I laid back against the pillows and his arm while I thought thing's through. I hadn't known Dimitri that long, but when I was with him I felt like I could do anything, I'm so happy with him. Maybe there really is something to this mate thing. Barron, he'd betrayed me and left. What would he say when he came back? Did I honestly care? Here was my chance at true love....was I really going to pass it up?
“Dimitri I'd love to learn more about your people. If I am your mate would we need to marry?”
“If you would want to, it doesn't have to be right away or anything. It's typically customary, but if you do not want to...”
“Then it's settled, we shall be wed, might as well go all out. Since we're destined to be together any way right? Now about this giving up your alpha status...I have an idea. What if your brother take's care of your pack for you and you remain in Nevermore as a formal diplomatic representative of your people here. Our marriage could be a treaty between our two people's. Should your pack need us, we shall be happy to help and should we need your pack...”
“I see where you're going. You're brilliant my darling! We shall begin the plan's for our wedding soon, but for now I think we should sleep.”
I felt so heavy with exhaustion just then, right as I began to fade from the world I caught the faint scent of vanilla and exotic spice's and I knew my faithful companion was close to home again. The next morning I woke to find Zephyr napping at the foot of the bed.
Dimitri was nowhere in sight. I sat up rubbing my eye's and thinking about the night before and how happy I now was. I couldn't wait to tell Zephyr. I didn't have to wait long, he raised his head and shook like a bird shaking water from its feather's. Then he looked at me and smiled.
“You look incredibly happy this morning. I take it you're no longer... untouched?”
“ZEPHYR!”
He only chuckled at me as he dodged a pillow I slung at his head. Then he jumped from the bed and began to stretch out across the floor.
“I'm glad it was Dimitri, who had stolen your heart. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”
“Zephyr, will you leave me once he and I are wed?”
“No my little Raven, I will always be with you, we are bonded dear. Now get up and get dressed we have much to do today. The ball grows ever closer and I suspect you'll want to announce your engagement then.”
“It would be a grand time to do it wouldn't it. Very good idea...”
Suddenly I remembered something awful. The night of the ball was the night of the attack from the shadowed men and Butch and Lars.
“The attack happens that night remember?”
“Oh, I'd forgotten. Hmm, well I was thinking, it sound's to me like you're the target. So why don't we give them what they want...”
“WHAT? You want me to.....give myself to them? Zephyr, what are you playing at?”
“No, I want you to give them their opportunity to grab you. At precisely 9 o'clock you proclaim that everyone dance and feel free to make merry. Then you make a bit of a show of going to the garden's. Linger at the Maze's entrance for a few moment's until you know they are following, when you reach the center of the maze we will take them by surprise. No innocent will be hurt this way. Now all we need to do is figure out who the men are. I think I can help there too. I know a few animals who roam the village freely, they're always picking up back alley conversation's, I'll speak to them and see what I can find out. Meanwhile, you stay here and finish getting everything ready.”
“Wonderful plan! You're a genius Zephyr. But what of Dimitri? I don't want to risk him getting hurt.”
“He might be a good person to have in our corner though, still if your set against him helping, don't tell him of our plan's. I'm off to the village. Wish me luck, I'll be back soon God's willing.”
“Good luck my friend.”
And just like that he was out the window and gone. He was right though I had a lot to do today to finish the preparations for the ball. All day was spent picking out color's and placement's of food and portrait's of the Great Raven. All in all it wasn't too bad, but I did miss and long for my time with Dimitri. Thankfully, he'd shown up around lunch and we'd enjoyed a quiet meal in my chamber's followed by kissing and eventually more lovemaking.
I lay there in his arm's as I watched the sun sink lower in the sky. He kissed my forehead and I couldn't help but feel the guilt eat at me from not telling him my plan. I reminded myself that it was safer for him not to know and pushed the thoughts and feeling's away lest he pick up on my emotion's again. I smiled up at him, then kissed his sweet lip's and rolled out of bed for the second time that day.
“Oh come back here. Let's just lay here and forget the world Serra.”
“I wish I could. BUT some of us have to prepare for a ball.” I laughed.
“Oh, that reminds me, I finally got my costume. The tailor finished it early. I'm very pleased with his work!”
“Really? So what animal did you pick?”
“That my love...is a surprise! You'll just have to wait and see.”
“Oh, alright, Dimitri...”
“Yes love?”
“Where did you go this morning?”
“What do you mean?...I left a note, my dear didn't you get it?”
“I didn't see a note...”
He slid off the bed and stood before me in all his naked glory as he searched for his missing note.
“Ah ha found it, it must have fallen from the bedside table.”
Sure enough, he was right. But all the note said was he had gone into town and would be back soon. That didn't exactly answer my question.
“This isn't really an answer to my question you know.”
