by Lily Archer
Gareth snorts a laugh.
“Thousands. Maybe more.” Chastain rises and begins to pace in front of a fancy fireplace. A fireplace. In the desert. Where there is no wood. Rich fae are so dumb sometimes.
A squeak and a snort has Chastain jumping back. Piggy Phinelas trots into the room and plops onto a wide damask pillow. He grunts, then closes his eyes.
“When is the spell going to wear off?” I stare at his pinkness, the cute curl to his tail. Maybe I like him better this way.
“Soon, hopefully. But Raywen can’t say for sure.” Chastain resumes his pacing. “She’s been trying to reverse the spell, but no luck so far. Can’t get enough magic to make it happen.”
Gareth stands and pulls me to my feet. “If that’s all we have to discuss, Beth needs to rest.”
My eyelids are already drooping.
“We’ll have more to discuss.” Chastain is still mumbling to himself. “In the morning. When Silmaran is back.” He stops pacing to give us a small nod of appreciation. “Good night. Pick any room you like that’s not occupied.”
“Sure thing.” I loop my arm through Gareth’s. “Let’s find the poshest one and build a pillow fort.”
“A pillow fort?” He takes the lead and guides me up the sweeping staircase.
“Yeah, did it when I was a kid. You sneak into one of the master’s bedrooms and stack up all the fluffiness you can find until you have your own fort. It’s great. Don’t you winter realm fae know how to have fun?”
“When winter realm fae are young, we don’t play with pillow forts. Each of us is taken into the wilderness at the age of six and left alone in a vale of twisted trees. The snow pours down thickly there, and we aren’t allowed a scrap of clothing, a weapon, or even shoes.”
“That sounds terrible.” I can barely keep my eyes open.
“It gets worse.” He peers into a darkened bedroom, shakes his head, and continues down the hall to choose another. “The ice bears come out at night, and they prowl that section of forest looking for winter fae children left to fend for themselves.”
“And here I was thinking the winter realm was the most civilized of all.” I hang on his arm as he checks another bedroom, then pushes the door all the way open. With an easy scoop, he lifts me up and carries me to the fluffy bed, the blanket made of some sort of feathery softness. Then he grabs a golden chair from along the wall and wedges it beneath the door handle.
I scoot to the pillows and flop onto my stomach as he checks the en suite and the windows. By the time the bed shifts and he’s lying next to me, I’m almost out.
“Sleep, my beloved. I will keep watch.”
“Nothing to watch,” I mumble into the pillow. “No danger anymore.”
“There’s always danger.” He settles next to me, his heat warming my side. “And we haven’t found Zatran or Cenet yet.”
The thought threatens to bring me back to consciousness. Because he’s right. They’re still out there, which means more trouble for us and for Silmaran. And not just us.
I pop my head up. “Zatran said his special guest wanted to buy every slave he could get his hands on. That’s Cenet. He was trying to buy—”
“An army.” Gareth strokes his palm down my hair. “Yes. He’s continuing the work his father started.”
“That means he’s still a threat to all the realms. We need to warn Taylor, to—”
“Shh.” He slides his hand to my back, rubbing in comforting circles. “We will. I’ll dispatch Phin once he’s back to his usual form.”
“But what if Cenet’s, I don’t know, gathering his forces right now?” I roll to my side and peer into his dark eyes.
“I’m certain he is.” He sighs. “I should have finished him. When I heard his neck crack, I thought it was enough. And I couldn’t wait another moment, not when your life was draining away.”
“You did everything you could.” I reach out and take his hand, intertwining our fingers.
“Stop worrying.” He kisses my forehead. “Get some rest. Or shall I make up some more fiction about being left in the frozen forest while surrounded by ice bears?”
I wrinkle my nose. “Fiction?”
He shrugs, a wry smile at the corners of his mouth. “Maybe we don’t leave our young out in the cold, but we certainly don’t build pillow forts ... We call them pillow castles, and they are magnificent.”
I kick his shin, and he laughs, then pulls me to his chest. “Sleep. You are safe.” He kisses my forehead again. “And loved.”
