by Amy Sumida
It was a tempting offer. Conri was smolderingly sexy, with wild midnight curls that ended just above his shoulders, wicked eyes of fiery orange, and rugged lumberjack features that kept his full lips from being too feminine. His thick, black, bargest horns, which curled back over his ears to blend into his hair, only made him seem more of a sexual predator... in a good way. An Oh, stop, you beast! (please don't stop) way.
But Conri was also a playa. An unabashedly slutty man. He would romance every beautiful woman he met if possible. Or at least, that's the image he wants everyone to see. I knew better. I'd had a glimpse of the real Conri when the Goddess was within me. And he was wonderful. A true, loyal, romantic man. Unfortunately, Conri wasn't ready to let everyone see that man and so he hid beneath a veneer of apathy and ardor. If a woman rejected him, he could play it off as not being important to him in the first place. I think it might have something to do with being a bargest; a fairy once considered to be a lesser. As in less important than the sidhe. The shining, gorgeous sidhe (eye roll).
All that was changing now that Danu had spoke through me and informed the entire Twilight Court that she was very annoyed with this whole class system the sidhe had enforced on the other fey. In her eyes, no one was a lesser, and so she had approved the admittance of a non-sidhe man into a royal guard. Namely, Conri into my Star's Guard. This was a bit of a shock for the sidhe, especially when I went on to knight Conri, but I think they were getting used to the idea. And I also hoped that it would help Conri see that he was worthy of being loved, not just being made love to.
Either way, rascal or romantic, Conri was a dish any woman would be happy to gorge on. In fact, I don't know which Conri I enjoyed more. Still, he wasn't the fairy for me. Only one man made my heart go pitter-patter. And evidently made me talk like I was a five-year-old.
“You know,” I mused as I looked Conri over. “Sometimes I wonder what you'd do if I actually took you up on one of your offers.”
“I would whisk you off to my bed before you could come to your senses, and show you just what these horns are capable of,” he smiled as he tapped one of his horns.
“And why would you think that bedding you would be an insensible thing to do?” I countered.
“Because I'm a cad,” he said immediately but his smile wavered a bit.
“No, Sweetheart,” I kissed his cheek gently. “You're not. But I promise not to tell anyone. Now I'm going to go watch my boyfriend work up a sweat before we get even sweatier in my bed. You can come along if you like.”
“To your bed?” He lifted a hopeful brow.
“No, to watch Tiernan,” I rolled my eyes. “I don't think I could handle the both of you in my bed.”
“I have faith in you,” he waggled his brows at me.
“Down, boy,” I pushed him away. “You sure you don't want to hang out and watch the knights train? You'll have Gradh to gawk at and maybe some of the kitchen maids will come by.”
“I think I'll pass,” he chuckled but the look he gave me was devoid of artifice and it made me hopeful for him.
“Alright then,” I opened the door. “Later, Sir Conri.”
“Later, Princess Seren,” his light tone followed me out into the courtyard but it was swallowed up by the sound of sword play.
I inhaled sharply at the display of flesh that greeted me. Several of the knights were there and all but Gradh were bare-chested. Damn, I needed to train more. No wonder those kitchen girls flocked here. I walked over to a bench placed on the edge of the training area and collapsed onto it. My legs were a bit shaky. Probably from my exhausting morning. Yeah, that was it.
I sighed as I watched Tiernan swing his practice sword up in a graceful arch that caught the bottom edge of his opponent's shield. The shield went flying, smacking into one of the stone columns that bordered the courtyard, but my eyes stayed glued to my boyfriend's beautiful chest. It glistened in the sunlight, droplets of sweat running down the curves of his muscles with taunting slowness. I swallowed hard as his muscles rippled beneath his pale skin, now flushed a warm pink. His cotton trousers were loosely tied at his waist and they were slipping down his hips precariously, clinging to the protrusions of his hip bones with desperate tenacity.
“Just let go,” I whispered to his pants. “It'll be okay. I'll catch you. Maybe not with my hands, but I'll catch you.”
