His mouth pinched together, understanding my meaning. He wrapped his arms around me as I curled into his body, inhaling his scent. An ointment to my soul. “I have this sick feeling in my gut, as if something horrible is about to happen.”
Lorcan’s lips brushed my forehead. “Because it is.”
A worm of fear kept wiggling in my stomach, my intuition sensing doom. Immediate doom…as though this moment was the calm before the storm.
“You are so wound up.” Lorcan pulled me tighter into him. “Every muscle is tense. I can help with that.”
“I’m sure you think you can.” I grinned into his chest.
“You purposely trying to challenge me?”
“Maybe.”
In an instant, Lorcan flipped me on my back, pinning my body under his, naked and wanting. His mouth found mine, parting my lips in a deep kiss, which swiftly turned desperate and wild. I needed to feel him. Now. Time felt so short, darkness looming at the edge of the bed, and I didn’t want to waste a moment of it.
I wrapped my hand around his shaft, pumping my hand up and down. Lorcan rumbled against my mouth, his fingers flicking my nipples. I locked my legs around his waist, twisted us over, and climbed on top of him. I ripped off my T-shirt, the rest of me already naked. His irises shimmered with red as I took lead, leading his cock inside me as I slammed down, gasping.
“Fuuucck.” His head curled back into the pillow, his hands grabbing my hips. I had grown more aggressive in the bedroom, but tonight I felt even more fearless. The world was about to end and nothing else mattered but this moment with Lorcan. Rolling my hips, I began to build a ruthless rhythm, taking what I wanted. My need for him, to drive so deep inside me, felt different as I ground my teeth together, grunting in desperation.
“Shit, Kennedy.” He hissed, thrusting into me with abandonment, hitting the spot that had me grabbing the headboard, picking up my pace. A cry ripped from my throat, words I knew to be Latin, barked from me, but I didn’t think about what they meant or why it was coming from my mouth without thought. Sweat trickled over my back, our bodies slapping together. I rode him mercilessly, the tingle of an orgasm heating up my thighs.
A deep growl rumbled through the room as his eyes turned fully red. He grabbed me and pulled me off him, his teeth bared. He quickly had me bent over the side of the bed on my stomach, plunging back into me from behind. Using the curve of the bed to get traction, his thickness pounded into me. My nails dug into the sheets, my body tightening around him. His hands slid into mine, lacing them together, slamming even harder.
“Oh god…” I wailed, pleasure hitting every nerve, sending flames through my muscles.
He leaned back, changing his position slightly. The tip of him struck my G-spot and my body tightened around him. I could feel his cock pulse inside, and my body exploded, my eyes shutting as more Latin curled off my tongue in choppy bits. He drove into me a couple more times before he roared and released into me. Unbelievable pleasure tore at every nerve, stealing the air from my lungs. He pulsed as he continued to empty himself inside me, causing bliss so raw I cried out another string of Latin words.
Sparks of white blinked behind my lids, ripping me from reality.
Oh. No. Not now!
Flash.
Ships sail for the harbor, the King’s insignia on the masts.
Flash.
My office. My desk. A calendar. Today’s date.
Flash.
I was standing outside the castle in a courtyard of the village. Crumbled building. Charred cars and wagons. Dead bodies were sprawled and shredded in lumps all around me. Tap, tap, tap. The sound of blood dripping down into the gutter echoed in my ears.
I had been in a vision like this before. But this time I wasn’t in a field, ready to fight Aneira. This time I was Queen, inside my own castle walls, fighting for it against another mad leader.
Something tickled my feet, and I knew before I even looked what I touched this time.
Everyone I loved and cared for lay in a heap around me. Dead.
I was here again.
My heart raced in my chest, devastation welling in my eyes. Who would I lose in this war?
“Time’s up.” At the sound of a squawk, my gaze bolted up. Grimmel was perched on top a burned-out car.
“Grimmel.”
“That is what you call me.”
I sighed. I wished just once he would tell me what I needed to know. But that was not Grimmel’s way.
“Is this a vision I can change?”
