by Bonnie Bliss
“You...you’re enjoying this!” she sputtered.
“Perhaps,” he stated and moved towards the waiting Queen of ice.
The whole scene seemed to take place in slow motion. Sorscha’s gaze locked on the view before her and she was awestruck. The beauty of winter was painted before her as if Thomas Kincaid had slashed his brush over the spring landscape and brought winter to just this spot of paradise.
“Wow,” she whispered.
“I know, right!” Cassandra boasted.
Sorscha took a step forward. One step, and she felt snow tickle the tip of her nose. Lifting her hand, she watched as genuine snowflakes danced across her palm. The beauty of winter never escaped Sorscha, but she’d never been able to appreciate it on such a magical scale.
“Didn’t know I had this in me until hubby over there said, ‘Hey, make a castle.’ I laughed at first of course, then BAM! Castle.”
Cassandra walked next to her, William at her back. Cassandra’s hot-as-fuck elf husband was on the other side of her. Flurries danced past them and swept up the crystal stairs that led up to a castle that reflected shades of purple, blue, teal, and white against the radiant sun.
The castle was made of pure ice. Yet it shimmered like diamonds. The sharp towers reached and stabbed up into the sky. It opened up to the elements and circled around.
“I hope the cold doesn’t bother you. If so I have clothes for that,” Cassandra’s cool fingers wrapped around hers and yanked her up the stairs.
“Gods, it will be nice to have a girl here. All I have is stud muffin after stud muffin to look at, and really it’s not all that fantastic, especially when horny elf mojo doesn’t work on you.” She looked at Sorscha and smirked.
Sorscha gave her a light smile back. As they got to the top of the stairs, two men, just as beautiful and dangerous as Cassandra’s husband, stepped in their path. Instant waves of arousal snapped through her. Her knees buckled and she went to the ground. She started to claw at her panties before she heard a roar quake the entire castle around them.
“Will, please,” she begged.
She writhed on the floor, her fingers finding the little bud that seemed to throb between her now swollen labia.
The roar sliced through the room again, and just as quickly as the arousal started, it ended. Panting, with sweat beading her flesh she blinked rapidly and looked around. Cassandra and the huge grizzly she had come to discover was William, or rather Tethur, looked down on her. Cassandra had a pained smirk on her face.
“Sorry. Apparently horny-as-fuck mojo works on you. They shut it down, and if they know what’s good for them they will keep it off!” she scolded the two beautiful elf men.
Sorscha’s head lolled in their direction. They smiled down at her. All long slick hair, lean rippling muscles, and glowing flesh. They didn’t look at all sorry.
Tethur snarled and growled, crawling over her. She lifted a shaky hand and pressed it into his coarse fur.
“Shhh... I’m fine now. That’s enough roaring for today,” she whispered, still a bit nervous about how much these creatures had rendered her a sweeping puddle of fuck-me-now.
His head swung toward her and he nuzzled against her neck. Giggling, she dug her fingers into the warm fur.
“I’m fine now. Go man again, please.”
He took a step back and shook his head.
“He can’t. Well, he can, Mistress Sorscha, only he will be nude like after you came through the portal. When he shifts, his clothes tear away.” This came from Eridus, Cassandra’s fuck-me-now husband.
“Oh, well...can you get off me then?” she asked.
He seemed reluctant. Sniffing down her body, she felt the quick swipe of his tongue against her exposed belly before he prowled backwards off her. Sucking in a breath, she looked down at the very obvious wet smear. Puzzled, and slightly unnerved by this whole day’s events, she felt Cassandra’s cool grip on her upper arm as she got to her feet.
“Don’t worry, growling ball of hunk. I’ll take care of our girl. You need to go have a chat with the boys; I need to get your girl in clothes so we all don’t have to start playing dead due to pissing you off all the time.”
Cassandra linked her arm with Sorscha’s, and she followed the beautiful snow Queen on shaky feet.
“God, I feel like I stepped into the Lord of the Rings,” Sorscha murmured.
Cassandra snorted.
“And you haven’t even met the dragon yet.”
“Dragon...” There was a snarl behind her and Cassandra’s lyrical chuckle followed as she yanked her more quickly up the stairs.
