Noah snorts, shaking his head. “You ask for a miracle, Princess.”
“Isn’t that what just happened?” I ask. “Miracles seem to be our modus operandi. I’ll talk with Lightwing and see you all soon.”
We part, but just as I reach the stairs to another part of the castle, Jacob calls back. “Keep it fresh and clean for us, Princess! Love you!”
I laugh, looking back. “Love you too! All of you!”
The guard with me rolls his eyes and gestures. “Miss Carter?”
“Fine, fine,” I reply, trying to remain casual even as worry starts to creep inside again. “Let’s go see where I’m supposed to be staying.”
Chapter 4
Cole
“And here are your gloves.”
Cole and the others look at the pile of bricks in front of them near the outer wall of the Sun Castle, and then at the Captain of the Guard, a rather arrogant man named Connor. Short for a Fae warrior, he’s even shorter than Jacob, with a body that looks more akin to Tyler’s than Jacob’s compact thick muscularity. With him are five other members of the Sun Guard, still in full battle armor, their shoulders covered in white laminar.
Connor, on the other hand, has gold on his shoulders, and Cole suspects that the armor the man wears is more sparkle than sizzle, as Jacob likes to say. Still, he is the Captain of the Guard, and Cole is trying to respect him. “What do you want us to do with these?” he asks, looking around. “And where are our weapons?”
Connor laughs. “You think you deserve those pathetic play toys back?” he asks, getting in Cole’s face as best he can. “My son has table knives with more power than those things.”
Cole takes a deep breath, trying to contain his frustration. For days, they’ve been held as little more than prisoners, but even on the trip from the Vale to Solaria, they were given the proper respect due to warriors and allowed to keep their personal arms. It was only upon entrance to Castle Solaria itself that they were required to give up their weapons, and for Cole, relinquishing his sword is not something that sits well with him.
“My sword has defended the Vale for generations, and by my blood and oath, it will defend Eve unto the very gates of Hell itself,” Cole growls, trying his best not to loom over Connor. “It is no play toy.”
“And you will not get it back until you compensate the imperial treasury for Queen Cassina’s losses,” Connor says, stepping back a little as Cole’s presence begins to overwhelm him. “This is the first task. Rebuild this wall.”
“For fuck’s sake, man, I’m an archer, not a bricklayer!” Tyler says, his hand clenching. “Don’t tell us you can’t find a job more—”
“You four traitors might have been found not responsible by the Crystal, but that doesn’t change that you betrayed your oath to follow your cocks!” Connor yells, his voice laced with venom and anger. “You might have been members of Cassina’s little bitch-boy harem, but you were still sworn warriors to a sovereign queen!”
Noah’s eyes flare as he slides forward, his massive knuckles cracking as his deep anger’s finally been stirred. “If you want to test the Sun against the Moon, all you had to do was ask.”
For over two millennia, the Solar and Lunar courts have been allies, but the rivalry between the forces of the two thrones could politely be described as spirited, a spirit that often bordered on outright brawls. Any formal occasion for them to interact on a martial level required careful planning and coordination, lest blood be spilled.
But still, Cole knows, the Solarian Guard respected their skills. For the four of them, however, to have left Cassina’s service the way they did . . . to a certain kind of warrior like Connor, it was like a slap in the face. To Connor, the Guardians can never be trusted, no matter what.
Now, as Noah steps forward, Cole sees the troops with Connor ready their weapons. “Stay thyself, Noah,” Cole says, slipping into formal speech again. Noah stops, and Cole can see he wants to try and throw the arrogant Solarian Captain over the wall they’ve been tasked to rebuild. “If Captain Connor is so worried about our abilities, perhaps it is better for him if we remain unarmed. After all, we wouldn’t want him to feel . . . insecure.”
Even one of the Solarian Guard can’t help but smirk at Cole’s backhanded insult, and Cole knows Connor’s caught. He can’t directly criticize what Cole just said without looking like a petty jerk in front of his troops, but at the same time, it has to burn him.
