by CY Jones
“Then what’s with the face if everything went according to plan?” I question.
“It’s Queen Hera. She had planned to strap Tristan down in the courtyard and give him a public flogging, but she’s livid he was able to disappear without a trace. Now, without Prince Lucas in tow, he can never return.”
I knew she wouldn’t just let Tristan go, that she would plan something nefarious. I’m just glad I was a move ahead of her for once, and Lucifer is right. Without my father, Tristan can never return. Hera will just say his running is a result of his guilt.
“She’s pissed, who cares. Tristan isn’t here for her to punish, so she might as well get over it,” I say.
“She could go after the rest of us instead,” Chaos replies.
“Let her try,” I smile wickedly and a bolt of lightning flashes across my eyes.
“That’s super scary, you know that, princess,” Chaos chuckles.
“Good, hopefully it’s enough to scare that bitch of a Queen away,” I retort, which only makes him laugh harder.
After reassuring Lucifer for another hour, he leaves a little calmer than when he first arrived. It’s natural for him to worry about his little brother, and I found it cute. I’m well aware Tristan can take care of himself, and he has Skully looking out for him and ten armed guards, which makes him being away easier on me. I hate that I had to send him away, but it’s too dangerous for him here as long as Hera stays in power. I'd rather have him safe than be selfish and keep him by my side, knowing he’ll constantly be in danger. He may be my knight, but I pledged to keep him safe.
As soon as Lucifer leaves, Chaos and I settle on the couch to watch Netflix. I wanted to do something normal, and nothing says basic like Netflix and chill. On the third episode of Sabrina, there's a timid knock on the door. Raising my brow I look over at Chaos who only shrugs. Curious of who is at my door, I call out, “come in.” I hear the door open, and the soft shuffling of feet before the two human servants from my first day here step inside, one of them carrying a rather large dress bag.
“Queen Hera wanted us to bring you this dress as a gift for your wedding, as well as our offered services,” the blonde holding the dress bag says.
Walking up to them, I unzip the bag and stare that the dark red dress closed inside. It’s beautiful, utterly breathtaking, but I won’t be wearing that. Kaiden is represented all over this dress, and Chaos is nowhere to be seen.
“Go back and tell your Queen I’m perfectly capable of picking out my own gown, and dressing myself,” I say flatly.
“But princess, I don’t think you have a choice,” the brunette says with wide eyes.
“That’s where you’re wrong, there's always a choice,” I tell them before using half a thought to light the dress and bag on fire. Screaming, the blonde drops the bag, and they both run screaming out my room like I lit them on fire instead of the dress. Laughing, Chaos waves his hand and douces the flames with water before they could spread, and we both settle back into our cozy solitude on the couch. Making sure we’re not bothered again, I tell my room I’m not taking visitors, and I snuggle into Chaos chest until I nod off.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Winter
When I wake a familiar scent fills my nostrils, and I open my eyes wide not believing he’s here.
“Asterial,” I whisper.
His beautiful eyes searches mines, and like me, he can’t believe I’m here.
“When you just popped up in my bed last night I thought I was dreaming. I’m glad to see that is not so,” he murmurs against my skin.
“How?” I ask, still in shock.
“I don’t know. You’ve always been able to subconsciously find me when you need me most. Mind telling me what’s going on?”
Pulling myself closer, I tell him everything that has happened since he left me at the boating docks. I don’t leave anything out. With Asterial, I can tell him every thought and feeling, and not be ashamed. It’s crazy how I feel so in sync with someone so dangerous.
“Now I’m starting to wish I killed Kaiden on the ship,” he says once I’m done.
“What good would that have done?” I ask laughing.
“Nothing, but it would make me feel better,” he grumbles.
“No it wouldn’t, you would be dead, and so would I,” I remind him, which makes him grumble even more.
“Where are we?” I ask as I take a peak around.
