Castle of Illusions (Wicked Kingdoms Book 4)

by Graceley Knox

  “Fuck, Ever.” He groans before he slides completely inside me in one smooth stroke, the feel of him stretching my walls almost making my eyes cross as the ecstasy overwhelms me.

  “Gods, Dare.”

  He sets a slow pace at first, working his way inside me until he bottoms out, and I don’t know where he ends and I begin. He reaches an arm around my chest and pulls me up and back with him until we’re in a kneeling position, and I sink just one more inch down, my breath leaving my chest in a whoosh.

  Dare plucks at my nipple as he moves me up and down his length with his other hand. Each and every stroke sends me just a little bit higher up the cliff until I’m desperately clawing at his arm, begging for something harder and faster. Something to push me over the edge so I can fly in euphoria.

  “Play with your clit for me, little tine. Let me see it.” His fingers dig into my hip as I do what he asks, and I know I’ll have marks in the shape of his fingers for the rest of the day. And I don’t mind one fucking bit.

  I rub circles around my clit, adding pressure and rocking my hips back on his as we feed each other pleasure. I lean back into his chest, my mouth searching for his, and he meets me half way, pressing his mouth into mine, my taste lingering on his lips.

  He pushes his tongue into my mouth, tangling it with mine, as we move in sync. Something like a pulse of magic flows from me to him and I pull back, staring into his eyes, confused as to why I feel like I’m looking back at myself. Like I can see myself through Dare’s eyes. I can feel his pleasure with mine, on top of mine, and mingled with mine. It’s mind-blowing and I fly over the edge taking Dare with me, screaming his name, until I can’t breathe anymore, and my body is taught as a tightwire from our climax.

  I blink open my eyes, staring straight into his fall leaf-colored eyes and blurt out the only thing on my mind.

  “What the fuck was that?” I’m scared to hope that it was what I think it was, but for all I know, it’s an aftereffect of having children, or I’m tripping from something I ate last night.

  Dare presses a kiss to my forehead and pulls me close, wrapping his arms around me. “Just feel, Ever.”

  I try to pull back to look at him, curious if maybe he’s high or something, but then I feel it. My hand is over his chest and his heartbeat matches mine. They’re not a second apart, a moment before or after, but they beat as one.

  “Dare . . . don’t mess with me.” I press my ear to his chest, listening to the thump-thump of his heart.

  “Mo grá, it’s our mate bond.”

  I look up into his eyes. “How can you be sure?” It’s not like either of us have ever had a mate before.

  “Something inside me just tells me. Tell me that if you take a moment to search inside yourself, you can’t feel it, too.”

  I do what he suggests, searching inside myself, but instead of taking stock of myself, I can feel another strand of a being tethered to me. I can feel his elation at our bond, his residual pleasure from our shared release, and his pure love for me. It thrums through me like the electricity felt before a thunderstorm. The air is electric against your skin.

  “So everyone was right. We are mates.” I smile, almost to myself but Dare tips my chin up with his knuckle.

  “What is it?”

  My cheeks burn hot as I think about it. “You’ll think I’m ridiculous.” Dare raises a brow and I dip my head to the side. “Okay, fine, fair point. Is it wrong that I want to run through the halls and yell, ‘He’s mine bitches!’”

  Dare throws his head back and laughs, shaking the entire bed with the force. “Oh, Ever, what am I going to do with you?” He entwines our fingers together and presses them to his chest.

  I press a soft kiss to his lips and smirk up at him.

  “Well, you’re not ever getting rid of me now, so I have no idea.”

  Chapter 7

  Shortly after our shared bliss, the babies cry and I get up to feed them, settling them down until they are bouncing bundles of joy again. A knock sounds on the door to the nursery and I debate staying quiet, just enjoying some alone time with my children, but I know that if I don’t let whoever it is in now, they’ll just come back later.

  “Come in!” I call out, and then smile when I see it’s Siana, and behind her are Simone and Tanner. “Dare! Come in here, Simone and Tanner are here.”

  Simone rushes over, hugging me to her and offering her congratulations before turning to her mate. “I told you I felt the shift. They are mated.”

