BEYOND THE RAINBOW

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE - HARMONY SUCKS

"What do you mean she requires me to propose? And you say the Sylphs are gone? Who is running the ship? Magellan is performing the ceremony!" Lucifer's voice was rising by the second.

Jaddai had found him cooling his heels in the chapel. Along with Galen and several of his Fay lieutenants. Apparently they were to be the only witnesses to the Queen's nuptials. And none of them had looked happy about it. There wasn't even a flower in the chapel. The Fay had left with alacrity on being told the wedding was delayed and the bar was now well stocked.

Jaddai now eyed the distraught Lucifer, resplendent all in white, tie and tails. But at present his expression was more murderous than festive. It was plain he had no interest in the process of getting married, just the end result. Jaddai wondered if he realized how insulting this charade would be to her and their people if it went ahead. Fay union was anything but a formal process of law.

"Your mother's servants were happy to return to their homeland." The elf said said quietly. "The ship is secured under my command. We do not require servants. And if I might offer you some advice, it is customary to offer a betrothal ring and – "

"Yes, yes, I have that covered! Can we just get on with it. Where is she?" Lucifer fished a ring box out of his trouser pocket and opened it. The elf winced at the sight of the ring. A fabulous diamond, ostentatious to the max.....

"Never mind, I'll get her myself. And you better know how to conduct a wedding ceremony, or God help you!" Lucifer snapped the ring box shut impatiently.

"Jesu! This is bad, No! Don't do it!" But the Dark Lord had finally lost patience. Jaddai was talking to thin air.

***

The moment he allowed the link, Lucifer could feel her draw and his control slipping. Even before the hatch slid open and he caught sight of her, sitting in a vine swing in a fairy glade. Her glorious hair was un-braided and crowned with flowers, and she was in her wispy, halter neck fairy gown of rainbows. The panels floated out around her in living colour and revealed provocative glimpses of her womanly curves. Her pixie ears were adorable and her crystal green eyes were dreamy with love, but her cheeks were wet with tears. The serenity garden was now a solarium of towering fern trees and trailing orchids in exotic bloom. There were grassy banks around a central feature of moss-covered rocks under trickling water and floating lilies. It was a magic glen, another dimension, and it transported him back to Eden and the place where they used to play. There were even frogs in the stream. A stream that was the only physical obstacle between them now. She was on the other bank. She looked up and smiled mistily through her tears as he strode into the garden All the frustrated longing welled up and burst forth from him in a groan. Lucifer held out his arms in sheer desperation.

"Ah, Baby! Don't cry... come here to me. Don't make me wait anymore. Say you're mine. Please!" He cried hoarsely. He didn't have to beg twice.

"Oh Aidee! Of couse I am! I'm coming!" Touie fluttered across the stream into his outstretched arms. Hers went softly around his neck as he scooped her up. Her slippers were at least a foot off the ground. Her wings disappeared and she burrowed into him, sobbing.

A great sigh shuddered through Lucifer's chest. Nothing had ever felt so right and perfect as the feel of her in his arms. "My Touie. How I want you." He groaned. "But it's alright. I can wait. Now I can. You're mine." He muttered. And he had been an ass not to have risked asking her in person. To let his Mother orchestrate their wedding. He was able to control the physical desire by the sheer magnitude of his need to protect her. Even from himself. But that took some effort with her voluptuous curves wriggling to get closer and her nose blatantly investigating his neck. Whilst her pheromones drove him three points South of crazy!