by J. D. Wright
“Some people are more stubborn than others.” He dipped her low and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, then lifted her up as they fell back into rhythm with the other dancers.
~*~
He knew where she was because her guards were outside of the library door. Since he knew both of her guards personally, getting past them was easy. The harder part was deciding what to say when he entered the room.
She hadn’t been in the room long since there was only one candle lit so far. She whirled around when he entered.
“Come to save me from myself, again, Rowan? Find a way to magically erase what happened between us? Don’t worry, I’m already starting to forget.”
Her tone was cold, angry, but she wasn’t shouting this time. He would much rather that she did shout.
“I don’t know how to win with you,” he replied, unsure of where this conversation was going. “I can’t be the man you think you want me to be. It’s best you find someone who is. Someone who can be.”
“I don’t want someone else. I don’t want to have to pretend with someone else. It’s you, Rowan, or no one.”
“Don’t say that, Bree. The things I have seen and done will follow me forever. I won’t let them follow you, too. You should have moved on by now.”
“Do you think I haven’t tried? My father practically threw suitors at me after I returned. But it doesn’t matter how many men try to grab my attention when the only one I can think about is you!”
“You can easily find someone more suitable for you. Just look at you! You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on, and I have met a fairy, Bree. You’re smart, strong, brave. Fearless at everything you do. You’re amazing!”
“They why don’t you love me?” she shouted.
“I DO love you!”
Bree froze. Hearing those words for the first time should have been heavenly. Instead, they just hurt her. How could he say he loves her when he’s pushing her away?
“I have loved you since you were a girl. That day in the garden, I loved you. The day you left, I loved you. At your coronation… Even when I was poisoned and lying with another woman, I loved YOU!” His hands were shaking as much as his voice. He did love her, so much that he ached every time he was near her and couldn’t touch her. And here she was in front of him, begging him to love her when he already did. Why was he fighting it? It was the one thing they both wanted, and this time there was no one and nothing in their way except for him.
“And yet that isn’t enough for you, is it?” Bree said, quietly, and turned toward the door.
No. I can’t let her leave. If she walks out, I will never forgive myself.
Bree reached out for the door and Rowan grabbed her other hand, spinning her around and straight into his arms, then he shoved her back against the door behind her. When his mouth met hers, they both sighed in relief. Then their hands were all over each other. Her heart beating wild, she gasped, trying to focus, but every part of her body was on fire. His hands were in her hair, then they were around her waist, then back to her hair again. She lost all ability to think, to see, to care about anything other than him.
The heat between them could set every book in the room on fire, and they still wouldn’t notice, so tangled up in each other. It was years and years of want and need coming to the surface. Even if he had wanted to slow down, he couldn’t, and she wouldn’t have let him. He cursed under his breath as he tried to get her out of the gown. The corset was so tight, it was impossible to loosen in the dark room without more light. So instead, he put his hands under her rear, lifted her up off the floor with her legs wrapped around him, and carried her over to the desk. As he held her, she reached behind and flung books out of the way so she could sit on the edge of the desk with Rowan standing between her legs.
Then his mouth was on that perfectly smooth neckline as she shook her long curls out of the way and moaned as he sucked on the bottom of her ear. He slid his hands under her skirts and grabbed her around her waist from underneath. Even if he couldn’t get the damn corset off yet, he still had to find a way to touch her, to feel her skin.
She pulled his belt loose and lifted his tunic. He paused long enough for her to pull it over his head and throw it behind him before taking her mouth again, caressing her tongue with his. She ran her hands all over his bare chest and solid arms, the strength of his body making her insides twist and tingle. He was stronger now, but his body was mostly the same, and she felt a rush of excitement as she explored his muscles with her hands and mouth. When she nibbled on one of his nipples, he moaned, then pulled her body closer to the edge of the desk so that her legs were again wrapped around his waist.
Sitting there with his body so close to hers, she could feel him, rock hard beneath the thin stockings, rubbing against her thigh. So she rocked her hips toward him, sliding over him. He tilted his head back, groaning, then he looked down at her. She was so beautiful that he couldn’t believe she was giving herself to him, again. He paused for a moment, taking her face in both hands and kissing her slowly, intensely. Then he could feel her hips beginning to move again, rubbing him, causing him to throb madly. He broke the kiss and moaned into her hair. She obviously didn’t want to slow down. Her eagerness was so damn sexy.
She reached her hand down between her legs and grabbed the top of his stockings, jerking them down and freeing him, finally. Then she used her hand to stroke him. He buried his head in her neck and hair, unable to straighten up as every stroke of her soft hand brought him closer to ecstasy. No woman had ever touched him this way, this boldly. She knew he was hers and had no problem showing it. When she ran a finger over the tip, she could hear a muffled cry of pleasure next to her ear and it made her smile.
Unable to stand it any longer, he grabbed her hand, pulling it away from him. Then he grabbed her other hand and moved them behind her, pinning them to the desk. When she raised an eyebrow, he smirked at her.
