‘Nathan, remember what I have told you. You must no longer wait to join with Juliet, if you wish to keep her safe. Others from the Faery and Water Realms will come to claim her. They will also come for the Hybrid women. Some will make excellent matches, others will treat them worse than the slavers. You must organise their protection. Your responsibility is also vast and heavy. Make no mistake, Juliet may exhibit great mental power but she is powerless against the males of these realms. They know how to subdue a Queen and force her submission. Juliet faces enslavement and even death without your help, Nathan. Do not underestimate the importance of your role.’
I nodded. ‘I do not underestimate my role. I can feel the weight she must bear and the danger she is attracting in assuming her role as Queen and Empress. Nothing will distract me in my task or entreat me not let her down. Neither will I fail the women of our race. I promise you.’
Cadell smiled. ‘I believe you, Nathan. Now go to her. She requires your support for the action she must take. Juliet is anxious she will fail. The lives of the humans who died press down on her mind and she is fragile. She will succeed in her command of the Realms. It is vital she believes it will be so.’
‘What must she do? What can I do to help her?’ I enquired fervently.
‘She must save the ship and the lives upon it.’
‘But how can she do that? It’s all about sunk,’ I called after him as he rose into the air. His large wings flapped loudly in the cold air amidst the screams and cries.
‘Go to her,’ he instructed refusing to answer my question. I opened my mouth to remonstrate with him but he left me speechless, flying across the water at speed towards the ship.
I hurried to Juliet, curious as to what help she could be to the dying humans and the sinking ship. I did not fear for my Knights. Their immortality would see them safe and I could feel that every single one of them was alive. I did not know about the Lycans but if they could be saved Juliet and I would not fail to act.
The humans were screaming, falling or jumping from the ship in blind panic. The lifeboats had failed to lower. The ship had been sinking all of the time Galen and his Shadow Army held it captive. Time had surely run out for action to be taken.
Juliet did not speak. I watched her stare out towards the ship. She appeared agitated. A solitary tear rolled down her soft pale cheek.
‘Why do they not come when I call them? I cannot act without their help. People are drowning. My handsome Knights, my friends, oh no, the children-Why do they not come?’ she muttered to herself.
Instinctively, I moved in close behind her, sweeping my hands down her arms for comfort.
‘Who do you call to?’ I enquired. But she was not to answer my question.
‘My Knights and the Lycans fought Galen’s men so bravely. They fight now to save the humans at my request. So many people have died, Nathan. I pray I can be of some use now. I must try.’
‘I am by your side, Juliet. How can I help you? Tell me what you wish me to do,’ I pleaded feeling the weight of her distress heavy in my mind. She blamed herself entirely for the ship’s demise and my presence in her mind attempting to soothe the agony of her misplaced thoughts appeared to be of little solace.
‘This power is immense. The responsibility of some many races now rests in my hands. It is draining. I can hear them all chattering, attempting to make contact with me. I can only protect you from it for so long, Nathan. It is a pain you will have to bear along with me.’
I rubbed her arms.
‘And it is one I will gladly bear with you. Stop protecting me and everyone else, Juliet. We are stronger than you suppose-‘
‘She turned in my arms to face me.
‘I know, I did not mean-I am sorry-‘
‘Protection is my concern, not yours. And now you have been given this responsibility you are more vulnerable than ever before.’
‘I understand that now. I won’t disobey you on these matters again. I love you.’
‘My love is yours Juliet, yours alone.’ I pressed her close to me. For a brief moment she dipped the side of her face against my chest, seeking refuge and strength. I had never felt so protective of her at that moment.
Juliet looked up at the swirling fiery beings that until now had hovered over the boat above us.
‘Patience, beloved one, patience. They will come. They will obey.’
Their ghostly voices were trill and childlike floating on the air. I stared at them fascinated as they lowered themselves over Juliet’s head to form a crown of light.
‘I cannot wait, I can’t wait any longer,’ Juliet bemoaned.
A strange tingling began to fill the atmosphere. Intuition bade me look down at the deck of the small boat and the sides. Something was coming.
