him. With Cassie’s blessing Robin would retain the title of a prince of the realm, for in her eyes Robin was Oberon’s brother and worthy of the title.

Robin had not been amused. The only titles he aspired to were Hob and husband, but Cassie would not be dissuaded and neither would Oberon. So a prince of the realm the Hob remained, and Robin’s lady was acknowledged a princess, something that made her eyes sparkle with delight and soothed the Hob’s temper.

Cassie and Dayton reached the bottom of the throne and bowed before him. Dayton kissed his sister’s cheek before gliding over to his future bondmate, leaving Oberon and Cassie alone at the dais.

“Princess Cassandra.” It galled him to call her that, but until she was crowned it was still technically her title. He’d much prefer to call her his queen, or better yet, Cassie.

“King Oberon.” Cassie’s gaze was filled with love as she rose.

Oberon stood, standing one step above her. He took hold of her hand, and prepared to shock everyone.

“I vow that from this day forward you shall not walk alone.”

The courtiers gasped as Oberon began to recite the traditional Sidhe binding vow. Cassie, however, merely blushed, her hand clasping his even more tightly. The words, though beautiful, were a formality, their bonding already complete. But he could find no better words to describe how he wished to go through eternity with her, and so spoke the Vow with a light heart.

“My strength is your protection,

My heart is your shelter,

And my arms are your home.

I shall serve you in those ways you require.

I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care.

Yours is the name I whisper at the close of each day and the eyes into which I smile each morning.

I give you all that is mine to give.

My heart and my soul I pledge to you.

You are my Chosen One.

You are my Mate.

You are bound to me for eternity.”

The Sword of Light glowed so brightly that it could be seen even through the gray leather scabbard.

Cassie, forgoing the formality of the event, reached up and cupped his cheek. Instead of the vows he’d assumed she’d make, she did things her way.

The siren way.

Cassie dropped her Seeming, opened her mouth, and began to sing.

She sang their song, her voice filling the throne room with notes high and low, blending both of them together in a way only a siren could. Their harmonies rang out, echoed off the marble tile, touching each and every one of the men and women lining either side of the room. It was their love, their hopes and dreams, their longing for one another that she sang. She bared them to the courtiers, but at the same time she proved their bond true and strong, never to be broken. Together their harmonies made sense, their melodies no longer missing that essential piece that made the symphony of their souls damn near perfect.

She proved to everyone that she belonged at his side, her power touching each and every one of them. Some of the more tender-hearted courtiers were silently crying, among them Lady Goodfellow, who clung to Robin while she wept unashamedly. Raven Goodfellow, no longer MacSweeney, stood behind his parents, his blue eyes so like his father’s, even filled with unshed tears. Duncan Malmayne-Blackthorn had his arms around his bondmates, all three smiling wistfully. No doubt they were remembering their own bonding ceremony, held in this very room before Oberon. Lady Lucy Stowe dabbed at her eyes with a lace kerchief, her smile broad and filled with happiness. Even Harold, usually unfazed by anything that happened in chambers, was sniffling as Cassie sang her love for all to hear.

When it ended, the silence was almost deafening. No one wanted to be the first to dispel the power of the siren’s song.

“I love you.” Cassie removed her hand from his cheek, murmuring the words so softly only Oberon could hear.

“And I, you.” He took hold of her hand and helped her kneel. “Princess Cassandra Nerice is no more. Now, you will be known as Cassandra Airgeatine—” the courtiers gasped. Oberon’s surname had not been spoken in so long very few remembered it.

Oberon continued as if they had not been interrupted by the shock of the court. “Queen of the Silver Flame, Lady of the Gray.” He motioned to Robin, who held the queen’s crown. “Are you ready to take your oaths, my lady?”

“I am.” Cassie’s tone was strong, certain. Whatever nerves she might have experienced were gone now in the wake of her song.

“Then let us begin.” He motioned to Lucy, who stepped forward as well. With Robin on Cassie’s right, and Lucy on her left, he began. “First, you must renounce your ties to the White Court.”

Cassie nodded. “I hereby renounce all ties to the White Lady, Queen Gloriana, Queen of the White Court, Lady of the Seelie. I declare myself Oberon’s from this day forth, in honor and in faith, having no other oaths to forswear. By the gods I pledge my loyalty to the Gray Court, High King Oberon and our descendants. I declare myself the sworn servant of the Gray Lord, High King Oberon, King of the Gray Court, Lord over the Fae. I pledge my voice and my honor to uphold the laws of the Court. I and my house will abide by the laws handed down by the High King. I will faithfully perform all services required by Crown and Court. So swear I, Cassandra Airgeatine.”

