Redeemed by Rubies (A Dance with Destiny Book 6) (30 page)

“A Shinobi? What the hell’s a Shinobi?”

Jenevier smiled. “A magically gifted ninja, skilled in the ways of his people.”

“Skilled?” Baytac furrowed his brow. “In what?”

“My beautiful Yui can simultaneously take out multiple enemies with his hair alone.”

“Beautiful?” Baytac snorted. “Beautiful and deadly… I should have known.”

“Oh!” Jezreel grabbed Jenevier’s hand. “You should bring your son as well. I want to meet him. Our children should know each other… play together.”

“Mi Sharna,” Kias said softly. “I believe they are past the
playing together
stage.”

Jenevier chuckled. “Tenshi is all Angel, to be sure—powerful and fierce. Yet, he is as gentle as a lamb… sweetest child ever born.”

“So… it’s settled then?” Jezreel smiled happily. “You’ll bring him?”

“You have already met my Blessing… Daichi.”

Jezreel and Kias shared a knowing glance.

“You know what it is you now ask for.” Jenevier held Jezreel’s gaze. “You know who we are, sweet sister.” She looked then to Kias. “If it is well with the Elvenfolk, I would be honored to bring my family to the Amalgamation.”

Kias only smiled and nodded toward her in his elegant, princely way.

“If you and Jezreel are such good friends…” Baytac lightly yanked on one of her curls. “…then why has she never met your family?”

“Many reasons,” Jenevier said, turning then to the dark Elf. “The main one being… humans cannot pass through the clouds. I could have brought Tenshi, yes.” She smiled softly. “But he was fully grown before Kias and Jezreel blended their souls… long before they had children of their own. Alas, time and opportunity have not been on our side.”

“Is that all?” he asked. “Is that the only reason?”

“Nope.” She scrunched up her nose at him. “
Now
we know about the caves. Before them, it was not possible to bring the whole of my family to Ashgard.”

“Then… you’ll do it?” Jezreel said happily. “You are simply teasing? You’ll bring the lot of them, right?”

Jenevier smiled. “Yes, Jezreel. It would be my honor.”

“So…” Kaleeska whispered to herself. “The entire royal house of Jinn will attend my Amalgamation…”

When Jezreel and Kaleeska started squealing and discussing more arrangements in rather high-pitched voices, Baytac leaned over to Jenevier and whispered, “Am I going to regret this—having Angels and Shinobi at my wedding?”

Jenevier winked at him. “Oh, I can almost guarantee it.”

Then, they too joined in the laughter as well.

*****

“I never dreamed
you
would be the one to greet us.” Jenevier kissed Baytac’s cheek. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready to blend your souls or something?”

“I couldn’t take all the fussing and primping,” he grumbled. “Coming out to meet you was my only chance of escape.”

“You look so handsome.” Jenevier smiled as she eyed him up and down.

“You look pretty good yourself.” Baytac blushed as he gazed upon her, but didn’t look away as he normally would have. “I didn’t realize how beautiful you truly were. I-I mean…” He cleared his throat. “I knew you were beautiful, but… not like
this
. What are you wearing?”

Jenevier glanced down. “This…” She held out her arms. “Is a kimono. It is the official dress of my people. My entire family is adorned thusly.”

“You mean, the people on Jinn… they all walk around, dressed like that?”

She smiled. “Not this extravagantly, no. I wanted to look extra special for your big day.”

“I like your hair all done up like that.” He lightly touched the ornate hair stick at the back of her head, then smiled when the little bells upon it chimed softly. “I like seeing your curls dangle here in the front, too.” He gently cupped one as he spoke.

Jenevier smiled. “I’ve never seen this gentler side of yours, Brother. I like it. No wonder Princess Kaleeska fell head over heels for you. When you let your guard down, you are truly breathtaking.”

“Yeah, well…” He glanced away, then immediately back to her. “But, you went too far. It’s in poor taste to outshine the bride.”

