A part of me was torn. If he would stop, did I really want to say it? I heard Flynn chuckle behind me as he walked around into my line of vision. “Ah, you aren’t sure you want him to stop, are you?”
Crap. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. All the boys laughed this time. Well, fuck, I hadn’t meant to say that out loud either.
More wings stroked against my back, causing a hiss to run through my lips as my back arched. This position pressed me more fully into Blaine, my hands gripping the hard muscles of his arms. He echoed Jett as he said, “Say it, Emberly.” His eyes held mine, his grip on my body tight and the heat radiating off of him wrapping me in a cocoon. I was drowning in their scents and their touches, unable to breathe.
My voice was husky and foreign to my ears as I managed to push out, “I’m not an abomination.” In their arms and under the touch of their fingers and wings I could almost believe it.
Jett stroked his wings more firmly across my back as he wrapped around me, his cheek against mine as he whispered in my ear, his stubble scraping my tender, flushed skin. “Again, Emberly. Louder.”
I shivered madly, closing my eyes in desperation as I said again, louder this time, “I’m not an abomination.”
Growls answered me. “Good girl,” Jett purred, stroking my back with his wing again. Who knew my back was that tender? I sure hadn’t!
The boys all pulled away, their breathing heavy. Their eyes glowed as gemstone bright as their wings, their hair slightly mussed and matted with sweat. Neel’s voice was a growl. “Now, to avoid more trouble, we will acquiesce and give you servant’s gear. However, we will not allow you to modify your clothing. You will wear what all of us wear. You’re beautiful, and you will show it.” The boys all nodded, their faces set.
I wasn’t comfortable with having my back bare, but they had done so much for me as it was. Not to mention, they were princes! All it would take would be an order, and I would have absolutely no choice. They were meeting with the town elders for me. They were letting me be there. I should at least be able to give them this, no matter if it made me uncomfortable. Slowly, looking between them as I tried to steady my ragged breathing, I nodded. “Okay. I’ll wear regular clothing.”
The boys broke out in smiles, though the heat of their gaze didn’t falter. Jett brushed his hair back from his eyes, stating, “I’ll go get it. I need to stretch my wings anyhow.” His brothers snickered as they watched him duck out the doorway and head to, what I would guess, would be the stores or the servant’s quarters. Flynn’s tunic barely hung on me now with the panel missing from the back, so I would be grateful for Jett’s return.
Blaine turned to his brothers, breathing deeply. I wondered if he was having as much trouble breathing as I was. His wings flicked behind him, and I couldn’t help staring at them. I didn’t know how they could find my back beautiful. All I wanted to do was trace their backs the way they had traced mine. The way their wings moved was mesmerizing, the jewel tones reflecting lights back at me in a rainbow of colors.
Hunter snickered. “Blaine, apparently she has no issue with your wings. She doesn’t seem to be able to stop staring at them.” I blushed but couldn’t seem to tear my eyes away from the open back of Blaine’s tunic. He glanced over his shoulder at me, and grinned wickedly, the heat in his eyes flaring. He rippled his wings, causing the tight, bronze muscles in his back to shift and bunch. I nearly groaned at the sight and had to bite hard on my tongue.
The boys’ laughter rippled around me as I stared hard at the ground. Blaine’s voice was husky and warm as he said, “We should all go change. We need to make an impression on these elders.” The others murmured their agreement, and each ducked out to their own chambers.
“Emberly,” Neel’s voice was cajoling where he stood in the doorway. “Would you like to see my room while Blaine gets changed?”
I grinned. I would love to see what Neel’s room was like. He wasn’t a reader like Blaine, so I assumed it wouldn’t be full of books. Glancing at Blaine and catching his smile, I followed Neel out and through the bathing chamber, passing through the archway made of sapphire stones.
Entering Neel’s room was like entering a forest. Most of his room was windows and plants of all kinds bloomed around me. Flowers in full bloom burst in a rainbow of colors from the ceiling, the wall, and the floor; arching ferns offered a lacy web of curtains over the windows. Draping vines of ivy dangled down the walls and curved across the head of the bed.
