Page 49 of Wind and Water (Reign of the Witch Queen #2)

Wren

M emories of the ball float through my mind as I return from training with the oracle.

I pat Fior’s thick neck. Liam’s mother gave me the beautiful gray horse as a gift.

The mare’s hair is the color of a storm cloud while her mane and tail are jet black.

Maybe I should have refused her, but I was already in love with her.

“Are you gathering wool, or is it something serious?” Harper asks as she rides beside me on her white horse.

I like my new friend from New Jersey. I don’t imagine we ever would have crossed paths if not for our elves. “I was thinking that the ball was a beautiful affair. My first since senior prom.”

“Mine too. I would have thought you southern girls have debutante balls all the time.”

We round the final bend, and the castle rises, shining bright white in the late-day sun.

In the east, dark clouds gather. It looks as if we’ve returned just in time to stay out of the storm.

“I’m not that kind of southern girl. Momma and I live modestly on property that’s been in our family for generations. ”

Harper points toward the coming weather. “Looks like we’d better dash for the barn or we’ll be soaked through.”

Thinking the same thing, I follow her at a gallop to the yard in front of the elaborate stone barn. A groom waits. He’s tall and thin with long black hair and an easy smile.

I toss him my reins and jump to the ground. “Thank you, Dane.”

Harper and I make a dash for the door on the side of the castle nearest us and make it just as the sky opens up. We’re giggling like girls as we continue to run down the hallway.

“I didn’t think we’d make it.” Harper fixes the ribbon holding her hair back. “If I ever go home, I’m bringing scrunchies back by the dozen.”

Ahead, there are several voices in the foyer. As we step through the door under the stairs, the voices stop.

Liam, Elspeth, Niamh, and Fancor all stare at us as if they’ve been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

“What are you all up to?” I ask.

Momma rushes in from the far door. “Are we ready?” She looks up, sees me, and presses her hand to her mouth.

I look at the guilty expression on all their faces and know something is going on.

Liam grins. “We thought we’d have a few more minutes.”

“We had to run to avoid the rain.” I take his offered hand. “What’s going on?”

He kisses my fingers. “I have a surprise for you. Everyone here helped make it happen.”

Despite the strange behavior of everyone besides Liam, I feel the rush of excitement building inside me. “What surprise? I don’t need anything.”

Tugging my hand, he leads me up the stairs, past our room, then up another set of stairs to a door that looks like all the others on the guest level of the castle.

The others troop behind us, and even Harper has joined the parade.

Liam takes both my hands. “I wanted to marry you right after the ball. Mother asked us to wait for a proper wedding. She didn’t say I couldn’t give you your wedding gift.

In fact, she helped arrange this. Harper told me in your world, a ring is offered from the groom to the bride as a promise.

Here, it is usually a bracelet.” He turns the knob and pushes the door open.

“I thought you might like to decide on the exact piece you would like, as your work is far more unique than anything made by elven jewelry makers.”

The small room is flush with light despite the rain teaming outside. A long table holds a small lathe, light, pliers in different shapes and sizes, an adorable hammer, wire, a melting pot, and trays of stones in every color. It’s a jeweler’s dream to have a workshop like this.

“This is…” I have no words.

“Is it what you need to continue with your art? If something is missing, tell me and we’ll try to get it for you.” Worry runs through his words.

“It’s perfect. It’s a dream. How do these things work without plugs?” I run my hand lovingly along the top of the lathe.

Elspeth says, “They are powered by magic. They will run for as long as you live.”

I hug her. “Thank you.”

Liam says, “Your mother told us what you would need. Niamh and Fancor were able to get the shiny bits from their people. Harper and Aaran helped me set everything up.”

I hug Fancor.

He chortles and turns red. Patting my back, he says, “I’m pleased you’re happy, Wren. You should be able to continue your passions in whatever world you choose.”

Squealing with joy, Niamh joins in the hug. “Many of those pretty stones came from the waters of the glen. The wire was made here in Tús Nua, but the silver and gold came from the dwarves.”

“I also brought you some raw materials to melt into whatever shape you wish.” Fancor pats my head.

Tears flow freely down my face as my joy cannot be contained. “Thank you all. This is more than I ever could have expected.”

One by one, they hug me and leave. Elspeth cups my cheek. “I wouldn’t want you to give up anything you love to stay here and make my son happy.”

My emotions are so overwhelming, I can only squeak out, “Thank you.”

She kisses my forehead and joins Momma at the door. They leave together, giving Liam and me a long look before they leave us.

Looking in every direction of my stunning workshop, my heart overflows with love and gratitude. I leap into Liam's arms. “You are amazing. Thank you.”

He grips my bottom and kisses me hard on the lips.

Threading my fingers through his hair, I pull it loose from the ribbon and deepen the kiss. My tongue searches his for more. Breathless, I break the kiss. “I can’t believe you did all of this. How did you even know?”

“Every day, I find new braided chains of grass or fabric in our room. It was a good clue. You need your craft to be truly happy. I promise you, Wren, your happiness is the most important thing in my life. I will strive to bring you joy for as long as I live.” He carries me around the workbench to the chair and sits with me in his lap.

“Fancor will help you trade for the minerals that come from his mountains whenever you need more.”

“There is enough here to keep me busy for a year.” My voice is thready with joy and gratitude. “Thank you.” I bury my teary eyes in his shoulder.

Kissing my ear, he says, “I love you. Anything you need, I will provide or help you obtain.”

“What is left for me to give to you?” I hadn’t meant to say it out loud. I will never be able to repay such a thoughtful gift.

With one hand, he combs his fingers through my curls and cups the back of my head. “You are all the gift I will ever need. Telling me you will be my wife, my mate, my life partner, is far greater than this room.”

My heart is near bursting. “The things you say.” I dash away my tears.

From the moment I made the decision to stay in Domhan and make this place and this man my home, I never doubted that it was the right thing. Now I can visualize what life could be like once the battle is won.

“We will beat her. For many years, I didn’t believe it, but now I know in my heart that we cannot lose.” Liam’s eyes are filled with passion and truth.

I lean into his body and revel in his embrace. “There’s nothing we can’t do as long as we’re together.”

Thank you for reading Wind and Water . I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I loved writing it. Wren and Liam, along with all their friends and family, are such rich, wonderful characters.

Be sure to check out book three of the Reign of the Witch Queen, Fire and Ice . If you haven’t read book one, Light and Shadow , this is a great time to learn how Aaran and Harper fell in love.

FIRE AND ICE

Book Three: Reign of the Witch Queen

Layla

I’ve never belonged anywhere. So, at the lowest point in my life, after losing the “Superhero” competition on national television, when a gorgeous man with pointed ears asked me to jump into a vortex and save his world, I jumped.

Not my most brilliant move, and we’re probably going to die or worse—get turned into one of these shadow demons that attacked as soon as we land. Apparently, my beautiful elf missed his magic class on portals.

Raith

I thought it would be hard to convince a human to fight a war in Domhan, but Layla jumped right in.

That’s when I screwed everything up, just like I always do.

I’m not perfect like my brothers. Not a good son and an excellent student, like Aaran, and not a respected soldier, like Liam.

No, I’m the messed-up third son of the great Elspeth Riordan.

I’ve disappointed my parents more often than I can count.

My magic is strong, but I rarely paid attention in school, so when I take Layla through the portal, I lose focus and we land on the wrong planet.

I mean, when I screw up, I don’t mess around.

The Witch Queen has a hoard of her shadow demons populating this hellish place, and they see us as their next meal.

I’m in trouble again, and this time I’ve dragged the stunning human into my chaos—only one thing to do now. I have to make this right.