Chapter Five
Tethur waited until they were out of sight, then shifted back to his original state. For God knows how long, millennia after millennia the damn curse had taken its toll on him. For one thing, he hated being a bear. Only now with Sorscha coming to the realm had he even considered its presence to be a plus.
A tap on his shoulder stirred him back to reality. A cold breeze hit his naked body, and each muscle twinged with the sting of ice as he turned.
“This clothes situation, Tethur, is quite alarming.” Eridus stated.
“I know.”
“Can you cover that thing up? I’m getting unusual bodily reactions,” Eridor said.
“You’re aroused Eridor. Nothing to be ashamed of.”
“We do not twist that way, not like you humans.”
“Then find me some clothes. I didn’t ask to be bloody cursed.”
“Eridon, get him something to wear. Meet us in the war room.” Eridus smiled at Tethur.
The three of them walked up the stairs into a large hallway.
“How do you cope with this cold? I mean, the castle is impressive, but you have your own. Have you deserted it?”
Eridus looked at him. “No. It is still where I left it, guarded by a small army. We flit from castle to castle, keeping the enemy guessing. As for the cold, I tolerate it. Cassandra is my Queen and my one true love. She is still learning. I have no doubt she will find a solution to the ice and us living in it. Every day it becomes easier.”
They entered the war room, a large space ornately decorated with a table at its center. Erus, the sister, stood with her hands palm down, engrossed in the huge map displayed on the icy granite top.
“Well, well. Long time no see, warrior, and you seem happy to see me.”
“Don’t worry. It will soon shrink in this cold.”
Eridon came up behind him, placing fresh clothes on the table. Tethur quickly dressed.
“Let us begin, Tethur. Take a warm drink. It will refresh and build your energy.” Erus slid a cup across the granite towards him. He lifted it, sniffed it and drank.
“So, something must have happened to bring you here. Do you want to tell us?”
Tethur eyed Eridus. “The parents were killed by a necromancer, Cormadine Osmaldis.”
“Ahh, it is as we feared. Rumors of his presence in the realm have been heard. He has crossed the wall then.”
“Yes, he’s gaining in power. He used orcs to sniff out Sorscha and then came for us. He broke the protection ring and they got in the house. I managed to destroy the mirror before anything else crossed over. So who exactly is he working for?”
“The dark Queen Dubheasa.”
“Dubheasa? But she is Shauna’s sister. On the other side they are loving sisters. They wouldn’t hurt a hair of the other’s body.”
“Yes, but like you, Dubheasa changed. The realm, or some other factor, made her character dark. On this side of the wall, her hatred for the Queen of Malandria is beyond compare. Some believe she is not a complete fae like her sister.”
Tethur doubted that. Some fae were dark in the realm, and once dark always dark.
“Maybe it surfaced when Fergus shunned her and she had to flee here. I never liked her, there’s a devious streak in her.”
“I agree,” Erus said.
“You agree, but you have a female’s intuition, and I trust that sen
se.” Eridus smiled at his sister.
“So you should if you know what’s good for you.”
“What brought Cassandra here?”
“Another dark fae named Shelman kidnapped her.”
“From under your nose, guardian elf?”
“From under my very nose, Celt.”
“How did that happen?”
“Dark powers are strong, even over me in the human world. Trust me, my eyes are wide open now. They will not fool me again.”
“I believe you, but millions wouldn’t. So, the war?”
“Dubheasa has the north under her spell. She has built a formidable army, in the tens of thousands, mostly orcs. Goblins are coming to join her-they have been seen. Other races debate which side to join. Now that Sorscha is here, it may help our cause.”
“So Sorscha is the only one to cross?”
“Yes, so far.” Erus interrupted her brother. “The others will cross soon, I think. Sorscha’s appearance will act like a catalyst. The princesses of the fae elements will be needed to halt the war.”
“I hope you’re right, Erus. Sorscha’s powers have shown little sign of surfacing. Hopefully being in the realm will spark them into action. I’m hoping Ryken can help her. He’s a powerful warlock.” Tethur knew the consequences of bringing her to the realm. but he’d no choice.
