Forbidden Queen Complete Series: Books 1-4

by Dyan Chick

  “I want to help,” I said.

  “You have helped,” she said.

  “And you can’t be queen if you’re dead,” Lilian said.

  Brow furrowed I turned to look at Lilian. “Neither can you.”

  She shook her head. “I’m out. Faerie will be a better place with you as queen.”

  “Is that an official resignation?” The queen asked.

  Lilian nodded. “Yes, I no longer wish to take part in Queen’s Trial.”

  The queen looked at me. “Congratulations, Cassia. You are the next queen of Faerie.”

  This was what I wanted, but none of it felt real. Winning the trials was like a dream you let yourself think about but never believed.

  “Your highness,” Rose said, dropping into a proper curtsy.

  “Please don’t,” I said.

  “You’ll have to get used to it,” the queen said. “But you have some time until your coronation.”

  Coronation. Queen. This was real. The Trial was over. “Thank you.” It was the only thing I could say, but I meant it. “I’ll make you proud.”

  “I know you will,” the queen said.

  Rose snored softly in my bed while Nani stoked the fire. My princes were out sealing tears while I sat here clean and comfortable. It didn’t seem fair, but it made me want to learn more in the coming weeks so I could help when needed.

  We’d eliminated the self-imposed queen of the Under but the lands in that realm were so foreign and our knowledge so limited, it was impossible to know if they contained the threat. Just in case, I wanted to learn how to seal tears myself. There were more Dark Fae in the Under but were they like Amala? Did they want to control Faerie and open a permanent path between our realms?

  The questions swirling in my head made me dizzy. There was so much to learn and so much to discover. Cormac’s sister had the right idea. The only way we’d ever be free of the threat was to form a truce with them. But that was for later. For now, I need to get through the next two months and not make a fool out of myself at my coronation.

  My insides twisted and flutters swirled around my gut. It was still hard to believe that I would be queen.

  Nani sat down next to me. “When I hid you away, I never imagined you’d be the changeling from the prophecy.”

  I looked at her, considering her words. I hadn’t really thought about that. “Why didn’t anyone bring that up before?”

  She shrugged. “There are so few prophecies that come to pass that almost nobody worries about them. Besides, if you believe in all of that, you could say Rose is the human who came to change everything about Faerie.”

  I looked over at my sleeping sister. She wasn’t blood, but we shared a bond that couldn’t be ignored. Especially after all we’d been though here. “I suppose she changed it, but it wasn’t a bad change.”

  “Change is rarely bad or good. It’s different. It takes time to adjust and can seem terrifying at first. Then, it becomes a way of life and you forget why you were so worried about it in the first place.”

  “I hope that’s how I’ll feel after the coronation,” I said.

  “You were born to be queen. We just didn’t know it,” she said, smoothing down my hair.

  I smiled at her, grateful that she was still by my side. “What are we going to do about Rose?” The thought of sending her away made my chest hurt.

  “That’ll be up to her and up to the queen,” she said. “There are humans who live here but they are often mistreated.”

  I frowned. That’s what I’d read about in my book and it had to be one of my first acts as queen. Humans, while horrible at times, were no different than Fae. There were good humans and bad humans just as there were good and bad Fae. “You think she would want to stay?”

  Nani took hold of my hands in hers. “I raised you girls and while the two of you are as different as night and day, even the sun needs the moon to complete its purpose. I think the time apart made you realize just how important you are to each other.”

  “That’s true,” I said. “But I won’t make her stay. I want her to be happy.”

  “Would you be happier returning to the human realm?” Nani asked.

  The question caught me off guard, but my answer came quickly. “No. Never. This is my home. There was always something off about the human realm for me, but I never knew what it was. I belong here. I can be happy here.”

  I glanced toward the darkened window, an unfinished thought lingering in the air between us. I can be happy here with my mates.

