by Amy Sumida
I couldn't take my eyes off him. Declan sat on his throne with his legs loosely spread, one elbow casually laid on the armrest, its hand poised just below his chin so he could lay his pointer finger pensively near the corner of his sensual mouth. He alternatively tapped and stroked the skin there, drawing even more attention to his kissable lips. But from there on up, Declan's expression was fiercely focused. His eyes were completely sapphire—a color which meant either irritation or flat-out fury—and his forehead was lowered in a scowl. The dark look made Declan all the more attractive to me, perhaps simply because it was so different from the way he normally appeared. With his gold and alexandrite crown low on his brow, and the shadows in his deadly expression, Declan looked every inch the fierce fairy king.
And then his gaze shifted to me.
The scowl seeped away and was replaced by a much softer expression. Love filled Declan's eyes, bringing back some of their amethyst color, but there was also an intriguing relief. What the hell was going on?
“Here she is now.” Declan extended his hand to me. “Queen Elaria, will you join me?” Then he called out, “A seat for Her Majesty!”
A shining one hurried up onto the dais with a heavy chair for me. It wasn't as ornate as Declan's throne, but the simple fact that he was allowing me to sit on the dais with him was a pretty big deal. I took my seat and looked from him to the people standing before him—then did a second take. A couple stood at the base of the dais, looking a little nervous but also royal—they both wore crowns. Judging from the jewels in their crowns, they were the Queen of Tiger's Eye and the King of Turquoise. I remembered something about their kingdoms magically moving together when they married. I also seemed to recall that Tiger's Eye had been on the opposite side of the Sapphire War, and Turquoise had remained neutral. But that wasn't what made me look twice.
Behind the royal couple, surrounded by fairies whom I assumed were the King and Queen's attendants, were a bunch of naked humans. Both men and women stood there serenely, all of them with leather collars around their necks and nothing else, not even a damn loincloth. They didn't seem to be bothered by the fact that they were standing amid a fairy court buck-ass naked. Which led me to believe they'd been enchanted... and abducted.
“What the hell is this?” I snarled.
Declan hid his chuckled behind his hand.
“We came to offer a gift to yourself and the King of Alexandrite,” King Sean of Turquoise said in confusion. “Since our kingdoms lie alongside each other, we wanted to assure peace between us.”
“Especially after the war,” Queen Moirin of Tiger's Eye had the balls to say.
“I received your tribute, Queen Moirin,” I said calmly; inordinately proud of myself for remembering her name despite the fact that we had never met. Torin had accepted all the tributes on my behalf.
“Yes, and I'm glad to hear they were satisfactory,” she said stiffly, tossing a golden-brown curl over her pale shoulder. “But we thought it best to ensure our people's safety by cementing an agreement personally.”
“We've brought both men and women for you,” King Sean said eagerly, waving back at the enslaved humans.
His turquoise eyes were exceptionally bright, framed as they were by his black hair. Not all monarchs had eyes that matched their aligned gemstones, but it often worked out that way. Even my eyes had ended up being the perfect color to go with my new gemstone. Odd, that.
“I'm sorry?” I lifted a brow at Sean as Declan cleared his throat to cover more laughter.
“Men and women.” Sean waved to the people again. “We know that King Declan only indulges in females, but we weren't certain if you were—”
“Strictly dickly?” I asked automatically.
Declan couldn't stop himself that time, he burst out into roaring guffaws, and several members of our court joined in.
“Why are people suddenly wondering if I'm a lesbian?” I asked no one in particular.
“Are they?” Declan looked shocked. “Everyone as in who?”
“Well, only two prior,” I admitted. “But this makes three, and three goes from coincidence to conspiracy.”
“There's a lesbian conspiracy?” Declan's voice sounded hopeful.
“We have men for you as well, Queen Elaria,” King Sean broke into our conversation. “As you can see, they are all fit specimens, and they have been magically tamed. They will obey any command.”
“Magically tamed?” I growled.
Declan's hand went to mine. “Easy, my love. This is an accepted practice here.”
“I know, but Declan...”
“I will handle this.” Declan looked back to King Sean. “We are happy to discuss terms of continued peace between our kingdoms, but the gift we cannot—”
“One moment,” I stopped Declan, and he turned back to me.
“You want them?” He asked in surprise.
I gave him a long look, and his eyes widened.
“Oh, yes, of course,” Declan murmured. “We accept the gift. It's very generous, and we would be pleased to offer you our hospitality for the night.”
“Excellent!” King Sean declared. “We wish you countless nights of pleasure with them.”
“And we wish for you to join us later tonight for dinner,” Declan said with a smile. “I will have you shown to your guest chambers to rest and refresh yourselves until then.”
