by Nicole Fox
“So, you aren’t on the run anymore, Ruby?”
Ruby shook her head. “I’m married. I’ve been hurting my parents and siblings. I need to speak with Cormac. Discuss what Murale told me about everything.”
“What did Murale tell you?”
“That Cormac loved a woman named Serena of the Lilies, and I was just a replacement for her in his heart. He will never love me like he did her. It hurt deeply.”
Tatum offered Ruby a questioning look. “No, that’s not tru-”
Langston hurried by like a rabbit. “You have to come, we’re on a schedule,” he muttered as he urged Ruby and Tatum to move forward.
Tatum grabbed Ruby’s hand. “He never loved Serena. He didn’t even know her. It’s a twisted truth. Speak with Cormac. Find your happiness.”
“Why would Murale lie to me? He’s been a part of my life before I could lift my head. It doesn’t make sense.”
Langston ran back and offered the girls a dark look.
"Lady Tatum, I cannot handle lateness of any sort. You must begin your procession for the wedding. Now!”
“Certainly, forgive us.”
~~~
Keir cast a dark look at Langston, his henchman as he fidgeted at the altar. Honestly, Keir never believed that his wedding day would arrive, with anyone. Over the last twenty years, Keir had sampled thousands of women during the years of his rowdy youth with his friends. Nothing but mindless affairs that created a wayward image of decadence. Never did he believe Tatum would easily pass the test that so many had failed. He knew that he could have her if she failed. Yet, something about her forced him to wish that would be the one. He watched his sister shrouded in a pure white dress detailed with Silver Star dust approaching the altar. The sun glistened on Silke’s golden hair; a deep pride shone in her eyes. Keir smirked when his twin frowned at her husband standing among the guests. Silke could no longer ignore her own marriage to Blane. Their child would be a constant reminder that she had a husband, and it would help to settle his sister. He was concerned about his father speaking harshly to her. Swallowing a chuckle, he blew a kiss at Silke as she moved to stand near the wedding altar. Cormac’s eyes widened in relief when he spotted Ruby walking behind Tatum, holding her gown tightly in her hands. Tatum looked around at so many people staring at the Dark Lord’s bride.
Keir shifted on his feet when he saw his bride walking timidly towards him. Tatum’s dark hair was adorned with pure white flowers as she stepped alongside her grandfather. An elaborate white dress curved around her firm young body; pearls clutched her around a slender throat. A thick silk veil hid her eyes from his view. He knew that they contained a smoldering fire that he couldn’t wait to explore. Keir stepped forward to receive his bride as she knelt before a wooden altar where Murale stood looking miserable.
“Father,” Silke called loudly. “After twenty years of searching, I present the bride of Keir, the Lord of Darkness and Night, my brother and twin. Tatum will serve as my bearer to preserve light in the world.” Silke reached over and softly tugged the veil from Tatum’s face revealing deep wide brown eyes traced in kohl set in a beautiful painted face. Keir’s breath caught as he memorized her face, burnt it into his heart. Murale cast a dark look at Silke as he stepped forward and offered Tatum his hands. Her small fingers wrapped around his large tan fingers. “Do you agree to the union?”
Keir almost kicked his father. She didn’t get a say. She entered the Trials and won. It wasn’t yes or no.
“I agree,” Tatum whispered softly. “I freely join myself with Keir, the Dark Lord.”
Murale turned to Silke, “My daughter, with this marriage you must join with your husband and consummate your marriage again.”
Silke flushed with embarrassment. “I will abide your wishes Father, fulfilling my duties as the Goddess of Light.”
Keir smirked that she would abide by their father’s wishes, but she was out of options with Blane. His marriage would restore balance to the world. The twins had to marry to balance their side of the scale. Keir needed a woman that would remain virtuous to the lights. Silke’s mate of Keir’s choosing would always tempt her to join the darkness. Silke rolled on the floor and begged their father to postpone the consummation of her marriage until Keir found his bride. He would not have to wait any longer for his mate. He selected Blane because Silke had a crush on him as a young girl. He believed it was what she wanted in her mate.