Now it was Oberon’s turn to take an oath easier than any before it. “I, High King Oberon Airgeatine, the Gray Lord, Lord of the Fae, hereby hear your oaths and accept them in the name of Crown and Court. I declare you our loyal servant, sworn to our bidding. From this day forth my sword shall defend you, my magic protect you, and my wrath be mighty should you fail of your duty. All former oaths to the White are hereby null and void, by my power as High King. So swear I, Oberon, High King.”

Cassie shivered as the magic of the oath flowed over them both.

The regalia of the Lady of the Gray consisted of only two pieces, the crown and the orb. The crown he had made himself, but the orb was a Tuatha Dè gift from long ago. Taken from the
Lia Fail
, the Stone of Destiny would only work in the hands of the rightful ruler of the fae, in this case either Cassie or Oberon. Where Oberon’s sword lit up when he sat on the throne and weighed barely anything when in his hands, the orb would enhance Cassie’s gift, granting her the ability to sing at full strength whether or not she was near or in water. It would also protect her, healing her if she became sick or wounded. It, too, would light up when Cassie sat upon her throne, thus proving her divine right to rule.

The stone was polished like marble, unremarkable in any way until placed in the hands of the Lord or Lady of the Fae. It could shrink or grow at Cassie’s command, allowing her to wear it as a bauble or on a necklace when not in use. If she chose, the orb could be hung above the sword when they held formal court, both objects glowing their approval for the monarchs.

But until Cassie was officially crowned, neither the orb nor the sword would glow for her, despite her truebond. It was the nature of their magic.

So Oberon began the last ceremony of the day, the one that would make Cassie his queen in every sense of the word. “Cassandra Airgeatine. Do you swear, in the presence of the gods and before this court, to conduct yourself under all circumstances as having the interest, prosperity and honor of the fae, no matter their station, within your heart at all times?”

“I so swear.”

“Do you swear to administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich?”

“I so swear.”

“Do you swear to faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on yourself as Lady of the Gray?”

“I so swear.”

“Will you protect the freedom and the rights of all the courts and their residents, regardless of race, station or court?”

“I so swear.”

Oberon took the crown from Robin. “Then I declare you Queen Cassandra, Queen of the Silver Flame, Lady of the Gray, Lady over all the Fae, my queen, my successor and the mother of my children. May all heed your voice as they do my own.” He placed it on her head, nodding in approval when, instead of looking down, she kept her gaze firmly on him. He took the orb from Lady Lucy. “May your reign be long and prosperous, and may all rejoice as I do.” He handed the orb to Cassie, smiling as it began to glow a brilliant turquoise, not the silver he’d expected. “Rise, Queen Cassandra, and face your subjects.”

Cassie got to her feet and took her place at his side, right where she belonged. Right where she would stay for the rest of their days.

“Mr. and Mrs. Nerice! Welcome back.” Greg, the front desk manager at the Sea Crest Bed and Breakfast, beamed at them both as he took their luggage. “I’m so sorry your trip was cut short last time you were here.” The concern in his expression seemed sincere. “How are you feeling, Mrs. Nerice?”

Cassie smiled. Neither of them corrected the man. They’d agreed to come here under the names they’d used before rather than confuse the humans who ran the B&B with a changed surname. “Much better, thank you.”

“Are these the Nerices?” A human woman with golden brown hair and amber eyes came around the corner from the dining room. She held out her hand with a smile. “I’m Noelle Rogers; I help the owners run this establishment.”

“A pleasure to meet you.” Oberon shook her hand. “You work for the Rizzetti brothers, Luc and Angel?”

“Yes. You know them?” Noelle seemed pleased. “I’d wondered why they asked me to personally greet you. Normally I work behind the scenes.”

“They’ve done work for me on numerous occasions.” Oberon’s slight smile was easy. “They’re among the best at what they do.”

“Thank you. They’ll be pleased to hear you said that.” Noelle gestured toward the stairs. “Allow me to show you to your room.”

They followed Noelle back to the honeymoon suite, with the balcony that overlooked the ocean. “Is there anything we can do for you tonight?”