A/N: Just a few things I need to say before we start this journey.
1. This is a sequel to The Devil in New Orleans by LFFL collective. It started as a group fic on LFFL and the Jetredgirl and I wound up finishing it. And yes you should probably read that first.
2. Jetredgirl and I talked a long time about doing a sequel and before she passed away we started writing this. We got large sections done, but it was random scenes with lots of notes. So there's still a lot to write.
3. I'm going to finish this even though she's gone because she was so excited about this story. I just hope my writing is good enough to do her justice. Some of this was written by her the rest is by me based on the things we had discussed.
4. I'll update this when I can, but I have a full plate atm. I'm a new mom and I write novels as well. Also because this story is soo important to me, as it was the last thing I worked on with my dear friend, I'll be taking my time to do this right. So please be patient with me. I'll update when I can and I promise even if it takes 15 years it will be finished.
5. oh and if you didn't notice the tags this is a crossover with Lucifer.
Chapter 1
Corwin hurried down the halls of the castle beyond the Goblin City, to his King's room. Today was a big day for the Goblin King. It was a day that many thought would never come. For the first time, and most likely the last time, Jareth was going to be bonded to a human consort.
But his consort wasn't any normal human, nor had he tricked or trapped her into this arrangement as all the other Fae did. No, Jareth was soon to be bonded to the one woman he truly loved. And Corwin knew for a fact that Lady Sarah, Champion of the Labyrinth, loved him too.
Reaching the King's room, Corwin knocked gently. "Enter." Jareth's voice called from inside.
When Corwin entered the room he was surprised to find Jareth standing in front of the mirror staring intently at himself. "Are you alright, highness?"
"Corwin, perfect timing. Does this jacket clash with the flowers on the table?"
"Sire?" Corwin questioned as he picked up the bouquet of flowers.
"The flowers are for Sarah to hold during the ceremony. It's a tradition Aboveground. I want her to be as happy as she can be today."
"Isn't the bouquet usually for a bride?" Corwin placed the flowers down and looked his King over. As always he was an image of perfection. "Perhaps you should save these for after the ceremony. I'm certain Lady Sarah is nervous enough without you giving her the wrong idea."
"Why would Sarah be nervous?" Jareth almost demanded as he put his hands on his hips. "She knows how I feel about her. We've been granted permission by the Anaithnidi, the high court and even the Goddess has given us her blessing. No one would dare object to our being bonded."
"All true, but I believe she may still feel insecure. I'm sure you've heard the whispers from members of the court." Corwin explained.
"So what? Let those idiots gossip until their tongues fall off. I care not for their opinions." Jareth spat.
"But sire, have you stopped to consider that Lady Sarah might care about their comments? Perhaps she's worried about your reputation and feels she's not good enough?"
"Has she said such things?" Jareth asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Not directly, but I can tell she's nervous," Corwin answered. "Perhaps you should speak with her before the ceremony."
"An excellent idea." Jareth patted his aid on the back and headed for Sarah's room.
/././././././
Sarah put her hair up and attempted to pin it in place. Her hands shook slightly and the pins and combs kept slipping. "Fuck."
"Let me help you Lady Sarah." a pair of warm hands covered hers.
"Thank you Alinah. I can't seem to calm my nerves."
The older woman smiled at her as she made quick work of the pins. She curled the tendrils of Sarah's dark hair around her fingers and with a bit of magic created a soft, slightly mussed look, then stepped back.
"You look beautiful."
"Did Jareth tell you to say that? I look like a deer in headlights."
The maid laughed, which sounded like tinkling bells to Sarah's ears. She too was a hybrid, but of pixie and human. Jareth had chosen such a maid to attend to his soon-to-be bonded consort due to their generally sweet, accepting nature.
"Ahhh Miss, His Majesty dinna tell me to say it. Tis nothing but truth. Is a rare thing, a human choosin' of her own free will to be a bonded consort to a Fae King. I'm pleased as peaches to be of service to The Woman Who Tamed The Goblin King."
