Diadem

by Kate Kelley

  Lyra touched her fingertips to her forehead.

  Poppi smiled, her eyes taking on a crazed light. “He knows what Navi will do to me if I return. He will have to decide between my happiness or his own.”

  Lyra stared at her friend. She used to think Poppi quite plain, but now she could see the beauty in her features. She must have inherited her mother’s coloring, but something of the line of the nose and her bow-shaped mouth reminded her of Navi.

  Poppi looked at her expectantly. “What do you think?”

  “I think it’s terrible,” Lyra said flatly.

  “You don’t think it will work?” Poppi cried.

  “No, I think it will work. But it’s diabolical. How can you think of putting Oriel in such pain?” It crushed her to think of him in pain.

  Poppi frowned at her, her expression incredulous. “He’s in pain now. You’re torturing him every day and night. To not consummate a bond is a physical pain. He isn’t sleeping. He’s barely eating. It isn’t natural.”

  Lyra choked on her swallow. “He never told me that!”

  “You’re telling me you never talked about it? That you don’t want to...couple with him?” Poppi asked, her eyes narrowing into slits.

  Lyra lifted a shoulder. “I...don’t know. But I have no qualms saying no to him.” It was only partly true, but she hoped Poppi could see some of the truth. Her face flushed.

  “He clearly took the brunt of the bond. It’s worse for him because part of his soul is in you. But he did it to save you.”

  “I...I realize he did it to save me, Poppi, but it wasn’t necessary. Gaia was going to send me back anyway--”

  “Yes to prevent your bond with the Prince, I know. But Oriel wasn’t to know that, and the Prince failed at bonding you anyway. What else was Oriel to do? He did it all for you and now he’s miserable and not himself.” Poppi crossed her arms and pouted, making her look juvenile at best.

  “You would have had me die instead?” Lyra asked, crossing her own arms over her chest.

  Poppi gave her a withering look. “Of course not, Lyra, I am grateful to him for doing what it took to save you, even if it wasn’t needed. But now it’s time to return the favor.”

  Lyra stood and wrapped a towel around her body before the chill sucked her breath away. “You know as well as I do that I want nothing more than to break the bond.” She walked to the fire and sat in a cushioned chair in front of it, absorbing the heat from the flames.

  Poppi followed her, sitting in the chair opposite her. “Then please consider my plan.”

  “What plan?” Oriel asked from the doorway. Lyra fumed. She would get no peace while she was here. Not while bonded to Oriel.

  Lyra glared at Poppi, then thought of something that made her blood boil--Ganymede, killing her parents. “Get out of my room, Poppi. Out! Or mark my words, I will send you back to your sister!”

  Poppi flinched, her eyes wide, before she realized what was happening. She hid her grin behind a dark scowl and jumped up. “How dare you threaten me with Navi! You know what will happen if you make me go back there!” Poppi’s eyes welled. She really was a good actress.

  Lyra stood and approached Poppi. She noticed Oriel moving closer to them, but couldn’t make out his expression. “As long as I’m bonded to Oriel, you won’t act like yourself. You’re paranoid, acting like a child, and ungrateful to me for saving you from Navi. I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

  Poppi flinched again, and Lyra knew she poured more truth into those words than she meant to. Still, it helped with the fabrication. Poppi turned, red faced and bleary eyed, and fled. Oriel reached a hand toward her but stopped and whipped around to Lyra.

  “What was that about?” Oriel asked, his eyes shadowed.

  Lyra swallowed and avoided his gaze. If he looked at her, he’d know she was lying. “I’m going to send her away unless you agree to break the bond with me. Her friendship is important to me but she’s acting crazy toward me and I’m afraid for my safety.”

  She turned her back to him and thought of Ganymede to fuel her anger and fear, the look of terror in her mother’s eyes before the light went out of them.

  Oriel couldn’t read specifics of thoughts when she wasn’t speaking telepathically to him. He would, however, read her aura. The seconds ticked by at a tortuous crawl. Lyra clenched the top of the tufted chair and focused on breathing.

