by C. J. Pinard
They exited out the back door and through the courtyard. They both stopped short when they saw a figure standing in front of the door dressed in a black robe with the hood pulled up over his head. His hands were glowing orange, and he had them pressed to the door of the greenhouse.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Mathias asked, wishing he’d grabbed some kind of weapon before taking off in haste.
The figure whirled around and grinned evilly at the pair.
Mathias gasped. “Gaylen, what is going on here?”
Hecate, still cloaked as the chambermaid, slowly pulled the enchanted knife from her dress pocket and slipped it into Mathias’s hand at his side.
“Ah, the young Rothhaven king. Where are your brethren? Did they leave you all alone, in charge of this big castle all on your own?”
Mathias lifted his chin and gripped the knife, which he had slid behind his back. He never had trusted the old wizard, but his father had, and so Mathias had never given Gaylen a second thought, except to keep him at arm’s length. The guy’s sharply pointed nose and beady, shifty brown eyes made him seem even more untrustworthy. And now that he’d found the old man sleazing around his brother’s property, he couldn’t deny that the circumstances were all too convenient, being that his brothers were out on a rescue mission—and that Gaylen seemed to be well aware of that fact.
“I will ask you again, what are you doing out here? You have five seconds to answer before I sound the alarm.”
Gaylen chuckled, and his hands stopped glowing as he lowered them to his sides. “What alarm? You have no such device.”
“He has me, and I can scream so loud, it will make your ears bleed,” Hecate said.
Gaylen sneered at who he believed to be a lowly peasant girl working in the castle and looked back to Mathias. “Open this door at once, and then I will leave you in peace.”
Mathias made a scoffing noise. “No, you step away from the door or I will rip out your heart with my bare hands.”
Just then, Hecate morphed back and cloaked herself in invisibility. Whispering into Mathias’s ear, she said, “You must kill him at once with the knife. It’s enchanted and will only kill a wizard. But you must not delay. Through the heart is all it will take. He has been meddling in your family affairs, causing all the strife the Rothhavens have been enduring. Do it now, Your Highness!”
As Mathias’s eyes sort of glazed over, then shifted to the wizard. “You need to die.”
Gaylen chuckled, a dry raspy sound coming up through his throat. “After you, Your Majesty.” He lifted his hands, energy and bolts crackling between them, before pushing them both out in front of him.
Hecate dove between the young king and the bursts of electricity, catching all the energy and causing her mouth to open in a silent scream as she involuntarily went whole and fell to the ground.
Gaylen, shocked to see Hecate, stared down at her writhing form. Mathias lunged at his legs, tackling him to the ground. Before he could stab the old wizard through the heart, Gaylen zapped him in the chest, sending him flying backwards, the knife clattering to the ground.
A scream like no other scream rang out throughout the castle, and Mathias wearily looked up at one of the top windows to see Mariselle looking down at them. “Get up, Mathias,” she screamed. “Get up!” Then, she disappeared from the window.
Gaylen was on his feet now, electricity crackling between his palms. He hovered over the youngest Rothhaven and began chanting in Latin, his eyes closing.
Mathias shook off the pain in his chest and looked around. He spied the knife lying next to the unconscious Hecate and crawled on his stomach and elbows toward it. His fingertips brushed the edge of the blade, but he couldn’t quite grab it. Gaylen was still chanting, and Mathias felt the earth under his body began to tremble.
Hecate came to and opened her eyes. She saw the knife lying next to her head and grabbed it. Mathias pulled on her dress to get her attention, and her eyes went wide. She quickly tossed the knife at Mathias.
As he stood, the quaking ground made him unsteady on his feet. Stumbling toward the wizard, who was now glowing and sizzling with electricity, he used all the strength he had and ran toward him. When he was a foot away, he stood up straight, lifted the knife, and brought it down to Gaylen’s chest. The old man’s eyes opened, and where they had once been brown, they were a milky blue. The smile on his face quickly faltered when he looked down to see the blade protruding from his chest.