Warmth suffuses my heart at his words. I want to return the sentiment, to give him my vow of love the same as his. But the words don’t come. Not yet.
I drift off to sleep and dream of ice bears and little Gareth, his green eyes in a child’s face, and no weapon in his hand as he’s surrounded. The ice bears change and meld into one being, a cruel fae with snake eyes and a forked tongue. Instead of a forest at his back, there are legions of soldiers, all of them braying for blood, and Cenet leading the charge.
7
Gareth
She sleeps uneasily, her breathing sometimes fast and constricted. I almost wake her, but then she settles back down, her body unwinding as she clings to me.
I try to go back over the events of the day—the Bazaar, the fight, Cenet, and all the dark plans that we seem to have thwarted. But did we? Cenet escaped. Zatran, too. Where does that leave Cranthum?
“Gareth.” Her brow wrinkles in sleep as she breathes my name.
I cradle her tighter, and the furrows smooth out. My mate. She brought out my feral. The tiger that lives inside me. The jungle trees hinted at my catlike nature, but I didn’t realize a golden tiger lurked in my breast. Beth seemed to like it. Her petting verged on erotic, despite the fact that she kept referring to me as ‘cute’ and ‘fluffy.’ I smile in the dark. My beloved can get away with it. Anyone else, I’d shred.
The city is still in upheaval, skirmishes breaking out in the distance. But the relatively small number of slavers to slaves made the rebellion quick and effective. Not bloodless, as we’d hoped, but the casualties seem to be far less than I’d feared. Only the morning light will truly tell what happened, the number of the dead, and what the future of a free Cranthum might look like.
I close my eyes, my thoughts churning as I hover on the edge of sleep. This is the most rest I’m going to get, but it’s enough. I can feel my magic replenishing, my body healing the cuts and bruises from my battle with Cenet. But I can’t fully relax, not when the city is still simmering, danger lurking on the air. Hours pass, Beth settles even more, her light breaths tickling my shoulder. I cover her hand with mine, both of our palms resting over my heart. When she spoke to the crowd, sharing her story of freedom in the winter realm, I thought I might burst from pride. But she gave more than that to the slaves listening raptly, she gave them the hope they desperately needed. A way forward. And the fact she claimed me as her mate in front of them all? I grin. She’s fought it along the way, but she knows the truth of our mating. The perfect match we are for each other. She knows I belong to her and always will. That alone—a loving bond between a changeling and a high fae—is reason enough for others to believe in change.
Is this the beginning of a new world? I hope so. But I can’t predict how Queen Aurentia will react. Violently, perhaps. It’s best if Beth isn’t here when the royals from Byrn Varyndr come to call. Even so, the winter realm will eventually be dragged into the conflict. Leander will have to choose sides. And if I know him at all, he’ll choose to back the slave uprising, even if it means war with the summer queen. More war. A sobering thought.
“What a mess,” I whisper to the quiet room as the sun begins to lighten the window shades.
“Are you talking about me?” Beth playfully presses her nails into my chest.
The feral snaps to attention, as do I. “What? No. Sorry I woke you.”
“I was kind of awake already. Didn’t sleep so good. You?”
“Bad dreams?”
&n
bsp; She sighs and turns to her back, her head on my bicep. “Yeah, but they were just dreams.”
“Want to talk about it?” I reach over with my other hand and swipe the blonde hair from her forehead. It’s more golden now that it’s clean. I didn’t realize her dirty blonde hair was actually … dirty. Well, not until the bath at Chastain’s house washed it clean, leaving her natural color in all its soft beauty.
“No.”
“All right.” I have to learn to give her space no matter how badly I want to pry, to examine her fears, to show her I’ll protect her from any threat.
“Really?” She turns to look at me, her eyelids still weighted with sleep.
“Really. I mean, I’d like to know, but I’m trying to be a good mate.”
“A good mate, huh?” Her eyes open more, mischief playing in their depths. “You still crowing because I told the slaves we’re mates?”
