Midnight Soul

by Kristen Ashley

  I shifted my gaze to the couple to see that this declaration of freedom was another gift bestowed on them that was a far sight sweeter than flower petals falling. They were staring up at their Dax in open-mouthed wonder.

  Apparently, slaves were rarely freed in Korwahk.

  “And as a gift to Jacanda,” Lahn roared on while Diandra translated, sounding surprised herself (a secret well-kept, clearly, for Diandra was much beloved and trusted by Circe), “a loyal slave to your queen, a slave who has stood by your queen’s side in womanly ways that mirror the actions of a warrior of the Horde to his brother, it is the will of your king and his golden queen that every merchant, man and warrior give liberty to those who serve them with steadfast allegiance.”

  I felt my frame stiffen.

  Was he…?

  I stared.

  By the gods, Lahn was freeing the slaves!

  The stirring increased as did the tightness of Noc’s hold, and a shocked murmuring broke out amongst the crowd.

  “It is our will, the will of your king and your queen,” Lahn thundered over the low sound. “It is the seal of the Golden Dynasty. Fidelity is rewarded. Freedom is granted. We build the Korwahk the prophets have foreseen and that Korwahk will flourish and thrive under the reign of the Golden Dynasty,” he suddenly lifted a hand and beat it to his chest, “my Golden Dynasty. The dynasty pouring forth from my seed planted in the fertility between the legs of my,” another chest pound, “golden warrior queen.”

  My eyes shot to Circe to see her rolling hers at Lahn’s bold assertions.

  But she was doing this grinning.

  Lahn just kept speaking.

  “All of those within our borders that your Horde protects from this day walk free, and they do it vowing allegiance to the sand and rock of this proud country.”

  There was more murmuring amongst the gathering, but as I glanced around, held close in Noc’s hold, I noticed it was only murmuring. To my shock, although this was a declaration that would change the fabric of their daily lives, most everyone (but the warriors) looked surprised, no one looked angry.

  This was undoubtedly because every warrior amongst them had clearly been told this was happening today and they not only wore their paint, they wore their large swords at a slant across their backs.

  I’d thought this was all ceremonial.

  I realized then it was not.

  So apparently, when told to free your slaves, you were quite all right with that because your alternative was to demur and have a Korwahk Horde warrior carve you asunder.

  I felt this was an appropriate reaction for a variety of reasons and turned my attention back to Lahn when he again started speaking.

  “It is the way of my wife’s people that you kiss to seal your oath,” Lahn said, now only speaking to the couple. Then he ordered, “Do that now.”

  I heard Noc chuckle as I felt him relax, and it took a moment for Jacanda and Derahn to pull themselves together, but once that moment was over, they hesitated no further and fell into each other’s arms.

  The kiss was not chaste.

  Indeed, it was so not chaste it didn’t end at all but continued with Derahn twisting Jacanda to her back on a bed of petals on stone, covering her with his body, and a cheer rent from the crowd.

  Suddenly, golden panels until then unseen (in other words, Circe conjured them), fell around the couple, hiding them from view.

  “That, sugarlips, is precisely why weddings make people horny,” Noc murmured amusedly in my ear.

  I twisted my neck and gave him a vexed look.

  His gaze drifted upward and his lips muttered, “Fuckin’ hell.”

  At his words and a new shout from the crowd, my gaze drifted upward too.

  And there, arcing over the gathering, indeed the entirety of the Majestic Rim, glinting like it dripped pixie dust, was the brightest, clearest, largest rainbow I’d ever seen.

  I again looked to Circe who now sat by her husband. Lahn had taken his own throne and was jerking his head tersely to a hovering servant, telling her without words to pour the libation she’d brought for his wife first.

  She scuttled over to Circe.

  I watched her accept the chalice of wine like she was taking a glass offered to her while she was seated at Noc’s island.

  And I knew.

  Lahn did not free the oppressed of his country.

  His wife did.

  By talking her husband into doing it.