“Only you know.”
“Always helpful.”
“Hurry, Light.” Grimmel flapped his wings.
“Hurry, what?”
“What can fly without wings?”
Flash.
Ships. A loud clock ticking. Bodies.
Flash.
“Hey, li’l bird. Come back to me.” A voice pulled me back, blinking up at deep green eyes.
Pillows and blankets were strewn around my naked body. My gaze wandered around the room.
“What do you feel?” He ran his fingers between my thighs. Lorcan. Home.
Crap times a million. He had literally screwed me into oblivion.
“What do you see?” He leaned over, kissing my neck. “Smell?” He bit my earlobe and the jolt of pain jerked me fully awake. “I take it as a compliment I can make you pass out from an orgasm, so don’t ruin this for me.”
Clock. Blood. Ships. My desk.
“What can fly without wings?”
This vision had been more obscure than most. It jumped around, but my brain kept hearing the loudly ticking clock, flashing to my desk.
“Ken?” Lorcan flipped hair away from my face.
“I need to go to my office.” I climbed off the bed, heading for the closet.
“No ‘thank you, Lorcan, for the best sex of my life’? Really, you should get medals and have a holiday named in your honor.” His sarcasm reached me in the large walk-in. I grabbed leggings and a sweater, strolling back into our room.
“Thank you, Lorcan, for the best sex of my life.” I smirked, pulling on my clothes. “I will ask the nobles if I can get a day named after you.”
“Oh, ask for statues to be erected.” He slipped from the bed, walking proudly to me.
“Cute.”
“Make the women jealous in all the land.”
I laughed, pulling on my boots. I wasn’t about to admit that a naked statue of him would do exactly that. Also, the sex we just had was so incredible my legs still wobbled.
“What was your vision?” He grabbed his T-shirt off a chair, his expression losing all humor.
“It was odd.” I zipped my last boot and stood. “It was different from usual. Incredibly jumbled. But it kept showing me my desk. As if it were hinting at something I was missing there.”
I went to the door, hearing Lorcan slip on clothes. I swung open the door to see Torin pacing around my outer chamber. Since Lorcan had moved in, Hazel, the personal attendant who came with the castle, had decided retirement wasn’t such a bad thing, which couldn’t have pleased me more. She had scared the hell out of me.
“Torin?” A flush coated my cheeks. How long had he been there? How much had he heard?
His head jolted up like he was surprised to see me there. A wild, perplexed expression showed in his eyes. His hair was ruffled and untied, his clothes rumpled, as though he’d slept in them. Instantly, I felt unsettled, and scared. This was very unlike him.
“What’s wrong? What are you doing here?” I stepped out of the room, Lorcan following close behind, thankfully dressed in a shirt and jeans.
“I-I…” He ran his hand over his hair, tweaking it even more. “No. I shouldn’t do this. It’s reprehensible.” He shook his head, turning to leave.
“Torin. Stop.” I jogged up next to him, my brows dipping down. I had never seen him like this. He was always in control and disciplined. “What is it? You can talk to me.” I grabbed his arm, halting his fleeing steps.
&n
bsp; “No. I’m sorry I bothered you, my lady. Forget it.” Pain clouded his expression before he shook it off, pushing forward.
“No.” I cut him off, stepping in front of him. “Tell me.” I could order him, but instead I reached out, touching his hand. “I am your Queen, but also your friend. If I can do anything to unburden you, please let me. I can tell something is bothering you.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to ask this of you, my lady.” Anguish shone brightly in his eyes, his tongue running over his bottom lip. “I understand by law you must say no, but I still feel I have to ask, to try. Beg for your consideration.”
My eyes widened, hearing the desperation in his voice, my heart rate picking up. What could possibly have the stoic First Knight begging? “What is it, Torin?”
“Uh.” He exhaled heavily. “It’s Thara…” He briefly shut his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I would like to ask for a pardon on her behalf.”
Okay. Wow. I was not expecting that. Not from him. The last I had known, he wouldn’t even go see her. I had long ago forgiven her, but he said he never would.