“You can’t handle it? Going soft on me?” she said, teasing as she tilted her head up and ran the tip of her tongue over his lips. He lost his grip on her hands and almost fell forward. When he looked down at her, she was grinning from ear to ear, reveling in his blissful suffering.
“Oh… Have it your way then, Your Majesty.”
He threw her skirts up around her waist and thrust into her so quickly she yelped and flung her hands around his shoulders to keep herself upright, gasping for breath as he moaned from finally being inside her.
As he started to move, her grasp on his shoulders tightened. This was so much better than the first time when they were nervous and shy around each other. This time there was nothing to hide. She kissed his neck between breaths as his long thrusts quickened. She could feel every single thick inch of him. She had waited so long to feel this way, to feel so alive, to feel so wanted.
She leaned back and let herself fall onto the desk, then Rowan took one hand and moved it down between her legs, using his thumb to caress her as he pumped into her. Bree could feel her toes curling as her back arched off of the desk. She began to moan, then cried out. The louder she got, the faster he went until he could feel her climaxing under his fingers as she gripped the edge of the desk. She was still coming down from the peak when she heard him beginning to groan louder. She opened her eyes so she could watch as he lost himself inside her.
He was still trying to catch his breath when she sat up and pulled him to her. They held each other, quiet except for their heavy breathing. Finally, Rowan lifted his head off of her shoulder.
“Funny, of all the places I thought about devouring you over the past seven years, I never once considered the library,” he said.
“That’s because you have no imagination.”
“Then it’s a good thing I have you, My Queen.”
~*~
Cicilly’s feet were aching, but her spirits were soaring. This evening had been quite entertaining. She wasn’t sure that she could really enjoy another ball with
out her husband by her side. However, Celeste and Nick had been great company. Her daughter and Rowan had disappeared a while ago, but Nick assured here that they just needed some time to themselves. Cicilly could definitely understand that. She and Frederick had snuck away from events many times over the years to toy with each other or have a quarrel. She really missed those moments. Even when they had a disagreement, their passion would usually overcome them. She saw a lot of the same passion tonight in many of the couples attending the ball.
The night had come to an end, and guests were beginning to leave. Cicilly stood in the courtyard to bid farewell to each of them. There was a chill in the air and her gown was not as thick of a covering as she would have preferred.
“You’re shivering, Cici,” Nick said. “Why don’t you go inside?”
“No, I’ll be fine. There are still a few more guests trickling out.”
“At least let me fetch you a coat or cloak.”
“Thank you, Nick. I would appreciate it.”
Nick turned to the two guards standing behind Cicilly and ordered them to stay with her, then he turned and walked back into the castle. Cicilly took off her gloves and rubbed her arms together, trying to warm them until Nick would return.
Suddenly she heard loud clanking metal behind her. She spun around to find one of the guards lying on the ground.
“What is the meaning of this?” Cicilly demanded, but the guard ignored her, approaching her quickly. Cicilly turned to run but was hit over the head with something solid. Everything went black as she hit the cold dirt.
Chapter Seventeen
Nick couldn’t find Cicilly’s cloak in the hall. Her sister or one of the servants must have picked it up and taken it upstairs to the wardrobe. So instead, he grabbed one of the heavy furs from atop Bree’s throne. They were a gift from Adelphie. The one he took was a deep brown color, from a bear he presumed, and quite thick. It would suffice. On his way back out to the courtyard, he saw Finn coming back downstairs, after escorting Adelphie to the guest wing. Finn called out to him.
“Nick! Just the person I was coming to see. My father would like to know if you’ve prepared a horse for anyone this evening. There is one missing from the stables and Garret is having a fit.”
“No, I haven’t. I will come take a look, just give me a moment. I need to take this out to Cicilly.” He held up the fur. Finn stayed behind, nodding to the last of the guests who were wandering out.
A lump began to form in Nick’s throat as he stepped into the courtyard to find it empty, except for one guard who was lying on the ground in the same spot where Cicilly had stood just moments before. He ran over to the guard, removed his helmet and checked for a pulse. He was still alive, but unconscious. Nick turned his head back to the castle door and shouted. Another guard and Finn ran outside.
“She’s gone,” Nick said.
“Who is gone, Sir?” the guard asked.
“The Queen Mother, Cicilly. She’s gone. She’s gone,” he repeated as all color drained from his face.
“Maybe she just went inside,” Finn said, gesturing toward the door. “Is that man dead?” he asked, just noticing a body on the ground.
“No, he’s alive, but someone has knocked him unconscious. I just came from inside. She didn’t come back in. And I left two guards out here with her. The other guard is missing.”
Fear crept up around Nick as he tried to replay his last moments with Cicilly before he went inside. Neither of the two guards seemed abnormal. However, he couldn’t see their faces with their helmets on.
“This is my fault. I should have stayed here with her and sent one of the guards in to fetch this,” he held out the fur. Finn took it from him.
“Then it would be you laying on the ground, Nick,” Finn added.
Nick turned to the guard and ordered him to alert the rest of the guards on the first floor of the castle to initiate a sweep of the grounds, then to gather all of the knights in the courtyard to start a search of the forest. Maybe she was still close by.