‘They come, they come,’ the small fire beings around Juliet’s head chorused.
Small beings, the size of a small starved toddling child crawled up the boat from the water. They moved like spiders. Their skin colour was dark grey and their limbs long and spindle, their eyes pointed and elfin. Tattered transparent wings protruded from their backs.
‘We of the metal Faery Kingdom come, Sidhe Queen. What do you demand of us?’ One of them asked curling it’s long fingers around Juliet’s leg. The Metal Faery’s vivid large purple eyes stared up at Juliet from its thin gaunt features, peeping out from under a thick wiry mop of black and grey hair.
‘Juliet appeared a little apprehensive that the Faery was touching her, but she spoke to the strange being with command.
‘I will raise the ship from the water and with the energy faeries you will please repair the hull. The ship must be made sea worthy.’
The leader of The Metal Faeries slid away from Juliet’s leg and over the side of the boat into the water. He did not speak. The others followed suit. The energy beings flew to join the Metal Faeries who raised themselves from the water in a large number. they sped away towards the ill fated ship. I stared at Juliet dumbfounded.
‘You mean to raise the ship?’ I questioned with disbelief.
But her attention was taken up by her calling to other beings I thought only existed in the realm of the fairytale books. Mermaids. Beautiful women, bare breasted with silken red hair jumped and moved elegantly through the water. Male Merfolk followed their progress in unison, strong muscled chests merging with a long green fishtail on their lower body. Juliet called out to them.
‘Please, the children must come first in your rescue,’ she instructed with regal authority watching them move quickly to the helpless humans thrashing in the water.
Juliet calmly raised her arms away from my hold and held them out in front of her, palms facing upwards.
‘I pray this works, Nathan.’ Her voice was hoarse.
I found the feat an impossible one. But I had the utmost faith in my Queen and her ability to execute the task she had been given.’
‘Have faith, my beautiful Queen. You will succeed.’
My surroundings began to crackle with energy. I felt the source of Juliet’s power run through her, pulsing and coursing through her veins as she summoned the energy needed to raise the ship. The whole boat began to vibrate, the ocean along with it, as though an earthquake was occurring. The boat tipped and lolled in waves as they increased in size. I fought to keep upright. Quickly, I wound my arm around Juliet’s waist to steady her and protect her from failing. Juliet gasped with her effort of calling the energy forth, raising her hands to direct the energy towards the stricken ship.
The ship was now at a severe angle. The bough was in the air, the body all but immersed in the water. It was in danger of snapping in two. Juliet let out another gasp and staggered in my hold. I tightened my hold around her waist. There was a large sound of creaking metal and to my surprised eyes the bough of the boat rose further into the air. Slowly the ship was pulled from its watery grave. Water raged over the surface of its decks and out through the windows as the large metal ship moved into the air. The damaged hull became visible as t
he final part was removed from the water.
Juliet moved the ship to lie straight and hover above the water. Her whole body shook and trembled with the effort. I could not help but utter my amazement.
‘Juliet, you are so clever, so beautiful.’ I kissed her and laughed with triumph.
The Metal and Energy Faeries swooped down on to the ripped hull and began their work. We were close enough to see the Faeries pull the folded metal back straight with their bare hands in an attempt to cover the hole. Then molten hot liquid metal secreted from their hands as they wove it between the damaged parts in a web to seal the cracks. The liquid sealed and cooled immediately. The Energy Faeries suffused energy over the hull and ship in what appeared to be an effort to strengthen and protect its integrity from the damage it had sustained. The ship was now clearly sea worthy.
Another strained gasp escaped Juliet’s lips as she began to lower the ship back onto the surface of the water. The ship bounced lightly on to the surface of the waves. Juliet fell backwards against my chest, exhausted and faint. I scooped her up into my arms and sat her down at the back of the boat, sheltering her fragile form against me. I stroked her cheek lovingly until she came round, calling for Captain Bell to bring some water. Juliet was weak and would need to feed very soon.
