“What’s happening?” I queried.
Dawn sighed. “It’s a protestor. It’s been happening since I returned. They believe I murdered your father and that it wasn’t an accident at all. There have been eggs thrown at the windows. It’s fine. I’m sure they’ll tire of it soon when I show them it doesn’t bother me.”
Now that unknown element to her expression before was revealed to me.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I think you have had enough on your schedule, my Queen.”
“I will always have time for you, Lady Mandrake.” I addressed my guard. “Please check that we are safe to travel and then please ask the other guard to stay stationed outside.” Dawn opened her mouth to protest. “Lady Mandrake, I shall be discussing with my sister about your safety and future accommodations and I shall be back in touch with you forthwith.” I spoke to her like the Queen I was, with a command in my tone that brooked no argument.
She curtsied. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
And then I left to talk to my sister about having the Mandrakes moved to the palace grounds, and to talk to Isaac about an idea I’d had.
Mercy was in complete agreement as I’d known she would be. Let’s face it, it brought Aaron nearer, so she wasn’t going to protest. Yet, rather than envy her, I was happy for my sister. She’d been living a life of palace officialdom since our mother’s passing and I was glad to see her enjoying life. Whereas my life was going in the opposite direction, no fun and palace officialdom. And that’s why I wanted to talk to Isaac. It was time to get some fun organised.
“So, Mr Isaac Stafford. When were you planning on making an honest woman out of that girlfriend of yours?”
“As soon as things settle down in Andlusan.”
I waved my hand. “That may never happen, my friend. I wondered if perhaps you might like to marry her next week, after officially being made Lord Isaac Stafford? I thought you and your lady may welcome a handfasting ceremony in the woodlands after your official ceremony in the royal chapel. After which, you may choose whether to stay within your current lodgings or take accommodations in the palace grounds where the Mandrakes shall also presently be residing.”
His jaw dropped open. “Can you run that past me again? I’m sure you just said I’m being made a Lord, a member of the royal household, and that you will host my wedding.”
“That’s exactly what I just said. But what say you?”
He grinned. “I most definitely say yes. Let’s hope my bride does too on the day!”
Days in the palace got a little more interesting then as I met with Audrey, Isaac’s betrothed-a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and cornflower blue eyes-and her family, and we began organising dresses and other wedding paraphernalia. The village got excited at the thought of another celebration, and Aaron and Billy helped their family and Isaac move to two larger properties on the grounds of the palace estate.
Billy seemed lighter and after apologising to one another, we met a few times and I showed him around the palace. Things relaxed between us, although I still only received a peck on the cheek when he left me.
I couldn’t help but become a little jealous of Audrey and Isaac, and for that matter my sister and Aaron. They were all so clearly in love.
Wanting to find a little quiet time for myself away from the hustle and bustle of the palace, I informed Ramona that I would be taking a visit to the family mausoleum located at the rear of the palace. It was a pleasant walk through woodland. Of course security had to accompany me, but after a brief search of the building they were happy to let me go inside alone.
The building was huge and housed the stone coffins of our predecessors. I walked down the lit corridor until I reached the tombs of my mother, father, and my grandmother. I sat on a stone bench nearby and took some deep breaths as I relaxed in a place of complete silence. Somewhere I could gather my thoughts.
I’d been very young when I’d lost my father and so regretfully I didn’t remember him much. It was a shame we’d never been able to experience family life with a loving father. My mum had loved us but having to rule Andlusan had meant a lot of the time she was busy on palace business. Also, the loss of our father had cost her dearly, scarring her gentle personality and making her hard, cold, and ruthless at times. She’d had to be. Often, I’d spent time with my grandmother. It had been she who had told me that we were descended from witches and who had sparked my interest in investigating more.
“I miss you all.” I said out loud. “And I certainly could use your help right now, Grandmother.”
As the words left my mouth, a thought occurred to me. Maybe I could talk to her? There was talk of people who could communicate with the dead. If a necromancer could talk to someone by raising their spirit for a few moments, was it possible to communicate with someone who had been passed longer? I sighed. Probably not. They’d said twenty-four hours after death. My grandmother had passed several years ago. However it was something to look into, to prepare ourselves for whatever was coming. Because while there had been nothing since Cassie’s death, I didn’t think for one moment that it was over.
It was the calm before the storm.
A storm that could destroy my Kingdom, my home, and everyone who lived there.
Chapter Nine
Leatha
The day of the wedding and handfasting was upon us. We were leaving it to the families to prepare themselves. Our seamstresses and other staff had been sent to assist and Audrey had a handmaiden now who would take an official post when Audrey became Lady Audrey Stafford.
Mercy and I were ready to take our place in the chapel as ruling Queens.
“Oh my goddess, this day is so exciting. Do you dream of your own wedding day, Leatha?”
I scoffed at her. “Huh, I shouldn’t imagine anyone would want to put up with me long enough to marry me.”
Mercy tilted her head at me. “Leatha, you are a wonderful person. Look what you’ve arranged for our friends. That was all you.”
