But although we’re physically better, Kirian’s mood has never been worse.
My poor king is depressed.
I’ve seen him come through the portal injured. I’ve listened to him talk about hard times in his kingdom. Poverty, famine, injustice.
This is different, though. Kirian’s never seemed so… human. He’s hurt, and it’s not the kind of pain that can be healed.
“I just don’t get it,” I say. “I don’t see what they would have to gain from hurting me. And I know it sounds crazy, but I swear I could sense their honesty when they denied it.”
“You’re not crazy. I think you just want to believe the best in people, and I love that about you.”
He’s not wrong. I’ve always given everyone the benefit of the doubt before judging them. “Do you want to talk about it?”
It’s not the first time I’ve asked since he let Torius and Kai go, but every time I bring it up, he turns the subject around to me. I think he’s using his concern for my well-being to distract himself, which is fine. I get it. But I want to be here for him.
Seconds pass before he says, “Torius and I were born the same year. His father was my father’s best friend and one of our best warriors. When Torius was five, his father was run through the heart with an iron spear.” He doesn’t have to remind me what that means—the worst kind of death for a fae. “My father made a promise to him before he died. He’d train Torius and I together. Basically raise us as brothers.”
“Maybe Torius wasn’t lying,” I suggest.
“It doesn’t matter. At this point, I can’t take anymore chances.” He lovingly strokes my nose with a finger. “Not when your life is involved.”
“You’re so good to me.” My hand slides down his abdomen, and my clit starts pulsing when my fingers comb over his happy trail. “I can be good to you, too.”
Kirian spreads his legs a little, getting comfortable as I squeeze his rock-hard cock. When my other hand cups his sac, he groans.
Biting my lip, I think about my decision to have sex. We got derailed, but I haven’t changed my mind. I want Kirian. All of him.
Wetness floods my core as I lick his nipple and pump his cock. A bead of precum gathers at the tip, and I use it to lube up his head with my thumb.
If I keep going like this, I know he’ll get off.
Keeping my firm grip on his shaft, I halt my movements. Jerking his hips, Kirian attempts to fuck my hand, but he’s not getting enough friction.
“Why’d you stop?” he pants.
“Because I want something else.”
His lips part, and he lets out a growl. That’s all the warning I get before he flips us over, and suddenly he’s on top of me.
Pushing my thighs apart with his strong hands, he sniffs the air. “So fucking sweet.”
He lowers himself until our naked chests are touching, and I lightly scrape my nails down his back. As if we’re magnets, Kirian’s cock is drawn to my soaked center, and the swollen head bumps against my clit.
Bracing himself on one elbow, Kirian reaches between us and starts rubbing the tip along my slit. Each time the thick flesh presses against my entrance, I want nothing more than to thrust up until he sinks inside.
But he keeps teasing me. “You want me to fuck this pussy?”
God. Teaching him dirty words has certainly paid off. “Yes.”
“How do you want it? Slow? Hard?”
To be honest, I’m past the point of caring. “I—I don’t know. Just give it to me.”
He chuckles darkly, lining his cock up perfectly. He’s about to push forward when a loud knock raps on the wooden door.
Frustrated, we both blow out a breath.
“That would be breakfast,” Kirian says through gritted teeth.
I huff. “Tell them to go away.”
“I can’t.” Reluctantly, he lifts himself off me. “You need your strength today. We’ll have to go on foot to the Shadowlands.”
“Why can’t the horses come?”
“Because it’s likely they wouldn’t survive the trip.”
Yikes. I don’t even know how to respond to that.
Kirian tosses a robe to me before pulling on a pair of loose-fitting pants.
When he answers the door, a troll wheels the food cart in, and it’s covered in steaming plates and bowls of fresh fruit. The smell of sausages and freshly baked bread wafts through the air.
The innkeeper, a dark-skinned fae with long white hair, trails in after our breakfast. Like all the other times we’ve eaten here since the soup debacle, Titus insists on testing the food himself. He seems happy to be our guinea pig. The culprit for the poisoning has yet to be found, and I’ve never seen someone so apologetic about something that wasn’t his fault in the first place.
