Everlasting Kingdom (The Winter Court Chronicles Book 3)

by Stephany Wallace

  A ragged moan escaped my lips and brushed her ear as my lips kissed and sucked her neck. My hips rocked into her and I could feel my tip pressing against the place where she would open up for me. Each thrust became more persistent. In that moment, there was nothing else I wanted more than to feel Kah open up to me. Her body was ready, soft and sleek. It was driving me mad. I pushed, stroking harder into her, waiting for her to open up to me any second. Before I knew it, her body was shaking against mine and she was falling apart in my arms.

  Her hands gripped my arms tightly as though afraid that I would leave her and her back arched. Sweet moans erupted from her lips and I felt her release over every inch of me. I thrust harder into her, my mind telling me to keep going; yet her waves of ecstasy were so strong that she pulled me right along with her. I shuddered against her moaning, and gasping for air, while the pleasure rolled through me and I became undone in her. I held her close while our hearts thundered in our chests and our breaths slowly returned to normal. There were no sounds around us other than our synced heartbeats.

  I didn’t move anymore, except to slide out of her, but remained on her, while my lips claimed hers, kissing her deeply. Tremors still rocked her body under mine. My hand left her hip and I cupped her face, gently caressing her cheekbone with my thumb, while I waited for her to regain her clarity. A few moments later, shiny mint green eyes gazed into mine, filled with sadness.

  “Shhhh. It’s okay.” I whispered, knowing the reason for her distress.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I didn’t open up to you. I wanted to, I—” A sob caught in her throat and I kissed her while my chest severely constricted.

  My thumb wiped the tears that escaped her as it caressed her skin. “There is no reason for you to be sorry. Today was a very emotional day for you, and this is new for both of us. I don’t mind waiting. We can keep trying until you open up to me, Kah. Please, don’t cry. I choose you.”

  She nodded and I kissed her, although another tear escaped her. Holding her in my arms, I turned our bodies so her cheek rested on my chest, then covered us with the sheets.

  “For what it’s worth…” Kah’s soft voice reached me and she lifted her chin, looking into my eyes. “You are much better in bed than your brothers. I don’t think they could ever move like that.”

  My lips stretched into a grin and I claimed her lips again, holding her tightly.

  I woke to voices in my head, and as my eyes blinked the sleep away, I realized it was the middle of the night. Kah and I must have fallen asleep shortly after being together. The magical blue flames were all extinguished on the chandeliers above us, and there was a deafening silence around us, that only descended when everyone was asleep. I suddenly missed the shine of the two moons of winter through my window.

  Voices.

  Kah still lay in my arms as I remembered the voices.

  No. Not voices, as in plural, it was only one.

  “I’m truly sorry to intrude on your intimacy, son. Nonetheless, your presence is required. Please meet me and your brothers in the great hall, whenever you are ready to learn more.”

  I gently lay Kah on the bed, careful not to wake her and stood, reaching for my garments.

  Once I was fully dressed, I slipped my feet into my moccasins and threw one last glance at Kah on the bed. She was fast asleep, yet my chest tightened at the memory of her tears. Taking a settling breath, I opened the door and set off towards the great hall.

  For some reason, even my steps over the cold marble were quiet this night. It was as though the place knew a secret was about to be revealed, and held its breath in anticipation. I continued my way towards the great hall, although it was not quite what the name indicated. Unlike the one in the Winter Castle, this was a much smaller room, one I could even identify as cozy. I had been there only a few times before, with Kyr mostly, as he attempted to help me connect with my energy. That brought my mind back to what had happened that morning.

  My nerve endings had felt on fire, as though a million lightning bolts were being fired from them at once. The energy had exploded out of me, blowing Kyr against the wall. No, not exploded, it had been pushed out of me. My steps faltered as I finally realized what my brother, Kyr, had been trying to convey all this time.

  Kyr.

  My thoughts went to him next and the animosity suddenly growing between us. My chest tightened in response. What was happening to me? Was I really allowing the weight of the secrets kept from us to hinder the relationship I had with my brothers? I was about to find out. My eyes fell on Kyr, who was waiting for me in the corridor, just outside the door. I grunted. This was not something I wanted to deal with right now. Why was chaos suddenly surrounding us?