The royal couple bowed and were led away by a castle servant. Then Declan waved his hand, and more of his fairies came forth to lead the humans away.
“Clothe them, feed them, and give them beds to rest in,” Declan commanded. “In the morning, have them taken back to wherever they are from in the Human Realm, release their enchantments, and free them.”
Declan's people didn't bat an eye. They knew their king well; he may be a pervert, but Declan never took an unwilling partner, and enchanted to obey was not willing. Not to mention the little matter of him being very taken, and the fact that I would have beat him senseless if I found him with a human slave.
“Sometimes I forget that I was afraid to enter Tír na nÓg for a good reason,” I muttered.
“You were afraid of something?” Declan scoffed. “Not my spellsinger.”
I rolled my eyes, but I did so with a smile.
“We can only control our pieces of the realm,” Declan said gently.
“And you think that I should claim a piece?” I lifted a brow at him.
“Better you than an unknown shining one.” He shrugged. “If you want to stop shining one practices like human slavery, the best way to do so is by changing the rules yourself.”
“You're a devious and brilliant man,” I whispered with a smile. “And I love your mind nearly as much as your body.”
Declan chuckled. “My mind and body; those are the only things you want me for?”
“Yep.”
Declan grimaced and then motioned to his herald to wrap up court.
“Let's go somewhere a little more private,” Declan held out a hand to me.
I let him help me to my feet and then walk with me down the dais. The gathered shining ones made an aisle for us, and Declan escorted me down it and then out of the throne room, fairies bowing to us as we went. It was all very grand, and Declan handled it with casual grace. I was stiff and awkward. It would take some time to get used to all this pomp.
As soon as Declan had his chamber door shut behind us, he turned to me and said, “You look upset, and I sense that it has nothing to do with those human slaves. What has you all in a twist, love?”
“You said it,” I huffed.
“Ah; love,” he said sagely as he slid his hands around my waist. “The spell is troubling you again?”
“It gave me two months,” I whispered.
Declan's eyes shifted instantly from deep purple back to an unsettled blue. But other than that, he gave no indication that my words had upset him. He just nodded and led me back into the sitting room. He didn't stop there but continued to draw me into the next
room: the royal bedchambers. A bed big enough for five reigned over the room on a golden dais, each corner of the bed punctuated by a gold column. Yards of amethyst silk draped between the columns, making the bed seem like its own room. That was where Declan took me.
Declan seated me on the edge of the mattress and then knelt before me, placing his hands on the bed, next to my thighs. Then he leaned his forehead to mine and breathed deeply. It was such a relaxing movement that I couldn't help but mimic it. Within three breaths, I was calm.
“There, that's better,” he said. “Now, let's talk about how we're going to handle this.”
“I've handled it already,” I said.
“You have?” Declan's eyes widened as some of the amethyst bled back into them.
“I went to see Vivian, and she cast a spell for me,” I admitted. “It will bring a soul mate to me. Vivian cast it so that he will be drawn to the Witch's Ball, and when I sing there, we will be made aware of each other.”
“A soul mate?” Declan whispered, his face falling.
“Vivian said there are several people who are right for each other.” I kissed him gently. “Sometimes they're fated to be together, and sometimes they defy the odds and find each other without the help of destiny. Neither love is greater than the other. Love simply is, and we already have it, Declan.”
“Well said.” Declan smirked. “I don't like the idea of finding you another lover, but I know it's necessary.”
“The spell told me that we'd die without a third,” I whispered. “She didn't give me two months flippantly; it's the amount of time we have left—period.”
“Sweet stones,” Declan said softly. “We have to speak to Torin. If we tell him that you're in danger—”
“I've already tried,” I cut him off as I laid one of my hands over his. “I spoke to him this morning; Torin knows about the spell and all of its requirements, but now he's mad that I loved you when I was still with him.”
“That stubborn bastard!” Declan snarled, and then blinked; a soft smile spreading over his lips. “You loved me while you were still with Torin?”
I gave him an exasperated look.
“Yes; quite right.” He cleared his throat, and I started to nod in approval. But then he added, “Of course you did.”
“Declan,” I huffed, but a little laugh slipped through.
“I'm shocked that Torin won't help to save your life,” Declan went serious. “He may be angry with you, but he can't just stop loving you; especially now that he knows the truth of what happened.”
“I don't think Torin truly believes that I'll die,” I said. “Even though he saw proof of the spell's power over me.”
“Proof?” Declan narrowed his eyes at me. “What happened?”
“Torin said something the spell didn't like, and she took offense; she burned me.” I sighed. “I'm okay; it was only an internal pain.”
“Internal pain is the worst”—Declan pushed the hair back from my face—“you can't escape it. Are you certain that you're all right?”
“I am,” I assured him.
“Have you told Banning?”
“No, I came straight here from Coven Cay.”