The room we’re in is colorless with black everything. The bed we’re lying in is massive with black sheets, and a black fur blanket. A gigantic chandelier with black crystals hangs above us on the high ceiling, an all black nightstands sits on my side of the bed. Across from me, I make out a matching black dresser, and in the corner is a lounge area in, you guessed it, black couches and table.
“You, my love, are currently in my private chambers in my castle in the shadow realm,” he answers.
“That’s insane. I don’t even remember coming here.”
“I don’t know either. My kingdom is warded against people blinking here, but in a flash of lightning, you appeared out of nowhere and passed out in my bed, not that I’m complaining.”
“That’s funny. After the fight, I blinked myself back to my suite, which I shouldn’t have been able to do because the castle is also warded. At the time, I thought it was the castle letting the rightful ruler in, but now I’m not so sure.”
“I find with you, love, that you’re an exception to all the rules,” he states before kissing me deeply. In his kiss, I can feel just how much he missed me, that our time apart didn’t just affect me, and I love I have such an effect on such a strong man.
“I love you,” I whisper against his lips, and he growls in reply.
Stripping me of my warrior outfit, I’m quickly bare before him, and he takes me slowly, worshiping my body like I’m a full Goddess. I get lost in his body, and while he’s in me, I forget about all my troubles, and give in to the pleasure he’s so freely giving me.
“I love you more,” he groans, cumming inside my body, filling me with his seed.
After our third round, I lay cuddled tightly in his embrace as I trace circles on his bare chest. It’s so peaceful here in his arms, and I don’t want to ever go back, but I know reality will soon knock on my door, and I can’t ignore it.
“What’s wrong, love?”
“I don’t want to go back. I want to stay here with you.” Even as I answer his question, I can feel Chaos’s panic. He woke up to me missing, and he’s scared I was somehow taken. It will be selfish for me to stay here, but I can’t help wishing that I could. Closing my eyes, I send him a message that I’m alright, and push images of where I am in his head, and he calms slightly.
“I don’t want you to leave either. You’re my Queen, and this is your kingdom.”
Tilting my head, I look up at him wide eyed, shocked over his words. I know he loves me, but we never discussed our next steps in our relationship. It’s not like we had the chance.
“Don’t look so shocked, love. You should have known this was coming,” he murmurs before taking my mouth kissing me passionately. Lost in his lips, I feel a tingling sensation all over my skin, and when I open my eyes I’m wearing a beautiful dark blue dress that glitters like tiny dark stars. The top is heart shaped in the front, in a midriff style leaving my stomach bare. The tulle skirt flares around my hips, and is short in the front with a long trailing train in the back. The black stilettos I’m wearing are thinly laced all the way to my thighs, and on my ring finger stacked with Kaiden’s and Chaos rings, is a huge sapparie encircled by tiny black diamonds in a platinum setting. I’m surprise they all fit on my finger, which I suspect magic has something to do with that. It’s like they all locked together, becoming one with room for more.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.
"Princess Winter, owner of my heart, body, and soul, will you marry me, and be my mate for all eternity?” He asks with so much love in his voice.
“Yes,”
I answer without any doubt in my voice.
“Good, now let's make this official,” he says, pulling me off the bed. He too is dressed to kill in an all black suit, and never have I felt so free. We were doing something implusive as fuck, and I didn’t seem to care. This marriage felt right, and not something I was pushed into it. I’m sure if I told Aster I wasn’t ready, he would have respected my decision.
“Of course I would have,” he says, reading my thoughts.
“Stay out of my head,” I reply, playfulling hitting him on the arm.
“Not a chance. I’ve been starved of your beautiful mind for weeks.”
