Chapter Thirty-Four
One week after the Wedding Feast
Warm air and soft skin surrounded Conn as he slowly awakened to a new dawn. Opening his eyes, his heart burned at the sight. He would never tire of the vision of his lovely sprite nestled next to him. Each morning brought new joy. She radiated a beauty that brought him to his knees—him a feared and noble warrior. One that spanned a millennium and more. And this frightened Conn. Nevertheless, without Ivy in his life, there would be none.
An empty existence.
The past week was one filled with festivities and seeing old friends. Sean wept with joy when they appeared and told him they had married. Thrilled with happiness, he promptly handed over a hissing Neala, who had objected being pulled from the comforts of her mistress’s cottage. Ivy’s horse had behaved himself, though it was the feline that gave Sean fits.
Conn’s mouth twitched with amusement recalling the visit to the Seven Swans. As Ivy mentioned their elopement, Erin shouted in glee and promptly pulled their best single malt from the shelf for a toast. And then promptly told him if he ever hurt Ivy again, she would rip certain body parts from his body. However, Mac stood rooted to the bar floor gaping at him. Yet, in leaving, the man shook his hand and wished for all the best.
Leaning on one elbow, he studied her sleeping form. Pouting lips, swollen from all the kisses he bestowed on her. Lashes that framed eyes that entranced him. A dimple in the left cheek, enhancing her looks each time she smiled at him.
Her hand was cradled under her cheek, as she snored softly. Conn prayed his daughter would resemble her mother.
Daughter. The very word sent his mind spinning.
Rising quietly from the bed, he draped a cover over her shoulders. Striding through his chambers and onto the terrace, he braced his hands on the ledge. Fear lodged inside of him. Will I be a good father? Will she find flaws within me? Will she love me?
Then Conn remembered his mentor, Aidan Kerrigan. Regret filled him. “Why didn’t I ever seek you out after you left? I am sorry, my friend.” He lifted his head to the light streaming down. “Let my words carry to you across the void.”
“Talking to the elements, husband?” Ivy approached near his side and slipped an arm around his waist. Her simple touch soothed an ancient ache.
“Old friends, long gone,” he replied, burying the memory.
“I’m a good listener, if you need to talk.”
He trailed a finger down the front of her open robe. “I’d rather do other things, now that you’re here.”
Her laugh was sensual and full of promises. “What did you have in mind?”
By the Gods, how he loved the sound of her voice in the early morn. Husky, rich, and ready for him. He lifted her onto the ledge. “Remember the first night under the full moon?”
She twined her fingers into his hair. “How could I ever forget? It was glorious, powerful, and full of desire.”
Conn pushed the material away from her shoulders, exposing her luscious breasts. “In all of my life, I had never lost control as I did on that night.” His finger brushed across her rosy nipple, eliciting a sigh from her lips. “I fully intended to take you right there.”
Spreading her legs farther apart, she held his head back. “Why didn’t you?”
“It was not a path I was prepared for at the time,” he concluded. “In truth, I feared the power you had over me. You brought this warrior to his knees.”
Ivy removed her hands from his head. “Am I your weakness?”
“On the contrary, you are my strength. I had to walk my own destiny.”
“Which is?” Ivy inquired, placing her hands on his arms.
“Love and accepting my place here in the realm.”
Her brow furrowed. “Will you miss being a Fenian Warrior?”
He chuckled softly. “No. We are moving in a new direction. The warriors have been appointed under my command as of yesterday. The Fae council no longer has a say in what they do. My position will be in terms of advising and overseeing their missions.”
“So, in other words, you’re still a part of the Brotherhood,” she stated dryly.
“Yes, but I cannot travel through the veil to assist others,” he assured her, kissing her tenderly. “I can only slip through a few hundred years.”
Ivy wrapped her arms around his neck. “Good. There is one more question.”
He nipped along her neck. “Yes?”
