by Tiya Rayne
“I said no.” Lilly is standing her ground.
I’ve seen that stubborn look in her eyes before. Her mind is made and she in not backing down. Her Mother and Uncle call it “the mule”. That is why I had to step in.
“Lilly, he’s right.”
As hard as those words were to say, I knew it was right. Lilly needed a better guard.
“What in the bloody hell are you doing, Assassin?” Avalia shouts in my head. “This was my plan. Lilly will never let Rykan remove you as her guard.”
If I was still thinking selfishly I would have commended Avalia on her brilliant plan, but for the first time I’m thinking of Lilly’s safety. I’m seeing her as the little girl in those woods that wanted to run away.
“How soon can Bilal be here?” I ignore Lilly and Avalia as I turn to Bartus.
“I can have him here within the hour.” I nod my head at Bartus and he traces away.
“Assassin, I don’t want another guard.”
I can tell by the hands on her hips and the crinkle in her brow that she is angry. The look in her eyes shows me she is hurt by my resignation.
“The decision is made.” I turn from her with finality, unable to look at the sadness in her eyes.
“The decision is NOT made.” She steps in front of me causing me stop. “Let’s get something straight. If I’m going to stay in this realm, while a Dark King hunt down my ovaries like they’re flat screen t.v.’s on sale at Walmart, then a few things are going to go my way. Like, me choosing who I want to protect me. I deem them qualified, and if anybody has anything to say about it I don’t give a shit. I’m pregnant, hormonal, and all I want is to take a bath, indulge in some Ben and Jerry’s Peanut Butter Cup ice cream and put on a fresh pair of underwear without me having to rinse them out first. So, if you want me to continue to act like I’m not on the verge of a psychotic break, then you will not argue with me when I tell you, you are my guardian. Understood?”
I am speechless. I have never seen her this worked up before. And damn it if I’m not turned on. I open my mouth to tell her no, the raging hard on in my pants is a good indication why I can’t do this job, when Avalia interrupts.
“Lilly is without any true kin in this realm, and as a guest of my home I take claim of her.”
“Queen, you can’t….” Rykan starts to say at the same time I say, “NO!”
Avalia holds up her hand to silence us. “Lilly, do you agree to my claim of you?” Lilly looks nervously at Avalia, she has no idea what that means but when she looks at the horror on mine and Rykan’s face she seems to trust Avalia.
“Yes!” she says.
“Good, then as my rightful claim I deem who protects her. Assassin you will continue to be Lilly’s lead guard and that is a direct order not a suggestion.”
“My sons…” Rykan starts, but Avalia cuts him off.
“…..are still inside my claim and therefore they are under my protection as well. I will, however, allow Bilal to accompany Assassin as her guard. But let me make it clear to everyone, Assassin is in charge.” Rykan stiffens but wisely does not object.
“As you wish, Queen.” Rykan answers stiffly and then takes Lilly’s hand in his and tries to escort her out of Avalia’s throne room.
“And Rykan, as I have yet to receive a marriage proposal on your behalf, I will only allow you a few minutes alone with Lilly while I discuss something with Assassin. Also, I will be placing a ward on Lilly’s bedroom so that no one will be able to trace in without me knowing it.”
Rykan’s jaw tightens so much I think he is going to break it. All Rykan’s plans of slipping into Lilly’s bed at night have been trashed. Avalia is taking her claim on Lilly serious. Rykan places his hand on Lilly’s lower back and escorts her out of the throne room.
“Leave us!” Avalia says as soon as Lilly, Rykan, and Miriam have departed from the room. Fisgal and Artimus, who both have been silently observing all this, trace away from the glass castle.
“You should not have interfered. Rykan is right; I am a fighter I will always choose the battle.”
“Do you want to see your future?”
Her question catches me off guard. I never want to see my future, I’ve told her that numerous times. Was she trying to change the subject?
“No, of course not. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Forgive me.” is the only warning she gives before images rush into my head.