“I know, but you asked where I went not what I was doing. I went to town.” He smiled mischievously knowing I couldn't resist it.
“Alright, keep your secret's my love.” I chuckled as I used magic to fashion myself a long, deep purple evening gown with gold trim and decoration's. It felt wonderful to be able to use my magic openly again. Like a part of me that had been locked away was now set free.
“Beautiful!” he exclaimed.
“I need to check on our guest again. Make sure he's faring well.”
“Oh, you mean the man you found in the marshes. Yes, Zephyr and I have discussed this man.”
“Oh, and when did this discussion take place may I ask?”
He smiled his crooked smile he knew I loved.
“After I claimed you, my queen.”
I almost could have sworn I heard a low growl in his throat. Not a dangerous one, but one of arousal. I winked at him as I watched him dress.
“Well, in any case I need to tend to him and make sure he is ok. Do you wish to accompany me?”
“Unfortunately, my love I can not, I need to go into the village to find a carrier to send a message to my mother, She'll be so happy to meet you. Hmm, I don't want you going alone though. Say...where in creation is Zephyr?”
“He's...um...hunting.” It wasn't exactly a lie.
“Well, in any case take a guard with you, please?”
“Oh, alright, I can take Tristan if he didn't go with....Barron.”
Saying his name almost dredged up those painful memories again, but I stopped them cold in their track's. I would no longer feel bad about what Barron and I had done, nor would I feel bad over him using me then leaving me. I was the Queen damn it! If anyone was to be made the fool it would be him! I waited for Dimitri to dress, then allowed him to walk me as far as the outer guard post before he kissed me then took his coach into the village.
Upon searching the guard's barracks I found Tristan had gone with Barron, I decided to go check on Emery by myself. I was a grown woman after all, I had power's to protect me, I am the Queen! I can handle myself! So off I went. Once at the large door's leading to his chamber's I knocked and this time he opened it wide on the second knock. He smiled warmly at me and invited me in. Once again we took up our previous place's and once again he offered me a d
rink to which I declined.
Zephyr sensed something wrong with him, a darkness, but I could see no darkness in his bright eye's. He smiled at me as he made polite conversation and asked how thing's were going with the ball.
“I must say I'm so very excited to attend the ball. It will be my first. How go the plan's?”
Oh, they're going pretty well, though I believe I may have to find a new chef.”
“Oh really? Why, may I ask.”
“It seems the chef I have now is, ill equipped to handle the task of providing excellent quality food for the big dinner before the ball.....mostly because he keep's drinking all the wine.”
“Ah, I see...”
He spoke as if he were beginning to rack his brain for a solution to my problem. I began to tell him it was all going to be fine and I would find a new chef when he snapped his finger's in the air as if he had just had the grandest of revelation's.
“My lady, if I may be so bold I think I may know just the person to do the job.”
“Oh, you do?! I thought you weren't from around here. I've made it a policy not to let anyone in my kitchen that was not born and raised in Nevermore. Safer that way you know.”
“Oh, but I have been through the village's that lie in Nevermore the last few day's. Why just yesterday I met the most talented cook at the Raven's Song.”
“Oh, I know that little Pub. Hmm, I've never actually had time to stop inside but if you recommend them then they must be gold! Oh, I don't know how to thank you Emery, you may have just saved my ball!”
He smiled brightly as he took a sip of his tea. Then he replaced the cup on its dish and sat it on the table. He gazed off into the fire in his hearth as if remembering an old tale or maybe a memory. I didn't want to disturb him, but I was very curious, so I smoothed down my gown and fidgeted in my seat. Apparently I had caught his attention, I smiled at him as I watched him get up and move with the grace of a cat as he walked to the fire and took up the poker to stoke it.
I wondered if he might be able to help me with my plan. Something in me just wanted to keep talking to him, to tell him everything. I wanted to tell him all my secret's and show him all the skeleton's in my closet. It felt so strange to want these thing's so I quickly stood to leave. He turned and took my hand laying a gentle kiss upon it. Once again, I could feel the skin tingle and burn slightly where his lips had been.
He bowed low and said his good bye's, as did I and off I went. I had a ball to plan for after all and I needed to meet back up with Dimitri. I hadn't realized until I looked out a window in my den that it had gotten dark. I'd spent almost all afternoon with him.
I found Dimitri in my library the following morning after breakfast and a bath, The bath was sorely needed after a night of passionate love making followed by a morning of erotic pleasure's. My thigh's still shook with tremor's. Though not as violently now. The memory of his perfectly chiseled face and muscled body on mine made me weak in the knee's. A fire pooled in my belly as I felt my inner thighs quickly becoming warm. He turned as I walked in and the look in his eye's was so breathtaking I almost stopped walking all together.
