by A. K. Koonce
Nearly unbearable pleasure rocks through my core, making me arch my back, every muscle inside of me clenching against his fingers. I cry out, the Fae on the other side of the door still chatting loudly amongst themselves like the melody to my song.
Lincoln gathers my skirt back in his hands, taking both of my thighs and lifting me from the floor. My lashes are still fluttering when a hard thickness presses against my clit.
And then he adjusts me once more against him before he slides ever so slowly inside.
I gasp while he groans and takes his time easing into me and stretching me.
Once he's buried deep inside, I rock against him. He lowers his face into my chest, kissing my breasts carelessly. After a short moment, I begin grinding against him, thrusting him deeper and deeper. Our movements get rougher.
Faster.
The shadow of my last orgasm makes everything more sensitive. And every movement threatens to send me spiraling.
Lincoln's chest is slick with sweat and my hair sticks to the sides of my face. We gasp for air, our chests heaving against each other. He slams into me so hard my head hits the wall but the force of it is exactly what brings me to my peak. I want to scream with the sheer intensity of the waves drilling all through every single part of me. I can feel what he feels, all barriers of his mind broken and gone. It all adds to my release.
Forcefully, Lincoln's mouth clamps over mine, catching and quieting the shriek that starts to explode out of me as he makes me cum once more.
This man knows what he is doing.
"Fuck." He growls. "You're addicting, Briar."
He slams himself into me, pounding against my sex. Air wheezes from him as he fills me entirely. I can feel how close he is to finishing and it taunts me with want.
Through my own haze of bliss, I grind every part of my slickness against him, fucking him as deep as he can go until his lips part with the most dragging breath that never seems to fully reach his lungs.
Lincoln holds me against him, thrusting, quickly and powerfully, until his body convulses. The strength of his orgasm rattles my mind and makes my muscles clench around his dick as it vibrates through me as much as it does him. The moan that rushes from my lips is more of a scream.
He lifts himself up, only to push as deep as he can go. Then, slowly, he pulls himself from me.
I feel empty without him. Gently, he sets me down on unsteady legs, but I have to lean heavily to keep myself upright. Rough fingers find my chin and pull me in for one last kiss.
"You're mine now. And no other man can claim you." He reaches above him and light flickers on.
Mine… I recall very clearly how Fae don’t date.
They fuck.
I’m suddenly aware that what he and I have is more than fucking. Much, much more.
I blink, but my eyes adjust to the light so quickly, I realize it isn't necessary but habit. Lincoln bends to pull up his pants.
The walls felt so close, the room so small, because... it is. Cleaning supplies and brooms are carefully lined up on shelves or hung on hooks. A... a fucking broom closet?
Oh my God. I wonder how many of them knew I was taking Lincoln into a closet and not just a different room.
Did they hear the clatter of cleaning supplies and the probably louder clatter of my climax?
There is no hiding the crimson that creeps up my neck and stains my cheeks and my ears now. Lincoln smirks as reaches for a few rags that are folded behind my head. His callouses catch on my dress as he moves the skirt and uses a cloth to absorb all of the mess.
"We're in a fucking broom closet," I swear.
"I can also see that."
I pull up my underwear and push down my wrinkled dress. Lincoln smooths my hair and presses a slow kiss to my forehead.
"Well..." I swallow. "we have to go back out there sometime."
"We should go back out there now."
"How do I look?"
"Like you just got fucked," Lincoln whispers with a smile.
"Stop, no. You're supposed to make me feel better." I cover my hot cheeks.
He pulls my hands down. "You look lovely. Would you like me to open the door for you?"
"If you would be so kind." My voice is strained. The heat of the moment is quickly dissolving as my chest and stomach ball up with the familiar nervousness. It's magnified by the knowledge that even if they act clueless everyone in the next room likely knows what we've just done.
I hit the light, hoping that if they didn't know this was a closet, they would continue to not know. It eases some of my worries. Lincoln opens the door. As I step in front of him and into the next room, he twirls a strand of hair on his finger as if to reform the curl.
