"Excuse me."I spun around and found myself looking at an incredibly thin young girl with a head of sandy-blonde hair. She was holding a gown in her arms and bowing down to me.

"Lady Sorcha wishes for you to dress for dinner. The King will be joining you shortly."

I thanked her and took the dress from her. I laid it out on the bed and took a good look at it. It was one piece but looked like two. The top portion was a corset that was gold and navy blue. Tiny leaf patterns were pressed into it. The bottom portion of the dress was the same color navy blue that was in the top, minus the gold leaf impressions.

I went into the bathroom and took the quickest bath ever. It felt weird being there, but I didn't have a choice. I was covered in Enchantress blood, and I'm pretty sure everyone else's too. I needed a minute to regroup. It'd been a long night and I wasn't sure how much more my body could take. I'd already managed to give birth to evil magic, stab one of my boyfriends, kill the Enchantress, and shoot Caleb in the chest.

Yeah, it'd been a long night.

I looked up at the row of circular mirrors that lined the bathroom. For a second, I could have sworn they moved. I put my hand out and touched one.

The image that was reflected back at me changed. It was still me but with full make-up on.

I looked like a gothic streetwalker. I touched the mirror again and another less colorful version of me with make-up came up. That one wasn't too bad. I normally lined my navy eyes with black liner and the lipstick was just a shade darker than I normally wore.

"That should do," I said aloud.

My face tingled for just a minute and the mirror image faded away. I looked up to find my make-up done and my hair pulled into two sections on the top of my head. It left the back of my neck exposed, but forced my long black hair to spill forward, over my shoulders and down past my b.r.e.a.s.t.s.I so needed one of those at home. Visions of James asking it who the fairest one of all was popped into my head and I laughed out loud.

I turned and walked back into the bedroom. My gown was laid out nicer than the way I'd left it and a pair of matching navy high heels sat on the floor at the foot of the bed.

I did my best to try to get into the dress. It wasn't working out for me.

I'd never worn anything even remotely close to it, at least not in this lifetime. I gave up and tossed it onto the bed. I walked over to the ma.s.sive balcony door and looked out into the night. Caleb had told me that it was always night in the Dark Realm. I didn't know how anyone could get used to living this way.

The street below was crowded. I'd say people were walking up and down it but that would be a lie, nothing down there really resembled anything human. The few that did were obviously vampires or witches. I backed up into the room and closed the door. I turned back to the bed to try to tackle my dress problem again.

A light tapping noise came from behind me. I turned and saw James standing out on the balcony. I walked over, opened the door, and stepped out.

"How in the h.e.l.l did you get here?"

He rolled his eyes at me. "Gwen, I'm a vampire, the Dark Realm is like a second home to me. Sort of like how the mall is to you." He looked down at the street full of things and back to me. "Right then, maybe not a second home, but I do get unlimited access to it."

I shook my head and backed into the room. James stood out on the balcony looking in at me. "Umm ... do you mind?"

He wasn't attempting to come in and then it hit me. "This isn't my house." I knew a vampire had to be asked into your home and this was not my home.

"I hate to argue with you, love, but the place is yours. It's your father's, and he apparently is a firm believer in what's his is yours, 'cause I can't come in.""Fine, James, you can come in."

He walked in and dusted himself off. He took one look at the dress on the bed and busted out laughing. "Nice outfit."

"Yeah, it'd be great if I knew how to get the d.a.m.n thing on." Flipping it over, I looked at all the ties in the back. It would take an army to get me in it. James walked over and took it from me.

"Drop your towel and I'll help you."

I gave him a sideways look with a questioning look. "James, if you wanted me naked, all you had to do was ask." I laughed, he didn't. "What the h.e.l.l's your problem?"

"It's hard enough to keep control of our bond thing, but offerin' a bit of the m.u.f.f up isn't helpin', even if you are just joshing me."

"You're the only person to have full access to my mind, James. You tell me if I'm joking or not."

He swallowed hard and closed his eyes for a moment. "Do you want help with the dress or not?"

He was pretty d.a.m.n old and he did, more than likely have some experience when it came to this sort of garment. "Do I even want to know how many of these dresses you helped women into in your day?"

James stepped closer to me with a lecherous grin. Gwen, it's not the puttin' it on that I'm an expert at.

A clear image of James, pumping himself into another woman came to me. I did my best to squelch the jealousy I felt. It flashed before me again, this time so real that I knew it was James' doing.

Knock it off!

He wagged his eyebrows and smiled. Awe, was it somthin' I said?

I really don't want to see you s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g other people.He drew in a sharp breath. Yeah, well now you know how I feel. James grabbed my towel and pulled me close to him. I thought he was going to kiss me, but he didn't. He turned me around and ran his hands over my shoulders. He worked his hand into my towel and yanked it away from me.

He disappeared for a moment but the minute I went to turn around, he reappeared behind me. James ran his hands down my legs, slowly. When he reached my foot, he tapped it lightly. "Lift it up, love."

