by Ivy Clyde
“I’m close,” he grunted while his hips pistoned at an impossible speed, making my body coil into that familiar sensation just before an orgasm. My legs wrapped around him as his lips clamped over mine in a kiss.
My cries of pleasure mingled with his deep groans as he suddenly came to a stop over me. Bursts of his white-hot semen spilled inside me, filling me to the brim. He continued to kiss me while my core throbbed and pulsed around his length, determined to milk him to the last drop.
“You’re amazing,” he whispered, looking straight into my eyes. I stared at him with lust-hazed eyes, raising my hand to cup his face. “And Moira…you’re beautiful.” He stayed buried inside as he kissed me again.
My body was flooded with warmth. While I was still worried about Leon, most of my anxiety was lessened by Rowan’s lovemaking. He made me feel safe and protected, assuring me in a way only he could.
Pulling out, Rowan lay back beside me. I nestled closer to him as he covered our bodies with a sheet. My body was exhausted but it felt good to close my eyes in slumber. The scent of sage and wildflowers brought me comfort as I let go of all my worries.
I’d almost fallen asleep when a sudden movement jerked me awake.
“It’s won’t be good if someone finds you here,” said Rowan with a grim expression. He’d gone back to watching over us.
A gasp escaped me as Rowan picked me up in his arms. I threw my arms around his neck as he carried me back to my quarters.
He laid me on the bed and pulled the covers up to my chin. “Get some sleep now. When your maid returns, ask her about the royal hunt. That’s when Vishen will try to hurt Lucia.” His hand stroked my head gently, calming and relaxing me once again. My mind and body relaxed as he showered me with sweet, warm kisses. Slowly, my eyes closed.
13
Moira
The sky outside the windows was dark when I woke up again. Sounds of light footsteps reached me, alerting me to a presence in the room. Turning my head, I found Poppy arranging my clothes and jewels.
“Hey,” I said, sitting up.
“Merry evening, My Lady,” she said with a bow. “You have woken. Let me get your water basin.”
She bustled around, bringing forward a large bronze basin filled with warm, scented water. Suppressing a yawn, I said, “Do you know when the royal hunt is?”
Surprise flitted through her clear brown eyes. “I was just about to tell you about that.” Coming forward, she handed me a square of stiff, white paper. It was the invitation to the royal hunt.
“This will be held tomorrow morning,” I said.
“Yes, My Lady. The hunting happens during the daytime but since it’s winter, it won’t be too bad. You will enjoy the warmth of the sun even when it makes you feel sleepy.”
I gave a nod. “I will leave you to prepare my clothes and everything,” I said. “By the way, do I need weapons?”
“What weapons can you use, My Lady?”
“Err…”
“It’s all right to join one of the hunting parties,” said Poppy, dipping a linen towel into the basin. “Since you’re here to find a husband, it is the best opportunity for you. Most ladies don’t hunt but they use the occasion to mingle with the men of the nobility freely. It is one of those rare times when no one is bound by courtly etiquettes.”
“Can my guards come with me though?” I asked.
“I think so but if you wish to attract the attention of a man, it is best to appear weak and vulnerable,” said Poppy with a saucy grin. “Get them to protect you and make them feel good about themselves. It is a great way to capture their hearts.”
A chuckle escaped me. It was crazy how women were expected to be weak among the fae too. Both men and women could use magic to blast off their enemies. The fae women could definitely protect themselves against a tiger or a lion, yet they would pretend to be weak to boost up the male ego.
Poppy washed my hands first and then proceeded to dab the towel on my face. I let her go on, my mind whirring with the things to come. When she moved the water basin away, I climbed out of bed and donned a robe.
“Prepare my meal,” I told her. “I will be back soon.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
Leaving her to clear up the things from the room, I hurried out to meet Rowan and Leon.
A chilly breeze hit my face as soon as I stepped out into the courtyard. To my surprise, Rowan was already there.
“Did you hear the news?” he asked when I reached him.