  “They’re safe,” Nani said. “They’ll return soon. This is what they do. They’ve been protecting the realm as long as they can remember. And they will continue to do that while also protecting you.”

  I sighed. I hated feeling like the woman left behind to pine over her lover while he was away, but that was how it felt. I had no way of knowing when they’d return. It hadn’t even been a day yet, but after the last few weeks, I was ready to settle in with them and feel safe.

  “Time to get some rest,” Nani said. “You worrying won’t bring them home any faster. Come on, I’ll braid your hair and then you can sleep.”

  I nodded. Nani’s fingers worked through my curls, twisting my hair into a braid. Her touch was soothing and my eyelids grew heavy as she worked.

  Finally, feeling relaxed, I crawled into bed next to Rose and fell asleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Two Months Later:

  I looked at the great hall in all its splendor, prepared for my coronation tomorrow. The room was full of pink, flowering trees, a nod to the warm, sweet spring the Autumn Court was experiencing right now. Around Faerie, they heralded me as the harbinger of spring. I didn’t feel like I’d done anything special, but they all celebrated the return of the Winter Court.

  A gold throne sat behind a high table, with two smaller silver chairs on either side of it. The fact that I would sit there, surrounded by my mates during the feast was terrifying. By the time the party began, the empty room I was standing in would be full of tables and all eyes would be on me.

  There was so much expectation coming from everyone I’d met. I would still venture to the temple, as previous queens had done, but I already had the power of all four courts. Even the coronation itself wasn’t an end. It was a beginning.

  “How are you feeling?” Ethan asked.

  “Nervous, excited, terrified,” I said with a laugh.

  He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me to him. “You’ll be amazing.”

  “I hope so.”

  “You will be.” He dropped his arm and took my hand in his.

  Everything was a blur as the queen walked me through the final moments of my life as Cassia, changeling Fae returned to Faerie. By the end of the day tomorrow, I would be Queen of Faerie.

  The thought of it still made my heart pound.

  I reached for Ethan, who had been with me for nearly every step of this process. Cormac, Dane, and Tristan had visited regularly, but always had to return to their positions shortly after. I was grateful for Ethan’s undivided attention, but I’d feel a lot stronger and a lot more prepared for the duties ahead if I had all four of them by my side. Thankfully, they’d all be here tonight.

  “After the ceremony, you’ll walk down the staircase and the council will receive you.” The queen turned to me. “Then, you will officially be queen.”

  My throat tight, I nodded. It was so much to take in. Over the last two months, I’d spent nearly every day with the queen, learning as much as I could from her about how to run Faerie. We’d grown closer in that short time than I had ever been with my human mother. I wanted her to stay and continue to guide me more than anything. That wasn’t my choice, though. After my coronation, she’d have to return her magic at the temple. The gods would decide her fate. I’d taken to prayer for the first time in my life asking them to spare her. To allow her to stay with me.

  The doors opened and a pair of guards walked in. They moved aside to allow two femal
e Fae to walk into the room.

  My heart leaped at the sight of my newest council members, Malin and Lilian. I ran over to greet them, embracing each.

  “It looks amazing in here,” Malin said.

  “If you like flowers,” Lilian said, a smile on her lips.

  “Thank you both for coming. And thank you for accepting the positions on the council. I will need all the help I can get,” I said.

  “That’s true,” Lilian said. “But you already had the good sense to ask us here so you’re off to a good start.”

  I smiled. Lilian and I had started as enemies but after everything we went through, I knew she’d support me no matter what. We’d proven our loyalty to the kingdom and to each other. “How are things at home?”

  “Thanks to you, I’m no longer expected to marry well,” she said. “Though, I have had a hundred offers since word got out about my new position.”

  “It’s more than I could have imagined,” Malin said. “Thank you for asking us.”

  “I wouldn’t be here without either of you, and I can’t imagine doing this without you two by my side.” I embraced each of them again. Having them here made me feel less alone. Even if my mates all had to be away, I knew I’d have someone to turn to for support.

