by J. D. Wright
He hoped Gabby wasn’t in her chambers because his shirt and pants were already on the floor and Rhea’s gown was about to join them.
When they came back together, it was like a fire had exploded between them. The intense need to touch each other was all consuming. He could barely breathe, but he didn’t care. He didn’t need to breathe as long as she was in his arms. As long as his hands and lips were on her skin, it was all that he needed. To feel her soft body against his.
He pulled her over to one of the large chairs in the center of the room. Grabbing her by the waist, he lifted her up onto the back of the chair. His hands were rough, but she barely noticed. What she did notice was his mouth on her breast and his tongue flicking across her nipple.
She closed her eyes and reminded herself that she wasn’t dreaming. This was actually happening. This was real. And it felt so amazing. She hadn’t used her powers of persuasion on him. She hadn’t needed to. He wanted her, all on his own. She stopped thinking when his mouth found hers, again.
A nagging thought forced Reeve to break their kiss.
“Wait, Rhea.”
She didn’t want to wait. Her body was burning. She kissed him again, so deeply that he forgot what he was about to say and melted into her, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her off of the back of the chair while she ran her hands through his thick brown hair.
“No, wait,” he said, breaking away again. He lowered her back down and held his arms out, putting distance between them. “We need to think about this.”
“Think about this? How can you possibly think about anything else but this?” she asked, laughing. Her lips were still tingling from their last kiss.
“No, I mean… We’re still married. I found out this morning.”
“I know. I overheard what my sister said.” Rhea refused to say her name.
“If we do this, and what Raven says is true, then we will be consummating the marriage.”
“I hadn’t realized…” she said, sliding off of the chair to stand. “I understand. You don’t want to—“
“Oh, I want to,” he said, nodding so eagerly that it made her laugh. “But I don’t want one moment of passion between us to cause you to become trapped in this marriage. I won’t force you to stay married to me. I want you to be with me out of choice, not because it is your duty as my wife.”
“Strange… I said the exact same thing to the queen, just after our attempted annulment.”
“It’s your choice, Rhea. But whatever you do, make the choice quickly,” he said. He wasn’t sure how long he could continue to think rationally and keep his hands off of her.
“It isn’t just my decision,” she said, stepping back into his arms and looking up at him. “I won’t force you to stay married to me, either.”
“If you are asking me for my decision between you or my freedom from marriage,” Reeve said, leaning down to whisper in her ear, “I choose you. Without a doubt.”
She wasn’t sure if it was hearing the words or feeling his warm breath on her skin, but something caused her to shudder.
“I have been drawn to you since the moment I first saw you,” he said. “Nothing that has happened since has changed that. I still am. And not just because you are naked, in my arms.”
Rhea laughed and took his hand, leading him into his chambers. He picked up a candle and carried it in, sitting it on the table by the door. Then he walked over to where she was lying on the bed, waiting for him. She admired him as he climbed onto the bed. The candlelight was dim and the shadows outlined the muscles on his shoulders and strong arms. Arms that were about to hold her. Arms that she had dreamed about. Over and over, again.
Slowly, he lowered himself down between her long legs and slipped inside her. She was warm and moist and perfect. He immediately began to wonder why they had waited this long. Why they had tormented each other, and themselves, when they should have been here.
He started to move, slowly at first, then began to pick up speed. She smiled when he dropped his head back and groaned. She was glad to see what she could do to him. Without using magic. Only with her body. She ran her hands down his back and over his bottom when he leaned down to kiss her.
Without warning, the orgasm hit her. Her first one, ever. She arched her back and cried out, riding the pleasure until it eased up enough that she could breathe again. Hearing her caused him to ache. He knew she needed to catch her breath, but he just couldn’t stop.
After several more moments, the second wave hit her. She had to bite her lip to prevent the noise from escaping. This time, he was surprised. He had never been with a fairy, but he had been with a woman. And he had never heard of a woman reaching the peak more than once.
She started to relax again and looked up at him. She knew she had a silly grin on her face but she couldn’t stop smiling. She felt fabulous. Peaceful, even. Her magic was the calmest it had ever been as it slowly streamed through her body. She saw that he was watching her but she didn’t shy away. She wanted him to see her. To see what he was doing to her. How amazing he was making her feel. How happy.
Then, a moment later, the third one started. This one was by the far the strongest. Rhea’s moans turned to screams. She wrapped the pillow around her head, trying to muffle the sound. It didn’t work. He still heard her. And it was her sweet sounds that caused him to erupt inside her.
They laid beside each other in blissful silence for a moment before Rhea slid over and rested her head on his chest. Reeve put his arm around her and held her close. They fell asleep in each other’s arms and stayed that way until morning.
Rhea was the first to wake. She lifted her head and looked around then smiled when she remembered what had happened the night before. She had given herself, freely and willingly, to a man. It was the first time that she had done it. The men who kidnapped her had taken her body, but she hadn’t given it. Last night, she made the choice, not only to be with Reeve but to become his wife. His actual wife.