We wait fifteen minutes, and he and Kirian pass the time by chatting about last year’s festival and the weather. Snow is expected later today. When Titus shows no signs of illness, we finally get to eat.
I’m not sure I want to. Although I’m better, every now and then I get a wave of nausea when I smell food.
I’m pouring myself a glass of citrus juice from the pitcher when another knock comes at the door.
“It’s me,” Damon calls through the wood. “Don’t make me eat alone again.”
Kirian doesn’t get up. With a surly expression, his butt stays planted in his seat while he bites into the loaf of bread. Doesn’t even slice it. Just mauls it like a barbarian.
I nudge his leg with my toe. “Let him in.”
“He’s trying to crash all our dates,” he grumps, then yells, “Get your own mate!”
“Gladly,” Damon shoots back. “Are you offering to help me find her? How kind of you. If you don’t open the door in less than five seconds, I’ll take that as a yes. Five, four—”
Kirian’s out of his chair at lightning speed. He jerks the knob with so much force it shakes the crystals on the chandelier.
He sweeps a hand toward the table. “Please, join us, cousin.”
Laid-back as always, Damon snickers and saunters in, already wearing his leather get-up for the day. Only two dining chairs are available, so he pulls an armchair over to the table.
“That’s too bad, Kirian. You have a queen. Just think—if I had one too, you and I would be a power couple.”
Holding in a laugh, I bite my lip. Thanks to Damon’s occasional dream walking in the human world, he’s picked up some phrases. It’s entertaining when he gets them wrong.
“I have my power couple right here.” Kirian gestures back and forth between us.
“Fine,” Damon sighs. “I’ve just had so much fun on our recent adventures.”
Kirian makes an exasperated sound. “Are you insane?”
“I’m serious. In the grand scheme of things, the other night was a blip on the radar.”
“And the damage to your hair earlier in the week?” Oh, Kirian’s hitting below the belt now.
I smile behind a pastry when Damon sniffs. “It’ll grow back. And, hey, we learned something new from Doctor Whittle. Distilled Day water is a thing.” He shakes his head. “Once word spreads, we might have a new crisis to deal with.”
“You’re not wrong about that. Speaking of learning something new, how did dream walking go last night?” Kirian asks, changing the subject.
“Uneventful. Torius dreams of battle. Kai, well, let’s just say in his dreams he was a lover, not a fighter.”
Pressing his lips together, Kirian hums. “Well, I trust your witch will be able to shed some light on things today. After that, Quinn and I plan to go home to Delavaria.”
For some reason, the mention of home causes a pang in my chest. My mom and dad’s faces flash through my mind, and I feel a deep sadness. I miss them.
Of course, always attuned to me, Kirian notices.
“Quinn? What’s wrong?”
When I think about returning to the palace, I’m not as excited as I should be.
Aside from the mishaps along
the way—okay, it’s an understatement to refer to nearly dying as that. But if I’m not thinking about the unfortunate events, this road trip has been the best time of my life. The countryside is beyond beautiful. Kirian always points out the sights. Lakes, landmarks, and plants. I like being outside during dusk when the glow lights up the horizon.
That’s what Kirian and I are used to—nature. The great outdoors.
“Do we have to go back right away?” I ask.
Kirian’s eyebrows knit together. “I thought you’d want to go home.”
“It just doesn’t feel like home to me,” I admit, taking a small nibble of the pastry. It’s filled with a fruity jam, and I’m relieved when my stomach doesn’t protest.
At least Kirian’s not having any trouble with his appetite. He’s shoveling the food into his face like it’s his last meal.
The creases on his forehead deepen as he swallows a mouthful. “It will in time, especially after we get married. It’ll be ours.”
