by VS Winters
"You're attracted to me. Aren't you, Witch?" He taunted.
"I think the hot weather is getting to your head." I retorted with a scowl.
"Perhaps you're right," He said moving another step toward me, causing me to react with yet another step away. My hand faltered, causing me to blink against the sunlight hitting my eyes. When I opened them, he was gone. It made me shudder to think that he was able to travel at such an inhuman velocity. Taking a cautious step ahead, I felt his hands wrap around my arm just above the elbows. Without a second in between, he yanked me back and against his wall of a body. "Or, perhaps, you just don't want to admit it to yourself."
"Or, perhaps," I mocked him through a tightly clamped jaw. "I'm revolted by you, your world, your people, and just don't want to be anywhere near you."
"Is that so?" He growled into my ear, making my knees go all weak and shaky. Fuck, I thought, looking around frantically for something to help me out of the situation I had just landed myself in. Curving an arm through my own two, Rowan pulled my body so tightly against himself that I couldn't have broken free with a chainsaw in my hands. With his available arm, he pulled my chin up until I was looking straight above into the clouds that slowly crept toward the horizon. I felt his breath, hot and thick against the skin beneath my ear.
I could feel every inch of his length as he pushed himself firmly against my ass. My traitor of a vagina moistened, and I tried my best to keep a moan that had begun rising in my throat, at bay.
"If I take you as my wife, you won't have a say in my being this close to you. Nor will you be able to control seeing my people in my world. I despise your kind as well, I can assure you that. But under my watch, you wouldn't have room to breathe, let alone use your Witchy spells against the people of this world that you so loath." His tone had gone from seductive to pissed-off real quick.
"I'd sooner throw myself from the top of your castle than to become anything close to being your wife, Lord Blaive." I sneered back at him, terrified of the thought of it alone. With skilled hands, Rowan wrapped my braid into his palm. Pushing his fingers tightly against the hair, he had full control of my head and spun me around to face him. My chin was parallel with the ground, making it so I had to look down my nose to see his eyes, which were alight with anger.
His other arm snaked around my waist and hauled me up against him. I shoved my hands onto his boulder of a chest and tried my hardest to push myself free. A roguish grin spread across his lips as he watched me struggle. He leaned into me even harder. I wanted to kick him in the balls to get those flawlessly shaped lips away from mine.
"What do you want me to say?" I shouted, fighting the urge to claw his eyes out. "That I'd be happy to marry you? That I'll gladly bear your heirs and--"
"I'm not concerned about anyone bearing my children." He cut in.
Wait, what? When royals married, was it not their first goal to produce more perfect little royal-blooded babies? Maybe he really was just marrying for the benefit of his people. Maybe he was less of a kidnapping monster than I thought he was. Just as the thought crossed my mind, he tugged harder on my braid. Nope, still an asshole.
"However, if you do manage to make it through the Trials, which you won't, you will do anything and everything that is expected of you."
"I won't be marrying you, Rowan. I can guarantee that. And if I'm forced to, I will not serve you."
A growl rose from deep inside of his broad chest. I had done it now. I braced myself as I assumed he was about to throw me to the ground. Surely, he would call the guards and have me thrown in the dungeon for the rest of my life. His silky, sweet breath filled my nose. My eyes flew wide open as he crushed his lips upon mine. I wanted to fight it, I really did. But my body didn't get the memo.
Maybe it was out of instinct that I relaxed into his firm, heartless kiss. His pillowy lips worked against mine in a way that it sent tiny prickles across my skin and provoked me into doing the same. The moisture between my legs increased as we molded to one another, despite my brain screaming that this was a mistake. Rowan's hand drifted down my lower back until he reached my ass, which he took a secure grip of. Just as I was about to give in, to practically beg him to remove his clothes while I did the same with mine, he pulled away.
My lips remained parted as I peered at him from beneath my thick, dark eyelashes. His eyes were cold and unfeeling as he gazed back. Right, I almost forgot that we hated each other. This had been nothing more than a warning.
