Chapter 11

"No, absolutely not, I forbid it." Ivy stated adamantly.

She was angry with me, but her eyes stayed a beautiful brown, so I felt comfortable arguing with her. "Come on, Ivy. It's just one day. No one cares!" I was not going to back down just because she said so.

"You will find two inches or lower heels to wear tomorrow!" Ivy huffed. "You will look ridiculous coming down the aisle next to Trent, taller than him. God Rachel, this wedding isn't about you!"

I pointed at Ceri, who was mimicking the funny faces Lucy made. "She doesn't care. And it's her wedding day."

"I wasn't talking about Ceri! I was talking about me. I'm the wedding planner, and that makes me the boss." She spun away, opening her cell phone to yell at someone about something. I would not want to be at the other end of that phone. Forget Bridezilla, we had a Planner-zilla on our hands.

Ray took that opportunity to run up to me and wrap herself around my leg. I picked her up and started walking towards her mom. She stared at me with a smile while I talked to her, asking her where her nose and ears were. I flopped down next to Ceri and Lucy. Lucy started stretching for me, jealous as usual of Ray being held by someone else. I shifted Ray over while Ceri did the same, creating a bigger distance between the girls. "They really are starting to act like sisters. Jealousy, competition..." I said.

"Oh stop, Rachel." Ceri admonished, giving Lucy a spoon to play with. "They will be best of friends, you just watch." She leaned over and brushed Ray's hair out of her eyes and made her daughter smile at her.

"Oh you should hear my mom go on and on about how Robbie and I fought as soon as I could talk. He was so much older than me though. He never saw me as more than a kid." He probably never would either. After his first wedding got destroyed, I haven't talked to my brother at all. According to my mother, he was still mad at me for destroying San Francisco. No one ever listens when I say it wasn't my fault.

"Speaking of your mom, did she arrive safely?" Ceri questioned. My mom and Takata were coming to the wedding tomorrow. Ceri asked her personally over the phone, and my mom was giddy with excitement. I heard her ask if I had a date and Ceri's response was a sly, "Possibly." Before my mom could ask more questions, I took the phone away from her and ended the conversation quickly.

"Yes, they are checked in the hotel. And she keeps asking me who my date is for the wedding. Thanks a lot." I grumbled.

"She'll figure it out when she sees the two of you sneaking glances at each other." Ceri remarked. I didn't bother to point out to her I didn't actually have a date. She would just tell me Trent was, or to ask him. And I wasn't going to ask. Not unless the moment calls for it. Ceri continued, "She's your mother, and mother's always know." I must have looked horrified because she unconvincingly said, "She might not be able to tell."

My mom would ask 20 questions and create a fairy tale out of how our dad's working together was symbolism of us falling in love. Needing to change the subject I asked, "So where is your husband-to-be?"

Ceri hesitated before she answered, "He and Trent had to go get someone. Someone Quen thinks belongs with us. I am not sure I agree, considering the company." Her gaze flitted to the stables, and 3 figures walked towards us. I squinted so I could see, but we were too far out. I turned to Ceri, and her face was full of apprehension.

"Who?" I said, feeling nervous.

"Rachel, please try to remember. He is important to Quen and Trenton. Turning him into a dog was hard enough, and they did it for you." Ceri said.

Jonathan? I gasped when they got closer. Sure enough, an extremely tall man was between Quen and Trent. He appeared gaunt and tired, his mood somber. I looked away, keeping my eyes on the girl in my lap. I was not going to react to this. Nope. I didn't want Trent to kill him, but now I was afraid for my life again. When were people going to stop gunning for me?

"Trent didn't want it done for me; he wanted to prove a point because Jon undermined his authority," I said absentmindedly. I stood up as they got closer. My eyes went searching for Ivy, finding her by the bushes. Shifting Ray back on my hip, I went up to her, afraid of what I will find in her eyes and said, "Ivy?"

She turned around, and I couldn't tell in the dark if she had vamped out. "That man tried to kill you."

"I know," I said, haltingly. "But so have a lot of people. I'm kind of a hot commodity."

Ivy cracked a smile, showing she hadn't vamped out. "I know. I am just surprised you took it so well. With Lee or Al, it took you a bit of time, and they redeemed themselves."

I put a hand on her shoulder, feeling her shoulders tense. "It is Ceri's wedding. I am not going to cause a fuss when she deserves this more than anyone I know." I said to her.

Ivy sighed quietly and muttered, "I know, and I agree. But if he even scratches you-"

"I will hurt him myself," Trent announced. I heard his footsteps approach as he came to stand next to me. "I promise Ivy, I won't let him harm Rachel." Ivy nodded, buying into his oath.

Quen took Ray from me and Trent leaned in extremely close, his breath warm on my skin. He whispered, "We had a long talk. He knows better. Please-"

"He's family to you," I whispered back, cutting him off midsentence. Relief crossed his face at my sudden acceptance. He took my hand and squeezed it before stepping it away. Facing Jonathan, I realized Trent just sent a message to the tall elf. I was important to Trent.

