King of the Unblessed

by Michelle M. Pillow

  King of the Unblessed (Realm Immortal Series)

  By

  Michelle M. Pillow

  King of the Unblessed (Realm Immortal) © copyright 2013 by Michelle M. Pillow

  Third Electronic Printing July 2013 The Raven Books

  Second Electronic Printing March 2009

  First Electronic Printing January 2006

  Cover art by Eliza Black © Copyright 2013

  ISBN 9781625010544

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  Published by The Raven Books at Smashwords

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  All books copyrighted to the author and may not be resold or given away without written permission from the author, Michelle M. Pillow.

  This novel is a work of fiction. Any and all characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or events or places is merely coincidence. Novel intended for adults only. Must be 18 years or older to read.

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  King of the Unblessed (Realm Immortal Series)

  By

  Michelle M. Pillow

  Dedication

  To my father, because you support me no matter what I do, because you instilled values and a hard work ethic in me by example, and because you are one of the most honorable, giving, kind-hearted men I know. I love you.

  King of the Unblessed (Realm Immortal)

  Michelle M. Pillow

  Merrick, King of the Unblessed, was once heir to all that is good—happiness and pleasure his domain. Now, trapped as the ruler of mischief, he stands on a precipice of choice. On one side his estranged brother, now ruler of what should have been Merrick’s, and on the other King Lucien of the Damned. Both would sway him. Damnation is winning.

  Lady Juliana of Bellemare is protected by the Blessed, targeted by the Damned and, now, coveted by the Unblessed. Betrothed to an old friend of her father’s, Juliana is resigned to living out her days close to her childhood home. She longs for an adventure, never dreaming she’ll get what she wishes for when her fiancé is murdered and the children of Bellemare are stolen. To set things right, Juliana embarks on a quest through a strange realm where nothing is as it seems.

  Merrick brings more adventure and passion than any woman could want. Can she withstand the temptations of the Unblessed King? Desperate to be the one to rule her and unaccustomed to taking no for an answer, Merrick offers her a choice: come with him until he tires of her…or die.

  Warning: This book contains hot sex, violence, trickster goblins, overly helpful sprights, not so helpful demons, a king of necessary evil who lives to get his way and a woman who would dare to deny him.

  Realm Immortal Series

  King of the Unblessed

  Faery Queen

  Stone Queen

  Prologue

  Black Palace of the Unblessed, Kingdom of Valdis, 1406 AD

  Immortality had a way of changing fate. None knew this as well as Merrick, dark elfin King of Valdis, ruler of all that was unblessed. Once, long ago in a time he did not like to remember, he’d been heir to the Tegwen throne, future King of the Blessed. Happiness and pleasure had been his, as had love—love of a family, of his people. He’d been light and good. Now he was ruler of all that was dark and feared.

  Well, not all that was dark. King Lucien of the Damned did have rule over the demons.

  As Merrick gazed upon the narrow basin of water before him, the liquid was still. It reflected his eyes—eyes so brown they looked to be black. When he was angry, the whites would fill in with the dark color. Those who saw the change often claimed to see the demon lurking beneath his surface. His eyes were a strange contrast to his long blond hair. They were a reflection of what he’d become, changed the day of his Unblessed Coronation. The hair was a reminder of what he’d once been.

  The divining basin was perched atop a tall column, which in turn was lifted up on a platform in the center of the dark garden. It had been a gift from King Lucien upon Merrick’s coronation. His powers were somewhat connected to the Demon King, even though his coronation had been the first and last time he’d spoken directly with the man. The gray stone base was carved with images of demons sucking the souls from mortals. Within the shallow pool, the moonlight reflected on water to reveal to him all he would see, always the present, but sometimes the future and past. King Merrick didn’t look to the future, for the images were blurred and often misread, and he refused to dwell on the past.

  Silver moonlight shone over the expansive black garden. The plants were withered and neglected, yet did not die. Dark stone paths led up from his castle palace, twisting about the grounds in a seemingly endless pattern. They were surrounded by thick walls covered in vines. The walls formed a labyrinth from which trespassers could never escape. Thorns, as sharp as blades, edged the vines. Amongst the thorns, crimson flowers blossomed, but they only did so for him. The flowers looked almost liquid, as if the petals would drip like blood to the ground. They were the only flowers in the immortal realm that would bloom when he was near.

  Repeatedly, Merrick watched his presence suck the life from the world around him. He was necessary, as necessary as light and spring. He was fall, winter, death to the land. Without him, the immortal world would not rest. Without him, good would not be. And for this he was hated by those he’d once called friends.

  “Show me that which I seek,” Merrick ordered the water softly. He tapped a finger against the surface, rippling it. He knew what was to come. It tortured him as it soothed him. It filled him with longing and frustration. From the frustration came anger, and from the anger a bitterness he didn’t try to hide.