  “This will be quite the shindig,” Lilian said, looking around the room.

  “It looks like home,” Malin said. “Though, it’s summer in the Spring Court right now. I never knew how hot it could get.”

  “You sure brought a lot of changes to Faerie,” Lilian said.

  “Change isn’t bad,” I said. “And thankfully, I have you two to help me keep making changes.”

  “I can’t wait,” Malin said.

  “Ladies,” the queen called, waving us over with her hand.

  The three of us walked toward her.

  “This is Edvard,” she said, introducing a guard. “He’ll show you two to your new chambers.”

  “We’ll see you tonight,” Lilian said.

  Malin gave me another hug. “I can’t wait to see that crown on your head.”

  “Thanks,” I said, ignoring the fresh wave of fear that rolled through my stomach.

  I watched as my friends walked away, knowing I had made the right choice for my council.

  “You will have a great rule,” the queen said.

  “Thank you,” I said, hoping I was hiding my nerves.

  “Get some rest, it will be a long night.” The queen smiled, then turned and walked away.

  “Come on,” Ethan said. “I’ll walk you to your room.”

  We walked the now familiar route to my suite. I was in a series of rooms known as the Princess Suite. It was a massive suite with a bedchamber, sitting room, dining room, and a drawing room. It was more space than I needed, but the quiet in the space was welcome.

  Ethan opened the door for us, and I stepped into the room to find Cormac sitting on a chaise.

  He stood, a smile on his lips.

  “You made it!” I cried, running to him. I threw my arms around him and he grabbed hold of me, lifting me in the air.

  I heard the door close and glanced behind me to see that Ethan had left, giving us some privacy. Turning back to Cormac, I noticed a wicked smirk.

  “We’re all alone,” he said.

  “Yes, we are.” I was already feeling a little breathless just anticipating our alone time together. It had been a long time since I’d felt Cormac’s body against mine.

  He didn’t waste any time before he pressed his lips to mine. His kiss was ferocious, powerful, hungry. I answered him back, my mouth moving in time with his.

  Cormac’s hands moved down my back, resting on my hips for a moment before he slid his hands up the fabric of my dress toward my breasts. He cupped them, caressing them as he continued to kiss me.

  Wetness spread between my legs at his touch and I moaned against his mouth. I could feel him smile before he broke the kiss.

  He wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me. I squealed, laughing at the surprise of being carried, until he tossed me on the bed.

  With practiced hands, he unlaced my dress, peeling it off me, then tossing it to the ground. He hooked his fingers under my undergarments and pulled them down, tossing those aside too.

  I was completely naked, lying on the bed, staring up at my prince. His eyes were flooded with want, and I could nearly smell the arousal in the air.

  His eyes traveled from mine, down the column of my throat, past my breasts, until they rested on my thighs.

  I clenched them together as need coursed through me. I wanted him inside me so badly. Sitting up, I reached for him, intending to take his clothes off.

  He caught my wrists and then climbed on top of me, pinning me down on the bed.

  The restraint made my breathing even more shallow. I lifted my chin, trying to kiss him. He moved his face away, smiling playfully. “Not yet.”

  “I need you,” I said. “It’s been so long.”

  “I know and I need to make it up to you.”

  He held my wrists with one of his large hands, then he used his free hand to explore my body. He started at my neck, tracing his fingers down my throat. Then he moved to my chest, cupping one breast, then the other before moving to my stomach.

  He let go of my wrist, then lowered his mouth to my stomach, gently brushing his lips along my waist. His mouth moved lower, kissing my hips, then the inside of my thighs.

  I gasped, the wetness between my legs growing. I was losing control. How could I wait?

  I sat up again and Cormac sat up. Our eyes met, and for a brief moment, all we did was stare at each other, our heavy breathing the only sound.

  Then I jumped, catching him off guard. I landed on him, knocking him down to the bed.

