You see, the neon pink fluid Ash injected me with was not only a protection against the magic-stripping spell but also a magic-regenerating spell.
While Viv, Su and I had been busy so had Mom, Mavis and Gran.
In Agatha’s evil plan, Ash was meant to be injecting me with a drug that would render me motionless.
Instead, he injected me with a brew of potent Honeycutt protection. A spell that simultaneously blocked the severing of my magic but also, with a good deal of help from the natural magicks that permeated The Tor, regenerated me to full power (and then some).
When my aura “exploded”, that was extra magic my body couldn’t hold and Dad and Gabe (you know he had to have a nickname) stayed close so they could absorb it and so that no one else would.
That magical spell also simulated pain (unfortunately).
But it had to look real.
* * * * *
When Althea’s magic was torn away by the Edwards Coven, they gave it to Dad-slash-Douglas in their preparations to make him a “Dark Lord” whatever that was… even Dad didn’t get it, he called it the “crazy rantings of a loon” (loon = Agatha).
So when Viv, Su, Lucy, Josie and I took it back, Mom had secluded Dad in my Tower Room so he would be protected from any magical surveillance for when the magic was stripped away again and restored to Althea.
(Oh, forgot to mention… as a vampire, Dad could act as a vessel to store magic. That’s why Althea’s magic didn’t disburse and why Agatha thought that he and Gabe could absorb mine.)
So, at that crucial moment on The Tor, Agatha and the rest didn’t know Althea had powers when she marched up that hill with Josie.
* * * * *
I could go into a long explanation of how it all worked.
But I won’t.
History will dissect it, I’ve no doubt.
* * * * *
I could be pissed off that a lot of folks were keeping a lot of stuff from me all this time, hell, all my life.
But I was alive.
And so was (most) everyone I cared about.
So how mad could you be?
I was classified as a Hazardous Sage.
I was a young witch.
Powerful but unripe.
And I had a lifetime of pretty fucking important work ahead of me.
And anyway, forgiveness is a powerful thing.
And we were at war; there was no time for petty trivialities.
And now it was all in the open, there was no more pussyfooting around.
And all eyes were on me.
I had to keep focus.
I had a war to win.
* * * * *
Aidan flew with me to Denver, I slept with my head on his shoulder most of the way.
He was careful to give me space.
Well, not too much space.
We spent a lot of time watching movies.
Me with my head in his lap, him stroking my hair (this felt nice, as in, ultra nice).
Okay, so we made out a lot and maybe fooled around a bit and I’d kind of, um… made it a practice to sneak into his bedroom at night and sleep next to him (just sleep, after we fooled around a bit, that is).
But, I was happy to be alive.
And I was happy he was alive.
And, well, he’s hot.
* * * * *
Aidan and I didn’t talk much about things.
Like, say, how he and Ash faked Aidan’s death.
Or, say, how it was so easy for me to lose trust in him and Ash.
Bottom line, there wasn’t a lot to say that wasn’t ugly and damaging.
So, we just didn’t say it.
Don’t judge me, it worked.
* * * * *
I hadn’t cried, didn’t seem much point.
It wouldn’t change things.
It wouldn’t bring Althea back.
* * * * *
Ash was supposed to have recuperated a lot longer than he did before attempting a trans-Atlantic flight but yesterday he arrived on the doorstep, leaning on an ebony, silver-handled cane, pale as Dad and Gabe, his father Marcus by his side.
He, of course, wasn’t going to give Aidan even a hint of the upper hand by staying away too long and he wasn’t stupid enough to think that Aidan wasn’t going to take advantage (see entry above).
* * * * *
I know what you thought but I did mention that elfin magic is powerful.
The Lament of the Elf is a magic that has to be performed very shortly after death, before a spirit can leave a body. The Lament, which consists of magic held in an Elf’s gossamer wings mingled with the spell in a song, the physical and audible spells wrap around a “dead” human body, holds the spirit and body intact and restarts the systems. It gives a body only minutes but sometimes minutes make the difference.
They made the difference for Ash.
If we hadn’t been outside the hospital, Ash would have really died.
The Lament was known as an Absolute Forbidden Spell amongst the Elves. It has only been performed half a dozen times in the last three to four thousand years.
BecBec was in big time trouble with the Imperial Order of the Elves.
I’d have to go to the Faerie Realm and testify for her soon.
BecBec was in a panic (but that didn’t mean she regretted what she did, she didn’t – she didn’t tell me this, she was in Elf Gaol, but she got a message to me, one I actually understood).
Still, she was in trouble.
Poor BecBec.
* * * * *
Dad had come with me to answer the door when Ash arrived (so weird, after thirty-four years, to have a Dad… too much to ponder now).
We all walked into the living room where Mom found us.
“Let’s leave them to it, shall we?” she said and bustled Marcus and Douglas out of the room.
Ash and I stared at each other for what seemed like a long time (because it was).
It was Ash who broke the silence.
“Seymour got a body slam and a face full of kisses when he arose from the dead.” (Ash)
“Could you take a body slam right now?” (Me)
“I can barely stand.” (Ash)
“Poor baby.” Pause. “You ruined the shirt I gave you.” (Me)
“I’m sure you’ll find some excuse to buy me another one.” (Ash)
I so would. In fact, I already had. There were three of them waiting in my room for him.
“Cheeky.” (Me, but I smiled)
I walked to him and gently laid my hands on his face. Then I reached up on tippy-toes and kissed him softly.
“You ever scare me like that again, I’ll kill you myself,” I warned, tears filling my eyes.
One of his hands settled light on my hip and his face went soft.
“I can’t make that promise.” (Ash)
“Then you’ll be the death of me.” (Me)
“That’s one thing I can guarantee won’t happen.” (Ash)
I smiled through my tears.
He grinned through the pads of his fingers digging in my hip.
I gingerly wrapped my arms around his middle, rested my cheek on his chest and felt him kiss my hair as one of his arms slid to settle around my waist.
Aidan walked in and stopped when he saw us.
For awhile, we all stood there together.
“What now?” I asked.
Both of my beautiful boys laughed.
Great.
Ack!
####
About the Author
Kristen Ashley lives in the beautiful West Country of England with her husband and her cat. She came to England by way of Denver, where she lived for twelve years, but she grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana. Her family and friends are loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen’s Mom moved her and her brother and sister in with their grandparents when she was six. Her grandparents had a daughter much younger than her Mom so they all lived together on a very small farm i
n a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched). Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Discover other Titles by Kristen Ashley at Smashwords.com
The Rock Chick Series:
Rock Chick
Rock Chick Rescue
Rock Chick Redemption
Rock Chick Renegade
Rock Chick Revenge
The ‘Burg Series:
For You
At Peace
Golden Trail
The Colorado Mountain Series:
The Gamble
Sweet Dreams
Dream Man Series:
Mystery Man
Wild Man
Fantasyland Series:
Wildest Dreams
The Golden Dynasty
Fantastical
Other Titles by Kristen Ashley:
Lacybourne Manor
Mystery Man
Penmort Castle
Sommersgate House
Three Wishes
Connect with Kristen Online:
Official Website: www.kristenashley.net
Kristen’s Blog: www.kristenashley.net/menu/blog.html
Kristen’s Facebook Page
Follow Kristen on Twitter: KristenAshley68
Cover Art by DM Ashley