Wicked Rage of the Moon: Book Three of the Airendell Chronicles (3 page)

“I agree, Ladybug,” says Morna softly.  “I think we all need to meet first thing tomorrow and make plans.  We should be utilizing all the talents we have available to us to combat the threats against us.  We need to make sure that everyone is protected and yet contributing to resolving this threat.  When we get to Airendell I will push the Guild to give me their decision so that I can focus on protecting my family, friends and my Guild.” 

Morna smiles and says, “But first, we have a wedding and a massive celebration ahead of us.”  Morna hugs and kisses her youngest daughter.  Luca takes Nora out of her mother’s arms and hugs and kisses her as well.  Morna turns her attention to her oldest daughter and holds her arms out to her.  Aideen comes to her mother and the women embrace for several silent moments.

“Mom, Nora, Aunt Breena and I have been working on a surprise for you.  You should go eat, bathe, whatever you need to do and we will join you in an hour with our surprise,” Aideen tells Morna.  Nora giggles and nods happily.  Morna smiles tentatively at her girls and wonders what they are up to. 

Luca takes her hand and leads her back to their suite.  Once they are inside he asks, “Are you finished eating?”  When she nods, he picks her up and carries her into the bathroom.  He sets her down gently on her feet and kisses her tenderly, lingeringly before turning to the tub to start running a hot bath for her.

“You know what the girls are up to, don’t you?”  Morna says suspiciously.

“I do.  Don’t worry, it is a good thing.” Luca assures her.  “Now let us get you undressed and in the tub.”  He reaches out and gently strokes her face and then trails his hand down her neck.  He smiles as he leans in to kiss her, and gently peels the bloodstained blazer from her body.  He gently removes the amber colored blouse and says, “I should have gotten you out of these clothes hours ago.” 

Morna moans her agreement as he cups her breasts through her bra.  Luca leans down and kisses the almost imperceptible scar where the witch’s dagger pierced her flesh.  “I was very angry with you for allowing her to stab you.”

Morna stiffens and moves out of his reach.  “I don’t want to talk about that right now.”

“Why not?” Luca insists.

“Because I wanted to drain that witch’s body of every single drop of blood.  I nearly fed on her.”  Morna confesses in a tortured whisper.

“Well, of course you did.  But you chose to control yourself.  It is what we do.  We do not let biology rule our actions.  You were magnificent, baby!”  Luca breathes as he kisses her gently between the valley of her breasts.  He reaches up and unfastens the chain bearing Odin’s pendant above her glorious breasts and lies it on the bathroom counter.  He unhooks her bra and slowly slides it down her arms, and tosses it behind him.  He takes her loosely into his arms and caresses her back as she starts to undo the buttons of his shirt. 

She sighs happily when she peels the shirt off of his body and feasts on his perfection.  “Luca you are perfect.  You always have been.  I adore every inch of you, every aspect of your personality.  I treasure your strengths and your weaknesses.  You are the joy of my life.  Forgive me if I fail to show you that,” Morna whispers.

“Stop it Morna.  Your father was not right when he accused you of taking me for granted.  I know how important I am to you.  You show me in a hundred different ways every single day.  Do not dwell on this, my love.  Focus on us right now, nothing else.”  He nuzzles her ear before he leans down and effortlessly removes her slacks and panties.  She steps out of them with a giggle and he lovingly caresses her ever growing belly.  I wish I had more time to love you as you deserve, but our girls will be here soon.  Get into the tub my darling.”

Morna complies and enjoys watching him strip out of his slacks and ease into the tub with her.  She comes to him immediately and straddles him as she kisses him deeply.  He chuckles and puts his hands on her hips and guides her unto his ready cock.  He laughs with joy when she goes rigid as she achieves a small orgasm.  “You are amazing Morna!  You must be the most sensual creature God ever created.”  Morna kisses him again and starts to ride up and down on his manhood as she lovingly strokes his face and looks deeply into his eyes.  The love that she sees there brings her to tears.

Luca becomes concerned when her glassy eyes start spilling tears.  He stills the movement of her hips and grasps her face between his hands and asks, “Beloved?  Why are you crying?”