“Then you’d best tone it down a bit, Brother.” She adjusted one of his buttons and smoothed down the front of his shirt. “Wow, Baytac. You look as grand as any King. I am truly impressed.”

Baytac blushed even brighter, then scowled. “Stop it, already. I came out here to get away from such nonsense. Treat me as you normally do… or I’ll be cross with you.”

“And you are not being
cross
with her now?” Yui asked, taking his place at her side.

“Oh, Baytac.” Jenevier took Yui’s arm as she spoke. “This is my husband. Yui… this is my Elven brother, Baytac Mossgrove.”

“It is a pleasure,” Yui said, inclining his head.

Baytac managed an awkward bow. “Emperor.”

As the others began to spill out of the cave one by one, Baytac whispered to Jenevier, “
That
is your husband?” He snorted. “And you make fun of Kias for being pretty. Your lovely Shinobi has him beat… hands down.”

When Yui narrowed his eyes at the other man, Jenevier swallowed back a chuckle.

“Yui is beautiful, yes,” she said. “Even among his fair kind.”

“If you had asked me to pick out your husband…” Baytac glanced over her shoulder. “I would have said
that
guy.”

Jenevier and Yui both turned in the direction the dark Elf was motioning.

“Him?” Jenevier laughed. “That is my son. Tenshi, come. There is someone I would like you to meet.”

When everyone was near enough, Jenevier began the formal introductions.

“This is my son Tenshi… his lovely wife Mika. She is a Shinobi as well.”

“Magical hair and all?” Baytac asked.

Jenevier chuckled. “No. Only Yui’s hair is blessed thusly. Mika is invisible… until she speaks. She tries to hum softly to stay visible for company.”

The Elf furrowed his dark brow. “…Invisible?”

“Yes.” Jenevier nodded. “And that’s not all. She is master of the throwing knives—could slice those gilded buttons off your shirt at fifty paces and never leave a scratch.”

Baytac’s eyes went wide when Mika purposefully fell silent… and faded away.

Jenevier chuckled again. “Oh, and this enchanting young woman here is
their
daughter and my only grandchild, Lala.”

“Nice to meet you, Milord,” Lala said while curtseying properly, then bowing as well.

Baytac only stared back at her, uneasily.

“Oh, don’t let her pleasant demeanor fool you, Brother.” Jenevier elbowed him. “She is Angel
and
Shinobi.”

“Yeah… that’s what I figured.” He swallowed hard. “So… where do her
talents
lie?”

“She is master of the wind.” Jenevier smiled proudly. “Can call forth a tornado by simply raising her arms.”

The leery Elf then looked to the last man standing there. “And who might you be? A Dragon in disguise?”

Jenevier giggled. “No, silly. This handsome man is Duhrias Rogallis. We just call him Dimples.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Baytac took Duhrias’s proffered hand. “Are you a Shinobi, or an Angel?”

“I am neither.” Duhrias smiled. “I am the Spirit of the Rogall River, and only sworn Knight to the Empress of Jinn.”

“River Spirit, huh?” Baytac grumbled. “I can see why they call you Dimples.”

“Mama has spoken quite often of you, good Baytac,” Tenshi said. “It is nice to put a face with the name. Congratulations on your pending Amalgamation.”

“Gratitude, Prince Tenshi.”

Baytac cleared his throat then, but just stood there.

“…Well,” Jenevier said. “Aren’t you going to lead the way?”

“There is time yet,” Baytac said, eyeing his new company.

“You are ill at ease?” Jenevier asked.

“Not truly,” he said. “Just thinking. That’s all.”

“Well stop.” Jenevier poked him on the chest. “We are here for love, not war. Don’t always look upon the negatives, Brother. Look at it this way… if an enemy crashes your party, they don’t stand a flippin’ chance.”

Baytac snorted, then smiled.

“Is Alastyn here yet?”

The Elf looked down at her from the corner of his eye. “Yes. The King arrived a short time ago.”

