Part 17 (2/2)
”She will.” He swallowed hard. ”I love her and cannot lose her!”
”We do not always receive what we wish.”
”You think I do not understand that?” He raised his hand at his outburst. ”My apologies. I love Rowan. If there is anything I can do to save her, I will.”
Ysenda remained silent.
He had not really expected a reply. He might as well say the rest of it. ”If Rowan survives, I request her hand in marriage. With your permission.”
”Permission?” she scoffed. ”We are natural enemies. A union between you and Rowan is forbidden.”
”Laws of the fey. Rowan is but half fairy. She carries my child. And, she is my mate.”
Ysenda's face hardened. ”Mate?” She waved away his reply when he started to speak. ”Regardless of what I believe, your reasons change naught.”
”Love is nae fair in whom it chooses. For whatever reason, I have been gifted with Rowan's. I ask for your permission out of courtesy, in hopes that peace can be found between our worlds.” He paused. ” 'Tis your choice to end the strife or allow an age-old animosity to continue.”
”I do nae know if I can allow such.”
Frustration coupled with tiredness. ”You have lost one daughter who sought but to follow her heart. Would you risk a granddaughter newly found?”
Anger flared in the queen's eyes and then faded. ”The decision is not an easy one.”
”As Laird of the Highland Coven, I will win many an enemy by choosing Rowan to be my wife.”
Ysenda studied him long and hard. ”If I allow my granddaughter to wed you, many will be furious in the Otherworld as well.”
”For Rowan, I shall risk the outrage of my people,” Aedan replied. ”What of you?”
She gave a weary sigh. ”I have much to consider.”
He nodded, pleased Ysenda would contemplate his marriage to Rowan. ”For now our thoughts must be on Rowan.”
The fairy queen nodded. ”Indeed. Sleep. I will be outside.”
”You will stay within Caorann Castle?”
”Aye.” Violet eyes narrowed. ”If Rowan dies, so shall you.” With a sweep of her hand, iridescent smoke whirled around her, and she vanished.
Aedan sagged against his chamber wall, stunned by the events of the last few hours, amazed Rowan's grandmother had not killed him outright.
He studied Rowan.
Her chest remained still. After pa.s.sing out from the torment of the conversion, she'd succ.u.mbed to the deep sleep of a vampire, and all her internal systems had shut down. He refused to believe her body was giving up, that instead of moving through the conversion process, she was dying.
Heart aching at Rowan's desperate state, he lay beside her and drew her into his arms. ”Sleep deeply. When you awaken, your transformation will be complete.” Aedan closed his eyes and prayed he'd spoken the truth.
Agony pummeled Rowan's body, torturous lashes that stung her over and over, only to begin again. Aedan! His name echoed through her mind, but she couldn't see him or hear him within the blanket of misery. She struggled to push through the hurt, only to lose herself where naught existed but pain.
The fey within her recognized the truth-she was dying.
Rowan worked to hear the sound of her child's heart. Failed. He could not die!
She fought for calm, to retain her grip on sanity. Aedan!
Silence.
Panic overwhelmed her as she tried to push through the foggy confusion to somehow reach Aedan. A rush of sound filled her mind like bubbles. Without warning, coolness tumbled over her. Exhausted, Rowan sagged back and found herself standing within a mist.
Framed between breaks of white, fields of potent green unfolded before her.
She frowned. Where was she?
In the distance, a light grew, and a soft hum began, beckoning her.
Curious, Rowan took a step forward. Stunned, she stopped. The pain had disappeared.
”Nor will you ever hurt again.”
She s.h.i.+elded her eyes against the bright light where a voice echoed. ”Who is there?”
”Your destiny.”
Peace radiated from the voice, so soft, so luxurious, it lured her to relax. ”My destiny?” None of this made sense. She struggled to remember why she'd hurt so much, but found naught except for the image of Aedan.
”His life is elsewhere.”
Rowan walked toward the brightness. ”Who are you?”
”You know.”
With a frown Rowan glanced around, took in the soft hues, the scent of lavender mixed with that of the wildflowers of her youth. Memories stumbled through her mind, beautiful images she'd seen during her life, the rush of a waterfall as it cascaded into a deep pool, the waves of the ocean as they surged up the beach, the gentle fall of rain upon the gra.s.s.
Confused, she studied the glow of light before her, a diffused, welcoming pulse. And understood.
She'd died.
A tremor shook her. Nay, let her be wrong.
”Aye, my child, your new life has begun. Here you will be pain free and will find naught but happiness.”
”Nay, I cannot be happy without Aedan.”
Rowan! His voice echoed from the distance.
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