“Have you gone to see her?”
“Yes.” He bowed his head. “I’ve been down there several times now.”
“And you have forgiven her?”
“Forgiven?” He shook his head. “No. Not fully, but I want to. I understand her motives a bit more.” He swallowed. “Things have changed.”
It was an instant, a bloom of his aurora, the sensation fluttering at the edges, but enough for me to see what he was trying to hide.
“You’re in love with her.” I tried to hide my smile.
“Love?” He wagged his head fervently. “Absolutely not, my lady. I care about her. She has been my comrade for centuries.” His protest was as thin as parchment. Even he knew it.
I stepped closer, my mouth curving. “I am happy for you, Torin. You don’t know how much I wish you happiness. You deserve that more than anyone I know, but pardoning her will be almost impossible with the nobles.”
“You are Queen, and we are going to war. We need all available warriors possible. She is a fighter. An excellent one. It is your decision to make.”
My smile grew. “You mean break the rules,” I whispered conspiratorially.
I thought he would react to my words, try to deny he would break code, but instead he picked himself up higher. “Yes, my lady. Screw the nobles.”
Wow. This was serious.
“Screw the nobles.” I nodded. “I hereby pardon Thara of the wrongs she enacted against the crown.”
“Really?” Torin looked shocked at my statement. “You truly are all right with this?”
“Anyone who makes you say ‘screw the nobles’ is more than all right with me.” I held up my hand. “But she can never be a private soldier for me. You understand that, right? She has to stay in the general army, without close access to me. She has a long way to go to prove herself.”
“Of course, my lady.” Torin bowed, grabbing my hand and kissing it. “Thank you.”
“Go.” I tipped my head to the side. “Go free her. Get her prepared for what is coming.”
He nodded, turning to the hall.
“Oh, and Torin?” He turned back to me. “Do not take her for granted again. Every day you should feel lucky you have an amazing woman like her who still loves you.”
He didn’t talk but bowed his head before he turned around and ran down the hall.
“I think I’m really going to like Thara.” Lorcan came beside me. “Anyone who can make his ass even a tiny bit tolerable has to be fucking awesome.”
“Some might say the same about you.”
“Oh, I know I’m fucking awesome.” He nudged me. “Hence the statues in my name.”
“I meant being more tolerable.” I winked at him. “Actually, never mind. That’s impossible.”
“Okay, li’l Druid, you’re getting lippy again.” He smacked my ass, herding me along the passage. “Might have to discipline you again. Office spankings?”
A few minutes later, I stared at my desk, trying to find anything of significance. Maps, notes, and paperwork were strewn over it, but nothing new, nothing that was important.
“Night out, but light is still off.” A squawk came from the window. I craned my neck to the side.
“Grimmel, you were there. Help me. What am I missing?” I placed my palms on the top of each sheet, hoping for a flashback to kick in.
“I know not. Only bringer, not prophet.” He huffed snidely, hopping onto the desk.
“Ahhhh! Why can’t you ever be helpful?”
“Can only lead. You must drink.”
Lorcan snorted coming next to me. “What about stuffed raven for the holidays?”
I eyed my feathered friend. “Not a bad idea.”
Grimmel flapped his wings, a low raspy hiss coming from his chest. “What can fly without wings?” I jerked toward him. This was the same riddle he spoke in the vision.
“Easy.” Lorcan snorted. “Time.”
Grimmel huffed as if he were upset Lorcan figured it out. “Brain cell still left in dweller.”
“Time,” I repeated. My hand slid over the contents of my desk, touching everything, my fingers grazing the propped-up calendar.
Flash.
The vision I had earlier slammed back in as I zeroed in on the date. The clock sounded like a time bomb about to go off. Today’s date, before the sounds of screams echoed in my ear. Blood. Dead bodies. Ships sailing in.
Flash.
I jerked back to the present. The vision didn’t take me fully under. I peered at the calendar, then swung around to the peaceful lake, but my gut rolled with the impending storm, understanding what was coming.