Jase's attention is immediately on me. His eyes bore into my skin, his lips pressed tightly to hold back a smile. The white of his teeth pokes out and he digs them into the flesh of his bottom lip as I flash my eyes in warning.
So maybe this wasn't the best look for an up and coming queen...
"She's back!" Someone cheers.
“I think you mean, she’s come,” Jase says under his breath with that same asshole smile.
My eyes widen but he’s the only one who comments on that.
"Oh, I can't get over her beauty." Someone else says.
"I'm so eager to make her my queen. Gah, I'd be devoted if only because of how gorgeous she is,” Another praises.
The praise rains down on me. I'm not able to hold eye contact with any one of them for long. I bounce my attention from one face to another, giving each of them a polite smile until I finally land on Kai. Just as we look at each other, he doesn't hold back his sly smile.
Kai ushers himself from his seat, moving swiftly towards the bar. "Let me get you both a drink, I think you could use it."
Don't overthink it, Lincoln reminds me. Remember, we as Fae celebrate our sexuality. Honestly, we're lucky they didn't listen in, and then we’d come out to an orgy.
In a church? Oh, God. I just had sex in a church. Maybe I do need that drink.
"Relax." Kai strolls over to us, two glasses in hand, a knowing smirk lighting up his face. "Take a seat. We were just talking about how Queen Cordelia is planning another cleansing."
Kai places his hand on the small of my back, wheeling me into an empty seat in front of the gathered court. Lincoln steps quickly behind us. I lower into the chair, my body stiff despite the soft cushion of the seat.
Lincoln snatches Kai's arm, holding his gaze. "No more touching."
Kai grunts a shallow laugh, pulling out of Lincoln's grasp. The prince gives Lincoln a mocking bow. "Drink up, brother. You're much too rigid."
Awkwardly, I laugh too. I hold the new cup and lift it up to Lincoln. He tips his cup toward mine, letting our glasses chime together before we bring them to our lips. His eyes never leaving his brother. He hovers behind my chair. Together we both down a large portion of our drinks.
Kai pulls a chair over to my other side and leans forward on his seat, eager to listen. I scout the room for Rowan. The brothers who are supposed to protect me, as King Dravid had said. Rowan has perched himself on the arm of a high back chair that one of the ladies of the court has curled into. She chats fondly with him while he shamelessly flirts back. Their whispers, though each one is more cringy than the next, are almost soothing. Not all the attention is on me.
And at least he isn't trying to make advances on me.
"I thought I ended the cleansings once and for all?" I try to start the conversation again.
"You standing up to her did quell it for a time. But after you fled the court, she's lost her mind all over again." The woman with far too long arms and legs says.
"She's spiraling into madness." The man at her side confirms.
"More madness than she already existed in." His plain brown suit is stuffed with muscle, stretching taunt against him as the short man leans forward. "The seer she found should be arriving today after her long journey."
"Could she not portal to her?
" I whisper to Ziko.
"She's not fond of portals." He shrugs.
"We'll fix this all soon enough!" Kai reminds everyone. "Firstly, we'll have to go out into the court and make sure they are aware that she is here. Then we can build her following, grow her support, rally the army against the queen!" He cheers.
The court claps gleefully along with him. Their faces mirror their excitement.
Then their features blur. I close my eyes tightly then open them again hoping to blink away the fuzziness. Lincoln puts his weight into my chair, leaning heavily against it.
"I'm making plans to dispatch my nephew into the city." Someone says, a male voice, but it sounds underwater and I can't pinpoint the location.
I think my anxiety is getting to me. Something's wrong. The thought floats in the back of my mind.
My arms and legs go slack, my head dizzying, so I lean back into the chair. Lincoln's hand falls to my shoulder, his fingers fumbling against my skin until he finally is able to hold onto me.
I think... we've been drugged. Lincoln agrees. That or this bubbly is just... good. He sighs loudly, with a content smile.