The weight of what I’m seeing pushes me to my knees.
I’m running through the woods. I hear laughter ahead of me from a small child with dark brown hair. “Papa!” the young boy says as I catch him and scoop him up in my arms. He looks like me, brown wavy hair, elf ears and green and gold sparkled eyes. He laughs as I tickle him. The sound of his laughter is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard. It brings tears of joy to my eyes. This is my son, the only real family I have. I hear another little voice, and when I turn there is a little chubby leg girl wobbling towards me. Her hands are stretched up towards me demanding I pick her up. I place my son down and I lift my daughter in my hands and now I am choking back tears because I know how these children come to pass. I see it in the doe-eyed stare of my little girl as she smiles up at me. The vision changes and I see a new vision, the thriving bloodline of the Assassins. Many of them, just like before and it all starts with my son and my daughter. I gain back all that was taken from me by the Dark King. When Avalia finally clears my mind of the visions, I am on my knees in front of her with tears streaking down my face.
“Now you see how important this is.”
I understood. I see that my pigheadedness is preventing that future. It’s why Avalia is fighting so hard to get me to admit my feelings for Lilly. It also explains why she banned Rykan from Lilly’s room. Fuck, Rykan’s alone with Lilly. I stand to my feet abruptly, tears forgotten.
“Where was she in my vision?” I ask as the realization dawns on me. Again, the image of Lilly standing in front of me with tears in her eyes flicker through my mind before Avalia cuts it off.
“I saw your future the night you interfered with Lilly’s. It wasn’t until I saw Lilly that I knew she was the one that gives it to you. However, it is still Rykan’s sons that will rule our kingdom. And, what the Dark King says is also true. The curse his father put on him can be lifted by Lilly, only if she gives herself to him freely. This poor girl’s life is so entwined with our future that I cannot make heads or tails of it. Things are complicated. For the first time ever I see three different futures. Usually my visions come to me like a chess match, I can manipulate the pieces on the board to get the outcome I desire. I cannot see the board this time. I am moving pieces blindly trying to change the outcome, yet my visions do not change. Three possible futures, with three different conclusions and nothing I do will alter either outcome. I do not know how to fix this, Assassin. She says staring off as if her mind is somewhere else. For the first time the unshakeable Avalia looks shaken.
“Avalia, what is it?” I take a step towards her. “What are you not telling me? Let me help you.”
“My visions, my burden.” She solemnly replies. Her eyes come back to focus on me.
It is then that I notice the tired look on Avalia’s face. Whatever this vision is, it truly is a burden on her. Avalia is suffering. I’ve always known the gift of sight could be more of a curse than a blessing and often times Avalia would be troubled, but I’ve never seen her disturbed this bad. Did the vision of Lilly crying have to do with Avalia’s death? The thought of that left an aching in my heart. I’ve never loved the Queen the way a man loves a woman. I’ve never wanted to cross that line. However, I still love her like a sibling and the thought of her not being here leaves me distraught.
“My Queen,” I say bowing to her. “Tell me what you would have me to do. I will do anything.”
“Win her heart, Assassin.” Avalia says. “Make her happy.” She then turns away from me and leaves. I finally see what has everyone going insane. Knowi
ng that Lilly will bear my young makes me want to hide her away from this world. It is amazing that one woman have the ability to give three different men a future that all three would fight for. I would even kill for it. And, right now, it might be Rykan. I trace away from the glass castle, I need to see Lilly, but first I have some making up to do.
Chapter Six
“Leave us.” Rykan demands as soon as we are back in my room.
Miriam nods her head towards me and quickly walks out of the room closing the door behind her. I sit down on the edge of my bed. I’m still confused about Assassin. Did I repulse him that much that he didn’t want to do his job anymore? At the festival, when we danced, I thought we had shared a moment. He had seemed to be interested in me. When I woke up in my bed with my nightgown on, the first person I asked about was him. Then he steps away from my touch as if it will kill him. I drop my head in my hands.
