books 1 - 3

by Ella J. Smyth

  The queen. The creature Adi had battled in the spirit world. Honi felt the blood drain from his face. He breathed faster and scooted back in the bed, instinctively trying to get away from her. It.

  The queen laughed, her voice tinkling like sleigh bells. “No need to be afraid, Honi. The only reason I had to confront Adi was because she stood between us. Now that you’re here, in my castle, my bedroom, there’s no need for any unpleasantries.” Her voice dropped to a low purr. “Now that you’re in my bed, I can make this very pleasant for you.”

  Before Honi could react, the back of her hand ran down his cheek to his neck. Where her skin touched his, small zings of electricity ran through his body, straight to his crotch. He stared at her with wide eyes, like a rabbit frozen by a snake’s gaze. Her hand dropped to his chest, and with the same slow speed, the tip of her index finger circled his nipple. He couldn’t control the way his back arched into her touch, nor the groan that worked its way out of his throat.

  He was rock-hard just from her touch alone. Holy crap. He’d never been turned on that fast in his life. This wasn’t natural—she was doing something to him. It was as if every nerve-ending in his entire body was connected to his throbbing cock. His blood pounded in rhythm with the hand playing on his skin.

  She moved her hand to his other nipple and plucked, stroking, circling. His vision was dimming, and he was consumed by the driving need of his body. He couldn’t move, couldn’t relieve the pressure, couldn’t get away even if he wanted to. His hips were jerking uselessly, trying to fuck the air. The blanket over his body, light as it was, provided no friction for his overwhelming need.

  He could hear himself whine, almost like Ho’neo had done, unable to stop himself. On and on she continued, caressing his body, scratching him lightly, playing him like an instrument. He begged her for release, begged her for mercy while she tortured him. She must have climbed onto the bed with him, because suddenly there was a cold mouth against his lips.

  She tasted of snow, and he greedily lapped at her tongue in his mouth. Her hands still hadn’t moved below his waist, and he became aware of how taut his back was, bowed upwards, pushing his pelvis into the bed, then into the air, begging for release that wouldn’t come. She pulled back from his mouth, and he whimpered at the loss. His body was on fire, streams of heat running from his nipples, his mouth, everywhere she touched him, to his balls, his cock.

  He heard a whisper, “Come,” and could do nothing but obey. His body bowing even more, he exploded in orgasmic convulsions. Release shooting from his body, reducing him to a whimpering heap. Aftershocks rocking his body until he was a wrung-out mess, lying bonelessly on the bed. He had no idea how long he stayed there, trying to remember how to be human again.

  Eventually, a cool cloth wiped over his torso and groin, and he opened his eyes, brain rebooting once more. The queen was bent over him, smiling her strange white smile at him.

  “Did you enjoy that, Honi?”

  He stared at her wordlessly. What had just happened? What had he done?

  She continued, “I made you come with just a touch and a kiss. Can you imagine what it would feel like if I allowed you to possess me?”

  Honi’s breath stopped. She had drawn his orgasm from him against his will. He hadn’t wanted this, yet she’d used him without asking for permission. Having sex with her would probably kill him. Literally. He needed to get away from her, and more importantly, find Adi and get the hell out of here.

  He tried to gather his thoughts and consider his next move. He was no match for her physically. He still had no idea what she wanted from him, or from Adi, for that matter. She regarded him with a predatory look, an inhuman tilt to her head, like a bird of prey hunting a mouse.

  No time like the present, Honi decided. “Did you take Adi? What do you want from us?”

  The queen threw her head back and laughed. “I like your directness.” Then she turned serious. “Taking Adi was the surefire way to get you to come to me. You have to understand: I’m not just the ruler of the faerie realm, but also the guardian to balance Cos ve Naima, what you call the spirit world, and the human world.

  “Adi nearly managed to break open the gateway between the two worlds that must remain closed to humans. The threat has abated for now, but is renewing as we speak.”

  Honi stared. What the hell was she talking about? What threat?