Sarah closed her eyes. She was well aware of what the other Fae said about her. Along with Alinah's comment, there were many titles she had bestowed upon her, some not anywhere near as nice.
"You're one of the few, Alinah. I know I'm here by the King's grace alone. I'm not deaf or stupid, despite what they think. Or say."
"No, Lady! You are here of your own grace! Don'tcha be sayin' such things. It is you're right as much as anyone's. His Majesty loves ya and those nasty court Fae are jealous. You earned your place fairly. And someday, someday Lady Sarah, you will be granted your place as his Queen. Have faith."
"I'm trying. Time to dress I suppose. It's almost time."
The dress was made to her specifications. Jareth would have had anything she wanted made, but Sarah wasn't one for poofy, complicated dresses...in fact, she rarely wore them at all. She had the dress made aboveground and dipped into her own savings to pay for it. She appreciated Jareth's generosity, but the entire process of her preparations was, for her, a reminder that she wasn't doing this blindly, every step a conscious, self-aware choice on this road to spending her life with Jareth. That she was going into this with open eyes and understanding.
It was a simple sheath luxurious velvet that laced up the back. It showed a fair amount of cleavage and had cap sleeves but the lacing held her firmly in place. . The skirt was slightly A-line and fell to her feet in a waterfall of glittering sapphire velvet. Her matching low-heeled velvet slippers peeked out from under the skirt.
Her only accessories were the crystal necklace Jareth gave her, a pair of earrings with stones the same color as the dress, and blue and white stone-encrusted hair combs holding her hair up in a loose pile on her head, with cascading curls framing her face.
"His Majesty will go weak in the knees, my lady." Alina stood beside her in the mirror.
Sarah played with her curls nervously as she stared at herself. "I don't look too bad I guess. I'm usually not this...insecure. I'm just so petrified of it all going wrong. What if someone.."
"Objects? On what grounds? I don't think anyone wants the wrath of the King comin' down upon their heads to stop him for takin' a consort, plenty of Kings and Queens do it."
"But he never has before and I'll be his only one, unless..."
"Unless what, Sarah? " came a voice from the doorway.
Jareth.
Alinah immediately curtseyed low." Your Majesty."
He gave the maid a smirk." You may go, Alinah, thank you."
She straightened, gave Sarah a sympathetic look, and left quickly.
"Unless..." Jareth slowly walked across the room.
Sarah temporarily lost the power of speech. He was dressed in his matching blue velvet jacket, black breeches, and boots and looked so much like he had in the peach dream from their first meeting, it was breathtaking.
She calmed herself and answered. "Unless you get tired of me and take another...or decide I'm not good enough to be..." she didn't want to finish.
"Sarah. Where is this coming from? We're about to be bonded fully. I want no one else. This isn't like you. You know how I feel. I know how you feel. We've never been about overly lavish public displays of affection, I just...I love you and you alone."
"Well, it's nice to hear," Sarah answered.
Jareth wasn't overly demonstrative, especially here. She accepted that it was something that was against his Fae nature, and he was still learning. He still was coming to terms with it all. Having a relationship was a work in progress for him and she got that.
Only once, that morning after they had spent their first night together before he was taken away for a year did he let go a bit in front of others because there was no option. They still talked about the display he made of himself that day.
Jareth's eyes softened. "I am sorry, love. If I've been distracted by a million little things, and I've missed seeing how nervous you've been. I can assure you there will be no objections. I've been assured by our priests that The Goddess herself has given her blessing. That's a good step in the right direction."
He turned her to face him, his eyes lighting up as he looked her over." You are breathtaking. A Goddess in your own right. My Goddess."
"Thanks. Yeah, I get it. It's probably cold feet." She took a deep breath." I keep reminding myself it's not a marriage and I know we're not there yet...but if I never become Fae then.."
"Sarah, as long as we're fully bonded your life is tied to mine. Remember we'll have much longer than we would otherwise. You worry too much." He kissed her on the nose.