Captain Bell rushed forward with a flask of water and one of whiskey, in awe of my Queen, unable to believe his eyes as to what he had just witnessed. Thankfully, his attention was diverted as we came alongside The Adeline. My Knights were climbing down a ladder which had been lowered from the top of the ship. At the same time, Cadell and a team of Angelic beings were lifting some of the humans out of the water onto the ship. The Merfolk were also assisting in the rescue by helping humans to another ladder, further along the ship. Many of the humans had drowned and their dead lifeless bodies floated listlessly on the water. I tenderly shielded Juliet’s face so that she could not observe them.
My men jumped into the boat. They were battle worn but safe and full of voice in praise of their brave Queen. To the side of the boat Cedric and Byron pulled in Marcus’s wet and shaking children. Marcus, Richard and two other Lycan men climbed aboard safe and sound. The small boat was now crowded and I could not help feel relieved that the ordeal was over. Even the water had calmed and all of the Faery beings vanished as though they had never been there. Cadell stepped on to the bough of the boat.
‘Everyone who could be saved has been, Nathan. Juliet you have done well. Now you must leave. None of the humans will remember what has occurred. A ship comes to their rescue.’
Cadell ‘s form began to shimmer and dissolve into pure white light. Yet he still talked to me in my mind. ‘There are two men on this boat, one Hybrid, one Lycan who covet your Queen. One will attempt to steal her from you very soon. You will fight this suitor before you are able to join with Juliet. Be prepared.’
He would not tell me who the suitor was to be but I knew it was either to be Jason who would put an end to our truce now Juliet was safe or Richard, the Lycan. I soothed Juliet to sleep, covering her with a rug provided by Captain Bell, eyeing Jason and Richard with suspicion. As I promised, the next man who attempted to steal and defile my Queen would die a violent death at my hand.
Chapter Eight
We travelled to my home, Paige Hall, North of London. Marcus, Richard and a cortege of Lycans were to be our guests. Juliet was to be crowned the following day and I was to be invested as her Knight of Swords. Once there, we received news the Elders had finally accepted Juliet as the Taleian Queen on learning of her new powers. I did not trust them. They did not fully approve of one so young but no other Queen of Talus since the Curse had been able to re-establish the bond between the Taleians and their Faery cousins. Juliet was no longer a simple Queen but an Empress. My Empress.
Juliet and I had been in talks with the Elders since their arrival. Our Queen setting her boundaries with the Elders informing them of her plans for the future. We talked about tackling the problem of the slavers, the missing Book of Talus, the warring clans, the humans, The Magician and re-establishing our alliance with the Lycans and the Faery Realms. Many Taleian & Hybrid dignitaries came to stay for the ceremony. I was lucky that my home was more than equipped to accommodate them.
It was imperative I claimed Juliet as my mate. Time was now crucial and I could not contain my need, passion and desire to be inside her any further. It fuelled my temper. Four days had passed since our ordeal on The Adeline. The moment my feet touched land I could think of nothing else but branding Juliet with my bite. I wanted her to offer her long slender neck and her naked wet body to me submissively for mastery.
Even as we sat in the carriage travelling home I felt Juliet’s deep seated ache to be taken in the most primitive of ways, such was her consuming need for me. I had wanted to satisfy her desire, to silence her conflict and confusion as to why she should feel the need for my dominance. It had taken all of my strength not to simply rip the dress from her body and force her on to my knee, her legs spread around my body as I publicly, forcefully thrust inside her to the hilt inside the carriage in front of all of our friends. Juliet may be Empress of Talus, ruler of our people but I was master of Juliet.
But so much had kept us apart and denied my right to claim my mate, even now. Talks and entertaining kept me apart from her. All of The Taleian Knights who had arrived to witness the coronation were potential threats. Their thoughts made me pace my study with fury. Their visions of Juliet were disturbing. Two of them plotted to find her alone, rape and bite her to consummate the bond with violence. I would not allow her out of my sight. My protective action was not to sit well with Juliet who was constantly attempting to prove her independence. The folly of her youth!
