"I like her, you may enter." She gave a little flick of her fingers and the sex magic snapped back, releasing everyone from her spell. She scowled at the guards closest to her and shooed them away. "Go, get, go, you silly Sweets. We've got a celebration to plan to welcome home my son."
I didn't miss that she left off the part of welcoming my friends. She may have approved of Clara, but it would take more than a smile to get Tau into her good favor. I'd rather not have to choose between the two of them, but I would, and Tau would win every day all day, twice on Sundays.
We dismounted and I took Clara's hand to lead her though the gates. I reached for Tau's as well, but he shook his head and fell in line behind us.
Clara worried her lip between her teeth. "I don't think your mother liked me very much."
"It's me she doesn't like, Princess," Tau said very matter of factly. "But I can live with that as long as you have my heart and I yours."
Wait, was that line meant for me or Clara? Damn it. I didn't care what anyone in the Land of Sweets thought, not even my mother. I whipped around, putting Clara between the two of us, and grabbed the back of Tau's neck to pull him close. I gave him a hot and hard kiss. I'd put Clara between us to keep her protected and so she wouldn't think she wasn't a part of this but wanted to grind my hard cock against Tau too. I needed him to know it was more than my body he had claim to.
Tau broke the kiss before me, but he wasn't unaffected. "I know."
"Just so we're clear." I searched his eyes, willing him to understand exactly how important he and his heart were to me.
Clara eyes were as wide as dessert bowls and her breathing was soft, but fast. Her magic surged up between the three of us and made the embrace feel like a warm hug that could turn into something so much more. As soon as we found that crown it would. Nobody said I couldn’t fuck the sugar out of both of them while we were looking for it.
"I'm fairly sure everyone here gets it now. But can we move along? My arse is sore from riding all day and your Queen said something about a party, where I hope you've got some of that famous Sugar Plum cider, but any old ale will do." We three looked over at Leb, who had pulled his acts out and was tapping the broadside of it against his hand.
Uh-oh. Nuss stepped in front of us and pulled his sort out as well. He jerked his chin toward the gathering crowd of Sweet Fae, most of whom had menacing scowls on their faces.
My mother turned around, looked at the three of us in our embrace and at the fae staring at us disapprovingly. She rolled her eyes, shook her head, lifted her layers of flowing skirts so they weren't her way and marched back down the walkway to us.
Oh, fuck. Here we go. I knew there'd be backlash to my actions. I thought I was prepared. I squeezed my lovers in my arms and then turned to face her. She got within two inches of me, stopped, looked me dead in the eye and that's when I knew.
She might be a fierce Sweet Fae warrior who was feared by most everyone in the Land, but she, above all, believed in the magic of love. In a move I never thought I'd see the Sugar Plum Queen make, she put her hand on Tau's cheek and patted it. Then she repeated our words. "Just so we're clear. I know too."
Then she clapped her hands, to get the onlookers attention, as if she didn't already have it and let her voice and her allure project through them all. "You all are much better looking with smiles on your faces rather than scowls. Change those faces or feel my wrath."
The Queen of the Sweet Fae whipped right back around and continued her march toward the castle, while we all stared after her.
"Man, I wouldn't want to be on your mother's bad side," Clara said.
I'd worried for a long time that I wouldn't ever be in my mother's good graces, that she wouldn't accept me because of who I loved. I hadn't been home in far too long because of this mission and my fervent relationship with Tau. The relief of knowing the Queen was my true ally, flowed through my heart like a river of the sweetest plum syrup. "No, nor me. But I would for the two of you."
"Hey, what are we?" Leb waved his hand between himself and Nuss. "Chopped nuts?"
I had a quick remark about something I'd like to do two Nuss's nuts, but held it in. It had become hard for any of us to express how we felt about the others in our brotherhood, sense Koenig's betrayal.
Instead of saying something smart I gave Nuss an eyebrow waggle and he returned it with his usual eyeroll. He clapped Leb on the arm. "Yes, my Viking friend, that is exactly what we are."
I did love them both, but not in the same way as I did Tau and Clara. They knew and understood that, or at least I thought they did.
Perhaps once we were all bonded with the princess it would be easier for me to express what was in my heart. Just the act of thinking that had me wondering if that was Tau's reticence too.
The sooner we could find the Sweet Fae and the Flower Fae crowns the better. First, we had to attend this welcoming party and hopefully survive long enough to convince the rest of the Sugar Plum court and our people to open their hearts as my mother had. Not everyone would fall in line just because she told them too.
Our guards kept close as we walked the rest of the way to the castle. When we reached the gates, I directed the guards to take Prince Friedrich to secured area. I wished we had a dungeon to throw him in, but locked rooms would have to do until we could figure out what to do with him.
Trumpets sounded and Clara gasped as we walked forward into the castle's courtyard, decorated in colorful banners abuzz with Marzipan pixies. Never let it be said that the Fae were ever unprepared for a party. The courtyard was already filling with revelers, piles of food, and every Sweet Fae's favorite, a dance floor.
Clara's pixies appeared from the depths of her furry cloak and buzzed around her head. She laughed and held out her hand for them to land on. "I think they're asking if they can go play with their friends."
"That's about the gist of it. Marzipan pixies go crazy for a party. They love very little more."
"Off you go then. See you soon, you two." Her pixies flitted away, and each brought back a treat for Clara to try. Freunde brought a mug of rich, dark coffee, and Trost brought some sugared fruits. "Oh, you didn't have to bring these to me, but thank you so much."
Those pixies loved when she was so open with her gratitude. Most of us took them for granted and I'd have to try harder to be more gracious of our little friends and the way they loved to feel helpful.