  I cough. “Um, you can feel that we’re mated now?” I look down at myself, checking to see if I’m glowing again or something, but I’m just me. Black pants, black T-shirt, combat boots, and knives strapped everywhere I can put them.

  “Of course. But that is because I am in tune with the universe.” Simone nods, a pleasant smile stretching her lips wide.

  If she wasn’t completely serious, I’d call her one of those New Age tree huggers, but I know she is. And she’d helped Dare and me when we were unsure of what our relationship was or would be.

  “We’ll, so long as I don’t smell or something, I’m good with that.”

  Simone laughs as Dare walks over to me and pretends to sniff my hair. “I think you smell divine, my love.”

  I swat at his chest. “Yeah, yeah, sure you do.”

  Tanner smirks in the corner, letting his mate fawn over my children. “What about you Tanner. Nothing to add?”

  “Just that you do smell different than before.”

  My mouth falls open. “Are you kidding?”

  “No, you do smell different. It’s not bad, you just smell more like Dare does.”

  I look at Siana like she’s going to tell me any differently, and she shrugs. “You’ve always smelled of Dare to me, but that might be because you’re always together.” She steps forward. “I could sniff you much closer if you’d like.”

  “Ha ha. Very funny. You guys are getting a kick out of this.”

  Siana holds up her fingers inches apart. “Only a little bit.”

  “Mmhmm, just wait. Payback is a bitch.” I point two fingers at my eyes and then at each of them. “I’m watching you.”

  Tanner and Dare start talking weapons and before I can join them, Simone asks me questions about the babies, and I’m swept away as a mother.

  “Are they on a schedule yet? Sleeping through the night?” Simone asks, and I frown.

  “Um. I think so?” I look to Siana, horrified that I don’t know this myself. “They’ve let us sleep as far as I know, but that could be Siana being magical and letting us sleep?” It sounds more like a question than a statement but Siana nods.

  “No, they’ve slept through the night. I’ve come in to check on them, but they sleep soundly. You’re very lucky.”

  “Yeah I am.” I don’t add that I would be a stage five harpy if I wasn’t sleeping. I got enough of the non-sleeping time during my pregnancy. It could last me a lifetime, thank you very much.

  “They are such happy babies.” Simone makes cute noises at Ronan as he lies on his back and kicks his feet in the air.

  “Yes, they are. I have no idea where they get it from. It’s not like Dare and I are rays of sunshine.”

  Dare snorts. “Speak for yourself, love. I’m downright jovial.”

  I tickle Raley’s belly. “Daddy is just being silly, isn’t he?” I pull a face at Dare and go back to talking with Simone and Siana. With each question, I think about how much I don’t yet know about my children. How much I don’t know about my future, let alone theirs. What if one of us falls in battle? What if I make a mistake and one of the twins hates me? What if I end up like my mother? Cold and distant, unable to connect with my children, leaving them with emotional wounds that don’t ever quite heal.

  I run my hands though my hair and try to shake it off. I could spend all damn day, hell, all year thinking about what might happen, or I can spend each and every moment making memories with my family.

  Simone lays a gentle hand on my arm
, and I turn my attention to her. “I’m sorry, what was that? I was in my own head for a moment.”

  “I saw that, my dear. Are you all right?”

  I look at both of my babies, surrounded by love and giggling with joy. “I’m just having a moment of doubt. It’s not like I’ve got the best example of a mother, so I’m worried I’ll mess up and my children will hate me.”

  “Oh, love. I think you know, no matter how much you want to hate your mother for all that she’s done, if you look deep, there will always be love for her in your heart. Even if it’s just the teeniest, tiniest bit, it’s there. And it always will be.”

  “Okay, you’ve got me there. But still . . .”

  “I don’t have children of my own, so I can’t say that I fully understand what you’re going through. However, I’ve been responsible for others, and I know what it’s like to wonder if advice you give is good enough. If you’ve been too harsh or too soft. Caring for others is the both the greatest pleasure and the greatest torment.”

  “I just hope that they only have the best of Dare and me.”

  “I’m sure that they will see you at some of your not-so-best moments either, Ever. That’s inevitable.”

