by Dyan Chick
Guilt fought against bliss as Tristan pulled me closer to him. I knew by being here with him, I was upsetting the other princes. Especially Cormac. But I only had one night with Tristan before he had to return to the Winter Court. He was king now and there was lot he had to set right.
Soft lips pressed against my bare back as Tristan worked his way up to my neck. He moved my hair to the side and worked his way around to my collarbone. All thoughts of upsetting the others faded as my body responded to his touch.
We didn’t even make it to the bed when we arrived at our room for the night. Instead, Tristan had my clothes off before we got over to the roaring fireplace. As I explored his body with my hands, my vision came to life. The two of us explored each other in the firelight.
Tristan moved his hands to my hips and lifted me with ease, turning me so I was facing him, my legs wrapped around his waist.
“I’ve been waiting so long for you it almost doesn’t feel real.” Tristan brushed a strand of hair away from my eyes.
I stared back at him, feeling complete in his gaze. “I know what you mean.”
He smirked. “I have half a mind to throw you over my shoulder and take you back to the Winter Court with me.”
“You know I can’t do that,” I said. “I have the trials to finish.”
“Or you could come back to the Winter Court and be my queen,” he said.
I bit down on my lower lip as my thoughts swirled back to Ethan, Cormac, and Dane. I had a prince in each court and until that moment, it hadn’t hit me how difficult it would be to keep them all in my life if they wanted to return to their homes. The other three had pledged to support me. Tristan promised me nothing.
We were mates; we shared a bond greater than love. It was something all-consuming and animalistic that went deeper than words. The problem was that I felt that way about the three other princes too.
Tristan’s playful expression turned downward. “I know your place is here. And my place is in the Winter Court.”
“You could join me here, can’t you?” I asked as desperation clawed up my insides. He was leaving me here. I wasn’t sure how long we’d be apart, and I didn’t know when I’d be free to travel to see him if I was to be queen. And if I didn’t win… I shook my head, I didn’t want to think about that right now.
“I am king. I have to rule the Winter Court. Even if we rejoin the rest of Faerie, someone has to rule.” His brow furrowed. “You realize that’s the same thing that will happen to Cormac one day. He must replace his father as the Autumn King.”
I hadn’t thought about that. Not really. It seemed so far away. But as my fate dangled in limbo as a potential ruler, the truth of all our responsibilities weighed heavily on my mind.
“I suppose it’s not as big of a deal since you can stay here in the Autumn Palace if you are queen,” Tristan said.
“Wait, did you say rejoin Faerie?” It took a moment for his comment to sink in, but now it was all I could think about. I pushed all the other what-ifs from mind. If Tristan re-joined Faerie, we could be together more easily. “You’d do that?”
He shrugged. “There’s a lot of bad blood between the Winter Court and the rest of Faerie, but I want to look at all the options.”
“What about the humans?” I asked.
“What about them?” he asked.
“You made a deal with them and the Winter Court. The queen will never allow trade between Faerie and the human realm, will she?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” Tristan said. “I suppose I’ll have to ask her. Where do you stand on human-Fae relations?”
I blinked in stunned silence for a moment. He had a point. I might be the one making those decisions soon. “Are you saying you’ll rejoin Faerie if I’m queen?”
“I can’t very well be on opposite sides from my queen, can I?” he asked.
“Your queen?”
“You might have other duties and other,” he swallowed hard, “mates, but you’re my only mate. And I’d like you by my side when your schedule allows, as queen of the Winter Court.”
Tristan didn’t let me answer. Instead, he silenced me with a kiss, pressing his lips into mine with a hunger that I matched almost instantly. There was something fiery between the two of us that wasn’t present in my relationships with the others. We had an understanding that I couldn’t explain as if he knew exactly what I wanted. What I needed.
Right now, he was all I needed.
