Queen of Monsters and Madness

by Frost Kay

  He winked at them, causing the older women to blush as he steered his new fiancée away from the gossip-mongers. The news of their engagement would be spread all over the palace by morning. It would be an affair to remember, but that was okay. A quick marriage would fade from mind, but a bastard child? Not so much.

  They rounded the corner, and Jasmine yanked her arm from his and spun to face him. “What the hell was that?” she hissed, her stormy eyes wild.

  Anger. He could handle anger.

  Sam wove around her and picked up his speed. She was about to explode. Words would be had, but he needed to get her away from hearing ears for that conversation. She’d ruin everything if she lost control now.

  “Don’t you dare walk away from me.”

  “I’m not walking away from you.” He was leading her away from the harpies who would love to tear her apart.

  She stomped behind him. Sam eyed the empty hallway. Good enough. He spun, snagging her wrist and pulled her into one of the secret coves.

  Jasmine yanked her arm from his grasp and glared at him. “Don’t touch me.”

  He held his hands up and took a step back.

  “What was that?” she demanded. “What have you done?”

  “That was me saving your life.” He leaned a hip against the wall. She was justifiably angry, but, in the end, she’d understand he was doing what was best for her and the twins. He wouldn’t allow another girl to be destroyed by the Scythians when it was within his power to do something.

  “My life? You just lied to those women.”

  “I didn’t lie to them.”

  “You told them we’re betrothed.” She said the word like it was something dirty.

  “We are.”

  “No, we are not.”

  “Yes, we are,” he said slowly. “What do you think those women would have done if we weren’t, hmmm? I’ll tell you. Word would have spread, like wild fire, of our little tête-à-tête.” Her face paled. “You would’ve been well and truly ruined in the court’s eyes. It’s a dangerous game you’ve been playing. You’ve been lucky so far.”

  “So, you made up a lie?” she said flatly.

  “No, I saved your reputation and just provided for the twins and yourself for the rest of your life.”

  “I won’t go along with this,” she whispered.

  He chuckled, hating each moment he played the bad guy. That’s what he got for trying to be the knight in shining armor. “You will. You will not make a fool out of a prince of Aermia, and you certainly won’t turn away the best life you could offer to the twins. We have but one choice. To marry. If you won’t do it for yourself, you need to do it for the children. They don’t deserve to suffer for the outrageous mistakes of other men.”

  Sam held firm as one tear dripped from the corner of her eye.

  “And what do you expect to get from this arrangement?” she asked.

  That was not the question he expected. “Nothing.”

  A bitter laugh followed as she wiped away the lone tear. “Nothing? No one does anything for nothing.”

  That was the bold truth, he knew. He sighed. “I need a wife and a family. I’m not as respectable as I should be, I am told.” She’d believe that. It wasn’t quite true, but it was close enough to the truth for now.

  “A wife in truth or in name only?”

  “In name only.” For now.

  She scoffed. “What of heirs?”

  His gaze dropped to her belly. “The one you carry will be sufficient.” He’d give the child his name. She deserved that much after everything she’d given for Aermia. His stomach twisted as he remembered her tear-streaked face. He’d make those bastards suffer; they couldn’t expect to get away with causing her pain.

  Her hand fluttered near her belly, and she glanced away, her bottom lip trembling. “I hate you.”

  So be it. “Good. It’ll make the next part easier,” he whispered.

  Sage

  She stared at the mirror and slowly pulled the pins from her hair. A necessary evil she was told. They helped form a beautiful visage, but she wasn’t sure it was worth the pain. Her gaze flicked to Tehl’s reflection. The crown prince had his back to her as he began to tug his shirt over his head.

  Nervousness ran down her spine, like ants marching across her skin, as she watched him. She admired the burnished skin he revealed and a blush touched her cheeks. She was staring at him like a wanton woman. She jerked her gaze back to her own reflection as he looked over his shoulder as if he felt her gaze.

  Internally, she cursed herself. What in the blazes? He’d always been handsome, but since her revelation at the coastline, she’d found her attention lingering on him far longer than it should have. Wanton, indeed.

