His leg bounced in annoyance as he contemplated Rob’s suggestion. "Fine. If I jump from the canyon, will you stop being pissed at me? Can we drop this and pretend it never happened?"
Rob half shrugged. "Maybe. I'll probably still roast you about it, but it'll be for fun instead of actual hostility."
Ash leaned back in his chair, a look of steely determination set into his features. "Done."
"So..." I said slowly, unsure I'd followed that conversation right, "Asher has to jump from a canyon... and then he'll be a part of the group?"
"A part of your reverse harem of Storms, you mean?" Ben asked, grinning cheekily. "That's what I heard."
"If you want him to be," Dan added teasingly. "He is the tiniest, least impressive specimen of us all."
I turned back to Ash whose muscles were lean but not tiny in the slightest. And, considering we'd already had sex, I knew he wasn't tiny in that department either. My cheeks heated at the thought.
"He's your brother, and he's a Storm," I said decisively. "I want him in the group."
"Okay. Then it's settled," Rob said, grinning darkly. "As soon as you jump from the canyon, you're back in."
"Good." Ash’s eyes were narrowed, but I could tell he was actually relieved. "Let's get this show on the road. The sooner we get to Blackwood citadel, the sooner we get to Eristan. And the sooner we get to Eristan, the sooner I can jump off that cliff."
"All right, now that that’s settled..." Cal said, trying to get the conversation back on track, "Ash, let's make a deal. To avoid ever replaying the sloth incident again, how about every time you turn into an animal, you pick a definitive marking so that we'll know it's you?"
"Like that black dot you had on your bird form," I said, recalling the mark. "You could put a spot on your chest, no matter what type of animal you are, and then we'll know it's you."
"I can do that," he agreed. "And if I ever want to be a human again, and I need one of you guys to kill me. I'm going to want a signal for that too. How about I hum a tune or something?"
"What if you're a snake and can't hum?" Rob asked, probably just to be a dick. "Or a bear? Or a fish?"
"Then I'll hiss, growl, or bubble the tune," Ash replied through gritted teeth.
"Why don’t you just attack us?" Rob suggested, spreading his arms out wide. "That’s a surefire way to make me kill just about anything."
"Maybe I will."
Cal waved his hands and shook his head. "Whoa, no. Let’s just calm down. For the good of the entire group, you two need to put your differences aside. I want to see you actively trying to get along again. Can we agree on that?"
"I agree," I said, raising my hand first. Ben and Dan agreed too.
Rob merely shrugged. "I don’t have to do jack-shit until he dives headfirst off a cliff."
"Rob," I said softly, walking over to him and taking his hand in mine. "I get why you’re mad. I get why everyone’s mad. I’m still a little pissed at him too, because it’s hard to just up and forget all those years I thought he was gone. But please. For me, can you try to keep the fighting to a minimum? Not because he doesn’t deserve it, but because we’re already drowning with stress, and I really don’t know if I can handle any extra right now."
He looked up at me, stormy gray eyes swirling like a hurricane of unreadable emotions. "All right, Jewels."
It wasn’t exactly a promise, but I’d take it. I had a feeling it was the best I was going to get for now.
"Okay, guys." Cal stood, and the rest of us followed his lead. "Let get to packing. Why the Storm King ever gave us three whole days to return home, I have no idea, but I can guarantee you, the faster we get there, the less damage will be done in our absence."
Asher walked over to me and took my hand, bringing it up to his lips for a kiss. "I’ll be by your side the whole time, just like always."
As his magic kicked in and he shifted back into a bird, my stomach tied itself into knots. I had a very bad feeling that his brothers were not going to be happy with any PDA between us. At least not until he was officially part of the group, and even then, maybe not for a while.
Speedy lit on my shoulder, but before we even reached the stairs, Cal stopped us.
"Ash. Shit, I mean, Speedy." He waited for me to spin around so both of us were facing him. "You can come with us guys. You don’t need any more alone time with Alexis than you’ve already had."
I held my breath. Damn it, I knew something like this would happen.
