by J. Kearston
No vagina, shut up. You can’t come from thoughts alone, at least let him touch us first.
Any response I can think of sounds so cringe worthy in my head and I don’t want to ruin the moment. So instead, I discard my shirt, praying it comes across at least half as sexy as it does in the movies. I’ve never doubted myself before when it comes to these things, but with Lucien? There’s a desperate, needy part of me that wants to give him a reason to keep looking at me the way he is now. With Dorian and Atlas, I can take control and revel in the way they come apart under my attentions. But Lucien?
There’s something darker in him that should frighten me, but all I want to do is let it consume me.
The sound that escapes his throat is dangerous, nearly a snarl, as he let’s go of any reservations he was still clinging to. He captures my lips with his own, dominating my mouth like he’s staking a claim and just daring someone to challenge him for it. Deftly, he unbuttons my shorts and tears them off, leaving me in a set of pale blue lace while he’s still in far too many clothes. As if his thoughts mirror my own, he pulls himself away long enough to strip before recapturing my mouth.
One of his hands slowly slides up my body, caressing every curve along the way, before palming my breast. He brushes his thumb across my lace covered nipple, pinching and rolling. I hiss, growing quickly desperate for something to ease the ache before I combust, squirming against him.
Luce starts kissing a trail down my collar, hesitating when he gets to the scarred mark over my heart. With more gentleness than I imagined this man could be capable of, he places a single kiss in the center before continuing down. He nips at each of my breasts, my stomach, and runs his tongue across the edge of the fabric at my hip.
Like a switch was flipped, all gentleness becomes forgotten as he shoves the scrap of fabric aside and wraps his lips around my clit, sucking hard. I cry out, bucking against his face, and he grips my hips to hold me in place as he starts to devour my lower lips with as much enthusiasm as he showed the ones on my face.
I lean back against the wall, one leg thrown over his shoulder and heel driving into his back. Just the thought of this powerful man on his knees before me, wanting to possess me, amps up my desire nearly as much as his touch.
Releasing a steady string of curses, I start to come already, falling apart in a way I haven’t before. He never slows, never gives me time to catch my breath as he acts like a man starved, sliding two fingers inside of me to prolong my release.
Rising to his feet, I slide my ankle down his shoulder, yet he still keeps it slung over his arm. He reaches behind me to the kitchen counter to tear a condom out of the package and slide it over his throbbing length before lining himself up. With a hard thrust, he sinks fully inside of me, hissing in a sharp breath between his teeth.
I curse as he slides out and slams back in, harder and faster than before. My nails dig into his arm as he fucks me senseless, all rational thoughts replaced by how amazing it feels to have him completely take control. I can do nothing more than hold on for the ride as he dominates my body, consumes me, and leaves my world reduced to only the pleasure he gives. Nothing matters beyond it.
The next orgasm that rocks through me threatens to shatter what remains of my sensibilities. With a harsh bite on my shoulder and a groan, Lucien follows me over the edge, his movements coming slower and more erratically. His cock throbs and jerks as he comes, burying himself to the hilt.
My legs are trembling as he withdraws, keeping one hand on my hip. He kisses the bite mark on my shoulder before whispering in my ear, “You’re ours now, princess. And we’re not letting you go.”
Chapter 15
Dorian
“Okay, this is going to be fine. Dinner, let them make some verbal jabs, and go back home. We can do this,” Cambria rambles nervously, fisting the skirt of her dress.
Despite the fact of why she needs to wear it, she looks stunning. Her entire back is exposed along with her sides. The front is held up by a thin clasp behind her neck and at her waist, it flares out down to the floor. The swirls of blues and purples match her hair perfectly and the twining ivy pattern over it screams fae.
The rest of us are in charcoal dress pants and light blue, button up, long sleeve shirts. We decided it would be more of an insult to come dressed to the nines as if we belonged to the same station as anyone in attendance, playing into their bigotry for simplicity’s sake. This isn’t the time to try to change an entire society’s structure and fight for equality; not when all it would accomplish is Cambria getting hurt.
