by L. P. Dover
Since we were putting on a show, I decided to spice it up just a bit. When Brayden lunged toward me, I called upon my wind magic and twisted him up in the air and then back down to the ground where he landed in a crouch. His lip tilted up ever so slightly and he raised an amused brow. “I see you have to cheat by using your magic. I knew I would be too much for you,” he insisted slyly.
I scoffed and twirled the sword in my hand. “No, I don’t have to cheat. I just want you to stop messing around and fight harder. I’m getting bored.”
The crowd snickered, getting the rise out of Brayden that I needed. He snarled and lunged again, this time using the moves Kamden taught me. I dodged every single blow and he dodged mine, except I did manage to knick his arm with my blade. The blood dripped down his skin in rivulets, but he didn’t seem to mind it. The opening I was waiting for finally came. However, I didn’t expect him to deviate from his usual technique.
The crowd cheered as the fight came to a close, but it wasn’t the sort of ending I was hoping for. Brayden and I faced each other with his blade at my neck and mine at his. It was a standoff, anyone’s match. Breathing heavily, all it would take was one simple move and his sword would bite into my neck and the same for him. He gazed at me like he’d never seen me before, with awe and surprise, but most of all fascination. I didn’t think he realized what he was up against when he took me on, just like I didn’t realize he had an inner self that no one had seen other than me. He let his guard down with me and it was my turn to do the same.
“Do you want to know why I’ve hidden my thoughts from you?” I asked silently. Our blades were still at each other’s throats, holding us captive. However, I wasn’t ready to tell him everything, but I had to tell him how I felt. I owed him that much.
“Yes,” he answered, “Tell me.” His eyes had lost the fire and grew soft. In that moment, none of the people around us existed except him and me.
“It’s because I’m scared,” I admitted honestly. “If you want to know how I feel, then I’ll show you.” Closing my eyes, I let every single meeting with him play through my mind like he did with me. The first day I met him about six years ago and how I thought he was mysterious but moody. The next time was in the Winter Court when I saw him staring at me and I deliberately wanted to make him jealous by dancing with another Winter Fae.
“I wanted you to notice me,” I confessed.
“And I did.”
Then I let things get a little more in depth. I let him feel the worry and angst I felt when I saw him ride up wounded after the battle to save Sorcha’s friend and her guardian, and how I wanted to be the one to take care of him, but I couldn’t. Then came the vision of him leaving me. I made him feel the anguish and rejection I felt as I watched him turn his back on me and also when he did the same thing during our time in the Summer Court. Lastly, I let him see the tears I cried while I was alone and no one was around. Tears for him, tears for our land, and most importantly tears for a love lost.
“Now you know,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
I gradually lowered my sword and he did the same thing. Backing up slowly, I bowed my head to him before sheathing my blade. I turned on my heel and gave him one last glance before I took off through the crowd. Several of the Winter Fae congratulated me on besting Brayden while others just stared at me curiously, trying to figure out what was going on between me and their prince. Not everyone knew that Brayden was my guardian, but I was sure an announcement would be made at some point. Right now they were all kept in the dark with what happened between us, which was a good thing.
“Ariella, wait!” Brayden shouted in my mind.
As I came across the backside of the palace, I could feel Brayden’s presence behind me, following me. I ducked into an alcove and concentrated hard on changing my appearance. I pictured one of the warriors in my mind with his long, brown hair and midnight blue eyes along with the black and silver armor of Winter. It was the first time in a while I had changed appearances, but I could feel it working as I imagined myself being one of the warriors I knew to be called Cyrus.
I smiled as I gazed down at my new body. Brayden charged around the corner, and when he saw me I froze. “Cyrus, did you see Princess Ariella pass by this way?” he asked quickly.
I shook my head and cleared my throat, hoping my voice would sound the same as Cyrus’. “I did, Your Highness. She ran up to the back entrance to the palace and went in that way,” I lied, pointing in the direction I spoke of.
