Together they stepped up from the tub. When they were clear of it the round stone cover slid back into place, and before the fire a towel rack filled with warm towels now appeared. They dried each other even as their need grew stronger and stronger. They fell upon the bed together, Kaliq burying his dark head between her soft white thighs as he peeled her nether lips apart, his tongue seeking for the jewel of her sex. Finding it, he used the tip of his tongue to tease and stroke it, drinking her juices which flowed copiously for him, and him alone.

Lara cried out with the pleasure he was offering her. “You are my love, my life, Kaliq of the Shadows,” she gasped. Her fingers twined themselves in his damp dark hair.

He drew himself up lying half atop her, kissing her deeply so that she tasted herself on his foraging tongue. He stroked her face with one hand while his other caressed one of her breasts, bending to take the nipple into his mouth. Then he sucked upon it, and Lara cried out again. His teeth grazed the sensitive flesh until it burned. She pulled at him, forcing herself beneath him, catching his great cock in her hands, drawing it to her. Faerie witch! he murmured silently. You are so greedy as always.

Come into me, my lord, and take your pleasure of me. We have the whole night.

We have an eternity, he replied. How is it I never tire of you, Lara, my love? And then he slowly pushed himself into her. One hand smoothing back the hair from her face that he might watch as they shared of themselves with each other. He felt a jolt of pure passion as her faerie green eyes met his bright blue ones.

I love you, Kaliq, and I am never bored telling you so.

I love you, Lara, he replied. And I never grow bored hearing you say it.

He began to thrust back and forth within her, and soon they were both crying out with their pleasure. Finally they slept only to awaken in the predawn to make love again. They had been together for the majority of her life in one way or another. He had never interfered with her when she had wed, waiting patiently for the day when she would be his forever. He was not afraid of her independence or determination. Kaliq of the Shadows understood Lara better than she even understood herself. But he would not reveal that knowledge lest it interfere with her. They had been created for one another by a power far greater than all of their magic put together. He had had to wait for her. But he had done it with good grace.

OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS Kaliq and Lara tutored their grandson, Biton, and the two granddaughters who showed great promise for magic, Rima and Abella. Biton learned because he felt he should as his father’s heir. He was the youngest of Dillon and Cinnia’s children. Rima and Abella pursued their studies with great seriousness. They knew that their grandparents would eventually be leaving Belmair, and when they went the great magic would go with them. So they studied hard to learn all they could. If they were ever needed one day, Rima and Abella would be ready.

Ilona and her Forest Faeries settled into their new home in the Beltran province of Belmair. Thanos was delighted with the age of the forest, and the vast variety of trees there. He was already busily working at cataloging them.

And then one day as Spring arrived Ilona came to see her daughter. “We must talk,” the queen of the Forest Faeries said to Lara. “It is Marzina.”

“Is she all right?” Lara asked anxiously.

“Nay, I do not think she is,” Ilona said. “She is restless, and seems to have no purpose here at all. She has reconstructed Fairevue on the side of a mountain, but she is bored, Lara. I cannot sugarcoat it. She misses Hetar.”

“Hetar is lost,” Lara said stonily. “Surely there is something for Marzina to do, Mother. What did she do in Hetar?”

“She visited The City regularly. She enjoyed pretending to be a Pleasure Woman now and again. She became friends with Maeve Scarlet’s granddaughter,” Ilona said.

“I did not know,” Lara replied. “Marzina never told me.”

“She did not tell you because she was afraid you would disapprove of her harmless little amusements,” Ilona responded. Then she sighed. “She misses Kolgrim.”

Lara shuddered. “That evil spawn I gave birth to has surely bewitched Marzina!” she cried angrily. “He wants her back, but I cannot let her go, Mother!”

“Do you mean to take her with you when you and Kaliq ride out into the Cosmos?” Ilona asked quietly.

“Nay! She was suppose to remain here on Belmair with you,” Lara replied.

“She is not happy here,” Ilona said.

“She is safe here!” Lara retorted.

“Let Kaliq speak with her,” Ilona suggested. “She has always respected him.”

Lara agreed. “Ask my daughter to come and visit me,” she said. “I sense the time is drawing near for us to depart Belmair. While it has been a glorious interlude I feel the tug of my destiny as I have never before felt it, Mother.”

