by Tiya Rayne
I feel bile rise up my throat. I place a hand over my stomach. My brain and my heart are at war. One trying to convince the other that they’re wrong.
“You’re lying.” My heart speaks for me.
Hildred’s eyebrow quirks up again. “I was like you once. Young and naïve. I thought that I would be the one to sway assassin away from the queen. I even had a young man that cared about me and wanted to marry me.” She nods over to Rykan. “But I let the assassin cloud my head. After he was done using me, the man I was going to marry wanted nothing to do with me. He nor any other man wanted me after I had become the assassin’s whore. So I ended up here, working on Diagon Alley. Heed my warning, little girl, or you too will find yourself here.”
I couldn’t be here anymore. I was going to throw up and I didn’t want to do it in front of her.
I find the entrance to the place quickly and the cool outside air is a welcome relief to the horrible smells of that place. I clutch my stomach while I take deep breaths. I feel Rykan in front of me.
“Lilly, I’m so sorry.” He says.
He pulls me up and wraps his arms around me in an embrace. I bury my head in his chest and wrap my hands around his waist.
“I wanted you to know the truth about him, but I never meant to hurt you. I love you, Lilly. I know that you don’t feel the same way about me, but I will be patient. We happened so fast. Meeting and then creating life all in the same night. I only wish that we could get to know each other.”
I look up into those dark eyes. “Do you mean that?”
He place my face between his hands, those dark eyes staring down at me. “Every word of it. Give us time, Lilly. Get to know me again. And just know, I still want you to be my queen.”
Those are words I’ve thought I’d never hear. Someone wanted me to be their wife. I thought I had that with Assassin. I was so caught up in these intense feelings for him that I tried to deny what was already in my face. All the times he was with Avalia, those times where they seemed to be having some silent conversation that no one was privy to. And the most obvious was today when he called out to her. Stopping himself to go to her, was a good thing. If I had allowed him to go further with me I would have been feeling much worse now. To think, they only wanted me for some sordid threesome for their entertainment. I thought they were so sincere, I guess I was wrong about the both of them. I was just some pawn in a game for them. Even though my rational brain told me all this, that part deep inside me, the part that knew he wasn’t really dead, says that this is all a lie. This time I’m going to use my head to make decisions.
“Take me away from here, Rykan.” Rykan tucks my hand through his and leads me away from Diagon Alley.
Chapter Ten
Fucking Shifters!!!! I cannot believe I had Lilly beneath me and I was summoned away for a shifter attack on the Elven queen.
My Lilly surprises and amazes me in every way. My cock stretches down my leg with every thought of how she was bared to me. The sweet taste of her body’s nectar has me addicted. The sounds of her moans as I touched her and tasted her are like enchanted melodies in my head. I have never before craved a woman the way I do Lilly. I was on a mission to get back to her. I am in desperate need to finish what we started. All my concerns and fears about moving too fast have been washed away. I was going to claim Lilly and make sure no one else ever touched what was mine. This time I didn’t care if the entire Locke was on fire, I wasn’t stopping until I had my fill of that beautiful body and tight channel.
I flash back into the Southern Kingdom outside of the room Lilly is staying in. The door was open and I could hear the sounds of laughter in the room. I enter and I’m shocked to see that everyone else is here except Lilly.
“Where is she?” I ask.
All heads in the room turn to me.
“She went for a walk with Rykan, she isn’t back yet.” Miriam says, as she continues to stitch up a dress. Her words were confusing to me. When I tapped into the power of the necklace I knew that she was in the castle, I assumed her room.
“Is everything alright, Assassin?” the young elf, Hyland, asks.
I only nod at him. I allow the power of the necklace to lead me to Lilly fully this time. Where the necklace takes me has me seeing red. I arrive in Rykan’s room to the sight of Lilly lying across Rykan’s bed. She’s on her side with her back to me, one of her legs bent at the knee. Her head propped up in the palm of her hand. The sheer dress that was once lying beneath me is now spread out on his bed with her smooth leg and that creamy thigh exposed.
“Come on, Rykan. I’m starving. Your boys are in need of food.” She calls out to him and something about the playfulness and familiarity of this conversation has my heart beating rapidly in my chest.
“I’m coming, my future queen.” Rykan calls out and Lilly giggles. She fucking giggles. The sound of it both pleasure and pain to my ears.
“I told you, calling me that is not going to make me say yes.”
The tear in my heart seems to gap wider and wider the longer I listen to their playful banter. What has happened? This is not the same Lilly as before. This isn’t the beautiful woman that just hours ago kissed me with so much passion.
“One can only wish.” Rykan walks into the room from his washroom shirtless.
I watch as the blush covers Lilly’s face and she looks away from Rykan. They are so caught up in each other that they have not noticed I am standing in the room yet.
“Allow me to fully dress and I will escort my beautiful lady to dinner.”
It is then that Rykan spots me. He greets me with a smug smile.
“Assassin, so nice of you to finally join us. You are quite the busy man, I hear.”
At the sound of my name, I watch as Lilly’s body tense. Her legs, which were once swaying care free back and forth, immediately stop.