A fight for another day, if we live through this one.
“Of course we can.”
I steal her hand and place a quick kiss over the mark on the back that I’ve realized by now is mine. I can’t help the possessive thrill it sends through me, despite the horrific way it came about. But this magical, gorgeous girl is everything I didn’t know I was waiting for, and while I can’t offer her much, I can offer her this small comfort.
We left early since we had to walk the whole way. Despite Lucien offering to pay for the magical equivalent of a cab, Cambria just laughed. ‘No one is going to rent to me and my humans, Luce. They’d sooner roll us off of a cliff,’ she claimed. So fifteen mile trek in formal wear, super fun.
We arrive outside of the wrought iron gates, and I pause. “Okay, so is the fae and iron thing bullshit, or is that a super effective fence at keeping people out?”
She smirks. “Bullshit. Humans just can’t stand thinking they have no protection against something stronger than them. So they make shit up so they can sleep at night, trusting in false securities. Like garlic and vampires, how dumb is that?”
Atlas grabs her arm as she starts to walk away and swings her around to face him. “Hold the fuck up, those are real too?”
A laugh bubbles out of her throat that I commit to memory, knowing I won’t hear that any more once we pass through those gates.
“No, my sweet human.” She pats his cheek condescendingly. “The only monsters that go bump at all hours of the day and night are us. Fae come in more forms than you want to know; some with blood fetishes, and others that can transform their bodies. We’re your werewolves and vampires, your witches and boogeymen.” Her humor dies off as shadows overtake her silver irises. “Monsters in pretty packages.” It’s gone just as quickly as it arrived and she forces extra pep into her step. “So let’s get this over with, yeah?”
I share a look with the others, following her towards the gate as she slips her invitation through the bars towards one of the guards. He looks down at it and snorts.
“As if we wouldn’t recognize you on sight,” he scoffs. “Open the gates,” he calls, sounding bored.
At least he doesn’t sound hostile.
What previously appeared as a stone castle morphs the second we pass some invisible barrier at the gate line. An illusion, but I couldn’t fathom why. If the fae love to flaunt their superiority, wouldn’t they rather show it off than conceal it?
Lucien mirrors my sentiments and asks her as much. All the while she’s looking around at the magical sight in disgust.
“I told you guys, nearly everything you see in this world is fake, nothing but illusions. Glamour and such can only extend so far and the sight you saw outside of the gates is the real thing. the illusion only covers the property because it takes so much power to maintain.”
The stone castle is now solid white instead of grey and flowers of every color wrap around the exterior on vines. Even the air seems to shimmer, like the world itself is breathing life into everything. It’s picture perfect, with a vast courtyard on one side and a lake on the other. A stone path leads from the gate to the front door in multicolored stones, pristine and glinting in the sunlight, as if dirt doesn’t dare sully a single thing here.
Guards fall into formation to escort us to the door and I watch Cambria deflate more with each step. I don’t reach for her hand despite wanting to offer her comfort, knowing it would do more ha
rm than good for her right now. I just hate it.
“Cambria Alina Lark,” a feminine voice states, the sound wrapping around me and begging me to turn to her, to find her.
A tall, slender woman with straight, blonde hair halfway down her back is stepping through the doors at the top of the stairs, flanked by several guards. She’s wrapped in a skin tight, emerald dress that matches her eyes, the straps from her silver sandals lacing up to her thighs.
“Piper,” Cambria responds icily.
The woman glides down the steps, coming to a stop a decent distance away. “How’s flying the coop working out for you, little bird?”
Despite the way her words beg me to hang on them, I step closer to Cambria. She gently brushes her hand over the mark on mine, subtly slipping ear plugs into my hand. As soon as I slide them in place, it’s like a fog starts to lift from my mind and I can breathe easier.
“Quite lovely, in fact,” Cambria responds regally.
