Lauren eased out of bed and snuck downstairs. Cedric had arrived and she gave him her instructions then shushed him to secrecy. She walked downstairs and locked the door behind her.
Aife and Keldon
"Good morning, my love". Aife bowed to the King.
"Good morning, Aife". Keldon smiled and hugged the Succubus before letting go.
"What's the first order of business, my King?". Aife asked.
"It feels weird being King again, I haven't actually planned anything. Bo has the Colony on pins and needles. The streets seem almost deserted as if people are afraid to leave their homes". King Keldon looked outside.
"That's not just Bo, that's you too. They know a real King is back on his throne. A no nonsense King. Trick was a pussycat compared to you. But he hid behind his crown, yours is rightfully where it should be". Aife gently tapped the crown and moved back.
"There needs to be an order here. Too many innocents were dying in the streets or being robbed of their belongings". Keldon turned his head to Aife and turned back to the window.
"Don't worry my King. Nothing will happen. I don't have your crown, but I have boots with heels. Nobody will step out of line". Aife's eyes flashed blue and back to their normal color.
"How are my babes?". Keldon asked.
"That I am not sure of. But honestly we or I haven't seen two people more in love than they are". Aife smiled.
"You didn't see me and your Grandmother. I still love that woman. She would want me to protect and love her succubus granddaughters. I intend to do so. The better I am at it, the more our love still breathes in this world". Keldon walked from the window and took a seat.
"You know I was thinking. Since you have reclaimed your throne, and have vowed to protect the innocent, there is no need for Fae police officers". Aife walked over and poured herself a drink. It was still early, and the King might not want liquor so early in the day.
"I don't want that bastard loose on the streets. He's dumb as rocks and only knows what he knows. He can stay on the human police force, but you may tell the others they are relieved should they choose to step away". Keldon leaned back and grabbed some paper.
"We have people that can write your laws". Aife held up a palm to stop his writing.
"No. I will do it. I want it written word for word. I won't have any misunderstandings about how they are written and executed". Keldon gently waved the succubus back.
"Oh, shit. I am going to love watching you reign". Aife toasted him and took a long drink.
"I know you are thinking about Kenzi. I trust the Santiago heir to keep his promise and keep her under control. Eventually life will take its toll and she will be someone else's problem". Keldon set the tablet down and then summoned a guard to have it inscribed on stone. "My rule will be very simple. Obey my laws and live or break them and die".
"But you will come off your throne and fight, should you need to right?". Aife asked.
"I will. Which reminds me. I need to find a sword fighter, I want to train every morning". Keldon stood and stretched.
"Oh, My King. There is someone very close to you that would be an excellent training partner". Aife smiled.
"Who?". Keldon turned around.
"Isabeau". Aife smiled.
"Excellent, I haven't thought of that. But I suspect she won't be around for a week or two". Keldon smiled.
"Oh, that's right. The soon to be newlyweds haven't walked down the aisle yet. But of course, I will find you a sparring partner in the meantime". Aife pulled her phone out to make a few phone calls.
Keldon turned away and stretched like he already had a sword in his hand. He hadn't thought about Bo and her young Fae skill sets yet. But she would be an excellent partner to train with. To bond with as well. The old King hadn't fought a good fight in so long, this will be so much fun.
Santiago compound.
"Kenzi, come on Kenzi, get up. It's getting later and later". Hale shook the mouthy woman. He knew she understood what he was saying. She was just being too lazy to get up.
"Five more minutes". Kenzi groaned.
"It's been almost an hour of five more minutes". Hale shook his head and tipped her chair forward so she would have to get up.
"You are so not a good host". Kenzi wiped her face and looked around. She had slept in the movie theater and it had already been cleaned judging by the maid staring a hole into Kenzi's soul. "Where's Dyson?".
"He went home to shower. We have to go to work. So, get showered yourself, I am almost late". Hale walked off and made sure the butler would throw Kenzi in the shower, if he had to.
"You guys are literally playing cops and robbers, how exciting". Kenzi rolled her eyes as she stepped into the living room. Hale was drinking coffee and tapping his foot on the ground. Kenzi had taken way too long but he can't just leave her here. She would cause his staff all kinds of problems and run off and get into trouble on the streets.
"It's decent work. You don't have to come along but you will. I promised to keep an eye on you." Hale stood and grabbed his hat.
"I don't need a babysitter!". Kenzi screamed.
"Lower your voice in here. This isn't the club house. You can't slum around here. You will come with us and there's nothing else you can say about it. Unless you want me to take you to the King. He will put you to work too. The days of slacking off at the Dal with Trick are over. There is no free booze or food anymore. You will work for everything that you get. Starting with last night's tab of popcorn and aycd". Hale pulled her out the doors as the butlers held them for them.