  He laughed as I climbed on top of him. I lowered my mouth to his, kissing him with swollen lips. His palms rubbed up and down on my back. My hips lifted and lowered on his, feeling his hardness through his trousers.

  I broke the kiss and climbed off him. This time, I gave him the smirk. Quickly, I worked on his trousers. He lifted his hips so I could pull them off and then I threw them to the floor with my dress.

  “Take off your shirt,” I ordered.

  He sat up and tugged his tunic off over his head, then he lunged forward, reclaiming his position on top of me.

  His hips fit perfectly in between mine. I wrapped my legs around him, pulling him closer to me. With my hands in his hair, I guided his face to me. He kissed me again. Softer this time, deeper, more passion, less hunger.

  I felt like I was melting into him and my want for him only burned hotter. Just when I thought I might not be able to take it, he entered me. I moaned into his mouth then threw my head back, breaking the kiss.

  My hands slid to his back, and I dug my fingernails into him as he continued to thrust.

  Our breathing came out in heavy pants, quickening with each movement. With each thrust, I was getting closer to losing control. My pleasure grew until my breaths came in gasps. I arched my back as I reached my climax. My body spasmed as tingles echoed through me. A moment later, Cormac cried out as he joined me in climax.

  Breathing heavily, he stared down at me, then planted a kiss on my forehead. “I love you.”

  I reached up to him, brushing my fingertips over his cheeks, his strong jaw. “I love you, too.”

  Cormac only stayed a short while, leaving me alone to sleep before the big day. I thought I would be too nervous to sleep but before I knew it, I woke to Nani’s humming as she set breakfast out for me. By the end of the day today, I would be queen.

  Chapter Thirty

  Rose walked into my room, carrying a dress draped over her arms. “Just wait until you see it.”

  To my surprise, Rose had not only requested to stay in Faerie, she’d blended in almost right away. Her love of fabric and design brought her to the royal dressmakers, and she’d spent most of her time with them. When she asked if she could create my coronation gown, I immediately s
aid yes.

  “I can’t wait to see it.” I never shared Rose’s appreciation of clothing and didn’t really care what I wore but I knew they expected me to look the part of queen tonight.

  She lifted the dress, the skirts still draped over her arm. “It’s a tribute to spring.”

  My jaw dropped open at the sight of Rose’s creation. I walked over to her and brushed my fingertips over the white lace of the bodice and down to the sheer pink pile of fabric that made up the skirt. “Rose, it’s stunning.”

  “Put it on,” she said, handing it to me.

  Nani and Rose helped me into the gown. Rose’s design left a sheer section above my belly button that showed exposed skin. Under that was a circle of white lace in an intricate floral pattern, holding up the pink fabric of the skirt that pooled on the ground around me.

  I’d never felt more beautiful in my life. “Thank you, Rose.” I pulled my sister into a hug.

  She beamed. “Of course, my dress for tonight is also beautiful.”

  “As it should be,” Nani said. “After all, you are the sister of the queen.”

  “Almost queen,” I said.

  Nani looked at the clock on the wall. “You’ll be queen in an hour. I think it’s time you get used to the title.”

  I swallowed over a lump in my throat. She was right. This was it.

  Nani made some finishing touches, adding gems to my hair, while Rose helped me into a pair of pink slippers.

  “I’ll see you down there,” she said, excusing herself.

  It was me and Nani now. Of everyone in my life, she’d been the most constant. I smiled at her, grateful that she was here with me. Tears prickled in the back of my eyes.

  “I recognize that look,” Nani said. “No tears. Save those for later.”

  I nodded, sniffing back the tears.

  She cupped my cheek with her hand. “Today is a joyous occasion and I couldn’t be more proud of you.”

  I set my hand on top of hers. “Thank you for everything. Without you…”

  “No more of that.” She kissed me on the cheek. “I’d do it all again. Now, go.”