Cocking his head to the side, he yanked it out and threw it to the ground, grinning as he pointed to it. “Silly fool. You can’t kill me with that.”
Blood oozed down the front of his cloak. He lifted his hands to blast Mathias to his death, when suddenly, his eyes went back to brown, and he no longer glowed. No more electricity popped from his hands, and a look of horror overcame his wizened face.
Hecate stumbled to her feet. Gaylen’s head turned in her direction and he bared his teeth. “What did you do, witch?”
She laughed, blood dripping down the corner of her mouth and her hair sticking up from the jolt she’d received. “I created another Blade of Enternum. You won’t be hurting anyone in this life, or the next, you snake.”
“No!” he screamed as light began to blast out of his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. As his body began to melt from the inside out, he fell to the ground. Almost immediately, his body liquefied, leaving nothing but a black robe covered in goop.
Hecate could see several castle staff standing around, their jaws unhinged, their eyes staring incredulously at the scene. She quickly kissed Mathias on the cheek and leaned up and whispered in his ear, “You are a brave and noble king. May the gods continue to shine down their favor on you.”
And with that, she picked up the knife and disappeared in a wisp of smoke, leaving the strong scent of jasmine in her wake.
Mariselle rushed over to Mathias and threw her arms around him. He barely noticed her, as he stood staring at what used to be Gaylen. Slowly, he turned his head toward her. “What just happened?”
She was breathing heavily, still trembling and in shock from what she’d witnessed. “I don’t know, but it seems you just killed a very powerful wizard.”
He shook his head as if to clear it. “Not without the help of that ghost-witch.”
Lord Francis and two knights came out and ushered Mathias back inside the castle.
“Tea and bread, straight away,” he ordered the cook, who had just cleaned up for the night and was about to retire.
“Yes, sire,” he replied, going back into the kitchen.
“Sit, Your Highness,” Francis ordered. He looked at Mariselle. “You do the same.”
They both sat, and soon three sergeants from the royal army entered and sat with them. The cook brought out a steaming tin of tea with cups, and some crusty bread and butter.
“Will that be all?” he asked.
“Yes, Oscar. Thank you.”
He bowed and wandered out of the dining area.
Sir Francis looked at Mathias as he poured tea into the cups. “What in bloody hell just happened out there?”
The young king put his hand to his chest and winced. Without a care, he ripped open his shirt and saw the skin charred and raw. The scorch marks were traced in an angry red. Mariselle gasped and looked at one of the knights standing guard. “Get the doctor straight away!”
“Yes, milady,” he replied, walking out of the dining room.
“I’m fine, Mariselle. It’ll heal.”
She made a scoffing noise, but said nothing before bringing the teacup to her lips.
“Start at the beginning, Your Highness,” Francis requested.
After taking a deep breath, Mathias started with the chambermaid knocking on his door, and barely stopped for a breath before he was done recounting the entire chain of events.
“When she said Gaylen had been meddling in our family affairs, what did that mean?” he asked.
Mathias lifted a shoulder and let it fall.
“Of that, I cannot tell you.”
“Maybe it’s been this witch all along meddling, bringing upon us bad luck and unfortunate happenstances,” one of the sergeants added.
Francis nodded. “Perhaps. Well, are you going to be all right, Your Majesty?”
Just then, the old doctor entered into the dining room. He carried a small satchel and bowed as he entered the room.
Mathias’s face lit up. “Doctor Witson, you live here?”
He waved a dismissive hand. “No, son, I move between the havens, to wherever I’m needed. There was a sick woman in the servants’ quarters and I have been tending to her.” His eyes moved to the king’s chest. “Oh, my land. What happened to you? Were you playing with fire?”
“Literally or figuratively, doc?” Mathias joked, laughing weakly.
“May I?” the doctor asked, pointing at the wounds. He ran his fingers over in a light touch. “These are definitely burn marks. The only time I’ve seen something like this was when Farmer Leo was struck by lightning. Same type of marks.”