  She pulled the last pesky pin from her head and shook her hair free, so it fell in waves down her back. Thank goodness only warm candlelight illuminated the room or he’d have seen the blush scorching her cheeks.

  “You’re quiet tonight,” Tehl said softly as he tugged his belt from his waist then placed his daggers on his side table.

  “There’s a lot on my mind.”

  He turned and slung a hip against the bed. “Like what?”

  Like how she loved him. Her breath hitched at the thought. It still baffled her how she hadn’t seen it before, and how it had slapped her in the face, leaving her elated and terrified. “I’m worried about Jasmine,” she said instead.

  Coward, her inner voice whispered.

  He frowned and stared at the fire. “She’s going through an adjustment period. Healing takes time. She’ll be okay.”

  “I don’t know.” Sage turned, kicking the train of her dress out of the way. “Something happened, and now she’s changed.”

  Tehl turned to her, a line of tension entering his shoulders. “That’s to be expected after a trauma.”

  His words were soft, but they still felt like a blow. He wasn’t just speaking of Jasmine. Sage spun and placed her hands on the vanity, her eyes squeezing shut. He spoke the truth. She wasn’t the same girl. Hell, she didn’t even know the girl she used to be. The old Sage had died in Scythia, and a creature of nightmares and vengeance had been born.

  Large hands settled on her shoulders, and only years of practice kept her from jumping. She hadn’t even heard him move.

  “I didn’t mean to upset—”

  “You didn’t,” she cut him off, peeking at him from under her lashes. Hunched over like she was, he towered over her. A little thrill of fear went through her, but she pushed it away. This was Tehl, and he’d never hurt her.

  Sage straightened and reached back to place her right hand on top of his. “You’re right. Trauma does change people.” And she was sorry for it. “But Jasmine changed right before she was released from the infirmary. She went from her bright, sarcastic self to…” An image of Jasmine’s empty blue eyes floated to the forefront of her mind. “It’s like part of her died.”

  Tehl squeezed her shoulders, and she blinked, focusing on his deep blue eyes.

  “It hurts to watch someone you care about suffer and battle demons that you can neither see nor protect them from,” he rasped. Her fingers clenched around his at the emotion leaking through his voice. “You can’t take away the pain, but you can be the best friend possible.”

  Like he had. “Sound advice,” she murmured. “Thank you for being my friend.”

  His fingers tightened for a moment. “It’s been a pleasure being your friend.”

  She snorted. “Let’s not get carried away. The sleepless nights are no walk in the park.”

  “That’s true. But, in being your friend, I’ve gained much more. Losing a little sleep is well worth it.”

  Her heart picked up speed. This man. “And why is that?”

  He smiled, causing her breath to hitch. “I gained a friend of my own.” A shrug. “I’ve never had many. Sam and Gav are family. There are the men… but it’s different with you.”

  A heartfelt confession so honest that it made her wa
nt to weep. Sage ignored the heat gathering behind her eyes. “I don’t think I could put it any more eloquently.”

  Tehl rolled his eyes. “Now that, I don’t believe. You and I both know I’m terrible with words.”

  “That you are.” She smiled at him, and he returned the expression, both grinning like idiots. Her smile faded first. “But, in all honesty, I mean it. Your friendship is a gift I could never afford.”

  His smile faded into something more serious as he dropped his gaze. His thumbs ran along the tops of her shoulders and underneath her hair, causing her to shiver. He paused, a little line forming between his brows. He ran his thumbs up the sides of her neck. Goosebumps rose along her arms at the soft touch.

  She watched his eyes flicker as his left thumb brushed the heated chain of her necklace. He caught her eye in the mirror. Her breath caught, but not in fear. Her pulse picked up as she saw the look in his eyes. Desire.

  She’d seen that look on men. On him. But all those men only saw one part of her, or what they believed her to be. Tehl knew her. He’d seen all the ugly and yet…he still looked at her like she was the most beautiful thing in the world.

  “Do you want me to take it off?” he whispered.