  Oriel’s hand came up to her exposed back above the towel, softly brushing back and forth. Lyra shivered. She tensed as his chest brushed her back and his hands came around her, holding her tight against him. When his mouth dropped to her shoulder, skimming lightly, her breath hitched. A part of her told her this was right, that this was meant to be. But the second part screamed at her that this wasn’t what she wanted. It was getting harder and harder to hear that second voice.

  Oriel put more pressure on her shoulder, kissing up her neck, his hands splayed on her lower stomach. He found the juncture of her jaw and neck and hovered there, his breath ragged.

  Lyra’s blood thickened, her heart beating in her ears. Her body tingled. She tilted her neck to give him more access and closed her eyes. He let out a groan and clutched her hips firmly, and kissed a hot trail along her jaw to the corner of her mouth. She turned around to face him and he pressed his full mouth on hers. She inhaled a sharp breath through her nose but opened her mouth for him, letting him taste her, and tasting him in return. Spices. Warmth.

  His hands came up to cup her face as he deepened the kiss, pushing her gently toward the bed. She fell back on it, her towel falling open. Lyra didn’t bother pulling it back together.

  Oriel crawled on top of her and moved her up easily while never breaking contact of the kiss. He pulled back to gaze at her, mesmerized by her body. His eyes were pools of deepest warmth, his dark hair curling in front of his eyes. He kissed down her body, stopping to tease each breast. Lyra was beyond the point of return. Oriel was her bonded, her mate. He was in her already, his soul in her heart. They were meant to be. Aren’t we?

  Terrin’s face crashed in her mind like a phantom, brooding and surly, exploding the notion of being mated to Oriel. What the hell am I doing?

  Oriel stopped and looked up at her. “What’s wrong?” he breathed. He cupped her cheek and rested his forehead on hers.

  “I..I can’t do this, Oriel,” she squeaked. Her center throbbed in protest even as she said it. He stared into her eyes, not speaking for a long moment.

  “Lyra,” he whispered, “Let me be with you. Please. One night.”

  “Oriel, I--”

  “I’ll break the bond first thing tomorrow morning,” he ground out, “Let us have this time together, and I promise I will go to the priestess with you willingly. I know you want this too” His eyes were pleading, the sultry heat in them still visible. His heart thudded underneath her palm and his arms shook. He was a man trapped, trapped in this bond that he created to save her life, because he loved her. Her mind tried to sort through the muddle.

  The bond wouldn’t have worked if they weren’t compatible. And she did love him, in her own way. And she was lonely, and tired of resisting love…

  But it wasn't enough for her. Not anymore. In a different time, she could have been happy with Oriel. A different life.

  She shook her head, a tear escaping her eye and falling down her cheek. “I can't. But stay here with me. We'll sleep side by side tonight.”

  He slung his head in defeat, and Lyra held her breath awaiting his response. His arms shook slightly before he collapsed to his side, tucking her in against him. He kissed her neck lightly and took a measured breath.

  She smiled and snuggled into him, imagining what it would be like to have a free heart. When sleep came, she dreamed of Poppi stabbing her in the chest while Terrin laughed, his wolf teeth gleaming in the moonlight, and Freydis handing her a baby with long, pointy ears and brown eyes of the deepest warmth.

  Chapter Eleven

  The sharp sound of metal on metal
shrieked as the heavy drapes were wrenched open and Lyra used her arm to shield her eyes from the attack of light. She rubbed at them and yawned.

  “Oriel, I don’t normally wake so early,” she mumbled. She let her eyes open, stale and blurry from sleep. A figure slowly came into focus in front of her, red faced and wild-eyed. Lyra jumped up and covered herself.

  “Poppi!”

  Poppi stood with her hands on her hips, staring at Lyra like she wanted nothing more than to skewer her with something sharp. Lyra glanced to the other side of the bed. Oriel was gone. She peeked at Poppi, who was now tapping her foot. Her hair was a halo of brown frizz, her eyes striped with tiny red veins. She hadn’t slept a wink.

  “Poppi, are you alright?”

  “I considered you my friend,” she finally said, her voice like the spit of a fire.

  Lyra closed her eyes. Her brain drummed her skull. “How did you--”

  “Oriel meets me in my rooms at night. Did you know?”

  Lyra glanced sharply at her. “I didn’t--”

  “We don’t do anything untoward, like some people. Indeed, we haven’t even kissed. We play cards and talk. I know more about him than you will ever hope to know.”