"You already serve me, Witch. And you will do so until I allow you to stop. Think of this moment, the next time you assume that you have any sort of authority here." Rowan removed his hand from my ass and slid it around to the damp area between my legs. Not pressing hard enough to touch my core, his lips twitched. If he had actually pressed hard enough to touch me instead of just my pants, I'd probably have broken loose and asked him to finish the job. With his thick fingers resting on my damp clothing, he leaned in close enough for his nose to brush my own.
"I hardly touched you, and you were already willing to be mine," He said in a gravelly voice that melted me into a puddle.
I'm going to kill him.
"But you needn't worry. You will lose the Trials. Because you are a weak and foolish little Witch."
He untangled my hair from his fingers, allowing me to stumble back. Rowan was right, I knew that, and I hated myself for it. I stared at the ground as he moved away from me, retiring to his previous position of viewing the gardens. Without another look in his direction, I ran from him.
Chapter Ten
Rowan
I observed her lovely scarlet hair tumbling down her back as she fled. It had slackened from her braid at my own hand. Perhaps I should have gone easier on her, but I hadn't been capable of controlling myself. She was stunning in every way, well, except for the incessantly wagging tongue that she couldn't keep still. Yet, looking at her head fall as I grasped the thick braid in my hand, the way her neck elongated.... gods, she could be my downfall.
I wouldn't let that happen. Nija and her people had made me an offer I simply could not deny. My people cried out for an end to the war, and I was prepared to give it to them, despite what that meant for me. I was a soldier, one of the best at what I did, which was to kill. Half-LightFae or not, my father had driven the instinct into me from birth. And the Witch, as unpredictable as her kind could be, had me in a state of uncertainty that made me want to plunge a dagger straight through her black, dripping heart.
On the other hand, I couldn't block her from my mind. Which was precisely why I had come to the outer gardens to begin with. I needed space and some fucking silence. Instead, I was met by the very person I had been trying to shake. Worse than that, she had provoked the DarkFae instinct buried inside of me. I wanted her, and not in a tender way. I wanted to rip that tunic to shreds and kiss the luscious, beautiful breasts hiding within it.
Drawing my fingers to my lips, I pulled them in with my tongue, tasting her delicious sexual arousal. My cock pulsated at the memory of her scorching desire. She had wanted me, at least where sex was involved. But I had put her in her place, understanding that the chances of her winning were slim, if any. If she did somehow manage to best Nija, as extraordinary as that would be, she had made it very clear she wouldn't have me.
I could make her if I wanted to. She could be on her knees at my feet in a heartbeat, begging me to fuck her over and over again. I smiled, just thinking about it. The desire to see her beneath those damn clothes was one I would have to satisfy, sooner rather than later if I had it my way.
"Trying to mate with one of the princesses already, my Lord? And before the first Trial has even begun? Tsk, tsk."
Turning to look Nija in her fiery eyes, she smirked as she flounced her way over to me. Her breasts were on display, her nipples only concealed by two strips of red leather. The bitch constantly dressed in red, and not just because it was the color of her house. She had a unique way of inspiring lust, not uncommon for a Demon. It was
the same reason she hid her horns, so it would appear less like she wanted to devour your soul that way.
Faekind didn't include Demons, though their powers could be similar. I would know. My mother had been a Demon as well. Nija may not have been a Faery, but she could mind fuck anything she was able to lay those daggers-for-eyes on.
"Good morning to you as well, Nija."
"Having second thoughts about our deal?" She asked, letting her forked tongue slide seductively across her full bottom lip. She pulled an arm around my waist while using her opposite hand to tug up her skirt until her most delicate parts were on full display. I swallowed hard and attempted to look away before she tugged my chin back to her sharp face.
"Not for a second," I answered through tight lips.
Chapter Eleven
It was midday in the Fae Kingdom.