  Then there she was, sitting and staring at a fire, a look of longing in her eyes. He later discovered she did that often. The human woman had captured his notice one night as he flew around the mortal realm masquerading as a falcon. Unless magick favored it, which wasn’t often, the falcon disguise was the only way he could go to the mortal realm in solid form for long periods of time. Otherwise he could only project a glamour of himself or send his minions in his place.

  Merrick hadn’t thought, had just watched her like he would a play. He loved her, or at least thought he could love her, as much as any being with a dark heart could love. Love was not so lofty an emotion and was wrongly thought exclusive to the blessed. However, as with all things, the emotion was more complicated than that, for love could be as dark as the underworld, as enslaving as death, as vengeful as a righteous cause. Beings killed in the name of love, died for it, lusted after it, greedily kept it locked away, withheld it, exploited it. This was not an emotion the King of the Unblessed sought to possess.

  “I, Lady Juliana of Bellemare,” she’d said that first evening he saw her, “have come here to slay your village dragon in return for my weight in gold.”

  Her voice had been low and soft, like a lullaby, but such voices he’d heard many times before her. Nymphs had been brought to his castle to sing and they were renowned for the sounds they made. Right away, he knew she spoke only to herself, imagining a world beyond that with which she was acquainted. Dragons didn’t exist in her world. Then
again, he didn’t exist in her world. Immortals preferred to keep the humans unaware, for they were uninteresting creatures who lacked power and magic. Mortals were ruled by fear and ignorance and King Merrick was amused to watch where that ignorance would lead them. But Lady Juliana was different than other mortal women, for she’d captured his notice. That alone marked her as special.

  Why it should be so, he didn’t understand. She was beautiful, with long dark hair and wide blue eyes, but Merrick had seen too much of beauty to be swayed easily by it. For if beauty could conquer him, then just the sight of the Golden Palace at Tegwen would have done him in long ago.

  No, there was no reason for it. All he knew was that night after night he was drawn to the garden basin to watch her. At first he’d hoped to find fault with her, thus losing interest. But the more he watched, the more he longed for her, wanted her, until she entered his thoughts when he was away from the garden.

  Merrick knew obsession only led to madness. The creatures of Valdis wouldn’t be pleased with an obsessed king, not when they struggled constantly with Tegwen, and with each other. There were many who wanted his throne. Only death would relinquish him of it and no matter how he tired of life, he didn’t wish for death.

  The water rippled over the vision. Juliana stood, stretching her arms above her head. Though fine by human standards, her russet gown was woolen and plain. The long trailing sleeves touched the floor, sweeping up over her elbows. The bodice was high and the skirts hung loose, hiding her figure beneath the padded underskirts. She didn’t cover her dark locks, but let them hang freely to her waist.

  Merrick frowned. There was only one option left to him. He’d go to her and offer her a choice. Either she would come with him until he tired of her or he would have her killed. If he possessed her, had her locked away in his castle, then he wouldn’t be so obsessed. Lady Juliana would be under his complete control. If she chose death, then he’d no longer be able to gaze upon her face, unless it was to see it rotting in the ground. The spell would be broken and he would be free of her.

  Merrick watched her for a moment longer, then waved his hand over the basin. Her image disappeared. He stared at the water a moment longer, contemplating his decision. It was for the best. He did not like the distraction she caused him.

  Soon. He would offer his bargain to her soon. Death or enslavement. Balling his hand into a fist, Merrick really hoped she chose death.

  Chapter One

  Bellemare Castle, England, Mortal Realm

  “She’s been seen right here in this very castle, looking for her next husband in the guise of an old woman. Then, when she finds him, she’ll come back for him as a young, fair maiden to lure him away with her. After their marriage vows are spoken, she’ll take him to the sea, where she’ll lead him to his watery death beneath the waves!” Lady Juliana kept her voice low and her eyes wide. “The only way to tell if a woman is a Nixie is to lift her skirts and see whether or not she has fins instead of legs.”

  The children giggled, looking up at Lady Juliana from their place on the ground. Their dirty faces were rapt with attention. The noblewoman loved telling them stories.

  “What of you?” a child called, pointing at her legs. “Have you fins?”

  “Aye, my lady!”

  “Have you fins?”

  A few knights listened nearby, making light comments amongst themselves and smiling at Lady Juliana. The noblewoman knew the men well, for they had served under her father before his death and now owed allegiance to her oldest brother, Hugh, the Earl of Bellemare. Juliana kept a straight face until the children quieted once more. Seeing the boy who first yelled, she took a step toward him. Lowering her lids over her eyes, she said, “Methinks you’ll make a fine husband.”

  The girls screamed. The boys eyed her, cautious. Juliana lifted her skirt and let them peek at her shoes. The children started laughing.

  “Now be observant and watch the ground for a trail of water. If you find it and are truly brave, you may follow the trail and find a Nixie. Only beware, for she might just set her sights on marrying you.” Juliana nodded seriously. The boys instantly boasted that they were unafraid. The girls continued to giggle. “Off with you, my noble knights and gentle ladies! I’ll tell you another story tomorrow about a valiant warrior and how he conquered the beast that was eating the King’s men.”