“We must contact Fergus immediately. His help will be invaluable. I have never seen you in action, Tethur, but your stories are legendary. The twelve high kings must show their true colors and soon.” The look on Eridus’s face made Tethur understand the immediacy of it all.
“Sadly, we are four kings down. Three watch over the remaining daughters,” Tethur told him.
“The fourth?” Eridus asked.
“The fourth entered a quest of Fergus’s doing before I left. We haven’t heard anything since, unless of course my kin know better. Fergus will know I am in the realm.”
“You know that for certain?”
“Yes. He is the king, the wisest of us all. That’s why we chose him to lead us out of the cursed ones. When I broke the mirror he will have known it. Some men will come.”
“I hear some of you don’t get on.” Eridon raised a brow.
“We may be high kings, Eridon, but we are not brothers as such. Some have lineage, others were rivals, others the enemy. Our kin have killed each other to gain the throne. We were thrown together, cursed by the earth itself to come together and protect its walls from your dark fae. The only thing we truly share is our lust for power and pain.”
“So you fight one another?” Erus quizzed him.
“Only when we get bored, Erus.” Tethur smirked.
Silence filled the room for a moment as Tethur took another drink; the rich honey-flavored fluid warmed his very blood.
“We must watch the gates set by Fergus so that when the other three daughters cross, they are protected and can be escorted home. We need eyes all around, watching the enemy. They use the mountains and the forests for cover. The forests, though, are our domain. The trees themselves will watch them.” Eridus pointed to the map. “They will come for you, Tethur. They will come for her. We must prepare in case they do. We must plan your escape. Orcs have been seen only a day away from this very castle, encamped. A thousand at last count. Osmaldis is a serious threat; he will cross at the wall. It is three days’ ride to Fergus from here and two from the wall to your castle. We are at a disadvantage and we are outnumbered.”
“Send out your scouts, Eridus. Get a true look at our situation. Are my swords here?”
“Yes, we brought them.”
“Good. Fergus will be watching the wall. If Osmaldis crosses then he will know. Fergus and the wall are connected. My only regret is if he does come and I’m stuck here.”
“Regret?”
“Regret that I long to spill blood on my own lands and the opportunity will be lost.”
“Feel free to take a ride out west, where the orcs scorch my land with their thousand arses.”
“A thousand will hardly quench my thirst. Do you have anything to eat around here?”
Tethur finished his drink and grinned.
Erus nodded. “Yes, there is a banquet being set up.”
Eridon and Eridor started to head out of the room. Tethur’s eyes lowered. He felt a slap against his back.
“They are like puppies. Don’t worry about them.” Erus smirked and went back to studying the map.
Tethur called after the two elves.
“One more thing, boys.” They halted in their steps and turned to look at him. “Keep your pheromone level down. Sorscha is mine, promised to me by her father the king. I was chosen by him. If you mess with her head or her body arousal, I will come back and hurt you. What I hurt you as is up to you: a grumpy bear or a naked Celt. I don’t care whether you twist that way or not, you will feel pain and you will never walk again after I shove my cock up your arse. Bear that in mind.” With that, Tethur winked, watching the two elves leave the room. He meant every word.
Chapter Six
“This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen! I mean, it’s not even cold!” Sorscha exclaimed.
She turned in front of the huge mirror that took up one whole wall.
“It conforms to your body temperature. I didn’t know I could do that either until I dressed a few of Eridus’s brothers in some sheer loincloths.” Cassandra smirked while looking over the dress she had designed for Sorscha.
It was epic. It appeared sheer and was weaved from snow and ice. The iridescent colors danced against her creamy flesh. No bra, no panties. It didn’t matter; the dress scooped all the way to the top of her buttocks. It then continued until it ended in spiky-looking sheer lace at the floor. The front crossed over her breasts and seemed to swirl over her slightly rounded tummy. It covered, yet didn’t, and still made her look hot. Sorscha couldn’t remember being hot in her life. Not one day, yet today she had been forced into moments of sexual femininity that gave her a feeling of power.
William wants me.
Sorscha smiled at her reflection, the front of the dress kissing her thighs. The whole thing was a bit—scandalous. Next to Cassandra’s sheer number, she was tame. Glancing down at her feet, she couldn’t help but fangirl hard at the glass slippers, or ice rather, on her feet.
