Here in the dark, she wanted to fight against knowing that. One final effort to remember she was a lonely, solitary person and whatever this was pulling her towards him was something she could fight.
She didn’t have feelings for people, she just—didn’t.
When his arms finally dropped from beside his face to move around her, she came undone. Completely wrapped in his strength she felt safe for the first time in so long it made her eyes glass over. Breaking the kiss, she sat back breathless.
Her eyes searched his. Christ, he was handsome. The hard strength of him made her feel like she could let herself fall to pieces in his arms and he had more than enough strength to catch all her pieces and hold them together. His heat and power moulding her into someone who felt complete.
She stiffened at the thought. Folding her arms over her chest as vulnerability pushed her heat aside. Scurrying off his lap, she pushed herself off him. Sinking on the cool hardwood floors. Her eyes searched the darkness for the words she needed to cut through the awkward silence.
They weren’t there.
The silence stretched on before she pushed herself up off the floor and walked to the bed. Leaning back on the edge, she pushed her hair back from her forehead, letting out a breath. “Sorry.” She didn’t know why she was apologizing. There were enough reasons to choose from. She attacked him in her sleep, held a knife to his throat, likely tackled him to the floor.
Then, there was everything after.
Maybe the apology was for being such a coward. She couldn’t bring herself to follow through. To take what she so desperately needed for herself for once in her life.
Running her hands down her face, she looked at him.
Ridhor had fallen back when she scurried away. He pushed up to sit. Reaching beside him, he picked the blade up off the floor, slowly walking towards her.
She tensed as he approached, preparing herself.
Holding the knife out to her, he spun it in his hand letting her know he was skilled with a blade before offering it to her.
Melas took it, setting it beside her.
Silence built between them, her eyes cast towards her fidgeting hands.
He sat on the bed beside her, leaving enough space so she wouldn’t feel crowded. “Are you feeling any better?” He asked her.
No mention of her dream, her attacking him, or even of her slithering up his body like a starving snake. Lifting her hands, Melas cupped the back of her neck, dropping her head.
If she were honest, she would tell him no.
The weight of the dream lifted, replaced by the weight of being suddenly vulnerable. It was a new feeling for her. She was used to being in control. Even when she was beaten and broken, she never truly felt vulnerable. If she were honest, she would tell him how his words affected her. She couldn’t remember anyone ever saying something that left her feeling so raw and emotional.
Something about sitting in the dark made her want to be honest. Tell him exactly what she was feeling when she couldn’t fully see his reactions to her words. Not that Ridhor was big on reactions. Maybe in the dark, she could lean into the emotions she so often pushed down into her belly, locking them away until she didn’t have to face the world.
Rolling her neck to ease some of the tension building there, she worked her bottom lip through her teeth.
Why couldn’t she just be honest? She wondered.
“I probably just need sleep.” She cringed at her weak reply. When did she start shying away from saying what was on her mind?
He nodded. “Sure.” Instead of getting up, he turned to look at her. “I am going to kiss you.”
Melas lifted her head, turning to look at him. Her eyes searched his face, but it was the same sculpted gaze it always was.
“I remember you telling Andrei you would stab him if he tried to kiss you.” He murmured before closing the distance, pressing his lips against hers. It was slow at first, his lips cautiously seeking hers, questioning her. When she didn’t lunge at him or push him away, he traced the line of her lips with his tongue.
She opened her mouth, inviting him in.
That was all it took for him to lose his grip. His hands shot out, one wrapping around the back of her neck while the other slowly traced the line of her jaw. His thumb pushed her head back, allowing him better access to her mouth as his tongue danced with hers.
It was desperate. He devoured her, causing her toes to curl and her body to move towards his, wanting more.
His hands dropped to her waist, his large grip making her feel small enough to break in his hands if he weren’t careful. She wasn’t a fragile thing, not something that could be easily broken. Feeling his large hands had her blood boiling, dancing on the edge of danger and pleasure.
Climbing onto his lap, she straddled him once more. How many times was she going to end up in his lap tonight? She wondered.
His hands moved under the loose shirt she wore to bed, the rough pads of his thumbs brushing against the sensitive flesh of her breasts. She shuddered, his touch making her rock against him.
“I guess she was okay.” Andrei’s voice broke the haze around them. Her eyes snapped open, looking over Ridhor’s shoulder.
Arms crossed, he leaned against the doorframe. His gaze heated. “If I knew checking on her would’ve ended like this, I would have fought you harder for the chance.” His grin was devious as he winked at her.
Climbing off Ridhor’s lap, she pulled the shirt lower to cover herself. Pushing her hair off her face, she looked from Ridhor to Andrei before clearing her throat. “How long have you been standing there?” She asked him, suddenly embarrassed.
“Long enough to be feeling slightly uncomfortable.” He reached down, making a show of adjusting his hard length in his pants.
Raising a brow, she didn’t know how to feel. Andrei always seemed to be dancing the line between being overwhelmed by her and flirting with her. She half expected him to go back to the cabin tonight. He never stayed overnight.