“Seren?” The pants were suddenly much closer, the sculpted chest mere inches from my face, and I looked up to see Tiernan staring down at me in concern. “What are you doing here? I thought you'd be tired after all you've been through.”
“Yeah, you'd think,” I said distractedly. I swallowed again so I wouldn't drool.
“Hey,” he leaned down to look in my face and his expression changed suddenly. “Oh. I see,” he grinned broadly and tossed his sword aside. “I need to attend the princess, continue your training without me,” he called to his waiting opponent. I glanced over and saw the members of my Guard exchanging knowing looks.
You'd think that after such a statement there would be a fair amount of ribbing following us out but the fey were too respectful of their royalty for that. Though there were a few amused murmurs.
“This way,” Tiernan whispered to me as he took my hand and helped me to my feet.
He led me from the courtyard through an archway in the far wall. We came out into a magnificent garden. I inhaled sharply in surprise. I'd roamed our gardens before but I hadn't known there was an entrance off the training courtyard. And I hadn't seen this particular garden.
It was more wild here, plant growth unimpeded by pruning or pots. Flowers bloomed in a riot of colors and trees hung over the overgrown path like women reaching for their lovers. Shrubs grew thick, their foliage speckled with berries, and little animals scurried beneath them to peer out at us as we passed. Even the walls were covered in moss and ambitious ferns.
“This is wonderful,” I sighed.
“It's my favorite part of the twilight gardens,” Tiernan smiled back at me as he continued to lead me forward.
We curved around stout trunks and moss covered boulders, benches swallowed by vines, and statues spotted with lichen. It was almost as if the garden had been forgotten but that was nearly impossible inside the walls of a fairy castle. So it must have been forgotten on purpose. As we wandered, I began to understand why.
There was beauty in the uncivilized lushness. A feeling of victory rose in my heart to see the garden flowing over the confines of borders, stone paths, and wood arbors. It was the epitome of freedom, a symbol of Nature's fortitude and persistence. This garden was a reminder that even though we had the power to cut her down and bend her to our will, Fairy will always grow back stronger and fiercer.
We entered a white wood gazebo, completely covered by blooming vines. It was shadowy and cool inside, suffused with the scent of roses. I reached out and touched a crimson blossom, drooping over my head. Tiernan's hand reached up and laid over mine as he pressed into my back. I felt the heat of his skin pushing through my clothes and suddenly needed to be free of my heavy silk dress.
Even as I thought it, his other hand gathered up my skirts and lifted them. The hand which was laid over mine, trailed down my forearm lightly and then to my back, to help remove my dress. I sighed as the cool air hit my skin and then turned to face him. His eyes were charcoal gray in the shadows but tiny shafts of light pierced the lacework of leaves above us and when he moved, the sunlight caught the silver and flashed.
My hands went to his waist and soon his pants slid down into a heap beside my dress. He stood gloriously naked before me and my breath hitched as his hands went to the back of my bra. A flick of his deft fingers and the lace fell away. Then his palms slid firmly down my sides and kept going. He went to one knee before me as he slipped the delicate lace down my legs.
Strong arms curved around me as he turned his face up to me. I framed that fascinating face with my hands and sighed as he laid a kiss on my stomach. Then he stood, drawing his hands up me
as he went, till his palms caught my ass and lifted me up against him. I immediately brought my face up for a kiss as he carried me backwards. I was lost to the feeling of his tongue tangling with mine as the scent of roses grew stronger.
He leaned me back into a silky, scented cushion of petals and I glanced behind me to see that the entire wall had come into bloom. I gave him a surprised look and his answer was a wicked grin. Silky vines suddenly wrapped around my wrists and pulled them back. More of them snaked forward, circling my waist, twining about my thighs, and wrapping around my arms. I gasped in shock as I was lifted, my weight taken completely by the roses, and Tiernan slid between my thighs triumphantly.
“Uh, I don't think so,” I growled at him and started to pull on the vines. They pulled me back insistently.
