Then, as I stared, the stones around us started to shift, forming solid walls. A vaulted ceiling grew over us, glowing with Salem’s magic, until an entire corridor surrounded us.
I whistled. “Cool.”
Metal sconces lit the walls, and a tile floor now appeared beneath our feet, with mosaics of waves and seashells. It smelled of Salem in here—fruit and smoke melded together.
And it all happened so fast that it took me a moment to realize we weren’t alone in this enormous hall.
Aenor
At the far end of the hall, just before a wooden door, stood a guard wearing dark clothes trimmed with fur. Glowering, he gripped a trident that glowed with faint magic. His silver braids draped over his pauldrons.
“Has this world been cut off from the rest for a long time?” I whispered.
“It has.” Salem’s dark eyebrows drew together. “In fact, it’s just as I remember it.”
We crossed through towering halls of dark stone, beneath ceilings engraved with waves. I could still hear the sea crashing against the rocky shores outside. Salem stayed close to me, arm brushing mine as he strode through the hallway. He looked completely confident, like he owned the place—and maybe he did, in a way.
I licked my lips, my mouth like sand. Red-hot thirst burned my throat.
The guard’s eyes swept over me, lingering for a moment on my legs. Then his gaze darted to Salem, and his jaw dropped. Recognition, I thought. The guard gripped his trident tighter, body tensing. His eyes widened as he sniffed the air.
Then he fell to his knees. “King Salem has returned.”
We stopped walking just before the guard, and I peered down at the top of his head.
Salem cocked his chin. “You can stand up. Technically, there’s been a new king for several thousand years.”
The guard kept his eyes down. “I recognized you by the feel of your power. By the smell of your magic. It’s still in the stones of around us. You created this place.”
“It is one of my favorite places,” said Salem.
“The usurper, King Tethra, grows weak and mad,” said the guard. “And the kingdom grows barren as he withers. Crops have failed; fruit dies on the vines. Our animals sicken. Only the Maid of Night is keeping the land alive. The fields are in faint bloom with her virtuous power.”
“Of course they are. Look, I’m here to pay tribute to her and to ask for a wee favor.”
From the ground, the guard’s gaze flicked up to me. “Will your swan be joining you?”
Salem flashed me a wicked smile, his eyes twinkling. Whatever a swan was, he seemed to like the sound of it. “My swan will join me, yes.” Then, conspiratorially, to the guard: “She does love to be close to me. You know how a loyal swan can get, I’m sure.”
Why were they calling me a swan? Clearly, I was missing something.
The man smiled up at him, then stood. “I remember, from long ago.”
He pulled open the door. I’d expected some sort of kingdom spread out before us. Instead, it was a stone gatehouse, flanked by towering walls on either side. Narrow windows looked out from the walls, and torches hung between them. They cast wavering light over the cobblestones and the rivulets of seawater that ran between them. A soothing trickling sound filled the air.
As we stepped onto the path, the sensual breeze was heavy with the perfumed scent of lilacs and brine. To my right, decorations and trinkets dangled from the stones. Ribbons, lockets, and little glass bottles glinted in the moonlight.
I turned to look back at the guard, who nodded at us. “Good luck.”
The door shut behind him, and the gatehouse in which he’d stood shimmered away so that we could see the forested shore behind us.
I turned, staring up at the gatehouse. It was staggeringly high, with spires that pierced the sky.
Now that we were alone, I had a question for Salem. “Okay. What’s with the swan thing?”
“The Mag Mell swans. They’re women who provide pleasure here, important players in the hedonistic lifestyle.” He pointed to the trinkets. “You see those memorials? They’re for the swans. They were buried out here on the outskirts of the city, and those are the memorials. They once wore long white gloves that they used to beckon men from the windows, like swans’ necks.”
“Why were they buried outside the walls?”
He shrugged. “They were usually human.”
“And why are we pretending that I’m a swan?”
“I think it’s a brilliant idea.”