Maybe catching him sneaking around was the invitation he hoped for.
Clasping her hands together in front of her, she moved around the bed, sparing Ridhor a glance.
He was still hard, the front of his boxers tented as his eyes moved over the length of her bare thighs. She nodded at him before making her way towards the door. “I should go check on Zura.”
A hand closed around her wrist as she moved out the door.
Andrei spun her around, dipping her as he pressed his lips against her own.
He winced, pulling back when she sunk her blade into his upper thigh, dangerously close to his crotch. He jumped back when she pulled the blade free.
His hands wrapped around his upper thigh as he flashed her a satisfied grin. “Worth it.”
20
THIRIEL
He was being summoned.
Whatever the Oracle told Fate about her ordeal, she wasted no time before letting her know he had a hand in it. He expected nothing less. Getting loyalties from anyone in The Veil was an impossible task. The beings in The Veil stuck with their own and seemed to care little about anyone in the other realms.
Thiriel hadn’t the time to build a relationship with Ela that would have warranted any loyalty. Though even if he hadn’t been hard-pressed for time, he couldn’t be sure he would do anything differently. He wasted far too much time on those from The Veil to know he had a better chance of marrying the Unseelie Queen today than amounting allies from the elusive realm.
The invitation to the Seelie Court appeared on his nightstand. It was a folded leaf, rich green with its message written in gold.
Lord Thiriel Hamewinter, Woodmoon High Elf of the Seelie Realm,
Your presence has been requested by the Unseelie Queen in the Seelie Court. You have twelve hours to appear before the Queen.
Anyone who knew the Unseelie Queen, Fae or otherwise, knew you had less than the time allotted. She was not a patient being. Making her wait, even for the time permitted, would c
ome at a high price.
He quickly readied himself and set off for the Seelie Court.
Had he been summoned before his plan was set in motion, he would have been filled with anxious nerves at the idea of coming before the queen. He held a high position in her court, but titles meant nothing. It was an even playing field for any being who got on her bad side. Whether you were a lowly Browning or a High Elf made no difference.
Appearances meant a lot to him. Though he hurried, he did take time to be sure he was dressed to the nines. His pale hair pulled back from his face, a pear-coloured suit woven by a Hobgoblin the queen herself used on occasion.
When he arrived at the gates, he felt regal, his confidence high. He would walk out of here today after appeasing her that much closer to his goal. He was sure of it.
The guards allowed him entry right away, no doubt informed he would make an appearance. They ushered him in, their expression doing nothing to let him know how deep a hole he would have to try to get out of.
The Unseelie Queen was unpredictable. It was impossible to prepare for a meeting with her. A meeting for tea and light conversation could end with your head on a pike. Just as arriving in the court under direct order could result in being rewarded for actions that should have cost your life.
She was fickle, often riding the waves of her current emotions. He only hoped her mood would work in his favour today.
The gate to the garden was dramatic and fit the Unseelie Queen. It was golden filigree. Stretching up over twenty feet, a blend of flowers growing up the bars. He shimmied through the opening, suddenly stepping into tall grass that brushed the palms of his hands as he walked by. Flying beings of all types flew through the air. The canopy of trees overhead making the light shining down into the large space seem whimsical. Sprites, Pixies, dragonflies, firebugs, mystic fish all flew about, the air of the garden filled with the laughter of children. The tall grass gave way to a clearing surrounded by weeping willows.
Topiary sculptures of the queen lined the path leading from the gate to the clearing in different poses.
At the centre of the clearing was a throne, the same gold filigree of the gates to the garden. The Unseelie Queen sat with her ginger hair in a fancy up-do that sparkled in the warm light. Her dress made of different foliage, covering all the important parts but giving you a glimpse of her pale skin through the gaps. Butterflies settled on her to decorate her gown before flitting away, only to be replaced by another. Her green eyes watched the children who danced around her in delight, mortal beings switched out by changelings so she could forever be surrounded by children.
The parents were none the wiser to the changelings left behind.
The dozens of children who ran around the garden would stay this age forever. Never ageing to satisfy the Unseelie Queen and her love of children.
A small golden table was set beside her, the table covered with a tea set and some pastries. A long table ran across the edge of the garden covered in every cake, cookie, and pastry a child could ever want for. Many of the children ran around with chocolate-covered smiles and sticky fingers as they chased the flying beings in the air.
Thiriel swallowed the unease in his throat. He kept his head high, strutting through the garden as though he hadn’t a care in the world. Despite his black heart, he couldn’t help but smile at the children surrounding them.
There was something so magical about children.
Her green eyes landed on him, but her expression didn’t change. She wore the smile she had while watching the children as he approached, the whole clearing lit with a golden glow as the sun shone through the leaves above.
“Lord Thiriel.” Her voice was a song. Hearing her voice did something to him, he was as powerless as most. It was similar to the lure of a Siren, calling him to his undoing. This was the voice of someone who could ruin you without you even realizing it. With your permission.
Dropping to his knee, he bowed his head. “My Queen.” His voice was laced with enamour as he waited for her to address him so he could rise.