"Are you okay?" I recognize Jase's voice but the last of his question is drowned out.
Wood splinters fly as the door explodes.
And a battle cry roars as the sound of an army barrels into the room.
Seventeen
Chains and Whips Don’t Always Excite Me
Bare-chested men from the Shadow Court guard, I quickly recognize in my foggy thoughts, fill the room. Meaty hands seize up the court members who hold up their hands in suggestion of innocence and surrender. Delicate feminine screams rattle my ear drums as the guards snatch up the rebelling court and hold them roughly in place.
"What is happening?" One of the men snap.
Rowan slaps away a guard’s hand and moves to stand in front of me. Kai's chair flings to the floor as he stands up in a blur of movement. My fingernails dig into the arms of the chair. I uncross my legs, adrenaline and fear making my heartbeat drum inside me, nervous if I stand, I'll fall back into my seat.
The red glittering dress pokes through my hazy vision faster than the recognition of who’s wearing the garment. Sparkling stones cascade down the curves of a swaggering queen. Queen Cordelia’s blue eyes narrowly span over the room. She locks her gaze on me.
“You look positively… Fae.” Her eyes flash in anger. "Guards," she screeches, "seize that traitor."
"No." Lincoln and Rowan shout at the same time.
Lincoln shoots forward as guards’ bustle into movement. Rowan shifts, but stills only as the draw of a sword tucks against his neck. Kai holds the hilt of his dagger at an angle at his brother's throat.
"Don't move, Little Princling," Kai whispers into his ear.
"What are you doing?" I choke on the words, trying to pull myself up. Cordelia laughs at my efforts.
"I'm sorry, Cupcake." Kai pouts out his lip. "I wanted this to work between us, you've really been a doll, a great guest," he adds with dry humor, "but I knew when you visited the Iron Court the first time that Lincoln was going to claim you. I thought that maybe if I was patient, I could gain your affection in ways other than this silly friendship. So I’ve made a deal to get out from under my parents thumb. A deal to be king to finally get the power that I deserve." His mouth falls into a sneer.
Rowan struggles against his brother. "I can't believe you right now. You’re a traitor!"
"The only traitor here is Miss Briar Anders." Cordelia sways her hips dramatically as she parts the crowd to make her way to me.
"Kai," I whisper, practically begging. "don't do this." I reach for him, my hands shaking and clammy. Kai leans himself and his brother away from me, only disdain is left in his gaze.
"You sealed your own fate. My mother has made arrangements for the Iron Court and Shadow Court to join as one, for Cordelia and I to wed. If we took her crown, no such arrangement could be made. I could never have your heart and you even said you won't marry for power." Kai spits toward Lincoln.
Lincoln’s knees give out before me. The metal of his cuffs bounces off one another as he hands fall into his lap. His shoulders curl inward as I finally teeter to standing.
Cordelia reaches out a slender arm, she pokes at my chin softly, making my body sway before falling back into the chair. Air whooshes out of the cushions around me.
"I have my seer and we will confirm just exactly what you are. Either you're my long-lost sister who needs to be quickly put to rest. Or you’re an imposter who should lose their head for their lie. Either way," She crosses her arms, satisfied. "By tomorrow evening you'll be dead."
"You evil witch!" Jase screams. "You can't touch her. I won't let you touch her."
"Shut up!" she shrieks. Her hand slices through the air, her palm colliding with Jase’s cheek. His head snaps to the side, his skin red in the shape of her handprint. "Bring him as leverage." The queen barks at the guards.
There are multiple images of her in my vision, all of them swaying and fighting with one another to orient me enough to understand where she's at. The queen reaches down, tapping a finger on Lincoln’s forehead.
"You'll be quick to join her." Cordelia squats to Lincoln's level. She leans forward sniffing the air around him. She huffs a breath. "The smell of her is on your lips. You'll be lucky if I let you wash yourself of her before you join her in the grave." She grabs a fistful of his hair, pulling his attention to her.
