Chapter Two

Oh, the incessant giggling.

Reina was stopped by the noise as yet again she was reminded of why it was such a bad idea to have a man around. For thousands of years, they were a venerated and respected institution, held in the highest esteem and to the highest standards. As soon as a guy stepped foot on the compound, not five minutes could pass without that high-pitched, juvenile sound.

Why mess with tradition? Why? Just because thirty years ago a few sexually frustrated elder Godmothers got a look at dimples for the first time in centuries, she now had to deal with that irresponsible, annoying instigator.

Some days it didn’t pay to be a Fairy Godmother.

Squaring her shoulders, Reina was off again, back to business and steadfast in marching towards those giggles.

Maybe she should speak to Godmother Sara about moving Tiernan to another department. After all, it didn’t look like the Council would ever move him to another division, so it made sense to try to find some way to live with him that didn’t have her constantly grinding her teeth. Maybe if he wasn’t amongst the FGs she was responsible for, she might be able to relax slightly. She admitted the man was funny—on occasion—and capable of intelligent and interesting conversation—sometimes—and she did have to admire how he would allow no insult to any of the FGs.

That didn’t happen often, but all factions had their undercurrents of rivalry. The others of the Faerie Realm discovered very quickly it was not to their benefit to engage the FGs. Tiernan had been a warrior as a mortal, and that prowess had not left him simply because he was now a Fairy Godfather.

The problem was all of those good points were easy to ignore when having to deal with yet another female mooning after him.

Yes, she would talk to Godmother Sara.

Happy with her decision, Reina wasn’t overcome with the usual urge to throw something at the scene that greeted her in the huge shaded courtyard of the FG compound. Under the trees and surrounded by his harem, Tiernan lounged in the grass, his relaxed demeanor proclaiming he didn’t have a care in the world.

The other Godmothers were gazing at him in dreamy adoration, as if every word that came from his mouth was a miracle. Though, to be fair, they might consider the miracle more what his shirt and breeches covered and less what came from his mind, considering how many glances Reina counted checking out those two areas.

He was a beautiful man. Even at her most annoyed, Reina could never deny that. Sandy blond hair, eyes the color of a summer sky, and dimples that made every woman who saw them start fanning herself.

Beautiful, but not perfect, with the nose that had been broken at least once and scars slashed into his skin, testifying about his life as a soldier as much as the broad shoulders and heavily muscled body did.

“Godfather Tiernan, here you are,” she greeted.

“Godmother Reina, what a pleasure to see you! What can I do for you this fine day?” Tiernan answered, as though lying on his back surrounded by women who would all gladly jump him at the same time was a perfectly reasonable way to greet a superior.

You are going to have him transferred. You’ve done too much for Sara to have her deny you. “I am sure your busy schedule caused you to forget that you were to see me in my office last hour.”

“Really, that was today? My deepest apologies, Godmother Reina. Katarina here was informing us of some problems with her last assignment, and since Godmother Sara always wants us to keep our minds sharp, we were brainstorming some ways to improve her performance next time.”

Reina’s gaze went to the head that was closest to Tiernan’s crotch, and Bingo! It was Katarina.

Katarina had a habit of sleeping with her male clients, to “educate them sexually so that they will be able to take care of their woman,” as she liked to explain it. Reina also heard that she’d offered a blowjob to Tiernan within the first thirty seconds of their meeting. No surprise she was positioned to be first in line should Tiernan require any servicing.

“Godmother Katarina, I heard of no problems from your last assignment. Is there anything you wish to tell me?” Reina asked in her best, but patently false, sweet voice.

“No, Godmother Reina,” Katarina responded, and Reina felt a flash of inappropriate pleasure seeing nervousness replace absolute adoration on Katarina’s face. Since Katarina’s paperwork indicated no problems, she was in a difficult position should Reina wish to pursue that line of questioning.

“This is just an informal session, a learning exercise if you will,” Tiernan cut in smoothly. “Not anything that needed to be reported, just some talk so we can keep our skill set sharp.”

The women sighed in unison over Tiernan’s defense. Reina restrained the urge to roll her eyes. She was used to restraining that particular feeling since she got it about every two minutes in Tiernan’s presence.

“While I always appreciate taking the time to keep skills sharp, Godfather Tiernan, this sounds like something that can easily wait until after our meeting.”

“You are of course correct, Godmother Reina. Ladies, if you will excuse me...” Tiernan rose from his place on the grass, his imminent departure causing grumbles and pouts.

He stopped next to her, and she was reminded once again he was one of the few beings that lived in the compound taller than she. Reina loathed the authority she ceded when forced to tilt her head back to look at him. “Please follow me,” she responded, crispness in both her tone and her gait as she turned and headed for her office, not bothering to look back to see if he followed.