I did. I tried to turn around and face James, but he grabbed my hips and held me firm. He tapped my foot again and I lifted it for him. He slid a pair of black panties up my legs, letting his fingers splayed over my hips. The feel of his hands on me was almost too much. It was best I stay facing forward and we both knew it. No sense setting ourselves up for disaster. Besides, we still had to face each other once the screwy vamp-mojo thing was fixed and I really didn't want to lose my best friend. "So," I said, softly. "How's the weather?"

James snickered. "And you call me odd."

I was about to comment further when he s.n.a.t.c.hed my towel up and pulled it around me quickly. I yelped as he jerked me around to face him. His blue eyes held a bit of sadness in them. Compelled to touch him, I did. I smiled and stroked his cheek lightly. "Thank you for being you, James."

"Gwyneth!"

I looked up and saw Pallo standing on the balcony, glaring at the two of us. I kept my hand on James' cheek.

"You didn't mention he was coming, too," I said, a bit peeved at James.

James tried to look innocent. He failed miserably. Pallo pressed his body against the open door, but couldn't enter. I glared at James, daring him to invite Pallo in. He knew better. He grabbed the dress and dropped down before me. He tapped my leg again. I lifted it and stepped into the dress. He pulled it up my legs, stopping only when he got to the towel he'd wrapped back around me."Gwen, you need to ditch the towel, as lovely as it is, it doesn't go with the outfit."

James, are you insane? He'll rip you limb for limb.

His eyes widened. Gee, good to know you have all the faith in the world in me.

Pallo growled. I didn't need to see his face to know he was livid.

Just let him in, Gwen.

No.

Have it your way then. James pulled the towel from my body. I stood before him, nude from the waist up. That was "different" to say the least. He pulled the dress up and over my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, spending way too much time there, and winked at me. Let him in, or I'll get him so 'effing p.i.s.sed off that he'll kill me for sure. You need to talk to him ... work out your differences. The man loves you, Gwen. Don't doubt it for minute.

I opened my mouth to yell at him but remembered that Pallo didn't know about our newfound ability. "Just help me get this d.a.m.n thing on."

"Okay, I'll do ya'," he said. It was a loaded statement, I knew it and so did Pallo. He growled out again and my chest tightened. It was wrong to do this to him.

James stepped forward, adjusted the corset up over my b.r.e.a.s.t.s and walked behind me. He tugged and pulled on the back of the corset. For a minute or two I fully expected my head to pop off, the thing was downright uncomfortable. James reached the top of it and leaned into me. His fingers slid over my bare shoulders.

"Let him in now, Gwen, please."

The please on the end that did it for me. "Fine, Pallo, you may enter."

Pallo came flooding into the room. I could feel the anger rolling off him. He went towards James. I stepped in his path. "Don't even think about it. If you touch one over-processed hair on his head, I will revoke my invitation. ALL my invitations! Do you understand?"That stopped him dead in his tracks. He turned to me and looked down at me. The corset pushed my already large b.r.e.a.s.t.s up and out towards him. I wasn't sure how my nipples weren't hanging out. Fabulous, if I popped a "berry" in the middle of dinner with my father, I would slit my wrists.

Too bad I was immortal or it would have been a dramatic statement.

"Okay, shoes." I put my hand out. James took it to steady me as I slipped the heels on.

Pallo's gaze raked over my body, soaking me in, before coming to a stop on my stomach. Something akin to pain flickered through his dark brown eyes. "James told me," he said. I was happy to hear that I wouldn't have to go into detail about the non-baby, baby-thing. I touched my stomach and noticed Pallo take a tiny step forward. I wanted to run to him and throw my arms around him. It took all my will power to remind me I was still mad at him. His full lips curved into a tiny, half smile and I knew he'd been in my head again.

I growled at him and he broke out with a full smile. Glad to know someone found this all amusing.

Pallo glanced over at the door. I turned but heard nothing. A second later, I heard a knock. I looked at Pallo and he shrugged. He didn't know who it was either.

"Only one way to find out," James said, as he walked towards the door. He reached out and flung it open.

"Kerrigan!" I shouted out and ran to him. I tossed my arms around him, and give him a hug.

He laughed and hugged me tight. "It is good to know I am missed. I can a.s.sure you that you are."

My father stood as tall as Caleb but had even more ma.s.s to him. He was not fat, by no means, just chalked full of muscle. Like Pallo, but taller. He looked like he could rip your head off and serve it to you for dinner if you weren't careful. With him being the King of the Dark Realm and all, I thought it best not to dwell on that. He was dressed in a long set of white robes. I'd never seen him wear that color--it looked nice, but different. His hair was the same raven black as my own and I'd gottenmy navy blue eyes from him as well. The white robes screamed special occasion and I wondered what was going on.

My father spun me around and looked at my dress. His brow furrowed a bit.

"My little girl is all grown up. You are beautiful, don't you agree?" he asked looking over at James and Pallo.