“About the royal hunt? Yeah.” Lowering my voice, I added, “How is Leon doing now? Can he come with us?”
“Leon is recovering and should be okay in another few hours. He is meditating right now, so I decided to move around and see if I could pick up on any news.”
I chewed my bottom lip. “I am worried about him.”
Rowan hooked a finger under my chin and lifted my face. “He will be okay.” His gaze stoked the fire deep inside me. Warmth spread through my cheeks. The urge to kiss him was overwhelming, so I stepped away. There was no way anyone could see us kissing out here in the open.
“I want us to be together,” said Rowan in a low, deep voice that seemed to reverberate through me. “For one night, I want us to be together with no crisis hanging over our heads.”
I smiled and gave a nod. “One day, it will all be over. We wouldn’t have to hide or fight all the time.” Reaching out, I grabbed his hand and squeezed. “We can kiss whenever we want.”
“Just kiss?” A mischievous grin lit up his handsome face. Rowan rarely smiled like this. The look on his face made my heart race.
“We can do other things too,” I whispered. My face heated up so badly I couldn’t look at him straight.
Rowan chuckled but next second, he sighed. “Staying away from you is the biggest challenge of all.” Exhaling a long breath, he said, “Go get some rest. The three of us have to stay alert at the hunt.”
“I’ll see you soon.” With a small wave of my hand, I turned around and walked back to my quarters.
A yawn escaped me. The changes in my sleeping pattern kept me feeling tired all the time. I wanted to sleep when it was dark outside. Since the hunt would be held in the morning, it gave me ample opportunity to sleep again.
“I am going to sleep now,” I told Poppy. “Wake me when it’s time to get ready.”
Poppy straightened from the vase she was polishing. “Have you been well, My Lady? You always want to sleep.”
“It is nerve-wracking to be in the Elder Statesman’s manor,” I said, putting on a sad expression. “I never know what to expect. He hasn’t come to see me yet. I fear I may not be welcome here.”
An understanding look dawned on Poppy’s face. “The Elder Statesman is a very busy man. He is at the Moon Palace most of the time or taking care of something for the kingdom. Amaris is wholly dependent on him. It is difficult for him to make time for lesser urgent matters.”
Anger flared inside me. Poppy spoke of her master like he was doing something worthwhile. He’d killed the king and the clan leaders who were responsible for the population’s welfare. Vishen only cared about power.
The memory of the bodies littered around the pool rose up in my mind.
I wanted to challenge Poppy about her vision of the great Elder Statesman but stopped myself. She probably already knew what her master was up to. Being a maid in his manor must have shown her a few things over the years. She probably took his side out of duty as his servant.
“Wake me up in time, please,” I told Poppy. “I don’t want to be late for this hunt.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
Poppy closed all the curtains and blew out the lanterns in the room. I closed my eyes but my mind couldn’t stop thinking about Lucia. Part of me felt angry at her. Why did she have to take such a huge risk to fool Vishen? There had to be some other way…
A frustrated sigh escaped me as I tossed in bed. She already explained her reasons to me before but it did nothing to relieve the anxiety sett
ling in my gut.
The royal hunt was unlike anything I could have imagined. It was more of a procession with the nobles joining together to flaunt their wealth. The men sat on decorated horses while the women rode in palanquins. They gathered in front of Vishen’s manor before making their way to the hunting woods.
I stood staring at the crowd of beautifully dressed fae men and women. The sheer opulence of their clothes, jewels and the number of guards and servants accompanying them would make one think they were the nobility of a rich nation, not a crumbling, starving kingdom like Amaris. How could they indulge in such luxury when people in the streets of the capital were reduced to begging for scraps?
“Your eyes will fall out if you stare any longer,” said a snide voice from beside me.
Turning around, I saw Alana. She’d come to stand beside me. Dressed in a beautiful gown of mauve silk and adorned with diamond jewelry, she looked ready to head to a ball. I guessed I had no reason to mock her choice of clothes because Poppy dressed me in an equally glamorous gown of blue silk.
