This. Just this.
“Forever, Isabel. The rest of our eternal lives.”
The rolling tides of the orgasm swelling inside her were only seconds away, and she knew he was about to jump over that ledge with her. “Oh Gods,…let it go, please. I’m so…damn…close…” he panted, straining to wait. “I want to feel you take it all from me. Take from me, Isabel, let me fill you with everything you need.”
She could feel his flesh swelling even more as he cursed in his own language, his pace becoming frantic. His fingers remained laced with hers and squeezed with each thrust, and damn it if she wasn’t squeezing his hands back. She wanted to lick him, to suck him, to taste him everywhere again…she wanted this to be real so much. Her whole body tingled with lightning and her eyes rolled back into her head for a moment. She was going to scream louder than the sirens this time, and no amount of kissing would hold it back. Bodhe rose long enough to command that her golden eyes look at him before he made the explosion of heat ripple through her core. Not ripple, not sweet. It was a damn tsunami that rose up in her, and crushed her with its might.
They both screamed out in unison as a dark oblivion of pleasure overtook them and there was a splintering of wood and shouts other than their own. Isabel was too lost to care, too deaf with mind-numbing sensations to even glance at the cause of the interruption. He pumped, she contracted, and they both screamed each others’ names. His seed was like an inferno as it jetted within, and as she felt her love for him trickle from her eyes, she closed them tight, just wanting to hold onto him for one more moment. Ragged breaths tickled her ears as wave after wave of pleasure like she’d never known struck her like lightning bolts, across every inch of her at once.
Just one more minute, she begged whatever God would listen. Give her just one more minute of this perfect bliss with the male she loved more than anything in any realm…
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
He Will Pay
~LOVERYN
KEIREN sat up slowly in the dark chamber. It was lit only by small holes in the rock above her that opened to the twinkling stars and the blood red moon was still low in the sky.
She smiled softly. And then there was one. You will be avenged, my love. It is not done. Not yet.
Stretching her arms above her head and wiggling her toes, she looked to the entrance and noticed that the cave had been sealed shut. No matter, she could sift. She stood and shut her eyes, preparing to go meet her daughter. Her body slammed into the stone walls, however, when she tried, and she couldn’t get out of the stone prison. She could sift within it, but not beyond. Held magically within? But why? The curse has been ended, why would there be a need to keep her here?
She closed her eyes and tried to reach someone in the kingdom, but her mind was unable to reach anyone within the realm. Not even Phera, her most powerful student, and she could always reach her. What in the dark realms is happening out there?
Keiren probed the realm with her mind and did eventually touch something, but she recoiled quickly from its darkness, shuddering. It was something that was definitely not Sidhe. It was a shadow being, and touching its mind had been like rubbing herself in hot tar as she let worms crawl inside her head. She spat the feeling and taste from her mouth and frowned.
“I don’t understand, this wasn’t in the visions? It’s supposed to be over now,” she said, her voice sounding thick and coarse from not being in use for so long and she rubbed her throat tenderly. How had the veil become so thin that shadow beings were able to cross into one of the most heavily armed, magical realms? Something was amiss. Certainly Morkain had not hurt her daughter somehow? Where was Isabel? Everything was wrong, even if it was right. She was awakened, so Bodhe had won her. Why then, was she not released? Would she be awake if there was another outcome? Shaking the negative thoughts from her mind, Keiren decided it would be best to explore her options, and keep trying to reach her people. All would be well. That had been seen, and she would trust her visions in that, at least.
She wandered around the large cave and came to an underground spring. Ah, a bath would do wonderfully right now, she thought. Someone would surely come soon, as the Sidhe knew where she slept, and she could not be presented to her daughter like this. Even if she couldn’t see herself, she knew she was a mess. Sleeping for twenty-two years would do that to a being. Thank the Gods it was a cursed sleep, or she would have starved to nothing more than skin and bones. What a wretched way that would have been to wake up. Surely, the sight of her like that would’ve sent Isabel running in fear. But, as the deal had been made, she was careful to detail everything perfectly, and so her curves were exactly as they should have been. Dust and dirt had not been as much of a priority at the time though, she noticed, as she looked at the dirt beneath her nails and up her arms.
