by Imogen Sera
That meant the dark haired woman must be Ingrid, although the lovely, confident woman before her was unrecognizable from the exhausted, sick looking creature she’d met just after recovering.
“I’m glad we found you though,” She heard Ingrid say, “we were worried after receiving your letter.”
Maggie rose from her uncomfortable spot on the ground, and ran a quick hand through her hair, picking out leaves and twigs. She longed for a bath as she crossed to where Caelian stood, standing a short distance away from him, but he pulled her under his arm and gently pressed her against his side as he pressed a soft kiss into her hair.
“How far are we from home?” he asked Ingrid.
“Not too far, less than a day if we fly. Much longer if we don’t. If you guys decide you don’t want to fly,” she turned her attention to Maggie, “Helias and I will need to return, but Tarquin and Julian will stay to escort you.”
“That’s very generous,” said Maggie, and from beside her Caelian laughed.
“You came along when Helias would only be gone for a few hours?”
Ingrid glared at him for a moment, then turned to glance at her mate and her look softened. “He agreed to never leave my sight again.”
“You guys are gross,” Caelian said as he pulled Maggie closer to his side.
Ingrid furrowed her brow at him, then turned her attention to Maggie and smiled widely. “We’re so pleased you’re coming home with us, Maggie.” Then she turned and returned to her mate’s side.
“We should fly,” Maggie said, turning her face up to Caelian. “I just want to get there. I think everyone will agree.”
“You’re sure?” he asked. “It might be difficult with your mother.”
Maggie nodded. “We should at least try. I’ve been homeless for long enough,” she said, half smiling at him. She lowered her voice. “Besides, I’m excited to be in your bed again. It’s very comfortable.”
She removed herself from his grip then, and moved over to where the four sisters sat together near the fire. Ingrid was already there, engaged in conversation.
“So they’re just naked like all the time?” Eloise asked.
Ingrid sighed heavily. “Frequently. You get used to it eventually.” She looked over at the men and chewed her lip. “Sort of.”
“It’s not so bad,” Juliette murmured, staring unashamedly.
Ingrid laughed loudly as Maggie elbowed Juliette.
“Juliette’s husband isn’t what you’d call an attractive man,” explained Eloise. “Caelian is wearing his pants.” They all turned to see his new favorite item.
“Oh,” said Ingrid. “Yikes.”
A few minutes later Maggie’s mother sat on the ground, unresponsive, as the Dragon King knelt in front of her, a hand on each side of her head. Maggie held her breath as she watched, ready for her mother to collapse or spring up, healed.
Caelian had spent the time making introductions. The dark haired man who’d spoken to the sisters was Julian, she’d learned, whose address she’d been given by Caelian. Tarquin she’d met, briefly, but was surprised to learn that he was Caelian’s brother. The resemblance between Caelian and Helias was strong, but there was almost none between him and Tarquin.
After several minutes Helias released her mother.
“She’s very ill,” he said, “I can help, but it will take a while and I’d like to do it at home. I’ve tried to calm her for now, so we can fly with her at least.”
Maggie nodded. “What about you, Scarlett?”
“I think I’ll be fine to fly,” said Scarlett quietly. “Especially if Eloise can stay with me.”
The younger girl nodded vehemently.
Tarquin took a step forward. “I’ll take—”
He was interrupted by Julian, who’d stepped in front of him and pushed him back. He growled at Tarquin, then turned to the girls and his voice softened. “I’ll take her.” He reached out and brushed his fingers across Scarlett’s palm, briefly, and her cloudy eyes widened in wonder.
Caelian pulled Maggie further into his side, leaning slightly to press a kiss to the top of her head. They were standing back from the group a bit, and as much as Maggie wanted to lead him into the woods and have her way with him, she knew her friends needed her support now.
“Ready to go home?” he murmured to her, smiling widely.
“You wouldn’t believe how ready.” She grinned up at him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The way home had passed slowly, with Maggie sprawled on Caelian’s back. Ingrid had taken one look at Maggie’s exhausted face and insisted that her mother ride with Ingrid, so that Maggie could rest. She’d protested half heartedly, but been grateful to not have to worry after anyone the rest of the day.
They arrived home in the earliest hours of the morning, and Maggie was relieved to see that rooms had already been prepared for the sisters and her mother.
“Yours will be ready tomorrow, Maggie,” Ingrid said as she helped her to make her mother comfortable in a large room across from Caelian’s. She smiled slyly. “I assumed you wouldn’t mind sharing for one night at least.”
Maggie’s cheeks turned pink as she nodded, slightly, but Caelian’s big laugh echoed around the room.
“Good night, you two,” Ingrid said, moving for the door. “Get rest. We’ll get your mother sorted out tomorrow.”