Asher must’ve known too, because he didn’t even put up a fight. He simply flew from my shoulder and perched on Ben’s.
The Sand Prince’s lips tugged back into a grimace as he glanced at the bird. "So help me gods, if you shit on me, this is never happening again. Swamp-ass Fever is legit, bro."
Dan sighed to keep from chuckling. "You’ve never had Swamp-ass Fever, Ben. You’ve never even seen it infect anyone in real life."
"So?" he argued. "I’ve read about it plenty, and I have no desire to shit out my mouth, puke out my ass, or develop a blistering, itchy rash that makes it impossible to sit for a week." He shivered at the thought.
Shaking my head, I reluctantly left to pack my bags.
I doubted if Swamp-ass Fever even existed. It sounded completely made up. Still, even if it was real, I’d rather contract that than have to face the Storm King in a day or so.
Chapter 3
By the following evening, we arrived at the citadel.
We’d traveled all night and all morning. My wine-colored riding gown was officially dirty, I was mildly smelly, and I was dead-ass tired.
"Whoa," Cal called out to his dark brown, braided-haired stallion, who clomped to a stop at the crest of a hill looking down on the palace below. I pulled on my own horse’s reins, a pretty palomino mare named Caramel, and we stopped on Cal’s right.
I glanced down, surprised to find a massive crowd of people gathered at the gates.
"What the hell is this about?" I asked, leaning forward to get a better look.
Speedy chirped from my shoulder, seeming just as clueless as I was.
Was it a riot? A protest? Was there even a glimmer of hope that the Storm King’s rule might be cracking or coming to an end?
"I think you know exactly what this is about," Cal muttered, shooting me a grim glance.
And then I knew.
Fear crackled through my veins like ice, making it hard for me to breathe. "You think this is our wedding?"
He nodded. "I do."
Well, if that was the case, he’d be saying that tiny phrase again in just a few moments...
It didn’t matter that we’d technically arrived early. The Storm King had eyes and ears all over Blackwood. He’d no doubt gotten word of our approach with plenty of time to orchestrate an official ceremony.
My stomach sank like a rock, filling me with dread. It wasn’t that I didn’t want Cal, or any of the brothers, because obviously I did. It was the fact that I wasn’t ready for marriage. And more than that, it was the fact that someone else was telling me how to live my life—no, forcing me to live a life that wasn’t even really my own.
Dan and his horse trotted up beside me, and he kissed my cheek. "It's okay, Lexi. We all know we're committed. The marriage will mean nothing more than salvation for your family’s lives."
I nodded, but I still felt hollow.
Cal leaned forward and made eye contact with Speedy. "Time for you to disappear. Keep a close eye, though; you never know when we’ll need to make a fast escape."
Speedy chirped and flew up ahead, disappearing into the slowly setting sun. The sky was a deep red, and while "red at night" was supposed to be a "sailor’s delight," I could say with absolute certainty that it filled this Sailor with "distress" instead.
"Come on." Cal sighed. "Let's get this over with."
When we reached the gates, we dismounted, and a handful of servants escorted our horses to the stables. Two armored guards granted us passage through the gateway, and the crowd b
eyond parted like a breezy curtain. A beautiful scene came into view: a pure white dais, decorated with flowing silks and laces, covered in bouquets of beautiful flowers, complete with an orchestra playing romantic tunes on the same stringed instruments I’d seen back at Nightshade.
Every face was genuinely smiling...
And that's when it hit me. These people had no idea who the Storm King really was. What he did behind closed doors. What he forced his own children and his own wives to endure. They thought this wedding was perfect, a gift to the peasants that he allowed one of them to marry one of his precious sons. Their tickled features made me want to scream at the top of my lungs, but for the sake of their very lives, I stayed silent.