Throwing her dress in the water she gave it a little scrub before placing it on a rock to dry and then she eased her legs into the warm mineral spring. Gods, go without a bath for a few decades and there was really nothing quite like the pleasure. She cupped her hands, bringing the soothing water to her parched mouth and she swallowed before immersing her body completely. For the moment, she wouldn’t worry about why she’d been enclosed. She would think only of her beautiful daughter and the reunion they would have here in Loveryn very soon. She smiled brightly, humming a tune she had sang to Isabel on that cursed flight decades ago, knowing this moment would come. Keiren thought of the happiness that she would have with Bodhe, and wished only that she’d been able to meet her father just once. At least now retribution was being paid for his death. Her beautiful partner would be cherished for all time in her heart, and someday, she would join him by going to the Lake of Souls. But, not yet. There were still many things that had to come to pass before she could. The first thing on the list would be to hug their daughter and tell her how very proud she was of her.
Keiren scrubbed the dust from her long blond hair and felt the fire blazing from within her at the thought of her own beautiful prince. Moisture glistened in her eyes, and her heart clenched painfully in her chest.
“I cannot bring you back, my love, but I can make him pay for his deed…and our daughter is now safe from harm. It is a good day, this one. I pray you are able to see this from the realm you await me in. She has done well, our Isabel. He will never cause another harm again.”
Revenge sated her mournful angst as it played out in her mind. Yes, this was a good day, trapped or not. She continued humming the haunting melody in the cavern, letting the pitch raise and bounce off the stones, into the night outside. Finally, wrongs were made right, and balance was restored of evil deeds in the realms.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Outcast
MORKAIN WALKED AWAY from the city, the guard watching him as he left with their bows and swords drawn. At least they had let him keep his own sword, as he would need it against the shadow beings that lurked within the realms now. His plan was unhindered in the slightest by the recent occurrences, and he moved steadily forward. It wouldn’t matter where he was, the curse was written so that Isabel would come to him, and seeing that there had been no change in Albequen, he was sure that the curse wasn’t lifted. She’d come to him tonight, and he would ransom her for his true beloved. Then they would rule, as they always should have. He was the legitimate heir to the throne, not the King that had sat upon it, no matter what crap Lorelei had said…and Albequen, was his.
He picked up his pace and ran to the cliffs that divided the realm from Loveryn. The very cliffs that Norgelon had fallen from. Fallen indeed. If he had known that Keiren was with child then, would he have done things differently? Lured them all to their deaths? Perhaps, but that was two decades of things that he couldn’t go back to. He only needed to go back a few days and retrieve his mate, then all would be right again.
He sat on the cliffs and let the memory replay in his mind of that day so long ago, it seemed. Orillius had proven to be an eager asset that day. The mage was young and powerful, a
nd wanted to take his own place in the throne room as high mage at some point with the Queen. He’d been bound to Morkain ever since that moment, though, as it had actually been his magical staff that kept the child Serafim from falling until Norgelon arrived. The moment he saw Morkain after the child had been thrown to safety he’d known the truth. But by then, it was too late. Serafim was tucked into Orillius’s arms facing away from the ravine, and Orillius had shook his head no, but Morkain knew he would deal with him later, and told him to keep the child turned away.
The branch that she’d been hanging from cracked beneath Prince Norgelon’s weight after she’d been thrown to safety—cracked beneath the boulder that was thrown on it by Morkain, actually—and the Sidhe were too far behind, thanks to his hunting party delaying them. A little well placed distraction so he could have a moment alone with the Prince of Albequen.
The splintering of the rotten branch was music to his ears, as was Norgelon’s voice ringing up to him. “Brother! This is no time for games. No more! Help your Prince out of this ravine!”