“Is Izadori with him?”

“Of course.” Baytac turned to face her fully. “Her niece is getting married. Why do you ask? Is there contention between you two?”

“No,” Yui said, taking Jenevier’s hand. “Yet, my wife does tend to have a bit of a jealous streak… where all her
men
are concerned.”

“Selfish, is she?” Baytac chuckled. “Yeah, I should’ve seen that. She likes to take charge. Doesn’t like sharing much, either.”

Yui smiled sweetly at Jenevier. “You have no idea, good Elf.”

Jenevier suddenly gasped. “Oh my goodness. I nearly forgot. I promised Nilakanta I would greet him at the field. If you would excuse me for a moment…”

“You brought the Dragon, too?”

She tilted her head to the side. “Baytac, where
I
go,
he
goes.”

When Jenevier suddenly disappeared, Tenshi tried to fill the uncomfortable silence her absence had left.

“Mama brags on your might with a blade.”

“Your mama talks too much,” Baytac mumbled. “Never shuts up, is more like.”

“She favors you,” Lala said. “Whether she admits it or not, she respects you.”

The Elf looked from the raven-haired Princess up to her disgustingly handsome father. “You do not favor Yui, good Prince.”

“I don’t know why I should.” Tenshi smiled. “Master Yui is my Senpai, not my father.”

“Oh…” Baytac furrowed his brow, blushing as he turned away.

“I am her fourth husband,” Yui said. “Tenshi’s father was her first.”

“Yeah… I remember her saying she had buried all her former husbands,” Baytac half whispered. “She didn’t really want to talk much about it, though.”

“Yes,” Tenshi said softly. “Mama suffered through horrific tragedies with Varick and Finnean.”

“Which one was your father?” Baytac asked.

“Oh, no.” Tenshi blushed. “My father yet lives. Although, Mama was married to Varick before I was born. Alas, I never actually got to meet him.”

“Why?”

“Mama was stolen from their home, the day before I was born. Then… the same day Varick finally found us, was the same moment he died. He saved my life… but, I never knew him.” Tenshi sighed softly. “And Finnean… well, that was later on. I was grown by then, and they lived on a different layer. And although I
did
get to meet her rare white warrior… we never actually got to know each other.” He swallowed hard. “Yui may not share my blood, but he is the man who helped raise me.”

“So…” Baytac narrowed his gaze. “Your father is the Prince of Hell, then. The one who started—”

“I’m back,” Jenevier announced happily.

The tension in the air now seemed very nearly tangible.

“What’s going on?” She looked around at each of them. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” Baytac said softly. “Your son was simply filling me in on some of the sadder bits you left out.”

“Come now.” She slapped the Elf’s broad shoulder. “Today isn’t for past pains. Today is all about future happiness. Let us go, Brother.” She took Baytac by the arm. “Let’s go get you married off, shall we?”

“Tell me, Angel,” Baytac whispered for her ears alone. “How much does the boy favor his father?”

“Save for his curls,” she whispered back. “You cannot tell them apart.”

“Yeah.” He smiled with only one corner of his mouth. “That’s what I figured. So, in truth… I
did
pick out your husband”

She smiled. “Perhaps you know me better than I thought you did.”

Baytac grunted. “I highly doubt that.”

Jenevier playfully pinched the dark Elf’s muscular arm, and they shared a quiet laugh as they made their way into Arbordell.

*****

“Although I may not be able to match your grace, Emperor Yui,” Alastyn said as he bowed. “May I be permitted to dance with your lovely wife?”

Yui graciously placed Jenevier’s hand in the King’s, then led his own beautiful niece into the dance circle.

“What did you think of the Amalgamation, Prince Tenshi?” Dofarel asked as he refilled the sapphire Angel’s goblet.

“I have never seen anything quite like it,” Tenshi said, smiling.

“True,” Duhrias said. “It gives a whole new meaning to
bound for all eternity
.”