Mathias looked to Mariselle, then to Francis, who nodded. “Well, you may not be too far off. It was most certainly some kind of lightning.”
The doc was rifling through his satchel when he stopped. “If you had been hit by lightning, son, it would have stopped your heart and you’d be deader than a doornail.”
“A wizard hit me with lightning.”
Doctor Witson’s eyes went big. Then he shook his head. “You know what, I’m not going to even ask. Just put some malgaesec on it, it’ll heal right up.”
Mathias chuckled. “Well, what do we need you for then?”
He closed his satchel and cackled. “That salve cannot cure everything, and you know it.”
Chapter 18
The excitement from the previous night had kept Mariselle—and most of the castle—up unto the wee hours of the morning. So when she awoke to bright-yellow sunlight streaming in through her window, she realized she had probably missed breakfast.
She rolled over, contemplating getting up, when she heard a voice.
“Good morning, sunshine.”
She sat up and looked in the corner of the room to see Zackary sitting on her settee. Screaming in delight, she jumped out of bed and launched herself at him, straddling him and peppering his face with kisses.
Tears rolled down her face. “Oh, my gods! You’re alive! It’s really you!” She sniffled and stared into his eyes. “I’ve been worried sick, Zackary. Sick!”
He chuckled, his heart beating fast. He’d missed her so much. He pressed his chapped lips to her soft ones and gave her a tender kiss. After opening his eyes, he gazed at her beauty. “I’m all right, love. I was in a bad way for a while, but thinking of getting back to you kept me going.” He swiped at her tears with his thumbs, his palms cradling her face.
“What happened? Who took you?” she asked, her brow furrowing.
“We’ll talk about that later. Now, tell me. Did your monthly arrive?”
She hung her head and nodded. “Yes, I’m sorry, Zack.”
He tilted her chin up with his finger and made a tsking noise. “No apologies, beautiful. You cannot control it any more than you can control the wind or the rain. We can try again. And again. And again.” He smiled, running his finger down her neck and over the thin, gauzy material of her nightdress. He put his lips to her ear. “In fact, maybe we should try right now.”
She visibly stiffened, realizing she had to deliver some news to him he wouldn’t want to hear.
His brow furrowed. “What is it?”
“We cannot have relations until my monthly arrives again. I’m sorry.” She smiled a cheesy grin and slid her hand down to his cock, which was hard and pressing into her thigh as she straddled him. “But we can have other kind of fun.”
He sighed. “You and Mathias?”
She bit her lip and offered him her cutest, most apologetic smile. “Yes. But… he did show me the secret garden. And… did you know he was a virgin until a few days ago?”
Zackary blinked incredulously at her. “Come again?”
She nodded. “He’s not anymore, obviously, but hey… I had to try to bear an heir for all the kings. It was his turn.” She shrugged. “So we wait another twenty-five days.”
Zackary wasn’t sure how he felt about that, but he knew the whole arrangement had been born out of necessity, which had quickly turned to love. Could he blame his brother for fucking her? No, he couldn’t. Mariselle was irresistible, and not even a superhuman god could resist her wiles. It didn’t stop the ache of jealousy and disappointment in his chest, though.
He looked down at her breasts and slid his hand over her naked, plump ass cheeks. He ran them up her sides, over her belly and up to her breasts. When his hands found her rock-hard nipples, he rolled them between his fingers as she tilted her head back and groaned.
His dick grew harder, and he smiled as he picked her up and threw her on the bed. After ripping off her nightdress, he spread her legs and devoured her with his lips and tongue until she was screaming so loud, he had to clamp a hand over her mouth. After no less than three earth-shattering orgasms from his talented tongue and fingers, he climbed up the bed and put his cock in her face. She grinned up at him and grasped it with her fist before shoving it between her smiling lips. She hummed a contented sigh as he fucked her mouth and came within minutes, the release just what he’d needed after the ordeal he’d endured.
They stayed in bed, tangled up in each other until dinnertime.