  Oh yes, the golden warrior queen of Korwahk was quite something.

  “Seems we weren’t invited just for a visit with the excuse of the wedding of some chick we didn’t know,” Noc remarked, bringing my eyes to him. “Seems we were here to witness something really fucking cool.”

  It would seem he was correct.

  “I wish the others were here,” I replied, meaning Frey and Finnie, Tor and Cora, and even Maddie and Apollo (these last two for Noc, I didn’t think they liked me much, but my Noc liked them).

  “If they were, I wouldn’t have an excuse to take you to Fleuridia, Bellebryn and Lunwyn,” Noc returned.

  “True,” I murmured.

  “Babe,” he called even though I was right in his arms, looking into his eyes.

  “Yes, my darling?”

  “Feel like sealing our own oath?” he asked, his stunning blue eyes now dancing.

  “I always feel like sealing our own oath,” I answered with the gods’ honest truth.

  Noc smiled down at me.

  Then he kissed me.

  Unfortunately, for the sake of politeness, he ceased doing this when Diandra’s husband, Seerim, and her daughter, Sheena, joined us, carrying resin cups filled to the brim with Korwahkian wine.

  When I took mine from Sheena with a soft, “Shahsha,” (“thank you” in Korwahkian) the pretty girl grinned at me.

  “I can see Lahn has it going on,” Noc said to Diandra, who looked confused for a moment but her lips still moved, uttering Korwahkian, translating for her husband and daughter. “Not many leaders, no matter they can tear a man’s head off with their bare hands, could pull that off by just saying it’s gonna be done.”

  Diandra kept talking, and when she was finished, Seerim started.

  Diandra translated.

  “There will be uprisings. This is only the beginning. The Horde has been warned and they are aware. It will not be this easy. What it will be, eventually, is the legacy of the Golden Dynasty.”

  “Don’t doubt that,” Noc replied.

  Diandra translated what Noc had said then shared her own words, “It helps matters, I’m certain, that all the rulers of the Northlands have declared their alliance with this new creed and will block trade with merchants from Korwahk who won’t follow it. Rulers who have also vowed they’re prepared to ride with the Horde for those who take up weapons in an effort to defy it.”

  In other words, Queen Aurora (with the support of Frey and Apollo, no doubt), Prince Noctorno, King Ludlum and whoever was ruling Fleuridia now (I was out of the loop, I’d heard there was a coup in the last conversation I’d had with Cora through my crystal ball, but it was no longer my world so I didn’t pay it much mind) were on board with Lahn’s decree.

  “Not bad backup,” Noc muttered.

  Diandra nodded.

  Sheena said something and Diandra looked toward the thrones before saying to us, “Our Dax and Dahksahna wish our presence.”

  I looked to the thrones too and saw now that the king and his queen had been reunited with their family.

  Thus Circe was waving us her way even as she seemed to be attempting to control a very active Ashur in her arms (this effort failing as she was also holding her chalice of wine and the child very much wanted to launch itself at the white tiger, who was engaged in the activity of licking the baby’s leg).

  This was happening while Lahn had his dark-haired toddler Tunahn riding his broad shoulders, the boy looking to the expanse before him like he already ruled the people milling about in it.

&nbs
p; But his golden-haired daughter, Isis, had plastered her front to her father’s massive chest, blurring his paint, which was now smudging her golden garments, and giggling while she pulled at his beard.

  Lahn felt no need to appear kingly with his daughter pressed to him, pulling at his beard. He’d just wrapped his strapping forearm under her bum, held her to him, and smiled wide into her beautiful little face.

  “Time to attend the king and queen,” Noc said in my ear, putting a hand to the small of my back and starting us that way.

  He was right, of course.

  In a way.

  But really, it was time to be with our friends and celebrate a momentous occasion.

  The first new creed as proclaimed by The Golden Dynasty.

  I took a sip from my cup as I moved, and thought, May it be one of many.

