Bride of the Traitor: A Prophecy of Sisters Novel

by Faiman, Hayley

  The priest clears his throat and it is just moments later that he declares us married. Merek leans down, his lips touching mine in a soft, sweet kiss. He lifts his head, his eyes searching mine as his lips turn up into a small smile.

  “I love you, wife,” he rasps.

  I have loved him since my eyes landed on him months ago. Though, looking into those pretty green eyes, I know that it wasn’t love, it was merely lust. Watching him with Sybilla, seeing him take care of her, then guide Elias to her and watching his devotion to the king, that was what made me fall in love with him.

  “I love you, husband, so much,” I breathe. “Tomorrow I will love you even more.”

  His lips turn up into a smirk. “Yes, my joy, you will.”

  Without another word, he bends slightly, shoves his shoulder in my belly and throws me over his shoulder like a sack of grain. I let out a squeal of excitement and trepidation knowing what is coming next.

  I hear the laughter, the cheers, and the gasps as we approach the castle. Lifting my head, my eyes find Jasmine’s and she’s smiling as she holds her broken arm against her belly. My smile matches hers and she waves her uninjured hand toward me.

  Merek doesn’t slow down as he passes his men. They all cheer and shout, which causes him to chuckle, but his feet continue toward their mission and I know what that mission is, me on my back, him inside of me.

  My entire body trembles, fear and excitement filling me and almost pouring out of me. I don’t know what to expect, if in the pain will be overly much, or not, but I trust Merek, and I want to always make him happy.

  Once we’re in our chamber, or the chamber we have been using the past couple of days. He lowers me to the floor, my body staying closely pressed against his until my feet are firmly planted on the stone floor.

  Merek cups my cheeks with his palms, his eyes searching mine. “Once we are somewhere that has jewels, I will buy you the ring your heart desires,” he rasps.

  My eyes water from his words, his gaze is so intense, so soft that I wonder how I even contemplated walking away from him. I was a fool to think that I could, because he is more than I ever imagined I could have for myself.

  Chapter Four

  MEREK

  Dipping my chin, I touch my mouth to hers. Katrina lets out a gasp of surprise when my tongue instantly invades her. My fingers clench around her waist, the desire to shred her gown into pieces takes over, but Katrina is an innocent and there is plenty of time for me to rip gowns in the future.

  “Merek,” she whimpers as I pull away from our kiss.

  Taking a step away from her, needing the space for a moment to catch my breath, I keep my gaze focused on her bright green eyes. Lifting my hand, I tuck her hair behind her ear.

  “If you would like a celebration later, when we return to Aerilon, I would support that,” I murmur.

  She blinks, her eyes smiling before her lips. “That would be lovely, but nothing overly large. Maybe just Jasmine and Sybilla, plus the men, mayhap your parents? I do not wish them to be angry at not receiving an invitation.”

  My heart swells with pride that she’s thought of my family. Nodding, I extend my index finger and slide it down the side of her neck, sweeping it across her collarbone before stopping right at the neckline of her dress.

  “That would be good, my mother would enjoy that I am sure,” I murmur.

  My finger slips beneath the fabric of her dress, my eyes watching as hers widen and her breathing starts to come out in short pants. Taking a step toward her, I reach behind her and begin to unbutton the back of her dress, my nose sliding along hers.

  “Merek,” she breathes.

  “Yes, my joy?”

  “I’m scared,” she admits.

  My lips turn up before I brush them along hers. “You will not be soon,” I say with my mouth against hers. “Turn around so that I may unlace your ribbons and see my beautiful wife without anything between us.”

  Her entire body shivers and she takes a step back, turning around so that I may unlace her ribbons. My fingers make quick work of releasing her, but I do not push her dress down, she is trembling with fear of the unknown and I will not take her until she is begging me, her fear a distant memory.

