Opal (Rare Gems Series Book 4) (23 page)

“
Sucks, huh?” He looked at Blair. “Not being in control. My dad does that to me all the time. I think I have a handle on the situation, and he comes into the room and it all goes to shit. But in a good way.”

“
She just went with her and left me standing here.” Blair nodded and they both moved back to the room where the rest of them were. “How does one survive this? I mean, is there a manual or a reference book I can use?”

“
Nope.” Allen handed him a glass of beer. He eyed the glass carefully before taking it. “I heard tell you are able to eat all sorts of things now.”

“
Not cheese. It doesn’t agree with me.” He looked over at his dad, who was talking with his brothers-in-law. “My dad will make friends with anyone.”

“
He would, I bet. And he’d kill them if they fucked with what was his.” That was true as well, and he told Allen so. “You’re a good deal like him, I think. Not just in looks, though there you’re almost twins. But you both have that same slow manner that makes one think you might be a little on the slow side.”

“
Thanks.” Allen laughed and Sloan looked around the room again. “She said no. I asked her last night and she said yes, but today…today she’s saying no to me.”

“
You asked her? She said yes?” Sloan said yes. “Then I’ll talk to her.” Behind Allen, his son was shaking his head, cutting his fingers across his throat, and mouthing the word “no.” But instead of heeding his friend’s advice, he nodded. What harm could come of it, right?

The rest of the afternoon was spent on him roaming the castle for Opal. She was upset with him, he knew that. For what, he wasn
’t really sure, but she was blocking him. He heard several times what a lovely person she was, but he could not find her. He just wanted to go home and start the day over.

But for reasons he could not fathom, he was pretty sure he wasn
’t going to be able to do that for a while yet.

Chapter 1
4

The dress was…Opal knew that the word amazing was inadequate, but that’s just what it was. And the longer she looked at it, the more she wanted to try it on. But she only stared at it as Calane, Sloan’s mom, talked about things that she’d done that week. Most of it, nearly all of it, centered on her getting the place ready for them.

“
Do you want to try it on?” She looked at Calane, who smiled as she continued. “It’s for you. I know you kind of figured that out, but I didn’t want to push. But I’d love to see you in it more than I can tell you.”

“
My grandmother would love this. It looks so much like the one she had picked out for my own mom when her and my dad got married. But they ended up getting married by a justice of the peace. He didn’t want to wait.” Opal fingered the lace that made up nearly ninety percent of the dress. “How did you know my size?”

“
I didn’t. That’s my dress.” Opal turned to look at the tiny woman who was now seated at a large desk. “It’s magical, like the rest of this place. Whoever it chooses…and I know that’s hard to understand…but whoever the dress chooses to wear it, it will accommodate the size for them. Ursula made it for me. And when I asked her if you may wear it, she told me only if the dress said it was okay. Very strange, but if you spend much time here, you’ll get used to it.”

“
The faerie.” Calane shook her head. “There’s another named for her? I have to tell you, I just love her name. But I thought that someone said she was faerie.”

“
No. I mean Ursula isn’t a faerie, and I love her name as well. Her sister, Ysane, is faerie. Most think Ursula is, but she is Jinn. Do you know what that is?” Opal felt her hair dance on her arm. “She’s not evil, child, she’s just her. And over the centuries, she’s become quite good at being what she is.”

“
She’s said to be…to be a monster. Her kind kills without mercy and does it in ways that the person will suffer the most.” Calane nodded and smiled. “Then I’m confused. How could someone make something this lovely and be Jinn?”

“
I’m sure if people were to know that you’re a wolf, they’d wonder the same of you.” That was true. Even her own kind were considered savages. She looked at the dress with more respect. “I would very much like to see you try it on. And your sisters are here as well. They are being put into their rooms as we speak. Would you like them to meet you here?”

“
Yes.” Opal felt tears fill her eyes. “I know it’s silly, but…this is really too much. I’m terrified if you want to know the truth. And being wife to Sloan, it’s not necessary. I can be his mate and that’ll be fine. He will tire of me soon, and then what will I have? Memories that will haunt me? Dreams of a man that I loved with all of my heart? I don’t think I’d survive that.”

“
You will because he loves you a great deal.” Opal nodded. “You love him too. That is more than most people ever get in their life. He’s a wonderful man if I do say so myself. And hurting because he’s hurt you.”

“
He is a wonderful man. And very stubborn. I wonder where he might have gotten that from.” Calane immediately said his father, and Opal laughed. “I would guess he got a great deal from both of you.”

“
Mayhap. But that’s not the issue, is it? What are you afraid of?” So many things she wanted to say, but Calane smiled as she answered her own question. “Commitment? You mentioned that he’d tire of you. Do you think to tire of him as well?”

“
No. Never. I know in my head that can’t happen, but my heart tells me that he’ll get bored with me. I’m not really the…I’m more of a finish work and go home to a nice little house in the woods kind of girl.”

“
I’m reasonably sure that you don’t have a small house, and while it might be near woods, there is more than you expected of it. So, from this I’m to gather it’s his money.” Opal sat on the bed and nodded. “He does have a great deal of it. More than you can spend in all your lifetimes if he never made another penny. Then there are the things and money that he has here. I’m not sure what the equivalent is to people of your realm, but I would say that it’s a great deal more than he has there.”

“
You’re not helping.” Calane laughed again. “I don’t know how to be rich and glamourous.”

“
Glamour you don’t need to work at. Rich? Why do you have to know how to be rich? Do you enjoy having nice things? Sloan tells me you have a lovely shop. Do you like being able to sell pretty things? Have things in it that no one else has?” She nodded. “Then you are well on your way to learning how to be rich.”