“Seren,” he said sharply, making me flinch in surprise and stop to stare at him. “No, not this time.”
“What?” I whispered.
“It's me,” his leaned forward, hot skin pressed into mine as his lips grazed my ear, his voice tingling against my skin. “You can trust me. Give up control for once. Let go and let me love you.”
I took a deep breath, casting a worried glance at the tightening vines, then released it on a shudder. This was Tiernan and he was right, I could trust him. I did trust him.
“Okay,” I swallowed hard and closed my eyes.
“I love you, Little Star,” he whispered before he kissed me again.
Then I truly let go. I relaxed into the feeling of his hands on my body, his lips on my skin, and released the need to touch him back or direct our passion in any way. I gave Tiernan full control and he made us a part of the fierce, jubilant freedom of the wild garden.
Chapter Thirteen
“Do you ever just look around you and think; Holy shit, I live in a fairy castle!?” I asked Tiernan as we made our way through the castle towards the entrance hall.
He slid an amused look my way but didn't say a thing, simply pulled a rose petal out of my hair. A fluttery feeling filled my chest as I watched him slip the petal into his waistband as a souvenir. He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it gently, his amusement shifting back into sublime satiety. If I'd known how happy he'd be once I gave him control over our sex life, I would have handed it over a long time ago.
We started to walk up the grand staircase, hand in hand, heading towards my bedroom... well my bathroom really, to take a hot bath together, when we heard a commotion coming from the main courtyard in front of the keep. We turned to see the double doors open and reveal Marchioness Moire of the Unseelie.
Bress' mother came gliding into the entry hall like she was our queen. I contemplated how bad it would look if I ran up the stairs with Tiernan. She'd probably think I was scared of her and I had no intention of giving her such satisfaction. But Tiernan and I were in obvious states of post-coital bliss and it probably wasn't appropriate for a princess to greet a visiting bitch, er.. I mean Marchioness, in that condition. What to do? What to do?
“Princess Seren,” Moire called out and made the decision for me.
“Lady Moire,” I pasted on a fake smile and turned to sidle down the stairs to her. Tiernan came with me, suddenly in guard mode; arms loose at his sides and eyes watchful. “I assume you're here to see your son?” I asked with as much casual sweetness as I could muster.
“Yes,” she sighed and glanced over her shoulder to the four unseelie knights at her back. “I hope you don't mind my Guard accompanying me. You know how protective they can be, especially when they're also your consorts.”
“Yes, I...” I stumbled when I caught the word consorts... plural. “I do, umm but...” I glanced at Tiernan and he shook his head. He didn't want those unseelie men down in the dungeons with Bress, and I agreed with him. “Unfortunately, we can't permit your, um... them to enter the lower levels of the castle. I'm sure you can understand that.”
“I...” she looked over Tiernan's state of undress, lingering over his magnificent bare chest, and cleared her throat. “Have I interrupted something?” She smiled lasciviously and my stomach turned.
“Training,” Tiernan said smoothly. “Lady Moire, your Guard can await you in the dining hall. I'm sure we can provide them with some refreshments while you visit your son.”
The men shuffled uncomfortably behind her.
“I don't think they're happy with that,” Moire smoothed one of the stark white curls back from her thin face.
“Then they're free to leave my castle altogether, Sister,” Keir said as he entered the hall. His long hair was pulled back into a single braid, which made the transition from black to lavender all the more prominent. It also made his features look sharper and more commanding. He narrowed his starry eyes on Moire.
“Don't you trust me, Brother?” Moire sounded surprised but it was just a touch too dramatic.
“Not in the least,” Keir said without pause.
“Oh, you delightful beast,” she giggled. “Come here, my darling and give your sister a kiss.”
Keir went forward and took Moire's emaciated shoulders into his hands as he bent to kiss her cheek. It was an obvious ploy to keep her from touching him and she laughed even more as he pulled away.
“Are you afraid of me?” She teased him.