She didn’t need to. She felt him whether she wanted to or not, his presence creating a current on her skin that never quieted.

He came up beside her, and as they walked the compound, other Fairy Godmothers called out greetings to him. Tiernan responded with smiles and pleasantries, and somehow made it seem that each woman he answered was the only woman he had any interest in talking to.

Reina held back her snort. She had learned well enough. No man had interest in only one woman.

Before they reached her office, one of the junior FGs came running towards them. She stopped shortly before them, taking a moment to compose herself before finally delivering her message. “Godmother Reina, Godfather Tiernan, the Council requests your presence in Chambers immediately.”

“For what reason?” asked Reina, thoroughly confused. As a senior FG, any Council activities should have been on her calendar. There was nothing scheduled until next month.

“I wasn’t given that information. I was just told to bring you the message.”

Reina glared at him from the corner of her eyes. Tiernan caught her look and brought his hands up. “I know nothing of this.”

“Yet somehow, I feel like the reason for this mystery session is you.”

He cocked his head and tsked her as if talking to a recalcitrant child. “You’ve been trying to get rid of me again, haven’t you?” His eyes caressed down her body until they came to rest on her hands, and before she could protest, he caught one of her hands in his and brought it to his mouth, kissing the back. “Such beautiful hands. You would have so much more fun if you used your charms to have me eating out of them instead of using them to push me away.”

Her teeth immediately set on edge, and she jerked her hand back, clenching it into a fist. “I am always trying to get you kicked out of the program. I can only hope that this meeting has something to do with that fervently desired wish.”

Irrepressible as always, Tiernan gave her a full-on dimpled grin. “That, or maybe they sense how perfect we are for each other and want to set us up on a date.”

“I think that we need to get to the Council Chambers now, Godfather Tiernan.” With that, Reina marched forward.

For having such a fearsome effect on any Fairy summoned to it, the Council Chamber was nothing special, a room that contained a long table housing five chairs behind it. Still, entering the room, and seeing the Top Tier—the five women who were the leaders of all Fairy Godmothers—was a nerve-wracking experience.

“Sara, my love, you are looking radiant as always. Immortality obviously agrees with you.”

Correction, it was a nerve-wracking experience for any Fairy with sense, a description that had never included Tiernan.

“Godmother Reina, Godfather Tiernan, good of both of you to come,” Sara replied, as if there were any choice in the matter of a Council Summons. “Tiernan, your eyesight is obviously as perfect as always.”

Tiernan had once told Reina that Godmother Sara, the Supreme Leader of the Fairy Godmothers, looked exactly how mortals thought FGs were supposed to look and showed her a print to prove it. Reina had to agree that the older, portly woman with curly gray hair and the cherubic air seemed to be an exact match for the picture.

Of course, mortals were shortsighted as always. FGs could take on any appearance they desired in the Mortal realm, any Faerie could. Still, Reina wondered if Godmother Sara had appeared to the exact right mortal in her true form, resulting in being forever known in their books and pictures.

Tiernan placed his hands on the table and leaned down, bringing his face on the same level as Sara. “When are you going to give up being overlord of all the FGs and run away with me?”

“Tiernan, I cannot abandon my post,” replied Sara even as Reina could not stop herself from palming her face in her hands. “And as much as I hate it, it is my post that demands I bring you before us today.”

Though Sara’s voice held a hint of warning, Tiernan showed no hesitation in responding. He pushed himself away from the table and said, “I live to serve you always, ladies of the Council. Please let me know what is troubling you.”

Irene, the second in command, thin and pale where Sara was round and rosy, spoke. “Tiernan, you are aware that as the only male ever to be given a place amongst the Fairy Godmothers, you are under more intense scrutiny than any other in our ranks.”

“Yes, Madam, I am aware and very proud of my unique position here.”

“We do not wish to be perceived as being harder on you than any other. Though you have gone through some adjustments, you have done an admirable job thus far,” Irene continued.

“I only wish to be a credit to you always,” Tiernan responded, and Reina could see the old fairies eating him up, the gallant words paired with his very commanding presence. Reina had to give him credit—the man was a master in the art of BS.

It took Irene a moment before she was able to continue, but Reina could see the distress coming into her eyes, her already thin face becoming alarmingly drawn. “Tiernan, though we may not like it, we are answerable to others outside this organization, and we have been told...”