“Well, then,” Connor eventually says, clearing his throat. “Get to work. A Guardsman will tell you when your shift is finished.”
He disappears, along with all but one Solarian Guardsman, and the four Fae get to work, moving bricks and other supplies to the craftsmen along the wall.
“So what happened here, anyway?” Tyler asks one of the craftsmen as he sets down a bag of concrete mix. “Why’d the wall fall?”
“Earthquake, coincided with a demon attack,” the craftsman, who doesn’t seem all that bad of a fellow, says. “Hey, grab that stick and help me stir this shit. If I don’t get the mix right, I’ll be out here in two months rebuilding it yet again.”
Noah, who can carry in his massive arms enough to leave even a team of bricklayers busy for some time, wipes his brow. “So, have there been many attacks?”
“No more than most places,” the bricklayer says, his arms trembling as he and Tyler stir the thick mortar. Cole takes over for the bricklayer, the man giving him a grateful nod. He sits back, grabbing a canteen and taking a long drink. “This one was just a bad ‘un. So what’s got you boys down here, anyway?”
“Love,” Tyler grunts, stirring the bucket of mortar. “And jealousy.”
“Ah, women . . . women, right?” the bricklayer asks. “Just sayin’, you boys look like warriors, and the Guardsmen around here—”
“We know,” Cole says, silencing Jacob with a glance. “But yes, a very remarkable woman. And a debt the emperor says we must repay.”
The bricklayer snorts. “Yeah, I know that kind of debt. Hard to repay. Hope you’ve got friends with coin. Or you may spend half a century lugging bricks.”
The hours stretch long, and even Cole’s muscles are tired by the time Captain Connor returns, looking over the progress. “Well, it’s something. Best we could expect from Lunarians. Come.”
Cole leads his tired group of friends back inside the castle, hoping to be shown to wherever Eve has been for the past ten hours. Instead, all four of them are shocked when they’re led deeper into the basement of the castle, to a plain room with four wooden beds. “What is this, a cell?”
“It’s a barracks room,” Connor replies, gesturing up and down the hallway, which connected to a larger central room. “Welcome to the Fourth Solarian Guard Battalion.”
Cole looks, noticing on the walls the unmistakable signs of the purpose for this part of the castle. Each room is the same, although as Cole looks, he sees that the other rooms at least have bedding for the soldiers inside. “You’re joking. Barracks are for trainees and lower-ranked soldiers. Not Guardsmen.”
“This isn’t Lunaria,” Connor growls, “and for that insubordination, you four can forego rations for this evening. Maybe it’ll remind you that while your halfling might be a guest of the crown, the only thing you four are the guest of is the Fourth Solarian Guards. Enjoy the evening. Morning muster is at sunrise.”
“This is . . . we must object,” Cole declares, trying to maintain the formality of a military man. Connor might be a blowhard, he might be an insecure bully, but Cole can sense that he’s also a man who runs his unit by the book. And doing things by the book is something Cole excels in. He’s pretty sure he can quote ‘the book’ chapter and verse to Connor if he has to. “We are Eve’s Guardians, and it is our responsibility to see to her safety. We are also Bonded.”
“That isn’t my concern,” Connor growls. “And would you like to skip breakfast too?”
“She isn’t safe. You saw and heard the look in the eyes of the crowd,” Cole argues. “At le
ast let us stand guard outside her quarters.”
“If you think you’re getting within farting distance of the imperial wing, you’re on fairy dust,” Connor replies, but still he looks unsure. To deny the right of Guardianship to Bonded Fae is a tricky situation, one that few Fae feel comfortable denying except to an outright prisoner. “In deference to His Excellency, I will overlook your continued disrespect and let you eat in the morning. I will also pass along your request to His Excellency. Perhaps he will allow you to see your Bonded when she is available and you are off duty. Goodnight . . . gentlemen.”