“Tears of joy!  And hormones, I suspect,” she whispers happily and then giggles at herself.  She kisses him deeply before she resumes riding him to their mutual orgasm.  When they both achieve their satisfaction Morna melts into her beloved’s arms and he cradles her gently.  The pair of lovers remain that way for several minutes.  Finally Morna stirs and says, “We better wash up and get ready.  We are the guests of honor at this shindig tonight.”

Luca laughs and starts washing her hair.  The bath is over quickly and he helps her dry off when he says, “Our girls are impatient.  They are here already.”  He wraps the towel around her and goes to the walk-in closet to dress himself.  He brings back a thick terry cloth robe and helps her into it.  He takes her hand and leads her out to their bedroom. 

Morna chuckles and says, “Ingrid is a miracle worker, you would never know we destroyed this bedroom this morning.” 

Luca laughs and says, “Yes, she is almost as amazing as you are, my love.”

Morna scoffs and says, “Whatever.  Please go let our girls in.  I am eager to see what this surprise is.”  Luca chuckles as he walks toward the door.  Morna busies herself brushing her hair and wonders what the big surprise is all about.

“Mama, cover your eyes.” Aideen calls from just outside their bedroom.

Morna sighs quietly and complies.  She hears the trio enter the bedroom, she also hears a swish of material before Nora takes her hand into her own and says, “Open your eyes Mom!”

When Morna opens her eyes she is delighted to see that Aideen is holding a beautiful cocktail length gown.  Morna stammers, “That’s for me?”  When the girls nod happily, Morna says, “It’s so beautiful!  Where did it come from?”  Breena hugs her nieces and the three of them beam proudly.

“Breena, Aideen and me designed it.  Ingrid helped us get it put together in time.  Try it on Mom, I bet it fits perfectly.”  Nora says excitedly in her high little girl’s voice.

“Not yet sweety!  Daddy can’t see it on her before tonight.  It’s tradition.”  Aideen says happily.  Aideen turns toward Luca and says, “Daddy, we love you but you have to leave.  NOW!”

Luca chuckles, and kisses both girls on the forehead.  He takes Morna into his arms and kisses her passionately.  “I’ll be waiting for you under our oak tree at sunset.  Don’t be late.”  Suddenly he is gone.             

Nora giggles.  “Mom, that’s spooky how he does that.”

Morna smiles and says, “I guess so, baby.  I am used to it.”  Morna admires the dress again and says, “You really designed this lovely gown for me?”

“Nora did most of it Mama.  She’s really talented.  I picked out the materials and colors.  You really like it?” Aideen asks.

“Auntie Breena helped a lot!” Nora insists with a smile.  “Do you like it Mama?”

“Yes, darling, I really like it.  It’s lovely.  Who wouldn’t love it?” she assures her daughters.   Morna gasps when the baby kicks.  “Ohhhhh, he’s active today.”

Nora puts her hand on her mother‘s belly and says, “Wow!  Having a baby in your tummy feels weird, but wonderful Mom.” Nora smiles at her mother says, “You know Maddie is going to be my best friend, don’t you?”  Morna smiles and nods happily at her youngest daughter.

“Who is Maddie?” Asks Aideen in confusion.

Morna looks at Nora and says, “So Daddy will agree to the name?”  When Nora nods, Morna smiles and says, “I haven’t even talked to Luca about this yet, so I probably shouldn’t say this, but I want to name him Madigan Westin Michaels.”

“Where did that name come from?” asks Aideen.

“Madigan is after my friend, Mad Mike.  He passed away recently.  He was a very good friend to me for a lot of years.” Morna answers with a melancholy smile as she lovingly rubs her belly.  “Luckily, I don’t have any more long lost children to name him after.  I obviously named Kyle after his brother Kylor, and Aiden is obviously named after you, Ladybug.”  Morna says as she caresses Aideen’s lovely face.  “A part of me always remembered my babies, in whatever incarnation I found myself.”

“Mom, am I named after anyone?”  Nora asks quietly.

“You sure are, Pumpkin!”  Luca laughs from the doorway.  “Sorry girls, I felt the baby kick his Mama and wanted to come check on her to see if I need to strengthen the spell on her uterus.” 

Morna and Aideen smile because they know that he didn’t have to physically come to her to do that.  Aideen suspects he just misses Morna whenever he is away from her and wants to share in this pregnancy since they are actually together once again.