Irene’s breath contracted as if she was getting near tears. Sara leaned over and patted her hand, then took over the conversation. “Irene is trying to be diplomatic in her wording, Tiernan. Here is the straight scoop. Everyone watches you, trying to see if you will mess up. We on the Council have never wanted to be perceived as being harder on you than the others, so we have let a few things slide. We don’t regret that because you are very entertaining and have never done any major damage. However, a situation has come up that demands our immediate attention, as those outside this organization are starting to question us.”

At her pause, Tiernan nodded, letting her know he was truly listening. “What is the situation?”

“Tiernan, why have you never had a Happily Ever After?”

Ah, the elusive Happily Ever After. That’s what brought this on.

“Is that all?” Tiernan’s body relaxed, and it wasn’t until then that Reina realized beneath the smiles and charm, he had been tense. “Godmothers, HEAs are notoriously difficult. Even for the advanced and highly experienced Godmothers, such as Godmother Reina, there is a very low HEA rate.”

“This is true, Tiernan, but in over three decades, you have never even come close to having one.”

“Godmother Irene, that is because I do not waste precious time hoping for a near impossible HEA. I go for a solid happy ending, and make sure my clients are well and in love, instead of possibly destroying any chance of them ending up together by going for the impossible.”

“Tiernan, we are Fairy Godmothers. Going for the impossible is our job,” Irene said, and Reina could hardly believe her ears, because for the first time it sounded like she was scolding Tiernan.

Even in the face of this highly unusual development, Tiernan kept his cool. “I must humbly disagree. Being the only one here who was once human, I can assure you that a human will take what they can get happiness-wise. HEAs are unnecessary.”

Sara shook her head at him. “Tiernan, it is precisely because you were once human that I don’t think you see the whole picture. More than anything, humans need hope. They need to believe the impossible just may happen. The happiness you procure is indeed a wonderful thing, but as a Fairy Godfather, it is not a good sign that you dismiss the possibilities so easily.”

Tiernan nodded, but Reina could tell it was more as appeasement and less that they’d actually convinced him. “I will indeed take your wise advice to heart, Council. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

Sara sighed. “It’s not that easy, Tiernan. Unfortunately, that laxness of attitude we have been displaying towards you has come back to bite you in the butt.”

As usual, Tiernan’s reaction was the opposite of what Reina would expect. He gave the council members an indulgent smile, letting them know whatever came next, he in no way blamed them. “What has happened, Sara?” he asked, his voice low.

For the first time Reina could remember, Godmother Sara looked visibly upset. “Your lack of HEAs has been brought to the Elf King’s attention.”

“No.” The word was reflex; Reina had no idea she was going to say it until she heard it in the air. This was not good. The Elf King hated him, had wanted to get rid of Tiernan for a long time, and he was not a being you wanted to be on the wrong side of.

It was said that he despised Tiernan because Tiernan slept with his daughter yet refused to marry her, but Reina did not believe that for a moment. While she didn’t doubt that the King sincerely believed this, she in no way could believe Tiernan had slept with the princess. Tiernan simply had to snap his fingers to get the pick of the FGs, let alone the greater female populace, so he had no reason to sleep with a princess who was not only unfortunate looking, but had a nasty, spoiled personality to boot.

“Oh just great! I knew I should have slept with that princess, ugliness be damned.”

Reina’s shocked gasp filled the chamber. “Godfather Tiernan!”

“What? She was an oinker. Don’t ever make the mistake of swearing not to do something unless pigs fly, because she has wings and you’ll see her overhead.”

Reina’s eyes rolled so far into the back of her head, she was sure she wouldn’t see anyone in front of her until they smacked her to announce their presence. When she turned her attention back to the council, though, she saw the Godmothers covering their mouths, trying not to laugh, their spirits obviously lifted.

It would be giving him too much credit to assume his outburst was because he wanted to alleviate the tense atmosphere that was affecting the Godmothers, so she refused to even contemplate such a motive.

Tiernan spoke again. “I assume the Elf King acted in some way on this information?”

“He went straight to the Green Man. Told him you were sullying the honor of the Fairy Godmother system.”

Tiernan sighed, a great expanse of breath. “What does the Green Man think?”

“You may not believe this to hear it, but The Green Man is a great romantic. The Green Man doesn’t care about you personally one way or the other, but he is a huge supporter of the HEA system.”

A resigned smile curved Tiernan’s lips. He turned to look at Reina then, his sky blue eyes direct on hers, holding her captive. “I guess this means your wish came true, Reina. They are going to move me.”

Reina had a hard time swallowing as she met that intense gaze. Where was the ecstasy, the jubilation? Finally, she was vindicated, and Tiernan was to be removed. Why weren’t her lips twisting in glee at the thought of finally being rid of him?

Sara’s voice cut through Reina’s confused thoughts. “The Elf King has called for complete revocation of the wish, not reassignment.”