She lifted her hand and admired the green band on her finger. Then she looked over at him, sound asleep. He was hers. And now, it was forever.
She knew that soon he would wake and they would have to leave his chambers and go about their day. But she wanted it to last, just a bit longer. She decided to bring him breakfast. At least, that way they could spend the morning together, in bed instead of being surrounded by people in the hall. Quietly, she climbed out of the bed.
Then she stopped.
Looking around, she began to panic. Her clothes were not in the room. She had taken them off before they walked in. She stuck her head out of the door and spotted her gown on the floor. She slowly walked over, picked it up, and started to walk back.
“Does this mean you will no longer be staying in the guest chambers?”
Rhea stopped and turned. Gabby was leaning against her door with her arms crossed. Rhea tried to hide her embarrassment with a smile, but Gabby wasn’t fooled.
“I suppose it does.”
“Good. But you need new gowns now. Your sisters have stolen yours.”
“Yes, they have.”
Gabby nodded, “I’ll have a carriage waiting for us after breakfast.”
“I…”
Rhea started to speak, but Gabby had already gone back inside her room and closed the door. She turned back toward Reeve’s room and nearly ran him over.
“I am so sorry!” she said, dropping her gown. “I didn’t see you.”
Reeve narrowed his eyes. “Where you attempting to sneak away?”
“I was coming back, with food.”
“I’m not hungry.”
The look he was giving her told her he was hungry, just not for food. She smiled and let him lead her back to their bed.
Chapter Twenty
Finn walked up the stone steps to the room above the armory. He hoped his father would be there since he had looked everywhere else for him. Rounding the corner, he discovered his father wasn’t there. But Penelope was. She spotted h
im and called out when he started to leave.
“Finn!”
He slowly turned back and waited.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“You should be. You’re lucky she didn’t punish you.”
“No, I’m not sorry for what I said to Bree.”
Finn tilted his head, trying to understand her.
“Then, what are you sorry for?”
Penelope looked at the floor and tried to understand why she was doing this. She promised herself that she would avoid him as much as possible. Yet, here she was, standing in the same room with him. Again.
When she didn’t respond, he shook his head and turned to leave again.
“I’m sorry for what I did. To you. Leaving you that night.”
Finn crossed his arms. “You mean running away. Like a coward.”
She looked up at him and tried to forget how he had looked that night. The way his eyes had begged her to stay. And how scared his voice had sounded when he was calling her name and running after her. His hair was longer then but still the same bright red color. And his hazel eyes were also the same. But now he wasn’t looking at her the way that he used to. Now, he looked annoyed to even be speaking to her.
She deserved it. She knew she did. Running away from him was the one thing she had regretted more than anything for the past fifteen years. But it was too late, now. There wasn’t anything she could possibly say that would make him understand or forgive her.
“I was a coward. I’m not anymore.”
“No, now you’re just irrational and a danger to yourself.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“There is nothing I don’t understand,” Finn said. “You wanted to become a knight so you could avenge Sir Colbert and escape punishment. You know that if you can find the person who killed a Royal Knight of Junacave and you bring that person to justice that you will not be punished by the queen. I understand it, perfectly.”
“You understand, but you don’t agree?”
“Of course not, Penny. It’s dangerous and unnecessary.”
He said it, again. The name he used to call her. And it surprised her this time just as much as it had the last time. It reminded her of the girl she used to be. Young and carefree. Hopeful and happy. She had been adventurous and a little bit daring. But she was a different person now. Her day was filled with training and her night was filled with bad dreams and dark silence. She didn’t feel like Penny, anymore. She barely felt like Penelope.
“I don’t expect to earn your approval, Finn.”
“Good, because you won’t get it.” He turned and walked out.
Penelope picked up her shield and looked at her reflection on the smooth metal surface. A single tear was falling down her cheek. She sat the shield down and wiped the tear away. Then she picked up her sword and slid it back into its scabbard before returning to her training.
Finn reached the bottom of the stairs and nearly ran into his father.
“There you are! I’ve looked everywhere for you. Where were you?” Finn asked, harshly.
“I was running an errand for the queen and I recommend you rethink your tone, Son.” Raymun was a fairly patient and forgiving man, especially when it came to his son, but he expected a certain level of respect.
“I’m sorry. I am. I just…” Finn closed his eyes and shook his head.
Raymun glanced behind Finn and realized where he had just come from.
“Is it her? Was she up there?”
“I don’t want to talk about her,” Finn replied, then started to walk past his father. Raymun put a hand on Finn’s shoulder to stop him, then pulled him into the armory and closed the door behind them.
“This conversation is long overdue,” Raymun said, walking over to sit on the long bench in the center of the room. Finn followed him over but didn’t sit.
“This conversation is pointless. There is nothing to discuss.”
“Well then, if you won’t talk, I will. I was there that night, remember? When you returned to our chambers, I saw what her leaving did to you. I, like most others, thought the two of you would find a way to mend things. Then, when she didn’t return…”
“It doesn’t matter. Not anymore.”
