by Ella Fields
Zad growled and raced after it, stomping on it before it could reach the water.
“I prefer my fish not squished, my lord.”
Unamused eyes shot to me, and I laughed again.
Raiden
Mosquitos flitted and cicadas sang while I stood on the highest rock overtop the waterfall and inhaled. My shoulders quaked as I drew as much air as I could inside my lungs, then slowly let it leak out.
Home.
Only, it felt foreign. As though I wasn’t supposed to be here but someplace else.
The oasis rimmed by treacherous desert called to me, settling something restless deep inside me, but it failed to soothe the abstract rhythm of my heart.
Palm trees, vines, and flowers in every color known to Rosinthe sprouted and crowded in any space and crevice available. Coupled with the copious ponds and pools and the river that raced underground, and the illusion of paradise was unparalleled.
But it was all magic.
None of this could exist here without magic. The binding of our essence that swam through our genetic bonds, our blood, and fed the land with its presence alone.
Questions. So many questions had been thrown at me.
For a kingdom who’d fought so tirelessly to retrieve their king and seek revenge, not one person seemed to care much about my well-being, rather only for what happened next.
“Will the queen rule with you?” my advisor had asked as we’d set up camp a day’s ride from Merilda.
Lem, one of my warriors, had cursed. “She’s a monster,” he spat. “She drained Corra and Cid.”
That had raised my brows.
I’d known Audra had drained someone while locked away in her dungeon, but I hadn’t known who.
Cid was a miscreant anyway, but Corra… Before she was a soldier, she’d once served in my harem. She’d served me since I’d discovered I had pubic hair and a deeper voice.
That stung, but not as much as when I’d asked for the why.
“Why? Because they’d kidnapped her, of course,” Spane, our healer, had said. “Corra, she always had been clever, that one.”
“Oh, but don’t worry, Majesty.” Meeda had laughed and added, as if forgetting I had love, quite a large expanse of love, for the queen, “She and Cid burned the darkness out of her face, I heard.”
Kidnapped. They’d kidnapped my queen.
She’d been mutilated by those I trusted.
I’d then shocked them all by stating, “Then isn’t it lucky they’re both already dead,” before walking to my tent.
The sight of her on that battlefield had just about stopped my heart, blood speckled over her face, her eyes wild.
They wanted peace. She gave them ruin.
A monster indeed, though wrath had never looked quite so beautiful.
Arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I would’ve jumped had I not heard her approach. “My king.”
I closed my eyes, knowing I shouldn’t but unable to help myself.
For months, I’d gone without another’s touch, but Eline wasn’t just another.
Once upon a time, she’d been everything.
My hands slid over hers, squeezing before I turned around and took her bronzed, lightly freckled face within my hands.
Her dark green eyes welled as her lips wobbled, and she gazed up at me as though she could scarcely believe I was standing before her, let alone touching her. “My Little Lion.”
A nickname I’d given her when we were children that’d followed us into every adventure since.
There’d been many, too many, and shame filled me for losing them. For allowing them to leave my memory at all, let alone bury them as deep as I had.
A shame so much worse threatened to drown me when she rose onto her toes to press her lips to mine.
Nectarine and spearmint reached my taste buds, and I lost myself to it, to the taste of her, and kissed her back. Once then twice, groaning on the third as I wrenched myself away.
The waterfall at my back loomed, but I skirted around Eline as her hand gripped mine.
I stilled, knowing what was to come, but made no move to stop it.
Her other hand collided with my face, the ring she wore, a gift from me on her eighteenth birthday when I’d promised her more than I should have, ripping into my cheek.
I gritted my teeth, opening my eyes just in time for her to strike the other cheek.
“Fuck,” I hissed, snatching her wrist. “Enough. I am still your king.”
She spat at my feet, sneering up at me. “You’re just a male who failed me. Who failed our kingdom.”
“Little Lion,” I started.
“Shut your filthy mouth.” Her breasts heaved behind the golden wrap she wore underneath a shimmering silver kaftan. “You were supposed to kill her. Allureldin was supposed to be ours.”
I opened my mouth, but I had nothing to say. I couldn’t explain. Not when the explanation would hurt her beyond anything I could repair.
Tugging her hand, I pulled her close, infusing as much remorse into my voice as I could. “Eline, things happened…”
“You promised me.” Her eyes grew wet again, her tone grittier. “You promised me it would be us, and then you fucked it all up.” Her eyes traveled up and down my body, taking in the clean linen pants I’d donned after bathing in my private pools. “What in the darkness happened?”
Air whistled into my mouth, drying my throat as I dragged in a steadying breath. “The queen happened.”
I waited, watching her golden brows crinkle. All too soon, understanding creased her beautiful features. The water cresting her eyes spilled over while she stood frozen, staring at me as if she couldn’t believe any of this were real.
“Tell me you don’t.”
I feigned confusion. “Don’t what?”
Her tone hardened. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
My lips parted, a thousand apologies about to roll off my tongue, when she staggered back. “So not only did you fuck her, but you fell for her, too?” Those last words were almost screeched, her head shaking. “H-how? She’s a monster. A cruel bitch who killed your parents.” When I remained silent, she added, “And Corra and Cid and some of our best people too.”