His tongue parted my lips, finding mine in a smooth motion. Heat rose in my core as our tongues tangled. I leaned in closer to him, my breasts pressed against his firm chest. On my thigh, I felt his hardness. He wanted me just as badly as I wanted him.
Tristan broke the kiss, moving his mouth to my neck. He moved his hands to my back as his mouth found my breasts. He licked my nipple, then gently bit it before moving to the other side. I arched back, letting out a moan of pleasure. His tongue playfully flicked each nipple, sending a rush of tingles through me. I could feel the wetness spread between my legs.
More gently than I thought possible, Tristan lifted my hips and I slid onto him. He guided me slowly. I gasped as he filled me more than any of the other princes had and he hadn’t yet entered me fully.
Then, without notice, he let me drop onto him and I screamed as both pain and pleasure surged through me.
Hands on my back, he leaned forward, pushing me so I arched back. He lifted his hips so his manhood was hitting me inside in a way that made me gasp over and over. I struggled to breathe as each thrust sent a tiny wave of pleasure through me, each one growing on the one before it like currents in water. Finally, I couldn’t handle the bursts of pleasure anymore and they exploded into a climax that made my eyes roll into the back of my head.
Panting and shivering with pleasure, I adjusted so Tristan wasn’t fully inside me anymore. He grinned, a knowing smile. He knew exactly what he was doing to me and he hadn’t even worked up a sweat yet.
I took a few deep breaths, completely content to stare into his blue eyes. We were comfortable in silence together. After I caught my breath, Tristan lifted me off of him.
I pouted, not ready to stop. I should have known better.
With a growl, Tristan was up, and had me over his shoulder. He carried me to the bed and threw me onto the bed, face down. I squealed as I hit the soft bed. Tristan jumped onto the bed next to me, making me bounce. I laughed.
He climbed on top of me from behind and I tried to turn so I could face him.
“Stay there.” It was as demand.
To my surprise, his tone made me even more excited. I held my breath in anticipation.
Tristan spread my legs apart, then lifted my hips before entering me again.
I gasped as he, once again, made me feel almost instantly on fire. I grabbed hold of the bedding around me, squeezing it for support against Tristan’s thrusts. He held onto my hips, putting force behind his movements.
Just as I began to get breathless again from pleasure, he stopped and pulled out.
Before I had time to react, he turned me onto my back. Tristan lowered his face to mine and kissed me hard and deep. This wasn’t any kiss. It was as if through this kiss, he was claiming me. I pressed back, my lips swollen from the force of our kisses, and claimed him.
He broke away just enough to bite down on my lower lip. The pain just enough to make me gasp. Then he entered me again. Once again, pain and pleasure mixed for a single, blissful moment. Tristan let go of my lip and slowed his thrusts. He was gentle again and our bodies got into a rhythm, my hips moving up and down with his thrusts.
As my climax neared, he buried his face into my neck, his lips brushing my ear. “I love you.”
“I love you.” I barely managed the words though heavy pants.
Just as I felt the crescendo of pleasure rush through me, making me cry out, Tristan let out a moan of his own.
He rolled off of me and pulled me over to him. I rested my head on his chest, utterly and completely exh
austed.
He kissed my forehead and I nestled closer to him before I fell asleep.
Chapter Two
The only sound in the room was a clinking of silverware against the plates and the soft pad of glasses being returned to the table. A sense of dread seemed to permeate every corner of the room, untouched by course after course of luxurious food being delivered by silent servants in blue. I had been to more lively executions than this dinner party.
This should be a celebration for the final four candidates of Queen’s Trial. One of us would be the next queen, yet none of us felt like celebrating. While it was possible the same four candidates would be here right now on their own merits it was impossible to know. Tiana had stolen the chance from most of the would-be queens.
I looked at the other candidates, studying their faces, memorizing them. Tiana was gone, but I couldn't help but be suspicious about everyone after finding out that some Fae have the ability to change into people we knew. It was an unsettling thought, that you could be with the person you thought was close to you and find out it wasn't them at all.
