by L. A. Grant
That’ll take you away from me. I bit back the words, for both our sakes.
“Maybe,” Wane said. I thought I detected some sorrow in his words and dared to believe that it was directed at me, and not his missing king. “Merlin said he would make it hard to find our king, so that others couldn’t easily track him down and destroy him before we could retrieve him.”
“That’s good,” I said, not sure what else to say, not quite able to grapple with the grief in my heart at those words. I didn’t want to just be a stepping stone to someone else. I wanted to be their destination. Their home. In a way I’d never experienced.
Wane held me more tightly, as though sensing my fears.
“Once this is over,” he said, in a more hopeful tone, “we’ll bring you back. You can go back to your old life, and no longer worry about any of us.”
I leaned quietly against him. He’d said the words out of kindness, to make me feel better.
But they’d only twisted the blade in my heart, the grief accentuated by the crashing ocean below.
“Looks like a storm’s coming,” Wane said. “I’d best make sure everything is secured. Mists won’t keep out weather.” He apologetically began to pull away. I lifted my head but held him in place.
“Thank you,” I said softly, and his hand came behind my head, fingers weaving in my hair. He pulled me forward as I leaned in and our lips met, then our tongues. I got closer, crushing my chest against him, when the sky broke apart and rain plummeted down.
We finished our kiss and broke apart, both slightly out of breath.
“Bad timing,” he said with a grin. “Get in there before you’re even more drenched.”
I didn’t argue, slipping through the door to go below decks, as Lance crossed upstairs to help Wane. Lightning and thunder shook the skies and the ship shifted sideways, knocking me to the ground.
Percy was by my side in an instant. “This is going to get worse before it gets better,” he said, helping me up. I had an embarrassing lack of sea legs and was reliant on him to navigate the rearing ship. He gave up trying to get me to the other end and just brought me to a small room, which held armor stamped with a white wolf.
“Stay here for now,” Percy said, sitting me on his bed as I sneezed. I was just a paragon of attractiveness right now.
I sneezed again.
“How did you survive this long?” Percy mumbled, stripping away my wet leather jacket and throwing a towel over my very wet tank top, which left little to the imagination, my lacy black bra more than noticeable.
I sneezed again, and he started rubbing my shoulders through the towel, the ship rocking back and forth. Shouts above deck indicated that the others had their hands full. His hands on my shoulders felt good, vigorous enough to give me a slight massage, my muscles relaxing under his touch.
His intensity changed then, slowing down into longer strokes, as though he wanted to let his hands wander all over me, to reach under the towel and warm my flesh with his.
We suddenly both became very aware that we were alone, in a room, on a bed.
The air outside crackled with lightning, much like the air in the room.
I let the towel slip off my shoulders, welcoming him to touch me, to take me, hoping he wanted me as much as I wanted him.
He didn’t hesitate, his lips finding my shoulder, warmth spreading from them to my entire body, the electricity spreading through my body rivaling the storm raging outside.
32
Percy
Her eyes shone with desire, and everything in me stirred to life as she let the towel slip off her shoulders.
I tasted her shoulder - a simple kiss that lingered. She leaned in, her wet top showing off every curve and the lace of her bra. I wanted to rip it all off, to taste all of her.
My lips travelled up, to her neck, the wet veil of red hair parting to grant me access as she leaned her head sideways. She tasted of berries and sugar, of light and hope. I hungrily sought her lips, so moist and welcoming to mine, matching my demands with some of her own, her body crushed against mine…no.
I pulled away.
She looked stricken.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “We can’t do this. You’re my queen.”
I looked at her eyes, the blue hurt but resolute, a depth in them I did not recall seeing in hers when she lived.
“Were we lovers, once?” she asked, her voice soft, trying to conceal the pain and longing. I wanted to hold her and kiss away that pain, but I forced myself to stay away. I had a duty to perform.
“No,” I said, regretting the words. Gwenhwyfar had never really interacted with me, save to thank me as the need arose.
“Then why do I feel so drawn to you?” she asked, not shying away from me or from her own desire, her skin still flushed with need. I swallowed hard. This was hard for me, too. There was no denying that I wanted her as badly as she wanted me.
“Maybe Merlin somehow bound us together, our fates intertwined, like ours are with Arthur.” I took a deep breath, looking away from the wells of her eyes, lest I drown in them. “In Avalon, which is different than Camelot, the land that Arthur ruled in the human world, women are leaders. They’re priestesses, and healers…and they’re the ones who get to choose their mates.”
“Mates?” she asked.
I looked back to her, shaking my head. “I have no idea why I felt the need to tell you that,” I said, feeling like an idiot. I couldn’t keep my head straight around her, which made her dangerous. It made me dangerous.
“I know why you told me that,” she said, her hand on the back of my neck as she pulled herself on my lap, straddling me. I grew hard, and she pushed herself against me, moaning slightly as she slipped her tongue in my mouth.
I didn’t have the strength to resist her, or my desire. My hand wandered to her ass and pulled her closer to me, to feel her near my hardness, crushing her breasts against me. She plunged her tongue in me, her desire undeniable, her nipples hard even through her bra.