  Lady Juliana waved her hand, watching as the children ran to the tents of the marketplace. She shaded her eyes, smiling at them. The marketplace was set up outside the castle walls, for Bellemare’s keep was small. Merchants from all over the country came to sell their wares at market and all the neighboring households came to buy. Bellemare was blessed with good soil and fair weather, but was best known for its fine breed of horses. It was a reputation the family had taken pride in for generations.

  “Honestly, Juliana,” a voice drawled. “Do you think it wise to send them to the marketplace to lift ladies’ skirts?”

  Juliana spun around in excitement. Her face brightened as she looked into eyes as blue as her own. “Thomas! How long have you been standing there? I can’t believe King Henry let you come home to us. When did you arrive? Why wasn’t I told you were coming?”

  “You should know I wouldn’t miss your wedding vows.” Thomas laughed. The warm spring air blew his dark hair over his face. “Come, I’ve been away for nearly five months. Have you a better greeting than that for your brother?”

  “I’m sorry, Thomas, of course I’m happy to see you.” Juliana rushed to him, throwing her arms about his neck.

  “That’s better.” Thomas returned her hug, kissing her forehead. “You’re as lovely as ever—a true gem on Bellemare’s crown.”

  “Oh, I’ve missed you. Your last letter was so dull methought you were sure to die of boredom afore coming back to us.” Juliana pulled back, studying him. She patted her hand on his chest, smoothing down his green tunic.

  Thomas was handsome, but all in her family had been graced with beauty. They were truly blessed in many ways. All of them had dark brown hair that gleamed in the sunlight, high cheekbones and proud features. The oldest, Hugh, and the youngest, William, both had brown eyes as dark as sin. Juliana and Thomas had blue eyes the color of the night sky, taking after their long-passed mother. Juliana took her brother’s arm and led him toward the gatehouse to go within the bailey walls. “Now, Sir Thomas, you must tell me all that happened whilst you were away. And please do make something up. I should hate it if all you had for me was the dismal truth. I know, tell me how all the Spanish knights at court look like hobgoblins.”

  A shrill feminine cry sounded from the marketplace. Thomas chuckled. “I’d wager there is the result of your fanciful stories. No doubt some poor child is now having his ear pulled for lifting a noblewoman’s skirt.”

  “I seem to recall our lord father pulling your ear more than once for lifting a woman’s skirt,” Juliana teased.

  Thomas tried to look stern and failed. “Talk like that will ruin your reputation, my lady.”

  “Do you think it would keep Lord Eadward away longer?” Juliana asked, her smile faltering.

  “Still not pleased with Hugh’s decision?”

  “How could I be?” Juliana sighed, doing her best not to look depressed even if she was to be married soon. Thomas was home, Hugh was in residence and William was due the next morning. Now was not the time for self-pity. “The man lives not far from here. If I must marry, why should it be to a neighbor? I know what his lands look like, for they’re like ours.”

  Thomas chuckled, nodding to several nobles who passed. Neither Thomas nor Juliana wished to interrupt their private conversation, so they continued on through the gatehouse. Passing under the dark entryway, he said, “You’re a curious one. Most ladies would complain Lord Eadward was nearly thirty years their senior. You complain he doesn’t live far enough away to be considered an adventure.”

  A low wall separated the outside world from the outer bailey. A taller wall, made of stone and
timber, guarded the main part of the keep. They walked under the second gate to the central courtyard. The castle itself sat atop an enditched mound of earth and rock. It towered a good fifty feet above the bailey. In front of the castle was the courtyard. The only way in and out of the yard was through the front gatehouse. Contained within the inner courtyard was the exercise yard for the knights, a small chapel, the stables, a barn, a few workshops, and a small brewery.

  When they were before the castle, Juliana said, “Lord Eadward is kind and his age doesn’t bother me. Hugh says the marriage will be good for the family and I’m willing to do my part.”

  Thomas nodded.

  “Even so, it could be worse.” Juliana made a face. She’d been feeling a strange sort of melancholy lately. Marriage was always said to be the start of a young maid’s life, but to her it felt like the end of it. She loved Bellemare and she loved her brothers. If she had to stay in one place, she’d rather it was with her family. She hid her thoughts from Thomas. “I could be betrothed to his son, Sir Humphrey the Foul.”

  “I forgot we called Nicholas that,” Thomas said, chuckling. He glanced up at the high castle, prompting Juliana to do the same. The stone was painted white with lime, causing the castle to gleam in the sunlight. She loved her home, but she longed to see more of the world. Thomas sighed. “I’ve missed being home.”

  “How else were we to speak ill of Sir Nicholas when he was always underfoot?” Juliana smiled. “The poor man still thinks I had invisible companions as a child.”

  “I know you have invisible companions,” Thomas teased. “I’m surprised Hugh has yet to lock you away in a tower.”