Knots twisted in my stomach as my thoughts drifted to my four princes. The council sent away all consorts until the Trials officially started. And to be honest, I wasn't sure when they’d return. My goodbyes and my one night with Tristan were all I had until they invited consorts back. And that wasn’t the only thing keeping them away. I’d fallen in love with four very busy Fae. Each of my mates had important things to do. I knew I couldn’t expect them by my side all the time, but it was going to be a long wait and I would miss them.
Tristan had a kingdom of his own to run, Cormac had been helping his father, Dane had duties at the Academy. At least I knew Ethan would return soon. Not being in line for any throne himself, Ethan had more flexibility than the others. If the rest of the celebratory week went like this dinner, I would have to start counting the minutes until his arrival.
Movement made me turn toward the head table where the Queen was sitting with her consorts. She was standing now, and all around me I heard silverware being set back on the table. Eyes focused on her. I hoped she had some good news for us, something that might make this dinner a little less miserable.
"I know the trial did not go as we hoped," she said.
I leaned closer, curious where she was going with this. In her opening speech to welcome us to this meal, she had danced around the realities of the last two weeks. She kept it diplomatic and on point, trying to sound cheerful and welcoming us to the celebration.
"We have lost a great deal; however, we must remember that Queen’s Trial has always been about survival. It has always been about finding the strongest, wisest, best candidate to rule Faerie. You are all here because you survived. Whether on luck, skill, or something else entirely, you are the final four. You were chosen for this.
“Tomorrow, we will have a ceremony honoring those who lost their lives in their efforts to become queen. Then, it is time to move on. We cannot dwell on what was. The other candidates gave the ultimate sacrifice hoping they could be queen. All of you are just as likely to follow them down that path as you are to become queen.
“Queen’s Trial has always been dangerous and you all knew that going in. After tomorrow’s ceremony, you must embrace your new role. The physical trials will ask more of you than you’ve ever given. They will challenge your intellect, your magic abilities, your wisdom, and your intuition. You will be alone in this but at the end, one of you will be queen.”
Goosebumps rose on my arms. Queen. Someone sitting here was the next ruler of Faerie. It was everything I never knew I wanted.
I swallowed against a lump in my throat, feeling even guiltier than usual. It wasn't anyone's fault in this room except mine that we were down to four members. Tiana was after me originally and then her ambitions took over, fueled by anger at the thought that I might rise to the title of queen.
But there was solace in my mother, the Queen’s words. It felt disrespectful to the memories of the other candidates to sit here and dwell on what was, when I still had the opportunity ahead of me - the one thing they wanted more than anything else. I didn't want to be here in the beginning. I thought it, wanted to deny it, even considered running away. That wasn't in me anymore. Now, I knew I needed to fight for this. Because I had a chance to make my mark on this world and make this world a better place.
I sent the servants away as soon as they arrived at my room. I knew they expected me to have help undressing and preparing for bed, but I couldn't break free of the heavy sense of dread that weighed on my chest. I wanted to be alone, to have time to think and figure out my next plan. I knew there wasn't much choice. I had to follow through with the Queen’s Trial, and to be honest, after Tiana I wanted the crown more than ever before.
Everyone warned me of how dangerous Queen’s Trial would be, alluding to the fact that other candidates might be the greatest threat I faced. So far, the only candidate I had a conversation with had been nothing but supportive. Instead of facing opposition from the other potential queens, my greatest threat had come from my own blood. Tiana was out of the picture, but I still felt afraid and nauseous as I considered what I might have to do to move forward in this competition.
I knew this part was the physical trial, where they would test us in a series of public demonstrations. This would be the first time I showed off what I could do to others, and I still had yet to discover what I was capable of myself. This was undoubtably where the other candidates would excel. Again, I lamented the loss of growing up in Faerie; how my life would be different if I’d been raised here where magic was a way of life.