“It’s a fairy garden!” I whispered, in awe of the lush garden that surrounded me. Neel chuckled behind me where he still stood in the doorway.
“No fairies, just me.” He grinned as he watched me. I moved forward another step, careful to avoid the flowers and leaves that arched over most of the empty space.
“This is your bedchamber?” I clarified, listening to the softly shuffling leaves as the cracked windows let a breeze through.
“I like plants,” Neel stated simply. I arched a brow at where he stood still backed against the wall.
“I like plants too, but I’ve never seen anything like this. The few plants I’ve tried growing have all died.” I was fascinated by a flower that was as big around as my hand in the same luminous, exotic blue as Neel’s wings. “These are remarkable. It’s like they’re made of water.” I couldn’t even form the words as I stared at the jungle that he called a bedchamber.
“It’s a hobby. The plants relax me. I like breeding them and caring for them. I find it soothing after a day dealing with all of the drama to be able to just smell the earth and the things growing around me.” He glanced around the room as if drinking it in. Turning his head to smile at me, he said, “Now, if you’ll sit on the bed, I’m going to change.”
Nodding my head, I crept carefully to the bed. I was careful to make sure that no wayward brush of hand or foot disturbed the plants around me. Neel laughed behind me.
“You walk as though there’s no space. There’s plenty of open floor here. I’m bigger than you are, and my wings also take up room. You don’t have to creep through like a thief.” His voice was warm in my ear as he caught up to me.
I made a face as I kept up my creeping walk. “You’re graceful, Neel. I’m, well, not. I fall down. A lot. I also kill every plant I touch, and if I were to do that to yours, I would be heartbroken.”
Neel brushed his fingers through my hair, mussing the strands again. “You won’t kill them by touching them. Most of the plants I have here are fairly hardy. My brothers come in and out of my room as do the servants. They know better than to touch my plants, but an accidental brush of hand or wing isn’t going to do irreparable harm.” He pushed me gently so that I landed on his bed in a whoosh of breath and fabric. “Sit, I’ll be done changing in a moment.”
I turned my back to him and continued to study the lush blooms around me as I heard him digging through his wardrobe. I heard rustling and made sure to keep my eyes in the air so that I could avoid the temptation to turn and see what he was doing. His hands brushed against my bare back, a whisper of fingers that caused bumps to riot over my skin. “I’m decent, Emberly. You don’t have to keep your gaze averted.”
I turned my head to take him in, and my jaw dropped. He had left the black pants he’d been wearing but had exchanged his simple, gray wool tunic for one made of glimmering gold. A gold circlet was on his brow, pressing his sapphire locks to his head. A single sapphire stone in the circlet lit up brightly, the same color as his gilded wings. He looked truly royal, a work of art. His eyes were wicked, and the corner of his lip curled up as he watched me watching him.
“Do I pass inspection, then?” He queried, flexing his wings causing the gold tunic to ripple.
I cleared my throat, trying to swallow around a suddenly dry mouth. “Your Hi-“ A growl cut me off. “Neel. You look so, well, royal.” I forced the words across dry lips, breathing deeply to enjoy the scents of his plants and the scent of rain that was all him.
“Well, the royal garb will do
that. We really only break this stuff out for ceremonial reasons. It’s a little garish.” He plucked at the hem of the tunic and reached up to make sure the circlet he wore was straight on his forehead.
“I don’t see why. You’re beautiful.” I couldn’t help the words that slipped from my lips. I whipped around at chuckles from behind me. All of the princes stood in the doorway, dressed identically to their brother. Their gold tunics flashed and winked, the silk smooth and forming to the hard muscles of their chests. Their wings fanned out behind them, looking even brighter despite the gold. Their circlets all held stones that matched their wings.
Hunter’s emerald curls wrapped gently around the edges of the circlet, but it didn’t soften the look of it. Flynn’s long, luscious, red hair was left free to rain in a waterfall of fire colored silk under the confining gold band. Blaine’s citrine strands were a few shades darker than the amulet that settled over his short locks. Jett’s hair was slicked back under the band, alternating blue, purple and black depending on how the light hit it as it curved down low to tickle the back of his neck where it hung slightly below his ears. They looked like gods, carved of jewel, gold, and bronze. Their hard muscles, silken hair, and gemstone wings were the stuff of storybooks.
