Christine Warren - Not Your Ordinary Faerie Tale (Others Novels)

She got Tylenol with codeine.

After the doctors checked to make sure she didnt have a concussion, they prescribed the good stuff and released her to Lucs tender loving care. He had to fight Reggie and Missy for the privilege.

Are you okay? Does your head hurt?

Corinne sighed. No more than it did the last time you asked. Five seconds ago.

She cracked an eye open to see Lucs beloved face hovering just inches above hers. Instead of bringing her back to her apartment, he had taken her to Vircolac, to a room Graham provided and stocked more completely than your average private hospital suite. She thought there might even be a bedpan under the night table.

She would be more comfortable, the Alpha had informed them, with twenty-four-hour room service.

Isnt that what Luc is for? she had asked.

Her heartmate had been incredibly solicitous, so much so that it was beginning to drive her the littlest bit crazy. She was all for being adored, but not when the man seemed afraid to handle her like anything other than spun glass.

Do you want a glass of water? You cant have another pill for an hour, but I could do a charm if your head hurts too much to wait.

Im fine. Stop hovering. She glared at him. With love, of course. Either go away or get into bed with me, because Im about one second away from forgetting about the doctors orders and taking my own damned self home.

He got into bed with her.

Sorry, he said, sounding sheepish and adorable. You just scared the hell out of me when you passed out.

I scared myself a little, she muttered, snuggling against his chest and feeling his arms close very gently around her. That made her feel more at home than returning to her apartment possibly could have. But Im fine now. The doctor even said, no permanent damage. Ill be good as new in a couple of weeks. I just have to take it easy and reduce the number of times I get attacked to less than three in a forty-eight-hour period.

He didnt appear to appreciate her attempts at humor. I still wish Rafe had let me kill him.

She grinned. But then Id have gotten jealous that I didnt get a lick at him.

The grin faded when she looked up and saw the rawness of the emotions etched on his worried face.

Im glad Rafe stopped you, she told him seriously. Mab was upset enough by what hed done, especially given that their relationship had been so close. I think she felt a little guilty that her ending things could have spurred him to put her entire realm in jeopardy. But I think things would have been even worse for her if you had killed him.

He sighed against her hair. She was upset. She never guessed one of her favorites would betray her.

That wasnt why she was so upset. Or at least not all of it.

He looked his question.

She obviously sees the members of the Guard as her children. She just saw one of her sons turn against the others. That would nearly kill most mothers, I think.

Okay, you cant tell me they were lovers one minute and then refer to him as her son the next. He gave an exaggerated shudder. Even in Faerie some things are still taboo. Not to mention creepy.

She smacked him lightly. You know what I mean.

He kissed her forehead. Sometimes.

Anyway, at least she got Seoc back safely.

Luc chuckled. Yeah, and hell be using his innocence to get out of trouble for centuries.

Hey, I would, too, if Id been so falsely accused.

He laughed. And snuggled her just the slightest bit closer. She demanded to be invited, you know.

Corinne frowned at him. Mab? What did she want to be invited to?

He smiled slightly. Our wedding.

She paused meaningfully. Are we getting married?

Well, since well be living together here in Ithir and I plan to stay with you till the end of our days, I thought we could.

Corinne tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach and the aching fullness of her heart. But you said Fae didnt get married.

You arent Fae, he said simply.

You know, now might be a good time to keep your promise and explain to me how it is that in fifty years Im not going to look like your great-aunt Ida.

Well thats easy, he said with a grin. Im not going to look this way in fifty years.

She frowned. How do you figure that?

Aging is only partially genetic for the sidhe. Most of the eternal-youth thing has to do with living in Faerie. No one there really ages past adulthood. As long as Im living in Ithir, Ill age almost like a human. And if we want to slow things down once in a while, we can always go to Faerie for a visit. Mab says were welcome in the palace anytime.

Corinne digested that. I suppose that could work. But are you sure about getting married?

I thought it would make you happy.

It would make her ecstatic, she realized, but she didnt intend to let him skip all the steps between meeting and marriage. She wanted all that good stuff, too.

It will, she admitted, but were not going to do it yet.

She felt him stiffen. Why not?

Because I want to date first. She pulled back to smile up at him. Look at it this way. You know Ill say yes to your proposal eventually, which takes the pressure off, but you still get all the fun of trying to persuade me.

He laughed softly. Ah, I understand. In that case, rest up, sweetheart. Youre going to need your strength for my brand of persuasion.

I cant wait.

They lay together in silence for a few minutes, and Corinne felt the drowsiness caused by the drugs and the events of the past couple of days start to take over. She could hear his heart beating steadily beneath her ear, and knew there was no place shed rather be than in his arms. She couldnt wait for the future.

She didnt realize shed drifted off to sleep, but when she woke again, Luc was gone and the clock told her she had been out for almost three hours. She rolled over and winced at the pain in her head.

Here. Have some medicine.

She accepted the pill Missy pushed into her hand and swallowed it with a sip of water from the glass that was pressed against her lips. When she dropped her head back and opened her eyes gingerly, she saw Missy and Reggie sitting on opposite sides of her bed. Wheres Luc?

Missy grinned. Graham, Rafe, and Dmitri pried him away from you long enough to feed him. He was starting to turn a little gray.

We think they plan to get him drunk, too. Just to celebrate.

Corinne scowled and looked around, her gaze screeching to a stop when she saw Ava watching her from the foot of the bed. What? she asked. No Danice?

We couldnt get ahold of her, Reggie said. She and Mac are away at their mysterious weekend house. But I left a message on her machine at home, and with her secretary and her paralegal. And Daphanie stopped by earlier, but she was on her way out of town with Asher. Shes exhibiting at some kind of craft show down south this weekend.

Corinne rolled her eyes, then winced at the pain it caused. Did you send out notices or something? Its not like Im on deaths door or anything.

Oh, we know, Ava drawled. But we thought the whole gang deserved a chance to grill you on Tall, Dark, and Faerie.

Fae, she corrected.

Whatever. So spill it. Tell us all about him.

Buy the movie.

Im not into porn flicks, darling. I prefer to read the book, but that takes so long, and you can summarize for me.

There would never be a book. If she had her way, Corinnes article on summertime mass hysteria in Manhattan would be the last time she ever mentioned a non-human being in her life. From now on shed just focus on loving one.