  She blinked. Then blinked again. He meant the necklace. She wanted to slap herself when a nervous giggle slipped out. “Please.”

  He slowly swept her long hair over her left shoulder and fumbled with the latch. Sage hid her smile when he cursed underneath his breath and glared at the necklace. After two more tries, he unlatched it with a growl.

  “Stupid design.”

  She hissed when the chain caught some of the hair at her nape.

  “I’m sorry,” he muttered before dropping a kiss to the back of her neck.

  She froze, his heated breath leaving her skin. She stared at his reflection and he stared back, both of them silent. She couldn’t even hear his breath.

  “It’s okay. Half the time, I want to cut my hair off.” There. She’d said something to dispel the awkward silence.

  “No.”

  “No?” She arched a brow.

  Tehl gently placed the necklace on the vanity, his heated chest brushing her arm, and then straightened. “I love your hair. It’s shiny and smells nice. I even find myself sniffing it sometimes. Cinnamon. I smell it all the time…” He sucked in his cheeks, embarrassment clear on his face as he rambled.

  “So, I shouldn’t cut it?” she asked, throwing him a line.

  He puffed out a breath. “No.” Even though he was obviously embarrassed, he didn’t look away. He didn’t hide from her. Honesty. She’d always treasured it, and Tehl encompassed it.

  Sage turned her cheek and kissed his fingers still cupping her shoulder. “Then I shan’t.”

  Tehl shifted behind her, his body grazing hers, causing everything to heat. Her lips parted as he leaned close and placed an open mouth kiss on the top of her shoulder, never losing eye contact in the mirror.

  Part of her wanted to run and hide, but that part was small. Her fear and nervousness had no place here. This was Tehl. Her awkward, honest, kind husband who carried the weight of the kingdom upon his shoulders and managed to look out for everyone around him.

  His lips found her throat, and then his teeth grazed the tender skin there, and he never looked away from her. Each move was slow, like he was waiting for her to pull away from him. But that was the furthest thing from her mind.

  His touch didn’t cause bile to burn her throat, or disgust and shame to drown her. It soothed and yet burned her all at once.

  “So beautiful,” he murmured against her skin, his callused hands drifting down her arm and across her torso, catching on the fine fabric of her dress.

  Sage trembled and slowly spun in his arms. She tilted her head back, and Tehl stared down at her. She knew he would step away if that’s what she wanted. He wouldn’t push anything. But she didn’t want him to step away; she wanted him to hold her. To love her.

  Slowly, she moved, sliding her hands up his arms, and pressed her palms against his chest, feeling the rapid thud of his heartbeat. She looked up. His mouth was closer, his breath whispering over her forehead. The throb of his heartbeat increased its tempo beneath her hand. She licked her lips, and a thrill went through her as he watched her movement, obviously transfixed.

  She looped her arms around his neck and pressed up onto her toes as his arms banded around her waist. Her belly trembled as the words she’d been rehearsing in her head tumbled from her lips. “Let me love you.”

  Four little words. That was it. But it changed everything.

  Emotions flitted across his face, too fast for her to catalogue them as he held perfectly still. Sage’s heart pounded, and a whooshing sound filled her ears. What if he rejected her again? Could she handle it? Surely, it would break what was left of her.

  She dropped her eyes to the small spattering of hair on his chest, afraid of his answer. The silence felt condemning, suffocating.

  A finger slid underneath her chin and lifted, forcing her to meet his deep blue eyes. He searched her face, his fingers caressing the soft underside of her jaw. Whatever he was looking for, he found. His lips curled, and his mouth drifted closer.

  “No.” Her heart stuttered. “It will be my pleasure to love you,” he whispered before kissing her.

  Lips brushed against lips, and, as she took a breath, she stole his. Tehl cupped her cheeks with both his hands and pressed closer, his mouth opening over hers as he tasted her, a faint hint of his tongue flickering over her lips. Stars above.

  Her hands flexed against his neck and as he pulled back to brush his nose against hers, an odd sound rose in her throat, one that sounded suspiciously like a sigh. His gaze flicked to hers as if to make sure she was all right.