“I’ve enjoyed traveling,” I go on, fussing with my napkin. I’m not sure how to explain my feelings without coming across as an ungrateful snot. “The people of Valora are so great. Everyone’s welcoming. Most of the villagers have been happy to see me. When I show up, I’m celebrated. No one says anything about my freckles. Plus, I mean, gnome hugs. How can you beat that?”
“You don’t like the palace?” Kirian presses, sounding concerned but not insulted.
“It’s not the palace that’s the issue. The nobles don’t like me. I’m not even sure your family likes me.” It hurts to say it, but it’s true. “And everyone thinks I’m ugly.” Kirian opens his mouth to argue, but I hold a hand up. “Don’t deny it. Don’t lie to me.”
His jaw snaps shut.
That’s what I thought.
“What if we spent some time away from Delaveria? We could visit the villages. Build maypoles and parks. Give them lights.” Getting excited, I wave my hands. “It’d be a tour of happiness.”
“It’s a nice gesture, Quinn, but I’m the king. If the villagers need something, I have people who take care of it. I’m expected in Delaveria. We both are.”
Swallowing hard, I look down at my plate. I don’t know why I’m rebelling at the idea of going back. All along, I’ve known that’s where we’re headed.
“Lovers’ quarrel, amiright?” Damon reaches across the table and casually plucks the last sausage off Kirian’s plate. “Maybe I don’t want a mate after all.”
Kirian snatches it back. “That’s mine.”
“Mine, mine, everything is mine,” Damon mimics with a huff. He gestures to the spread. “You know what I got for breakfast this morning? Porridge. The Dream Realm king doesn’t get the same respect here that you do. They didn’t give me any sausages. I’m just a poor blind man trying to find something to eat.”
“As if playing that card could work with me.” Kirian lets out a chuckle at Damon’s antics, and I’m glad to see my man smiling again. “But fine.”
He tosses the meat at Damon’s head.
Damon catches it, but instead of eating it, he places it in front of me. “For you, future queen. You’ll need your strength today.”
I grimace. “That’s the second time I’ve heard that warning this morning. Is this Shadowlands place really that bad?”
The guys are suddenly serious and silent, and that’s all the confirmation I need.
Quinn
Mountains loom ahead. I could see them when we left town, but they looked small in the distance. Now they’re huge.
And it’s freaking freezing.
Good thing the innkeeper’s wife went shopping for me. Apparently, while I was recovering yesterday, she took it upon herself to go to one of the clothing boutiques. She got me pants with a thicker khaki-like fabric, a fur coat, and a matching hat. They’re super heavy and warm, and I’m grateful to have them.
Snowflakes have been falling for the last ten minutes, and they’re coming down harder with every passing second. The wind gusts, and my face is pelted with icy crystals.
As I huddle under the shelter of Kirian’s arm, my footsteps crunch over the dark terrain. I don’t like how the clouds hide the moons and the stars. Not only did they give us light, but I’ve gotten used to seeing them.
We’re not even in the Shadowlands yet, and it’s all kinds of gloomy around here. The closer we get to our destination, all the living things just shrivel up and die. There are no birds or wild animals in sight. The trees look sad. Wiry, leafless branches wilt toward the ground, like they’re depressed to be growing here.
“You’re being affected by the area already,” Kirian observes, reading my mood. He waves a finger toward the murky sky. “Do you want me to clear all this?”
It’s nice of him to offer, but I’m not the only one who needs to conserve energy and strength. “No, just let it be. Maybe talk to me instead.”
“If we were traveling to the Dream Realm the conventional way, we’d go on a trail through there.” Kirian points to the left where the rocky road splits. “It’s a beautiful detour. Lots of great sights to see.”
I notice the way the trees and bushes flourish in that direction.
Then I look forward to where we’re headed. My feet drag a little when I see the dark crevice leading into the cavern. The opening is about fifteen feet wide at the base, and old wooden signs are posted outside, saying things like BEWARE and DO NOT ENTER.
That’s reassuring.
“Why would anyone choose to go through this place if they don’t absolutely have to?” I wonder.