I crossed my arms. “And why is that, exactly?”
“It’s like I said before. I have a claim to the crown, and that puts my mate at risk. But a simple swan is no threat to anyone. Even a fae swan.”
“A simple swan. That’s me.”
“If I were to claim the crown of Mag Mell, do you know how many women would kill for the chance to be my queen? Lady Richelle included. Best not to make you a target.”
My throat burned so much that I didn’t care to protest. “Fine. I’m a swan.”
His eyes danced with mischief. “Aenor Dahut, Scourge of the Wicked, Swan of King Salem.”
“Okay, you need to stop.”
“It’s just this image I have of you wearing chains and nothing else.” The deep rumble of his voice trembled over me.
Warmth slipped over my damp skin. “I get it now. I should have taken my chances with the Winter Witch and her binding collar.”
The air seemed to shift, growing darker around us. “I don’t think that would be wise.”
He stepped closer and ran the backs of his knuckles over my waist. It annoyed me that just one touch from him sent heat racing through my core.
“If I weren’t leaving this world,” he whispered into my ear, “I’d take the throne in Mag Mell. I’d keep you by my side. I’d get to know every inch of your beautiful body.” His voice was like a torturous silk running over my bare skin. Lazily, his knuckles brushed up and down my side, then swept over my hipbone. Heat tingled along with his touch. “You’d be mine, and I’d make you moan every night. And if anyone tried to harm you, I’d paint the palace walls with their blood.”
“Seduction and carnage all in one. How could a girl resist?” I mumbled. My breath had sped up. “But you know what? That seems like a lot of commitment for someone who can’t love.”
At that, his fingers stilled, and he dropped his hand. He took a step away from me, then smoothed his shirt. “It’s a fantasy I’ll be taking with me. Now, let’s get this over with, shall we?”
He turned back to the gatehouse and strode up to the enormous wooden doors. He lifted the ornate knocker, then slammed it down again four times. The sound echoed off the stone.
After a few moments, a man slid open a window in the gatehouse, his braided orange hair framing his face. Instantly, his eyes went wide. “The oracle was correct! I told Melurial that the oracle was correct. She never listens, just because I once mistakenly told her that you can hypnotize a goat by stroking its stomach while singing. Apparently, it’s not true, but the oracle said you would be returning, King Salem, and I was right about that.”
Salem stared up at him. “Wonderful. Can you let us through?”
A moment later, the gatehouse door swung open, and a towering fae stood before us. But my gaze was already moving beyond the guard, to where a city spread out over the ocean waves.
As Salem spoke to the enthusiastic guard, I was hardly listening. This city was breathtaking—as beautiful as Ys. I stepped beyond them to take it all in. Salem had built this, and it was beautiful.
The Court of Silks seemed to be formed of three concentric land rings, with a rocky mount in the center. From where we stood, a walkway extended all the way to the middle, connecting the circles. Looming over the court was a palace on the hill’s rocky peak. Carved of dark stone, it looked like it had grown from the hillside itself—beautiful and stark. A crescent shape capped one of its towers, like a bull’s horns, or a moon.
I pulled my gaze f
rom the distant palace to look at the closer structures. On the rings of land, steep-peaked houses crowded the shores. Many of the homes had lights burning in them, a cozy look. They were timber framed, crooked from age, many of the walls and roofs were decorated with seashells, and dark water glittered all around.
I breathed in the briny air. This was a true sea kingdom. Apart from my insane thirst, I felt amazing here.
I looked back at Salem.
“And that’s why you will rule again as king!” the guard said. “It’s the prophecy.”
“Of course it is.” Salem gestured at me. “Now, where do I find the Maid of the Night to heal my swan? Is Lady Richelle still found in the palace?”
I fluttered my eyelashes. “I’m his favorite swan, and I’m dying. It’s quite disappointing.”
The man’s eyebrows went up, and he took in my outfit, his gaze lingering for far too long on my breasts in the semi-sheer dress. He licked his lips, stunned for a moment.