  * * * * *

  Fleuridia

  I plucked a piece of lavender as I ambled down the lane beside Maddie.

  I’d asked for this stroll.

  Now I didn’t know how to go about the business of why I’d done that.

  During our visit to my world, Noc wanted to see everyone, including Apollo and Maddie.

  I’d said no words against it, even if I felt no small amount of concern that I knew Noc would be welcomed, but I likely wouldn’t.

  This did not occur. Both Apollo and his Maddie were very cordial with me.

  Cordial.

  Not friendly.

  It was clear they most enjoyed seeing Noc.

  But they were very poor at hiding they were not the same with me.

  Apollo was formal and terse, if not outwardly unwelcoming.

  Maddie was hesitant and watchful.

  We were only staying but days before being spirited to Bellebryn as arranged (and paid for) with Valentine, and I had thought to simply get through it and then move on with our holiday.

  What I didn’t factor was the fact that Noc was as he was.

  Highly perceptive.

  At first, he seemed keen on the course of attempting, with his good humor and easy manner, to sweep away the awkwardness.

  When this didn’t occur, and regardless that I tried to hide my discomfort, he started to get frustrated.

  Then angry.

  I feared he’d demand words with Apollo, and before he did something like that, altering a relationship I knew they both enjoyed in a way they would cease doing that, something had to be done.

  And I had to do it.

  Thus I’d asked Maddie on this stroll.

  And I couldn’t begin to know how to sort through the matter at hand.

  I just knew I must.

  For Noc.

  And, to be quite truthful, for Maddie.

  I stopped, twirling the stem of lavender in my fingers, and called quietly, “Lady Madeleine.”

  She stopped too, having walked on several strides, and turned back to me.

  I decided to face it head on.

  “When I said what I said to you at Brunskar, I know my words harmed you,” I declared.

  “Franka,” she said my name uneasily.

  “This has been made very clear to me,” I shared.

  She seemed at a loss before she replied, “Things were very…emotional at the time.”

  “They were indeed,” I agreed. “This does not erase the harm that I’d done.”

  She took a step toward me, saying again, “Franka.”

  “Those I care about, who care about me, call me Frannie.”

  She stopped and stared.

  “Even if I would never speak it aloud, until now, I’ve always admired Apollo for many reasons. His service to my country is one. Another is the love he has for his family.”

  She looked to be fighting turning her gaze away and she won, holding mine steady but saying nothing.

  “This man I’ve long respected, it’s good to see him again happy,” I declared.

  A startled warmth moved through her gaze as she took the last step toward me, reaching out to wrap her fingers around mine.

  “That’s kind of you to say,” she replied quietly.

  “Perhaps, but mostly it’s true,” I returned.

  Her lips curved.

  “It may be the damage my words caused make it so we cannot have what I have with the others who’ve found love across worlds,” I carried on. “But my Noc has grown to care about you both. So although it is not mine to ask anything of you, for him I do so regardless. And what I ask is that we endeavor to get past the awkwardness between us so that Noc can enjoy his time, time that’s rather brief, with the two of you.”

  “I know what happened to you,” she whispered.

  I fought lifting my chin and replied, “I know you do.”

  “My ex, the other Apollo, Pol, beat the absolute crap out of me, doing it repeatedly. Once doing it and I lost the son I carried.”

  I blinked in shock and distress.

  “When I went to my parents for help,” she continued, “my father closed the door in my face.”

  “By the gods,” I breathed.

  She nodded and went on to tell her startling tale of woe.

  “I went on the run and I didn’t let anyone close to me. Not for ages. Not until Apollo.”

  I said nothing.

  “In other words, Frannie. I get you.” She looked beyond me, back up to the grand manse in the countryside of Fleuridia she shared with her husband, his children by Ilsa, and their little Valentine, and again to me. “The awkwardness was because, well, even having changed, you’re kind of intimidating and I didn’t know how to broach it with you.” She gave me a grin. “I’m glad you knew what to do.”

  “Well, I’m…” I cleared my throat, “glad too.”