She begins to walk towards the steps and my eyes narrow on the step back Piper takes before catching herself, moving to the side and bowing with a mock flourish, as if being so gracious to allow us to pass.
“Yet here you are,” she goads, rising to her full height.
“Yet here I am,” Cambria agrees. “Look your fill, Piper, but they aren’t your toys.”
Her voice sounds stronger, as if keeping us safe in the place of her nightmares is enough to chase away the shadows threatening to pull her back into the mindset of a victim. I doubt it will last the entire evening, especially when she comes face to face with her parents, but I’ll take anything I can get right now. It kills me to see her miserable and suffering. I just want her to realize how amazing she actually is and that she doesn’t need to continue to put up with everyone’s bullshit.
“We’ll see about that, baby bird,” Piper states ominously as the four of us and our guards enter the castle foyer.
They lead the way through a labyrinth of halls before depositing us in a huge ballroom with a single, long table in the center. Two guards break off and stand post at the exit on the far side of the room that leads outside while two more flank the doors we just entered.
“So we’re expected to wait here under watch until dinner, I surmise?” Lucien asks, fitting into this atmosphere better than Atlas or I due to all of his business dinners and events.
Cambria casually walks towards one of the walls, gazing up at the high windows that stream sunlight in at the perfect angle to hit the chandeliers, sending rainbows dancing around the room.
“Yep. Sit still, head down, silent unless spoken to,” she rattles off, sounding detached.
Atlas barely suppresses a growl, but Lucien places a firm hand on his shoulder with a nod towards the guards watching our every move. Atlas shrugs him off with a sigh, running a hand through his dark hair.
“How long until dinner?” he asks.
Cambria shrugs, still not looking at any of us. “Whenever mother’s ready for it, which could very easily be breakfast tomorrow.”
I regret all of the years I’ve spent drooling over the idea that something like this could happen to me, instead wishing I’d spent the time researching how to free a fae from her tether to her world. I just want to drag Cambria across the ring, torch it, and live out our lives where these people can’t hurt her anymore.
“Then we wait.” She tosses me a look over her shoulder and I shrug. “It is what it is. Waiting isn’t so bad. I waited for you my entire life, after all.”
She snorts, ruining the ladylike persona she’s trying so hard to fall into. “You’re a dork.”
Atlas bumps her shoulder. “But he’s our dork.”
Cambria smiles softly and folds her hands behind her back as she goes back to walking the perimeter of the room, running her fingers over mine and Atlas’ marks in a nervous tick to keep herself calm. She’s like a caged bird, quietly searching for an exit without giving herself away so that she can make a break for it as soon as she gets the chance, before anyone knows what hit them.
“So who was that woman? Piper.” Lucien asks, leaning against a wall.
Cambria’s eyes narrow. “My hoe-bag cousin. Don’t think I didn’t see how you were drooling over her. The pied Piper offers to blow your whistle and you’re ready to do her bidding?” She waves a hand in mock apology. “Sorry, sorry. Blows her flute. I always get that story twisted.”
A warning sounds from one of the guard’s clearing throat and she dials back the venom, catching herself. They have her so conditioned not to appear threatening in the slightest, I’m not sure if she even consciously chose to reword before continuing.
“Piper is pretty talented with compulsion, so mind yourselves around her, okay?” she back tracks. “And she can sleep with whoever she wants, I was just being petty.”
Lucien smirks. “You’re jealous?”
Cambria narrows her eyes at him again. “Should I be?”
“Mind your temper, Ms. Lark,” the same guard warns and she deflates.
She takes her seat at the table and we flank her; Lucien on her left, me on her right, and Atlas beside me. She’s falling back into a pattern and I run ideas through my head as to how we can use that if need be. Someone here makes her sad, we distract her. Guard corrects her behavior, she’s thrust back into the same little girl that grew up here. But as soon as she gets caught up in conversation with the three of us, she forgets where she’s at, falling back into the sarcastic, mouthy girl we know and love.