"What's aycd?". Kenzi asked.
"All you can drink. Like it or not Kenzi, I'm saving your life. This will and can be good for you. You want to make amends with Bo? Then start being a good woman. But going at them thinking they owe you anything won't fly. You need to grow up and understand that Bo made her choice and it's not Dyson or any Fae". Hale climbed into the driver's seat and sped off. He'd be lucky to catch up with Dyson. He could already be out on the streets looking for leads on that bank heist. This is such an easier case than dealing with Fae feuds.
Kenzi rolled her eyes. Chasing crooks. She might run into people she used to run with. How silly it would look for her to tackle them or tell them that they are under arrest.
She should be with Bo. Seeing what the Succubus is up to. Sure, Lauren is there too. But she's not so much her friend as Bo is. Or was. Things were falling into place when Dyson slept with Bo and mated with her. He would far outlive Lauren. Protect her and love her like she deserves to be. They didn't need Lauren outside of her labs. That's all she was good for to Kenzi. To help with injuries, not falling into Bo's bed and betray her for the Ash. Now the Ash is dead and now she has Keldon's backing. Who the hell is that damn lucky? Bo and royal family privileges. She thought about Dyson. The poor old fool doesn't know he's still in love with Bo because they made him forget her. Everything could be better if he remembers her but then Kenzi would probably be sidelined again like she is now with Lauren and Bo. "Where are we going?". She shifted in her seat.
"I'm calling Dyson. This is our case. He might wrap it up without me". Hale punched the numbers in and waited for the man to answer.
Bo
Bo was in the shower. She was embarrassed that she outslept Lauren. She vaguely remembered the doctor getting out of bed. But she remembered yesterday. She blushed at the humiliation of speaking her love for Lauren out loud in front of a room full of strangers.
She washed, dressed and walked downstairs. She turned her head to the right and left listening for noise. She bowed her head when she heard water running. Someone was in the kitchen, but it wasn't Lauren, she knew her scent by now.
"Good morning, Bo. Breakfast is ready there". Cedric nodded towards the dining room table.
"Where's Lauren?". Bo looked around. The table was set for one.
"She's already had her breakfast". Cedric smiled and turned back to his chores.
"Good, but where is she?". Bo asked.
"I am not permitted to tell you." Cedric replied.
"Okay. Then I'll eat and wait". Bo took her seat and began eating. When Lauren is up to something, she is up to something. She chewed her food and looked out the window.
King Keldon's Castle
Lauren walked in, stunning Aife and the King. "Hi". She smiled.
"Well, Lauren, how nice to see you. What are you doing here, so early?". Keldon smiled.
"I want to marry Bo, today". Lauren replied honestly.
"Ok but don't you need her here to do that?". The King walked over and hugged the woman.
"I need to get her in this, but I don't know how to do it". Lauren held up a garment bag.
"Oh, I see". Aife smiled and paced back and forth. How to get Bo into a dress without her knowing what it's for. "I could pulse her not to think about why she needs to put it on. But I don't want to do that".
"I could tell her it belonged to her grandmother and I want to see her wear it". The King stepped forward.
"Shit, just tell her. Tell her you want to marry her". Aife finally shrugged. She was never good at romantic gestures.
"We need guests, food, a cake, and liquor." Lauren noted.
"I can handle all of that". Aife smiled.
"I would also need your permission to marry her, and to marry her here". Lauren raised her head.
"Done and done". The duo smiled.
"I'm so nervous." Lauren blushed.
"Give me the dress, go get the bride and we'll handle everything else here". Aife walked over and took it from the doctor.
Lauren laughed. How to get Bo out of bed and out of the house to marry her. Marry. The doctor rocked on her feet at the word.
"Easy". Keldon jumped to catch Lauren before she fell. "She will marry you because she loves you. She will marry you because it is inevitable. She will wear your rings just as she wore your humanity for so many years. She can't go without it. She can't breathe without it".
"Rings! Oh no!". Lauren's eyes went wide.
"Children, huh Aife?". Keldon laughed. "Come with me. We'll get you something to drink first".
Lauren nodded and looked back to Aife. The woman had already hung the dress up and was on the phone calling down to order the food to be made, guests and everything else Lauren mentioned.
"I'm sorry. I had this planned out and it suddenly hit me how I'm about to marry a Fae. Not just any Fae, Bo. She could have anyone in the world, and she wants me". Lauren cried as they walked.