He placed the book he had been reading down on the table next to him, then pushed himself to his feet. As he made his way towards me, I could feel his passion and love for me. It just emanated from his very being. He wanted me and I wanted him. I began to fantasize about the possibilities of where, in this very room I could have him.
My fantasy was cut short when he stopped in front of me, tilted my head up and kissed me. His lip's were warm and inviting. His tongue thrashed inside my mouth as the kiss grew deeper. His hand's began to run down the length of my neck and torso. Finally, he released me.
“You have no idea what you do to me Serra.”
I could hear the animal inside him beg to be set free, to ravage me on the floor, the chair's, the table, the stairs, anywhere in this room. I wanted the same thing.
“Oh, I think I do, I also know I want the same thing you do right now.”
“Oh really now?” He said with a smirk.
“Yes, really.” I said
“So you want me to slide my hand down the length of your bodice and leg and slowly lift your dress over said perfect body then bend you over that table back there and take you?”
As he spoke he slowly started to do as he had described. My breathing became labored and my knee's weakened again as his lip's came ever closer to my neck while he tauntingly described what he wanted to do to me even more.
“You want me Dimitri?”
“Oh more than you'll ever know.” he growled in my ear.
He kissed my neck and that was it. I grabbed his head and thrust it onto my breast. He hungrily suckled my nipple while supporting my almost completely limp frame with his well defined arm's. He carried me to the promised table and quickly jerked my dress from over my head. A quick step back to admire his prize and over the sturdy piece of oak I went. He lifted my right leg and placed it on the table then held my waist firm in one hand.
I could hear him shuffling to release his swollen beast from the confines of his breeches. Then he ran his hands down my back and over my taught round ass then with two strong, calloused finger's he penetrated me. I gasped at first, then after a moment I found my rhythm.
“Oh Serra, I want you in every room of this castle! Your mine Serra, no man can take you from me. I love you my Queen!”
“Oh Dimitri, I love you and no one will ever take you from me. Oh yes! Yes!”
“Are you ready love?”
“I'm ready, my love.”
Slowly he began to place the tip inside me, then more and more until he had completely filled me full. I loved the feeling of him inside me, pumping and jerking in pleasure. He throbbed and I felt every bit of it.
He began to moan with delight and in turn I did as well. He started to pound against my backside, going harder and deeper with each thrust. I could feel his hot scrotum hitting against my swollen nub and my pleasure was heightened even more.
I begged him to thrust harder and deeper and he happily obliged. Then suddenly I felt the tell tale wave of an orgasm.
“Oh Dimitri I'm going to...!” Another hard moan cut me off.
“Oh yes, my love, Yes do it. Do it, I want to feel you do it all over me.”
“Don't stop, don't... Dimitri!”
“Yes, Oh Yes Serra. Your going to make me cum...”
His word's were cut off as his orgasm took hold of him. A mix between what sounded like a deep growl and erotic moan escaped his chest as he collapsed against my back and kissed my shoulder. Breathless, we both stood.
Dimitri righted himself and left to fetch me a towel. When he returned, he laid me back up on the table and began to clean me with a warm, wet cloth. Then he helped me dress and pulled me down onto his lap behind the table that I then saw was actually one of my writing desk's.
He looked deep into my eye's and smiled at me whilst smoothing back some wild hair's that had escaped my braid.
“Serra, you have made me the happiest man alive. I can only hope to make you just as happy.”
“I love you Dimitri, I have no doubt's you will achieve that goal.”
I ran my finger's through his thick mane as I laughed with him. We were so content and happy. Then, as if he had just remembered something dreadful, his smile was gone. A frown began to grow in its place.
“Serra I never asked how the visit with that Emery fellow went. Did Tristan go with you?”
“Oh, it was pleasant enough. But no Tristan didn't go, I couldn't find him so I went alone.”
He furrowed his beautiful brown, making him look deep in thought.
“Serra, that was very foolish. We know nothing of this man and you very willingly put yourself in possible danger.”
“Oh calm yourself love. You know I have magic I could have used it if I felt threatened.”
“Not if he incapacitated you, Serra.”
I rose from his lap and began to pace the length
of the desk. I never could stand for someone to tell me what to do. Father had said I was always doing thing's my own way and that's what would help make me a great ruler one day. Mother had always said I was too much like my father.
In any case I knew I was headstrong and I knew I was going to pick a fight, I didn't want to but I just couldn't stop myself.
“You don't think I could have handled myself do you?”
“Serra I didn't say that...”
“You didn't have too, Dimitri. I'm not some poor, helpless damsel in need of rescuing.”
“I know you aren't, I simply meant...”
“You simply meant to what? Undermine my abilities? My authority?”
“No, Serra just calm down!”
The Nevermore Chronicles: Silencing the Queen Page 5