“You’ve tried very hard to look good but you’ll never outshine me,” said Alana with her nose in the air.
Ignoring her, I looked toward the place where Vishen’s guards and servants were gathered. Leon and Rowan stood out among them all, shining like a pair of diamonds in a pile of coal. They both grinned at me.
Relief spread through me as I smiled back at them.
“Who are those men?” asked Alana, staring at Rowan and Leon.
“They are my guards,” I said shortly.
“They would soon be mine.”
I stared at her. “What do you mean?”
“I like how strong and handsome they look,” said Alana, still gazing at my mates. “They should be my guards.”
“They are mine.”
She frowned, her dark eyes narrowing at me. “You don’t get to keep anything I like. I will speak to Uncle after the hunt. He will give them to me.”
“They’re not objects, you know?”
“They’re servants. They are property.”
My hands itched from wanting to slap her. Her attitude reminded me of Deirdre who’d treated Gilly exactly like property. She mutilated the poor brownie maid’s face and then threw her out of her home. When I came to power, I would make sure servants and maids were treated properly. No one would get away with treating someone like crap.
Loud murmurs and a few cheerful shouts from the gathered nobles distracted me. Before I could figure what was happening, Poppy hurried to my side.
“It’s time to go, My Lady,” she said, leading me away from Alana.
“Go where?”
She gestured toward the palanquins waiting near the gates of the manor. Stopping before one, she raised the luxurious cover, revealing the velvet-lined interiors.
Poppy picked up the train of my dress and gestured for me to climb inside. Taking a deep breath, I moved inside and seated myself inside the box-like interiors. It was barely big enough to fit me. Even my legs wouldn’t stretch out completely.
“Where is Lord Vishen?” I asked.
“He is coming. Please, be patient, My Lady.” She lowered the cover, caging me inside the palanquin. There was a small square cut on the other side but it gave a very limited view of my surroundings. I couldn’t even see Rowan and Leon anymore.
A while later, I felt someone lift the palanquin with me inside it. Moving away the drape slightly, I peeked out. A group of brownie servants was carrying me behind the procession. Just as I was starting to get worried, I caught sight of a figure with flowing crimson locks. A smile came on my lips as I recognized Leon in the crowd. Rowan had to be close too.
Relief spread through me at once.
I sat back in the palanquin.
This wasn’t time to worry about myself. Lucia was the one who was in danger. Vishen was somewhere close by with the fake Engorging Bell. The real one was safely nestled inside a pocket of my dress.
It was a while before the party came to a stop and my palanquin was lowered onto the ground. I climbed out before a maid could come to my aid.
We were at the edge of a deep forest. Nobles, ladies, and a myriad of maids and servants surrounded me. My gaze swung around the chaotic crowd, looking for Rowan and Leon.
“Who are you looking for?” a disturbingly familiar voice whispered in my ear.
I glanced toward Alana. “What do you want?”
She frowned at my brisk tone. “Careful, country girl,” she whispered with a sharp look in her eyes. “Speak to me in that tone again and I’ll have you thrown out of Uncle’s manor.”
I wondered whether Alana was the reason the real Lady Violet decided to elope with her guard. Did she know how vicious her cousin could be? She’d chosen to be the wife of a poor guard rather than stay in Vishen’s glamorous manor. I didn’t know the woman but already supported her decision. She’d been brave enough to escape this kind of a suffocating life where anyone richer and more affluent than you could bully you mercilessly.
Loud whispers and shrill giggles made me look up. An extremely handsome man appeared some distance away from me.
Dressed in robes of richly embroidered velvet, he looked breathtakingly royal. Sapphires and silver jewelry adorned his ears and slender fingers. The strands of his silver-blonde hair were fashioned into long, thin braids that fell past his shoulders. A shaft of morning sunshine fell on him, illuminating his beautiful face. His emerald-green eyes shone as he smiled around at the women gathering around him.
For a moment, his eyes met mine.
My heart skipped a beat as I recognized him or rather…her. It was Lucia but heavily disguised as a man.