“Oh. No,” I said at the same moment Lorcan went rigid beside me, his head snapping toward outside. I felt the buzz of energy, the link between dark dwellers.
My mouth opened to ask as he bolted for the door, running out of the room. Padding after him, I got to the hallway when I heard the sounds of doors slamming, muttering in the hallways. West, still tugging on a T-shirt, was the first one I spotted.
“What is happening?”
“Eli.” He jogged past me. “Something’s wrong, darlin’.”
Staying close behind him, I followed West outside. Cole, Lorcan, Dax, and Dom were already there watching Eli’s dweller sprint from the forest toward us, something hanging gingerly from his daggered mouth. I squinted, trying to see what it was.
“Sprig!” Annabeth’s voice cried out behind me, swinging me around. She stood in only a thigh-length men’s T-shirt next to Cooper, who wore no shirt at all. Both looked flushed, hair a mess. Annabeth bolted forward, her bare feet striking the debris of the forest bed, crashing to her knees in front of Eli, her hands stretched out for the tiny monkey.
Her ethereal appearance reminded me of Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Though, that was the wrong beast she was taming. I glanced over at Cooper, who stared at her as if she were a dream come to life.
She gently picked Sprig from Eli’s mouth, laying the unconscious sprite in her hands. He was slimy, but otherwise appeared unharmed. Annabeth curled him to her chest, stroking Sprig’s head.
Eli rumbled, his body shifting back to human. As many times as I’d watched Lorcan do it, it never ceased to amaze and disturb me.
His body curved and twisted, forming back into his human shape. The sleek black fur receded, defining every solid toned muscle underneath. His razor-sharp teeth and spine lined with sharp, spiked horns disappeared in a blink. Eli stood before us, naked.
“What’s going on, Eli?” Cole tossed him a pair of sweats. “You didn’t make much sense.”
Eli pulled on the pants, his chest still heaving from running.
“I was prowling around Lars’s property, seeing if there was any way I could get in.” Where Ember was, he would be there. “I smelled him. Escaping from the compound.” He nodded to the bundle in Annabeth’s arms. “I was only able to get a few words from h
im before he passed out.” Eli licked his lips.
“What?” Deep down, I felt I already knew.
“Pirates. Trap. And honey bears wanting to eat his brains. I got the feeling that was not really related.”
A few of my private guards stayed on the outer ring, ready for a command. It was strange how I almost stopped realizing they were there. Sturt, Georgia, and Castien hovered close by.
“Castien, go get Torin. He should be in the dungeons. Tell him to get the men ready and then retrieve Croygen. Georgia and Sturt, lock down the docks. No one goes in or out. And bring all the captains to me... in handcuffs.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The three of them bowed and dashed off to execute my demands.
“Croygen wouldn’t betray you.” Annabeth stood, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulders as she shook her head. “He is my family. I know him. He wouldn’t do that.”
“I’ve been deceived by those I thought closest to me. A friend. I want to believe you, but I can’t afford to risk my people’s lives.” The statement came from my mouth, empathy and strength holding up each word. In that instant, I realized how much I had changed. I used to be like her. I could tell she carried her own demons, but there remained an innocence to her. I wanted to believe I still had a little of that, but with all that happened, those I’d lost, and becoming a leader had ripped idealism from me. Yet each scar had made me be a stronger person. And they all led me here. To be Queen and to be with Lorcan.
“Let’s gather in the throne room; I think we’ve been betrayed.” Anger whipped inside me. I turned back for the palace, a place I had never considered home until now when my home and everyone in it had been threatened. Now I wanted to protect it with everything I had. “War is coming today. We must be ready.”
Chapter 21
Fionna
Staring up, the lights from the sleeping village in the distance grazed over the timber, strange designs winding over the ceiling. Dawn nipped at night’s heels, and I had yet to get my lids to shut. The soft bed curved around me, but my restless limbs made it feel more like a torture device.
Guilt and shame dwarfed all logic. I wasn’t the one who’d gone with Stavros to save my daughter.
Rise From the Embers (Lightness Saga #4) Page 26