  Leaning down, I touch my mouth to her shoulder, my tongue tasting her bare skin. My lips move up to the crook of her neck, finding that spot behind her ear that I know will drive her wild. She leans back with a moan, lifting her arm, wrapping her fingers behind my head as she lets out a moan.

  KATRINA

  Merek feels amazing. His mouth against my skin is like naught that I have ever felt before. Slowly, my fear begins to dissipate as he feasts on the skin of my neck and behind my ear. His fingers slowly drag my dress down my arms, leaving me in only my chemise as it falls to my feet.

  His fingers wrap around my waist, they are warm, almost too warm, and I desire them against my skin, with no fabric barrier between us. My breathing is coming out in pants, my eyes unable to open and my nipples are hard peaks, my breasts aching, along with the place between my thighs.

  Turning in his arms, I lift my gaze to his while I remove my own chemise, feeling daring, I bare myself for my husband. Merek does not move as his eyes take in my nudity. “You are a dream come to reality, my joy,” he says, his voice deep and husky.

  Biting on the corner of my lip, I feel odd being the only one without clothes. Taking a step toward him, I touch the hem of his tunic. He grins, reaching down and pulling it from his body. I gasp at the sight of the expanse of his bared torso.

  Reaching out, I place my hand at the center of his tanned chest. There is a small smattering of hair in the center of his torso and I drag my nails lightly through it, my nipples hardening even more as my nails make their way toward the waist of his tights.

  “Do not,” he grunts, wrapping his hand around my wrist. Startled, I lift my eyes to meet his. “I will not last and you will be supremely disappointed.” He grins, lightening the moment.

  Merek picks me up and carries me to the bed. This is it, this is the moment that I will truly become his wife, a piece of me that I have cherished my entire life will be gone and Merek will take ownership of it and of me. There is no other man on this earth that I would rather give it to.

  He lies me against the pillows, his body pressed against my side. His nose slides alongside my own and then his mouth touches mine. I moan when his tongue tangles with mine. It is intense, my hips shift with the need to feel more of him.

  Merek’s hand cups one of my breasts, holding me in his palm as if he is testing the weight of my flesh, then his fingers pinch my nipple and he gently tugs. I feel the sensation between my legs and I let out a gasp of surprise.

  His mouth leaves mine, his lips traveling down to my other breast. Tipping my head down, I watch as he devours my breast, his warm tongue swirling around my nipple before his teeth tug the same way his fingers did on the other one.

  “Merek,” I sigh, my hands fisting the bedding at my sides.

  He lifts his eyes to mine, his mouth moving over to my other breast and he follows the same pattern before his lips begin to travel down my belly. He stops just above my center, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

  “You don’t mean to…”

  “Absolutely, my joy. Spread for your husband, show me all of you.”

  My face feels hot and I shake my head. “I can’t.”

  “Does it ache, do you need to feel me there?”

  I nod, much to my embarrassment. I do wish to feel him there. All of him, but his mouth? Surely not.

  “You will enjoy it. I would like to give you something to enjoy before I am forced to take your innocence, that will hurt you this first time, Katrina.”

  Pinching my eyes closed, unable to watch him, I slowly spread my thighs for him.

  Chapter Five

  MEREK

  My beautifully brave wife spreads her thighs for me. I watch as she shows me all of her, every square inch. I am, without a doubt, not disappointed. I
want to examine her, to spread her wide, all of her, but she is not ready for that yet.

  Fitting my shoulders between her thighs, I rest her knees over my shoulders to keep her open for me. I lower my face to her center. Inhaling her scent, I moan as it smells better than any other I have taken with my mouth, mostly because this part of her is only mine—forever.

  Flattening my tongue, I slide it along her entire wet and achy center, tasting all of her. I hear her breath hitch, then she moans when my tongue circles her sweet nub. I make love to my wife’s queynte with my mouth.

  Her inhibitions take a few moments to disappear and when they do, I cannot take my eyes off of her. Her back arches, her chest rising and falling quickly at the same time her hips lift and jerk.