“So cool! God, I wish I could be an ice whisperer.” She turned towards the smiling woman and took a seat on the bed next to her.
“You don’t sound like you came from here. Your husband and the hot-as-fuck brothers are kinda stiff. You’re, well, you act like you’re from Normalville.” Sorscha finished.
Cassandra nodded.
“You’re right, I am. I was born and raised by my parents. Apparently, they were fae royalty. That’s what I am, a descendent of the winter fae king. At first I thought it was a big deal, when I found out. I mean, it is, don’t get me wrong. I rule a season, I’m like Mother Nature’s bitch—well, your bitch—I think that’s how this works.” She pondered.
“What do you mean, my bitch?”
“I’m not sure, but I think you’re one of the lost daughters. Well, I wouldn’t call them lost; they were hidden from the evil Queen and a few dark elves. That’s how I was found. A dark elf found me, had me kidnapped by a big ugly troll and proceeded to try and rape me. Well, it’s not trying when you have that whole unhealthy elf sex-beam you can shoot into a woman.” She smirked and continued. “Anyways, I was kidnapped and some of our kind are hidden away with us, as guardians. Eridus was mine.” She paused, looking down at her hand and the beautiful golden ring adoring her finger. It looked as if it was made of pieces of the forest dipped in gold.
“I act all tough, like I’m in charge.” She let off a bitter laugh. “Don’t let me fool you. I honesty have no clue what I’m doing most of the time. I honed my powers enough to build this castle. I still go home quite a bit. Being raised with technology, you miss it, the ease. Living here it’s like going back to when Vikings wandered the earth. It is a
bit daunting.”
Reaching out, she took hold of Sorscha’s hand. Smiling, she gripped tight.
“We will help one another, I promise. I think Eridus knew once we saw Tethur erupt into grizzly that being introduced to me first would help things. I’m from your world. They aren’t. Gods, how did you cope with that man?”
Sorscha snorted. “It wasn’t easy, I can tell you that. He always kept his distance, stood off to one side, tried not to touch me. Damn, I was in love with him. The crush I had on him was so violent I asked him to prom. Talk about embarrassing when he said no and ran out of the room.”
Cassandra laughed, the musical sound calming Sorscha’s nerves.
“Yeah, they do that. Eridus is a cop in the other realm. He’s a hardass; I can tell he toned it down a bit for you, considering who you might be.”
“And who might I be? You mentioned dragons. God, if only Smaug was real from The Hobbit. It would be even better if he could shift that deep voice into Benedict.”
Cassandra smirked and stood. She wandered over to the balcony that overlooked her frozen kingdom.
“Tethur is one of Fergus’s men. I have only met two of them, three now. It was after I crossed over and took the throne for my father. I met the Dragon and I met Kane. Kane, you want to keep your distance. That man─” She shivered.
“Anyways, they are Celts. The original High Kings of Ireland. They went missing, according to the way history tells it. They were cursed. That’s how things work here, I guess. One oops and you’re pretty much some sort of shape-shifting badass to do the true king’s bidding.” She shrugged. “Personally, I think that is kind of messed up. I mean, these guys lived forever ago, and then they are shoved into a modern society to watch over us modern women. I don’t know about you, but I am pretty, well, hard to deal with. Eridus is a damned saint.”
Sorscha looked away. Her gaze trailed out the huge clear double doors that had a fantastic view of the valley beyond. She looked down at her fingers, her nail ripped at the flesh in the side of her thumb.
“I am sort of a nerd. I’m an IT security expert. I work for a company and make sure no one breaks in, an agency for athletes. I am obsessed with Doctor Who and Sherlock, and I thought for so long that William—I mean Tethur—was just acting hard out of respect for my parents. I mean, the guy watched Sherlock with me, every episode. Then before I had a chance to turn towards him and fangirl, he would get up and just leave.” She paused and shook her head. “He was so cold, so, well, he was mean.” Her voice got small and she felt Cassandra’s small hand rest on her bare shoulder. It was icy, but the cold seemed to melt into her and spread warmth. A rumble shook the castle. It was slight but scared Sorscha.