“Lilly, are you alright?” I ask her. I need to see her face. I’m dying to see that look in her eyes, not the passion filled look from the falls when she was lying so beautifully beneath me, but the look that says she still believes in me—in us. She sits up in the bed, her knees bent and her legs beneath her. She still will not look at me.
“Lilly?” I call to her again.
“Where have you been Assassin?” her voice sounds nothing like the soft melody that it usually is. It sounds so void and pained that it guts me like a dull blade.
Please, little human, look at me. I plead those words in my head. However, her eyes remain fixed on her hands in her lap.
“I was with Avalia.” There was no need to tell her that only because I vowed to protect Avalia so that she may live beyond this war, is the only reason I left her earlier. If I did not suspect Avalia was hiding her death from me in her visions, I would not be so worried about leaving her alone. Lilly’s eyes finally find mine, and what I see is almost like she ripped my heart out of my chest. I see the pain and the hurt in her eyes as she looks at me, but what really kills me is the look of disappointment that stains her face. What have I done?
“Come, Lilly, we should go dine.” Rykan offers his hand and she takes it as she climbs off the bed. I stand rooted in my spot, that look in her eyes still has me stuck in place. I watch her as she walks by me, her eyes trained on the floor. I do not know how, but I know for sure that I’ve lost Lilly.
***************
I watch Lilly during dinner. That light and care free behavior from earlier completely void from her now. She eats silently, taking small bites of her food and she only speaks when she is spoken to. Everyone seems to notice Lilly’s somber behavior—at least every one that matters. Bartus and his guest seem to be in their own world, oblivious that she is unhappy.
“What have I missed, Augustus?” I ask as I stand beside the burly elf.
“I don’t know for sure. The Southern prince forced us to step down while he went off gallivanting with Lilly.”
“What!” I shout and all eyes turn to me—all except hers. I turn my back to the questioning stares
and face Augustus. “Explain.”
“The prince claimed he had called off his marriage to Sarafine in an attempt to woe Lilly into a marriage, but she turned down his interest because of you.”
That blissful feeling comes quickly. She turned him down for me. So what happened? Why is that haunting look in her eyes?
“Then what happened?”
“This is where we were forced to depart from her. He took her somewhere he wouldn’t allow us go. He demanded we stand down, and I do not have the same clearance as you. When Lilly came back, she wasn’t the same. Something was off. Bilal and I have been trying to figure out where he took her, but none of the prince guards are talking.”
So he could sense it too. What did Rykan do? What could he have showed her that has dimmed the light in those beautiful eyes? Rykan didn’t know Lilly like I did, he didn’t know how delicate she was. How her fears of being used and unloved ran deep in her. He didn’t know that Lilly needed to be loved and cherished, she needed to know every day how important she is and most importantly, everyone else needs to know how important she is to you. She needed the kind of love that only I could give her. I will not allow Rykan or anyone else to stand in my way. I’ve had my taste of her and now I will never give her up.
Bartus’ voice draws my attention back to the table.
“Rykan, There has been a change of plans. Sarafine has asked that we move the wedding up.”
This news seems to get Lilly’s attention. She looks up from her uneaten food looking apprehensively at Bartus.
“With the future kings so close to arrival, I think it is important that you and your future queen display a united front.” Bartus continues to say.
Rykan places a reassuring hand on top of Lilly’s and the urge to chop his off is very strong in me.
“Father, we have had this discussion already, I plan to marry Lilly.” The entire room seems to gasp in shock at the announcement. Augustus looks to me and I can see the panic and alarm on his face. However, I watch Lilly. I need to see her reaction to this news. Have I lost her that much? Did whatever Rykan show her push her so fully into his arms?
Her next words are whispered, but I hear them clearly. They only bring me a smidgen of relief.
“Rykan, I told you I needed time.”
Rykan ignores Lilly and says to the table.
“Lilly and I have agreed, we are together now. Although she has not said yes to my many proposals,” He looks to Lilly with a grin. “She will one day be my queen.”
It is only because of her that I have not already pushed my sword into his gut.
“Will you stand for this, my king?” One of Bartus advisors asks.
For the first time I look at Bartus and the look on his face matches the rage that is stewing inside me. Clearly, he is not thrilled. I move closer to Lilly. If he attempts to take his rage out on her I will be there to intercept. Though I may not have her heart, she will forever own mine.
Bartus stands to his feet. “You will have to forgive my son. He has had a stressful day and seems to be delirious”
“I am most assuredly in my right mind.” Rykan says, standing his ground.
Bartus only stares at Rykan for a long moment, the tension in the room getting so thick it circles the room like vultures. Then finally Bartus calmly sits back in his seat.
“Alright, Rykan. As you wish. You may marry your human whore.” If I thought Lilly was tense before, her body goes completely straight and stiff now.
“Do not call her that.” Rykan threatens. I can feel the angry tension thicken throughout the room. Augusts and Bilal’s hands have gone to rest on their weapons.
“My apologies to your future wife. Notice how I only said wife, because that is all she will ever be. She will not be our Queen. I will see to it that you are denounced as my son and future ruler of my throne before I allow a human to rule my people.”
