Sealed with a Kick (7 page)

Berry took a few steps toward them and lowered her head so that they could look her in the eye.

Devlin smiled and stroked her nose. “This is a good look for you.”

She snuffled his hands, and Lasia stroked her neck.

“I hate to say this, but I really want to try riding you.”

Berry snorted and butted her with her head.

She wasn’t up to being ridden if it didn’t involve roses and soft music. Ashko had gotten on there twice, and her urge to drown him had kicked in immediately. Fortunately, he could hold his own underwater. The urge to kill had been surprising, but he had started to show her techniques to deal with it.

Berry left her family and walked to the changing area where she could get back into her gown. A quick change later and she was back with those she loved.

Ashko was standing and talking to the two naked shifters while Berry wandered back to them with a smile. Everyone got quiet when she walked up to them. “So, what do you think of the changes?”

Devlin hugged her, and Lasia followed suit. “You look good and happy.”

Berry smiled in relief. “You think Mom will be upset?”

“Dad will talk her down.”

Lasia rubbed her hands together. “Great. Now, can I help with the wedding plans?”

“Well, I did want you to be my matron of honour. Stacey is a bridesmaid, so that is the sum and total of my part of the wedding party. I don’t need a bridal shower. Ashko has a fully tricked-out home.”

Lasia grinned and hugged her again. “Yes, I will be your matron of honour, and you have no say in what does or doesn’t happen before the wedding.”

“The wedding is in three weeks, and you will have access to a transporter for all your needs. Stacey has volunteered her time to take you wherever you want to go.”

Lasia smirked and ran off to get dressed. The moment she returned, she rounded on Ashko and started to pelt him with questions until he shifted to his biped form and answered her.

Devlin walked off to get dressed, and when he came back to Berry’s side, Lasia was still at it. “She has been hoping for this day.”

“Really? She wanted me to get married?”

“Oh, no. She wanted to plan a wedding without a budget. This is huge for her.” He laughed.

They stood and watched the details being shared and hashed out. She had the best bits of her family with her, and they were excited for her. Berry was having another very good day.

Weddings were designed to be stressful, but with Lasia as her general, all Berry had to do was show up and look pretty. Oh, and she had to agree to marry the fey at the end of the aisle. That part was key.

Cameras, flowers and pearls were the theme. The gown that Ashko had made for her was all the colours of the sea.

The beach wedding was appropriate, and they said their vows in front of members of her herd, her family and friends, and highborn members of the fey court who were getting into going to the shifter-fey weddings.

There was a lot of power in the audience, and it was focused on wishing them well. Berry could feel the bright energy at the shoreline, and it filled her with a sense of well being.

When the vows were spoken in English and the liquid language of the fey, they exchanged enchanted bands and turned to the audience. The fey were subdued, but the shifters hooted and hollered, applauding wildly.

Eventually, the raucous energy of the shifters started to effect the fey, and the happy couple took to the dance floor two minutes before an unusual mix of couples swarmed them.

Hromir, the giant and best man, was dancing with Berry’s mom. Berry saw her dad dancing with an elegant, courtly fey, and she relaxed in the knowledge that at least her people were having a good time. The fey looked startled at the beginning, but that much good will would take down the hesitancy in short order.

Berry smiled up at Ashko. “This party is going well.”

“You are the jewelled centrepiece. I am glad you are happy. Your sister didn’t leave any detail to chance. Seals are surprisingly fierce.” He swayed with her in the crowd, steering her through the bodies with amusing skill.

“As you know, the cute and cuddly is only skin deep.” She winked.

“I must say that I do enjoy the wild ferocity that lies beneath.”

Berry felt heat in her cheeks as she met his gaze. In his eyes, she was naked and under him. It was her favourite spot. He did all the work, and his enthusiasm indicated that he enjoyed it. She occasionally acted as the aggressor, but she had to be take-charge when on assignment for the fey, so it was nice to relax at home where she was sure that she was safe.

“I have noticed your appreciation. Well, I am glad we have made it official. It is definitely nice to have the wedding under our belts so that things can now proceed without getting attention.”

“What things?” He was suspicious.

“I don’t know. A family, little people, that kind of thing.”

He winked. “You mean children?”

“Well, we will start with one and go from there.” She smirked.

“Can we start now?”

“Not on the dance floor. We have guests, and this evening is their chance to see us together looking pretty. We have tonight and every other after that. I will always come home to you.” She smiled and stroked his cheek.

He kissed her palm and twirled her around the floor. The party was just getting started.

She was a little unnerved as she woke from her post-labour nap and found a room filled with fey and four nervous shifters.

“Hey guys. Way to sneak up on a sleeping lady.” She moved around, and Ashko helped her to sit up. “Where is the baby?”

Her mom was standing with her back to the crowd, and she turned and gratefully walked over with the little bundle of warmth in her arms. “Here she is. They were getting grabby.”

Ashko nodded and stroked Berry’s cheek. “Every birth is a huge deal, and they want to bestow blessings on the baby.”

“Leedara. Her name is Leedara.”

A smiled went through the fey and the shifters alike.

Ashko looked at his dark-haired daughter and whispered, “Why are they getting so excited? Leedara is a fey name.”

“It is a family name. I have five ancestors named Leedara, and she is going to carry on that tradition.” She smiled down at the small face with the rosebud lips.

She looked to Ashko and grinned. “She looks like you with my mouth.”

He laughed and stroked the fuzzy, little head. “I was never this tiny.”

The fey started to queue up, and Berry settled her baby on her lap, across her thighs. She watched the fey carefully as they put small objects around the baby and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Cousins, great uncles and one great, great aunt were there to greet little Leedara. She glowed with the magic that they were giving her, and Berry leaned against Ashko.

“We did good.”

He chuckled. “We definitely did. She’s beautiful.”

“And with all this fey power, she might have a chance to lean toward your family more than mine.” She chuckled.

“Not with your side offering to take her to the shore every other day. They will give time and not power. It will tell.”

She sighed and let his great, great aunt hold the baby. The elder fey teared up as her hands shook. “She’s so beautiful.”

A diamond-bright tear cruised down the elegant and pale cheek as she held the little one. The tear struck Leedara’s hand and turned into a solid stone.

“Sorry about that.”

Great Aunt Hrema took the diamond and set it with the other gifts.

Berry looked from her family—bright and excited—to his family—dark but hopeful—and settled back against the pillows for some more rest with her husband at her side.

The seers had predicted a large family for them, and today, that prediction got off the ground.

Sorry for the delays. There have been distractions beyond my control, and now that I am back at home for the summer, I hope to get back onto a regular schedule.

Thanks for enjoying the Crossroads. I hope you continue to in the future.

Thanks for reading,

Zenina Masters

Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.

An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.