“Mama, do all pregnant ladies need a spell to protect them?” Nora asks.

“No, Pumpkin.  Daddy is what’s called a Stone Cold vampire… It’s a miracle that we were able to make a baby.  But babies like this one grow very, very quickly and are incredibly strong.  Daddy has a spell on my uterus, where the baby grows, to protect Mama.”  Morna explains to her youngest daughter with a smile.

Luca strides into the room and kneels before Morna.  He places his hands over her growing belly and concentrates for a few moments.  And then he leans in and kisses the growing belly and says, “Be kind to Mama.  She has a big night ahead of her tonight.” 

Luca stands and scoops Nora up into his arms.  “Pumpkin, Mom didn’t realize it at the time, but you are named after one of my favorite incarnations of herself.  Her name was LiNora.  She was smart, beautiful, strong, brave and had the best sense of humor of any soul I have ever met.  We lived on a farm in Wales a very, very long time ago.  We were only married for seven years that time, but it was a wonderful time in our lives.” 

Morna chuckles over Luca calling LiNora beautiful.  She recalls her as being horribly thin and kind of horse faced.  But when she looks into her mate’s face she realizes that he means it.  Luca truly found every incarnation of her beautiful and her heart feels like it will burst because it is so full of love for her mate.

Luca tilts the little girl’s face up to his own and says, “Mama wanted to name you Lucy.  But Rolan fought her tooth and nail.”

“Lucy, like Lucian?”  Nora asks with a knowing grin.  When Luca nods, Nora giggles and kisses her Daddy happily.  “That would have been awesome!”

Luca hugs her tightly and finally sets her down by her mother and she promptly snuggles into her mother‘s side under her loving embrace.  He kisses Aideen and Breena on the foreheads.  He kisses his mate deeply again and whispers so quietly that none but themselves can hear; “I like the name.  Madigan is a grand name, and thank you for the Westin.  It’s a joyous reminder for me.”

“For me too.”  Morna whispers back.  Morna blushes at the reminder of the night at the Westin Hotel in Chicago where they conceived their child.

“No fair you guys!”  Aideen pouts.  “Vampire hearing sucks!”

Morna and Luca laugh heartily because Morna had the same complaint for centuries about her mate.  Luca straightens up and says, “I better go to Airendell now.  I want to check the security measures out, and I have a few things to prepare.  Besides, our sitting room is full of beautiful women wanting to help you get ready Morna.”

“I have been wondering who all is out there.  They are being so silent I am getting worried about what is going on,” Morna admits playfully.

“Mom, they are all friends.  Members of your wedding party from my vision.  Aideen and Ingrid helped me get everything ready,” Nora says proudly.

Morna hugs her baby daughter and wonders if any other woman in history had her wedding planned by her seven year old daughter?  All that Morna had planned on was meeting her beloved under their favorite oak tree and exchanging their vows with their friend, George Welborn, officiating. “Well, tell them to all come in here.  Let‘s get this show on the road.”  Morna says happily.

One by one, Morna’s friends file in. Enya and Bronwyn are there.  Maria and Brigid come in embracing and giggling like school girls.  Morna raises an eyebrow and smiles when Frigg and Sif stroll in regally.  She almost giggles in relief when Sammy and Ingrid come in last.  Ingrid has several garment bags draped over her arm and a huge basket in her other hand.  “Thank you for coming ladies.”  Morna says with a giggle.

Sif, the Norse goddess of fruitfulness and plenty, looks around the bedchamber and says, “Ingrid, you are a marvel!  I expected this chamber to be in shambles.”

Morna chokes and starts to blush a violent red.  Frigg, the Norse queen of the gods, chuckles and says, “Daughter, do be good.  You are making the bride blush.”

Aideen blanches and looks at her little sister and realizes that the atmosphere in here might get a little ribald for the likes of her baby sister.  “Nora, let’s you and me go to my chamber and get ready together.  Would you like that?”  Nora smiles and nods.  The two sisters walk hand and hand out of the room, but not before Aideen throws a withering look at Sif.  Morna quickly kisses her daughters before they leave and turns her attention to her guests.

Morna laughs and says, “Sif, you are so bad, my sister!  But I am not truly a bride.  We married almost seven hundred years ago.  This is just a vow renewal ceremony.”