  Sliding my hands beneath her sweet backside, I bring her closer to my mouth, needing so much more of her, needing her sweet release. I know when she is on the cusp.

  Her mouth parts, her eyes open and she gasps before her hips jerk faster against my tongue. Her body is taking over for her now, her control vanished and it is beautiful. When her release floods my tongue, I let out my own moan as I continue to taste her until her tremors subside.

  When she is loose, sated, her lips turned up in a small smile, I quickly discard my tights and return to her still spread thighs. My cock presses against her center, but I do not invade her, yet.

  Cupping the side of her neck, I look into her green eyes. “This will hurt, but the next time I promise, it will be much more pleasurable.”

  She nods, licking her lips. “I trust you, Merek. I want more from you, I want you to show me everything that makes you explode as I just have.”

  My lips turn up into a grin as I lower my head and touch them against hers. “Just looking at you this way makes me want to explode, my joy,” I rasp before I slide my tongue inside of her mouth, at the same time I penetrate her center, inching inside of her slowly.

  She stiffens, her body unused to the invasion. I give her a moment to become used to my size before I push deeper inside of her, my mouth never leaving hers as I devour her with my tongue. Eventually her body begins to relax and then, I push completely inside of her.

  KATRINA

  I cry out as he takes me completely. Tears immediately fill my eyes and fall. Merek wipes them away, not leaving my body, but instead watching me and waiting for me to give him a signal to continue.

  Hitching up my thighs, I wrap my legs around his lower back, crossing them at the ankles as I keep my gaze on his. His jaw is clenched, his green eyes turning almost black as he watches me. When his lips twitch into a grin, he slowly pulls out of me, then slides back inside.

  Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I dig my nails into his back, holding on to him, watching him and wondering if he can make me explode this way like he did with his mouth.

  “You are so beautiful, Katrina,” he rasps, his hips continue moving as he pulls out before easing back inside.

  His movements are controlled, even and gentle. I can tell by the way his arms shake and how his jaw is clenched that he is holding back for my sake and that makes me fall a little deeper in love with him than I was even an hour ago.

  I can say naught, there is nothing that words can say to compare to the beauty that he is showing me. His hips continue moving, he slowly picks up speed, his gaze so focused on mine that it steals my breath.

  Something begins to build inside of me, yearning for more, to feel more. Lifting my hips, I meet his strokes which causes a groan to escape his lips. “You own me, my joy,” he grunts as sweat gathers against his forehead.

  “You have always owned me, Merek. I have saved myself for you, before I even laid my eyes on you,” I admit.

  His lips turn up and he lowers his head. His lips touch mine, his hips moving a little harder and faster with each stroke. Ripping my mouth from his, my lips part and my eyes widen. It is coming again, that sensation, that need to release something that is building in my belly.

  Merek slides his nose alongside mine, his lips moving to my ear. “Let go, my joy. I wish to feel your climax around me,” he whispers.

  His words are all that I need. My back arches, my toes point, and my nails dig into his flesh as the release consumes me. My muscles are so tight and I can do naught but hold on to him.

  Merek’s hips continue to thrust until he stills inside of me, then he lets out a long moan. I feel his length twitch inside of me as he fills me with his seed. His mouth touches mine, and I expect him to roll off of me, but he doesn’t.

  He lifts his head, his eyes finding mine and I watch as they roam over my face. “You are better than I could have ever imagined, Katrina. Never did I think that I could find my match in all things, and yet, here you are.”

  “Merek,” I whisper as tears leak from my eyes.

  “Thank you, Katrina. For this gift and for becoming my wife.”

  We don’t say anything else. I cannot speak another word. He slants his head to the side and his mouth devours me. He shows me his appreciation for accepting his proposal, but it is me who should be thanking him, and I will, by being the best wife a man could ask for.

  Epilogue

  SIX MONTHS LATER

  MEREK

  I did not plan to stay here in Llyne as long as I have, but I find that I am very much enjoying the quiet of this land. Not one person fought the takeover by King Elias. In fact, they are all prospering since he has taken this castle as his own and added it to his extensive holdings. All is how it should always have been.

