Dreams Made Flesh

to the people he ruled.
    "High Lord?"
    He turned and found the Queen of Riada smiling hesitantly at him, her Consort beside her. "We don't have an invitation, but we'd like to offer the Prince and his Lady our warmest regards."
    He smiled at them. "It's an open party. We'd be pleased to have you join us."
    He watched the Queen and her Consort thread their way through the crowd. He saw Jaenelle glance their way and smile. Aristo manners didn't stand a chance against his daughter. Before those two knew it, they'd be dancing with shopkeepers and helping fill plates as if they did it every day.
    Then he looked back at the door and saw her standing there, her eyes hot with suppressed anger. He'd sent her a message as a courtesy because she was Lucivar's mother. He'd deliberately sent it late as a kindness to his son…and to Marian.
    "Luthvian." It was cold satisfaction to watch her anger change to fear as he walked up to her.
    "So," Luthvian said. "You got your way after all."
    "It wasn't a contest, Lady." At least, not for him. He stepped closer, lowered his voice until only she could hear. "I warned you, Luthvian. The only reason you aren't on your way to Hell is because Lucivar asked me to let it go. I'm going to honor that request…as a wedding present. But if you ever use a spell on Marian again…or try to cast one on Lucivar…I'll break you. I'll strip you of your Jewels and your power, strip you down until you have nothing left but basic Craft. And it will be done so fast, no one will be able to stop me."
    She paled but said nothing.
    "Now," Saetan said, fighting to keep his temper reined in. "Will you join us in celebrating your son's wedding?"
    "There's nothing to celebrate," she said roughly. Then she turned and walked away.
    Lucivar shifted to block Marian's view. The dark ripples of anger from Saetan and Jaenelle were sufficient warning to tell him who had arrived. He turned slightly so he could watch the door. After what he suspected was a brief, and futile, pissing contest with Saetan, Luthvian walked away.
    *She wouldn't stay?* he asked Saetan on an Ebon-gray spear thread.
    *No, she wouldn't stay.*
    *So be it.* It stung that she wouldn't make the effort to wish him happy, but he wasn't surprised. She'd tried to drive Marian away, and she'd failed. That would be a sharp little bone in her throat for a long time to come. And the sad truth was, although she was his mother, she wasn't family.
    "Lucivar?"
    Before Marian had a chance to ask him what was wrong, a voice said, "So, Cousin. This is the Lady who captured your heart."
    Lucivar grinned as Marian stared at the Red-Jeweled Eyrien Warlord standing before her. "Sweetheart, this is my cousin, ProthvarYaslana."
    "Oh, my," she squeaked.
    Prothvar smiled. "I'm hoping my new cousin will honor me with a dance."
    "Wait your turn, puppy," another male voice said. "This dance is mine."
    He felt her tense, saw her eyes go wide as she stared at the older Eyrien Warlord Prince. "And this is my uncle Andulvar."
    "The Demon Prince," she whispered.
    Her knees buckled. He grabbed her under the arms and hauled her back up. And he saw the hesitation, and a hint of sadness, in Andulvar's eyes as the older man started to step back.
    "The Demon Prince asked me to dance," Marian said, still wobbling a little. She leaned against his chest and looked up at him. "Do I look all right?"
    She looked beautiful. "You have a smudge on your nose." Adorable, as she scrubbed at the nonexistent smudge. She was still a little wobbly when she gave Andulvar a brilliant smile and held out her hand.
    "She's delightful, Cousin," Prothvar said as they watched Marian and Andulvar waltz.
    "Yes, she is," Lucivar replied. And she's mine.
    Which is why he cut in on his uncle halfway through the dance. "Mine," he said, giving Andulvar a hard tap on the shoulder.
    "Possessive little puppy, aren't you?" Andulvar said, stepping aside.
    "Damn right," Lucivar replied as he swept his hearth witch into the dance.
    "That was rude," Marian scolded.
    He grinned. "And your point is?"
    She huffed…and struggled not to laugh.
    He slowed the steps until they were doing little more than swaying in each other's arms. "Jaenelle suggested we spend a few days at her house in Seek for a honeymoon."
    "Oh, I wouldn't want to inconven…"
    "She also said she would talk to the Queen of Sceval so that I could take you there to meet some of the unicorns."
    "Unicorns? Really?"
    "If you want. We can do anything you want. You