“Keir,” Murale called smiling. He stepped forward and clasped his fingers around her cool trembling fingers. Tatum bit her lips when his warm hand calmed her frightened spirit.
Keir looked devilishly handsome in his pure white wedding attire, so unlike his daily uniform of black leather. His long dark hair brushed away from his face, a smile softening the hard planes of his handsome face. A dark gleam in his eyes as his hand cupped Tatum’s face tenderly.
“I’ve waited so long.”
“It’s been a week.”
“Can we begin?” Murale asked.
Keir nodded solemnly.
“Friends, family, we are here today to join Keir and Tatum in marriage. A union destined to protect the heavens and lands of this planet.”
Keir slipped an arm around Tatum’s waist when she shivered. Warmth seeped through the fine silk of her dress.
“Keir, do you promise to cherish Tatum until the world ends? Tempt her daily to break her vows to Silke? And be fruitful to our family?”
“Yes.”
“Tatum, do you promise to remind people of the light in the world? To uphold Silke’s laws and deliver a new generation to us?”
“Do I have a choice?”
Murale chuckled as Keir tightened his arm around her face.
Tatum smiled. “Yes.”
Murale waved his large arms. “Keir, seal your marriage with a kiss.”
Keir lowered his lips and brushed them softly across her lips. His hand spanned her small waist as heat flooded Tatum’s body. He stared deeply into her passion-glazed eyes.
“Until tonight.”
~~~
Swirls of people surrounded Tatum as she struggled to remember names and faces. People pressed kisses on her cheeks and hands, offering their congratulations. Somehow, her fingers slipped from Keir’s firm clasp during their wedding reception. Crowds of people swarmed around them until she was carried away. She pushed through people to return to the calmness of Keir’s presence. Raising her eyebrows, she realized that she never had thought that she would use those words to describe Keir.
Turning her head, a hand grabbed her eyebrow. Her brown eyes met cold green ones. Her eyes blinked as she remembered that redheaded, green-eyed woman from the beginning of her Trials.
“He won’t love you,” she whispered harshly. “He wants pure power, and you won’t bring it to him. You aren’t women enough to handle him.”
Tatum exhaled. “The comets decided this path.”
“My name is Maya, and I intend to be back in his bed, at any cost.”
“Really, he’s married; get over yourself. And do something with that hair.”
Silke detected Tatum’s distress; her presence parted murmuring crowds as Maya forced confrontation during Tatum's day. Hastily, she hurried over to her young sister-in-law. She despised Maya-it was a mistake to ever admit her into her service. She didn’t even try to pass Keir’s marriage test, squirrels. The foolish girl honestly believed that her charms would seduce Keir, forcing him to forget his duties to the lands. Her brother didn’t fall for her feminine charms. Keir dismissed the foolish child, giving her to one of his loyal minions. Still, she caused trouble and mischief because she refused to leave Keir’s temple.
“Tatum, you are needed for a toast and your coronation as Keir’s consort.” Silke’s eyes offered Maya a dismissive look. “He’s ready to begin a new phase in his life.”
Silke said nothing as she maneuvered through suffocating masses of people with Tatum holding tightly to her soft hand. Tatum was grateful for her interfere
nce. Something about Maya made her feel uncomfortable. She could feel Maya’s eyes burrowing into her back as she faded into the darkness of their wedding reception.
Silke brushed past the crowds until they arrived at an altar decorated with white roses, littlies, and magnolias. Tatum paled as she viewed Keir standing in the center, Langston holding a black cushion with a glorious silver crown.
“I thought you were joking about sex on the altar.”
Silke grinned. “We were. You have to drink of the Cup of Immortality and have Keir crown his consort.”
Tatum gave Silke a strange look. “Cup of Immorality? Crown?”
Silke brushed away a strand of dark hair. “Do you want a cup of my blood? I’m anemic. Won’t taste good. Blane is a god, so I didn’t have to offer him a goblet. I slammed his crown on his head,” Silke grinned fondly at a vivid memory of her wedding day.
“No, you drink Ambrosia tonight and the morning after you consummate your marriage, and you drink a few goblets over your three days of confinement. Making you live for all of eternity.”
“Oh, since Blane was a god, did you have a three day confinement?”