“Why does everyone in the Brotherhood have last names? I’ve met so many of the Fae, and they only have first names.”
Meeting her gaze, he replied, “Think of the Fae as belonging to certain clans, or royal clans. We call them houses—”
Her eyes danced with mischief. “Like the House of Frylnn? Your sister spoke of this one to me.”
Conn tweaked her nose. “Let us not mention that particular one. Again, I must have words with my sister.”
Ivy laughed. “Continue.”
“As I was explaining, each of the Fae here in the realm belongs to a certain house. Whereas, the Fenian Warriors were given surnames in order to live above in the human world. Names were chosen from noble clan families—ones loyal to the Fae and the Dragon Knights.”
“Fascinating. Explain to me again about these knights.”
Sweeping his gaze outward, he replied, “The order was founded thousands of years ago. Strong and loyal people were selected and joined with a house of the Fae. Furthermore, special gifts and powers were bestowed to them.”
“A marriage? Union of both worlds?” Ivy interrupted.
“Correct. They were the guardians of our dragons. But when the war between the new and old religion began, the dragons were hunted and slain. As a final attempt to save the last one, the Dragon Knights were ordered to take her to Scotland and safeguard her in the waters of Loch Ness, where she dwells to this day.”
“Who guards her?” she asked softly.
A golden hawk made lazy circles in the sky and Conn studied its flight. “A new order of Dragon Knights. The MacFhearguis clan.”
“Another lesson I’ve learned today.”
Conn snapped his attention back to Ivy. “Would you like to meet Adam and Meggie MacFhearguis today?”
“To Scotland?” she asked, her eyes growing wide. “I thought we could never leave here.”
He snorted, looking past her to where Neala sat on a patch of grass in the sun. “So I’ve been ordered. However, for reasons I cannot fathom, I deem it important to make a visit.”
Ivy started to pull her robe around her shoulders and Conn halted her progress. Cupping one breast, he leaned near her cheek, “The day is young, and I have plans for you by the waterfall.”
Her smile turned seductive—inviting. “I’m all yours.”
****
Many hours later, Conn stood with Ivy before the bridge leading to Aonach Castle. Sunlight danced along the snow covered ground, adding a magical look to the stone fortress. He looked behind him, sending out his greetings to the Great Dragon. She quickly acknowledged his presence. Bowing his head slightly, he stared back at the home of the current Dragon Knights.
“It’s positively stunning,” declared Ivy, pulling off the hood of her cloak. “How old did you say this place was?”
“Over eight hundred years.”
“How many knights?”
“Only two. Father and son—Adam and Jamie,” he confirmed. Though all appeared well, Conn sensed an undercurrent of a growing power within the structure.
“Should we proceed?” Ivy asked, tugging on his arm.
Focusing on her words, Conn nodded.
Entering through the portcullis, Adam MacFhearguis stood at the entrance to the castle. Approaching the man, Conn took his outstretched arm in greeting.
“’Tis good to see ye again. Archie stated ye would be arriving.” Adam glanced at Ivy. “Greetings, my lady, or shall I call ye Princess?”
Smiling, she replied, “Ivy will do.”
Adam immediately took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm. “Ye must share the secret of how this great Fenian Warrior came to break so many rules and how you enticed him to the marriage bed.”
Ivy laughed and caught Conn’s glare. “Easy. He fell in love with me.”
Adam roared with laughter. “Let us go into the Great Hall. Meggie will be along shortly. She is feeding the wee babe.”
“Ha! He’s a monster. Eats as much as two babes,” shouted Meggie as she descended the stairs. “And don’t get me started on his wailing.”
Meggie went straight to Conn and touched his face. “I am beyond happy to hear the news.” She turned toward Ivy and grasped her hand. “I’m delighted to meet ye. We have pestered Archie relentlessly about ye.”
“Thank you,” responded Ivy, smiling.
“She actually wept when Archie delivered the news,” replied Adam dryly, removing his son from her arms.