“Lilly, are you alright?” Rykan ask, sitting down beside me.
“I’m just way over my head here, Rykan. I don’t know what I’m doing or who I should trust.”
“Trust me, Lilly.” I look at him sideways.
This is the guy that omitted to tell me he was engaged. Rykan must have sensed my train of thought because he starts to laugh.
“Ok, so maybe that wasn’t the right thing to say.”
“No it wasn’t.” I say laughing.
Rykan sobers and pushes a stray hair out of my face.
“Gods, I’ve missed your laugh.”
His touch on my face reminds me of our one wonderful night together. It must have reminded him too, because he says, “I wish that I could go back to that night.” He rubs his thumb against my jaw. “I would have done right by you. I should have got up and left without bringing you into my world.”
“Do you regret our night?” I knew I looked as hurt as I felt. Rykan’s hand stills on my face as his dark brown eyes sought mine.
“I have thought of nothing but you since the moment I met you. Every day, after I left you, I fought with myself to not go back to you. I just wish that my decision to stay did not bring you such pain.”
His hand drops down to the scratches on my knees that are already starting to fade. He runs his finger over the exposed flesh of my knee. I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t been with anyone since Rykan or my hormones from the pregnancy, but the minute his warm fingers brush my flesh goose bumps rose over my body. Rykan laughs.
“That’s my beautiful Lilly; you are so sensitive to my touch.”
God he was right. Rykan’s fingers are like little magicians. They work magic on my body. I will never forget how he gave me my first orgasm by his fingers alone. Just the memory of that orgasm sends a rush of heat between my legs. He moves his hands from my leg and unties my robe. I’m sure there is a voice in my head yelling at me to make him stop, but right now all I can think of is how much my body has been lacking this attention. He pushes my robe away from my shoulders and it falls down to the bed. He doesn’t move his head as his eyes scan my body. The possessive look on his face lights my body on fire.
“I gave you a choice last time, Lilly,” His voice is a whisper against my heated skin. “I won’t give you one this time.”
When Rykan’s lips meet mine they are hot and dominating, like he is trying to imprint the memory of his lips to mine. My hands fly up into his hair and I grip the soft strands at the back of his head. He bites down gently on my bottom lip and I release a moan in his mouth. Before I know it, I’m on my back and Rykan is over me with his hands and knees on both sides of my body. He looks down at me with those desire filled dark eyes and any resolve I might have had to tell him no was lost. When his lips find mine again his kisses are slow and teasing. I feel his hand skim up my thighs heading towards the center of my panties.
“By the gods, Lilly, I want you so bad right now. The moment you entered that throne room with your beautiful body on display I wanted to snatch you up in my arms and bury myself in you again.” Rykan’s voice is a pained plea that strokes my body like guitar strings.
My belly clenches and my panties are flooded with my moisture. Rykan finds my lips again and trails feather soft kisses from my lips down to my collarbone all with his hand resting on the inside of my thigh. My body is so strung tight, my pussy is desperately trying to seek his fingers. My hips are moving beneath him. When his hand finally pushes my panties aside and his thumb slides up and down my folds, I moan his name.
“You still run like a river for Me.” He pushes his fingers inside me.
My entire body quivers and my eyes close. Oh God, it’s the magic fingers. He slides his finger in and out of me in a slow torturous tempo while his thumb circles my clit. His mouth finds mine and we attack each other. His lips devour mine, and his tongue rolls against my tongue as if it’s in a battle to claim my mouth as his own. When he slips another finger inside me and speeds up his thrusting I throw back my head in ecstasy. My body is climbing up an imaginary precipice. What starts out as a small trickle is building like a crescendo. Before it can erupt Rykan removes his fingers and says, “I’m going to take you now, Lilly.”