“Three days, alone with that god? No, not in my worst nightmares.”
“Oh.”
Silke gave Tatum soft push to move towards Keir. Silke wiped her eyes. “I’m ruining the coronation. You have to go outside. Wait for Oceanus’ musical heralds to blow their horns. I just can’t focus.”
Silke snapped her fingers and they disappeared.
~~~
At his own coronation, Keir stood fearfully; a feeling of despair poured over his soul. His coronation marked the death of his mother. Nothing was joyous on the day. He couldn't remember any of Murale's words… just a loud mumbling. He felt nothing when he heard loud chants about "Long Live the Dark Lord.” It was the worst day of his life.
Tatum's coronation made him nervous. He wanted it to be perfect for her… all of Oceanus to see his wife… his consort… his heart.
Did I just think my heart? What is wrong with my head? No, just focus on the day.
It had to be flawless. He batted his eyes when he requested a pure white gown for their wedding day. Tatum was supposed to be draped in back to represent his darkness. It just wasn’t her gown, but he wanted her to feel natural and free. Her handmaidens gazed at him questioningly when he requested that Tatum leave her long flowing hair down. He didn't want her hair constricted by an ornate hair design. He despised hair pins. He loved her hair soft and free. They ignored him. He would enjoy freeing her hair later in the evening.
His hateful glance pushed Cormac away. He recognized that Cormac looked like an adult in his tunic and linen pants. His hand curved around Ruby’s waist as she leaned against him. Keir breathed heavily. He assigned extra guards to patrol the perimeter during Tatum’s crowning. He could hear their people rejoicing in his temple’s courtyard. They professed love for the young couple. This day couldn't come quickly enough. It seemed like an eternity for Tatum's dress to be sewn, fitted and embellished. Cook baked, broiled, and boiled for days as she planned a great feast to rival his father’s annual feast.
He didn't really want a feast. He knew Tatum still had moments of self-doubt. A feast meant that they would stay awake late. He ordered her maids not to bother her too early this morning. He snuck into her chamber to make sure she rested peacefully. She was still under her usual weight. Keir lifted his lips in a smile at Silke, his sister and confidante. Tatum's friends seemed happy to join her special day. Ruby’s brown eyes scanned the area to keep watch for their temple sisters playing wedding games.
Keir's hands quivered when the heralds signaled for everyone to rise and remain quiet. Slowly, the doors opened to reveal Tatum, standing with uncertainty filling her eyes. He wanted to smile at her and encourage her to hold her head high. He could not in front of his people, it would be a sign of weakness. He hated the limitations of his kinghood. She looked like an ancient princess. Her hair hung down her back in soft waves. His mother's earrings hung from her ears; he didn’t notice them during their wedding ceremony. She took carefully dainty steps as she approached. Keir's heart soared with unnamed emotions for Tatum. His one true mate and another could never take her place.
Tatum stood before him trembling as she took measured steps to meet him. She wore a brave expression on her face. He knew that she was nervous when she moved her lips, baring her teeth. Her mouth always twitched when something bothered her. Elegantly, Tatum knelt on an ebony cushion. Keir flicked his hand for Langston to approach with Tatum’s crown. Casually, he removed his consort crown; an image of his mother filled his mind. His large fingers traced a crown worn by his mother until her death. A dark anger flared when he thought of Azael. Not today… uncle… not today.
"By the sacred laws vested in me, I crown you...Tatum...Consort of Darkness, Silke’s high priestess on Oceanus, protector of light," Keir proclaimed loudly.
Gently, Keir placed Tatum's crown on her head. He didn't care about protocol. Langston instructed with one hand, guiding her up with his other hand. Tatum's affection for him shone in her eyes. Keir offered her both of his hands. His blue eyes sent a clear message that he was never letting her go. He would forever hold on to her until his last breath.
Take my hands, Tatum. It's okay. Look in my eyes, see my feelings for you. I feel so much, and I don’t know how to name it.
Her cool fingers grazed his as her hands slipped into Keir’s. Calmly, Keir helped get to her feet. Trailing his arm around Tatum’s waist. Affectionately, he pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. Their eyes locked and Keir smiled down at Tatum.
