Light in Torment: An Annora Park Novel: Book Three

Chapter Seven: Animosity and Acrimony

   "WHAT is HE doing here?" Terrenel thunders from his place on his massive throne.
   I stand my place and lift my head.  "I asked him here."
   "Why?" Terrenel gets off his throne and begins to make his way over to us.  He looks around and shouts.  "Everyone out," And within seconds the throne room is clear of but the three of us.
   "I thought he needed to be here."
   "He doesn't.  This has nothing to do with him, my beloved one."
   "Well, it sort of does."  I sigh.  "We never got around to talking about what I came here in the first place to talk about, Terrenel"
   "No, because you whisked off like a child throwing a tantrum."
   Red hot rage burns through me.  I narrow my eyes.  Oh well, this was going just great, wasn't it.  "A TANTRUM!" I shriek? "I saved you miserable life, you sonofabitch!"
   "Sonofabitch?" Terrenel quirks his head to one side.
   "It's a insult," Branuel adds helpfully with a small smile on his handsome face.
   "I do not like it."
   "Well get used to it."I snap.  "Because if you're going to keep acting like this I'm going to call you that and a lot worse."  Suddenly I'm really tired.  Winking in and out had taken a lot out of me.  And I really didn't want to keep going round in circles with this stubborn Fairy.
   "Listen Terrenel, can we shelve out issues for awhile and discuss what I came here to discuss with you in the first place."
   "Which was?"
   "Did you know you have two light Fairy missing?"
   Terrenel frowns.   "I've been...incapacitated for a little bit.  I don't know if..."
   "So that would be a no."
   "I will have to check."
   "You do that.  In the meantime I have two murders to solve topside."
   "Murders?"
   "Yes, Terrenel horrible murders okay.  I came to you for help because the Two victims are Light Fae."
   "Impossible!" Terrenel roars.
   "It's not impossible.  I'm telling you, Terrenel I Treaded both scenes and both victims are Light Fae,  And what's worse when I tread the scene I saw this glowing form over them, taking their...taking their..."
   "Taking their what my love?"
   I ignore the my love part and continue, even if it makes my stomach roil.  "The light took their skins.  The Light Fairies were skinned.  Their backs were skinned perfectly.  No blood at the scene, nothing, but perfectly almost surgically, no magically skinned bodies."  I can see by Terrenel's face that he's horrified.
    "I've never...I've never..." Terrenel breaks off.  He runs a hand through his hair.  "I will make inquiries immediately."
    "That's what I was hoping you would do."
   "I'm really stumped here, Terrenel.  There is no blood.  I can't see a face, I can't see the face of the murderer or anything, just this bright white light shimmering over there."
   "Oh my love, how horrible for you."
   "And you," I say.
   "Yes." Terrenel looks over at Branuel.  "Can you give us, some space, Branuel Or De A'lanuel?"
   Branuel looks over at me and I nod slowly.  I follow Terrenel to his throne and come to sit next to him on the steps of the dais.  "You really hurt me, Terrenel."
   "That is the last thing I wanted to do, my love."
   "Well you did.  You inferred that it's only my wings that make me acceptable to you and your people."
   Terrenel brushes a strand of hair away from my face and looks pained.  "My love, you are perfect the way you are.  I wouldn't change a hair on your beautiful head.  You were perfect to me before and you are perfect to me now.  I merely meant that you wings are extraordinary and that now my nobles have no reason to fear your place at my side.  They are old fashioned and they had old fashioned ideals.  But I would have fought them tooth and nail.  There is no queen for me but you.  My people already love you.  Desharra, all the lesser of the court Fae love you.  Briella means nothing to me and her father even less.  I could care less about his empty threats.  He needs me more than I need him,  He can take his forces and do with them what he will.  I am the KING here.  I have the final word on everything.  You are mine.  You hold my bond.  A bond that can never be severed.  As evidence that you brought me back from the brink, my love.  Only you could do that.  Only you had the power to do that.  Don't you see it?"
   I did.  It was just hard to admit.  "I guess," I murmur. 
   "You guess?" He presses a soft kiss to my lips.  "Am I forgiven?"
   I lick my lips.  "I guess I understand.  I still don't like it, I won't admit that I like this antiquated idea of betrothal and stupid matches and I really don't like how you sprung it on me.  And...and...you sent me away."
   "I didn't send you away.  I didn't want you to hear it like that, I was coming after you but you disappeared."
   Well, he DID have me there.  I had run.  "Okay, I forgive you.  But...but...I'm not ready to wear you ring again, Terrenel."
   "Oh my love, please."
   "No." Hadn't Branuel told me to make him sweat it out a bit.  "I'm not ready to wear the ring yet.  I need to learn to trust you again.  I'm getting there.  But I'm not all the way there."
   "I WILL make you trust me again, my love."
   Knowing him, he would.  I stand up and give him a hug.  "Listen I need to get back to Earth and check up with Walker and Garrett, they're likely killing each other by now."
   "I will go with you."
   "No, please figure out if you have missing Light Fae.  You can follow me in a day or so, okay?"
   "If that is what you wish."
   "It is."
   "Then I will abide by you wishes.  Will HE be going with you?"
   I nod.  "Branuel will come with me.  I could use his extra support.  Don't worry, you'll be there in two shakes of lambs tail."
   "Shakes of a lambs tail?"
   "Just another expression.  Means you'll be with me before you know it."
   Terrenel presses a passionate kiss upon my lips and leaves me breathless.  "Then I look forward to it, my love."