by Unknown
“Why is he escorting you?” Arach growled to me under his breath.
“Because he wanted to speak to me,” I shook my head at him. “We'll talk about it later.”
“Fine,” Arach shot a glare at Rowan.
“Fire King, Fire Queen,” a brownie I recognized from the High Court came up and poured us wine.
“Hello, Peig,” I smiled at her. “The High King sent you to help, I presume?”
“Oh, I volunteered,” Peig grinned. “I was so eager to meet the new sidhe. They're lovely, so very nice to us brownies. I'm glad I came.”
“Were you treated badly at the High Court?” I lifted a brow. If King Cian was mistreating his brownies or if they were getting mistreated behind his back, I was going to have something to say about it.
“Oh, no, no, don't trouble yourself,” she patted my hand. “It's just normal sidhe behavior.”
“Not for me it isn't,” I sighed. “Well I'm glad they've been kind to you here.”
“Oh we love our little Peig,” Dahlia nodded. “She's helped us so much.”
“Thank you, Lady Dahlia,” Peig nodded and returned to the kitchen.
“I'm relieved that you have help here,” I took a sip of my wine.
“Yes, you've all been very good about providing us with what we need,” Rowan nodded, a secret smile on his lips.
“Some things you'll need to provide for yourself,” Arach's hand slid around my shoulder and pulled me a little in his direction.
Normally I'd be irritated with the gesture but the touch nearly sent me into a bout of shivers, it was so delightful. Instead of reprimanding him for his brutish behavior, I leaned into him, earning a rumbling response. He was startled out of his jealousy, pulling his gaze away from Rowan to direct it down to me. The yellow of his dragon eyes brightened and I felt my own eyes catch fire in response to it. There was just he and I for one brief glorious moment. Then Rowan sneezed.
“Oh, do forgive me,” Rowan sniffed. “Something must have irritated my sensitive nose. You know our bodies are still so vulnerable to every sensation.”
“No, I had no idea,” I tried to pull myself away from the abyss of passion I was dangling over. “I guess it makes sense though, you've never had your own body before.”
“Exactly,” he nodded. “Everything was always a little muffled by the body we inhabited.”
“I love the way things look now,” Ash said, leaning forward and winking at me. “All the colors seem brighter, the world is sharper.”
“I hope you all can keep that sense of wonder for awhile,” I tried to get us off sensuous subjects. “It must be amazing to see it all like it's the first time.”
“It is amazing,” Dahlia sighed and pushed the heavy fall of her hair back over her dark shoulder. I noticed the way Arach's eyes followed the movement and felt a twinge of jealousy myself. “A simple touch can be euphoric.”
“The moat!” I cleared my throat and dropped my voice. “I mean, um, when we arrived, I couldn't help but notice how your moat is filled with dark mist. Is that something you created?”
“Yes,” Rowan answered.
“I thought that could only be done with one of the Great Magics,” I narrowed my gaze on him.
“Actually no, not when adding to a kingdom,” he explained. “It seems there's a residual energy that can be shaped. A kingdom is a malleable thing. I guess it's been so long since one was created, this must have been forgotten.”
“I seem to remember my father saying something to that affect,” Arach mused. “It's an exciting thought. I wonder if we could alter our kingdom still?”
“I'm sure you could,” Rowan gave a little nod. “Our element directed us to create the mist inside the moat. We simply lifted the idea from the land and there it was. It's totally safe and harmless until someone approaches the castle with ill intent.”
“And then?” I focused on Rowan.
“And then it will rise up and swallow any who wish us harm.”
“Very nice,” Arach looked over at Rowan with new respect. “Similar to the mists of Air, an excellent defense.”
“Thank you,” Rowan nodded. “But like I said, it was the element that directed us.”
“And you were smart enough to follow its lead,” Arach surprised me even more by saying.
“I think it may be easier for us to follow our element's dictates,” Laurel, a female dark-sidhe, observed. “It wasn't so long ago that we were one with it. It's more like listening to ourselves.”