James dropped to his knee and Pallo leaned forward. "King Kerrigan, it is good to see you again," Pallo said.

"Stand, we are like family now. Speaking of which, let us go down to the common room, I have an announcement to make. It is one that concerns us all."

He took my hand in his arm and led me out the door. Pallo and James followed closely behind us.

Chapter 37.

The common room was anything but common. A set of ma.s.sive chairs, I a.s.sume thrones, sat on a raised platform at the head of the room. Tables lined the sides of the basketball court sized room. Each table was decorated with black tablecloths and red roses. The center of the floor was clear of tables. It looked like it was set up for a dance. I looked up at the ceiling and did a double take, huge black spiders hung down from silver webs. I backed up and hit Pallo. "Are they real?"

My father looked up at the spiders. "You don't like them?"

I shook my head no. He waved his hand and they all disappeared. "Hmm ...

now I will have to think of something else to decorate the room with.""What exactly are you decorating for?"

From the looks of it, a ma.s.sive funeral--oh, joy we'd come jut in time for a faerie wake. Yippie, never can have too many dead people in a room.

Pallo laughed and quickly covered it under the guise of a cough. He was eavesdropping in my noggin again. Ignoring him, I investigated the room some more. A huge cage of bats sat in the upper left hand corner of the room. I tried to back up more but Pallo wouldn't move.

"Uhh ... Kerrigan ... I mean ... dad?" It was still odd to call him dad.

I hadn't really known him that long.

"Yes?"

"What kind of party is this?"

"Gwyneth, I would have thought you would know. It is for your engagement party this evening."

Seeing Pallo walk in the sunlight would have shocked me less than that statement. Was he on faerie-dust? I glanced back at James, he was trying not to laugh. Pallo looked lethal--what else was new. I put my hand out to my father, and touched his arm. "This is really nice and all, in a horror picture show kind of way, but I'm not sure why you did it."

He squeezed my hand gently. "I think it is time to introduce you to my kingdom. Speculation has been circling about a child of mine existing. It is best to lay the rumors to rest and what better way than the announcement of your coming marriage to Caleb."

"Didn't you get the memo?"

Kerrigan stared hard at me. No, I guess he didn't get it. He didn't know the engagement was off. I wasn't even sure how he knew the d.a.m.n thing wa s even on. One look around the "common room" told me he was proud of me that was comforting. I think.

"Kerrigan ... err ... dad, Caleb isn't well. He's not up for all of this.""Nonsense, I just left him." He looked off towards the far end of the room and the door opened. I couldn't believe my eyes. Caleb walked through wearing a white set of robes like my father. His long blond hair hung loose to his waist. He generally kept it tied back and only rarely let it down. His gaze met mine and he looked away.

My father sensed the tension between us. He asked Pallo and James to accompany him down to the kitchen to oversee the food preparation. It was a lame excuse to give Caleb and me some privacy but it worked. He was the friggin' king of the dark creatures. He could have said, "Let's go stare at a toilet bowl for an hour" and they would have agreed.

Caleb came to a stop in front of me and stared down at my dress. "That looks like something my mother picked out. Sorry."

I smiled up at him and put my arms around him. He didn't hug back. "I'm sorry I said all those hurtful things to you. I didn't mean them."

"So, you didn't really sleep with Pallo?"

I let go of him and refused to meet his gaze. He grunted. "Yeah, that's what I thought." For a moment, I thought he'd offer something else up, but he didn't. There was dead silence between us for a bit. "Gwen, I never meant to hurt you. I tried to turn my power into myself, but you absorbed it all into you ... you died in my arms." He put his hand out to me and I took it. "My power ripped your life force away and I was powerless to stop it! Pallo and James came, and I watched them bring you back from a death I caused. I couldn't face you after that, I tried ... I swear I did ... I tried to come and see you, but I couldn't bring myself to enter the room."

"I don't blame you for what happened, Caleb. I'm fine now. Besides, I was the reason you got shot."

He touched his chest and looked at me. "You shot me?"

I explained about how the Enchantress used him to attack me and how he tried to unleash the full force of his magic against me again. I also told him that I couldn't bring myself to hurt him but the gun had accidentally gone off during my struggle with the Enchantress. He bent his head down and looked away."It's a d.a.m.n good thing she did cause the gun to go off. I had no control over myself. I would have destroyed you. You should have done it sooner."

I touched his face and he looked up at me. My magic flared and immediately sought his out. For one moment, we stood locked together by magic alone. "I could never hurt you, Caleb. It wasn't even you--you were like her puppet."

"Gwen, I think I had s.e.x with her ... I'm not sure, but I think I did. I shouldn't be telling you this but you have a right to know."

My stomach tightened. It hurt to hear him say that. I respected his honesty but it still hurt. "Did all of you have s.e.x with her?"

Caleb's jaw tightened. "Ken did, so did Caradoc, but Pallo didn't."