  Sage swallowed and smiled. “I trust you.”

  He didn’t ask for the words, but she needed to say them all the same. She trusted him more than she trusted herself most of the time.

  A groan erupted from his throat, and then his hands were on her, lifting her onto the vanity, her back pressed against the mirror. She leaned forward, her hands sliding over the smooth skin of his shoulders. How had she gotten so lucky?

  He shuddered and caught her face in his hands, and then his mouth swooped across hers in a kiss that caused her to go up in flames. Her fingers wandered into his silky black hair and a rumbling sound vibrated from his chest.

  His hands skimmed down her waist and slowly began to lift her skirts.

  “This is enough,” he rasped, between kisses. “This is all I need, love. You can say no.”

  “It’s not nearly enough,” she said, tugging on his hair, so he met her gaze. “This is my choice. Our choice. This is our future.”

  Tehl curled his hands against the back of her knees and pulled her forward until the insides of her thighs caressed his hips, and he settled her there. “For so long, I’ve wanted you more than I’ve wanted anything.”

  His tender words caused a fat tear to sneak out.

  He cupped her face and gently stroked her cheeks as he stared into her eyes. “I don’t want to hurt you. I want to make you happy.”

  She pulled his left hand from her face and kissed his palm. “That’s what I know: you will never hurt me,” she whispered. Her other hand went to his nape, and she pulled his head down, so his mouth went back to hers. “You are mine, and I am yours.”

  He brushed his lips across hers. “I’m happy to call you mine and to be yours.”

  “Then make it so,” she breathed, her cheeks heating.

  “I intend to, love,” he whispered.

  A knock.

  They froze, staring at each other.

  “Maybe they’ll go away,” Tehl whispered, kissing her neck.

  Another knock.

  Disappointment filled her as he growled.

  “Who in the hell would be calling at this hour?” he all but snarled.

  “It’s likely important,” she said softly.

  Tehl p
ressed his forehead against hers. “So is this.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  His disgruntled expression caused a small giggle to escape her. He blinked, and the corners of his mouth curled.

  She couldn’t remember the last time she giggled.

  A third knock.

  Tehl glared at the door. “Stars above, I’m coming.” He turned back to her and arched an eyebrow before kissing her hungrily, and then, leaving her breathless, he pulled back.

  “Are you ready for this?” he asked, tugging her skirts down and holding a hand out for her.

  Sage tried not to blush as she accepted his hand and glanced at the vanity. He followed her gaze and squeezed her hand, pulling her attention back to him.

  “This is the beginning, you know,” he said softly.

  “The beginning?”

  “The beginning of us.”

  Sage

  “Hello, pretty girl,” Sage crooned at Peg. The mare nickered a hello and butted her in the chest affectionately. She grinned and stroked Pegasus’s velvety nose. “I don’t have any treats for you.” Peg ignored her and nosed around her pockets.

  “Are you ready?” Gav asked, his face shadowed by the hooded cloak he wore.

  She craned her neck to look at her friend. “Yes.”

  He stared at her for a beat then nodded. “Make sure to tell her about your shadow.”

  “Nali,” she breathed. That sneaky beast. She turned back to Peg and gave her another pat on her chest. “Don’t worry about the kitty-cat out there. She’ll not harm you.” Peg snorted in answer.

  Sage led her out of her stall, the earthy smell of hay and horse fading as they moved out of the stable. Zachael, William, Rafe, and Marq sat on their horses, only lit by the soft moonlight. She glanced at Tehl. He had already mounted Wraith, his mammoth of a horse, and leaned down to speak quietly with Gav. She watched them, feeling a little left out, and fiddled with the clasp of her cloak.

  Since she’d come home, Gav had been different. He’d been quieter, more withdrawn. She couldn’t help but think she’d done something to upset him, but, for the life of her, she couldn’t imagine what it was. He hadn’t spent enough time around her for Sage to offend him. But those were thoughts for another time. Tonight, they had to seal an alliance with Methi. Rafe had arranged a meeting. Aermia’s future rested on the decisions made tonight.