“Little Flower!” A familiar voice booms from the terrace entrance and in walks my great uncle, The Dagda, High King of Faerie, “We have all been very worried about you! Lillie, you can na do that to us again.” Dagda strides forward, his height eclipses everyone in the room at almost seven feet tall, his shoulders are broad, hips trim, darkly tanned from spending so much time in the sun, his hair and neatly trimmed beard are more salt than pepper these days. I love the twinkle in his warm brown eyes. I realize that I’ve missed him and his larger than life persona as he pushes Daxell aside to wrap me up in a hug that has my feet dangling about two feet off the floor. Leaving Daxell to suppress a growl.
“I’ve missed you too, Uncle.” Smiling into his chest as I try to wrap my arms around him.
“What’s this I hear that you have been bound? Let me see,” he demands while sitting me back on my feet. I hold the bracelet up for him to inspect.
“Here. It’s not that bad, not really. Mama was about to remove it.”
“Not that bad? The use of iron forged from angel fire has been outlawed, ages ago. Ashlinn, what are you waiting for? Let’s get these cuffs removed.” Dagda demands before glaring at Daxell, “Why is there a demon in our midst?”
“Dagda, don’t be rude,” Mama chides. “This is Daxell, we told you about him.” My mother is quick to interject as she comes around the table and motions to them both. “Daxell, this is Alaric’s uncle, The Dagda, High King of Faerie and father god to us here in The Otherworld, but here at Glendale Loch, he’s just family. As are you. Dagda, you be nice.” My mother chides and pins him with a glaring look.
“All right, all right, I’ll be nice.” He grumbles, “but Lillie needs -”
“Her binding cuff removed. Can we please step outside,” Daxell interjects quickly. I have a feeling that he and Dagda are not going to hit it off right away, but I can’t worry about that right now.
At Daxell’s urgency, I can sense the bloodstone heat. Aunt Lexie moves toward me, pushing her way through all those that have gathered around me and exclaims, “Where ever did you get that stone?” Lexie stands transfixed in front of me, her concentration on the pendant. Gingerly, she reaches out to touch it and an electrical charge connects with her fingers. She gasps and pulls her hand away, “Oh my, that’s the most powerful bloodstone that I have ever encountered.”
“Are you okay, Aunt Lexie?”
“Yes,” she rubs her index finger and thumb together. “Come, Lillie. Daxell is right, we need to remove your binding cuff. The bloodstone is working overtime to try to counteract its effects.” And just like that, the Mother Druid in our midst has confirmed our theory.
“Why should we go outside?” Lachlan asks as he shoulders his way through the gathering, pushing others aside to get to me. “Stop getting into trouble, little sis.” He pulls me into a hug and for a moment I just wrap my arms around him and squeeze him close to me. Wanting everything to go back to the way it was before my ascension. Knowing that it can’t and that things are about to change between us once again.
Poppy is quick to answer, “I think that Daxell is worried that Lillie JoBug will release her wings involuntarily.”
“Poppy?! That was supposed to be my secret to tell!” I scold.
“Whatever, Lillie JoBug.” Smiling broadly she continues, “Her wings are magnificent, but she has no control over them so if I were you? I would back the heck up.”
Daxell and my parents join me and Lachlan along with Timbra as we make our way out to the banks of the Loch. “She’s right. When I ascended, they were like dead weights on my back. I hope that won’t be the case the next time they appear.” My disappointment in the fact is clear for all to hear.
“Ah, Lillie, never fear, just you wait. Once that binding cuff is off, your ascension will seem tame.” Lachlan wraps me in an impossibly tight hug. “I love you, sister. Break the chains that bind you so that I can find my place as well. It’s time.”
He pulls back, grinning down at me, a twinkle in his eyes. Tugging him back into a fierce hug of my own I experience a fear I’ve never known. “Forgive me, Lach,” I beg on a jagged whisper, worried that he will hate me once his memory of his time as Adam is restored.
He looks alarmed when he pulls back, confusion marring his handsome face, “There’s nothing to forgive.”
“Just remember that in this lifetime you are my brother and I love you with all my heart. Soon you will understand.”
Mama and Da watch the two of us, both with knowing glances at one another. Mama steps forward, her pendant in hand. Smiling up at me she tucks a strand of my hair behind my pointed ear, not that it stays put. The breeze has picked up and the once clear skies look to be carrying a spring storm our way. Our hair blends together as it dances on the wind, Mama’s caramel color strands stand out against my darker locks. Cupping my cheek gently, a loving smile on her lips, she says, “I’m so very proud of you, Lillie Joanna. Now, let’s get this wicked bracelet