She nodded. The sureness in his eyes giving her a little bit of confidence.
"Now, shall we? " He moved to stand by her side, offering her an arm.
She took it." Yes. I love you and I believe in you. You bastard." A smile played upon her lips.
Jareth chuckled and kissed her forehead." Stubborn woman."
The ceremony was a short one, and it seemed like a blur. Before she knew it, she was agreeing to be the King's consort, an underground priest was cutting her palm and placing it into Jareth's also bloody hand, saying words she barely understood, wrapped their hand in a silver filigree ribbon that left a burning sensation.
It took minutes and the next thing she knew she was sitting by Jareth's throne in a smaller chair a step below his thanking all of those who wished her well, trying to ignore those who gave it through gritted teeth.
/./././././
Corwin stood to the side of The Goblin King as he took his beloved Sarah as his consort.
It would have been inappropriate to smile, but every now and then he felt his mouth curve up and threaten to spread over his face.
His King was happier than he'd ever been. He had never seen Jareth so loving as he was with Sarah. The way he looked at her, indulged her, touched her lovingly during quiet moments between the two that Corwin pretended not to see. She made him a better King. And man. He had been through so much, and Corwin wholeheartedly believed Jareth had finally found the happiness he desired with his lady. He had paid the price and deserved his just reward of a true mate to share his life with.
The King's aide hoped one day he would find that too.
But for now, he watched the magistrate wrap Jareth and Sarah's hands with the bonding ribbon, as they stared into each other's eyes and recited the sacred vows.
When it was done, he followed the pair to the throne room. Jareth guided Sarah to her smaller chair down a step and to the left of his throne, then sat, with Corwin standing at the Same level Sarah was on but to the right. She looked over at him and he gave her a slight smile and a wink, hoping it gave her some assurance that all would be fine, As the guests lined up to congratulate the couple.
When the formalities were over and he was dismissed, he'd return to their home above and make sure everything was prepared for his King and Lady's return.
Everything had been on pause for the last 2 weeks and soon they would return to duties both above and below.
/././././
Once the receiving line ended, Jareth stood and offered his hand to Sarah, and escorted her to his rooms as consummation was expected.
There was no royal feast because she was not a queen. Later when or if that happened there would be days of celebrating.
As the door closed behind them Sarah flopped into a chair. "It seems everyone expects me to start pumping out your heirs right away. If I had one more person say they hope I'm blessed with many of the King's children, I was going to scream." She slipped her shoes off and sighed as her feet had been pinched for several hours. She wiggled her toes to work the soreness out.
Jareth shrugged off his jacket." Traditionally that was the purpose of a consort, especially a semi-human one." He sat across from her and crossed his legs. "Perhaps someday, but not now. Don't think I will instantly begin trying to impregnate you, Sarah. I'm as hesitant as you at this time."
"You certainly seem casual about this whole thing." Sarah bent down to rub her feet, but Jareth, with a touch of magic, moved her closer, took off his gloves, and took her feet in his lap, rubbing them gently.
"I suppose I'm relieved. I just wanted us to be securely bonded to give you some measure of safety from all these Fae milling about my kingdom. You know how trusting I am of my own kind." He replied with a sarcastic drawl. "Now it would cost them more than they'd be willing to sacrifice to try and put an end to us."
"How romantic." Sarah returned with equal sarcasm.
Jareth took a deep breath, released her feet, and stood, holding out his hand. "Come."
She looked up at him sitting stubbornly and saying nothing.
Jareth sighed again. "Please, Sarah." He changed his commanding tone to a request.
She took his hand and he guided her to the bed. She sat stiffly and stared at the floor, one hand still in his.
He kneeled on one knee in front of her and pressed his lips to her hand. "Sarah. I know it's been very trying here, and I'm not...I'm not a romantic hero."
He leaned forward to place his chin on her knee and looked up. "I love you more than my own life. That you never have to doubt. Even when I'm a right bastard. I'd never hurt you on purpose."