  Kyr’s back rested against the wall, where the blue flames of the sconce above him illuminated his tortured features eerily. His foot was up on the wall, yet his gaze was low as he absentmindedly fidgeted with something between his fingers. Was Kyr nervous? I wasn’t sure I had ever seen him in this state. A heavy sigh left me as I approached, and he straightened the second his eyes fell on me.

  “Nyx, I wanted to—”

  “Before you say anything,” I interrupted, letting go of the pressure growing in my chest. “I’m sorry. I’m not good in these situations; you know that. I don’t thrive under pressure like you do. I get overwhelmed by it. And my emotions, although very few and far between, should be considered and not disregarded because I am the youngest brother, or I’m not the one meant to rule the kingdom. I may not have the weight of the realm on my shoulders, Kyr, but that does not mean that the burden I carry is not affecting me as much as yours affects you.”

  My brother slowly nodded as he stepped closer, throwing away whatever he had held so dearly in his hands a second before.

  “No. I am the one who is sorry, Brother,” Kyr whispered, eyes filled with hurt and remorse. “You are right. I disregarded you. In fact, I realize now that I have been doing it my whole life. As important as you are to me, and as much as I love you I have always treated you as the ‘little brother’, who is ‘different’ from us, and needs my protection. It might not have been condescending of me but it was definitely disrespectful. You are a man, a strong and brilliant man at that, and I have never treated you as such. I’m truly sorry that I didn’t stop to consider that everything that was happening to us was affecting you too. I’m sorry that I was so engrossed by what I was going through, that I didn’t even think to ask. You deserve better.”

  I stared at him, half shocked by his words, but appreciative of them nonetheless. “Thank you for saying that. I love you too, Brother.” We hugged, and Kyr held me tightly for a few seconds, then patted my back.

  “It’s so beautiful!” Ash wailed, pretending to cry from the door. I chuckled as he wiped fake tears off his cheeks. “I love you, no I love you. I’m sorry, NO I’m the one who’s sorry… Brotherly love is just so pure.”

  “Shut up!” Kyr pushed him, trying to walk past him but Ash jumped on his back.

  “Hug me too! I want a hug, cause you love me!”

  I laughed out loud as they fell to the floor in a heap of legs and arms.

  Ash stood first. “I’m sorry too, little brother. It was just so many things happening all at once, it was hard for all of us to deal.” He shrugged and I nodded, my gaze shifting to Kyr, who now stood behind him, smoothing his clothes with his hands. “Hey, and thank you.” Ash added. “If you hadn’t thrown that temper tantrum, Kyr wouldn’t have apologized to me too.”

  I gasped, insulted, and fixed my glasses. “I did not have a temper tantrum! I’m not a child.” I stared at him, appalled.

  “Right.” Kyr chuckled, behind him. “Anyway, Kyr apologized to me too. You should have heard him. ‘I’m sorry for treating you like I have all of my life, Ash. I never stopped to think how I was hurting you by stepping over everyone in my path to be the best, even you. I never gave you a chance to make your own path, and for that, I’m sorry.” He mimicked our brother’s voice, do
ing weird hand gestures. “The truth is, you are my idol, and I want to be like you when I grow up.”

  “Hey! I didn’t say that!” Kyr protested, stepping closer, but Ash moved out of the way.

  “In fact,” Ash continued to mock. “Would you please teach me how to have sex? I need to please Avrielle before she leaves me for you.”

  I rolled my eyes at my brother’s foolishness. Kyr threw a punch at him but Ash ducked out of the way, actually dodging Kyr’s fist for the first time in his life. He laughed victoriously just as Kyr’s second hook connected with his jaw.

  “Damn it, Kyr!” Ash complained, rubbing the spot. “I deserved that, but still.”

  Kyr laughed while I chuckled. Evidently, everything was back to normal.

  “I please Avrielle plenty, so keep your comments to yourself.” Kyr assured, smoothing his vest once again.

  “Really? Can I watch?” Ash wiggled his eyebrows and Kyr swung again. We laughed as Ash dodged it a second time.