Tiernan’s laugh was low, the gallows evident in the sound. For some reason, Reina could not comprehend the sentence that had just been uttered. Yes, she knew the words, but she must have somehow switched meanings in her mind. That sentence could not possibly mean what she thought it did. “Godmother Sara,” Reina began, then stopped as no sound passed her tight throat. Why was her body not under her control?

Tiernan’s hand curled around her wrist, pulling her into the curve of his body. “Godmother Sara, I want Reina to leave. I’ll do whatever is required, but I refuse to allow her to see my death sentence carried out.”

Reina’s face burrowed into his neck, Tiernan’s words unlocking her body as their truth cut through her denials. Tiernan had wished to become a Fairy Godfather as he lay dying. Revocation of the wish meant he would be returned to the instant before he made the wish, scant moments before his mortal body would have expired.

She wanted to be free of him, hadn’t she? And how pathetic her reasons sounded now when she was faced with her wish being granted. Please no, I don’t want a world without him in it. I don’t want him forever gone from me. I want...

“Don’t give up the ghost quite yet, Tiernan,” said Sara, and both Tiernan and Reina startled, turning their gaze to her. Reina, aware of how entwined their bodies had become, wrenched herself from his grasp.

Tiernan made no move to stop her, absorbed in the Fairy in front of him. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice cautious.

“I mean that your boss was able to do some nifty neat negotiating on your behalf.”

An open mouthed smile came over his face. “You sly fox. Marry me.”

“Don’t tempt me, boy. I just might force you to waste yourself on me. It boils down to this, Tiernan. You have one last chance to prove yourself. Your next assignment ends in a Happily Ever After, or the Elf King wins.”

“Not a problem. You want it in one day, or two?”

Sara’s laughter rang out, welcome after the uncomfortable past minutes. “Well, I am glad to see you in full spirits, Tiernan. It bodes well for your success. Don’t take this too lightly though. This is beyond the Council. You must produce a HEA, because if you don’t, I can do nothing else for you.”

“You’ve done so much for me already. Don’t think I’m not appreciative.” He closed his mouth, his brows coming together, his fingers tapping his leg in a quick staccato movement. “The Elf King will not be happy about this last chance, and I’m sure he’ll know all the details of your bargaining. He’ll do anything to stop me from getting a Happily Ever After.”

Sara’s hands clapped together, and she rubbed them furiously together. “Now that, we can help with, and that is why Reina is here.”

Tiernan’s eyes once again turned to Reina, gleeful calculation replacing the relief that had been in them. Now on her guard, Reina asked the council, “How am I to help?”

Sara was practically vibrating in her seat, and Reina knew she wasn’t going to like what was said next. “Reina, you are going to be sent with Tiernan to prevent any attempts by the Elf King—or any other outside party—to stop Tiernan from getting his HEA.”

Almost as an automatic response, Reina began shaking her head. “Godmother Sara, there must be others besides me who are more suited for this job.”

“No, Reina, there is no one else.” Sara gave her a hard look. “Let me continue my frank speech because I’m enjoying it so much and I don’t get to do it often enough. It is a well-known fact that you are against Tiernan being in the program. If I send anyone else with him, should Tiernan get a HEA,” she turned her gaze to Tiernan, “and I am fully expecting you to get one, boy. Nevertheless, with anyone else, the Elf King will bring charges of collusion. If he tried that against you, people would hurt themselves falling down laughing. Beyond that, you are strong enough to take on any challenge that the Elf King would send to prevent Tiernan’s HEA.”

Oh yes, Sara was very serious about this. Short of holing up in an enchanted castle, there was no way Reina was getting out of this one. “What would be my duties?”

“You are to assist Tiernan. You are not in any way to interfere or take lead; you are there to follow his directions. The HEA must be his alone. If you discover someone from our realm trying to disrupt the HEA process, you are to immediately neutralize any threat. Is this understood?”

Follow his directions? Put herself in the hands of that arrogant, cocksure male? Screw the castle; she was going to get her very own pet fire-breathing dragon. “Perfectly, Godmother Sara.”

Reina could feel her face taking on a pinched look, and this was confirmed a moment later when Tiernan burst out laughing. He leaned over and whispered, “You look like you’ve just eaten a basket of lemons, Godmother Reina.”

Once this was over and the Elf King dealt with, she was going to make it her life’s mission to get him reassigned and away from the Fairy Godmothers. Once that was accomplished she would dance a jig, she would cavort naked in a meadow, she would never, ever, ever offend the heavens again by having a second of hesitation with her feelings of him leaving. On all that was sacred, this she promised.