Salem said, “Is there a problem?” in a sharp tone.
The man seemed to snap out of his trance. “Swan. Right. It’s been a long time. What was the question?”
“Where do we find Lady Richelle?” asked Salem. “The Horned Palace, still?”
“Yes, that’s right. I’ll let her know to expect you, though she probably already knows that you are here. She’s an amazing prophetess. Her power is the only reason Mag Mell is still standing at all. She protects us all with her eternal virginity.”
Salem arched an eyebrow. “How kind of her.” He tilted his head. “Do you happen to know how the ice witches are doing? The ones from the forest of Mag Mell?”
The guard’s eyes opened wider. “They are a plague on the kingdom. A symptom of its sickness. It was a blessing that you burned most of them, Your Majesty.”
“Do any remain?”
He shook his head. “Only a handful, as far as I know.” The guard dropped to his knees and bowed deeply. “We welcome your rule, King Salem.”
Seemed I was entering the Court of Silks with quite the esteemed guest.
But like Salem said, the thing about kings was that being close to them could be very dangerous.
Aenor
Salem crossed to me, then reached down to scoop me up in his arms. “We’ll fly to the horned palace.”
My throat was like fiery gravel, and I stared at the water between the rings of land. Even knowing that it was seawater, I felt an overwhelming urge to drink it, to soothe my thirst. “Do you have anything to drink on you, besides the vodka?”
Salem shook his head, then asked the guard, “Where could we find fresh water nearby?”
The guard pointed at the rows of houses on the first ring of land. “Knock on any door. Say that Ian of the guards sent you for water. Anyone will accommodate you. We all welcome you.”
We walked along a straight stone walkway that led through the circles of land, and the cool October air kissed my skin—a nip in the breeze.
“This place is not what I expected,” I said. “I thought there would be people dancing and kissing everywhere.”
“Kissing? How adorable.” He frowned. “But you’re right, I expected some more debauchery. And that man looked as if he hadn’t seen a woman’s breasts in a decade. It seems very empty, doesn’t it? Not a single couple fucking up against a wall. Disgusting, really.”
When we reached the first ring of land, Salem turned off the walkway onto a path lined by houses. The facades were white, with crisscrossed wood. Light glowed through narrow diamond-pane windows.
We stopped at one of the doors, a house where quiet silhouettes moved behind gauzy curtains. I had lifted my hand to knock on the door when a thudding against the window startled me. It took me a moment to realize what had caused it—one of those silhouettes had slammed against the glass, hands splayed. My heart kicked up a notch.
I started to understand what was happening. Through the narrow window, there was just enough room to see one breast pressed against the curtain. The woman’s mouth was open, and I could hear her breath from here.
I was so surprised that I just stared for a moment, forgetting all about my parched throat.
I said, “Well, maybe we found the debauchery.”
The curtain flicked aside, and I found myself staring at a woman’s face, uncomfortably close to mine. Her eyes swept down my body, and she smiled. She whispered something to her partner, then yanked the curtain shut.
“Let’s try another house,” I suggested. I began to turn, but the sound of an opening door stopped me.
I pivoted to find a man standing in the doorway, smiling at me. He was buttoning his trousers but otherwise fully dressed. His long blond hair draped over broad shoulders.
The man took a deep breath, staring at me. “We don’t get many visitors anymore. Not like you.”
It was starting to feel like the Court of Silks was full of weird, excitable yokels. “Just hoping to get some fresh water.” I gestured at my throat. “I’m a bit thirsty. A guard named Ian said we could knock on a door, and that you might help us.”
The woman appeared behind him, and I was surprised to find that she was now fully dressed in a gown of thick wool, covered up to her neck. A tight corset cinched her waist, and her dark hair was pulled up into a tight bun. “I’ll get you some water, of course.”
The man still stared at me like he was apprising a horse, and he scrubbed a hand over his mouth. “Not many around here dressed like you. With the legs out. And the dress you can see through.”