  “No, no. I meant, I hope they get only our best traits.” I laugh at myself. “We all know I can be an asshole. And I’m quick tempered and sometimes make rash decisions.” I point at Dare. “And that man over there, he’s stubborn and strong and isn’t the most forthcoming with details at times, but my gods, you never doubt that he loves you when he does. He’s like a bomb, and when he goes off, there’s no escaping.”

  Simone wipes a tear from her cheek and hugs me to her side. “I am so beyond happy for the both of you. I’ve been praying to each of the gods and goddesses in turn, begging for them to give you a concrete sign of your mating. To ease that doubt for both of you.”

  “Yeah, well, it was one hell of a shock. Literally.”

  She chuckles. “Sorry, I forgot to mention that part.”

  Another knock sounds at the door to the nursery, and Dare opens it, showing Dagan and Dax, arms full of baby toys, light pink and light blue-colored blankets, goofy grins on their faces.

  “We’ve come to bond with our niece and nephew. We will not be stopped,” Dax declares.

  “Well come on in. They’re awake, so you’re in luck.” I scoot up into a chair, leaving the space next to Raley clear.

  Dagan hustles over, plopping down and spreading out his armful of goodies. “Look what I’ve brought for you, little one.”

  “Hey! I called dibs on Raley first,” Dax complains, nudging his brother with his knee as he walks by.

  Dagan ignores him, instead focusing on my daughter, cooing at her and making a bunch of intelligible noises that sound ridiculous coming from the normally stoic warrior.

  “That’s okay, right, little man?” Dax talks to Ronan. “You and I are going to be the best of friends. I’m going to teach you everything you need to know to run this place.”

  “Nothing that will get him into trouble,” I say.

  “Your mommy is funny. I’ll make sure that you know how to not get caught.” Dax winks at me and I shake my head at him.

  “You’re incorrigible. Don’t corrupt my children. I know where you sleep.”

  “I make no promises.”

  I look up and meet Dare’s gaze. His lips are upturned in an expression of amusement, his posture relaxed. For a short moment in time, I can forget that outside of these walls, a gaggle of enemies wait for us to show a weakness, to make a mistake and give them a chance at taking not only our lives, but our children. Now that I’m a mother, it’s the same thing.

  In just a few short days, I’ve gone from being completely independent, outside of my bonds with my crew and Dare, to being unable to imagine what life would be like without those twin chubby faces staring up at me before I go to bed at night and each morning when I wake up.

  “So we hear that you had a bit of an eventful morning.” Dax wiggles his eyebrows at me and I glare at him.

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but our mate bond finally made an appearance.”

  “We know. The entire castle felt the blast of energy.”

  I choke on the water I'd sipped. “I’m sorry, come again?”

  “Yeah, it woke me right up. Felt quite the buzz from it, too.”

  I frown. “I don’t know if I should be thoroughly grossed out right now, raging mad, embarrassed, or all of the above.”

  Dare walks over and claps the back of Dax’s head. “Leave my mate alone, or I’ll kick you out.” He dips down and plants a kiss on my lips. “It is nothing to be ashamed of, mo grá.”

  “One day, you’ll find your mate, Dax. And I’m going to remember all of this. And give you holy hell for it.”

  “Well that’s just rude.” Dax pouts.

  “Mmhmm, so is mentioning that you got a buzz from a very personal moment, ya dick.”

  “Language around my niece!” Dagan snaps. “She will be a lady and will know none of this family’s dirty habits and filthy mouths.”

  I throw a stuffed animal at Dagan. “Oh, shut up.”

  We all laugh, picking at each other, and playing with the babies until the door opens without a knock. I look up to see Eryn standing in the doorway.

  “Hey, I thought I heard a bunch of frivolous laughter coming from this direction.” She glances at Dagan, her expression briefly softening until she throws up a mask of indifference.

  “Hey, Eryn. What’s up?”

  “Not much, I was just coming to make sure you were prepped and ready for today.”

  “Uh, refresh my memory. What’s today?” I’m pretty sure it’s a weekend, but for all I know, it could be the middle of the week and I should be checking on Arela to make sure she’s attending all of her training and courses.