I knew whatever I said would do no help, only harm, but she wouldn’t let me get away with saying nothing. “She did what she had to do to survive. She’s not her father.”
Her eyes raked me up and down, her words harsh and guttural. “Neither are you, failure.”
She made sure to sway her hips as she traipsed barefoot into the throne room.
Patts cleared his throat, and I didn’t care to know how long he’d been standing behind the swaying gauze covering the exit outside. “Not tonight.”
“Very well, Majesty. Food awaits you in the kitchen should you desire more.” With that, he bowed and disappeared.
Meal after meal had been forced my way since entering the kingdom, and I’d already eaten more than I could stomach.
Turning back to the waterfall and the small rainforest that surrounded it, I ran a hand over my too-long hair. I’d decided to sleep outside, climbing into a nearby hammock, but then I wondered if Eline would kill me in my sleep or if I even cared.
A stupid thought. Petulant, given all I’d done and been through to make it back here.
With that in mind, I dragged myself through the sand-sprinkled halls and up the sandstone steps of the highest tower to lock myself in my chambers. I’d hardly looked around the large, rotund space. It was all the same.
As though their precious prince had never really left. As though he’d never dare allow himself to fall for the wicked winter queen he’d been sent to kill and would journey back home the same male he’d been when he’d first left.
I had to wonder if I’d disappointed the lot of them, and perhaps myself, by not living up to their ideals.
I heated the locked doors to a scalding temperature should anyone have a key and then dropped to the monstrous-sized mattr
ess dressed in fresh white linens in the center of the room.
Audra
Vanamar’s nostrils blew a gust of hot wind onto my hands and wrists as I fussed with his reins to secure them. “Oh, stop it. Do you want them chafing?” Another huff, and I smiled. “Exactly.”
Once his saddle was secure, I unlatched his enclosure and led him out into the cavernous hall of the stables.
“You always speak to him as if he were your friend.”
I climbed up his back, throwing my leg over and situating myself comfortably in the saddle. “That’s because he is.”
Zad straightened from the stable door he’d been leaning against, then strolled toward Cook’s enclosure, a black and silver temperamental female. A low snarl rippled through the cave, but the lord only smiled and procured a large turnip from his pocket.
Cook stilled, then crept forward. Her tail thrashed into the walls, causing dirt to rain as her excitement grew.
“You’ll lose your hand if you don’t throw it in,” I warned. “She has little tolerance for strangers.” Especially males, I didn’t add.
“Sounds familiar,” Zad murmured, and the affection in his voice mirrored that of his eyes when they flicked to me.
Something kicked inside my chest, then a stable hand rushed over. He blinked rapidly as he watched the lord of the east hold out his hand, balancing the turnip upon his flattened palm.
Cook lunged, and Zad pulled back, tutting.
Huffing, the beast shimmied closer, her long purple tongue sneaking out to lick the air.
Again, he moved his hand forward, and then with lightning speed, he plucked it back when she moved too fast. “Easy,” he said, voice soft. “Gentle, or nothing.”
I raised my brows at that but chose to keep my mouth shut.
I loathed to admit it, but I was a little nervous. I’d grown to like those hands of his a little too much.
Finally, Cook seemed to receive the message, and her handler and I both stared in stupefied amazement when she licked the turnip from Zad’s outstretched hand, then backed up to chew it to pieces. “Good girl,” Zad crooned.
If I thought he was done here, I was wrong. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like?” Unhooking Cook’s saddle from the wall, he walked inside her enclosure. The beast stood frighteningly still as he ran his hand down her flanks, then began to prepare her for flight.
I waited, knowing she was going to snap at him eventually, but it never happened.
The handler, still open-mouthed, turned to me as Zad led her out of her pen. “Uh, Majesty?”
I flicked my hand. “It’s fine.” Eyeing Zad, I said, “If the lord thinks he can best a beast, who are we to tell him not to?”
Zad’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. Mine did too, when he tried to mount Cook and her head flung around, teeth snapping dangerously close to his knee.
After staring at him a moment, Cook relented, begrudgingly allowing him to climb onto the saddle.
“I was hoping to be alone,” I said, moving Van to the cave’s rear entrance.
“Sorry to ruin your plans.”
Outside, on the lip of the cliff, the wind kicked back my hair, of which I’d forgotten to braid. “You are no such thing.”
“You’re right.” He threw me a roguish smirk, then clicked his tongue, spurring Cook into a run.
My eyes widened as she raced toward the edge, rock crumbling beneath her clawed feet, and took flight.
They dipped, so low that my breathing halted, and then, with a laugh that thundered through the skies, a laugh that never failed to steal my attention, they rose and circled the mountain.
Smiling, I urged Vanamar to follow, remembering a time when I’d first heard that laughter.
“Momma,” I whined, yanking on her soft dress. “I want to go.”
Her hand landed upon my brow, gentle, protective, and reassuring. “We must stay for a little while longer, Audry. Remember what I told you?”