Conn took Meggie’s hand and placed a kiss along her knuckles. “Another fine son.”
She sighed and glanced at her son. “Yes, though his birthing was rough. Even Jamie feared for his life at one point.”
Ivy brushed a finger across the sleeping babe’s face. “What’s his name?”
Meggie stepped away and put an arm around Adam. “Alexander Conn MacKay MacFhearguis.”
Stunned, Conn stared at them for a few moments. “I am…honored.”
“As ye should be for saving our lives. And when the other babies arrive, they shall be honored with the names of Rory and Liam.”
“More?” squeaked Ivy.
Meggie laughed and took her arm. “According to our other son, Jamie, we will be blessed with two more sons. Let us move into the Great Hall. I have some food, wine, and beer set out.”
“Where is Jamie?” inquired Conn, stepping into the hall.
“Down by the loch. He should be here shortly,” answered Adam, placing Alexander in a cradle by the hearth.
Ivy’s eyes grew wide. “He’s only a child.”
“One that is growing daily,” countered Meggie, gesturing for Ivy to take a seat next to her.
Conn frowned. “What are you not saying?” His question was aimed at Adam.
Adam raked a hand through his hair. “Our son has grown since your last visit. There is a restlessness about him. As if he is waiting for someone or something to happen. We now train with real blades.”
“I sensed the growing power the moment we arrived. It is within Jamie.”
Adam handed Conn a beer. “He shares only his wisdom, but naught about himself.”
“We vanquished the evil,” uttered Conn, taking a sip of the beer.
“Mayhap my son is growing into his own power. He will lead a new order of Dragon Knights one day.”
“True, but I will bring this to the attention of the Fae council.”
“Prince Conn!” shouted Jamie from the entrance.
“Wow,” muttered Ivy. “How old is he again?”
“Four winters,” stated Meggie quietly.
Conn stood, watching as the lad strode into the room. “Yet, he possesses the body of an eight year old, and the mind of an ancient.”
Standing slowly, Ivy moved toward Conn. Her face paled, and he wrapped an arm around her waist. “He has witnessed the birth of the stars and their destruction. It will take another to lead him away from the darkness. One, whose light will be a beacon in the abyss,” she uttered softly, wiping a hand across her brow.
“Mo ghrá?”
“I’m all right,” she reassured him.
“We shall talk about your vision later,” he whispered against her ear and placed her in his chair.
Reaching for the lad, he embraced him firmly. “Soon you shall be taller than me, Jamie.”
“Time will only tell,” he said.
For the next several hours, Conn and Ivy recanted their story of how they met and news of the Fae realm. Archie soon joined them, and he proclaimed a special toast in honor of the new marriage and bloodline. Food, drink, and laughter surrounded the hall, until Alexander woke wailing and Meggie carried him off.
When Conn caught Ivy stifling a yawn, he deemed it wise that they should leave. Goodbyes were made, along with a few tears from the new bond the two women had developed. Conn assured Meggie that they would return, and she stated she would hold him to his word.
Conn led Ivy out into the bailey. Yet, before he had a chance to summon the power to leave, Jamie ran toward them.
He stood before them both, but his gaze met Conn’s. “A destiny welcomed. A future yet to be opened. A destiny foretold. A future yet to be written. Guard her with your life, Warrior Prince.”
A tremor of unease slipped within him. “I will always protect Ivy,” Conn stated firmly.
Jamie’s eyes burned with that of the fire dragon within him. “Nae. Your daughter. Sorcha.”
Not once during their visit did Conn or Ivy mention she was pregnant, and Jamie’s words sliced like a knife to his heart. Why would he concern himself with his future daughter? What path did he see?
To his shock, Ivy stepped from his embrace and placed a hand on the lad’s shoulder. “She will be safeguarded.”
Jamie broke into a full smile. “Be well, Princess.”
Conn reached for her hand and gave a curt nod to the lad. “Until the next time, Dragon Knight.”