Maggie turned to Caelian and he was there, right away, and then Maggie leaned and kissed her mother’s forehead before they shut her in tightly, and crossed the hallway to Caelian’s room where they collapsed on the bed, filthy and exhausted from their travels.
Maggie snuggled in next to him and laced her fingers with his. “We’re home,” she said, barely daring to believe it.
“We’re home,” he confirmed.
“We’re safe?” she asked.
“We’re safe,” he murmured.
“And we’re together.”
“Always,” whispered. “Forever.”
She nodded sleepily and knew no more.
When she awoke, Caelian was gone from the bed. She followed the sound of running water to his bathroom, where he stood, staring into a slowly filling, massive tub. He smiled brightly at her.
“Have a bath with me?” he murmured as he reached to touch her face.
She nodded, smiling, loving the idea.
The water was hot and lovely around her as she settled between Caelian’s legs. He washed her back for her, rinsing away the filth that had been accumulating since she’d left home, and she closed her eyes and luxuriated in his tender touches. His lips fell across her skin as it was cleaned; first the nape of her neck, then down her spine, then turned her around to wash her stomach, up to her breasts, her chest, her shoulders, her arms and hands and fingers. He was silent as he washed her, gently and lovingly, and her heart seemed to swell in her chest as he worked his way over each inch of her. Her breath caught in her throat as his hand moved between her legs, but he only teased her there for a minute, with a mischievous gaze, before moving on to her hips and legs and feet. He lifted her foot to his mouth and kissed her toes sweetly, then shampooed her hair, rubbing his fingertips into her scalp. She melted into his touch.
When he finished, she did the same to him, touching every part of his massive, hard body.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever even seen me clean,” she mused as she worked. “I was ill, and then we traveled together, and then I came here with twigs in my hair.”
“You’re right,” he said as she faced him in the tub. He held her face between his hands, scrubbed and pink. “Lovely,” he said, studying her. “As lovely as ever.”
They left the bathroom together, and Maggie despaired at putting on her filthy clothes again after becoming so clean. He dressed, then tucked her naked into bed before leaving the room, promising to return shortly.
He did a minute later, with several gowns in hand. “The Queen’s ladies seem to have a collection of these,” he volunteered, and Maggie grinned at him
as he helped her step into a pretty blue one.
They ate breakfast in a massive room around a massive table which was mostly empty, save for the members of their party from the day before, who had all slept quite late into the morning. Julian had pushed a chair close to Scarlett, and he was saying something quietly to her that had her grinning, then laughing. Elisabeth was chattering to Ingrid, who seemed especially interested in what the girl had to say. Juliette and Eloise were looking around the room in wonderment, exclaiming to each other over their surroundings. The King was noticeably missing, and Maggie wondered absently when they would begin to heal her mother.
“Helias is with your mother,” Ingrid volunteered. “I think it’s easier for him to work when he’s alone.”
Maggie nodded, nervously, and Caelian gripped her fingers under the table. “She’ll be alright,” he promised.
Maggie sincerely wished for him to be right.
.....
Maggie could barely occupy herself the rest of the morning, but when Caelian whispered tantalizing promises to her later, in the Queen’s parlor, surrounded by new faces, it was easy for her to grin and leave with him. He’d pulled her along with him and then laid her down, licked her all over, and fucked her until they were both sated and happy, and she once again longed to check on her mother.
“They’ll send word when he’s finished, Maggie,” he told her again, as she drummed her fingers along her leg in frustration.
He watched her from his bed as she paced the room, examining his things, then collapsed into his desk chair. “I’m just worried,” she said, resting her chin on her open palm.
“I know,” he said. “Come walk with me? I can show you around for a bit while we’re waiting.”
He led her from room to room, a leisurely stroll through the massive structure that seemed to go on endlessly but was so familiar to him. Something seemed to trouble him, she thought, as they walked. His smiles weren’t coming as easily, his tone didn’t hold the playfulness that it usually did.
“Is something wrong?” she asked as he guided her through a massive ballroom, crystal chandeliers dangling from the ceiling far above.
He sighed and stopped, then took her in his arms and kissed her softly. “This is what you want, right?” he asked, gesturing between them.
She nodded and her brow furrowed. “Of course it is,” she said. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
He shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck. “You married someone to get out of a bad situation. I don’t want that to be what’s happening here.”
She drew back, stung by his words. “Is that why you think I’m here with you?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.
He shook his head. “I hope not.”
Anger bloomed in her chest and she took a step back from him. “You hope not? Thanks for the confidence in me.”
“That’s not what I mean, Maggie—”
“I don’t care right now,” she said, then turned to look at him. He wore an expression of genuine hurt, and her heart softened for a minute. “I should be with my mother, anyway.” She turned and left without another word.