“Sometimes, that's the hardest person to listen to,” I glanced from Rowan to Arach.
What had all that desire been about? Was it truly my feelings or had I been tampered with? And if so, did that mean there was more to Rowan's abilities than he'd let on?
Chapter Fifteen
After lunch, we returned our garments and headed home as dragons. Arach nipped at my heels the whole way, a bit of spicy dragon foreplay. I in turn, swirled away from him, diving and evading his pursuit until my blood was racing. The shock of a nip on my flank sent electricity zipping up my belly to emerge from my throat as a roar of desire.
I landed in front of the castle and ran inside, maneuvering the halls as a dragon until I reached our bedroom door, where I changed back to human. Arach was close behind me, hot breath on my skin, claws reaching for me as I slammed the door on his dragon face. A roar shook the whole castle and then the bedroom door was ripped off its hinges and flung away, revealing a very naked Arach.
I backed away, a little thrill of fear shooting up my spine and making my very cells vibrate with desire. He jerked, inhaling sharply, and shivered, his eyes closing in delight. Fear mixed with arousal, delicious to a dragon. I kept backing away, casting glances at the open door. He cocked his head at me sharply, a very dragon motion, all humanity disappearing quickly as the scales started spreading down his muscular torso. He looked from me to the door, and then casually pushed the armoire in front of the opening.
Trapped. It registered on some primitive level within me, sending my body into a state of heightened awareness. Every muscle wanted to run but my body couldn't decide on whether it should run to or away from Arach. Safety wasn't what I really wanted.
Arach used my indecision to stalk closer. The bones in his face were sharpening, turning his cheekbones into blades and shifting his eyes into more sever slants. He seemed bigger all of a sudden, more vibrant and more alive. I could feel the heat rolling off of him, see his chest expanding with the intake of every breath. Anticipation fluttered low inside me, rooting me to where I stood.
He moved so fast, I barely tracked him. He was simply there and I was in his arms, pressed to the heat of his skin. Fire in my mouth, down my throat, in my limbs. Fire on my skin, within my hands, raging inside me. Clawed hands on my flesh, lifting me, pressing me harder against scales and skin. I felt him inside and around me, lips at my throat, hot flesh piercing my core. I melted around him, clawing at his back as ecstasy overtook me, and screaming my fire into him.
We fell to the floor and he pounded into me, my thighs splayed wide, unable to find purchase against the demands he was making. I gripped him tighter; back, waist, arms, anywhere I could reach him. I tried to hold on but he was a wild thing against me, thrashing through our passion savagely. There were no words, no tenderness, just me and him reaching for that pinnacle of pleasure with fierce determination. I was nearly there, my legs beginning to shake, when his hand gripped my hair, pulling my head back so he could stare into my eyes.
“Here, in Faerie, you're mine,” he growled, voice so low and gravely, I could barely make out the words. “The Darkness cannot have you.”
Then we fell into the abyss together.
Chapter Sixteen
I woke up tangled in blankets and limbs. Arach was wound around me, his hand in my hair, his leg across mine. I groaned and heard an immediate response from Dexter, an annoyed cry that served as wake-up call for my husband. Arach shifted against me as Dex jumped into the bed and crawl
ed over to my face. He rubbed his fluffy cheeks to mine and started purring.
“Hey, you,” I scratched his chin and he purred louder, which in Dexter terms, meant he was practically roaring.
“Sweet singing nurials,” Arach moaned and untangled himself from me. “What is that sound?”
“Dexter's happy.”
“Does he have to be happy so loudly?”
“It's called exuberance,” I smirked and got out of bed. “You may be familiar with the term.”
“Oh that,” he grinned and shot me a satisfied look. “I may be somewhat familiar.”
“What the hell was that all about, Arach?”
“I haven't the vaguest idea,” he sighed as he got out of bed. “You know I'm not one to proclaim my possession of you,” he frowned suddenly. “I don't know why I felt the need to... ah...”
“Hammer it home?” I was still smirking.