Just as his face lifts to meet her glower, he stands, shoving her roughly with his palms. He's sluggish, but he moves to peel off the metal cuffs covering the iron under his skin. Lincoln's nearly successful before a hoard of his own guards clamp their hands over his arms.
His bellowing, angry scream roars through the air. Even I shy away from the sound.
"Mortal Queen." Cordelia turns to me. In a single second she darts forward, blurring in my vision, and wraps her hand around my throat. "I've wanted to do this for so long and I never had enough proof to keep the public at bay. Thank you for releasing me of the trouble of making your traitorous activity up."
She squeezes. Air barely manages to trickle down my throat and my hands rise to push against her arm.
"Let her go." Jase's voice is full of panic, powerful but shaky all at once.
"I will kill you myself for this, Kai." Rowan says to his brother.
"Shut up, you buffoon. She doesn't love you either." Kai presses the knife at his brother’s throat drawing a thin line of blood.
I stand myself up on my toes trying to fight to keep myself up right, trying to find a way to get another breath. Cordelia flings me to the side.
Pain twists in my ankles as I fight to catch myself, but the beads of my dress scratch against the ground as I fall in a disgraceful heap. I'm only there long enough for my arms to lift me back up. Then the world blurs as multiple pairs of arms grab at me and drag me forward. They don't care to let me get my feet under me.
I search, trying to find some sort of strength within me, some flame left of the powers I know so little about. My body is nothing but an empty shell. Whatever Kai had laced our drinks with has robbed both Lincoln and I of our strength.
Marble steps slap against my knees and shins, the only thing that can keep my focus. Cordelia's already storming ahead, she flings her hands in the air and wind whips violently around us. A dark black hole appears against the church wall and she points her guards through.
"Take them to the castle. To the courtyard. Lincoln will learn his lesson and I'll burn this church to the ground."
With her court still trapped inside, I realize. Cordelia is going to kill the members of her court.
And Rowan.
Hot tears form against my eyelids. I open my mouth to helplessly oppose the decision. But the guards run forward into the portal and my body becomes weightless.
My cries resound between the two worlds. It's filled with a defeated sorrow and cut short as my knees crash against the ground. The material
of the gown tears from the power of the movement and I'm certain that without my Fae side finally being released the fall would have broken both of my legs.
"Tie her up there. She's too weak to be any more of a bother." One guard says to the other.
"No," I say, fighting to rip myself from his arms.
He laughs, pulling me along like a child.
"I am the Mortal Queen. I am your true queen. Let me go. Let. Me. Go." My words slur together drowned out by Lincoln's roar.
Looking over my shoulder, a crowd has gathered. What looks like staff from the mansion has filled the valley behind the garden. Grass stains my white dress green and the dirt below it adds a line of brown.
The guards stretch Lincoln's arms across two poles, tying him to them, on his knees. One of them points to the crowd and I can only make out the word’s 'traitor' and 'punishment' over the roaring in my ears.
Jase wrestles against a guard on the edge of the crowd. They stuff a gag into his mouth, shoving him into the dirt, pinning him to the ground under a guard’s boot. The staff look from one to the other with wide fearful eyes. I can feel their attention moving between Lincoln and me.
Rope digs into my skin as the guard ties me to a wooden stake in the ground. Everything was set up for this. This wasn't just a last-minute confession Kai had given in hopes to sway Cordelia into marriage. This had been his plan for long enough for Cordelia to set the stage. Was all of our friendship an illusion made of smoke and mirrors?
Dark curling smog follows the queen as she emerges from the portal. She dusts ash from her hands, closing her fist and the portal at the same time.
A worried sob teeters from my lips. What of Kai? What of Rowan? What of my court?
A whip cracks. It tears my focus to one spot in pinpoint clarity. Skin splits down Lincoln's back, red blood pouring out the cut. He stretches against his bindings, pulling away from the pain in his back. My back arches too. The agony of the strike so loud inside his head, I can nearly feel it burning on my skin.