“I’ll get my father,” Finn turned to leave.
“Wait!” Nick suddenly remembered the reason Finn had wanted to speak with him in the first place. “Did you say that there is a horse missing in the stables?”
“Yes,” Finn replied, then realizing Nick’s thoughts added, “Do you think whoever took Cicilly is the same person who took the horse?”
“Right now, that seems like the best theory. I will go get Raymun. You find the wizard. He may be able to track her somehow.”
“Track her? Can he do that?”
Nick moved out of the way so that two guards could carry the unconscious man into the castle. As he backed up, something on the ground caught his eye. He bent down and picked up one of Cicilly’s gloves. He could smell her scent on it, a hint of lavender, the moment he picked it up.
“Take this with you,” he handed the glove to Finn and turned toward the stables before Finn could even ask why he would need a glove.
~*~
Finn found Dagan as he had just gotten to his room, and he filled him in on what had happened. Immediately, Dagan left with Finn to go to the wizard’s tower.
“Can you really track her?” Finn asked as they ran up the stairs.
“Possibly. It depends on how far she’s gotten. How long ago did she disappear?”
“Not long. I came straight to find you after we discovered she was missing.”
When they reached the door to the study, Dagan cursed under his breath. The key. He didn’t have it.
“Where is it?” Finn asked. Dagan ran his hand over his face, trying to remember the last place he had it.
“I remember taking it out in the library. I was comparing it to a drawing of a key I found in a book.”
“Why did you do that?”
“Ugh. That isn’t the point. It’s the last place I remember seeing it.”
Finn rolled his eyes but followed Dagan back down the stairs to the first floor. By the time they reached the bottom of the stairs, they had to stop and catch their breath.
“You... are a… wizard. Can’t you just… snap your fingers and… make us appear in the library?” Finn was panting. After dancing all evening and eating too many helpings of food, the stairs were taking a toll on him.
“It doesn’t... work that way,” Dagan huffed, then they continued down the hallway.
When they turned the corner, they saw Bree and Rowan leaving the library, flanked by her personal guards. Dagan didn’t stop to talk. He brushed past them and into the room.
“What is going on?” Bree asked, but Finn hesitated. “Finn, what is it?”
“It’s your mother, Bree. She’s missing,” Finn replied, then turned to Dagan as he came out of the room.
“I found it,” he held up the key. “It was on the desk where I left it.”
Bree blushed, remembering what had recently happened on that very desk, and later in the large chair in the corner. Apparently just one time was not enough to make up for seven years of being apart. She started to speak, but Finn and Dagan hurried down the hall and disappeared up the stairs.
“Come on,” Rowan said, taking her arm.
They had just entered the hall when Nick came in.
“Your Majesty,” he began. “I’m glad you are safe.”
“Just tell me what happened to my mother, Nick.”
Nick explained about leaving Cicilly with the guard and how he found one guard and a glove then sent Finn to find Dagan.
“So that’s where they were going,” Bree said. “Dagan’s going to try to track her.”
“Yes, and I just came from the stables. A horse is missing. We think whoever took your mother stole the horse. If they’re traveling on horseback, they could be much further away than we thought. I’ve initiated a sweep of the castle grounds and forest. However, any search will be difficult in the dark, but we won’t rest until we find her.”
“Thank you, Nic
k,” Bree said, quietly. “We will find her.”
Nick left the room to join the other knights in search of Cicilly. Rowan turned to Bree.
“I need to help them. I may not be a wizard, but tracking is my expertise.”
Bree nodded, “Go. I will be fine here. Go.”
Rowan kissed Bree on the cheek and left the hall, then Bree turned and went to the wizard’s tower. The door to the study was open so she went in. It looked like a completely different room than before, clean and organized. She hadn’t been in it since Elric had gone. She turned and went up the stairs to the next floor. Dagan was standing over a mirror of some sort. It was the same mirror that Elric had looked at when she visited him before. The mirror that had told him the peace in Junacave wasn’t going to last. He had been correct in that regard.
Finn was nowhere to be found. Dagan could sense her question before she asked it.
“I sent him down to tell Celeste and Sidonie what happened.”
When he looked up at her, she could see the sadness in his eyes. Fear started to take control of her emotions.
“Did you find her? Where is she?”
“I can’t track her. Even with the glove, which was quick thinking by Nick. But I can’t sense her. She’s gone too far away.” He shook his head and stared into the mirror, hoping to make something appear, but all he could see was darkness.
“Is there anything else we can do?”
Dagan thought for a moment, then straightened up and walked over to a very large leather book sitting on a pedestal. Bree knew this was Elric’s spellbook. She had wandered through it once, when she was younger, trying to find a spell to make her breasts grow as quick as some of the other girls in the kingdom. She never found the spell, but thankfully she hadn’t had to wait much longer to develop those breasts naturally.
“There may be another option. I can try to dreamwalk.”
When she just gaped at him, he continued. “I can try to reach her in her dreams. But that would only work if she were asleep. I can try tonight, though, I’m not sure if and when she will be falling asleep.”