The tears stung her eyes but she blinked them back. Most of the time she'd learned to accept that Jareth was never going to be a conventional life partner. Sweetness and light just weren't who he was. He was a King in a place that romantic love was considered a weakness, a flaw.
It was easier when they were above for him to drop the prickly facade and open himself to her. In those private moments, he would make a concerted effort to shower her with love, sweet words, and tender affection he knew she needed from him.
But, there was no doubt at all in her mind, her heart he loved her. Sometimes she forgot all he had chosen to endure.
A picture came into her mind, a memory of his scarred, burned body after a year of torture for the crime of putting her first.
Her anger evaporated.
He had never complained once of his pain in the couple of months it had taken him to completely heal. Not one word. She would lament as she cleaned and cared for his wounds, magically inflicted so they would heal as slowly as possible for a magical being, and he would just give her a little smile and close his eyes, saying he didn't regret it a bit. He wouldn't flinch no matter how much it hurt as she tended to him.
"I know I'm sorry." She answered finally. "I know you just want to keep me safe here. I guess I can't completely let go of those human romantic notions that marriage...bonding, is purely about love."
Jareth got up and moved to the bed.
He eased her to her back and laid beside her, capturing her lips with his and running his hands over her body.
"It is about love. For us, if no one else, and that's all that matters, here and now. I wanted to bond your life to mine because I can't bear the thought of being without you. I'm just grateful that there is the added benefit you're much safer and I can breathe again. I feel like I've been holding it for days, waiting, watching, ready to destroy anyone who would attempt to hurt you. Please forgive me once more?"
He kissed her again, shifting so he could work his way down to nibble the skin on her neck.
"You're not playing fair...but...ahhh...I get it. You're right. I should have known you were a bit stressed. Let me provide you with some stress relief."
"I never play fair, Champion mine, I don't know why this would be a surprise now." He ran his tongue over her cleavage." Now, take off this dress before a rip it from your body. And you know I will."
She did. It wouldn't be the first time by far and she wanted to keep this dress. She pushed him off and got on her knees. He worked the laces out until the whole thing was loose enough she could pull the dress over her head, leaving her a lacy black thong as she sat back into a deep kneeling position her legs folded under her.
He unbuttoned his shirt and flung it behind him so her bare back was pressed to his chest.
Jareth tipped her head back to lay on his shoulder so he could lean over her other side and kiss her. His hand cradling her breasts. "You are so fucking sexy, and you're my woman. Only mine. And the only one I want."
He slid forward so her ass was cradled between his thighs, his erection against the small of her back. One hand stayed playing with her breasts and the other slid between her legs to cup her sex over the scrap of material. He pressed his fingers upward and rubbed in circles, which caused her hips to buck forward in pleasure, as he tweaked her nipples each in turn.
"Like that do you?" His eyes glowed slightly as they met hers.
"Fuck yes.." Sarah gasped out. He knew exactly how to play her.
A moment letter his fingers were under the damp material and buried inside of her. She rocked in rhythm with his hand.
She was so close already.
He stopped.
"What..." she moaned "...please..."
She found herself again on her back, Jareth jerking her underwear down and off, grabbing her legs and pushing them open. "I need to taste you when you come." He growled.
Then he was, his tongue spreading her folds and laving her most sensitive places. She buried her fingers in his soft hair and just held on as he pleasured her.
He was just so good at it.
With a loud moan she came, and she had barely a chance to catch her breath before he had magicked his pants and boots away and buried his cock within her body.
"I couldn't wait. I needed to be inside of you." He said against her lips.
"Oh God..it's...just fuck me harder." She arched her back.
He kissed her and grinned. "My pleasure."
He pulled out, sat up, and flipped her onto her belly. She grabbed the headboard of the bed and pushed her ass up looking over her shoulder with such desire in her green eyes he almost came right there holding himself in his hand, rubbing the head of his dick against her opening. Her wicked little grin as she spread her thighs told him all he needed to know. She was dripping wet and ready. He has discovered she had just as much of a voracious sexual appetite as he did, much to his delight.