I sheltered myself below the covers on my bed, where I had been hiding all day. Scott had come in at some point earlier that morning, trying to convince me that we had lessons that needed learning. I just wasn't feeling it. In fact, I wasn't feeling too much of anything. My emotions were a complete train wreck that had been set on fire and put out with gasoline.
The previous day had been the last straw for me. All I could think about was getting out of this freak show of a world. But I wasn't sure how to do it. I had already taken a candlestick to the window, for real this time, and the glass hadn't so much as cracked. What it did do, however, was send me flying backward, and directly into the bedpost. I flinched as I remembered how that one had felt on my back.
After that, I had crawled into the bed and moped over this unforeseen turn of events that my life had taken me down. Ellie kept coming in to check on me throughout the day and to remind me that I had been ordered to attend a ball that night. A freaking ball. It was every girl's dream, right? Not this girl. I'd rather take my chances in the freaky forest. But first, I needed to get my hands on one of those crystals that Harper had used to make the portal.
A lightbulb illuminated above my head as I realized what I was going to do. Yes, how had I not thought of it before? Maybe I didn't need to be in the forest for it to work. What if I could do it from inside of the castle? All I need is a little more information, the crystal, and a map leading me directly to Rowan's personal chambers.
"Mistress, I know that you asked me not to bother you again but the--"
"Ellie, do you know where Ro-err-Lord Blaive's room is located?"
Ellie looked a touch surprised, with her eyes nearing the size of dinner plates as she considered the question. Her tiny finger tapped against her wrist for a few seconds before flinging into the air above her.
"You'd like to thank him personally, for the ball?"
"Yeah, something like that."
She pulled a flimsy, stained piece of parchment from her apron and unfolded it, pointing at a little square. I burned the image of the square into my mind as she folded it back up and handed it over to me.
"That's it right there, you might be able to make it before the ball. That is, if you will finally allow us to prepare you." Her voice was tight, on the verge of irritation.
"Sure," I exhaled a relieved sigh through my smiling lips. "Let's do it."
Ellie happily trotted to the door, pulling it wide open to allow a crowd of creatures just like her to enter. The room became a whirlwind of movement as they started primping and preening me from head to toe. And I do mean that literally. Sitting me at the vanity, they began to pluck my eyebrows. One was swiping blush across my high cheekbones delicately while another filed my fingernails, leaving them in perfect almond shapes.
From the corner of my eye, something sparkled like a disco ball, sending little flickers of light all over the place. I bent my neck to look at whatever was causing it, despite the angry remarks from one of the little women. I gasped as four of them walked in, each one at a different corner of a huge load of fabric. Standing, I ignored the complaints as I strode to it to get a better look.
Massive was an understatement. This thing was a ball gown and could swallow all of us whole under the billowy skirt. With wide eyes, I trailed my fingers down the glittering gems that lay, expertly placed, against the forest-green fabric. The skirt swayed like sea waves at the slightest hint of movement.
"I would have killed to wear this to Prom," I whispered in awe.
"What's that, mistress?" Ellie asked with a smile, not understanding what I was talking about.
"It's sort of like a ball, in the human realm."
"I see. How very exciting. You'd have been the envy of everyone there! Just as you will be tonight, we will make sure of that."
With that, I was hauled back to the vanity for more makeup. With shimmering golden pigment on my eyelids, dark mascara on my lashes, and bright scarlet on my lips, I felt like a movie star. Never before had I seen myself this way, and not for lack of Ava trying to make it happen. It was lovely, not my style, but I certainly wasn't complaining. Especially with the notion that Rowan would be there. Not that I planned on attending.
My stomach erupted into butterflies as I remembered his soft lips pressed against mine.
No, stop it.
To prevent myself from lingering on it, I focused instead on my hair that was being coiled around a hot iron, making my natural curls look less frizzy. When the one working on my hair had finished curling it, she began to weave it into a cascading half-updo. Ellie pushed her aside to finish the job before pulling a corset as tight as possible around my waist. I no longer regretted skipping all of my meals that day, as I'm not sure they would have fit in that corset with me.