Connor turns and leaves, and the four Fae look at each other, using their Link.
That son of a bitch is about three ticks from getting his head pulled off, Noah growls, his knuckles popping. To not allow us to even know where Eve is!
Ah, but the arrogant tree humper did say she’s in the imperial wing, Jacob comments. Give me a day, and I’ll ken a clear path to her room. Give me two, and I’ll have the keys to every locked door between here and her bedchambers.
You would think of her bed first, Tyler chides but laughs softly. Not that I’m not too.
So, what shall we do for the rest of the evening? Cole asks, looking around the bare room and the barracks. Stone walls and ceiling, Faelights around the room, and hostile-looking Solarian Guardsmen seem to be the only things in sight. At least there’s a latrine.
Better than that, I see cards and food, Jacob says, nodding. Cole looks, and in the corner there is a table laden with plain-looking but hearty food, typical of a soldier’s diet. Next to it is a table of Guardsmen, playing some form of game between themselves. What do you say, lads? Ready to win some dinner?
And if you lose? Tyler asks, and Jacob grins. That’s what I was thinking.
At least it’ll be distracting.
Cole nods, but as Tyler and Jacob cross the room to work a scam that he was sure they’d been doing for centuries, he looks at Noah, whose face is still cloudy.
We cannot tolerate this for long.
I agree. So, what shall we do? You’re the leader, Cole.
I know. As soon as we can, we’ll find Eve. And if we need to, we’ll get her out of here. I don’t trust Lightwing, and I don’t trust the Solarians.
From across the room, Jacob laughs. A jailbreak? Cole, I think I’m starting to rub off on you.
Perhaps, Jacob. Perhaps.
Chapter 5
Eve
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much marble and gold in my life. Since the emperor declared me a guest of his court, it seems the entire world has changed into marble, gold, and a few highlights of steel or silver.
It’s been glorious, to say the least. While I’m worried about what my Guardians are going through right now, it can’t be too bad if wherever they are is even a fraction of this level of awesome.
And this room tops it all off. It’s huge, bigger than my entire apartment back in Haven, and that’s only the main bedroom. The bed looks to be about the size of a boxing ring, with four huge posts jutting up from each end and a lacy canopy overhead, while the furniture is engraved with beautiful swirls and patterns that almost remind me of writing.
“Lady Carter?” a polite voice says behind me, and I turn around. Standing in the doorway is a woman about my height, beautiful in the way that it seems most Fae women are, with long blonde hair, golden eyes, and a lithe body that moves with natural grace. “Excuse the intrusion. I’m Daelera. I’m to be your body servant during your stay.”
“My body servant?” I ask, tilting my head. “What’s that?”
Daelera bites her lip for a moment, searching either a Link or maybe her memory before answering. “Ah, I remember. I’m to be . . . a butler? That’s not the right term, though, but my human realm terms are limited.”
I wave it off. She’s trying. “That’s okay, I understand. Uhm, where is Lady Lorelai Wintersong? She was my advocate.”
Another short pause, and I wonder just who Daelera is Linked to. Whoever it is must have a lot of knowledge, and I start to consider the possibilities of how useful the Link can be in certain situations. “Apologies, Lady Carter, but Lady Wintersong was instructed to return home to the Vale by her father,” Daelera says after a moment. “Something about reconstruction and her powers.”
I nod, disappointed but understanding. With my being a ‘guest’ of the court, I doubt Lorelai would get a lot of time to work with me anyway. “I see. Is there any way I can send her a message? I’d like to say goodbye.”
Another pause, and Daelera smiles. “She already sent a message herself,” she replies brightly. “She says that she is looking forward to seeing you afterward, and that she hopes to . . . compare notes? I’m not sure what that means, but I can have the written message delivered to your chambers.”
I chuckle, nodding. “It means that she’ll want to learn what I’m apparently going to learn while here. And yes, I’d appreciate that. So, who are you Linking with?”