“Yes, but did I do it with pure intentions or because I hoped Billy would begin to have fun here and go back to how he was?”
If pity was a gown, Mercy was cloaked in it. “Oh, sister. Their travel here is still so very recent. He will come around.”
“He came here with his brother. Aaron doesn’t look like he’s having any trouble adjusting.”
Mercy blushed. “While it’s true we are spending lots of time together, he is still finding being with his father something very different. Aaron was used to being the man of the house and now at age twenty he finds he is not. At the same time Lord Thomas wants to be a father, but feels in some ways he cannot, given he hasn’t been there for the best part of his son’s life.”
“See? All this is going on, and I am back to being selfish that Billy is not giving me his undivided attention. I am a fool.”
Mercy clutched at my arm and squeezed. “You’re not. You’re missing him and the relationship you had back on Earth. There’s nothing wrong with that. You just need to take a day at a time.”
“Because of course I am known for my patience.”
We burst into giggles and I linked my arm through hers. “Come, Sister, let us watch our good friends get married.”
We sat on two bright white stone thrones either side of the chapel gallery while the chaplain performed the official marriage ceremony before family and friends.
Declared man and wife, we watched as a dapper looking Isaac kissed his beautiful bride. She wore a gown of white silk that flowed simply. It was covered in a silver lace overlay that sparkled in the light. Their smiles were huge, their expressions bursting with happiness as they clung onto one another and stared into each other’s eyes.
I looked into the crowd where my eyes met Billy’s. For a second, he held my gaze. I saw torment cloud his features and then he looked away. My own smile slipped for a moment, but then I pasted it back on my face and concentrated all of my attention on the bride and groom.
/> We moved into the woodland near the castle and here one of the villagers Isaac and Audrey had known since their childhood performed the handfasting. I much preferred the simplicity of this service and the being amongst nature. The couple had slipped off their shoes, their feet grounded in the earth. I wanted to take off my own shoes and wiggled one partially off my foot only to receive a sharp elbow from my sister.
The ceremonies complete, we congratulated the new Lord and Lady Stafford and the celebrations began in earnest.
There was a huge feast in the palace and afterwards music and dancing in the main hall. Aaron and Billy walked over to us and Aaron whisked my sister off onto the dance floor.
Billy held out his hand. “Would you care to join me, Thea?”
I beamed at the use of my Earth name, the one he’d always called me. “I would be delighted.” I answered.
He took hold of my hand, and despite the warmth of his skin, it caused shivers to run up my spine with his touch. On the dance floor, he pulled me towards him, and we danced to the music, his hand at my lower back. Being in such close proximity was intoxicating. After three dances I gazed up into Billy’s eyes and tried to tell him how I felt, that I wanted his lips on mine. He pushed me back gently. “I think we should perhaps get refreshment now? Dancing is thirsty work.”
I nodded when he said he would get us a drink, but as soon as his back was turned away from me, I left through a side door. Passing my sister on my way out I told her that I was going to my room for a short rest as I felt fatigued.
“Is everything okay?” She touched my arm.
“I just need some time out. I’ll be fine. Too much dancing!” I joked, but I could see I wasn’t convincing my sister.
When I reached my room, I was glad that there was no one around except for the guard stationed outside the door. Once inside, I stripped down to my underwear and put on a robe. My feet were bare against the carpet and although it wasn’t the bare earth I’d wanted to walk on, I still welcomed being out of my footwear.
I picked up a romance novel I had sneaked back from one of my visits to Earth, and began to read about true romance; the kind that pulled on your heartstrings and you wished for more than anything. Being with Billy made my stomach fizz and feelings appear in other places, but maybe I had to accept that he was no longer interested and free him to romance someone he felt more at ease with?
A knock came to the door, and the guard came through.
“Lord William is here to see you, Your Highness.”
No time like the present. I may as well get this over with.
“Send him in. Thank you.”
The guard bowed and moved back to let Billy in while I got out of my bed, wrapping my robe further around me.
Then he was there, and the guard had closed the door.
Billy cleared his throat. “Are you okay? I came back from getting the drinks and your sister said you’d excused yourself. That you were tired?” He said the last sentence as a question.
“Yes, that’s right.” I nodded and then using my right hand I gestured between the two of us. “I’m tired of this. It’s obvious you can’t cope with me being Queen, that you can’t see me as a woman anymore. So, fine; you’re free, Lord Mandrake. Go find someone you consider on your level.”
Billy’s jaw gritted. “Can’t see you as a woman? That’s all I can see, Thea.” His voice rose as he stalked toward me and I swallowed. “Do you have any idea what it’s like, trying to keep myself under control when I’m around you? Trying to respect you as you’re now my Queen? I know what we both had planned for the night we crashed. I’d run my fantasies of what might happen over and over.” Reaching out, his hand trailed down my cheek.
“I’m trying to do the right thing. What’s the protocol for dating a Queen?”
“And that’s what I’m saying. You can’t see past my title. I am Thea to you. Do you understand me? Thea first and the Queen second. Fuck the protocol. I’m Queen, I can change it if it doesn’t suit me.”