  “Actually, I have it on very good authority that I’m better than you two in bed.” I informed.

  Ash gasped so loudly, that I thought he was going to swallow his tongue. Kyr just looked at me surprised. “You claimed Kah?” they asked in unison, and all jubilance was lost.

  I pushed my glasses over the bridge of my nose and let out a heavy breath. “We tried tonight, but she didn’t open up to me.”

  “Ouch.” Ash cringed. “I’m sorry, Brother.”

  “Yeah.” I took a settling breath, my eyes focusing on Kyr. “How did Avrielle…” my words faltered as my eyes widened, suddenly realizing what I was asking him. My skin flushed as I became mortified.

  Kyr chuckled. “It’s okay, you are my brother,” he reassured. “Well, she didn’t at first. Of course, I didn’t really expect her to. I kind of begged her to open up to me, to be honest. But it wasn’t until after she… um… well… you know, that it finally happened.”

  I frowned. “So it will happen after Kah, well… you know…”

  “Orgasms,” Ash annoyingly finished for us, resting his arms on our shoulders. “Say the word with me, people… orgasm.”

  “Stop!” both Kyr and I protested, uncomfortable.

  Ash sighed, bored. “Seriously, you are grown men and you can’t even say the word. It’s like you’ve never had sex before.”

  “Are you done?” Kyr grunted.

  “Nope.” Ash’s gaze settled on me. “I don’t really know much about that, with Gaby being human and all. But maybe Kah was just too distressed with everything that happened today. Maybe her essence wasn’t ready.”

  Kyr nodded in agreement. “I’m having the same thoughts. Give her some time.”

  I nodded too. “That is what I originally concluded.”

  A loud throat clearing reached us, and the three of us slightly jumped, straightening as though we were ready for battle. “Are you boys done, or should I give you a few more minutes?”

  Father’s voice was chiding, but the spark of laughter and appreciation were clear in his eyes. He was settled against the doorway, as though he’d been there during our entire interaction. It occurred to me then, that perhaps he was actually enjoying our idiotic exchange, seeing as he hadn’t been part of our lives before.

  “We are done,” Kyr assured, and we walked past Avra into the room, while he held the door open for us.

  As I went by our father, his hand rested on my shoulder. “I can’t speak from experience, because it was different for your mother and I, but what Kyr said makes sense. Perhaps you must utter the words while being with her. Ask her to open up to you.”

  I stared at him, half shocked and horrified by the words I’d just heard.

  “Oh, hell!” Ash howled from inside the room. “Did our father just give you sex advice? Aaawkward.” I scowled at him, wanting to punch him. “Also…What the hell, Father? Thanks for the visual.”

  “Agreed. I’m going to need to scrub my brain after that image,” I mumbled, frowning, and Avra’s laugh rumbled from deep within his chest, suddenly filling the room.

  We joined him, chuckling.

  Avra reached the wingback chair in the center of the room and faced us as we sat around him on the floor, reminding me of ‘Kyr’s story time’ from when Ash and I were young.

  “Very well, are you ready to learn what it means to be a Drayvok?”

  Chapter 6. If I Only Knew

  NYX

  *

  “Just a minute!” I protested appalled, and my brothers turned to look at me. “You can’t just jump to whatever you want to teach us, without finishing our earlier conversation. I still have questions.” I huffed, guiding the glasses over the bridge of my nose. “Also, is there going to be a point system for this lesson, and will there be a test at the end? I’d like to be prepared.”

  Kyr and Ash grunted, facing our father again while Avra’s lips twitched, but he cleared his throat and nodded once. “No, there will not be a test or a point keeping system. I simply want you to know about your true race.”

  “Oh,” I whispered disappointedly, and slouched.

  Father’s lips fully stretched into a smile this time. “What would you like to know, son?”

  “How did you and Mother come together? Is she really Laeroth’s fated? Why did the two of you leave each other? How were we born if Mother was with Laeroth? Oh, and what happened to Zeph? Do you know if he was already paired to someone else, since you disrupted the bond he had to Avrielle?” I frowned. “All right, I realize that may be too many questions at once, but I did warn you. I need answers.”