“It took a long time,” Raymun said, ignoring his son. “A very long time. But eventually, you learned to live without her. You stopped looking for her when her family attended events in the castle. You stopped grumbling when someone mentioned her name. You even managed to find love, again.”
“Yes, I did. I fell in love with a woman who lives in the middle of the forest and does not remember me. At all. Sidonie said she absolutely refuses to believe that we were ever friends, let alone anything more.” Finn was becoming angry that he was being reminded of the many instances of bad luck he had experienced with women for his entire life. “It doesn’t matter what I do. Every woman I love leaves me. Penny, Adelphie, my mother…”
“Your mother died, Finn. That isn’t fair.”
“Nothing about this situation is fair.”
“You’re right. It isn’t. What happened to Adelphie is unfortunate,” Raymun said, then grabbed his son’s arm when he turned away. “But Adelphie didn’t choose to leave you. Penelope is the only one who chose to go. And Adelphie’s memories may return.”
“I wonder what she did that caused her to lose her memories,” Finn said, glaring at his father. “Because back then, when Penny left, I would have done anything to lose mine.”
“Keep you distance. Don’t do anything foolish, Finn.”
“Like what?”
“Like letting yourself fall for her, again. She’s only here to avenge her father. You know, as well as I do, that she wouldn’t be here if not for that reason. And she probably won’t stay.”
“You don’t need to worry. I won’t,” Finn said, firmly.
“I’m inclined to believe you, but you can’t always control who you fall in love with. I couldn’t. Your mother was my future from the moment she first said my name.”
“I know,” Finn said, nodding. He had heard the story many times. During their first meeting, his mother had outright refused to dance with his father because he was a squire. She said Raymun’s name in a condescending manner and Raymun had felt an extremely strong urge to impress her. When he won the tournament that year, she finally agreed to allow him to court her.
“I just want you to find happiness,” Raymun said, letting go of Finn’s arm. “You deserve it.”
Finn felt terrible for his behavior. His father deserved to have happiness, too. However, neither of them seemed to be able to find it, and when they did, it didn’t last.
“You don’t need to worry,” Finn repeated. “I don’t love Penny. Not anymore.”
“Maybe not… But that doesn’t mean you can’t love her, again.”
~*~
Mereck waited until the hallway was clear. Then he swiftly made his way to his uncle’s chambers. He tried the door and found it was unlocked so he opened it and stepped inside. Once there, he waited.
Larkin entered his chambers. After a moment, he sensed the presence of another.
“Show yourself,” he said, looking around.
“It’s me, Uncle,” Mereck said, stepping out from behind the armoire.
“Mereck. Somehow, I knew you would return. You shouldn’t have.”
“You’re still angry with me. I can see that.”
“I had long forgotten about your past transgression, Mereck. My current annoyance with you is in regards to your recent transgressions.”
“Everything I did was at the direction of Queen Vallica,” Mereck said, hoping to sound convincing.
“I highly doubt it. Regardless,” Larkin said, walking over to pour himself a goblet of wine, “you shouldn’t be here. My king has forbidden any contact with you, pending your capture.”
“My capture is the least of my worries at the moment.”
“I am not interested in your worries. Now, leav
e.”
“I have come to possess the Blood Moon Crystal,” Mereck blurted.
“Liar,” Larkin spat, turning to face him. “The Blood Moon Crystal does not exist. It is an ancient lore.”
“It does exist and I have it. I will prove it to you.”
“I don’t care to see proof of an object that doesn’t exist.”
Mereck ignored him and held out the stone.
“Foolish boy! I was once in possession of that very stone. I recognize it, even now. That stone is not the Blood Moon Crystal. It is just a pretty ruby with a few hidden enchantments.”
“It is the crystal. It’s the one I have been searching for. For half of my lifetime.”
“Then you’ve spent half of your life on a fool’s errand. Now, be gone with your petty lies before I hand you over to King Silas’ soldiers, myself!”
Mereck backed away, returning the amulet to his robes. He needed magic to use the crystal. There was no feasible way for him to control the crystal without magic. After the Elder Mage had stripped him of his magic, he was hopeful that his uncle would agree to help him. But since Larkin wanted nothing to do with him or the crystal, Mereck was left to find help elsewhere.
Thankfully, there was still time. The Blood Moon wouldn’t occur for several months. Larkin might have been his first choice, as he was family, but he wasn’t the last. During his years in Kilharie, Mereck had made nice with many wizards who would be willing to help him. Especially, if they knew what riches could await them. And since he was already in Sire, he could sail to Odustis in a week’s time. He just had to be back before the Blood Moon.
Unwilling to risk calling his uncle’s bluff, Mereck slipped out of the room and escaped the castle by changing his appearance to that of a passing soldier. Once outside, he pulled a small mirror from his pocket and said an incantation. Immediately, he was changed back into his usual form. He placed the mirror into his pocket and started walking down a forest trail to the spot where he left his horse. The sun was mostly set in the sky, casting eerie shadows along the trail. Mereck reached his horse and started to untie him.
