His grin spread, and he turned to the human women in his bed. He liked his plan because, damn if he didn’t want to explore the human, Jazmine Decker!
* * *
Dinner was over, and Frankie had been tucked comfortably in her bed. She oohed and aahed over the softness of the mattress and the sweet scent of the pillow and the coverings. She clung to Jazz for a long moment before she whispered, “Please … don’t leave me … promise you’ll take me with you when you go
.”
“I promise that you will stay with me until I find you a proper home,” Jazz said, stroking Frankie’s brown curls.
“No, I don’t want any other family. Just you”—her chin pointed towards Trevor—“and him,” Frankie said vehemently.
“Well, Trevor and I aren’t going to be to, well … we … well …” Jazz sighed and decided to give up on that explanation. “Tomorrow is a brand new day, and we’ll see what it brings.”
She left her then and, as she closed Frankie’s bedroom door, saw Trevor shift off. She sighed worriedly to herself. However, no sense fidgeting about it now—other matters needed attending.
She found her Royal seated by the fire in the library poring over an ancient manuscript. “What are you doing, Trev?”
“Remembered this manuscript. It might help, and what do you mean, calling me Trev? Since when did I become Trev to you?” He frowned at her.
“From the moment you displayed that big open heart and helped me take care of Frankie. So, I repeat, whatya doing … Trev?” The tease was alive in her voice, and he responded with a grin.
“Just thought I would investigate your pendant … the queen’s pendant.”
“Huh?” Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t really know how to use it, do you? Oh, I should have guessed when you didn’t immediately try!”
“I do know how, but it can do many things. I want to be certain I manage it correctly.”
“Well, I tell you what. This is what I’m going to do.” Jazz held the pendant in her hand and whispered a spell that had been handed down from generation to generation. No one had ever been able to translate it, and it had occurred to Jazz that perhaps it had something to do with the queen’s charm.
And it did.
Suddenly the atmosphere in the room changed. It was warm, almost tropical. For a moment, Jazz actually expected coconut trees to pop up. And then it was as though the air right in front of them took on shape and folded back to display a dark, round opening. That opening filled with light, Jazz smelled gardenia and pine, and then the face of the most astoundingly beautiful creature she had ever seen appeared. Jazz knew this had to be the face of Aaibhe, Queen of the Seelie Fae!
“Ah, Trevor,” the queen said softly. She then directed her gaze to Jazz and added, “And you, my dear, are a McWallen.”
Trevor rose to his feet and bowed his head briefly before he spoke. When he did, he put one arm and fist across his chest in what Jazz fancied was a warrior’s salute of allegiance to his queen. “My Queen, it is not Pestale who escaped but his brother Hordly. However, he did not make it to our time in the Human Realm but to the year 1816, and we were dragged into the past with him.”
“I see,” the queen said thoughtfully. “And what is your plan?”
“I have my Death Weapon and am on the pursuit,” Trevor answered.
“And you must keep my Fios safe,” the queen said with an urgency that surprised Jazz.
“I mean to whether she wills it or not. She, however, wishes to return to her time,” the prince said and sighed heavily.
“No, no, I don’t,” Jazz said. “I mean, I did, but now … there is Frankie, and I think I can help the Prince get Hordly, and—”
“I accept your very brave offer, Fios, but tell me, who is Frankie?” the queen said softly.
Jazz made a lengthy explanation, and the queen’s bright eyes glittered. “You both may remain with my prince for now, and I expect that you, my Jazmine, will watch over the Fios child.”
“Can we get out of the past using this pendant?” Jazz dared to ask. “My … er … Queen.”
Aaibhe chuckled. “Indeed, in a manner of speaking, but I should like you to retrieve the Orb that Hordly has in his possession and return him to the Dark Realm first.”
“Big order,” muttered Jazz.
“But we can handle it.” Trevor grimaced at Jazz.