She took her time, letting her gaze move over him. Her mood still unknown to him before she reached out a dainty hand and gestured lightly. “Come, sit with me. We have much to discuss.”
He got to his feet slowly, letting her know he was comfortable on his knees before her. Before his queen. It was a sign of respect, one he couldn’t risk failing to show when he already had much to be punished for.
He would do whatever it took to walk out of here with his life.
Sitting in the chair on the other side of the table, he waited, knowing better than to speak first.
“Your family has always served the Seelie Court well. The skills of your family proved beneficial to the Fae.” Her eyes watched the children, not sparing him a single glance. “Imagine my surprise when I was approached by Fate herself.” She picked up an ornate teacup and sipped slowly.
Shit.
His heart beat heavy as she took her time, in no rush to continue their conversation or let him know what she was thinking. She placed her teacup on a saucer, taking up a small cake, nibbling on a corner. She handed the cake to a small girl with brown skin, straight black hair, a flat nose and almond eyes, who ran up and tugged at the skirt of her gown. Running her fingers through the little girl’s hair, she tapped a finger to her nose before she ran her knuckles lovingly against the girl’s cheek.
Giggling, she ran off with her cake towards a group of children dancing to the music of a pan flute. He had no idea where it was coming from.
“I’m not one to shy away from a confrontation with another realm, however, Fate is not one to be trifled with. Had this warning come from the Griffin King or even Kraken I would have turned a blind eye. Fate’s reach is unavoidable, not one any can escape.” She curled her lip up then. “Every living being is affected by Fate.”
Even her.
The words went unsaid but he heard them loud and clear. “My queen,” he started, wondering just how he was going to dig out of this hole. The arrogant laugh of Alette played over in his head. How she laughed at him when she told him Fate would be furious. He hadn’t listened to her then, and he wouldn’t listen to his queen now.
Not when he was this close.
Her hand shot out across the table, wrapping around his neck. Her long nails dug into his flesh as his eyes rolled back in his head. His body suddenly felt heavy, his mind fighting to stay in the present as the sides of his vision greyed. “I told Fate she can do what she wants with you, Thiriel. If she decides to turn her vengeance elsewhere, say, the Seelie Court or anywhere else in the Seelie Realm, I will make you wish you were never created. Do you understand me?”
He wheezed, the sliver of air pushing through his windpipe squeezed in her grasp not enough to keep the darkness from closing into his vision. “Yes, my Queen.”
“Whatever she does decide to do to you, I’ve requested she keep you alive for no other reason than for me to mete out my punishment. Should whatever she decides to do to you not be enough to appease her.”
Clever. If she kept him alive, it would show Fate the queen was also angry and willing to punish him for doing something to slight her. It would likely be enough to keep peace between the bloodthirsty women.
She released him. “I have to say, you’ve never seemed foolish.” Her eyes flashed before she looked around her little slice of paradise. “Putting yourself in the sights of Fate is one of the most unwise things any being could do.”
Thiriel nodded. “It wasn’t my intention.”
“Yes, but someone truly wise plans for every consequence.”
A simple warning. It may not seem like it, but this was great news.
Two elves appeared from behind the trees. The queen’s guards. They grabbed his arms. “Remove him from my garden. He is irritating me.” She said lightly, getting to her feet as she walked towards the children.
She was beautiful as she walked away. Her ginger hair woven around her pointed ears as she threw h
er hands up, dancing with the children before grabbing their hands and moving in a circle.
His feet were lifted off the ground as he was carried back through the long grass towards the gates.
“Thiriel,” She called to him. Looking back over his shoulders, he saw the gleam in her eye. The way her smile curved up in a malicious grin. It was moments like this when he remembered why she was the Unseelie Queen. “I don’t want to remind you of what happened to the last member of your line who upset me.”
His skin went cold.
He didn’t have to be reminded.
The Unseelie Queen would be watching him.
Fate would be out for blood.
He needed to find what he was looking for before either of them got their hands on him. His life depended on it.
21
ORREN
The cottage Ridhor kept in Siglufjörður, Iceland was beautiful. He suddenly realized why he brought Melas and Zura here instead of one of their other places in the Mortal Realm. It was secluded, with a breathtaking view that would make them feel peaceful as they tried to find themselves.
Their places in one of the cities would’ve been overwhelming, it wouldn’t have allowed him the space needed to get comfortable. Something told Orren that was more his plan in accompanying them here than recovering their memories were.
Cricket and Alette sat on the couch, the pair of them taking in the scene and talking about taking some time to explore later in the evening. Andrei walked into the living room moping, and Orren rolled his eyes. “What are you pouting about now?”
Crossing his legs, he sat on the couch. “This is the third outing they’ve left me out of since I got here. First fishing, then lunch, then hiking.” He turned to look at Alette and Cricket. “I’m lovable, aren’t I?”
Alette, new to their fold, gave him a reassuring smile but Cricket scoffed at him. “There’s a reason you only have Orren and Ridhor as friends.” She rolled her eyes.
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