As the light began to fade and my vision grayed, I quickly shook my head and reminded myself I needed to breath. Their laughter was warm as it wrapped around me, soft and soothing. Flynn’s voice was a purr as he stepped towards me. “Like what you see, Emberly?” His eyes caught mine and, unable to prevaricate, I said simply, “You are beautiful. You all look like living art.” Smiles flashed across their faces as they watched me.
Jett stepped forward, pulling a stack of clothing from behind his back. “Here. I still don’t like the idea of dressing you in servant’s gear. Skin as soft as yours deserves better.” He stroked a fingertip down my hand as I took the stack of clothing from him.
I smiled up at him. “This is still much better than what I normally wear. Thank you.” The boys growled again. Geeze, I was really going to have to watch what I said. I wasn’t used to anyone being upset at the way I was used to living. Most thought I had far more than I should and that I should be grateful for every scrap that came to me.
Shaking out the clothing that he handed me I saw that it was a female servant’s black leggings and backless top in a pure white. Both were clean and made of simple wool. Far finer than I was used to, but nowhere near the soft, supple linen that the tunic I currently wore was made of.
Blaine stepped forward to pull on his brother’s arm. “Let’s give her a little privacy to change.” While the words were phrased as a suggestion, I could hear the command in them. They all turned their backs, allowing me to see the fit of their pants and the slotted backs of their tunics. Thankfully, I was able to swallow the moan. It was completely unfair for them to be princes and to look as good as they did.
Slipping off the torn tunic of Flynn’s, I folded it and laid it on Neel’s bed. I may be able to fix it if they brought me the other piece they had torn from it, so I didn’t want to just drop it on the floor. I shivered as the breeze caressed my bare skin. Quickly, I slid the smooth leggings up my legs and lowered the top over my head. Tying it behind my back was a little tricky, as I wasn’t used to the move. Once I was sure the knots were tight, I cleared my throat, letting them know they could turn around.
Their eyes were warm, but Flynn frowned as he looked at me. “I liked seeing you in my clothing. Seeing you in servant’s garb just feels wrong.” The others nodded.
“It’s not that you don’t look lovely,” Hunter interjected from his spot behind his brother. “It’s just that servant’s gear doesn’t seem to suit you.” The others nodded, seemingly in approval of his statement. It didn’t really matter to me. I still didn’t understand how they could think me lovely at all with me missing my wings.
“Come on, we still need to grab Master Jaison on our way to the meeting hall.” Neel stepped around me and reached back to take my hand, towing me through his room and out into the hall. The halls were surprisingly empty. I wasn’t quite sure what I would say if we ran into a servant or Valkyrie. Much less what to say if we ran into another royal.
Hunter reached out and knocked hard on a purple door as we passed it. The others continued down the hall, dragging me behind them. I looked back over my shoulder as Hunter cracked open the door and stuck his head into the room. I assumed he was getting Master Jaison. Nerves began to pound on me as I anticipated the meeting to come. My skin was slick with sweat, and my breathing was ragged. Jett pulled us to a stop and reached out to stroke a finger down my face. “Be still, Emberly. I’m not sure what will happen during this meeting, but know this: we won’t allow them to abuse you anymore.” His eyes were hard on mine, trying to force his belief onto me. As much as I hoped what he said was true, I couldn’t fully believe him. We were going into a room full of town elders, who would be extremely angry and ashamed that their disgrace had been exposed to the crown. They would be within their rights to ask for me to be sent to Executioner’s Tower. I was their property. While the princes might, for some reason unknown to me, find me interesting, it didn’t mean that their council, the king, or the king’s ladies would agree with them.