“Father.” Rykan pleads.
“I will not keep you from loving this woman. You just cannot do it and be a prince.” The pleased look on Bartus’s face is obvious. He leans back in his chair and rest his arm on the back of it.
Rykan turns to the queen and pleads. “Mother, will you allow this?”
She smiles demurely. “Rykan, Lilly is a lovely girl, but she cannot be a queen. Those are the laws. I stand by your father with this.”
Rykan’s shoots to his feet and Lilly stands with him gripping his hand.
“Rykan, I don’t need a title. If you truly love me, we can leave.”
My heart shatters to a million pieces. I have never thought I would feel this pain. So many years I have dared not to fall in love. My bed companions and I always on the same wavelength—sex and nothing more. Watching the woman I love, the woman that I would do anything for, plead for another man to take her away slaughters me. She is pleading for him to choose her in a decision that he should have already made.
“The way I see it, you have two choices, son. You can either leave with the human, or you can marry the girl with the prestige and the birthright that I chose and stay and be the next king. And, just because I am being generous, if you decide to choose the human pet I will even pay you a bride price to start your new life away from this kingdom. The choice is yours, Rykan, either leave, or sit back down.”
There is a collective silence that covers the room, everyone waiting to see what Rykan will choose. Even the servants that were busy serving food seems to pause and wait for Rykan’s response. However, the longer he waits the more I realize he doesn’t deserve her. By now I would have already told Bartus to fuck off and swept Lilly away from this place. But she wasn’t waiting on me to respond, she was waiting on him.
Rykan turns to Lilly and his decision is obvious. “Lilly, I…” He doesn’t get to finish. She pulls away from him and rushes out of the dining hall. Rykan runs behind her. With me following and the others behind me. I have just now come to the decision that I will kill Rykan.
“Lilly, wait!” Rykan shouts and when Lilly turns around her eyes are full of unshed tears. The water hovering in her eyes turns the golds and deep greens more vibrant. Just then a noise that we have not heard in many years cracks across the sky. Thunder. Everyone but me looks puzzled.
“Don’t, Rykan.” She holds out her hands for him not to come any closer. “All the things you said to me today, were they all lies?”
“Lilly, no.” Rykan takes a step forward and she backs away. “I still love you, I still want to be with you. But all those changes we talked about making, all the things we want to see in this kingdom for our sons are based upon me being king. I can’t make those changes without it.”
As the first tear slips from Lilly’s eyes, the first sound of rain pelts the sky.
“Is it raining?”
“Is that rain?”
“The goddess daughter have sought pity on us?” the words come from all around us as people take in the anomaly. Only I know the true reason the rain is falling. It weeps with the one true living pure.
“So that’s it then?”
“It doesn’t have to be the end of us, Lilly. I will marry Sarafine only by law, but you will always be the one I love.”
“What?” More tears fall from her eyes and I am powerless to do anything to stop the next words out of his mouth even though I know they will crush her.
“Just think about it. I will build you a cottage not far from the castle. You will have your own land and space. I will even allow you to run Lilly’s Sanctuary. I will only be with Sarafine during the ceremonial events, but the rest of the time I will be with you. We will raise our sons and any other future children we may have together, just in private. It will be our little secret.” His reply was like a punch to the face.
Although he never saw the smack coming, I did. He had just laid out Lilly’s greatest fears. He wanted to treat her like a dirty secret. Something she was made to believe all her life that she would only be. Rykan clutches his face in his hand. His guards move towards Lilly, but were
quickly intercepted by, Agustus, Bilal, Hyland and Mogo.
“It’s alright.” Rykan directs to his guards. “All is forgiven.” He turns back to Lilly. “Lilly….”
“I am no one’s secret.” She turns and storms off.
“Lilly!” he shouts, but I have had enough. I push pass him to get to her.
“Lilly wait.” I say as I touch her arm. She jerks away from me and I do not know how to receive that.
“What do you want, Assassin?” Her words are full of venom. “Are you ready to finish your little game with me?” What game? What is she talking about? “And to think I thought I was in love with you. God, I’m so pathetic.”
“Lilly I don’t know what he’s told you, but you know me. You can trust me.”
“Stop it!” She shouts covering her ears with her hands. “I’m done. I’m done with you and Avalia. I’m done with all this. I would rather risk my chances of staying alive back home. I want to go home.”
My heart is pounding so rapidly in my chest I can’t even think fast enough. She wants to leave me. I don’t care about her saving the Locke or her carrying the future kings, I only care that she wants to be away from me.
“Don’t do this. Talk to me. Tell me what happened.” I’m pleading that she gives me some way to fix this. If she just told me what he showed her I could rectify it. I just needed to know what I was fixing.
She just shakes her and says, “I can’t trust any of you.” when she turns this time I allow her to go. Miriam runs after her followed by Mogo.
Her words play back in my head, the complete and utter devastation in her eyes as she said them has me seeing red. I turn to the prince and rush towards him. His guards attempts to block me but I am faster than them. I grab him by the front of his shirt and slam him into the wall. I only hope his head cracks against the stone.