Morkain had just laughed at him and thrown another large rock down, this one hitting Norgelon in the head. Blood gushed from the wound as he looked up in shock and horror at his brother, before the branch broke completely. There was nothing but rock face to hold onto, and no way he could’ve saved himself. He fell to his death with a curse on the winds—a lot of good it did him—and cleared the way for Morkain to have the Queen’s favor and one day take the throne. They had been raised as brothers, and the Queen had no other heirs at that time.
Orillius had a choice to make then. Tell the truth, or someday ascend the throne as the high mage with Morkain. The mage chose to keep that little secret, not that Morkain would’ve let him live if he hadn’t. Or had he? said a little voice in his head. How else would the Queen have known what happened in the Cave of Illumination? She wouldn’t have gone there without a reason. So, Orillius may not be joining him after all, except on a spike outside the throne room. A heathen way to rule, that one, but the people of Albequen had been ruled for too long with gentleness. It was time a ruler with an iron fist sat upon the dais.
Less than a year after Norgelon’s death, this damned curse and prophesy was handed down. If it were not for that, and Isabel of course, his plan would’ve been seamless. The only person who would’ve gotten hurt would have been Prince Norgelon, and possibly the Queen, as both of them couldn’t sit on the throne. Damn the Elementals and their curses!
But it still could be and would be the outcome he wanted. He picked up a rock and threw it out over the gorge and watched it fall hundreds of feet to the shallow pool below. When the rains came, it would fill, but that wouldn’t be for some time. There was a cave a few feet down from the ledge that they used to play in as children. He would set up there and wait for her. What a surprise she’d have when she showed up to dirt and rock rather than her grand palace.
Perhaps he would even be able to re-negotiate the crown after all, as well, once Isabel was his. The air Elemental, Isura had been more than willing to take part in the last deal. The Gods, oh how they loved their chaos and he had plenty that he wanted to cause. Or maybe he’d ask for a realm of his own with a hundred thousand warriors so he could slaughter the kings and queens of the light realms in their sleep? Though, he’d be very specific as to his terms so he didn’t end up like those forsaken Unseelie. He’d only encountered the Unseelie once, but that was enough. Even the bravest of warriors shied from the rotting flesh and white eyes of decaying perfection. They were a lesson in specifics, not a lesson that the Gods shouldn’t be called on for desires that one had. He didn’t fear the Gods, and that, was why he should be King.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Tricky Son of a...
IT SEEMED LIKE hours passed as she hesitated there before the lake, building up her resolve.
Damn the vanity! And damn me for not being a more worthy female! She shook her head and said ‘fuck it’ in every tongue she knew, fists balled.
“Nikolai!” she screamed to the chilling, empty air, “God of the Water Elementals, I call you forth! I, Queen Ameieloreya of the Sidhe, summon you willingly and obediently, for assistance!” Her voice echoed around the lake before the waters shot up all around her and she stood before the most beautiful God that had ever graced any of the realms. He eyed her with a curious ferocity that had never been matched in her experience, and she was damned full of that. His lips curved into a somewhat menacing smile.
“You do know the price of calling upon the Gods for your trivial affairs, Immortal?”
“Yes, yes. I’ve got that, Nikolai. But there’s no other choice. The veils are falling and our only hopes of saving them may very well be dying at the hands of the Unseelie right now. Believe me, you were my last option.”
He sneered at her, displeasure written on his face before he responded, making her stomach clench and her breath catch a little in her throat. “You say that as if I am unworthy to be called.”
She stared back incredulously at him. He was kidding, right? “No, My Lord…I simply meant that I don’t wish to suffer your wrath as the Unseelie did, is all. I’ve exhausted every outlet but I’m trapped here. I need…help.” Amele looked down, ashamed. She’d never needed help before. Ever. She’d taken on every big, bad, ugly in the magical realms, except the Elementals of course, and had kept her head so far. But being trapped and unable to act, well, it was like slow murder to her. She would storm the Unseelie castle herself, damn the consequences, if she thought there was hope of rescuing Isabel. But she couldn’t freaking get there!