  The queen continued, “Adi beat me last time with your assistance. I hold her in my dungeon now. She’s alive and will remain so if you accede. You are her master, so I offer her life in exchange for your help.”

  Honi blanched but had to ask. “How can I possibly help you?”

  “There are other humans like Adi out there. Humans who have the gift but refuse to use it. Their continued existence is a threat to the realms, to my very being.”

  Right. Now we’re getting closer to the truth. This is about an absolute ruler fearing for her position. Out loud he said, “What help do you need from me?”

  “I want you to go back and await my instructions. When it’s time, I will send orders to you, and you will go and eliminate the threat.”

  She said it so calmly that Honi thought he’d misheard for a moment.

  “Eliminate the threat?” he finally replied.

  “Yes. By whatever means necessary. Some of those humans may be strong enough to escape the spirit animals I send after them. In that case, you must make sure they are destroyed before they can wreak further havoc.”

  So he had heard correctly. She was trying to recruit him as her personal assassin. His temper flared, and he sat up straighter.

  “That’s not going to happen. I won’t be turned into a killer for you.”

  The queen’s face darkened. “Really? Have you forgotten already that I have Adi in my dungeon?”

  Dammit, he had for a second. Still, he couldn’t agree to this deal. He knew Adi wouldn’t want him to. He wasn’t sure he could save both of them without becoming this creature’s pawn, but he needed to try. Maybe he could outsmart her.

  Feigning defeat, he replied, “You’re asking me to go after people and kill them. I can’t agree to this without talking to Adi first. At least let me have that.”

  The queen hesitated. Her strange white irises swirled as she seemed to consider his request. The moment stretched longer than it should have before the queen shook her head.

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t agree to that. I need your answer now.”

  Honi’s eyes narrowed. “No. I need”—what did they call it in cop shows?—“proof of life.”

  Again she laughed. “Do you think I’m playing? I’ve shown you more pleasure than you could ever experience from a single touch. Now I’ll show you so much pain that you will beg me for release before I’m done with you.”

  Before Honi could react, her hand was on his chest again, palm flat against his heart. Nothing happened for a moment. Her skin felt cool and pleasant, but the temperature fell rapidly. Icy tendrils snaked from the contact point into his arms and legs. His teeth chattered uncontrollably—what had started as a stinging sensation quickly built to a burning agony.

  Instinctively, he fought back against the assault. His hands clutched her wrist, tugging and pulling, with no effect whatsoever. In his panic, he scrunched his eyes shut and attempted to erect a mental shield.

  Focusing deeply, he visualized a protective bubble around his body. Breathing in, taking the pain inside, before exhaling and neutralizing the sensation. She laughed, and his concentration shattered like an egg dropped from a height.

  Honi’s muscles twitched, and his whole body convulsed as the pain roared through him, twice as brutal. He tried to throw his head back, tried to get away from her, but he’d lost control of his nervous system. His eyes rolled back in their sockets, and any conscious thoughts ceased. He was reduced to screaming his agony inside his head until he was snuffed out like a flame.

  When he opened his eyes again, he lay on his back, his skin covered in sweat. His
face felt wet, and when he rubbed his fingers underneath his eyes, there were tears clinging to the tips.

  “Well, that was a disappointment.”

  The queen towered over him, her face devoid of emotion. “You tried to resist me, didn’t you? I felt the flicker of your mind. The legs of a fly would have tickled more than your best effort to beat me. I was wrong—you are not Adi’s master. You are her guard dog.”

  Honi stared at her. She was right—he was no match for her. He was terrified what she would do to him now that she had no use for him. And what that would mean for Adi. He didn’t have to wait long to find out.

  “Your humanity offends me. I had hoped to find some pleasure in your body and spirit. One without the other is worthless to me. Since Adi won’t need you anymore, I shall keep you by my side as my pet.”

  She lifted her hands. Honi looked at her face, his eyes wide open in fear. The snowstorm in her irises mesmerized him, swirling faster and faster, until white was all he could see. He tried to roll away and fell off the bed to the hard floor.