Cal and I were immediately whisked away—separately—into little sitting rooms just inside the palace doors. I was quickly stripped and scrubbed down with damp cloths that smelled of sweet rose and lush lily. One of the servants pinned up my hair, while another coaxed me into a beautiful white gown. The sleeves were long and made of mostly transparent lace, and they sat low on my shoulders, exposing my collarbones. The train of the garment stretched out behind me for nearly ten feet. It was overkill like I’d never seen, but then again, I’d never seen a royal wedding, let alone participated in one.
Everything happened so fast, I could barely process it. I blinked, and suddenly we were back outside in front of the awaiting crowd.
A herald stood off to the side, bellowing our entrance. "Prince Calvin of Northern Blackwood, and his bride-to-be, Lady Alexis Ravenel of Blackleaf!"
The masses cheered wildly, their voices deafening my ears. They had no idea what they were cheering for. No idea whatsoever.
I glanced at Cal, who looked handsome as ever in his white pants and royal purple uniform. Silver emblems and tassels lined the front of the suit as if he were an accomplished war hero, rather than a repressed prince. His blond hair had been slicked off to the side, and his blue eyes sparkled despite his saddened features. If this whole thing hadn’t been so tragic, it would’ve been utterly beautiful.
At the foot of the aisle stood the Storm King, smiling proudly, as if this were one of the happiest moments of his life. He was dressed in a suit almost exactly like Cal’s, except his was even fancier, full of silver fringes, insignia, and crests. He also wore an elegant purple robe with white fur lining the edges and black spots covering the middle. It was as if someone had skinned a snow leopard and dyed its coat plum.
It was clear we were meant to approach him, so we made our way over and bowed deeply. Even in my supposed submission, I couldn’t stand the thought of taking my eyes off the snake, so I stared cautiously into his dark blue eyes the whole time. He laughed as if our reverence was unnecessary, as if he were an inherently jovial man, rather than a maniacal tyrant, and told us to rise.
He handed Cal the rings, then removed the cloak he was wearing and placed it around his son’s shoulders. He turned to me, attaching a long white veil around my head like a halo, gently tracing the lines of my face as he did so. It took every ounce of restraint I had not to spit at him or jerk away from his touch.
"As beautiful as your mother," he muttered, and a few nearby women sighed with envy.
I swallowed and forced a smile. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
He gestured to the aisle before us, and Cal held out his elbow.
I slipped my hand in, and every muscle in my body trembled as my heart hammered wildly.
"I thought we were going to have more time than this," I whispered as I clung to his arm for support.
"So did I, Peach, but it's going to be okay. We'll get through it."
"I don’t even see my mother or Gemma."
Cal shook his head. "My mother’s not here either; none of the queens are."
Were they okay? Were they being tortured at this very moment? It made me absolutely sick to think about it, so I tried not to.
The Storm King followed us down the aisle, and when we stepped onto the dais at the end, he took the podium and officiated the service himself. My mouth nearly fell open. Didn’t he have an official priest or something for shit like that?
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the royal wedding ceremony of Prince Calvin Storm and your very own Alexis Ravenel."
The crowd went wild, dulling my senses just enough to allow me to breathe.
"I’m sure these two are anxious to begin their lives together, so without further ado, let us have them take the sacred vows."
He cleared his throat and shot me a smug smirk. I probably looked even more toad-like than usual, all wide-eyed with my throat sucked in.
"Do you, Alexis, take this prince to be your lawfully wedded husband, for better or worse, come hell or high water, as long as you both shall live?"
It hadn’t escaped me that he’d basically cut any of the lovey-dovey stuff right out.
I opened my mouth, afraid no sound would come out. "I do."
Cal slipped the ring onto my finger—a massive diamond the size of my thumbnail—and once more the crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers.
"And do you, Calvin," the king shouted over the crowd, "take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, for better or worse, come hell or high water, as long as you both shall live?"
Cal stared at me, blue eyes delving so deep it felt like they touched my very soul. And to my utter surprise, my soul responded with longing. His lips parted, drawing me in as he took a deep breath. "I do."
He slid his own ring on, and the cheers escalated in anticipation for the climactic moment ahead.