Her eyes flashed. "Do it," she demanded.
He did. The sound of flesh against flesh only serving to hasten his release, and moments later he bucked and with a loud roar shot his seed deep within as she clenched her body around him, purposely milking him. He laid over her back and bit into her shoulder, groaning.
His orgasm and the sting of pain served as the catalyst to cause a second shuddering climax, and she collapsed beneath him. A moment later he removed himself from her body and rolled to lay on his back next to her.
"Damn," Jareth said finally as he caught his breath. "I think we can consider our bonding properly consummated."
Sarah turned to the side and laid a leg over him, leaning her head on one hand. "We don't have to hang the sheets out the window or anything do we?"
Jareth laughed and tiredly kissed her hand. "Uhhh no. Virginity isn't a concern here. We both know it's far too late for that anyway considering it's been over two years since we became lovers and we've slept in the same bed for over a year straight. Much to my continued joy."
"Well, we haven't had sex every day." Sarah smiled and laid her cheek against his chest.
"Just most days. And I've enjoyed every single moment. In fact, it would be easier if we just stayed naked unless forced to socialize with others."
"Corwin will love that. Since he lives in the same house." Sarah answered wryly.
"He's seen me naked love, and thanks to that unfortunate incident when he thought it was me in the shower when he walked in, he's seen you naked too. Well unfortunate for your human sensibilities anyway."
"That was embarrassing. I know to you all seeing each other naked down here isn't a big deal, but above people don't typically walk around casually naked in front of friends."
"I'm aware. Not that I want the world to be ogling my mate, but it's Corwin. He doesn't see or sense you as a sexual potential. He feels my mark and it's just instinct to be put off by it because I'm his king. You could walk around naked all day in front of him and it would be the same reaction as seeing me naked. For him. I would hope you enjoyed the view."
"Mmmm, yes, I do. I'll just be glad to go home. These past couple of weeks have been nerve-wracking. I love the castle but all these extra Fae make me nervous too. I want a burger, fries, and to be able to eat ice cream in bed watching my own TV. Why can't you all eat normal food?"
Jareth laughed and hugged her. "You could have asked."
He produced a crystal and twisted his wrist. "No television, but..."
The crystal popped, and he was holding a ceramic bowl with several scoops of cookies and cream ice cream, which he knew was Sarah's favorite. It had chocolate sauce and sprinkles.
"Ohhh yes." She sat up and snatched it from his hand digging right in. When the creamy frozen treat hit her tongue and sighed in pleasure. "Fank youf" she said with a mouth full of ice cream.
Jareth chuckled and shook his head as he watched her indulge. "Mind if I have a taste? Or will I lose a hand? "
She held up the spoon and he took a bite. "It is good."
They snuggled together and shared the ice cream, made love again, and fell asleep fully satiated.
/././././
Elsewhere:
"We have made contact, My Lord." The robed figure bowed."
" Very good. Who knew the King of Hell would be so careless? The demons will be quite helpful in overthrowing the council. It's too bad that foolish witch went rogue for her own revenge against the Goblin King. She was weak. I had thought a half-human would be an asset for above contacts but apparently, they aren't capable of staying on course. Too much emotional baggage. We lost a perfectly good redcap assassin, however. No more hybrids. But then again, that is the point, isn't it? To rid the underground of the impure, to put the humans and hybrids where they belong, in chains. "
" What about Jareth's female?" Another of the group chimed in." The Anaithnidí have her working for them. She will investigate once they notice."
Their leader laughed." You forget who I am. I can have her chasing imaginary shadows and work around them. If it becomes too much of an issue, we'll take care of it."
Another in the circle spoke." Isn't it odd that The Goblin King and The King of Hell have the same weakness?"
" Odd, yes, but it's fantastic for us. With a son of the human's God and the most powerful descendant of Our Great Mother distracted by human playthings, now it's the prime opportunity to strike."
The members of the circle all nodded in agreement.