“The Unseelie King was greedy and immoral, and he dealt with Reisha, not with me. There was a time when immortals called upon us without fear or hesitation, until that day. He deserved his punishment, for it matched his intentions and his heart. Your brother would have been dead, if Baylor had succeeded,” he paused, unnerving her with his eyes, and making her pissed for her brother. “You really care for the young immortal called Isabel, do you not?” he asked as he looked at her curiously.
“I do. She’s grown on me in the last few decades, a lot. And we need her to get back to Bodhe to set things right. There was magic used against her, that wasn’t allowed!”
He hovered over the water for a moment, deep in thought, which of course gave her a chance to check him out in all his wicked glory. His skin was blue tinged like all the water Elementals but it wasn’t at all gross or smurfish. It wasn’t a deathly blue either, but more of a glow from within, that showed his Element. He had ancient markings that traveled over his flesh, and the saying, ‘he’s got a body of a God’ came right from this male before her. Oh no, he wasn’t hard on the eyes at all. On the contrary, actually. To her, the bluish hue made him that much more beautiful. As if he needed her approval. She nearly snorted at her ridiculousness, but didn’t dare. Every muscle on his body was rippling before her and the package contained beneath the loincloth that he wore…Amele just swallowed hard and tried to stay focused. Water dripped down from his raven hair and ran in small rivulets from his shoulders making her swallow hard. When was the last time she’d had an able male? Centuries perhaps, definitely none worth remembering since the Dragon Lords.
A low rumble that sounded like thunder came from the God before her and she nearly jumped out of her skin. His massive thighs stretched out beneath him and a thin band wrapped around one of them, holding something in a sheath. Bands also strained against the muscles on his arms and his wet, blue-black hair spiked short and crazy around him. Men in this era on the mortal realm would pay a great deal of money for that hairstyle, and it appeared that the Elemental merely had to get wet and there it was. She licked her lips without noticing and watched as his blue eyes flashed black for a moment.
Startled, she had the sudden urge to run and find another way, but she held her ground. She hadn’t known anyone that had ever seen an Elemental’s eyes turn like that. Of course, the days of being on good terms with the Elemental Gods had long sinc
e passed, and their own Gods had been absent from their affairs for far too long to remember them in anything other than children’s stories told to the young Sidhe at bedtime.
“If I were to tell you that she is not the key to the worlds being mended, what would you ask of me then?”
What did he mean that she wasn’t the one causing the veils to fall? But the prophesy!
“What do you mean? How can she not be the cause? It’s been written.”
“But, by whom, was it written?” he asked, his face passive and almost bored.
“No one knows…the prophesy just appeared one day. Right around the time of Isabel’s birth.”
“Well, that’s not entirely true. There is one Sidhe that knows who wrote it, but that’s not important right now. I’m telling you that the realms will be restored. What then, shall you ask of me?”
She stared at him hard. “And what about Isabel?”
“She is still alive, but the only thing she holds sway over is the eternal sleep that her mother is in. Her choice could have indeed fallen two kingdoms if she had chosen wrong, but she has nothing to do with the shadows moving freely. If she dies with the Unseelie, the only repercussion at this point would be the loss of her mother, and of her, of course. The Prince, I suppose, if he takes to the Lake of Souls when she has passed. You immortals do hold dearly to your soul fragments when they are lost.”
She deliberated through her head. Could she really make a deal with a God to save her? Any number of things could happen. She growled lowly. Fuck yes she could, damn the consequences to every Godsforsaken hell and back again. The alternative of leaving her there to die, being stripped of all her emotions? No way. Not with the rotting Uglies. Amele almost laughed, realizing that Isabel’s name for the Unseelie was now popping in her head as her chosen term for them, as well.
Immortal Dreams (Immortal Realms Book 1) Page 30
