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***
It’s not oftenthat Nyssa and I are separated in the castle. Issues regarding her safety have been worked out, for the most part. Over the few months she’s been back in the Underworld with me, she’s not only gained favor among the Dark Fae, but I’ve sufficiently protected her with stone magic.
To keep her from aging, and in essence granting her immortality, Circe gifted her with the stone pendant. As long as she wears it, she remains at her current age and doesn’t succumb to sickness. It also provides her protection from physical harm as well as grants her nominal powers, such as the ability to bend distance—which also keeps her safe—as well as conjuring, although she doesn’t use either very much.
I could’ve given all these things to Nyssa myself. The powers Zora bestowed upon me are godlike, but Circe offered the gift, and I wasn’t about to anger her by refusing.
I check Nyssa’s usual haunts—the new library I built with some nifty magic and a massive import of books from the First Dimension, then the outdoor gardens I built and which she maintains, and lastly, the kitchens.
It’s there that I find her at one of the large stoves teaching Rhynda the fine art of cooking. She dumped the leather outfit in favor of some leggings and a button-down, her hair pulled into a ponytail. I don’t know what they’re preparing, but I smell garlic and lemon, and I know I’ll be eating well tonight.
I lean against one of the work tables, my presence causing great discomfort to the workers, and watch with a barely concealed grin as my little human teaches a fae ravager.
“Now, we pour in a little white wine.” Nyssa tips a bottle while Rhynda bends over the pan. Steam rises, and she inhales. “We’ll let this simmer for about ten minutes to burn off the alcohol.”
“That makes sense,” Rhynda says with a serious nod.
I duck my head, rub my hand over my mouth to conceal the smile that won’t be contained, but I can’t hold back the snicker.
Nyssa and Rhynda look over their shoulders at me. Nyssa rolls her eyes, and Rhynda snaps to attention.
Handing the spoon to Rhynda, the new queen of the Underworld instructs, “Put the chicken cutlets in there after the alcohol has burned off. Squeeze some more lemon over it and a few tablespoons of the capers.”
“Thank you for the lesson, Your Majesty.” Rhynda says. “I’ll send a plate to your room when it’s done.”
Nyssa smiles and pats Rhynda’s arm, and it’s a testament to her charm that the ravager actually smiles back at her.
As she walks my way, I push off the table and shake my head. “You’ve got everyone under your thumb. You know that, right?”
“Hardly,” she drawls and walks into my embrace.
I wrap my arms around her waist and dip my head to nuzzle at her ear. “Want to get naked with me?”
“Always,” she whispers, and that’s all I need to bend distance to our suite.
But rather than deposit her at the bed, I stop before the fireplace mantle in the living area. The furniture has all been replaced with plush couches that invite lounging and a Persian rug to cover the cold marble floor.
“Let’s check in on Nick,” I say, turning her toward the large silver mirror above the hearth.
A wedding gift from me.
A magical camera, so to speak, where Nyssa can drop in to see how he’s doing. We’ve used it a few times to check in on her friend Will, too, who, by all accounts, has reacclimated to his life in the First Dimension.
The mirror’s surface undulates, goes opaque so our reflections disappear, and then focuses on what appears to be a diner. Nick is sitting in a booth sharing a banana split with a pretty girl about his age.
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything more fucking wholesome in my life.
“Oh, look,” Nyssa croons, her hand pressing to her chest. “He finally asked her out.”
I move behind her, wrap my arms around her waist, and draw her back into my body. We watch silently as Nick and his love interest talk about a new movie coming out they both want to see.
“I love this. Thank you again,” she says for the hundredth time.
“It was my pleasure.” And it was. Anything to help ease her conscience over choosing to come to the Underworld with me.
It was never really a serious consideration, her staying there. Even though I offered, she didn’t want it. She was at peace knowing Nick was happy and well cared for, and while the people of Edenton were nice and welcoming, she didn’t fit in.
Or as Nyssa told me that night when we stepped through the veil, “I don’t fit in anywhere in the First Dimension. It was nothing but pain for me.”