  Father let out a hefty breath. His posture changed as he straightened and leaned forward on the chair, facing me. “One at a time.” I nodded once in agreement, and fixed my glasses in anticipation. Kyr and Ash leaned closer. “I’m afraid the story of your mother and I is much too long and complex to reduce to a few sentences. It doesn’t deserve to be simplified as though it were a normal occurrence or just another love story. What your mother and I have lived, what we endured is a journey that is constantly changing us and making what we feel for each other unbreakable.”

  The emotions shone through his eyes.

  “We shall leave that for another time, in which the shadow of war and death doesn’t cloud our lives. But I will say this. Your mother is the most determined woman I have ever met. Her inner strength amazes me to this day, the tenacity of her spirit, and what she is willing to sacrifice for those she loves. She gives me strength. Regardless of the difficulties we have faced, we have done it together, and that has made us stronger. Surrendering my heart to her, is the best decision I have ever made, because unlike what I have told you about our race until now, I didn’t claim her as my love… she claimed me.”

  My brows furrowed at his choice of words, yet Kyr and Ash smiled, exchanging a glance as though they understood what he meant, making me feel like they were in on a secret I wasn’t privy to. My frown deepened as something else called my attention. Father’s hands were slightly trembling on the armchair. It was subtle, but it was there. His eyes smarted as he realized I had noticed, and he grasped his hands tightly before him, stopping the involuntary movement. I gazed at my brothers, but they seemed oblivious to the occurrence.

  Avra cleared his throat. “Yes,” he confirmed, returning to my questions. “Laeroth is your mother’s fated.”

  Ash cursed, obviously pissed by this. “How could the Goddess do that to our mother? She paired her with a sadistic lunatic!” His hands fisted, while his jaw clenched. “He killed our grandparents!”

  Avra sighed, reaching for him, and gripping Ash’s shoulder comfortingly. “I know, son. I’m sorry. But it doesn’t work that way, Laeroth wasn’t the monster he is today when the Mother Goddess paired them. He was a good man back then.”

  “How could someone who killed his own parents for power, ever be a good man?” Kyr rebutted.

  “Dark magic.” Father’s words were weighted by pain. “Ambition is a good thing to have in life, but we
must be careful not to let it become our most important possession. Laeroth wanted power, he wanted abilities beyond his strength, and dark magic offered that to him. In his search for dominance, he went to the Sarhurath Daeossa Wyn—Cursed Mountains of Shadows.”

  “The Duergar,” my brothers and I whispered in unison, perturbed by the notion.

  They were malicious Dwarves who lived in the Cursed Mountains of Shadows—located in the Winter Court, but on the other end of our lands. The mountains had been named as such, because they were pitch black and void of natural life, except for the dwarves who had taken residence within them, after being excommunicated from their kingdom for using black magic. Necromancy. They reveled in tricking people into dying and the suffering of others.

  Father nodded once more, visibly disturbed by the memory. “That is how the Dark King was born.”

  “Wait,” I interrupted, calling their attention to me. “You said is, not was. Laeroth is your mother’s fated.” I quoted him.

  Avra tensed, visibly overcome with torment. “I never broke their bond.”

  “What?!” We all hissed at once.

  Avra shook his head, seeming defeated. “It was the only way to keep your mother safe while she was with him. It may be hard to believe, but Laeroth loves your mother. In fact, he is obsessed with her. Feeling that link between them is the one thing that has kept him from fully turning into the monster I know he will be. It was the only way to ensure he wouldn’t hurt your mother once she returned to him, after being with me. Which brings me to your other question, son.”

  He faced me fully, but waited a moment, as though he expected my brothers to have any other objections, but they—as well as I—were speechless.

  “After your grandparents were defeated and Laeroth took the castle, we knew there was only one way we would ever be able to save the realm from him, and that meant being apart. The Dark King had made alliances that gave him a lot of power, and we knew if we were ever to rebuild Kalithdor—after Laeroth nearly destroyed it in his quest for power—sacrifices would have to be made. We would need to build alliances of our own, so your mother returned to him, and I gave up everything in return.”