Her bright blue eyes peered down at me, and I sighed. “No talking. If I need to answer someone, do so carefully.”
Her smile was more of a frown, but her fingers running through my hair put me at ease as the music started. People laughed and began to dance, moving about the room.
Father soon took her from me. He didn’t so much as look at me as he hauled her to their thrones.
I looked around, finding Truin against the far wall talking with her grandmother.
Her funny eyes fell upon me, filling with the smile that arched her pink lips. Her fingers fluttered, and I frowned, unsure if I should wave back.
I decided against it and winced when someone trod on my foot, my silver slippers no match for giant grown-up feet.
Bristling, I snuck outside where it was quieter and rounded the courtyard until I found the moss-infested fountain that was never paid much attention due to it being out of sight.
The perfect place to hide.
Seated on the dusty ground, I leaned my elbows on the rough edge. My fingers skipped over the water, my eyes tracking two lonesome carp swimming through the murky little pool.
A croak echoed, and staring across the water, I saw a dark green toad seated upon a lily pad. It stared at me with bright yellow eyes. I stared back, willing it to go away.
It croaked again, then splashed into the water.
“The ground is no place for a princess.”
I startled, glancing up at a huge male that knew my mother. I’d seen them talking sometimes at these fancy gatherings my father liked so much.
I couldn’t remember his name even though I’d been introduced to him some months ago, only that he was a lord. He looked it, with his finery and that regal sparkle in his amber eyes.
“A princess can do whatever she wants.” My eyes scrunched closed when I realized I’d already done the wrong thing. I’d opened my mouth when I shouldn’t have.
The large lord only laughed. My eyes fluttered open at the throaty, deep sound, and I blinked up at him.
He looked behind him when a bunch of males stumbled past the walkway, pushing and shoving one another as they sang and hollered. I think he sighed, and then his long legs brought him closer until I had to crane my neck right back to see his face.
I couldn’t see much from where I sat, and it wasn’t comfortable, so I stopped and leaned back over the edge of the fountain to watch the fish.
I wasn’t positive he wouldn’t hurt me. Not when there was an odd energy to him that screamed I should run from and to him at the same time.
“You should be inside,” the lord said, taking a seat near my hands on the lip of the fountain. “Where your mother can better keep an eye on you.”
“She can’t do that when the king is always taking her away.”
“The king?” His voice rose a little with interest.
I almost cursed, my cheeks heating. I was such a fool. “My father, I mean.”
The lord was silent for a long while, his hands clasped together between his bent knees. He smelled nice, like mint and sunny winter mornings.
“Why are you out here?” I asked, not caring that I’d broken another rule. If he were going to hurt me or take me to my father for punishment, it would have happened by now.
“It’s stuffy in there.”
I laid my head on my arm, watching his hands. They were quite large. I was willing to bet they’d be as large as my face. Then again, I was only ten summers old. “I like the cold, too.”
I felt his eyes on me then, but I didn’t want to meet them.
He was too big, too intimidating, and I was growing tired.
The noise emanating from the ballroom began to fade, my eyelids falling.
I awoke in someone’s arms, my eyes fluttering open to find a bristly chin. It wasn’t my father. He never carried me, and he always shaved.
The smell of winter sun and mint invaded. It was the lord. “My momma?”
A lumpy thing in his neck moved before he said, “She’ll be
in to see you when she’s finished seeing guests.” I yawned, struggling to keep my eyes open. “She asked me to make sure you found your way to bed.”
Inside my rooms, he laid me on my bed, dragging my blankets up to my shoulders as I turned onto my side and mumbled, “What is your name, lord?”
“Zadicus,” he said. He then took a seat in the chair by the fireplace.
I heard the sound of a book opening and pages turning, but I collapsed back into sleep.
We landed upon a large crag that overlooked the lower portion of the city, where cobblestoned streets faded into dirt lanes and dense woods.
With the furbanes tied to a thick tree, Cook looking unimpressed as Vanamar kept encroaching on her personal space, we took a seat on a lichen-speckled rock.
“How did you know my mother?”
If the random question bothered him, I didn’t notice. Staring down at the kingdom, Zad took his time to answer. “I never bedded her, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
I had wondered that on the odd occasion. It wouldn’t exactly be uncommon. Royals were known not to give a shit when it came to lust and love. If they wanted something, they took it, regardless of who the person was to someone else.
The woman from The Edges, Raiden’s betrothed, came to mind.
“She knew Kash.”
That brought me up short. “Your friend Kash?”
He nodded.
Volatile, cruel smiling Kash. “In what way?”
With his lips twisting, he then smirked at me. “In every way a female and male can know one another.”
I looked away, remembering what he’d said about me in the tavern. “He wishes me dead.”
“He wouldn’t dare.” His voice was drenched in winter cold vehemence. “He knows what you…” He stopped.
I gazed back at him. “Knows of what?”
Zad’s teeth grazed his lower lip, his eyes bright on mine. I withheld the shiver that tried to wrack my entire body. “He knows what you mean to me.”
Swallowing, I ripped my eyes from his. “So they were together.”
“Some think they linked, though I’ve never been able to get a straight answer from him.”