  Lyra’s guts twisted. She wrung her hands, unsure of what to say. “I’m sorry,” she choked out, “It wasn't--”

  “When he didn’t meet me last night, I checked his room. When I didn’t find him there, I came up here to ask if he wanted to play cards. That’s when I heard you two.” Poppi’s face scrunched in disgust.

  Lyra’s face flamed and she covered it in her hands. “It wasn’t my intention--”

  “How could you?” Poppi shouted, cutting Lyra off again.

  Lyra focused on breathing. “Poppi, if you’ll let me explain--”

  “I don’t bloody care what kind of explanation you give. A bond isn’t a reason to betray me.”

  Now wait a minute.

  Lyra scoffed. “Betray you?”

  If Poppi didn't want an explanation, then she didn't get to know the truth.

  Let her think the worst about me. She’s obviously made her mind up about me.

  Lyra notched her chin higher. “You and Oriel aren’t even together, for one thing. For another, you’re the one who told me I was torturing Oriel by denying him--”

  “You bitch!” Poppi screamed, her chin wobbling and a well of tears springing to her eyes.

  “And for another thing,” Lyra continued, her voice rising over Poppi’s shrill tone, “he wasn’t going to choose you over me! I tried to convince him but he didn’t care. He offered to break the bond if I let him stay one night with me. I thought it a fair exchange, given that we are bonded and technically are not supposed to deny each other.” The satisfaction of seeing Poppi taken down a notch was short lived, replaced with a tidal wave of guilt.

  Poppi turned her back on Lyra suddenly, her shoulders rising and falling dramatically with each breath.

  “I’m sorry, Poppi. I am. But it wasn’t a betrayal.”

  Poppi snorted. “Oh, it was your heart that convinced you to spread your legs was it?”

  “Leave my room, now,” Lyra warned, her voice low, her aura bright in her palms.

  Poppi squared her shoulders and glowered at Lyra, enmity etched into every feature on her face. Right now, she wasn’t shy little Poppi. She was hate-filled, vengeful, and bold. She took a step toward Lyra. Lyra watched her. If she came any closer, she would have to force her back.

  Poppi’s toe edged forward an inch. Lyra sprang forward to shove her back, when Poppi punched forward, her fist swinging resolutely into Lyra’s gut, knocking her to the floor on the other side of the bed, and a flash of green light blinding her momentarily.

  Lyra scrambled up and struggled to breathe as stars filled her vision.

  What the hell just happened?

  Poppi fled, slamming the door on her way out.

  Lyra fell forward into the bed and groaned. Tears leaked from her eyes as she made her way to the latrine before she tossed up the contents of her stomach, which wasn’t much more than acid, burning her throat and nostrils on the way out.

  Barring what had just happened with Poppi from her mind, Lyra resolved to find Terrin to take her and Oriel to the priestess immediately, if Oriel agreed their night of sleeping next to one another was enough. It wouldn’t change things between her and Poppi, but it might make a way forward for Oriel and Poppi. And maybe then she could begin to forgive herself.

  ✽✽✽

  Oriel met her at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes full of alarm and concern. No doubt he could feel her emotions. Lyra didn’t greet him as she normally would.

  “We need to find Terrin,” she said dully.

  Oriel nodded, his eyes downcast. “You don’t look well. I sensed your fear, but it didn’t last long.. Did Poppi come to see you?”

  “She did. Oriel, she’s a mage. She punched me across the room and a green light emanated from her hand.” Lyra looked around, hoping to spot Terrin milling about in the halls.

  Oriel looked at her like she had spoken a foreign language. “You’re unwell. You’re hallucinating.” He touched her forehead, feeling for fever.

  She batted his hand away. “Do you agree to sever the bond? I spent the night with you, as you asked.”

  Oriel blinked at her before he turned and cursed into his hand. He turned back to her, a rueful smile playing on his lips. “I might have guessed. The Fae are a tricky lot.”

  Lyra scanned the crowd of Lords and Ladies who emerged from the throne room. Terrin wasn’t among them.

  “Do you agree? I don't want Poppi to throw anymore punches my way.”

  “I don’t think that’s possible…” Oriel trailed off, almost talking to himself.