"My sweet, you are as important to her existence as she is to yours. She was never going to leave you. She was never going to not love you. Some have noses that can tell when someone's been somewhere. I knew a Succubus had been to see you when you treated me. You are not as helpless and as hopeless to us as you may think. Nadia may have been the reason you came to be among the Fae, but she's not the reason you stayed. You needed to wait. Wait for Bo. The two of you were wandering the same colony and hadn't met yet. But when you did, you set all of this into motion. You helped her with her feeds. Had you not, she would have ran. Ran off believing she was a cold-blooded killer. You saved her life. Who among the Fae can say they did that with the most powerful among us?". Keldon held Lauren's arm and slowly they walked down the hall. He cleared his throat. "I know this may be a touchy subject and certainly none of my business. But where are your parents? Your family?".
"I have a brother. But with all due respect, Your Highness, I don't want to bring him into this world. I would never rest knowing someone or something could get to him. I don't want to take him from whatever world he created for himself and bring him into this world. I know how powerful you all are, I just can't do that to him." Lauren tensed but relaxed.
"Okay. I can respect that. Should you ever want to bring him in, just say the word. But who's going to walk you down the aisle? Keldon asked.
"I will walk with Bo". Lauren smiled.
"That's an excellent idea." Keldon smiled. He walked Lauren down another hall and then they used an elevator to go down to another floor.
"Ahh, here we are". Keldon gestured for a door to be opened.
"What is this?". Lauren asked.
"Every ring I wanted to give my own bride. But she never wore them because I decided to give her the one she was buried with". Keldon replied.
"It looks like a warehouse of jewels". Lauren let go of him and walked forward.
"That it is. Should any future heir find themselves in a bind like you, they can come and shop around, just like you are". Keldon walked around too. The doctor didn't lie. Rings were lined up in cases like jewelry in a shop or department store.
"Shop? How much?". Lauren asked.
Keldon shook his head. "Forgive my poor choice of words. But these are all free to my heirs. Wasn't any need to return them when they could be used years from when I bought them".
"They are beautiful. Looks like you have had them kept and polished very well." Lauren stopped and looked at a few.
"Of course". Keldon smiled. Lauren looks as nervous as he did when he was ring shopping for Queen Aife. If they ever have daughters, they are going to have to break the named after my mother rule unless she's named after Lauren's mother. He felt bad for the Doctor. She has a brother but never mentioned any parents. He would keep his word too about looking for her brother should she ever request him to.
"I don't deserve this. I don't". Lauren cried as she pulled a ring out to inspect it.
"Yes, you do. Now don't ever let these old ears hear you say that again. You are worthy. You are loved here". Keldon walked closer but gave her space to move around.
"This is it". Lauren gasped.
"The matching one is behind it". Keldon smiled. He remembers that ring. It was runner-up to the ring he picked out for his wedding day.
"Wait, there's women's rings here too?". Lauren asked.
"Of course, we can't help who we love and Isabeau adores you. Like I did my wife". Keldon ordered the guard to replace the rings with another set in the empty spots Lauren had cleared out.
The two walked back and Lauren was stunned at what she saw. Flowers were being brought in and taken to the Royal Ballroom. She smelled food too. Big brutes carried wine racks in with the wine already installed.
"Wow?!". Lauren smiled.
"Better go get the bride, Doctor". Aife laughed and pointed to a stretch limo waiting for her.
"I better". Lauren looked at the time and ran out. Bo is so impatient she is likely kicking Cedric's ass trying to make him tell her where Lauren is.
Some time later, Lauren ran into the house and found Bo asleep with the tv remote in her hand. She knew Cedric had been relieved for the day because his car was not in the driveway.
Lauren smiled and walked to Bo. "Bo". She whispered as she kissed her forehead.
Bo stirred and mumbled something.
"Bo, I'm home". Lauren whispered and pushed a lock behind Bo's ear.
"Lauren?". Bo whispered back and opened her eyes.
Lauren smiled and took the remote and turned the tv off.
"Are you awake now?". Lauren turned back.
"Lauren, where have you been? Cedric wouldn't tell me anything". Bo looked at the woman. Lauren almost cried at the vulnerability in Bo's eyes. She looked like someone had stolen her favorite toy.
"That's what I need to talk to you about". Lauren gently helped Bo to sit up.
"Do I need to go fight someone? Okay". Bo bent over to grab her boots.
"You do need to put some shoes on, but no. There is nobody for you to fight". Lauren helped Bo put her boots on.
"What's the secret?". Bo sat back up.
Since I'm already down here, Lauren thought. She smiled and pulled one ring box out. "Bo I want to marry you, today. Right now". She showed a shocked Bo the ring.
