The Labyrinth King (The Labyrinth Series Book 1)

by L. J. Serafin

  Another chill went down my spine. All this time, we had been feeding those monsters. And to think they had brothers in our town, in Villam. I wondered how many men I had been with that were a part of them. I stifled a gag.

  I pushed the grotesque thought from my mind and shifted my vision to look back out over the sea and down at the beautiful city below. A city his magic had created, a city for him to peacefully rule… with me.

  “Is that why you called me Queen, then? Because I was made to break the curse and what…. rule it with you?” I asked, my voice trembling.

  “If you want to,” he said. I looked up at him. He had a redness to his cheeks. I wondered if he was embarrassed by earlier, by my reaction to being called Queen. I hoped he realized how asinine it had been for him to assume I would just agree. He still had much to learn about me.

  But, after seeing this. What choice did I really have? The weight of the bargain I made with Daemion weighed heavily on me. It was all so heavy, so so heavy.

  I needed to rest and think.

  Chapter 30

  I laid in Alder’s bed, my head clouded with thoughts. He had left me to think, murmuring something about forming the search party for Leo.

  I had washed with a basin and stripped, collapsing onto the bed. Now the satin sheets were wrapped around my naked body. I wanted to know what the decadent fabric felt like on my bare skin. It was heavenly, even dreamier than I could have imagined.

  I stared up at the pillars above, the soft flow of the curtains blowing in the wind. I wished I could stay here forever, wished I could stay tucked into these sheets forever and ignore the problems circling around me.

  I thought about Leo. I wondered where he was, if he was safe. It had been only three days, but it felt like a lifetime. I thought about the life we could have had if I had stayed, about how much easier it would have been, how much simpler. How much safer.

  I thought about Alder, about how kind and loving he was. Clearly he was a benevolent ruler. The city was beautiful, the people were well fed and rich. I thought of his choice, the simple giving choice he had made that started this entire series of events. I thought of his power and how it called to mine, how it seemed tethered to mine. And I thought of how our life could be here if we succeeded. A rich and warm, colorful, vibrant life.

  I thought about Daemion, about his ice-cold eyes and the black and white scales. I thought about his influence on the Brotherhood. I thought of the destruction that would await if he was set free. Would Alder and I be powerful enough to stop him? Alder had imprisoned him the first time, and he had stopped his curse. But not before so much damage was already done. I wondered about the life we would have if we failed, if he was able to unleash his power and curse upon the whole of this land. Would we even survive it?

  I drifted off to sleep, the thoughts still circling in me like a tornado.

  Consciousness came back to me slowly as I adjusted to my surroundings. It was night. I was tangled in the satin sheets. The light breeze coming from the balcony was sweet, the perfect temperature. I turned over to look out the large windows and realized I was not alone.

  Alder lay sleeping peacefully next to me, his warm brown hair in a mess like he had passed out too with exhaustion. He was on his stomach, his naked muscular back and perfectly tan skin illuminated in the violet moonlight. The body of the snake tattoo wrapped down his back and ended at his right hip. The grey and black scales so intricately detailed, I wondered if they were done by a person or by magic. The deep blue of the silk sheets covered only his bottom half. I felt like reaching out to him to stroke his hair. He was so beautiful.

  I must have been sleeping for hours. It was early in the evening when I had gotten in bed. I felt incredibly replenished, probably because I had never slept in a bed this soft or comfortable.

  Unable to resist, I reached my hand out, softly tracing the length of the snake on his back. He stirred ever so slightly, his eyes opening lazily. A smile came to his face when he realized what was happening.

  He pushed himself up slightly, his tan arm flexing as he did so. My heart skipped a beat and my power lifted her sleeping head within in me.

  His arm reached out and pulled me to him, my body slipping effortlessly to him across the slick satin. It wrapped around my back, pulling my body under his as he kissed my neck. I reached up and ran my fingers through his golden caramel hair. His power caressed mine as they met in a delicious reunion.

  He raised back up to meet my lips with a hungry kiss. His hand trailed down my side, clasping around my thigh and pulling my leg over his hip. His mouth was tender and sweet, his kiss a form of worship.

  I felt him hard against me, my wetness meeting him eagerly. My power ached with need, relishing in his strength and wanting more.

  “God, you’re perfect,” he whispered against me, his hands holding my body to his.

  My back arched as he slid inside me, soft and gently. Our lips stayed together, his kiss becoming heavier. His tongue traced my lips as he filled me with each stroke, his power revering mine.

  I felt his power wrap around me like an embrace as he moved in me. My eyes closed as I let the pleasure build, my hands gripping his back as he kissed me. His power around me felt like warm strokes against my skin, melting every inch of my body into his.

  My core quickened as fire blazed through it. It coursed higher, reaching into my lips and igniting our kiss. I felt his power shudder in response, his need for me becoming greater as he thrust deeper, my skin tingling and shivering against the sensations. I pulled away from his kiss and gasped as my world turned bright white, there was nothing but him and I.

  I could feel my power climaxing already, building and matching his as we climbed higher and higher.

  His hands became harder against me, gripping me tighter at my hip and under my back. Our breath became labored, a sheen of sweat building on our bodies.