Opal sat there staring around the room.
She had no idea, but she thought this was Sloan’s room. Getting up, she wandered around, picking up the things that were his and putting them back. When she came across a small flower in a picture frame, she turned to Calane.

“
He grew that. Long, long ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. He’d been out with the gardener. Several times a day he’d leave here and go out and hunt the poor man down. And he’d spend hours with him. It’s a small wonder that the man continued to work for us. But Sloan had begged him to plant a garden. He didn’t like vegetables, but he knew that I loved flowers. After weeks and weeks of him out working his little plot of land, he came in to tell us that he had a plant growing. It wasn’t the only one he had, but it was this one that was doing the best. One that he’d been able to create with his own hands.” She got up and came to her and touched the flower that was hidden behind the glass. “A month later he came in with this in his hand. He handed it to me with such a flourish you would have thought it was a bag of gems. And to me, it was worth more than that. He’d grown this just for me. Do you know what this is?”

“
No. It’s the most beautiful flower I’ve ever seen. The colors are almost…they looked like a moonstone.” Calane nodded. “Can we grow them on earth? I have a sister that owns a plant shop. She’d make a fortune selling these, as I’m sure no one else in her line of work has them.”

“
I have no idea. And it’s called Opal’s Dream.” Opal looked at her. “I was surprised myself when he told us your name. All these years, all these lifetimes, and here you are, his own Opal’s Dream.”

Her sisters and grandmother came in then. The baby was passed to Calane
, who immediately said she was going to adopt him as her own grandchild. Sapphire talked Opal into trying on the dress, and before she knew it, she was dressed as a bride. Looking in the mirrors that had been set up for her, she looked at the woman staring back at her.

“
You’ve never looked more beautiful.” She looked at her grandmother. “Are you going to marry him?”

“
Yes.” Her grandmother kissed her cheek. She looked up when Sapphire said her name. The flowers that were handed to her nearly made her weep. “They’re mine.”

As her sisters began to dress, Opal moved out into the garden off from the room. She was staring up at one of the trees in full bloom when she heard
someone say her name. Ursula came to stand before her.

“
You are very lovely, my lady.” Opal nodded and sat down when she did. “I have a wedding gift for you. You must understand that by accepting this gift, you will have a part of me.”

“
What is it?” She didn’t answer, but then Opal didn’t really think she would. “Does Sloan have the same gift from you?”

“
He does, my lady.” She told her she was just plain Opal. “Nah, you are more than plain anyone. You will be queen here some day and in turn, your husband, my friend, the king. You are both destined to be worshiped by those you lead and cherished by all who know you. I should like to tell you something, if you do not mind.”

“
I’m not ready for that.” Ursula laughed. “Please tell me and then I’ll let you know if I can accept the gift. If you do me one favor first.”

“
First, my tale.” Opal nodded. “Long ago there were six gems. Not unlike your sisters and you, but these were stones, not ones of flesh as the six of you are. As they made their way together, each of them coming from different parts of the realm in which we live, they memorized their adventures, their trials, and their tribulations. Each, you see, had a different life than the one that they knew they were destined to have. A life that would be safe, wonderfully magical and full of love. The opal, one like you, was the bravest of them all. Her story has been passed down to each Jinn, until I was asked to give it to you.”

The stone she put into
Opal’s palm when she took her hand was warm. Opal felt the tremendous weight of it and held it up to the sun to see its clarity and perfection. But in the middle, shining back at her, were twinkling lights. She looked at Ursula, who smiled.

“
She took the stones into herself to protect them. Some of them were stronger than her, others smarter, but none of them were as brave as the opal. It is why, when all of them came together, that she was chosen above the other five to keep them safe.” Ursula took the stone again and tapped it gently against the hard seat. It split in two and spilled out not just the other gems—each of which one of her sisters was named for—but twelve of the most beautiful opals she’d ever seen. “Your daughters will each have one. You’ll have no sons, but twelve daughters to carry on the task set before you this day. And my gift to you, should you take it, will help you in ways that you will need to protect the gems of your flesh.”

The gems were poured into her hand
, and Opal felt the connection to them immediately. She looked at the Jinn and knew for as long as she lived, this woman would mean everything to her. She nodded and asked if she could ask her favor now.

“
Anything, my lady. You need only to wish it, and it will by yours.” Opal wasn’t sure about all that, but she took her hand and felt the power wash over her. It was a gentle rain feeling, soft and warm and full of hope and promise. “And your favor?”

“
You’re going to be one of my bridesmaids.” The look of horror on Ursula’s face was priceless. Opal was still laughing when a dress was brought for her to put on. As soon as they were all assembled, Sloan was informed that the wedding was about to take place. Opal just hoped that he didn’t back out now.

~~~

He’d never been more terrified and relaxed in his life. His bride, his Opal, was going to be his wife in a matter of minutes. Sloan stood with the men who had come to mean so much to him, and wondered if they’d all felt this way about the women they had married. His friend Thad came forward just as he was ready to go and find Opal, just to be sure she was still going through with this.

“
She is.” He nodded and felt his body relax just a little more. “I heard from Jade. She said to tell you that if you fuck this up, she’s going to cut your balls off and serve them to you for the rest of your life. I’m not sure how she’ll manage that, but I believe her.”

“
Me too.” He let out a long breath. “She is going to be my wife. After all this time, I have not just a mate, but one that I love very much.”

“
Who would have thought it?” Thad laughed. “You’re a lucky man. We all are. Even Rufus is pretty lucky, even though I doubt very much he’ll find him a wife.”