Brayden nodded and ran up the path to the back entrance. Leaning my head against the wall, I breathed a sigh of relief and closed my eyes. I wasn’t ready to talk to Brayden, not after him being a douche bag and me breaking down and spilling my secrets. I needed to make him sweat a little bit more. Walking back into the crowd of people who were slowly dispersing, I couldn’t help stopping the moment I heard my name come up. There was a group of warriors with a couple of fae women talking about the fight.
Slowly, I casually came in behind the group, trying to blend in, so I could hear what they were talking about. One of the warriors I fought was in the group and he was the one Brayden didn’t like getting close to me. He was handsome with his curly, light brown hair and dark blue eyes, and you could tell he loved the women. There were three of them hanging all over him when he spoke, “There was definitely some tension there between the princess and Prince Brayden, wasn’t there? Did all of you feel that?”
The group nodded in agreement with murmurs here and there. “Yes, there was,” one of the fae women, who was holding onto his arm, said. She had long, wavy black hair and was very beautiful. By the dress she was wearing I would say she didn’t come from the noble families. “I wonder what’s going on with them,” she uttered curiously.
“She said she wasn’t his queen,” another warrior cut in. “If I knew that was absolutely true I’d try to talk to her myself.”
“Conner, she wouldn’t give you the time of day,” someone else said. “But we all know how our Prince gets when he trains hard.” My ears perked up and I moved closer. The young warrior who just spoke turned his head and addressed a tall, brown haired female with supple breasts and curves to die for. “Taryn, since it’s obvious the princess isn’t going to work him out tonight, are you? You were the one he always wanted before.”
What? I wanted to scream. Just the thought of Brayden with someone else made me sick and angry to the core. What made it worse was actually hearing about it.
The girl he called Taryn adjusted her dress and licked her lips seductively. “Of course he wanted me, Sage. How could he not?” Because he has me you stupid bitch, I thought. There was nothing redeeming about Taryn and I could tell it in the tone of her voice and the way she carried her body. She used sex to get what she wanted and it was clear as day that she used her body to work her way up the ladder to Brayden. Not anymore.
“When was the last time you were with him? Be careful because it might cause problems with the princess. I don’t think you’d last in a fight against her,” Sage said.
Taryn scoffed. “I’m not too worried about that, and besides, how is she going to know if I take her prince for a ride. I can be sneaky when I want to be.”
So can I, I thought to myself. You have no idea how sneaky I can be.
When everyone dispersed and went their separate ways, I made sure to get a head start toward Brayden’s dwelling. Hiding behind a tree so that no one could see, I glamoured myself back into my true form. Taryn strutted her way down the path, and when she came upon the tree I circled around, allowing her to see me. She froze where she stood and all the confidence I heard her spew just a few minutes ago evaporated.
“Your Highness, what are you doing out here?” she asked hesitantly.
Pushing off the tree, I walked up to her and smiled, even though I wanted to punch her in the face. She swallowed hard, but maintained her stance. “I’m waiting on you. You’re not trying to be sneaky are you?” I said in a sweet voic
e. “Because sometimes being sneaky can get you into a lot of trouble. Do you understand where I’m going with this, or do I need to spell it out for you?”
She backed up and bowed her head before angrily answering with clenched teeth, “Yes, I understand, Your Highness.”
My smile disappeared and I rested my hand casually on the hilt of my sword. “Good, I’m glad I didn’t have to explain it to you. I think it’s best that you turn around and go back to where you came from. Your services won’t be needed again … ever.”
Placing her hands on her hips, Taryn scoffed and stomped away. No one was going to be servicing Brayden ever again if he didn’t pass the test I was going to throw him. I felt juvenile for playing these games, but it was up to me to keep my heart safe. It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone anyway. I was known for the tricks up my sleeve and I might as well do what I was good at.