I turned on my side, the soft fabric of the luxurious dress I was wearing whispered as I moved and I longed to see Rose, the human sister I had been raised alongside. I knew we weren't actually related, but she and I had experienced life together until that fateful day when the monsters attacked my wedding.
I couldn't help but wonder how she was doing now. Did she miss me? Did anyone miss me? I sighed. Of course, they didn't miss me. I was sure the man who had raised me as my false father told them all I was an evil Fae and made up all sorts of terrible things about me. I didn't want to return to the human realm, but if I did, I would surely have no place to go.
A gentle knock sounded on my door and I hesitated, wondering if I should feign sleep or get up and send them away. A knock sounded again and I sat up smoothing out the skirt of my dress before crossing to the door. I opened it a crack and peeked out, intent on sending whoever was standing there away.
Instead, a pair of familiar green eyes greeted me, and my heart leaped as pure joy coursed through me. I opened the door wider and Ethan stepped into the room. Without a word, he swept me up into his arms, cradling me against his chest.
I breathed him in as he carried me across the room and gently set me on the bed.
"I missed you." I reached my fingers out and brushed them across his cheek, memorizing every curve of his face. Being apart from my mates was proving to be one of the hardest things I've experienced. I was pretty sure I'd rather be attacked by monster or face down Tiana again than lose any of my princes.
Ethan gently pushed me to the middle of the bed then straddled me. He leaned over me, one arm on either side of my shoulders, boxing me in. "I missed you too."
“How are you here? They said no consorts.”
He smirked. “I sort of broke the rule.”
I laughed. Ethan wasn’t a rule breaker. “I’m glad you’re here but I don’t understand.”
“I couldn’t wait. I had to wish you luck in person,” he said.
He leaned down, stopping just moments before our lips would touch. His warm breath against my face sent a shiver of longing through me. I gripped the blanket with my hands, squeezing the fabric as the anticipation of the unfinished kiss lingered between us.
My breathing was shallow, and heat radiated through my body simply from his closeness to me. I didn't take my eyes off his, I waited, staring back
at him while those beautiful green eyes seemed to stare into my very soul.
Every second had me closer to the point of begging him as I waited. Finally, he lowered the rest of the way, pressing his lips against mine. Our bodies met, and his thighs squeezed around mine as the kiss deepened.
I ran my fingers through his hair and slid my hands down to his back, pulling him tighter against me as if holding him there kept him with me forever. His tongue entered my mouth, playfully stroking my tongue before he broke free of the kiss.
I whined involuntarily and stuck my lower lip out, pouting at the absence he created by pulling away.
He sat up, smirked with one eyebrow cocked. He looked like he was planning something.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to read the playful expression on his face. My experiences with Ethan so far had been predictable and comforting. The look on his face told me something had shifted. Before I could figure out what he might do, he started lifting the skirt of my dress, pushing the fabric up around my waist.
I sat up and started fiddling with the lacing on the bodice so I could help him remove the gown.
Ethan clicked his tongue. "Not yet." He pushed me back down gently then resumed lifting my skirt. I bit down on my lower lip in anticipation as I felt his fingers hook under my undergarments. I lifted my hips and he pulled them off quickly. I lowered my hips again and waited as nervous butterflies filled my stomach.
Ethan grabbed hold of my inner thighs and pressed them apart, opening my legs for access.
My face heated as he gently traced his fingers along the sensitive flesh leading up my thigh toward my center. His hands kept my legs open while he lowered his head. A moment later, I felt his warm tongue against the sensitive knob between my legs. His mouth and tongue worked in unison kissing and licking and teasing. I gripped the sheets again as I moaned in pleasure. My breathing rapid, my hips lifted and lowered of their own accord as a cascade of pleasure grew until I couldn’t take it anymore. I cried out in release as I reached the climax. I grabbed a pillow and threw it over my face to muffle the cries.