The last task was to step into the divine gown. I did so gingerly and allowed the other females to pull it up around me. Once they had done so, I took a second to shove the map in between my pushed-up breasts. Continuing to examine the dress, I noticed that the sleeves were made of the same material as the skirt and hung, like beautiful chandeliers dripping with gems, just off the shoulder. I ran my hands down the delicate fabrics of the dress and smiled, despite my anxiety over what I would be doing in the gown.
"You look just like the Faekind, miss." Ellie beamed, with tears gleaming in her large eyes. I took her hand and squeezed it, noticing that she didn't flinch away from me this time. I liked her. I'd miss her the most, I thought. Her and Pimea, who I hadn't even seen since the first day I met her.
"Thank you, Ellie." I grinned back.
"Well then," She sniffed her tears away loudly and shooed the others with her hands. "We will be off. You have a wonderful time this evening, mistress."
Bowing my head slightly at her, I watched as they left through the door. Taking a second to check myself out in the mirror, I tucked my hair behind one ear and smiled, wishing I had my cell phone so that I could immortalize this moment with a picture. Ava would be proud. Beyond proud, she'd be straight-up jealous that I had an opportunity to go to a ball. I was sure there was some way I could twist this into my lie about being in New York City.
With one last big breath, I walked to the door and hesitated as my hand wrapped around the doorknob.
"No time to second guess yourself, Eden. Just get out there and do what needs to be done." The pep talk did little to motivate me, but I pushed ahead regardless.
The hall was bustling with servants and some of the other women participating in the Trials. Catching a glimpse of Pimea, who was dressed in a silken gown that was the color of blue skies, she beckoned me. I figured I may as well speak with her, seeing as how I wouldn't have another opportunity to do so after that night.
"Eden, you look amazing." She gawked and twirled her finger, pointing at the floor. I grinned and obliged. With a spin, the glittering gems caught every ounce of light from the torches lining the halls, which were burning with regular fire that night. The skirt caught the movement and floated around me like a feather.
"Wow, your seamstress is an artist. Can I borrow her?" She asked with a scrunched nose while holding up the skirt on her gown.
&n
bsp; "I think you look exquisite," I replied. It wasn't a lie either. She didn't even need makeup to look gorgeous, and her toned body looked fantastic underneath the silk, which showed every curve that she possessed. Pimea flashed me a dazzling smile before being pulled on by one of her servants that very much resembled my own.
"I suppose it is time for me to be going. I will see you there."
"See you," I smiled back sadly.
As soon as she had gone, I drew the map from my cleavage, where I had hidden it. Trying to make sense of the map wasn't as easy as I had thought it would be. I could tell which room was mine because it had a Celtic knot on top of it, all I had to do was count how many of the doors were not mine before the next hallway. Easy-peasy, right?
I turned the opposite way of where I was used to traveling when leaving my room. With a glance backward, I saw a flash of Scott's shiny black hair bobbing through the crowds. Shit. I started outright running. The further I got down the hall, the more the crowd started to disperse. I nearly toppled over as I rammed straight into one of the tiny servant women.
"Watch it!" She sneered angrily.
"I'm so sorry," I said without stopping. I could feel her large gray eyes on my back. Turning down the next hall, and then the next, until I had eventually come to a part of the castle that was entirely different from what I was accustomed to. The atmosphere there was darker, more dangerous. It sent goosebumps over my flesh. I looked over the map again, concluding that I was a mere few turns from Rowan's room.
The flames flickering along the walls were darker, somehow, and they burned with an eerie glow that nearly matched the crimson of my hair. Had this been a movie, I would have been the one in the audience screaming at myself to turn and run away. If horror movies had taught me anything, it was that you don't walk down creepy dark hallways when you are alone. With my heart pounding in my chest, I listened carefully for the sound of footsteps. Satisfied that I couldn't hear any, I pressed forward, completing the last stretch of my journey.