“ARIELLA, WHERE ARE you?” I hissed through our bond. I’d searched everywhere in the palace for her and nothing. No one had seen her since the fight and she wasn’t answering me through our connection.
“Dammit, why aren’t you answering me?”
I stormed through the castle halls angrily until I almost bumped into my mother coming out of the art room. She smiled at first, but then furrowed her brow, studying me. “Son, what’s wrong? Why are you so angry?”
“Have you seen, Ariella?” I asked through clenched teeth.
With her eyes twinkling, she shook her head and tried to hold back her smile. “No, I haven’t seen her, but I did hear about what happened this afternoon. I wish I could’ve seen it. Maybe we should get Ariella to train some of our females to fight.”
That actually wasn’t a bad idea. “I’ll talk to her about it,” I muttered, “but right now I need to find her. If you see her, tell her I’ll be at our place waiting. Surely, she won’t stay gone all night.”
“Give her space, son. She’ll be back when she’s ready.” She kissed me on the cheek and turned on her heel, but stopped abruptly and said, “Oh yeah, before I forget. Durin sent word that he’s working on the dagger for the princesses. He will be delivering it in about three weeks.”
Great, I thought. Three weeks of hell trying to keep Ariella safe from the sorcerer and from me. This foolishness was going to end tonight whether she liked it or not.
Closing my eyes, I sighed. “All right, three weeks. I’m sure we will manage somehow.” I ambled away from my mother and out of the palace doors, running at a fast pace to my dwelling.
Slamming open the door, I called, “Ariella! Are you here?” There was no sound, only silence as I searched through the rooms of the house on the lower level. Running up the stairs, I searched through those rooms as well, but stopped when I saw her stuff in my bedroom. Did she know this was my room? I wondered.
Stripping out of my armor, I took a quick shower and wrapped a towel around my waist before heading to my closet. The wound on my arm had already healed from Ariella’s sword slicing through my skin. It was only a surface scratch and I honestly didn’t think she meant to do it. Before I could grab a set of clothes out of my closet a knock sounded at the door.
Hopefully, it was Ariella, but why would she knock on the door? Traipsing down the stairs, I could tell the figure on the other side of the door wasn’t Ariella, but someone from my past, someone I had told I never wanted to see again.
When I opened the door she flung her arms around my shoulders and squealed, “Oh, Brayden, you fought amazing today. It got me all hot watching you and what’s even better is looking at you in your towel. How about we go upstairs and reminisce on the good times we’ve had together.”
What the …
Appalled, I jerked out of her arms, tightened the towel around my waist, and snapped, “What the hell are you doing here, Taryn? I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you better leave this instant.” Taryn and I had an arrangement of sorts a long time ago. There were no commitments or feelings involved … just sex. That’s all it was and that was all it ever would be, but I hadn’t been with her in over a year.
Taryn pouted her lip, and moved closer. “But I thought we used to have fun together. Don’t you want that again? I can tell you and your princess aren’t getting along, so let me relieve some of that tension I know you have built up. It’ll be fun.”
“Enough,” I shouted angrily. “Whatever is going on between me and your future queen is our business. You know very well that what we had between us was over a long time ago. I don’t want you or anyone else for that matter. Now, if you don’t mind I want you to leave … now.”
Taryn narrowed her eyes and stood up straighter. “So what you’re trying to tell me is if I got naked right now and asked you to fuck me that you wouldn’t?”
“You’re right, I wouldn’t,” I retorted truthfully. “There’s only one person I want right now and it’s not you.”
Taryn laughed sarcastically. “So you’re holding out for the princess who doesn’t even want you? Why would you wait for her when you could have so many other women at your beck and call?”
Because I love her, I said to myself.
Taryn’s eyes went wide, as if she’d heard me, and she whispered, “Please don’t tell me that you love her? Is that what you’re saying?”
I didn’t have to think twice. “Yes,” I said, “that’s exactly what I’m saying. Now do me a favor and don’t come back here again. I’m sure there are plenty of men out there that would be honored to have you, but it’s not me.”