  When the first bone broke in his hand, he screamed. Then the other bones fractured, and sinews snapped in his entire body. As he lay there, gasping for breath, his whole body shivering, a new sensation broke through his traumatized mind.

  Stinging like a thousand needles, coarse hair pushed outwards all over his skin, and again he screamed. At the height of his agony, his screams turned to howls. Shocked into silence, he opened his eyes.

  A foot caught him hard in the side, and he yelped in pain. He turned to the queen but only saw her waist. Lifting his head higher and higher, his gaze finally reached her face towering above him. He opened his mouth to beg for mercy, but all that came out was a series of yips and growls.

  He tried to get up, but his upper body was too heavy to lift. He looked down and his brain checked out again. His feet were gone, replaced by paws, and in his peripheral vision, a large hairy tail was tucked between his hind legs. Honi squeezed his eyes shut and cowered down, trying to hide under the bed.

  “You make a lovely big dog. Now you will do as you’re told. I’ve made sure that your mind is intact so that you can experience the full extent of your situation. You will live a full human lifespan, unless I decide that you need to be put down.”

  The queen’s hand grabbed the scruff of his neck and pulled him out from under the bed. With his head hanging down and crouching to the ground as low as possible, Honi knew he made a miserable picture. He was too terrified, too traumatized, to make sense of what had happened to him. He could fully understand what the queen said to him, but he needed time to digest his situation.

  Still holding tight, the queen grabbed his ears and twisted hard. Honi yelped at the searing pain. She knelt down beside him and whispered, “If you misbehave, I’ll have you fixed. See how your beloved Adi likes you then.”

  She’d won. Surely a quick death would be more merciful than spending the next fifty years living as a dog with the faerie queen as his mistress. Honi crouched even lower and closed his eyes, another desperate whine working its way out of his massive chest. He was so screwed.

  27

  Adi grunted. She was still tired and not ready to get up yet. There was the noise again--three loud knocks on wood. She lifted her head and turned it sideways. All the events from last night came flooding back.

  She was in her room, back in Heidelberg. Thank God. Then she remembered Florice and quickly sat up. No sign of him. Had he carried her to bed? He must have. She groaned, looking down at her naked body. Quickly she pushed her embarrassment aside. Nothing he hadn’t seen before, after all.

  “Adi, you in there? Are you okay?” That was Lukas’s voice.

  She quickly answered, “Sure. I’m sorry, I’m still half-asleep. What’s up?”

  “Don’t you have classes today?”

  Oh crap, she had no idea what day of the week it even was. She hoped she hadn’t lost any time while she was in the faerie realm but couldn’t be sure. Her mind racing, she quickly made up an excuse.

  “Yeah, but not until later today. Thanks anyway.”

  Lukas chuckled. “Sorry for waking you. Is Honi with you? Is that why you’re still in bed?”

  Adi jolted at those words. Honi? What the hell? Why would he be here? She couldn’t remember if she’d told the boys about her ex-boyfriend, but why else would Lukas mention him? While she still reeled from the question, Lukas walked back towards the kitchen, still laughing.

  Adi jumped out of bed, quickly throwing on some fresh clothes. She grabbed the door handle and nearly sprinted to the kitchen, only slowing down as she entered the sun-flooded room. Gerald smiled at her and said something so fast in German that she didn’t catch it. Lukas laughed out loud and turned to Adi.

  “Gerald just explained that you guys were noisy enough to make him blush. And that’s not an easy thing to do.”

  Gerald rolled his eyes as his cheeks flushed with red splotches. “You must not repeat everything I say,” he said in halting English. Lukas stepped up to him and kissed his cheek, whispering something in his ear that made his face even redder.

  Adi’s mouth had fallen open in astonishment during their exchange. She’d been gone for at least three days, so what were they talking about? Maybe if she played stupid, she’d get more info from them.

  “I’m sorry if the music was too loud,” she said. “Just to make sure it won’t happen again, what day was that?”

  Now the boys looked at her in surprise. “It wasn’t music, Adi. It was ‘more’ and ‘harder, Honi.’” Lukas smirked.