Keir spun her around, lifting her arm. Keir proclaimed loudly, "Long live Tatum, my consort!"
Her husband watched her nervous movements with his dark sensual eyes. He offered Tatum the goblet, placing it tenderly on her lips.
“Sip.”
The liquid was sweet on her tongue as she drained the goblet. Her insides tingled as ambrosias began to change her body; she rocked on her feet. Keir slipped a strong arm around her waist to steady her movement.
“I’m here,” he whispered into her ear. Tatum rested a hand on his hard shoulders. Keir sensed her body changes and scooped his wife into his arms. He smiled when their wedding guests yelled in merriment.
“Time for bed, darling.” Tatum rested her head on his shoulder as he walked towards his realm.
Chapter Twelve
Keir threw a basket of roses on the floor as he paced impatiently around, waiting for his wife to return to their chamber. Tatum’s handmaidens waited for them as they approached their flower-adorned suite. Swiftly, they drug Tatum from his arms, claiming that she needed to be prepared for their wedding night.
He peeled his metal cuffs off his wrists, kicking his boots across his clean floor, pulling his tunic from his strong chest. The bed dipped from his weight as he sat on the edge. Her fragrance invaded his senses as he twiddled his fingers.
Their bedroom door creaked open as Tatum stepped into their moonlit bedroom. A sheer blue silk gown clung to her curves, revealing her breasts' soft globes. Swallowing, Tatum walked until she stood before Keir, heat flared in his eyes.
Reaching out, Tatum’s hands traced hard cheekbones. Her touch felt hot and inviting on his cold face. His hand clamped on her small thigh under her silky gown. Keir feels so warm. She felt those feelings from the day in her house pooling in her stomach.
“I’m not leaving,” she whispered as she stared into his eyes. “I want to be here.” Tatum placed a hand on his bare shoulders to stare at her husband. “What took you so long to leave our feast? I wanted to be alone with you.”
Keir cupped her face. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I didn’t want to be forward. Like you hate feasts and gatherings with people, you like your quiet time. I noticed that you didn’t have any goblets of wine. You kept staring at the sky.”
Keir laughed. “You don’t like white wine. You ate chicken, waved away a
ny beef dish. Your favorite color is green, not black. You wore green as a child. You- “
Keir caught Tatum’s mouth in a soft kiss. His large hands cupped her face. “I’d rather be here with you.”
Tatum placed her palms on his chest. “I’ve missed you, Keir, even though it was only a few moments. I don’t understand… sometimes, I’m afraid and confused. I feel like a silly girl around you. “
“Don’t.”
Tatum placed her finger against his lips. He tenderly kissed her fingers. “Let me finish. I want to be with you as your wife and lover,” Tatum exhaled.
Keir gave her a surprised look. Tatum pushed the blanket from her chest; she shivered when Keir gaze roamed over her exposed breast. Shyly, she raised her arms to cover herself. “Make love to me, Keir.”
He was afraid to touch her as if he were in a dream. “Tatum, you don’t-“
“I want to be with you. It’s been a long wait. I don’t know what I’m doing,” she whispered.
Reaching up, Keir pulled ribbon straps from Tatum’s shoulder. He eyes drank in her small form as he lowered Tatum to his white pillows. He spread her silky hair on his pillow. Tatum ran a hand along his handsome face. She lifted her head to capture his mouth in a kiss. Tatum pressed her head into his pillow as his tongue explored her mouth. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he licked her throat.
Keir rained kisses along her collar bone. His mouth suckled a hard pink nipple urgently . Soft moans escaped Tatum’s mouth. A fine sheen of sweat broke out on her body. Keir dipped into her moist center. His thumb massaged her hard center as Tatum's thighs quivered. She gasped in pleasure when he slipped a finger into her wet warm body. Keir tongue traced a path between her breasts. He worked another fingers into her tight sheath. Tatum writhed against his hands as he twisted, plunging his fingers inside of her.
Her breath grew ragged as pleasure built her inside of her. Her hands pulled Keir’s ebony hair. Keir moved lower in his bed. Tatum felt his breath against her thigh.