“I don’t have to crow.” I shrug. “You said it. They heard it. Done.”
“Mmhmm.” She nibbles her lower lip.
My blood, which had been serenely going about its business, begins to heat and pound. “We started the rebellion.”
She bats her lashes. “We did. Yes.”
“I did what you asked.” My voice grows low as my thoughts turn molten.
“You did.” She nods, then runs her fingers down my bare chest. “Are you going somewhere with this line of chat?”
She knows exactly where I’m going. But she wants me to say it. The little torturer. I’ll oblige.
“I believe we had a deal, Xalana.”
“We did?” She skims her fingertips along the edge of my pants, dangerously close to the head of my erection.
“I believe you remember the terms.”
She puts a finger to her chin and squinches her eyes as if she’s trying to recall.
Saucy changeling.
“Let me think.” She taps her chin. “Something, something, blah, blah, rebellion, fighting, freedom, blah blah.” She shakes her head, then stops. “Oh, right. I remember now. I told you if you’d help with the rebellion, I’d take every inch of you into my mouth and suck you until you’re dry.”
“Spires!” I jerk as she slides her hand lower and grips my cock.
“Wasn’t that the terms?” She eases down the bed and presses her mouth to my stomach. “Or did I miss something?”
I can’t respond. Can’t think. Can’t do anything except watch as she pulls my waistband down and opens her mouth wide.
8
Beth
He’s so tense it’s a wonder he isn’t levitating off the bed. When I blow lightly on the thick head of his cock, he groans long and low. An agonized sound. One that grows even louder when I give him a tentative, gentle lick.
“Beth.” His green eyes are swirled with gold as he stares down at me. Sweat beads on his forehead as I nestle between his legs and examine the thick shaft in my hand. Even in the low light, I can see the small pearl of wetness on the tip. I lick it, the salty bead sliding down my throat as Gareth’s hips jerk beneath me.
“It’s Xalana.” I smile and slide just the tip of my tongue all the way up his shaft. “Your naughty, naughty Xalana.” With a dive, I take as much of him in my mouth as I can.
His roar rattles the bed, and I laugh as I get a feel for him.
His taste is salt and evergreen woods and crisp nights. I lave his smooth skin, my mind already wandering to what it would feel like to have him between my thighs. The thought tightens my nipples and sends heat swirling in my sex.
He was right when he said I couldn’t take him all. I can’t touch my finger to my thumb as I stroke up and down his base and suck him all the way to the back of my throat. Spires, the way he’s looking at me is like an erotic touch, and I suspect I may enjoy this just as much as he will. In fact—I take him into my throat as far as I can—I know I will.
He opens his mouth on a hard pant, his wide eyes focused on nothing but me as I slide him back out and to my lips, then tongue his head like a lolly from the sweets vendor.
I reach out and take one of his clenched fists, then bring it to my hair. “I’ve been bad. You’re going to need to teach me a lesson.”
His eyes are pure gold now, the feral looking down at me with enough lust to sprout a river between my thighs. “Suck me, naughty Xalana.” When his grip tightens in my hair, I toy with his head, running my tongue along the ridge.
“Like this?” I ask innocently.
“More.” His fingers tangle in my locks, and he pushes me down.
I moan as I run my tongue all along him, feeling every ridge and smooth stretch of skin. My jaw is just shy of an ache, but the fact I have to open that wide only stokes my need to please him. I want to make him come so hard he never forgets this moment, this one perfect time when both of us are alive, safe, and together. If there is a bond between us, I send those thoughts down it.
His resulting purr tells me he sensed it, and when he yanks me up to him, I yelp in surprise.
“You are my soul.” He strokes my cheek, those intense eyes of his looming large and beautiful as he palms my ass and presses me onto his cock. “Nothing will ever come between us. And I am grateful for any gift you bestow upon me with this perfect, beautiful body.” He licks my lips, then gives me a rough kiss as his purr intensifies, my nipples so hard against his chest. “But make no mistake.” He nips at my lip with his fangs. “This joining, this meeting of our souls—it’s more than a physical moment. It transcends any time, any place, anything that came before. You are my beloved and always will be.” He kisses me again, his hips rocking against my core.