Thankfully, when I asserted my authority concerning her safety, and informed her that should she continue to thwart me then I would throw her over my knee and whip her bottom with my horsewhip she ceased her quarrelling. She put me through enough agony with her dangerous exploits to prove her independence of everyone around her. The gentle flush on her cheeks reminded me of the night in the forest when I had threatened her with the same punishment. Something inside Juliet ached for me to do it. The very idea had filled her with shame.
I now sensed her feeling equal shame that she allowed me to silence her with such a threat. It roused the response of an indignant child and our argument was rekindled. She stood before me dressed in business fashion for our talks with the Elders in a Russian blue gown diffused with just a small hint of grey. The waist and gigot sleeves of the dress were black velvet with the merest tinge of blue and trimmed down the front with sable fur. I had scrutinised the garment all morning trying to picture her naked form beneath it. My eyes lowered to the white satin vest hypnotised by the rise and fall of her ample breasts behind the pretty frothy fall of lace. I pictured them cupped and naked in my palms.
Juliet moved her hand to her throat and rubbed at the stock collar of the dress as though she were too hot as I scrutinised her closely. She tilted her chin defiantly at me and pouted determined not to be deterred. She did not need to be watched over like a child. The human was still strong in Juliet. Did she not understand the threat to her life to her and our happiness. But she was to tell me that she would not allow The Taleian Knights in the house to make her live in fear. She was oblivious to their wiles and lack of fear concerning her powers. Taleian males had been blessed with cunning and would take her when she was most vulnerable. No one was safe from attack in their lives, not as a human or as a Queen of Talus, I rebuked her in strong terms. My temper rose.
My word was law concerning her protection and I expected her to respect it as so. I decided not to disappoint her in fulfilling her secret wish. I always carried out my threats. A sound spanking was definitely in order and I relished the prospect of administering her punishment.
I picked up my horsewhip resting on my desk after our morning ride and ran my finger along its leather end. She took a step back from me, her chest and ris
ing and falling with a sudden agitated breath yet there was a confused gleam of excitement in her shining emerald eyes. Catching her arm, I pulled her roughly to me. She squealed, informing me if I did not let go of her she would use her power against me. I did not care. I would not give up.
I marched Juliet to green leather chair next to the fire, ignoring her jibes and name calling. A large burst of energy was aimed in my direction and I found myself bracing my mind. Nothing.
Again, she tried as I sat down and began to pull her over my knee. Nothing. I gave a triumphant cry as she squealed with frustration. Cadell had told me that if the Taleian bond was deep and based on strong love, then the Queen would lose her power to exert any mental pain or physical force on her Knight. I informed of her of this curious fact as I pulled her over my dark grey suited trousers and braced my arm across her back to steady her struggling form. I momentarily deposited the whip down the side of the chair and lifted her skirt and petticoats to reach her undergarments and pulled them down to expose her bottom. I smoothed my palm over the rise and fall of her pert buttocks relishing the feel. I gave her delicious peach like buttocks a squeeze. The Elders were due to meet us in this room at any moment. I made sure my voice was light and soothing as I spoke to her.
‘This means we are deeply in love, Juliet. I must have your respect as your mate and Knight. You are mine to master. But I will be merciful today, my love,’ I lowered my voice, my tone seductive but menacing to tame her wayward spirit that continued to entreat her annoying struggles. I pressed down harder on her back, mindful of the power behind my strength. ‘I will not whip you hard. Now, hush and accept your punishment.’
Without further hesitation I raised the horsewhip in a large practiced art and began to give her covered buttocks a sound whipping. No amount of yelping would entreat me to stop. Juliet was not the first woman I had horsewhipped or indeed paddled. I knew the art of punishment well. The numerous female conquests from my days as a cad had found much pleasure in their submission to it. Slowly, Juliet’s yelps ceased to be replaced by one gentle sob and then silence. Her body became still, soft and submissive over my knee. I struck her bottom three more times for good measure, making sure the last strike was the hardest of all of them. Another small sob stole from her lips and brought her short sharp punishment to an end. I put the whip down and gently rubbed her sore buttocks before speaking to her with command.
Queen of Swords (The Vampire Swords Book 3) Page 7