The Faery Princess Read Free Page B

quickly.
    Devlin’s words floated inside her head. She tried to do as he said, concentrating on his hand in hers. She felt his skin and the strength of his fingers laced through hers. She thought about how good he felt when he held her to him. She swamped herself with images of him from her house: of her hitting him in the face with that frying pan, of his eyes as he warred with himself about giving in to his desires. She recalled how he’d looked when he’d first entered her and wondered if it had been his first time making love, too. All these things grounded her, steadied the spinning and dizziness that had overwhelmed her.
    When she opened her eyes, she was standing in the middle of a garden paradise. Trees and multicolored flowers abounded. A thick bed of sweet-smelling clover covered the ground, and birds chirped in the air. Ellie saw little sparks of light flit from tree to tree and flower to flower, leaving trails of gold and silver dust in their wake. She supposed this was the faery dust Devlin had mentioned.
    It was the most beautiful place Ellie had ever imagined. Like a dream.
    “I thought the two of you would never get here!” The jolly-sounding voice boomed from just off to the right. Ellie jumped, and Devlin placed himself between her and the man to whom the voice belonged, dropping to one knee almost immediately.
    “Your Majesty.”
    Ellie gaped at the faery. His face was lined with age and his hair and beard were white, but his body was fit and muscular. He stood straight and tall, wearing only a tan-colored loincloth around his waist. He should have looked ridiculous, but instead he seemed like a great warlord.
    “I was beginning to think even you couldn’t find her, Devlin. That would have been sorrowful indeed.” He turned to Ellie and walked toward her. Pride and love shone in his eyes and when he reached her, he simply took her in his arms and hugged her tightly. “I’m glad he found you, girl. I’ve missed too much of your life, and I refuse to miss another second.” He pushed her back to arm’s length and looked at her with adoring eyes. “You look just like your mother. Your skin is the same shade of lavender, and your hair a lovely goldenrod yellow like your grandmother’s.”
    It was true. Ellie looked down at her arms. Though she couldn’t see the hair on her head, the fine hairs on her arms were the faintest yellow. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what the rest of her looked like.
    Ellie didn’t really know what to say. Where she felt a bit awkward, her grandfather didn’t seem to be the least bit uncomfortable. When he pulled back and smiled at her with tears in his eyes, Ellie couldn’t help but return his smile.
    “I’m Ellsinore, but you can call me Ellie.” It seemed a trifle late for proper introductions, but it was the only thing she could think of to say.
    “So you are.” Glendon’s booming laugh lightened her heart somewhat, but there was still the matter of Devlin to discuss. Before she could broach the subject, however, Glendon spoke again. “Is there anything you wish to tell me before we venture into the forest? Your grandmother is so looking forward to meeting you.”
    Ellie had never let go of Devlin’s hand and she felt the tension in him.
    She cleared her throat. “Yes, I do have something to tell you.” Her grandfather merely raised an eyebrow. “I came here because Devlin told me he couldn’t stay in my world. I have to tell you, I won’t stay here without him.”
    All business now, Glendon turned to Devlin. “And how do you feel about this, young man?” It seemed a male parent asking about the intentions of his daughter’s suitor was universal across worlds.
    Devlin raised his chin a notch and clung to Ellie’s hand, but she had a feeling he would release it to defend himself if necessary.
    “The deed is done, your majesty. I have claimed Ellsinore as my mate. There will never be another for me.”
    There was dead silence in the forest.