“Yes, as it were,” he chuckled. “You seemed to enjoy it though.”
“Well, you didn't make me purr exactly but I did enjoy myself. Though if you ever tell anyone I like your whole dominating male routine, I'll geld you, dragon.”
“My lizard lips are sealed,” he came around the bed and pulled me into a hug, then a kiss. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” I nestled into him.
“AAAeeeehhhhggghh,” Dexter cried.
“Jesus Christ, Dexter,” I glared down at him. “What's your problem?”
“I think he needs to go outside, A Thaisce,” Arach chuckled.
“Oh, sugar!” I hurried to the door and opened it for Dex. “Sorry, Dex, go on ahead. I'll catch up.”
I wasn't worried about him on his own anymore. The whole castle knew who he was and they all either avoided him(the men) or fawned over him(the women). He'd be perfectly safe.
“Sugar?” Arach chuckled as he started to get dressed. “When did you add that to your repertoire of exotic exclamations?”
“When I started hanging out with Luke,” I laughed. “I can't help it, it's catchy.”
“Yes, very sweet,” he agreed and I groaned at his obvious pun. “How long are you staying this time?”
“Well, I left on February seventeenth,” I mused. “So if I stay till then, I can go back through the Aether and not have to use my ring.”
“I think that's a good idea,” Arach nodded. “The less you rely on magic, the better. So another month and a half then. What would you like to do first?”
“Well since I've already done you,” I grinned. “I can move on to the babies.”
“Vervain, that's reprehensible. I'm thoroughly disgusted.”
“To seeing the babies, you ass,” I shook my head at him. “I can't even believe you turned that into a joke.”
“You're the one who started the sentence with the lovely colloquialism of doing me. You deserve what you get for not making the second half more clear.”
“Hmm,” I pulled a thick winter dress of soft red wool over my head.
“Hmm?” Arach stopped and turned toward me. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing, just hmm.”
“That's very worrisome.”
“How so?”
“You're thinking too deeply to speak,” he observed. “Which means you're probably trying to come up with a way to get back at me.”
“Get back at you?” I scoffed. “For what, darling?”
“Oh fuck me, now she's called me darling,” he threw his hands up into the air. “I might as well give in now. What? What is it you want?”
“Arach relax,” I laughed.
“Jewels? Fine dresses? What is it?” His slit dragon pupils widened. “Shoes? I know you love shoes, though I have no idea why.”
“A kiss would be nice.”
“A kiss?” He swung about and grabbed me around the waist. “That I think I can manage.”
“Good, then maybe you'll shut up,” I said just as his lips lowered to mine.
“You're going to pay for that.”
Chapter Seventeen
Later that day, I was sitting with Fionnaghal behind the castle, inside the Fire Kingdom. We were watching the babies play in the snow, her three children and Hunter, Roarke's son. It was really amusing to watch fire fey children play in snow actually. They'd throw it around, smack their hands into it, roll in it, all the normal things a child would do, but all that would only last so long before their inner fire, which wasn't quite under their control yet, would make an appearance and ruin all the fun. Snow was turned into steam and we'd have to move them to a new patch of ground. There was already a chain of cleared circles leading off to the right.
Hunter wasn't as advanced as the Hidden One babies, he was progressing on a more human level and could only push himself up to look around, but he was enjoying himself nonetheless. The other babies, who were already crawling, loved bumping into him and entertaining him in the way babies do with each other; hands on cheeks, faces pressed to faces. This was great for Fionnaghal and me, who were able to just sit back and watch them instead of entertaining them ourselves.
Then Hunter shifted.
One second he was wobbling on his elbows and then next he was a little bundle of fur. I jumped up in shock as he sat up and looked over to me. A little black kitten with a white bib on his chest and white booties. He looked like he was wearing a tuxedo, proper for a prince, I guess.
He looked around regally, I'm not sure if that was on purpose or just because he was a cat, and then shot off towards the Weeping Woods. I shrieked and chased after him, Fionnaghal laughing behind me.