“Do you need to leave?” Declan asked hesitantly. “To go and see him?”
“Banning can wait,” I lowered my voice to a sexy drawl. “I haven't been with you in four days.”
“I know; it's been agony,” Declan growled and grabbed me at the same time.
He tossed me back further onto the bed and then crawled up my body. Declan's auburn hair fell around my face in silky strands as he leaned in for a kiss. The RS sighed inside me and fed on our passionate energy. Declan moaned, and I undulated up against him, pushing us together. He growled low in his throat as he snatched at the hem of my dress. I helped him yank it off me, and then my underwear went flying. I laid beneath Declan naked, and he pressed his clothed body tightly to me, grinding the silk velvet of his tunic into my most sensitive areas.
The crush of those luxurious fibers laved me like a tongue. Then Declan drew his chest across mine, tickling my breasts with the fabric. My nipples hardened, and I groaned as I clutched his shoulders desperately. Declan eased back and drew his tunic off. He slid it down my body with a teasing swipe before tossing it aside. I admired the sleek, muscled expanse of his chest as he slipped out of his pants. They say that you eat first with your eyes; I've found it to be true for other appetites as well. I reached for Declan as if I were famished, but he slid off the bed and escaped me.
“I've got a surprise for you.” Declan headed for a bedside table.
“A surprise?” I propped myself up on my elbows to see what he was about.
He pulled out a drawer and then removed a black, velvet pouch. Declan had a mischievous smile on his face when he climbed back into bed with me. I narrowed my eyes at the suspicious pouch; knowing Declan, there could be anything from a bracelet to ben wa balls inside it. He upended the pouch and poured the contents into his palm. Two pieces of alexandrite gleamed and shifted from amethyst to sapphire as he moved forward with them. One was a smooth oval—flat on one side and about the size of my thumbnail, and the other was a curving bar—flat on both sides and also polished smooth.
“I have no clue.” I frowned at the oddly-shaped jewels. “What are they?”
“Sex stones,” Declan said gleefully as he angled himself over me again. “One for each of us.”
He nestled the oval one just above my most sensitive place, and the stone tingled as it magically adhered to my skin.
“What the hell?” I gaped down at it.
“Just give it a chance, Elaria,” Declan cajoled. “Trust me; you're going to like this.”
“What can alexandrite possibly do for sex?” I asked. It's properties are...” I trailed off as I realized that alexandrite was perfect for enhancing sex.
“Regeneration, change, and manifestation,” Declan finished for me. “Yes, you're seeing the possibilities now. And let me assure you that enhanced stamina is the least of them.”
Declan laid the curved piece over the top of his cock, right against his pelvis, at the base, and it stuck to him as mine had with me. Then he spread my legs wider and settled the tip of himself against me.
“Are you ready for this?” Declan purred. “It's quite a ride.”
“Oh, please,” I huffed, “we've had incredible sex before, Declan.”
Then he slid into me. The jewels knocked against each other, and their collision sent a wave of pleasure rocketing through my body. I screamed out in sublime ecstasy as Declan held still against me, waiting for me to come down from the pleasure high. When I was finally able to open my eyes, I looked up at him in wonder.
“What the hell was that?” I whispered.
“Only the beginning.” Declan smirked. “As King, I can do more with sex stones than your average alexandrite shining one.”
“More than that?” My eyes widened.
“Just focus on the pleasure, sweetheart,” Declan purred. “I don't want you confusing the stones.”
“Confusing the stones?”
But he was already moving against me again, and with each click of the alexandrites, magic pulsed out from our joined bodies. Declan's bedroom faded away, and cool air hit my skin. I clutched at his shoulders as he ground into me, pressing the stones tightly together. Ecstasy fell away, replaced by something far more sublime. I don't have the words for it, but it went beyond sexual pleasure. My whole body tingled with magic and shivered with zings of euphoria. But the physical sensations were only one part of the experience.
Declan and I had been transported to the clouds.
Obviously, it was Declan's manifestation, just an illusion... at least I hoped so. Because we were being held thousands of feet above the ground by fluffy bits of condensed moisture. That was it. The clouds shifted with every thrust Declan made, puffing around us in hazy luminosity, but they didn't give way entirely. I stretched an arm out to the side, fingers tangling in the cool cu
mulus, and stared beyond it to the Alexandrite Kingdom spread out below.
“Declan,” I moaned. “This is amazing.”
“There's more,” he promised.
The clouds went solid around me and lifted my legs up and back, giving Declan more freedom to drive himself deeper. At the height of each movement, as the stones clicked together, Declan rolled his hips against me. Dear gods, the man was a master, a true artist. If this was what came from being a pervert, then sign me up. I wanted to stay in Declan's hedonistic Heaven forever.