I broke away from her mouth, traced the line of her perfect neck with kisses, found her collar bone, then pulled off her tank top with her help. She removed her bra, revealing her tantalizing breasts.
Rubbing my hands on them, she moaned, ready to come just from the attention to her breasts.
If that is her majesty’s wish. I leaned in and sucked on her nipple, my hand toying with the other one. She gasped and rubbed against my hardness, and I bucked my hips up against her, biting on her nipple. She screamed and came, fast and hard, trembling in my arms as I held her, her red hair a veil around me as she clung to me.
“That was fast,” I teased her.
She gave a quick laugh, then nibbled on my ear, making me suck in my breath in turn. “I guess I really needed you.”
The words soothed my soul in a way that I hadn’t even understood that I’d needed. To be needed. Desired. Wanted. To have more than just a duty to perform. To have someone to perform it for.
I’d followed the orders laid at my feet by my dying king long ago, and had kept the course as any good knight would. But I’d missed being needed by someone here. Which was probably part of the reason I wanted to find Arthur so badly.
Arthur.
“No,” I said softly, and moved her back on the bed. She looked surprised but not hurt, the flush of pleasure clinging to her features, adding a glow to her beauty. I placed my hand on her cheek and she leaned in, still topless. I wanted nothing more than to lie with her, but she was not mine to take. This had already gone too far.
“I can’t,” I said softly. “I’m sorry I let it get this far. I’m weak.”
“You’re not weak,” she said with a certainty that made me believe her. “Like I said, there’s a bond between us. I’m glad it’s there,” she added, and I closed my eyes for a second, my heart swelling with warmth.
“What if Arthur comes back?” I said, opening my eyes after my words were spoken. I’d expected her to look ashamed, maybe regretful, but I found resolu
tion there instead. A strength and clarity I’d not expected.
“Should Arthur come back,” she said, her voice unhesitant, “then he can win my heart, too, should he so desire.” It was her turn to gently cup my cheek. “I am my own person, Percy. I go with whom I choose.”
I leaned into her hand, feeling free. Just as I went to lean in, she sneezed again, then looked apologetic.
“Maybe a hot bath wouldn’t be a bad idea,” Hayden said from beyond the door and she jumped, then laughed.
“Thank you, Hayden!” she said. I handed her bra and shirt back and watched her redress, to my disappointment.
“Mates?” she asked again. I gave her a rueful grin.
“Yes. Plural.” She looked deep into my eyes. “We are all bonded,” I said softly. “I do feel it, too, and I love them all, too.”
“Even Lance?” she asked as she stood, raising an eyebrow.
I remained seated on the bed, not sure standing up would be to my advantage right now, as I was still very hard for her. “I did once, but now? Love is a strong word,” I said honestly, “but magic is stronger and, like you said, you are your own person.”
“Thank you for coming to find me,” she said, and leaned down to kiss my lips. I handed her the towel and she took it with a grateful smile.
Then she opened the door and was gone, leaving my heart both at peace and in turmoil.
33
Arlena
Hayden shadowed me on the way to the back of the ship. I’d been so fascinated with the water and magic that I hadn’t even been below decks until the storm had struck.
“The door at the end,” Hayden said, his voice a soft rumble as he pulled the towel more tightly around my shoulders. “It’s already been a long day,” he said. “It’s not the time for you to catch a cold.”
“That won’t help my triumphant return to Avalon,” I said sarcastically.
He placed a hand on my shoulder. “You may not be the king we were sent out to get,” he said softly, “but many will be glad to see you.”
“And many won’t be?” I asked, the incoming answer already forming a knot in my stomach.
“We’ll be with you, no matter what,” he said, and the knot in my stomach loosened.
“Thank you,” I said, and turned around, standing on my tiptoes to gently kiss him on the lips. He flushed and opened the door behind me.
I stepped into the room and my jaw hit the floor. Percy’s room had been small and utilitarian, but this room was beyond lush. At the stern, windows extended the length of the room. Thick velvet curtains of crimson red were tied back to let the sun stream in, the mists dancing outside the panes. A four-poster bed stood solemnly in the center, its posts intricately carved mahogany, the bedspread gold woven on burgundy.
To the left stood a claw-foot tub, expansive to say the least, and already filled with steaming water. To the right stood two deep purple wingback chairs faced a burning fireplace. The ground was carpeted, a strange luxury on a ship, and the entire room seemed soaked in luxury.
“This is too much,” I protested.
“This is just right,” Hayden gently led me in. “I’ve drawn the bath for you. I’ve added salts to help heal you and remove any cold that might have gripped your bones.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, the same scent of roses surrounding me.
“What is that divine scent?” I asked.
Hayden smiled. “White roses from Avalon, grown from the same crops that used to surround Camelot.” His smile wavered a bit. “They were a favorite of the queen, and so of the king.”
My heart lurched. “I love it,” I said softly, exhaustion seeping into my bones.
Hayden sensed it. “You need a hot bath and some rest,” he said. “A couple of hours will do you right. I’ve poured some wine for you, as well. It’s made from the elderberries of Avalon, and will help you sleep.”