Zackary left her chamber an hour before mealtime, and Shawna and Serina came into Mariselle’s chambers to bathe and prime her for dinner. Shawna’s husband, Oscar, and his crew, had prepared a massive feast to welcome home the three kings. The staff at the West Haven loved the Rothhavens, and the castle was abuzz with excitement for the feast.
“I took the liberty of ordering you a very special gown,” Shawna said with pride in her voice.
Mariselle sat at her dressing table, staring at her reflection. Her mind had been on the sensual day she’d spent with Zackary, and how happy she was he was alive and still wanting her as much as she wanted him. She turned her head to look at Shawna, and her eyes went wide.
“Oh, Shawna. It’s absolutely gorgeous.” She thought about the soiled dress Mathias had fucked her on, and realized she hadn’t seen it. Most likely, it really had ended up on the sewing room floor for scraps. She bit back a smile and stood.
Shawna put the dress up against Mariselle’s body. “It’s going to look utterly divine on you, milady. Especially with your beautiful milky skin and striking green eyes.”
Clapping with excitement, she nodded and looked at Shawna and Serina. “Help me dress?”
The ladies made quick work of tying up her corset, and then helping her into the silky gown.
Once her hair was braided and adorned with beads, and the rouge and colored eye powder was applied, the girls gasped and gushed over her beauty. Mariselle twirled in front of the full-length looking glass. “You ladies are magicians. How do you do it?”
They both laughed. “Your beauty speaks for itself. Now, go have dinner, charm the kings, and have a wonderful evening.”
Just then, a knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” Mariselle called out.
When the door opened, she couldn’t believe her eyes. “Father?” She screamed and ran over to him, hugging him tight.
Marcus smiled down at his only daughter and kissed her forehead. He hugged her back with one arm, the other leaning on his cane. “Hi, sweetheart. I’ve missed you so.”
She held him tight. “I’ve missed you, too, Papa! What brings you here?”
He pulled back slightly and looked down at her. “Mathias summoned me a few days ago, but I got… held up.”
She looked confused. “Held up how?”
His brow furrowed and he paused.
“Papa, what is it?”
Deciding she was going to find out anyway, and surprised sh
e hadn’t already, he said, “The same men who took King Zackary had me, too. Bunch of thieving forest bandits. Thought I had money.” He shook his head.
“Oh, my goodness!” Her eyes got misty. “I’m so glad you’re okay… alive!”
“I am, too. I was so anxious to see you.”
She lifted her chin. “Well, I’m going to be having a talk with Mathias and especially Zackary later for not telling me.”
He chuckled. “Now, that I’d love to see.” He offered her his arm. “Let me escort you to dinner.”
Mariselle hugged her two maidservants, who were just really her only friends, took her his arm, and grinned ear-to-ear as she and her father went down the stairs toward the dining hall.
Before dressing for dinner, she’d already had hugs and squeal sessions with Alexander and Griffin. She was so happy to see the brothers, and it had been hard on her to not want to get on her knees and give them same homecoming welcome she’d given Zackary. But… in all reality, not only was this Zackary’s castle, he’d been the one missing and possibly dead.
The elaborate dinner consisting of roast pig, red potatoes, and peas was quite the treat. Vegetables weren’t readily served, as they were scarce in the land, but clearly the head chef, had been able to procure some.
The kings made quiet conversation with Sir Francis and Captain Barclay as they ate, and Mariselle couldn’t recall being happier. Her handsome princes—her kings—looked dashing and dapper in their fine clothes, trimmed hair and beards, and happy expressions. Her heart was full seeing them all safe and content. Occasionally, one of them would look in her direction and lock eyes with her. She’d lick her lips and wink at them, which made them grin and look away. Except Zackary; he held her stare. That boy was insatiable. Mariselle drew great pleasure from this little dinnertime game, and continued it with the kings throughout dinner.
Once the meal was over, she waited for the men to rise from the table, and then she did the same. Unsure what she should do, she smiled at them all and headed for library to pick out a book to read before bed.