  A man, a stranger, rides through the gates on horseback. All of the warriors have gone home, all but Rowan and Frederick have left as well, going back to Aerilon to be at Elias’ side and at his disposal.

  I watch him, he is dressed strangely, though because of my extensive travel, I know of what land he hails. He’s dressed in furs, trousers instead of tights, his boots are a thick material meant to ward off the snow and cold. His hair is past his shoulders, his beard long as well. He is a man of the sea.

  He has no desire to slow down, to stop, not until he is right upon me. Jerking my chin, I tilt my head to the side, my eyes gazing over his horse who is sweating and tired.

  Lifting my hand, I call for the stable boy. “Yes, Your Highness,” he says, dipping down.

  Technically, I am royal, however, I do not wish to be called highness, ever, but this boy does so in front of a stranger. He’s a good boy. Smart.

  “Take this warrior’s horse, feed and water him, take care of him, he is tired,” I state.

  The man dismounts from his steed and tosses his reins to the boy. “Many thanks,” he grunts, his voice rough and deep.

  “Are you in charge here?” he asks. His Bunafidian is good, but heavily accented.

  I shrug a shoulder. “I am not the King of Bunafi, but I am the ruler of Llyne, under the king’s command of course,” I explain.

  He dips his chin with a nod. “I have a missive from my king. I dared not go much farther, unsure if I would run into enemies. I know there have been rumblings of war in this area,” he explains.

  “Come to the chancery, you can explain to me what this missive is. My cousin took back control of this land some months ago,” I say as I turn from him and begin to walk toward the castle doors.

  Katrina appears almost immediately, a huge smile on her face, until her gaze skirts to the man at my back and her feet freeze to the floor as her entire body jerks.

  “My joy, I have a guest. Off now, yes?” Typically, Katrina would be at my side if we were to have a guest, but I do not know this man or his intentions and I want her to take herself somewhere safe.

  She dips her chin. “Yes, Merek,” she breathes before she whirls around and runs away.

  Once we’re in the chancery, the man flops down in one of the chairs. He is tall and thick, his body wide and the chair groans under his weight.

  “Your wife is very beautiful. Such a hair color I have yet to lay eyes upon.”

  “She is none of your conc
ern,” I grunt, my eyes narrowed at him.

  He shrugs a shoulder as if it means naught to him. “It’s a fact. But the reason I’m here is not your pretty little wife. King Aaric, the sea king, has a missive for your king.”

  “What could that be?” I ask.

  He grins. “Your queen, is she of another land, perhaps?”

  My entire body goes on high alert. “Speak,” I growl.

  “My queen is Liv from New York. I travel, listening for my king. I heard rumors that your queen was of another land. When I told my king, he wanted to know for sure. He has a seer at his command and she has seen visions of your land in Bunafi and a new queen, a queen who can aid in a prophecy, perhaps?”

  Everything he says, every single thing causes the hairs at the back of my neck to rise. “We will leave at first light for Bunafi. King Elias will want to hear of your information,” I state.

  He jerks his chin. “Do you have ale and a woman or two for the eve?” he asks, his lips turning into a grin.

  I know of these men. Sex is freely shared among them, naught is sacred or guarded. Women and men share equally in the pleasures of the flesh. It is not like here. Shaking my head once, I clear my throat.

  “We do not have women available to be at your disposal here. However, there are a few widows in town who share themselves for coin, I can have a man lead you to them and give you a horse from my stable for the eve.”

  He dips his chin. “Much appreciated. I will return at first light,” he murmurs.

  I call out for Rowan who I know will watch him. When he comes into the chancery, I explain the situation and he agreed to guide the man and keep watch of him. Frederick also comes to me, and I explain it to him as well. I send him ahead of us so that he can warn Elias and Sybilla of what is coming.