territory.”
Introductions
were made amongst the men, and finally, Benny faced Prince Emrick
Brightleaf, ruler of the local lands.
He took her
hand. “Beneficia Ganger? You cannot be. She has a human
aspect.”
Benny inclined
her horned head. “I am indeed she. My aspect is what I wish it to
be. I am currently displaying something more akin to my fey
ancestors than is normally apparent.”
Her words were
slow and formal. She didn’t want to flash the sharp teeth that
didn’t quite match the elegant deer horns.
“You are a
woman with much power.” His lips grazed her skin.
Smith stiffened
next to her, but she accepted the caress.
“I am indeed.
You are showing a remarkable lack of good sense, dear prince.”
He raised his
white eyebrows and smiled with his lips quirked to one side as he
rose. “I am?”
“My partners
are my partners in all things. As enchanting as your presence is,
it will not be wise for the contact with you to continue.”
He released her
hand and took in the strange assembly. Smith had released Steve to
the centaurs, and they had reluctantly left with their new member
in tow.
Now, it was
just the XIA and the fey.
Tremble moved
to her side. “We were going to formally present ourselves, but we
are joining in a union that is equal across our four
bloodlines.”
Prince Emrick
could not have looked more shocked. “A union?”
“Married. The
Ganger family is making the arrangements, but in our traditions, we
were going to introduce ourselves to the fey community.”
Benny blinked
and smiled as her mind spun with the ramifications of this meeting.
Normally, they would have started with the lowest members of the
fey society and work their way to the prince if they had gained
approval. Now, they only needed to get Emrick’s authorisation and
the rest had to follow.
“The Ganger
family has authorised this union?” Prince Emrick was hesitant.
Benny inclined
her head. “Yes. It is a little bulky, but hardly the strangest
mating in my family line.”
He looked ill
at ease. “What of children?”
Ah, so that was
it. “They will be raised as Gangers with the family affiliation
made clear when paternity has been established. That will not be
for a few years. I am enjoying my new life in the XIA. My family
has never kept any distinctly blooded member from their
people.”
“In that case,
I give you my blessing and await the invitation to the event. I am
sure it will be a party to remember.”
She inclined
her head, and he backed away before slipping onto a horse that
appeared from the shadows, and he and his party rode away.
She shook her
head and resumed her human shape. “That was unexpected.”
Benny held
still as she was suddenly hugged from all sides.
Tremble was
shaking as he held onto her. “You really mean to wed us all.”
She caught on
to what he said. She had changed them; they were no longer what
they had been and their places in their own society were not
assured.
“Of course. You
are all Gangers now. You can even take the family name if you like.
I am not fussy.” She laughed as they kissed her in turn.
Finally, she
called a halt. “We are on duty. Grab the boots and we will be on
our way.”
Argyle
chuckled. “Ride next to me. I promise not to get grabby on the way
home.”
Benny leaned
against him and sighed. “Sounds restful.”
It was. The
other two were busy trying to determine who would arrive at the
altar first on the big day, and Benny had to throw a wrench into
the works. “Smith, we still have to meet your alpha, and we need to
meet Argyle’s maker or king.”
That thought
seemed to shut him up for a while until they re-entered the
city.
She dozed with
her head against Argyle’s shoulder until they pulled up to the XIA
headquarters. Argyle’s phone was in his hand, and he winked. “We
have an hour.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“The king is
waiting for us to present ourselves at his home. As this was our
only assignment tonight, we are