I won’t let this place kill everything she’s worked so hard to revive.
The door opens and three people enter, but Cambria stays seated. We follow her lead, and it only takes me a second to catch on that it isn’t a means of disrespect. From this position, they literally get to look down on her, as if she’s beneath them. It makes her seem small and weak.
And she would rather let them than fight.
“Cambria,” a woman I have no doubt in my mind is her mother greets regally.
She’s the very epitome of what I would expect of a fae queen. Her hair is a solid, pale shade of light blue, that sparkles when the light hits it, like she’s coated in diamond dust. Her elegant, silver dress is strapless and hugs her upper body as if it were painted on before loosening at her hips and hanging straight. She has a silver scrap of a shawl wrapped around her lower back and inner elbows, the gossamer fabric so sheer it shouldn’t even be tangible. It’s nearly the same as the fairy wings on her back that appear made of nothing more than muted light. Her eyes though, are colder than any I’ve seen before, including Lucien’s.
“Milady,” Cambria acknowledges formally. Milady, not mother.
Her mother sits at the head of the table on the opposite side, as far away from her daughter as possible. Piper sits at her right hand, a guard at each of their backs behind their chairs, and a man sits opposite Piper.
Cambria tenses as he draws his chair out, but quickly masks it, though not before the three of us notice. We are so hyper attuned to her right now that it’s impossible not to be aware of every tick of her muscles.
I take a second glance at the man with harsher scrutiny than before now that I know she’s afraid of him. His hair is variegated, starting at a deep red at his scalp and ending in golden tips. His face is hard, more masculine than the other fae I’ve seen. There’s nothing dainty about this man beyond his slender build, but more importantly, he absolutely refuses to look at this half of the table. Instead, his gaze is set on the wall behind Piper, his jaw tight and eyes hard.
“I see you were unable to keep out of trouble like you promised,” the Queen purrs, bringing her water to her lips. Unlike the other two, she hasn’t taken her eyes off of Cambria since the second she walked into the room.
Cambria never directly looks over there, keeping her eyes trained either on the empty plate in front of her or the empty space across from her.
“It was an accident,” she whispers, and it damn near breaks my heart.
Food begins
being served, drawing out the suspense of the Queen’s answer. Lucien, Atlas, and I keep our mouths shut, despite how difficult it is. After the servers leave the room, the Queen begins eating, waiting several more minutes before speaking just to fuck with her.
“What’s done is done,” she tosses out flippantly, and even though Cambria sits up straighter, she doesn’t whip her head around in shock. Another few bites and the Queen continues. “Now I just need to decide what to do about it.” I bristle, clutching my fork tightly.
“What do you mean, milady?” Cambria asks cautiously.
Piper doesn’t bother to hide her smirk, smiling through each bite of her food while the man hasn’t bothered to so much as touch his plate. The Queen sets her fork down and folds her hands in her lap elegantly.
“Your bleeding heart allowed them to live, so perhaps I should remove them for you since you lack the conviction. You can hardly care for yourself; how do you expect to care for three humans?” she asks.
“She manages just fine,” Atlas states, barely managing to keep his temper in check.
Cambria stiffens beside me and I reach beneath the table to put my hand on her knee, squeezing once in reassurance before removing it. The guards behind Piper and the Queen turn their sole focus on Atlas, but don’t move. They watch and wait like perfectly trained soldiers.
“Bold,” the Queen states. “I’m not so sure that’s a good influence for our daughter. What do you think, Apollo dear?”
The man finally deigns to look at Cambria, his eyes hard and full of loathing. “You know my stance, Elorie,” he replies icily.
She tilts her head to the side, as if studying the room. “Remind me?”
His jaw tightens even further as he spits out, “This should have ended years ago. She murdered a prince in cold blood. Treason should be met without mercy. Put her down rather than playing your games and letting her flit wherever she desires.”