Authors: Wendy L. Callahan
“Go away,” Khiara muttered. “You aren’t real, even if I want you to be.”
“Oh? Have you been looking for me?”
“No,” Khiara said softly to the fire. “I’ve only been dreaming about you every single night, wondering where the hell you are, remembering everything, wondering if you think about me.”
“Well, I’ve been looking for you.”
Before she knew it, she was standing in his arms and his mouth was on hers. As they stood in the glow of the bonfire, Khiara told herself this was nothing more than a vivid memory feeding off the magickal energy that the Witches had raised in the ritual.
“Khiara.”
She opened her eyes.
Liam’s gaze was intense on her face. “Are you ready to go home now?”
“Have you been here all this time?” she whispered.
“I’ve been watching you every step of the way since you got back here,” Liam answered. “So I want to know again: are you ready to go home now?”
“What took you so damn long?” she asked, tracing her fingers over his face, trying to ascertain if she was hallucinating. “I was trying to find you for the past month, and you never came. Didn’t you hear me or feel me looking for you?”
“It took a while to recover from what Ronan did to me,” Liam said apologetically. “Believe me, I wanted to come for you sooner, but my mother forbade it. She couldn’t risk me getting hurt or lost in the transition from one world to the next. Today is one of those days when the veil between the worlds has thinned, and the old ways bring mortals closer to the ancient people.”
“What a mouthful,” Khiara laughed, still certain she was imagining him.
Liam smiled
and his arms tightened around her.
“Should I bring anything?” she asked teasingly.
He shook his head.
“What about my friends? Will I ever be able to see them or visit them again?”
“The magick of the Otherworld is like no other,” Liam said, and then paused and amended, “Well, it was once the magick of the mortal world until humanity waged war on all things that came from the Goddess and Her earth. If you become one of us, yes, you will be able to see your friends. You cannot live in both worlds, but you can visit one from time to time. Your faerie blood ensures that you will never be far from home, no matter which world you choose.”
“I think the way I feel about you might have so
mething to do with that as well.” Khiara rested her head on his shoulder. “I missed you more than I thought I would.” Slowly, she was beginning to realize that he really was standing in front of her.
“I’m glad to hear it. A healthy dose of separation certainly works wonders, I found. I couldn’t wait to see you again. I thought about you every moment of the day, and while I was dreaming too.”
Khiara smiled into his neck. “So, now what do we do?”
“Well, first we go home and get married. My mother will be pleased to see one of her sons actually marry somebody he loves.”
“Married?” Khiara pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows.
“Don’t you want to?”
“I guess I’m just surprised that you suggested it.”
“Oh, I’m done looking for my other half,” Liam told her, brushing his lips over her cheek. “I know what I want.”
“Fine, so we’re getting married,” Khiara said with a nod of her head. A slightly hysterical giggle bubbled to her lips. “I still can’t decide if I’m actually having this conversation with you, or dreaming about it.”
With a wry chuckle, he said, “We’ll have to get you acquainted with your new home, of course. Do you think you can handle traveling through the Otherworld once more, so people can meet the honored daughter-in-law of the Queen?”
“Hmm,” Khiara murmured, rolling her eyes. “I’m not sure. Travel with you? You’re kind of a pest at times. You should also know that you snore. Plus, you have this terrible habit of–”
Liam pulled her close for a sudden kiss to silence her mockery.
“Oh, alright,” Khiara sighed as she pressed her hand against his chest and smiled up at him. “I suppose I’ll have to endure it because I love you.”
“Good.” Liam turned and waved his hand over the fire, which ceased to burn, leaving nothing but a few traces of wispy smoke drifting from the cool
ing logs. He wrapped his arm around Khiara’s and said, “This is your last chance to say goodbye, at least for a little while. Once you get settled, we’ll return so you can see your friends.” He looked over at the house. “What about your home and your store?”
“Already signed over to one of my coven sisters,” Khiara responded. “All of my material belongings are now hers.”
Liam caressed her face. “I promise you, you will have anything and everything that you could possibly want in the Otherworld.”
“For now, the only thing I want is you.” Khiara took h
is hand from her face and interlaced their fingers.
He smiled and said, “That sounds good to me. Are you ready?”
“I’m more than ready.”
Khiara felt the pulse of faerie magick around them. The world seemed to slide out from beneath her feet, and then was quickly replaced with a new land.
She was looking out over a vast field of lush, verdantly green grass and white flowers that glowed in the moonlight. The moon seemed to hang low over the land, like it had on Midsummer’s Night, illuminating everything with a silvery luminosity, including the thin, pale gray mist.
Trees lined both sides of the field, and then circled around a large house and yard. The house was built with rich, red bricks, reflective of the fire magick of the land, but also white columns and trim that
brightened the effect. A white pebble walk led up to the manor door and in a circular drive around the home. Shrubs with white flowers, including roses, lined the front of the house, just beneath the elaborate windows. A soft light glowed from behind the windows.
“This is yours?” Khiara asked.
“I’m a youngest son, so I don’t get a castle,” Liam said. “But since I’m a prince, I still get a little something.”
Khiara laughed. “It’s absolutely gorgeous.” She looked up at the azure sky and the golden-silver stars that hung overhead. “This is how I imagined the Otherworld should be.”
“I’m glad to give it to you,” Liam said. “You’ve had enough of its dangers, I think.” They walked up the drive, hand in hand. “Wow,” Liam said softly. “I waited for you for so long, and you’re finally here.”
Khiara reached up to put her arms around his neck and pull
ed him into a long kiss.
When they finally parted and caught their breath, she said, “I’ve waited for you for a very long time too.”
“I hope you’re not planning on going anywhere anytime soon,” Liam said, his fingers curling around her waist.
“Definitely not,” Khiara murmured, shaking her head and lifting her face to his for another kiss.
The End
Acknowledgments
This book would not be possible without the efforts of my wonderful editors, Meghan Hamilton and Shannon Byers. Thank you for your hard work.
About the Author
Wendy L. Callahan
is an urban and steampunk fantasy author, and co-host of the live weekly radio show, Sounds of Steam. She is a genealogical Nancy Drew in disguise. You can keep up with her at
www.WendyLCallahan.com
.