Armored Hearts

chapter 20

Gareth stood in the bonnet room, looking down at his black, fitted pants and the tunic Jessamine had just had him don.

“I think you’ll have more mobility in these than the armor, but the steel threads knit into the fabric will protect you just the same.” Jessamine circled him, pulling at the shirt and spreading it out. “What do you think?”

Gareth shot up toward the ceiling, punching at the air and kicking pretend Unseelie Fae. “I like it. It’s kind of form fitting though.” He glanced toward Jessamine. “Why isn’t yours as form fitting as mine?”

“Because I don’t want you distracted while in battle.”

“And what’s to keep you from getting distracted?” Gareth landed in front of her and pulled her close.

She batted her eyelashes at him. “I can control myself.”

“Are you sure?” He bent to kiss her, his mouth capturing hers. Her scent, intoxicating as always.

Jessamine pulled away, swayed just a bit, and shook her head.

He frowned. “Are you all right?”

She took in a deep breath and then let it out. “It was just a dizzy spell.”

She shook it off and made her way to the work table. “I’ve made something for you.”

Gareth followed her and placed his arms around her waist. “And do you get as obsessed as your mother? Will you be missing for days at time, locked in here?”

Jessamine joined him at the table. “Yes and no. Yes, I can obsess a bit, but not quite to my mother’s extent. I had to live on the other side of the door from her, so I try not to behave in that manner. Also, I’m not as interested in automation as she is. Tabitha is more the sort to dabble in it than me. My obsession has been two-fold. Finding the boy who saved me.” She glanced at Gareth out of the corner of her eyes and grinned. “Done.”

He kissed her forehead.

“And flying. I want to fly. So far I can glide, but not fly.”

Gareth came up and swept her off her feet. He pushed off toward the ceiling. “I’ll fly you anywhere you want to go when all this Unseelie fairy business is done.”

She pouted. “But that’s just it. I want to fly on my own.”

She sighed as Gareth’s lips traveled down to her ear again, and along her jaw.

“Ahmm, I hope I’m not interrupting,” Tabitha announced as she entered.

Gareth sunk back to the floor, and placed Jessamine on her feet. She pulled out of his embrace and laughed. “Nope, perfect timing.”

“Another place where we disagree,” Gareth mumbled under his breath.

Tabitha’s blue eyes grew wide with excitement. “Did you show him what we’ve been working on for him?”

Gareth leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “Did you two fashion me a bonnet to go with my new suit?”

“Not quite, but sort of.” Jessamine made her way to a chest and opened it, pulling out a pair of long, cage-like cylinders. “Tabitha and I both were talking about how you can stand, kick, and what-not, but cannot walk. We think it must be something in your knees. We’ve made these braces with gears and joints to mimic the actions of knee joints. We thought with these, you might be able to walk.”

Gareth pushed away from the wall and examined the braces. “I don’t know.”

“If they don’t work, you’ve lost nothing. At least try them.” Jessamine knelt before him and attached the braces to his legs. She stood back and took him in. “Now try to walk.”

Gareth swallowed and took a step, slowly raising his foot and placing it in front of the other. He took another and almost allowed a grin when a spring from one of the braces popped out of the thing and shot across the room. He was about to fall on his face when he caught himself with flight. At that moment, the gears that made the guts of the other brace spilled onto the floor.

“What happened? I don’t understand?” Jessamine stepped closer, kneeling to pick up the pieces and examine the braces as Gareth ripped them off and threw them to the floor.

“It’s the curse. Ye will na be able to rid yerself of it or gloss over it.” Thompton stepped into the room from the open door.

Gareth turned to face the man. “What curse?”

“Yer mother, God rest her soul, paid an Unseelie fairy to make yer father enamored with her, and she asked for a first born son…ye as a part of that, to try and win yer father’s love. But there’s always a price for that kind of magic. A side effect, so to speak. Yer disability’s from that bargain.”

Tabitha ran up to Thompton and hugged him like a daughter might greet her father, and he hugged her in return. “You’re back!”

“Aye. Just got in. Sarah’s packing for our journey now.”

Gareth moved closer to Thompton and extended his hand. Something he’d never done with the serving man before. “Good to see you’ve returned safely.”

Thompton paused and took in the gesture before bowing instead. “Aye, good to see ye as well, yer grace.”

Gareth sighed, crossed his arms, and pursed his lips. “What did you discover?”

“The Court of Ansleigh awaits yer appearance. Yer cousin, Tinkton, sits on the throne in yer stead, temporarily, but he’s anxious for yer safe arrival to the wood of the Seelie Fae. He’s sent guards to accompany us on our journey.”

“I’ve not decided to take the throne.”

“Then ye will need to go, regardless, and appoint a successor. Tinkton says he will take it, but begrudgingly. He has no interest in ruling but will if ye canna be persuaded to take it. Sarah told me of Lady Jessamine’s poisoning. Perhaps there will be some information in the book of healers back at the Court of Ansleigh. Sarah wants to check them and see what she can find to aid in Lady Jessamine’s recovery.”

Gareth turned to face Jessamine. A new interest in the journey sprang to life. “I suppose we should go pack. The sooner this journey is behind us, the better.”

“What of me?” asked Tabitha.

“You will finally join the Kellers in America.” Gareth grinned and turned to Thompton. “See that she is safely booked on a ship for America before we depart and that Jessamine’s parents are wired to expect her.”

“Aye, yer grace.” Thompton bowed again, causing Gareth to bite down hard on his tongue.

He flew into the hall and stopped. Soon he would be meeting his mother’s family. Thompton had said, “God rest her soul,” so she must actually be dead. He swallowed. She’d brought the curse on him which had made him lame. What else was there to what his mother had done? There had to be more. If nothing else, the journey would help Gareth know exactly who and what he was. But he would not accept the throne. He would not be king.

His mind was made up on that.

Jessamine came into the hall behind him, but put a hand on his shoulder and swooned. Beads of sweat had formed on her temple, and her pallor made him worried. What had the Unseelie done to her?

“Are you all right?” he asked. He quickly changed his expression. He couldn’t let her see his worry. He’d been an invalid long enough to know how that look was perceived.

A slight smile pulled up the corners of her mouth, and her eyes softened. “I’ll be fine.”

Tough. As always.

He shook his head and swept her up into his arms. Her eyes grew in surprise and she squealed. “Put me down! I can walk just fine.”

With a smile, he hovered down the hallway with her. “Maybe I just want to sweep my wife off her feet.”

She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “In that case…” She finished the sentence with a soft kiss.

Her floral scent surrounded him, its comforting embrace also pricking his heart with worry. It amazed him how much he’d come to need Jessamine in such a short time. In the Ansleigh court there would be information and books on fairy herbs and fairy healing arts. The throne did not call him to the land of Fae, but he’d go to make his family safe, and that included Jessamine above all, now. He would find a cure for her and get the war between the Fae courts out of their lives. For good.