  His right hand roamed up, clutching my breast as he pulled his face back to look down at my body. To watch as we fell over the edge together, moans escaping our lips in pure euphoria. Our powers soared high and then tumbled back down over us like a blanket of bliss.

  He collapsed on top of me, still kissing me, enraptured by the moment. Finally, he rolled over, giving us a chance to breathe and cool off.

  I laid still, hand on my chest, catching my breath as the power in me ebbed and flowed back down inside. The enchantress was satisfied. For now.

  “I’ll get us to the center,” I said to him when my breathing had slowed.

  He turned to look at me, evaluating my emotion.

  “We can break the curse and stop Daemion. Our powers will be enough,” I said, trying to put confidence in my voice.

  “But, I will not decide on being Queen until after. It’s too much to think about right now,” I said to him, turning to look at him in the eyes. Not giving him any promises made me feel better, despite how much I was already falling in love with this place. This bed in particular. And, well, maybe even him.

  “One thing at a time,” he said, his gaze taking in how gorgeous I’m sure I looked in the moonlight. My internal enchantress let out a purr of satisfaction. I curled myself onto his chest, listening to his heartbeat as I closed my eyes. His hands made circles on my back as I drifted off.

  Chapter 31

  In the morning, Jubilee asked me if I wanted to see her favorite part of the city. I jumped at the chance to spend some alone time with her, eager for a friendship to form.

  Alder assured me he had already picked the men that would be leaving tomorrow to search for Leo. He would be preparing them for the trip, and when I returned from my excursion with Jubilee I could write my letter to him and vet the men he had picked.

  We ate a delicious breakfast of honey and these incredibly fluffy biscuits while sitting on a great balcony, the open sea breeze rolling over us as we ate and laughed. Alder seemed to be in a particularly good mood today, I imagine from our night together.

  He laughed with Minka a
nd Jubilee like I had not seen before, the three of them so relaxed around each other now that we were in the city. He told me he would introduce me to the rest of the Labyrinth court tonight. He didn’t say how many days he planned for us to stay here, but he seemed to be in no rush.

  I did not want to leave. The uncertainty that lay ahead was terrifying. I had just gained this life and was already scared to lose it. The thought that things could go wrong and I could never see this place again shot cold fear through my veins, making me feel weak and woozy.

  The enchantress inside of me relished the idea of a fight and being unleashed, but the very human side of me was shaking. Alder squeezed my hand, somehow sensing my anxiety as my thoughts drifted to the future. A reassuring squeeze, telling me he would always be here with me, by my side the whole way. But it did not make me feel better.

  Jubilee, with gorgeous blue jewel tones on her eyelids today, whisked me away as soon as we had finished eating. My spirits rose at the welcome distraction, the anxiety drifted away though I knew it would still be there. Lying in wait like a tiger, ready to pounce at any moment.

  We had to walk down the thousand steps, but it was a beautiful, breezy day and the view was incredible. I touched my dagger reassuringly before starting down the long steps. Jinx trailed on after us as we chatted about the weather. Jubilee’s smile was so big today as she took in the sights and smells whirling around us.

  “I was so lucky when Minka found me. She brought me here, and I immediately fell in love with this city. It reminds me so much of home, but better in so many ways,” she said as she seemed to dance down the steps. Her bronze pants flowed behind her as the sun glistened off her rich skin.

  I wondered about her story, about what had happened to her. But it was too beautiful of a day to bring it up

  Instead, I asked her about how she got Jinx.

  “A gift,” she said, “from Minka. She bought her for me from a fur trader who had sailed into town. Apparently, she was going to be used to make a coat before Minka saved her. Paid four times the price the coat would have brought just to save her. But she is worth every penny and more,” she said, reaching down and giving Jinx a pat on the head. I couldn’t imagine how cruel a person would have to be to kill an animal for its fur. Especially given the temperate climate, I imagine it never snowed here.

  “That’s horrible. I can’t even imagine… How does she heal things, though? She licked me when we were attacked by these bat like things, and the wounds healed instantly,” I said.

  “Oh that. Alder put a spell on her to do it, to help Minka and I on our travels. It has come in handy more than a few times,” she laughed. “Also, those ‘bat things’ are called hell bats.”

  I smiled at her. “Well, I was close enough.”

  We were at the bottom of the steps. The streets led down into the marketplace and dozens of homes stretched before us. I expected us to go straight, but she took a sharp left turn.

  There was another set of steps, long and narrow, that went down even further. It was hidden by the larger stairs we had walked down. Jubilee smiled and walked on. Jinx trotted ahead carefully. The stairs were a bit uneven here, rocky and less worn than the ones we had just been on.

  We walked another hundred or so steps before coming out to a small patch of land. A private beach with white sands that reached the teal, clear water.

  Jinx bounded right into the water, which was surprising, considering she hadn’t wanted to swim in the river a few days ago.

  She splashed around as Jubilee sat down on the sand, watching her. I sat down next to her, taking in the beautiful scene. Steep rock cliffs were on either side of this outcropping. It really was a private beach.