Asterial’s palace is just as grand and confusing as the one in Elyeria, with all the twists and turns we take until we step outside in a beautiful garden unlike anything I have ever seen. The grass is black, the blades thick and lush with patches of dark purple and blue flowers growing within. The trees around us stand eerie and tall, like the ones out of a Tim Burton movie. Black roses trail along the fence, their potent sweet scent filling my nose mixed with the other dark exotic flowers around us. Even though it’s early morning, the sky is still dark with shining stars lighting the night sky. It’s extremely beautiful here, and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out how anyone could be afraid of such beauty. We stop in front of a grand fountain of an angel with its wings spread wide holding an old scale in her hands with on side tipped farther than the other. While I’m gazing at the woman’s angelic face, a man steps out, wearing black robes, holding a thickly paged book in his hand that looked really old.
“Are you ready, my King?” He asks in greeting.
“Yes,” Asterial says, turning to face me and holds both my hands in his.
“We are gathered here today to join this Dark Fae to his mated pair. Soul bound mates are rare, and The Fates have shown favor upon our King. The shadows have spoken, may the scales be balanced, and allow our King to become one with another.” The priest, I guess that’s what he is, pulls out a diamond encrusted dagger and hands it over to Asterial,who gently takes my hand and runs it over the underside of my palm, slicing it open. The sting of pain is over quickly, and he slices his own palm and press our palms together. Walking over to the fountain, he drips our combined blood in the water, and I watch in awe as the scales move until they’re perfectly balanced. A black jewel encrusted crown, much like the one Aster is wearing, rises out of the water, and Asterial reaches for it and places it on my head.
“The shadow realm accepts your choice, and blesses your pairing,” the priest says and Asterial smiles at me before kissing me soundly. When we pull free, the robed man is gone, and I’m totally confused.
“Is that it?” I ask.
“Yes, the realm accepted your blood, and declared you my equal. That’s why the scales are balanced now.”
“What would have happened if the scales didn’t balance out?” I question.
“Then the crown wouldn’t have appeared, and our match would have not been blessed, and you could not be recognized as my Queen, only a consort if I chose to keep you,” and I raised my eyebrow at that which he ignores. “Now the nature spirits will whisper to the wind that the Dark King has found his Queen, and you will forever be recognized as such.”
“That’s, I don’t even know what to say, weird,” I throw out grasping at a word.
Laughing, Asterial kisses me again, and I lose myself in his lips. This had to be the weirdest ceremony I have ever been to, but I wouldn’t take it back for anything in the world.
“As much as I would love to sit back and fuck my Queen out here, I know you need to return.”
At his words, I grow melancholy. I don’t want to leave him, but at least I can just blink myself over here anytime I want.
“I don’t want to leave you,” I tell him, pouting.
Moving closer, he bites my bottom lip, and I growl in his mouth. “We have eternity, my Queen, and just like I told you last time, just think of me and I’ll be there.”
Nodding, I give his hand a final squeeze, and he slips something on my finger before I close my eyes, and I think about Chaos. When I open them, Chaos is standing in front of me staring in awe at the crown on my head.
“Wow, I don’t think that crown has been seen in a couple thousand years. I can’t even remember the last time the Dark Fae had a Queen,” he says once he comes to his senses.
“What about Asterial’s mom?”
“She was the consort to the King, his favorite one, I believe.”
“Well, that’s just sad, and not alright in my book. I hope Asterial doesn’t think I’m ok with him fucking someone else while I’m away,” I huff.
“I’m sure it’s different with you, or else he wouldn’t have married you. Besides, the shadow realm chose you. You’re it for him, just like you’re it for me,” Chaos says and I relax immediately. Of course, I know Aster would never cheat on me. He loves me, and I love him.
“You should get ready, Hera will be sending someone to collect you soon.”
“I am ready,” I tell him, and he smiles. Making a slight change to my dress, I turn it all black and add a strip of crushed diamonds on the bottom of my top that sparkles brightly, and thinner straps crossing my back to keep my top tightly secured to my body. I do the same thing to the band circling my waist, and I trade my crown out for a black spiked tiara. The only red I’m wearing is on my lips. Even though I’m pissed at Kaiden, I do still love him, and I’m about to marry him after all, so I didn’t leave his house colors out completely. Also, with Tristan gone in my eyes, I’m giving myself to him as well as Chaos and Kaiden. I’m as much as his as I am theirs.