I want to cry out at the loss of his fingers. With a single tug Rykan rips my panties away. I can’t even find it in myself to be angry that he destroyed my only pair of underwear, especially when he removes his shirt. I will never get used to seeing Rykan’s body. It is lean and chiseled, a true depiction of Michelangelo’s David. Rykan leans back down pressing his hardened erection against my core. The only thing between him being inside me was his linen pants, and those pants were doing nothing to contain his massive size. He captured my mouth again with his, all while working my nightgown up my body, only breaking our kiss long enough to pull the nightgown over my head. I was hot and wanton, my hips were frantically seeking the release that was thrumming through my core. Rykan rocked his hips towards mine brushing his erection against my pussy right before he thrust his fingers back inside me.
“I want you to come for me, just like this Lilly.”
Oh sweet Jesus this man knew just what to say to get me going. Those magical hands that are playing my body like a piano had more of my moisture flooding out of me.
“Fuck, Lilly, you’re dripping. I have to taste you.”
His mouth starts to move south down my body and I’m so anxious I’m trembling. No one has ever gone down on me. Alice use to brag about it all the time, how good a guy was or how bad. But, she always said done right, oral sex is amazing.
Rykan gets to my navel and dips his tongue in and it makes me giggle.
“Does that tickle, little human?” he questions as he places lazy kisses on my hip bone.
My entire body goes rigid. Assassin! What the hell am I doing here? I’m letting my body make all the decisions for me, just like last time and you see where that got me. I can’t do this with Rykan.
“Rykan stop!”
“Relax Lilly, you’ll like It.” he says with his mouth hovering right over my slickened mound. For a brief second I wanted to relent, to let him have his way with me, but when I close my eyes I see sparkling grey eyes looking back at me.
“Rykan, please stop.”
“Lilly!”
“She said get the fuck up.” A booming voice comes from the doorway.
“What are you doing, Assassin?” Rykan jumps to his feet while I fumble to cover myself up with my robe.
Oh god! He saw us and he looks pissed. He must think I’m some kind of whore. One minute I’m dancing with him and the next I’m letting Rykan go down on me.
“Does your fiancée know where you are right now?”
“Shit! Sarafine.” I say as I suddenly remember the man that I just let finger me is still engaged. Oh. My. God. I’m a temptress, a home wrecker. I’m the hated women in every love story. What’s worse, the only reason I stopped Rykan is because I was thinking about another man, not because he’s engaged. I’m a tramp.
“Lilly, baby, don’t think about her. I told you I don’t lo
ve her.”
I can’t even look at Rykan. I feel so dirty and ashamed.
“Rykan, please just go.” I say, staring down at my hands.
“Don’t let this ruin us. I meant everything I said to you.” Rykan is on his knees in front of me now. “Lilly, look at me.”
I shake my head, I can feel the tears start to burn my eyes. I want to crawl in bed and forget how I acted tonight. Forget that I’m a mistress.
“Lilly, don’t push me away.” Rykan touches my cheek trying to turn my head.
“I need time to think, Rykan.” Really, I needed him to go away so I can wallow in self-pity. There was nothing to think about, he was getting married and I was not going to be his side-chick. My mother may only have had a high school education, but she taught me lots of valuable lessons, one being what’s right and wrong. This is wrong.
“Lilly I…”
“She said leave.”
Assassin is still standing in the door holding bags. I have not looked back in his direction since he made himself known. I can’t bear to look at his face and see the disgust and the judgment that I know is there. I don’t blame him. It’s like Rykan’s touch has the ability to take away all of my common sense. I’ve never been this dumb over a guy. I was once a level headed person. In high school, I went parking a few times with my boyfriend, (if you could call a guy that liked to make out with you in private but didn’t want anyone to see you together in public a boyfriend.) Jamie Thompson. He would always get to second base then start trying to steal home, but I always had enough common sense to make him stop. I knew I did not want to lose my virginity in the back of a pick-up truck with a guy that was too ashamed to be seen in public with me. However, ever since I met the dark eyed Rykan I’ve been unable to think like a rational person.
Rykan stands to his feet and looks at Assassin with a murderous glare. “How long were you standing there watching?” Good question Rykan. Please let him say he just walked in.