I wish I weren’t wearing panties. I wish I didn’t bind him to our deal, and most of all I wish I could impale myself on his thick cock and ride him until I screamed.
“I want it, too.” He thrusts against me again, his cock hitting my clit in relentless strokes. “Now.” He growls.
“Take me to the mines. Promise you’ll do it, and I’ll relent.” I kiss him fervently, beggingly. I’m weak. I need release.
“Never.” He smacks my ass, the sting sending me spiraling higher. “Give in, my beloved. Come with me to the winter realm where I will drape you in rich furs, sparkling jewels, and partake of your luscious body. The pleasure I give in return will make up for any loss you’ve suffered.”
Say yes, say yes, say yes. If my pussy did my thinking for me, I’d already be saddled up. But my heart still saves a beat here and there for Clotty.
“Spires!” I press my forehead to his chest and slide back down to his stiff shaft.
He groans—a mix of frustration and need.
“Let me ease you, my beloved.” He sits up and licks his lips.
“I’m busy.” I lick his head again.
He grabs me, dragging me up his body and turning me around with ease. With a quick yank, my panties are gone. And with another deft movement, he has me straddling his face as his cock looms right in front of me.
“Now, filthy Xalana. You will receive your punishment.” He licks me. All of me. Every bit of flesh between my thighs meets his tongue, and I moan, my toes curl, and I can’t seem to do a thing about it. With a hard slap to my ass, he thrusts his tongue inside me.
My arousal is already an inferno, and I want nothing more than to suck his cock and bring him to release. I take him in my mouth and bob my head, sucking and licking, the sloppy sounds bouncing off the walls. But when he tongues my clit, I stop and moan, my mind lost in a haze.
Another slap to my ass brings me back, and I push him down my throat and bob quickly. His muscles tighten even more, and I know I almost have him. It’s a competition now. Whoever comes first, loses. I’ve got this. He was already close before. Besides the thrill of victory, I want him to come, to give me every last drop so I can drink him down and clean him with my tongue. Every filthy thought I’ve ever had about him floats to the surface, and I’m awash in sex, my body twisted into a lusty knot as he focuses on my clit. Both of his hands are on my ass,
bearing down and shoving me onto his face. I’m spread wide, and he takes every advantage. But I try to concentrate on sucking and licking, then press the roof of my mouth to the sweet spot on the underside of his cock just south of his head. I focus my fire there as he does the same on my clit. Spires, am I dying? Because I’m right there. My release is dangling in front of me. But I won’t lose this. I refuse.
In a final play, I grip his balls and pull them up tight against his base, then graze the rim of his head with my teeth. His hips freeze, his cock pushes deeper into my mouth.
He can’t even get out my name before he explodes in my mouth, his come coating my tongue in a vicious spurt as I swallow it down in two gulps. So damn erotic. The taste of him sends me over the edge, my orgasm racing out of me in violent waves of pleasure. I can’t lick anymore, can’t do anything except feel the bliss he’s giving me with each stroke of his tongue. My body finally unfurls, my muscles weak and my mind a mush. Each aftershock sends a tremor racing through me, every bit of skin oversensitive and tingling.
Gareth lifts my bottom, spins me to face him, then rests me on his chest. His heart is racing just as fast as mine.
“You truly are the naughtiest changeling I’ve ever met.” He flexes his abs, leaning up with me on top of him, and grabs my thighs, spreading them so his half-mast cock rests against my swollen, sensitive flesh.
“No mating,” I mumble.
“No mating.” He sighs and wipes the sweaty strands from my forehead. “I just want to feel the touch of what’s mine.”
I wiggle my hips just a hair, his cock settling perfectly against me. “I like feeling what’s mine, too.”
He bites out a curse in the old language, then runs his wide palms down my back. “Rest now. We have time before the sun is fully up.”
He doesn’t have to tell me twice. My eyes are already closed, the hint of a snore whistling through my nose.