On cue there's a knock at the door, and when I open it two of Hera’s guards are there waiting for me.
“We are here to escort you to the ceremony, princess,” the one on the right with red hair says after he straightens from his bow, and I roll my eyes.
“What kind of wedding is this if I need to be escorted to it by armed guards?” I ask Chaos in my head.
“She probably sent them to make sure you actually show up after the dress incident,” he replies as we follow after our stern escorts.
“She’s lucky all I did was burn the dress,” I grumble.
Chuckling, Chaos holds me tighter to him as we walk out the castle doors. Apparently, Hera wanted this to be an outdoor affair, and I open my mouth wide in awe over the sight that greets me as soon as we enter the royal gardens. If my wedding to Asterial was more Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, then this wedding is the complete opposite, I’ll say, Frances Hodgson The Secret Garden. I couldn’t believe all Hera accomplished in such a short amount of time, but then again, anything is possible when enough magic is involved.
“Don’t you love it, I did all the flowers,” Willow says, running up to me.
I don’t answer right away. I’m still staring wide eyed at the masterpiece around me. Rows and rows of chairs are tied in red silk ribbons, white flower petals trailed all the way up the aisle to a platform deck with an arch made from thin tree branches in an open hut stye, fae lights are strung within the trees giving everything an enchanted feeling, and brightly colored flowers are everywhere for the eye to see. It was magical and truly amazing.
“This is incredible,” I gush and Willow beams.
“I didn’t know what you liked, so I put in all the things I could tell you liked from my room,” Willow explains.
“This is more than I thought possible in such a short time, you are a miracle worker,” I tell her sincerely.
“Well, hopefully the Queen will like it as much as you, and will take pity on me and grant my marriage request.”
“You’re still all set in marrying the wind brothers?” I inquire.
“Yes, if they’ll still have me,” she answers.
“Hey beautiful, I’m going to take my place up front while you and Willow get settled inside,” Chaos says, interrupting our conversation. Giving me a quick kiss on the cheek, he walks up front with his cocky gai
t of his and I follow Willow inside, but before we step inside Willow faces me with a serious expression on her face.
“I know what Zephyrus is to you, and I wanted you to know I couldn’t be happier,” she says, and I stare back at her with my mouth wide open.
I did not want to have this conversation right now, and I’m wondering how Willow found out. Did Zephyrus tell her? If he did, why the fuck didn’t he warn me?
“He has always felt like the odd man out, and I only want him to be happy,” she says, shocking me further. I don’t know what to say. I can only stare at her wide eyed. Taking in my shocked expression she chuckles. “You don’t have to say anything, I just want you to promise me you won’t worry about me and what you think I might feel and give him a chance. We never had that kind of relationship. We’ve always been more best friends than lovers, and I want him to have that with you. I want him to know what real intimacy is. What a loving relationship is. The same love that I have with his brothers.”
“Willow,” I sigh, “he doesn’t want me, and no matter how many times you tell me you’re cool with all this, I could never do that to you. You guys have been a unit for so long, and I feel like I’m the intruder, ruining what you got going on, or another Raven trying to take what doesn’t belong to me.”
“But that’s not true. Zephyrus is yours, he’s always been yours. If anything, I’m the one who stole from you. The Fates were the one to bond you two together. Who are we to question that? Everything happens for a reason, Winter, and in time you will learn why he was given to you and not me. I know Zephyrus can be moody and stubborn, but he’ll come around.”
I don’t say anything. I don’t know what to say. She’s practically handing Zephyrus over to me like he’s a pet, but he’s a person with real feelings, and he doesn’t love me.
“Just keep yourself open. I’ve already talked to him about how I feel, and gave him my opinion on what he should do.”
“Then it’s his decision. I won’t push him away if he comes to me, but it will be on him how we move forward,” I respond.