“If anyone should be afraid of someone in this room, Moire, it's you who should fear me,” Keir said coldly, surprising me a little. I didn't expected him to warmly welcome his sister but I hadn't expected him to issue veiled threats either.
“Yes, I've heard of your magic, Keir,” her voice lost all trace of humor. “Fearsome was the word Uisdean used, I believe. So I'll cease our verbal sparring and simply ask you to take me to my son. My men will wait in your dining hall as you'd prefer.”
“This way,” Keir waved a hand, turning to lead her, and Moire followed her fearsome brother into the bowels of his castle.
Chapter Fourteen
Even though I knew my father could handle himself, I rushed up to my bedroom to shower and change. Tiernan rushed with me (he had his own rack of clothes in my dressing room) just as intent as I was to leave Keir alone with Moire for as little as possible. We showered together, which was a study in patience and frustration. Never shower with a gorgeous fairy when you can't have sex with him. Suffice it to say, the shower was a cold one.
When we were more presentable, though less satisfied than before, we hurried down to the dungeon beneath the castle. Dungeon is kind of a harsh word for the collection of clean, well-appointed cells. In fact, they were closer to barred hotel rooms than cells. Still, no one wanted to be imprisoned, or have their son imprisoned, and I was worried that Moire would be throwing a fit of royal fairy proportions. So half-way there, I started to levitate down the stairs. Then I remembered Keir chastising me over practicing my beags and I switched to air manipulation.
It ended up being a good choice and Tiernan seemed to agree with it because he jumped into the air beside me and we floated down to the dungeon like a couple of anxious phantoms. I controlled my urge to make creepy ghost noises and just concentrated on getting to my dad. But it turns out that we rushed and floated for nothing. Keir had left Moire alone with Bress.
In Keir's defense, there was a guard posted outside the dungeon entrance and Bress' cell bars were warded with magic. So it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for Moire to free her son. That being said, Moire was a fairy royal, sister to two kings, and she probably possessed some powerful magic. I wouldn't have left her alone with her precious baby boy. Not for one second. The fact that my father had, shocked me.
What was even more shocking was the way Moire was speaking to Bress. I held up a hand to Tiernan, stopping him before we entered the room, because I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. I hushed him with a look as we drifted down to the ground. Then we both edged along the stone wall towards the dungeon entrance, to eavesdrop like a couple of teenagers at their parent's bedroom door. I glanced at the guard, sitting in a chair off to our right. He just
smiled and shook his head. I guess the twilight fey were getting used to my shenanigans.
“You are as weak as your father!” Moire shouted at Bress. “Pathetic. How could you let that half-human mongrel get the best of you?” She spouted a few words in Gaelic that I didn't recognize but they must have been real doozies because Tiernan actually cringed.
I mouthed, “Half-human mongrel?” to Tiernan and he rolled his eyes.
The dungeon guard had actually got up and was starting forward with an angry look on his face, intent on defending his princess, but I waved him back with a smile and a shake of my head. He nodded and went reluctantly back to his seat. Corc, I think his name was. I'd remember that sweet gesture and be sure to tell Keir about it.
“Mother, I'm sorry,” Bress whimpered.
“You're an embarrassment to your family and I curse the day I conceived you,” she continued relentlessly.
“Mother, please. I've done nothing but try to make you happy my entire life,” Bress' voice was full of pain; the pain of a parent's betrayal. I knew that pain well enough to recognize it easily.
“Happy?” Moire scoffed. “You've done nothing but disappoint me. I should never have listened to that hag when she prophesied a strong son birthed from my coupling with that weak seelie. I never would have debased myself if I'd known what you would become.”
“You mean you never would have raped a man?” I said as I went through the doorway.
I don't know what came over me. I hated Bress. I thought he was an evil asshole but I also knew what had made him that way and it was standing right before me; his mother. The words just poured out of me all on their own. Perhaps it was my own betrayed heart speaking or perhaps it was my pesky need for justice. Whatever it was, it had me doing one of the last things I'd ever thought to do; defend Bress.