I glanced at Salem and saw a bit of fire simmering in his eyes, the air heating around him. This man’s leering was annoying him. “Just the water, and we’ll get on to the Horned Palace. We’re expected there.”
I swallowed, and it was like glass in my throat.
The man’s eyes snapped away from my body, to Salem. “Of course. Just the water.”
The woman peered out from behind him, her cheeks flushed. She handed me an enormous glass of water. “This will fix your thirst.”
I put the water to my lips and instantly felt better. As I drank it down thirstily, it felt cool and soothing against my throat.
It was only after I drank it down completely that I noticed two things: one, the seaside yokels were still staring at me. And two, the water had a strange, sweet aftertaste that tingled over my tongue.
I licked my lips. “That was just water, wasn’t it?”
The two fae glanced at each other, smiling faintly as though sharing a delicious secret.
Salem’s smile was easy, but there was a ferocious look in his eye. “Is there something you’re not telling us, by any chance?”
Did they hear the quiet threat under his words?
The woman’s hand flew to her mouth. She was ignoring Salem, still looking at me. “Do you feel anything yet?”
Her lover opened the door wider. “Perhaps you’d like to come in and join us. We’ll make sure you enjoy yourselves. Like the old days. The very old days.”
Salem cocked his head, looking perfectly at ease, hands tucked into his pockets. But his smile was pure death. “If you have done anything to harm my”—he seemed to catch himself—“my servant, I will rip your throats out, slowly, then light your corpses on fire.”
I actually was starting to feel something. Now, the sea breeze felt humid and silky, like a lover’s caress around my legs. In fact, it felt so delicious that my mind began to wander.
My pulse raced, skin heating at the thought of wandering into the water and dipping my legs in. How perfect the sea felt on a naked body… though, right now, the soft sweep of damp cotton against my thighs, the hem of my dress, felt like a strangely erotic rush in its own right.
Whatever had been bothering me before—the yokels, the true love, the fact that I was about to die in a few days—wafted out of my mind like steam.
I grinned. “That water—was amazing.”
Only pleasure mattered. Nothing lasted forever, and all we could do was enjoy ourselves whi
le we could.
After a moment, I realized I’d closed my eyes, and I opened them again to focus on what was happening around me. The three people were staring at me.
Salem’s chin was tilted down, and he still stood in a casual stance, but he was exuding a quiet menace. “I am King Salem, and I’ve returned.” A slow, dark smile. “Now, why don’t you tell me what’s in the water?”
The two fae stared at him, all delight draining from their expressions.
The woman fell to her knees. “It was just a little… just a taste of a love potion. I thought, with how she was dressed, she might be here for pleasure. Like the old days.”
A love potion… I could already feel it heating my skin, making my pulse race. On the plus side, it had completely erased my thirst. I felt scrumptious.
Salem cut them a sharp look. “What do you mean, just like the old days?”
Instead of answering, the woman pushed her husband back into the house, then started to close the door. Through a crack, she said, “Your swan will be fine. Just, you know, enjoy her.” The lock clicked, and I heard the sound of a bolt sliding.
A ripple of pleasure washed through me, making my knees feel weak for a moment. Not a care in the world. I was acutely aware of my nipples against the damp fabric of my shirt.
“Have you ever swum naked in the sea, Salem? Under the moonlight?” I think I let out a giggle—something I rarely did. Then I found that I was toying with the hem of my dress, swaying my hips from side to side.
If I dragged him into a dark forest, pulled off my dress, and got on all fours, would he take me now?
Salem cocked an eyebrow as he looked at me, his gaze hungry. It was only at that moment that I realized I’d moved closer to him and pressed my palms against his chest. I felt his pulse through his shirt, nestling in closer against him. The feel of his magic was like sex on my skin, and a shiver thrummed over my body.
When I closed my eyes, I felt an ache building between my legs, my body swelling with need.
Sea Fae Trilogy Page 53