A smirk came to his mouth, a slight uplift at the corner. “I swear you’ve more balls than I have.”
I couldn’t help myself. My eyes fell to his groin.
“Fuck it.” He said, sounding so much more like the man I knew. He pulled open my robe and let it fall off my shoulders revealing my thin vest and panties. My nipples pebbled underneath my shirt.
“Fuck me.” I whispered uttering the words I’d read in the book.
His breath hitched as he picked me up and threw me onto the bed.
“You sure about this?” He looked down into my eyes.
I nodded back at him. “So very sure.”
Then his lips were on mine. No chaste kiss on the cheek, but hard, bruising kisses that made my lips swell. His tongue pushed into my mouth tangling with my own. Then he was on the move. His lips trailed down my neck and he pushed up my vest revealing my breasts and took each into his mouth in turn. I arched towards him. “Dear Goddess.”
“It’s not the Goddess you answer to or thank now.” He whispered. “It’s my name you need to scream.”
I felt my arousal between my thighs before his mouth moved down and he licked me right there. I was almost delirious with pleasure and while I knew from my teachings that it would hurt, I needed this man inside me.
He moved back up, lined himself up at my entrance and pushed gently.
I thought I would tense up, but I didn’t. Slowly, he edged in and while I felt a little burn, I also felt pleasure.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, don’t stop.”
And then he was inside me and he moved gently at first, rocking in and out. My pleasure began to build, the pain went away and our movements became frantic as we rode together, lost in each other’s bodies.
Next, I was flying, as my core clenched around him and I saw stars.
We stayed in each other’s arms all night. I told Ramona that I didn’t require her services. Later we made love again, and it was even better. I couldn’t get enough of Billy.
And it all just felt right in that moment. That whatever I faced in the future, I faced with both Billy and my sister by my side. I could see a way forward with my rule. A balance between protocols and village celebrations, along with time to learn my craft. And for the first time I allowed myself to see a future with a consort and a family. My consort looked a lot like Billy. I knew it was early days and stupid, but I’d always been given to fancy and I wasn’t going to stop now.
So that night’s dreams hit me that much harder.
Isaac and Audrey stood at the altar in the woodland in a scene exactly like the handfasting ceremony. Except as the witch spoke, the ground trembled slightly.
The guests all looked at one another wondering what the tremor had been.
And then it came.
Every leaf, every flower, every blade of grass turned black with disease, death, and decay and the blackness spread like a forest fire travelling up the aisle and putting darkness beneath everyone’s feet.
As the witch closed the ceremony and took hold of the rope that had been laid over the couple’s hands, the decay spread up the rope, reached her hands and went through her body, turning her skin black. Blood poured from her eyes and spilled from her lips dripping to the ground where it sizzled as it met the earth.
“I will find a worthy host.” The words boomed inside my head, as the body of the officiant fell to the ground, her eyes turning white and soulless and I woke up screaming.
Chapter Ten
Leatha
“Leatha!”
I woke to find myself being shaken gently.
“You’ve been dreaming. Be calm. Seriously. It’s okay. It’s just a dream. I’m here.”
Throwing myself into Billy’s arms, I sobbed loudly.
“I don’t think it is. Billy, I think it’s real.” I cried. Then I told him about my nightmares and the dead villager.
“Okay. Firstly, we need to know if what you dreamed is the truth. So
get dressed and the first thing we’ll do is take a walk to the woodland. Once you see it’s intact and as beautiful as ever, we’ll check on Greta, the officiant, and then I’ll get Ramona to run you a hot bath and you are going to relax.”
“It’s true, I know it.” I told him. I felt it inside me. Something deep in my mind, as if someone were whispering the truth.
Billy stroked a hand down my hair in a soothing motion. “Leatha, it’s probably all a result of the stress you’ve been under. Being trapped in the planes, then having to rule. It’s bound to take its toll. I’m not saying that there isn’t something out there, but the chances are it was on your mind and that’s why you’ve dreamed it so vividly.”
I pulled on my clothes quickly.
“The sooner we get to the woodland the better.” I wouldn’t rest until I’d seen with my own eyes everything was okay, but I was sure I’d not be resting again.
Two guards followed behind us, but I didn’t have to go right to where we had stood just yesterday. I could see from the edge of the woods. A black path scorched the earth from where the wedding party had walked, as far as the eye could see.
I fell to my knees.
“Take her back to the palace.” Billy told the guards. “I need to check something out.” He lifted my chin until I caught his gaze. “Get your sister, tell her what’s happened, and sit with her until I get back. I’m going to the village to call on Greta.”
I barely remembered the hours that followed. Greta’s body was discovered in her home. Her body was completely blackened, apart from the dried crimson that had run from her eyes and her mouth. But it was worse. A field full of cattle next to a series of villagers dwellings had suffered the same fate. Every one of the cows lay dead in the field, their skin blackened, and the same crimson tears decorating their faces. The same white blank stare that shook your own soul. And the villagers screamed of a curse, causing panic to set into Andlusan.
First Rules (Sisters of Andlusan Book 2) Page 5