  Eryn slaps her forehead with the palm of her hand. “I don’t know why I’m surprised,” she mutters to herself, and I wince.

  Uh-oh.

  “King Oberon and Queen Tatiana are arriving with their two sons shortly.”

  “Oh . . . that.”

  “Yes, that. Have you decided what you’re going to wear?” Eryn asks.

  I look down at my outfit. Simple, practical, not prone to show any blood if I’m wounded. “I didn’t know I had to dress up for this.”

  “It is a great honor for them to offer two of their sons to protect the twins, Ever. You should at least wear your unstuffed combat boots.” She gives me a pointed look.

  “I can do that.” I shrug. “I know that you want me to wear a pretty dress and look positively radiant as I stumble around in some ridiculous shoes, but this is me. You know that. And I’m not going to change for anyone.”

  “I didn’t mean it that way,” Eryn sighs. “I just want to make sure that nothing goes wrong, and I’m trying to help you to make sure that the twins are protected.”

  I stand up and walk over to the woman that keeps us all focused and on task. Truly, she’s the secret weapon behind our success. “Eryn, I know. But you’ve got to chill out a little, okay? They made an oath, and if they’re going to stick to it, I don’t think they’d risk it.”

  “But, Mab . . .”

  “Yeah, well, I didn’t say they were all intelligent, now did I?”

  She snickers. “That’s true.”

  “Okay, so tell me what I’ve got to do? I think the twins are entertained for the time being.” I look over my shoulder, amused at the sight of three scarred and terrifying warriors sitting in a circle around my children, making ga-ga sounds and funny faces.

  “I think you’re right. How about we just change you into unripped jeans, and I’ll be happy?” Eryn’s voice is pitched high with hope, and I give into her request.

  “Fine, fine. Lead the way.” We head into my and Dare’s bedroom and I throw open the wardrobe. “Go nuts, girlfriend.”

  She dives right in, and I flop into a chair, grabbing an apple and munching on it while she rifles thr
ough my limited supply of clothes.

  “Ah-ha! This one!” Eryn surfaces, holding up a flowy black top and a pair of black leather pants.

  “The pants I’m good with.” I eye the top and its fluttery sleeves that could stop me from grabbing a knife easily. “The sleeves on that top . . . they could add time to me pulling a knife and stabbing someone.”

  Eryn huffs. “I had to try. How about this one?” She holds up a simple three-quarter sleeved top, the only detail to it, a belt that ties under my bust.

  “Yeah, I can work with that one. I can strap a knife to my back with the belt thingy.”

  Eryn smiles. “Yes, of course. That’s what it’s meant for.”

  I tip up a shoulder. “Probably not, but it’s what I use it for.”

  If a girls to choose between weapons and frilly clothes, this girl’s going to pick pointy things over pretty things, any day.

  Chapter 8

  An hour later, our entire entourage is crowded in the hall, joined by Teag and Tore, both wearing their best armor as they wait for the arrival of the King and Queen of the Seelie Court.

  I lean into Doyle, who’s standing by my side, and gods does it feel good to have him at my back again. “I wonder if one of us shouted, if they’d jump to attention faster than the speed of light, or if they’d be horrified that they had bored expressions on their faces the moment something happened.”

  Doyle grunts. “I’ll place money on this bet. A new set of knives.” Teag scowls and Tore looks horrified.

  We shake hands. “You’re on.” I open my mouth to shout something ridiculous, when a sort of horn sounds, and the doors of the hall open from the outside. “Gods-damnit.” I pout, unhappy that our fun was interrupted by official business.

  “May I announce, King Oberon and Queen Tatiana of the Seelie Court, and their sons, Tybalt, Duke of Knowledge, and Kaol, Duke of War.”

  “Why don’t I have a cool title like that?” Kirin asks. “Kirin, Duke of Awesome.”

  “Kirin, Duke of Stupidity,” Axel retorts.

  “Kirin, Duke of Jokes,” Eryn, joins in, surprising us all. She shrugs. “What? I can be silly sometimes, too.”