She left him standing there, feeling guilty but impossibly annoyed as she did. He was truly hurt, wondering if she only saw him as a way out of her situation. That made her sad; it also annoyed her. Did he think everything she’d said was a lie? Did he think that because she’d made an impossible decision at twelve years old she deserved to have it held against her for the rest of her life?
She loved the idiot, and it pissed her off that he seemed to doubt it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
When she finally managed to find her way back to her mother’s room, the door was open and three people were inside. Ingrid was seated along a bench and caught Maggie’s eyes as she stood in the door way. Ingrid patted the seat next to her so Ingrid crossed the room, watching her mother sleeping in the bed the whole way.
“It sounds like it went well,” Ingrid said, her voice low. “She’s resting now.”
“Is she… better?” Maggie asked.
“Not quite yet, but she’ll be there eventually,” Ingrid said. “Her illness was in her mind, but it was sort of worsened by her own feelings. She’s been buried in there for a long time, and what Helias has done is kind of like giving her a ladder to get out. She’ll get there, but it’s going to have to be something she does.”
Maggie released the breath she didn’t know she was holding. Recovery was possible, and her heart felt lighter. “Thank you,” she said, tears spring to her eyes unbidden. “Thank you.”
“Things will be alright now, Maggie.” Ingrid smiled prettily and patted her shoulder gently. “Where’s Caelian?”
Maggie sighed. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “He said something that upset me.”
Ingrid studied her face for a moment, then stood from her seat and held her hand out to Maggie. “Well then,” she smiled, “can I show you to your room? I believe it’s all prepared.”
Maggie stood and Ingrid crossed the room quickly to press a kiss on Helias’s forehead. “Go rest, love,” she ordered him, then returned to Maggie’s side and guided her down several corridors until Maggie had no idea where she was.
They paused before a large door that Ingrid pushed open. The room beyond was like a smaller version of the Queen’s parlor, with a large fire and couches and chairs and stacks and stacks of books. Off of the room were four more doors, and Ingrid guided her to one.
“This is your bed chamber,” she said. “Feel free to do whatever you wish to it.”
“What are the other rooms?” Maggie asked.
“The four sisters are sharing two of them, and the other is for your mother, once she’s better.”
Maggie sat on the bed and smiled at her new queen. Gratitude overcame her. “You’re doing so much for me,” she said, folding her legs in front of her.
Ingrid shrugged. “You’re important to Caelian, and Caelian’s important to us.” She paused. “And I don’t mean that to make you feel bad. But I’m confident that he wouldn’t purposely say something to hurt you.”
Maggie nodded. “I don’t even know why I’m mad, really, I’m just… overwhelmed.”
Ingrid smiled. “Get some rest, maybe? That seems to be what everyone needs right now. Do you know how to find my apartments?”
Maggie nodded.
“If you’re bored, there’s always a lady or fifteen in the parlor,” she said. “Come find them if you want company.”
With that, Ingrid swept from the room, and Maggie tucked herself into her bed, blocking out the distractions of the day.
.....
“Are you done being mad at me?” Caelian asked the next morning as Maggie passed him on the way to breakfast.
“No,” she said, and then looked up at him. “I don’t know.”
“Okay,” he said, then leaned to press a kiss on her forehead. “Tell me when you are.” He flashed a brilliant smile at her, and for a minute she forgot why she was mad in the first place.
She sat at the table between Mira and Lily, a talkative blonde woman whom she’d met the night before in the Queen’s rooms. Caelian sat across from her, deep in conversation with Tarquin but glancing at her frequently. She tried to avoid meeting his gaze, but each time she did he grinned at her, which annoyed her but also made her stomach clench in a familiar way. Mira spoke quietly to her about palace life and how they occupied their days, and Maggie became intrigued at all of the possibilities.
Maggie rose when she was finished, and set off to go find her mother. Caelian was returning to his room as she approached.
“How is she?” he asked gently, keeping his distance from her. She wanted him to cross the hall and embrace her, but as soon as she thought it she was annoyed at herself.
“Getting better,” she said quietly, then slipped into the room.
She was getting better. She wasn’t there, yet, but her vacant stare wasn’t quite so vacant, and she’d had a short lucid period the evening befor
e. Maggie had used the opportunity to explain where they were and what had happened, and her mother had hugged her tightly and promised to try to get better.
Maggie sighed in her seat, a book spread across her lap, frustrated with herself. She was holding onto her anger, and she wasn’t sure why. She had never been angry as Bradley’s wife. That wasn’t quite true, though, she had been angry frequently. She had expressed her anger one time, early in their marriage, and had learned to never do it again. Caelian’s easy acceptance of it, though, his admiring glances and friendly winks even while she seethed at him turned everything she knew on her head.