“Ow!” I gasped as a sharp pinch on my arm caused me to break away. Looking to the side, I was met by Alana’s fiery glare. “Why did you do that?” I asked, massaging the sting from my flesh.
“How dare you even look at Prince Eoghan?” she shouted. “He is mine!”
Anger flared inside me at those words. The effect of Alana’s words was the same as the time when she claimed Rowan and Leon to be hers.
“Go away and find yourself some other man, you greedy little bitch” said Alana with an ugly sneer. “If I catch you near Prince Eoghan, I will have you slapped until your teeth drop out of your mouth.” Putting her nose in the air, she marched away to join the group of noble ladies who were still gushing all over Lucia.
The sight reminded me of Cade at the dining hall of Belenus Court. He would always have a swarm of pretty girls around him. My heart squeezed painfully at the memory. He’d been so carefree back then. For a moment I wondered how he was handling things in Aelia. He was completely alone without a friend or ally.
“Why do you look so sad?” asked a familiar voice.
Both Leon and Rowan were beside me now. The crowd of babbling noblemen and their servants were too busy to spare us a glance.
“I was thinking of Cade,” I admitted.
Leon and Rowan exchanged a look between them.
“We’re worried about him too,” said Rowan. Anxiety swirled in his eyes. “Being here and learning about Vishen’s deceits have opened my eyes. Coran is in the same league as him. I still don’t know how he is able to control Queen Brenna into acting so treacherously.”
“To be honest, I am afraid to find out,” said Leon.
“Let’s not dwell on matters of Aelia at the moment,” said Rowan in a strict voice. “Let’s get away from here and find a way to follow Lucia. Vishen will definitely lead her away from the crowd and then take her away for the ritual.”
“Yeah, let’s watch over her.”
Rowan and Leon led the way into the forest. The closely growing thick-trunked oaks provided us immediate cover. Even though Poppy insisted I wore a lavish gown to the hunt, I’d made sure to put on sturdy boots which allowed me to walk the uneven terrain of these deep woods.
Rowan took us on top of a low hill. From our perch, we had a wide view of the hunting party as well as its surrou
nding area. I focused all my attention on Lucia. She was being led away from the group of doting women by Vishen. This far, I couldn’t clearly make out Vishen’s features other than his heavily embroidered black robes.
“I will go after them,” said Rowan, his keen gaze focusing on the pair. “It will be faster that way and we won’t lose track of them. I will leave behind our marks. Follow them and come find me.”
“All right,” said Leon in a grim tone. “Be careful.”
Rowan gave a nod and leaped off the hill. Within seconds, he sprinted across the forest floor to reach close to the area where Lucia and Vishen were passing through.
“Come on,” said Leon, turning away. “We will follow Rowan.”
I followed him down the hill at a much slower pace. The long train of my dress made it difficult for me to walk. The hem kept getting caught between loose stones and brambles. Leon had to help me each time. If Rowan wasn’t following Lucia and Vishen, we would have lost track of them already.
The bottom of my dress was a torn mess by the time we stepped deeper into the woods. Rowan’s mark, resembling a triangle inside a square box, was etched onto the tree trunks every few feet away, allowing us to spot them easily.
The sigils led us deeper into the forest.
“Something feels off about this place,” I whispered, looking around. The trees grew so closely, their foliage made a continuous canopy over our heads. Thin shafts of sunlight fell through the gaps but they weren’t enough to illuminate the darkness here.
“The sound of birds and insects is missing here,” said Leon in a low, grim voice. “This entire area is cloaked off from natural elements. Vishen must have prepared this place for the sacrificial ritual.” After a few steps forward, he pointed. “Over there.” Rowan’s mark was on a nearby tree.
The sigils led us onto higher ground.
A while later we found ourselves on top of another hill. Rowan’s broad back was turned toward us as he surveyed the area below us.
“Brother,” Leon called out gently.
“Don’t make a sound,” whispered Rowan, turning around to look at us. “Vishen has already started the ritual.”