Jon's face tightened in annoyance, but all he said was, "Ms. Morgan." I nodded in acknowledgement. Trent lifted his chin, waiting for something to happen. I was confused, until Quen nudged Jonathan. Jonathan took a deep breath and said, "Ms. Morgan, I know I cannot make reparations for the damage I caused you by trying to kill you using Sa'han's magic, but I am terribly sorry for any pain I have caused you, and I will never attempt to hurt you or yours ever again." His practiced speech made me feel as if I were talking to a demon.

Knowing what I said next would be the difference between peace and Ivy ripping out Jonathan's throat, I said, "I accept your apology. You were just trying to protect Trent." I flickered a glance at Trent, his silhouette causing my heart to beat faster. "Sometimes we do things to protect the people we care about. Let's try to move past this for Trent and Quen's sake." I stuck my hand out, even though touching Jonathan still grossed me out.

Jonathan stared at me his eyes wide in shock. Everyone else had a similar look on his or her face, and I grouchily said, "Seriously guys? I can be gracious." That brought out the chuckles, and even Jonathan cracked a smile.

He took my hand and shook it, saying, "I don't know if I have misjudged you or not, Ms. Morgan. I hope I was wrong."

"You were." Trent said harshly. Jonathan inclined his head to his boss, giving his acceptance. Trent's face softened when he touched my elbow. "Rachel? If you have a moment?" I stepped away from Jonathan and let Trent lead me away to the greenhouse.

When we got there, I noticed the fairies were hanging out in the corner, having some sort of hushed meeting. When they saw Trent they continued their meeting, earning a frustrated look from Trent. However, when they noticed me, they threw me an angry look, and they all scurried away. They will never be a fan of mine. At least Belle liked me.

Apprehensive I turned to Trent, wondering what he wanted. We stood close to each other, our hands and feet almost touching. I took in a deep breath, enjoying the delicious scent of warm cinnamon and sweet wine wafting towards me. He wore a silk green shirt, the cuffs rolled up at his elbows. His expression was relaxed, and I couldn't stop thinking about how he looked after turning Dr. Cordova into a red felted monster.

"Rachel, I had to know, does Jonathan coming back change our..." He paused, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Change our circumstances?"

I couldn't help it, I chuckled at his words. "Circumstances, Trent? Is this a business transaction?" I teased him. I was mildly surprised at Trent bringing me out here to ask about our relationship. But we had been tethered to relationship purgatory, waiting to see if we would crash and burn in a hell of our own, or if we would reach heaven together. Someone had to get us out.

Giving me a droll stare he said, "You know what I mean." So he was not going to ask. Fine, I will.

I smiled, taking his healed hand in mine. "I meant what I said. He did it to protect someone he loves. We all know what we would do to save the ones we love." I peered into his warm, green eyes. "And now that Quen is one of the people I care about, I'm glad there is someone who has his back."

I tried stepping away from Trent, but he held on to my hand tightly, his other hand landing on my waist. "Quen, huh?" He asked. "No one else?" I shrugged and licked my lips nervously. He dropped his head to my forehead and said, "Rachel..."

I had to get it out. I needed to ask and get it done. And even though I knew what his answer would be, I was still frightened to my core. Maybe because I knew what his answer was going to be that I was scared. Taking another deep breath, I asked, "Trent, I know we are already going to be there, but would you like to be my date for the wedding?" Oh god, I asked Trent out on a date.

His hand tightened on my waist, and he drew me just a hair closer. "It would be my pleasure." He said lightly. I grinned, feeling the strain ease out of me. I knew, but hearing it made me feel that much better. Trent simpered, "It took you long enough."

"Hey!" I said pulling away. Trent turned his head, trying not to laugh. "You could have asked."

"And risk getting rejected? Or worse, slapped on the face?" He smirked and tried to pull me back towards him. I smacked his hands away good-naturedly. "See my point?"

I shook my head at him, and this time I let him pull me towards him. "I'm still not going to come work for you." I said.

Trent scoffed and said, "I won't ever give up."

"Neither will I," I said, letting my hands rest at his waist, feeling much more natural than it did when he was trying to wake me up. His hands came up to cup my face, and I felt a twinge of desire go through me, needing to indulge in his taste.

I heard a loud thud, and we stopped. Behind Trent, a body had dropped to the ground, coughing and bleeding. I felt the ley-lines strongly, but there was something wrong with them. Trent turned to me and said, "What's wrong with the lines?"

"I don't know." I went over to the body and turned him over. It was Al, and someone did a number on him.

"Rachel" he wheezed, coughing a few times. I looked up at Trent alarmed. Surprisingly, he crouched down next to me, analyzing Al's injuries. Al said, "Ku'Sox and I got into a fight. He found out a way to eliminate the ever-after without all the other deaths. He tried to stop me from getting to you. Rachel, you are the only one that can save the ever-after and magic." And he passed out.