  “I love to come here in the mornings, it’s so peaceful. It helps to detox yourself from the hustle and bustle of the city. Usually the palace is teeming with staff and court members too. Alder had them sent away before we came to not overwhelm you. On those busy days, this beach is the only place I can find some peace and quiet,” she said.

  “You live at the palace?” I asked her.

  “Of course, Minka and I have our own wing. We are Alder’s closest confidants, we help him run this place. Well, us and Benci,” she said. I hadn’t realized, I thought they were just hired by him to find me.

  “Who’s Benci?”

  “He is Alder’s second in command. He helps with security and enforcing things here when Alder is gone on his travels,” she said, her face not revealing any further information about him but her voice peaked in intrigue.

  “Is he a warlock like Alder?” I prodded.

  She laughed. “No, he is… something else entirely,” she said, her voice dripping with allure.

  “I take it I’ll have to find out for myself then,” I replied with a smirk.

  “Oh, I wouldn’t be surprised if Alder keeps you away from him,” she said with another laugh. She pushed herself up and walked to the water.

  Whatever mystery lay there with Benci would have to be explored at a later date.

  She stripped and waded out into the water. I noticed her body was strong and lean, probably carved from years of sailing and swimming. Jinx had had enough fun by this point and was laying in the sand, allowing the sun to dry her off.

  I tore off my clothes. Apparently skinny dipping was a favorite pastime in the Labyrinth. I followed her out into the water.

  The clear water was cool and smelled salty. As I waded out further, I noticed little fish swimming around me. They were multicolored and beautiful, purples and blues, oranges and reds, yellows and golds. They swam through the clear water as the sun reflected off their scales. I went under the water, opening my eyes to see the fish as they swam. I had never seen anything so beautiful.

  The rocky bottom hid even more fish. I saw a green eel pop out and slither away through the rocks. It was invigorating. I popped up my head and kept myself afloat. Jubilee had floated near me now.

  “What do you think?” she said with a grin.

  “It’s the most exhilarating place I’ve ever been,” I replied, raising my body up so that I was floating on my back. I felt my breasts peak through the water, but I felt no shame. The sun was warm on my face. I closed my eyes and soaked it all in.

  We swam for hours, occasionally coming to the shore for a break, but the sea called to us both. We swam after the fish. I even grew brave enough to reach out and touch a few of their scales. Jubilee showed me how to hold my breath and dive to watch them as they swam among the coral at the bottom of the sea. She named every single type of fish, telling me interesting facts about them all.

  Ships with massive sails floated by on their way out of the bay. We waved to the various sailors. They blushed and whistled as they noticed we were naked. It was delightful.

  We finally came to shore and let ourselves bathe, naked, in the sun as we dried. Jinx was snoring in the shade of the cliffs.

  “Tell me about life here,” I asked her as we absorbed the rays.

  “It’s everything I could have hoped for. I loved Sericum, loved the sand and the heat. I loved the people, they were so full of life and love and joy. But beneath the surface was a dark underbelly of poverty and evil. Here the people are different. Some have come from the four cities and know a life of pain, and others have been born in this place, generations living and dying here. They know no struggle, only peace and prosperity. Their optimism is contagious,” she said, her eyes closed, face raised up to the sun.

  “The merchants are kind and fair. There are no starving children, no homeless. No thieves, no rapists or murderers,” she continued. I noticed her voice shifted slightly as she said those last few words. “The King’s justice is swift and the people adore Alder. This city is the safest place to be. If the rest of the world was like this city, if Alder ruled them all, then the world would be a much better place,” she finished. She turned her head and looked at me as I did the same.

  Her molten chocolate eyes told me all I needed to know. There were no lies
on her lips. She spoke the truth. She believed every word.

  “And how would I fit in here?” I asked her, my eyes shifting back to the sky.

  “However you want to fit in. You can choose to be whatever you want to be here, Val,” she said. The confidence of her voice struck me.

  I could choose to be whatever I wanted.

  My heart leapt in my chest. No one had ever said that to me before. To think I could have options, for once in my life, to choose for myself. A feeling of joy rose inside of me.

  Jubilee must have noticed, because she reached out a hand to mine, squeezing it.

  In that gentle gesture I felt warmth rush through me as I realized, for the first time in my life, I had made a friend.

  Chapter 32

  We walked back to the palace. I tried to count how many steps there were in my head but lost track in the 300’s. I was exhausted and sweating. Somehow, spending all day lounging in the sun was tiring work.

  The palace was now buzzing with people. I assume they were staff and random court members. They were walking around, doing various tasks, and talking in groups. I noticed the court members wore decadent dresses and suits. I felt slightly embarrassed as I walked past them in my sandy clothes, but they didn’t seem to take much notice of me.

  Jubilee showed me back to Alder’s suite, as I had forgotten where it was in this massive palace. She told me she would see me for dinner and then leaned in close to say “wear something… enchanting,” with a wink before walking away. I wondered who she wanted me to enchant. Probably the entire court.

  I collapsed onto a lounge chair. Alder was not there. I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the soft cushion.

  Footsteps echoed through the room and I shot up. A small, older woman was standing by the door to the bathroom. Her hand went to her chest in a fright, my actions having startled her.