"Then, by the gods as my witnesses, I now proclaim you—officially—husband and wife, Prince and Princess of Blackwood, Lord and Lady of Nightshade. You may now seal these vows with a kiss."
I blinked lethargically, watching the scene unfold in slow motion. Cal leaned in... lifted my veil... then planted a chaste kiss on my mouth, our lips barely brushing. As the cheers of the crowd somehow rose even louder, he moved to my ear and said, "I really do love you. I’m so sorry it had to happen like this."
His words were like a flickering candle in the dark, a tiny source of warmth in a cold room, and I clung to them. If nothing else came from this gods-awful experience, then at least there was that.
"I love you too, Cal."
I loved all my princes, even if I hadn’t been brave enough to admit it until now.
"Food and drink for everyone!" the king shouted, electrifying the crowd to an unbelievable level of energy and noise. At his command, a long line of servants rushed out offering up trays of meat and bread, fruit and vegetables, wine, ale, cake, and gods knew what else.
As the Storm King led us off the dais, the anxious crowd parted once more, allowing the three of us safe passage into the palace. We took several twists and turns down the hallways and corridors before the sound of the party disappeared. But as soon as it did, the king stopped walking and turned to us.
"Congratulations, you two. And nice choice, Alexis," he said with a sickening wink.
He knew damn well I didn’t choose to marry Cal. He’d made the choice for me.
"Now, let’s get down to business. This marriage will signify the end of peace between Blackwood and Timberlune. But I’m not stupid. I know you’ll try to salvage relations, and I know you’ll focus on the harpies, because that’s Timberlune’s biggest weakness. When you’re in Eristan, which I’m certain is where you’re headed next, I want you to find and bring back a chimera egg."
Cal’s brows furrowed as he glanced between his father and me. "A what?"
"You heard me," the Storm King threatened, tone dark and deadly. "You have one month. I’m sure you understand the consequences of your failure."
I scoffed on the inside. Of course we did—torture, pain, and death. Unending guilt and sorrow.
With that, the king straightened his posture and spun back around, strolling once more through the hallway.
"If you’ll just follow me," he said, sounding far more cheerful than I’d like, "I have one last item on
the agenda."
I couldn’t breathe all of a sudden. I didn’t know what the bastard had in mind, but after a forced wedding and the mandate of an impossible task, I knew damn well it couldn’t be anything good.
He turned and led us into a long hallway on a wing of the palace I hadn’t seen before. It was decorated in all sorts of random things—animal heads, coats of armor, shields with crests, banners, paintings. Each looked ancient, and, seeing as there was exposed stone and gritty dirt all over the place, I had a feeling this particular area actually was quite old.
At the end of the hall, he opened a set of thick double doors made of roughhewn wood. Beyond the entrance sat a massive four-poster bed, dressed in red silk linens and covered in rose petals. Surrounding the bed stood the other Storm Princes, the queens, my mom, Gemma, and little Lilah, clutched tightly in her mother Janna’s arms—all of them held at knifepoint by a group of the king’s guards.
I spun around, adrenaline pumping ravenously through my veins. "What the fuck is this?"
Cal tried to hold me back by tightening his grip on my arm, but I was livid.
"This is your marriage bed," the king said unquestionably. "Recall when I said that I wanted you to produce an heir, strengthening the Storm family line?"
Of course, I did. How could I forget?
I nodded, and he shrugged.
"This is me making sure that happens. You see, if you do not produce an heir—another child with magical abilities—then there really is no use for you at all, is there?"
I glanced at the queens, from face to hopeless face. How much time had he given them when they were expected to produce a Storm heir? And how much time would he give me?
"You want me to fuck your son?" I boldly asked him. "Fine. I'll fuck him. You want a magical heir for the Storm family line? Fine. Leave us, and we'll seal the deal right now."
Zacharias laughed, the echoes of his booming guffaws rattling off the stone walls.
"You ridiculous girl. Do you actually think I trust you? I don't. I want to see for myself that the deed is getting done."
Stormy Nights (Storms of Blackwood Book 2) Page 3