"Lauren!? Did you steal that?!". Bo screamed. Shit this is going to be bad.
"No. These are ours". Lauren replied. She pulled out the other box.
"You're serious". Bo looked back and forth at the rings.
"You proposed yesterday. Now's my turn. I want to marry you Bo Dennis, right now. In front of strangers, your mother and grandfather. I want them all to know how much I love you and how very much that I want to spend the rest of my life with you". Lauren blinked thick tears away. But some still fell.
"We need guests, food, a cake, and liquor." Bo rambled off.
"They are handling that. All that I need is for you to come with me". Lauren stood and held her hands out.
Bo's tears fell too. She used to look at Lauren and would often wonder what a life with her would be like. She's smart. She's beautiful. She's funny. She's all class when she needs to be and a good little partier. "Let's go to our party. Yes, Dr Lewis. I will marry you". Bo gently kissed her and they practically ran out of the house.
They arrived at the castle and Bo turned to Lauren. "I assume I am not going to wear this to marry you".
"No. Aife?". Lauren smiled.
"In there". Aife pointed towards a room just down the hall.
"You are down there, Lauren". Aife pointed and the blonde nodded. "We'll see the two of you very soon".
The women nodded and walked to their respective rooms.
Bo entered hers first. She found everything that she needed, even a private shower with toiletries.
She scrubbed and cried the entire time. She's about to marry Lauren. A doctor. A scientist. A love she only read about in kiddie books. She dried off and pulled the dress down from the clip. She unzipped the bag and laid the dress down on the bed. She turned it over and raised her hands to her mouth. OMG. The dress is beautiful but the inscription is better. Inscripted in lace, one side read Isabeau. The other side read My Love. She picked it up and read the label. Created by Lauren Lewis. Lauren had sewn Bo's dress. She gently laid it down to wipe her tears on some tissue. "Get it together Bo, you're going to be late".
Half an hour later, she was ready and opened the door. She jumped when she saw Lauren standing with flowers, waiting for her.
Blonde hair was adorned with a veil top and the rest hung down around her shoulders. "You're missing this". Lauren stepped forward and put a veil on Bo's head. "Perfect".
Lauren held her hand out again and Bo took it. It shook in the blonde's hand but Lauren held on with both hands. Slowly they walked down the hall and rounded another corner. Trumpets started to play as they neared the door.
Lauren stepped forward and pulled Bo with her. There they stood in the doorway. The guests stood as they started their long but short walk down the aisle. It was always tradition for a male or family member to walk them down the aisle. Lauren didn't want that for Bo or for herself. Give her bride away? Hell no. Not even in fun. This way they are already united. The rest is to come.
Aife and King Keldon walked forward and the guests bowed at the King in his robe and crown.
The King turned. "We are going to do things a little differently. There is no presiding Priest. We are all here in the presence of the most high. Whatever vows these two will speak will come from the heart and not from some preplanned scripture or speech. Lauren". Keldon bowed.
Bo's hand still shook in Lauren's. The blonde looked down and squeezed it and raised her head.
"Bo. Where do I start? I guess I will start with the first time we met. You didn't know who you were but I knew who I wanted you to be. My love. But I never expected us to be standing here in front of everyone like this. You are everything that I ever wanted you to be. I love you beyond that small lettered word. With these rings, I thee wed. Not as an ornament or decoration for your finger but as a reminder that we are in this together, forever. I am proud to be the first to call you my wife." The Doctor cried and didn't once bother wiping away her tears.
Bo was crying and cleared her throat. "Lauren. Where do I begin? I will begin with that same day. We were about to walk out of your lab and I was ready to have you and hide you from the world. To make you mine. Not claim you or mark you but to make you mine. Then that time I was standing behind you working in your lab. I knew then. I knew then that I was going to get better at feeding. I was ready to try my hunch out on a human but not just any human, only you. Just you is all that I need. All that I want. I had nothing to offer you but myself and to my surprise you offered yourself to me. I didn't get it then, but I get it now. No matter where you go, a piece of me will always go with you. With this ring, I thee wed. Not as an ornament or decoration for your finger but as a symbol that we are in this together, forever". She leaned forward and kissed Lauren's rings.
Lauren pulled Bo's head into her hands and kissed her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Mrs. and Mrs Lewis-Dennis!". Aife screamed with glee.
"Sound the trumpets!". The King raised his arms and the guests screamed and clapped.
Bo and Lauren turned and walked back down the aisle. Not as Bo Dennis and Lauren Lewis, but as mates and most importantly, wives.
TBC