Tears welled in her eyes as she backed up to the door and ran out of it, down the steps and into the night. Sighing, I shut the door and leaned against it. “Ariella, please come home. I really need to talk to you.”
I didn’t expect to hear her reply, but it came through as a soft whisper, so unlike the Ariella from just a few hours ago. “I’m on my way,” she said. “And Brayden?”
“Yes, angel.”
“I’m sorry.”
I was sorry, too. Especially because I was going to have to explain to her what had just happened. Knowing Ariella and her fiery temper she’d blow up at the first mention of a woman trying to get me into bed. Honesty was something I lived by. Hopefully she’d respect that and listen to what I had to say. I love her.
It took me a while to figure out that was what I felt, but it was true. I loved her and I was going to tell her.
I DIDN’T KNOW what to expect when I pretended to be Taryn, but hearing Brayden confess his love to me wasn’t what I thought would happen. I felt guilty for tricking him and the weight of that guilt felt like a boulder pressing down against my chest. However, I didn’t feel bad with confronting Taryn. She needed to be taken down a notch or two.
Taking a deep breath, I stared at the front door to Brayden’s home for about five minutes before I had the courage to walk inside. As soon as I opened the door and shut it, I turned around and he was there. Brayden was dressed in a simple, fitted black T-shirt and jeans, and his hair was still damp from the shower. Just a few minutes ago when I was Taryn, I got to see him in nothing but a towel. My heart raced just looking at him sitting in one of his living room chairs; his legs crossed and resting over the table in front of him, a glass of faerie wine in his hands.
Another sparkling glass of wine waited on the kitchen counter and I assumed it was mine, so I smiled quickly at him and strolled over to the bar, gulping down the glittering blue liquid. It tingled in my belly and relaxed my muscles in an instant. I closed my eyes and sighed.
“I needed that,” I breathed, sinking down into one of the chairs at the bar. “Thank you for pouring me a glass.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied. I could hear him swallow down the rest of his wine and set the glass down on the table in front of him. My back was to him, but I could feel the presence of his body coming up behind me.
Now that the day was over and the excitement of the fight had died down, my body ached and my muscles were sore. I overdid it with Brayden this afternoon, but I want
ed to push myself past any limit I had for myself. I had to do it. I put a hand on the back of my neck and began rubbing out the knots of tension.
Gently, Brayden moved my hand away and began working out the kinks in my muscles with his strong yet soothing fingers. Immediately, the tension ebbed and I liquefied under his touch. I couldn’t stop the moan from escaping my lips or keep my eyes from rolling back because of how amazing his hands felt on my body.
“Can we talk?” he asked.
His hands moved from my neck down to my shoulders, kneading and rubbing. “I don’t think I can talk with you touching me like that?” I moaned.
“You just did, Ariella,” he murmured, a deep chuckle vibrating in his chest.
I groaned and lazily tilted my head to the side. If he kept it up, I was going to fall asleep. However, all thoughts of sleep were erased from my mind as I felt his firm, wet lips placed against my bare neck.
“What are you doing?” I whispered, tilting my head further to the side. The stubble on his chin tickled my neck and sent chills down my body, making me shudder.
Taking my hand, he pulled me off of the chair and leaned down to my ear. “Come with me,” he commanded huskily.
With my hand in his, I followed him up the stairs to the room I had placed my bags in earlier. I needed to get out of my armor and into something more comfortable, and possibly sexier. Brayden shut the door behind us and leaned against it. “What are we doing in here?” I asked, lifting a curious brow. “You’re not planning on seducing me, are you?”
He smiled and shook his head. “Not yet, angel. I thought you might like to change clothes and have dinner with me. We need to talk.”
“About?” I inquired, even though I already knew.
My bags had all been moved, so I walked over to the closet to see if they were in there. When I opened the door my clothes had all been hung and placed neatly on one side, but the other side …