  Her grin became a smile, she moved into me, coming to my side and hooking her arm through my own.

  Thus, she moved us again forward. “So now, tell me. I’m dying to know. How did you react to my old world? I have to admit, I’d love to take Lo there. See how he feels about airplanes and Jacuzzis. You have to tell me everything. What did you think the weirdest thing was? And the most wonderful?”

  I shared this with her and she threw her head back and laughed when I told her both were my introduction to the glory of toilets.

  And from there, Lady Madeleine Ulfr and I wandered a lane lined in lavender.

  And as we did, we became friends.

  * * * * *

  Noc

  “She’s much changed.”

  Noc didn’t take his eyes from the window as he watched Frannie and Maddie wandering down the lane, arm in arm, heads bent together even when he felt Apollo come to stand beside him or when Apollo said those words.

  “No, she’s not,” Noc replied

  “I knew her well before you, my brother,” Lo stated carefully.

  Only then did Noc give the man his eyes.

  “No you did not.”

  Apollo Ulfr held his gaze.

  Then he lifted his chin.

  Both men turned their attention back out the window.

  And they stood there watching the women they loved wandering a lane, their skirts and the fields of lavender waving about them in a gentle breeze, their bodies bathed in sunshine.

  * * * * *

  Lunwyn

  Franka

  I was riding Noc’s cock, both of us sitting up, our eyes locked, when his arm clamped about my hips and he held me down, full of him, and shifted to his knees.

  He then dropped me to my back, covering me and again moving inside.

  Through this, my gaze on his never wavered, nor did it when his hand found mine, linking our fingers and pressing them into the bed as his other hand moved, pushing deep, up my spine, the back of my neck, to curl against my scalp.

  “Don’t stop lookin’ at me,” he growled.

  “I won’t,” I whimpered, arching into him, our position, his words, neither lost on me.

  Like our first time.

  Exactly.

  “So goddamned beautiful,” he grunted
as his thrusts picked up speed. “Always so goddamned beautiful.”

  “Darling,” I breathed, grinding into him, moving urgently, the need nearly overwhelming me.

  “Hold on, Frannie. Not yet. Look into my eyes.”

  “You have me,” I whispered, and he very much did, now in every way.

  My hands were roaming his skin, hungry.

  His strokes gathered power as he drove into me.

  I moaned, losing hold.

  Noc felt it.

  “Don’t lose my eyes, baby.”

  “I…won’t, my love,” I gasped.

  His face darkened, his fingers in mine clenched, I felt the metal at one biting into the webbing and he groaned, “Now, Frannie. Let go.”

  As the sound of his climax powered through the room, the softer wisps of my own filtered through it and I arced into him, pulling him deep, clasping him to me, and Noc poured himself inside me, unhindered.

  I was shuddering through the final glorious moments when he collapsed on top of me, sinking his face into my neck.

  I took him happily, memorizing the feel of him I’d already never forget, the smell, the sound of his harsh breathing whispering against the skin under my ear.

  In these times, we never needed to speak.

  And this time, so different, but yet the same, this was something we still did not need.

  However, Noc felt something had to be said.

  And he said it by raising his head, taking off some of his weight, and then lifting our hands he still had laced together.

  He brought them to his lips, his eyes on me, and kissed the large Sjofn ice diamond there that nestled perfectly with the plain gold band underneath.

  He wore a band as well, on the hand that still held my head.

  I’d slipped it on under the bemused eyes of a Vallee in a Dwelling of the Gods just an hour before.

  His gesture was all that needed to be said from my new husband to me, his new wife.

  And for long moments as we gazed at each other, his handsome lips to the beautiful rings he’d bestowed on me, that was all that was said.

  Eventually, Noc pressed our hands to his chest and in the most profound moment of my life (and I’ll note all the others on that list carried memories of him too), he declared, “We are so gonna piss everyone off that we eloped on a parallel universe and we didn’t invite anyone from this world or the other.”