I caught up with him right before he got to the cover of some bushes, scooping him up by the scruff and holding him aloft. He whined pitifully but I just glowered at him and brought him back to where the other children were. They screeched happily at my approach, all of them reaching for the kitten.
It seemed to do the trick, no kitten likes to be attacked by babies, and Hunter transformed back into a baby himself. I was unprepared for the shift, which left me holding him by the neck, and ended up falling with him. I twisted my body so I hit the ground first and he fell on top of my stomach, driving the air from me in a whoosh. He giggled and slammed his baby fists down on my chest for good measure.
“You know you're just like your daddy, you enjoy causing mischief.” I sighed as I put Hunter back on the ground and went to reclaim my seat next to Fionnaghal. “And you,” I said to her. “You could have helped me.”
“You had it under control,” she giggled. “Besides, he wouldn't have gone far. He just needed to burn off some energy.”
“There are dangerous things in Weeping Woods,” I eyed Hunter, keeping a better watch on him now.
“Yes, like nurials,” Fionnaghal glanced over to where Dexter was curled up on the rock beside me. “But Hunter would have been fine, he's not an ordinary cat, remember?”
“Right,” I huffed and shook my head. “Nothing ordinary here.” Dexter got up, stretched, and jumped down to go play with the children. The children let out more delighted squeals as Dex rubbed his sleek body along them.
“I'm sitting outside in the sun with the Queen of Fire,” Fionnaghal sighed, looking over the playing babes. “Watching my children play with a fire cat-sidhe baby and a young steam nurial in the snow.”
“Yes you are,” I smiled at her.
“After all this time, life has managed to surprise me, and what wonderful surprises they are.”
“I think it's surprised us all,” I took her hand and we watched Deirdre jump over her brother Daoir with dexterous ease, probably due to her six legs. Baby Vervain, who I called Mini V, didn't like this. She made known her disapproval by grabbing four of Deirdre's legs, one in each of her hands. Deirdre let out a howl and Fionnaghal heaved herself upright with a laugh. She'd been squatting next to me on her own eight legs. She leaned forward and scooped up Deirdre, making shushing sounds until the babe started giggling.
“Okay then, little girl,” she put Deirdre back down. “You have
to accept that when you reach high, someone will probably try to pull you back down.”
“What a sad and horribly accurate statement,” I frowned at Fionnaghal as she returned to her squat.
“Not sad,” she grinned at me, showing off her sharp teeth. “Those that try to pull us down only make us reach higher and with more determination.”
“Yes, our enemies do inspire us sometimes,” I looked down at Mini V, who was now playing with her sister like nothing had happened. “But hopefully our enemies won't be our own siblings.”
“Oh, children can be the most cruel,” Fionnaghal looked over the babes fondly. “Only because they don't understand cruelty yet. Their world consists mainly of themselves and so nothing is really upsetting unless it's done directly to them.”
“I think I'll come to you for advice if I ever have children,” I laughed. “You're brilliant.”
“Thank you, my Queen,” she ducked her head, her greenish-gray skin flushing to lavender. Then she abruptly lifted it back up, her eyes settling on me astutely. “Did you say if you have children?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“My Queen,” she shook her head. “You must have children. You can't leave the King childless, not when he's the first fey monarch to have an almost guaranteed chance of conceiving. We need our children and especially the royal ones.”
“Well, no pressure then,” I sighed.
“I'm sorry, Queen Vervain,” she looked so serious. “But if King Arach hasn't been pressuring you, he's been lax in his duties as King. You must provide the kingdom with heirs.”
“That's enough, Fionnaghal!” Arach's voice shot through the cold air like the crack of a frozen branch.
Fionnaghal jerked up, her hands gripping together as she bowed her head. “My apologies, King Arach. I've grown overly familiar with Queen Vervain.”
“No, you haven't,” I stood and patted her shoulder. “Relax, Fionnaghal. I'll never get mad at you for telling me the truth as you see it. Arach,” I growled. “I can handle my own friends but thank you for defending me.”