Chapter Six
As we walked into the room, I stayed behind the spread wings of the princes, sticking to the shadows. They glanced at me but allowed me to continue my stealthy trek around the room. All the Elder’s from my town sat around one of the tables grouped in the center of the hall. Sitting with them were Cecilia and Mistress Lynn, much to my dismay. On a dais at the end of the hall sat the king. His wings were a bright purple, shining liked chipped amethyst in the remaining light leaking in from the windows. He wore the same golden tunic as his sons, but his face seemed harder than theirs. On a series of chairs beside him sat three of his ladies, the highest title any female of our kind had held in centuries. There hadn’t been a queen, a royally blooded female, for many generations.
The first I knew was Lady Nadine. Her wings were so brown that they were nearly black. She had trained as a Valkyrie before becoming King Anyil’s Lady. Her face was serious, but her eyes seemed kind as she gazed around the room. The tunic and leggings she wore were of pale gold, a few shades lighter than her sons’.
I believe the lady next to her was Lady Melissa. She was the king’s second lady. Her wings were a misty gray, surprisingly light for someone who had married into the royal family. Her eyes were dark and hard, her lips twisted into a sneer. She definitely didn’t look like someone I would want to cross. She also wore the gold of the royal household.
The third lady in attendance I believed to be Lady Dierdre. She would be the king’s sixth lady. His third lady had died several years ago, and his fourth and fifth ladies did not appear to be in attendance. I recognized Lady Dierdre due to her youth; she was his newest lady, taken only five years ago I believed. She had deep gray wings, the color of cloudy skies. I knew she had trained as a Valkyrie. Unlike the others, she did not wear a gold tunic. Her tunic was a bright amethyst, nearly the color of the king’s wings. Even from here I could see that her belly was gently rounded with child. Her face was soft, her eyes gentle and excited as she stroked a hand down her belly and examined the chamber.
Although I’m sure she wouldn’t remember me, I had occasionally seen her during my time in the training barracks. She had not been assigned to my barracks, but I had seen her from a distance. I remembered her due to her strength in archery. It had been fun to watch her send arrow after arrow into the target, hardly stopping to breathe or aim as she sent them flying one after the next. She had been in Scottsdale almost ten years ago, just after I had been sold to the town elders.
Afraid and ashamed in my new position, and extremely cautious to avoid the beatings I had yet to become used to, I had only watched her from a distance when she had been in town for the competitions. Even then she had appeared gentle, and it was nice to see that time and becoming royalty had
not stripped her of that air.
Hunter strode in through the open door with Master Healer Jaison, his wings spread wide. Turning as he entered, he closed the door to the hall, shutting it firmly. No servants were in attendance. King Anyil raised his hands in the air, standing and spreading his wings, allowing the evening sunlight to reflect in amethyst shadows across the hall. Everyone in attendance quieted, as they rose as one to bow to the king.
“My sons have called a conclave.” His voice was deep and thick, though not as smooth as his son’s. “I have not yet had a chance to meet with them and was simply told it was an urgent matter. I trust my sons’ judgment, and thus, have called you to this meeting. Elders of Scottsdale, thank you for being in attendance.” His voice echoed through the room, the power in it unwavering. “If you would all be seated, we can continue from there.”
Once everyone was seated, the king turned to look at his sons. They had remained standing, providing a barrier of flesh in front of me, keeping me from the prying eyes of the town elders. It was easy to see that none of them knew I was in attendance. Small smiles remained on their lips, their eyes gleaming at the honor of being held in conclave in the palace. I did not know why Cecilia had attended, nor Mistress Lynn.
Elder Carrack spoke from his position at the front of the table, his voice dry and cracked with age. “Your Highnesses, Mistress Lynn and Head Trainee Cecilia were very vague in their call for us. They simply stated that you had requested them to send for us on an urgent matter and that you did not want them to discuss the details with us.”
Neel stepped forward, turning to bow again to his father. His sapphire wings stayed half-spread in a hold position as he began to speak. I was still out of view of the room in the shadows of the wall and the other princes. “Elder Carrack. We have had some disturbing information fall into our laps.” The wry twist to his lips betrayed his dry humor as he glanced over his shoulder at his brothers. His voice was strong and cool, not the gentle warm tones he had used previously in my presence.
The Valkyrie's Princes Page 6