  Adi’s heart sank. Something was up, and she didn’t like the sound of it. There was no mistake—they were talking about her ex. Who was safe and sound in Oklahoma, last time she’d checked. She had to be absolutely sure, so she asked carefully, “Did you meet Honi? Tall, blond?”

  Gerald looked at her as if she’d grown two heads. “No, not blond. Tall, beautiful, black hair in a ponytail. You liked him very much.” He laughed. “Very, very much.”

  Adi quickly said, “Oh yes, sorry, he used to have blond hair but he dyed it recently. I keep forgetting.” She threw them a quick smile and rushed out of the kitchen to escape to her bedroom. She needed to think.

  There were a few things she knew for sure. Number one, she’d been abducted to the faerie realm and thrown into a dungeon. Number two, she’d been rescued by the same faerie who had abducted her in the first place. Number three, when she’d returned to the human world, it seemed that while she was gone, her ex-boyfriend had shown up and what—had sex with someone who looked like her?

  Sure, Florice had told her that there would be a doppelganger, but seriously? The faerie bitch had slept with her boyfriend? Adi caught herself. Her ex-boyfriend. Damnit.

  She stopped pacing and set down. Now was not the time for regrets and wishful thinking. She needed to figure this out. Why was all this happening? Why had the faerie queen not just killed her and been done with it? Why had Honi shown up in Heidelberg, in her flat, and apparently had sex with someone who looked like Adi?

  A terrible suspicion began to wind its way into her consciousness. It was obviously all connected. Hadn’t the queen told her that she would use Adi as bait? That’s why Honi had been here, at her place. And now he’d disappeared, conveniently gone at the same time Adi had returned. She knew—just knew—that he had somehow learned of her fate and followed her. Right into the lair of the enemy. Goddamn it.

  Adi jumped up again, walked to the wall opposite her bed, and knocked her head against it. She didn’t need this shit after having been forced into Faerie against her will, starved and terrified out of her mind. But then she imagined Honi, who would be equally scared.

  Who knew what that evil bitch was doing to him right now? Her heart ached for him. He wasn’t strong enough to resist her—it had taken Adi all she had to stop the queen’s mental assault. He wouldn’t stand a chance. Her mind made up, she sighed deeply and grabbed her backpack. She had no choice. She needed
to go back and help him.

  Swearing under her breath, she packed enough clothes for a few days. Then she walked back to the kitchen. Thankfully, the boys had gone to their own room. She packed as much food as she could find—some fruit, vacuum-packed ham, cans of tuna, a chunk of cheese, and chocolate. She wrote a note, explaining that she would be gone for a few days, and gently pulled the door closed on her way out.

  28

  As much as Adi loved the university town, she was getting sick of traipsing up and down the path to the Old Bridge. Past the tourist shops packed with cutesy Black Forest clocks that no self-respecting German would ever buy, the gaudy “I Love Heidelberg” T-shirts and tacky souvenir pens.

  It was still early, but already groups of Asian tourists milled in the streets, dressed in ubiquitous canvas hats and shorts. Adi smiled briefly when a tiny lady swirled an umbrella over her head, gathering the group to her like a mother hen with her chicks.

  Adi passed them quickly, driven by her fear for Honi. Her hand clutched her amulet, her thumb rubbing the wolf’s head unconsciously. She knew how strong the queen was, how ruthlessly she used her power against her enemies.

  Adi had encountered her twice, and both times the queen had nearly killed her. She shuddered at the thought of the violation she’d suffered at the hands of the creature, the self-appointed guardian of the balance between the worlds.

  Adi had grown since then, had continued training with Honi and far surpassed his abilities. She’d had little trouble standing up to the queen’s mental assault the second time, yet had been helpless when brute force was used against her. Honi wouldn’t have a chance either way. And the queen had already threatened to harm him during their last battle.

  Adi scrunched her eyes shut for a moment and walked faster. Who was she kidding? She’d been so angry with Honi when she’d left the States, but she’d never stopped loving him. The thought of him being helpless in the faerie realm made her nauseous. She needed to get to him, sooner rather than later!