Ilona nodded. “Aye, I am beginning to see it hovering around your head like a crown. I will tell Marzina to come and see you soon.” The Queen of the Forest Faeries stood up and, bending down, kissed Lara’s cheek. “Farewell, my daughter. I do not think I will see you again.” She drew Lara up and hugged her hard. “You were crowned by destiny even before your conception, Lara. You have matured into an amazing, powerful faerie woman. More formidable than even your mother. I am proud of you. John Swiftsword would be proud of his daughter, too.” Ilona kissed Lara on both cheeks this time. She tipped her daughter’s face up smiling into the eyes so like her own. Remember us, my darling. Goodbye! And then she was gone in her burst of violet smoke.

Lara was crying when Kaliq found her. She told him what had brought her mother to see her, and of how Ilona had bid her a final farewell.

“Aye,” Kaliq agreed. “It is time, but then you knew that.”

“But you must speak with Marzina,” Lara said.

“I will,” he promised her, kissing away her tears.

Marzina came, and together she and Kaliq walked out into the spring gardens.

“You know what I must do, don’t you?” Marzina said to him.

Kaliq nodded. “I do.”

“This is my fate. It is my destiny, Kaliq. I am not wrong, am I?” Marzina asked.

“Nay, you are not,” the Shadow Prince told her. “You father conceived you on your mother through deception. He was angry, hurt and disappointed. Even a Twilight Lord has feelings, it seems, Marzina. When we manipulated the Book of Rule to make your mother the female with whom he would mate we did not consider those feelings or that he might actually fall in love with Lara. But he did. His actions were a desperate attempt to get her back. But Lara loved Magnus Hauk, and she was of the light. The Dark Lands could not contain her. When your birth followed immediately upon that of Taj Hauk, believed to be your twin brother, Lara, after some initial resistance, accepted you, and she has loved you ever since.”

“She did not want me?” This was something Marzina had never known.

“She was shocked and startled by your birth,” Kaliq explained, “and Lara realized immediately who your father must be. She was afraid at first that you would be evil as your sire was evil. She quickly understood that if you did not get all the love that a helpless infant should have you would be harmed. You have never disappointed her, Marzina. Your dark side reveals itself only in your recklessness. What you must do, however, is not reckless, though some will say it is. What you are going to do is brave, my daughter.”

His two words honored her. Her eyes moistened. “I cannot tell her,” Marzina said.

He understood. “Just visit with her, and then bid her farewell. We go soon and shall not return to this part of the Cosmos again. I am cloaking Belmair to protect it.”

“Aye, you should. My brother is a greedy creature, Kaliq,” Marzina remarked.

Kaliq chuckled. Then he grew serious. “Never believe that you know him well, Marzina,” he advised her.

Marzina shook her head. “Nay, my lord, I will not.”

“Go and see your mother now. When she asks if we have spoken, say yes. Whatever else you say to her is your concern.” He brushed the single tear from her cheek.

Marzina’s violet eyes met those of the Shadow Prince in complete understanding. She stood when he did, and put her arms about him, standing on her toes to kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Kaliq of the Shadows, for your friendship and guidance.” Then, turning, she went off to find her mother.

Seeing her daughter entering Nidhug’s hall, Lara arose and went to greet her. “I am so glad you have come,” she said. “Our time here grows short.”

“So said Grandmother. I have come to say my farewells. Did I tell you, Mother? My new Fairevue has been magically constructed to exactly match my old home on Hetar. That way my servants and I had to change nothing. It is all as before, and the view is even lovelier than Hetar. The sky is a perfect shade of blue, and I see nothing but sky and trees from my house. Aren’t Belmair’s twin moons glorious?”

“Have you spoken with Kaliq, Marzina?” Lara asked her daughter, getting directly to the point. “His wisdom is great. I hope you heed it.”

“I have always listened to Kaliq, and even heeded him when I thought I knew better, which of course I didn’t,” Marzina said with a smile.

“I know you are fond of Kolgrim,” Lara said. “You are of a similar age. He is charming and fascinating. He is powerful. Your mortal siblings are gone, but Dillon is your older brother. He is your kinsman, too. You have your grandmother, your uncle, Nidhug, Parvanah. You will not be lonely here. And they are of the light, Marzina. You need this light to overcome your father’s blood.”