“I don’t think I need sleep,” I said as I yawned.
“Of course not,” he laughed, then looked more serious. “Rest, your majesty. Avalon will be upon us soon, and you’ll need your strength.”
“What will they do when they see it’s not Arthur who returned to them?”
“It’s not for them to judge,” he said, his voice so confident that I immediately believed him. “If the magic saw fit to bring you back to us, then so be it. We will be by your side,” he repeated, and again, I felt better for it.
I smiled up at him. “You bring the warmth my heart needed today, Hayden,” I reached up and pulled his head down, fingers woven in his hair, eager to taste him again.
He kissed me deeply, his large hands holding my back, but not venturing any further, even though I could feel his desire for me. But this was Hayden, I understood. He wanted to take his time, to get to know me, piece by piece, until he’d had all of me. The thought thrilled me and I gratefully accepted his tongue in my mouth as he gently but confidently breached my lips. We kissed deeply, my entire body lit with desire for him, and his for me.
He broke away, took a deep breath, and stood straight. I missed his warmth immediately.
“I mean it,” he said, “as healing as other activities are, you need to get in that bath and warm yourself up.”
I laughed. “You are like a protecting bear,” I said.
He seemed pleased with that. “I am. And you’re one of mine, now, and I don’t easily let go.” His smile vanished, as though afraid he’d pushed too far. I smiled up at him and gently kissed him again.
“And you are one of mine,” I meant every word.
Through sheer force of will, he pulled himself away, though I knew he really wanted to stay. I stripped and stepped into the bath, letting its heat spread through me.
Some things, like Hayden, were worth waiting for.
34
Wane
I gently rapped my knuckles on the back of the door, afraid I’d missed that short window of time between her having a bath and going to sleep. I heard movement inside, and the door opened. Arlena stood before me with a towel draped around her, hair wet but combed through and clean, complexion flushed red from the heat of the bath and the wine Hayden had left her.
It took all of my strength not to sweep her off her feet and throw her on the lush bed behind her.
“Hey,” she said, then saw the bag I carried in my hand. “My clothes!” she exclaimed, then yawned immediately. The room was cozy, the gentle scents of roses and burning fire creating a heady mix.
I handed her the bag and she smiled. “These are perfect,” she said, inviting me in with a nod of her head. I followed her in and closed the door, but stayed near it. The towel revealed so much cleavage, and ended just below her ass. There really wasn’t anywhere safe to look. But I didn’t think I wanted to be safe right now.
“Did Gwenhwyfar have very similar taste to me?” she asked, yawning again and dropping the bag at the end of the bed, her selection not finished, but the effort more than she could muster.
“Not at all,” I answered, and she looked at me surprised. “I bought those clothes for you, Arlena.”
She looked at me as though seeing me for the first time, her eyes tearing up. I crossed the floor and gathered her in my arms, holding her as she cried, every inch of me wanting to keep her safe from the harshness of the world.
But all I could do was hold her.
35
Arlena
Before I knew it, I’d started sobbing. Wane held me. I felt ridiculous.
Leaving everything behind hadn’t been that hard, truth be told. I didn’t have much to lose. Losing my job had been fine, if annoying. I was okay with never seeing my foster family again.
But me? Arlena Hopesmyer or by any other name? I wasn’t ready to let go of me just yet.
And I hadn’t realized how much that scared me, more than the unknown we were heading into. Avalon I could face. But not knowing who I was, or who I was supposed to be? That terrified me.
Glimpses and memories had begun to surface
, some bloody, some terrifying, some heart-wrenching. Mostly emotions over color, like some sort of modern painting I couldn’t quite figure out, but that gutted me nonetheless.
Wane tightened his grip around me, and I held him back, arms around his lithe frame.
I needed him. I needed all of them, to keep me safe. To keep me grounded.
I was ready to let go of everything in my old life, but I just wasn’t ready to let go of me. I liked me. I had issues, sure. I wasn’t great at making friends. But I got by. I got things done. I knew I could be better, but I tried damn hard.
Wane had seen me for who I was. In as simple an act as picking out clothing for me, he’d reinforced who I was, and how I wanted to stay me. I didn’t want to simply vanish in the glittering mists of Avalon. I wanted to evolve and grow, but not become a queen I barely remembered. A queen who had betrayed her king and heralded a kingdom’s downfall.
I cried, my shoulders shaking, until I was spent, exhausted from the day. Wane gently led me to the bed and laid me down, careful to keep my towel wrapped around me, as though I had any dignity left to save. I opened my eyes and he locked his dark brown ones with mine, the care in them washing away my worries.
“You see me for who I am,” I said, feeling myself drift away.
“I do,” he said, “and it’s you that I want to protect. No one else.”
The warmth of his words washed over me. My eyes began to close and he stood up as though to leave.
“Stay,” I said, grabbing his hand with what strength I had left. “Stay, and keep me safe from my dreams.”
He hesitated, but then lay down beside me, holding me as I drifted away, his breath warm against my neck.
I slipped into a blessedly dreamless sleep.
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