“The safer path through the mountains is winding and long,” Kirian replies. “It’s about fifteen miles, while going straight through the Shadowlands is less than three. A faerie can fly over if they don’t have a wagon or a carriage, but most coming through here have a load of goods for trade. Some people like to take their chances with the short cut.”
“And some people don’t make it out alive,” Damon cracks cheerfully. If he’s trying to be funny, it’s not working. “Astrid is a badass witch. She’s lived in here for years and never had a problem. Going to see her is always dangerous. But as humans say—no risk, no reward.”
“Hey, you actually got that one right.” I smile at him.
His eyebrows furrow. “Don’t I always get the humanisms right?”
I grimace. He’s putting his life on the line for me. Now’s probably not the best time to tell him he needs to work on it.
Shrugging off his backpack, Kirian digs inside and pulls out a small square about the size of my palm. He does that unfolding trick, and the material multiplies. As it unravels, I notice there are straps coming from each corner. He throws two over his shoulders and ties the others around his waist until it resembles a loose pouch.
Satisfied with the way it fits, he nods and pats it. “You’ll be right here the whole time.”
I gape at him. “Is that a baby carrier?”
“Technically, yes.”
“And you want me to ride in it?”
“It’s the best way for me to protect you. You’ll be close to me, and my hands will be free to use my weapon.”
My heart starts to pound. Oh, God. He’ll need to use his axe.
Untying the top straps of the carrier, Kirian motions for me to hop onto him.
Who am I to say no when we’re about to enter the pits of hell?
After climbing Kirian like a tree, I get secured in my safety seat. My face is just inches from his neck, our chests are smashed together, and my center is snugly pressed to the hardening bulge in his leather pants.
“Hey, this isn’t all that bad,” I joke, attempting to lighten the mood.
“Good. Hold onto that attitude. Just keep thinking as many happy thoughts as you can while we’re in there.” His tone is full of caution, and it only makes me more nervous.
“Why?”
“Because some of the creatures living in there are attracted to fear,” Damon answers. “As humans say, you can run,
but they can find you if they smell you. Is that correct?”
“No,” I whimper. What the fuck am I getting into?
Trying to put on a brave face, I wrap my arms around Kirian’s neck. I press my nose to the hollow of his throat, breathing in the comforting scent of crisp air and fallen leaves.
“Close your eyes,” Kirian says softly as he walks forward. “You won’t be able to see anyway. The darkness might not freak you out as much if you just pretend you’re taking a nap. We’ll go as quickly as possible.”
I do as he says, and my world becomes dark as I slam my eyes shut. The guys draw their weapons, and the sound of metal scraping against metal only adds to my anxiousness.
Happy thoughts. That’s what I need.
I picture my treehouse. I remember all the times Kirian and I hung out up there. It was our go-to spot whenever it was raining or snowing. Our shelter. Our safety. He loved to plop down onto my bean bag and drink hot chocolate while I sat next to him on a cushion of blankets. Usually, I’d lean back against his leg and read to him or we’d do my homework.
As soon as we enter the Shadowlands, I can tell. I feel the air change. It becomes impossibly colder, but there’s no wind. It’s so still.
Too still.
It’s like the air itself has no life. I breathe it in, but it feels thin. Unsatisfying.
Kirian’s quick steps make me bounce. Although our bodies are rubbing together, for once, I’m not turned on. When I’m around Kirian, I’m in a constant state of horniness. If this place can kill my libido, there must be something really wrong with it.
A couple minutes in, I give into temptation and open my eyes.
And there’s nothing. It’s the blackest black I’ve ever seen.
I whip my head to the right. To the left. I’m searching for any glimmer of light, even though I know I won’t find it.
I feel trapped. Claustrophobic.
This is what Kirian woke up to the day he went blind, and he’s been living in it ever since.
How awful. It’s terrifying.
Now I realize the full weight of our decision to be together. This will be his reality. Forever.
The Fae King's Curse Page 17