  Lyra grabbed his hand and yanked him along. “I'll take that as a yes. Do you know where Terrin would be right now?”

  “No,” Oriel said, his gaze holding a far away look. “Perhaps the Queen will know.”

  “Quite right, “ Lyra said, and took off in the direction of the throne room, Oriel following slowly as he stroked his jaw.

  She opened the heavy door and peeked around the edge to see Iris perched on the throne, a goblet in her hand, speaking in a low tone to an important looking man. She wore a high-collared deep green gown, the sleeves long, the material fitting like a glove and shimmering on the way down where its full skirts kissed the floor. A silver crown encrusted with dozens of gemstones sat perched on her head, the upper half of her black hair twisted around it while the other half fell in a glossy layer to her waist. Queendom suited her. Iris’s eyes wavered and snagged on Lyra. She said something to the man and he bowed before leaving and Iris motioned Lyra forward with her hand. The throne room was filled with about a dozen people who held discussions near the windows. They all wore matching black robes with sashes of various jewel tones. Lyra guessed it was the council.

  Someone is finally running the castle properly.

  She curtsied to Iris, who sat ramrod straight and rested delicate hands on her lap.

  “Good morning, Lyra. Can I help you?”

  “I’m looking for Terrin. Uh, Prince Terrin,” Lyra stated. “Your Majesty,” she added.

  “Ah. He took off before dawn to help with cleanup and assessment of the lands in the Northern parts of the island. Why he insists on going himself is beyond me. He has plenty of men for that sort of thing.” Her slender nose wrinkled.

  Drat.

  “Do you know when he will return?” Lyra asked.

  Iris smiled, her dazzling teeth white against her deeply tan skin.

  Wow, but she was gorgeous.

  “I have no idea,” Iris said, “Now, if you don’t mind, the council has a meeting in ten minutes.”

  Lyra stuffed down her disappointment and curtsied again. Oriel waited outside of the door, his face grim. “Well?”

  “He’s not here. We will have to go alone.”

  “I have no idea how to get there, Lyra.”

&nb
sp; “Surely you can find out?”

  Oriel laughed. “No, I cannot. It’s word of mouth knowledge and not something that is passed around too often. Bonding is not common, for obvious reasons.”

  “You’re lying. You just don’t want to break the bond.”

  Oriel stilled, his eyes flashed with pain. “I gave you my word, and I’ll stick to it. Though it does pain me.”

  “Then we find out, and we go alone.”

  Oriel searched her face. “I enjoyed myself with you, last night. It was not my intention to beg. I’m sorry if you felt I was trying to force--”

  Lyra stepped closer to him. “I did not in any, way, shape, or form, feel forced. I was willing, and fully consenting before I changed my mind. I promise you, Oriel, and it has nothing to do with you. Let Poppi think what she will. If she wants to burn me at the stake for it, so be it.” She turned away, rage igniting her aura into a burning pain.

  Oriel touched her shoulder. “Don’t give in to the guilt. You did nothing wrong. Indeed, anyone who knows anything about bonds knows that a bond is a marriage. It’s more powerful, even. No one would fault a married couple for lying together, Lyra, if we had...If Poppi is upset, that’s her own issue, not yours.”

  Lyra nodded curtly and left. “Let me know if you see Terrin. I’ll be in the town cleaning.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Oriel said quickly.

  Lyra didn’t reply, and didn’t speak the rest of the day, though it was long and arduous. She hadn’t meant to stay as long as she did, but the men needed help and the work cleared her head. They walked through several streets, clearing rubble and logs away, passing out food and water until they were sweaty and bone tired and a far ways away from the castle.

  Evening was shining its faint, early stars as they rode a cart back to the castle. The open air whipped her hair around her head, but it wasn’t cold enough to sting anymore. Gaia hadn’t returned the season yet fully, so it was strangely warmer than it should have been. Lyra watched the blur of buildings as they rode, counting them as they passed. Soon her eyes couldn’t focus on a thing and she stared into the void of darkness, a heavy ball of something she couldn’t name sitting in her chest. She wasn’t sad, or angry, or guilty or feeling sorry for herself. She was numb. She didn’t know what or who she was anymore, so she sat there awkwardly, not quite right, like a misplaced season.