“Linking . . . ah, Menting. With Madam Bird, the chief body servant to His Excellency. She’s the . . . queen bee of the body servants and manager of the house. Actually, she is why I am here.”
“Oh?” I ask, crossing my arms curiously. Menting, huh? Guess the words differ by area. “What are your duties, anyway?”
“Many, but mainly, I am to act as your assistant, making your time here smooth and helping you communicate when you cannot Ment,” Daelera replies, touching her neck to indicate my collar. “My first duty is to bathe you. No offense, Lady Carter, but you . . . smell.”
I lift an arm, and as soon as I do, I’m hit with what must hang like a fog around me. “Sorry,” I comment, wincing as I lower my arm. “I’ve been on the road a lot since coming to the Fae realm, and it’s been a few days since I had a proper bath.”
“It is no problem. Please come with me,” Daelera says, leading me toward a room I haven’t had a chance to look at yet. “This chamber is equipped with a proper bathroom.”
We enter a room that makes the term bathroom woefully inadequate. I feel like I just stepped into a luxurious spa. In the middle of the room is a tub that’s about the size of a small swimming pool, with scented steam rising from the calm surface. “Whoa . . . this is a proper bathroom?”
“For a guest of His Excellency,” Daelera says. “If you need a toilet, it is through that privacy door.”
I don’t even want to think about what that might be. If it’s anything like the bath area, it probably has a toilet seat that’d make a high-tech Japanese one look like a camp squatty. Instead, I reach for the clasp on my tunic, but before I can, Daelera is there, brushing my fingers away. “Please, Lady Carter . . . let me.”
“Daelera, I’m perfectly capable . . . fine, I guess it’s your job.” I relent, letting her undress me when she doesn’t give up and keeps tugging at the clasps on my clothes. She pays attention to everything, her eyes studying me intensely as she helps me remove every stitch. She’s amused by my underclothes, looking them over and feeling them. “This is what humans wear?”
“Different, I know . . . but I’m not the kind to go commando, especially when I’m on a horse,” I remark over my shoulder as I slip into the water. It’s glorious, nearly as perfect as the enchanted pool my first night in the Fae realm, and I sigh happily as the water comes up to my shoulders. “You wouldn’t happen to know a tailor who . . . what are you doing?”
I’ve turned around, seeing Daelera also removing her clothing. She’s almost totally naked now except for her Fae-style bra, which looks more like a wrap to me. She’s well-built, with hips nearly the same shape as mine, fine muscles running up the outsides of her thighs and a neat, bald crotch. Above, she’s got a flat stomach with a slightly oval belly button that draws the eyes up to pert, high breasts. If I were looking for an underwear model, she’d be perfect for the junior styles, or maybe the flirty less busty designs.
“What do you mean, Lady Carter?” Daelera says as she removes her wrap to reveal perky littl
e nipples nearly the same color as the rest of her creamy, unblemished skin. “I very well can’t wear my dress in the bath with you.”
“But why would you join me in the bath?” I ask, and Daelera laughs softly. “What?”
“Lady Carter, it is my duty to bathe you, not stand against the wall and watch you swim laps,” Daelera says with a trace of good humor. “After that, I shall give you a massage, as is standard.”
Massage? I remember Fae massages, and while Daelera is undeniably beautiful . . . “Uhm, can we pass on the massage?”
“Why? Are you extremely ticklish?” Daelera says, stepping into the water. “Rest assured, I know what I’m doing.”
“It’s not that,” I reply quickly, trying to broach this subject gently and not knowing how. “It’s that . . . well, I’ve had massages from Fae, and they tend to make me . . . aroused?”
Daelera laughs musically, slipping through the water and over to a golden bottle of what I assume is Fae soap, or maybe shampoo, along with a washcloth. “Must have been your men. They just can’t help themselves, can they? No, while I know what you’re talking about, I do not have to do that kind of massage unless you wish.”
“No, but thank you. I don’t go . . . that way.”
Daelera uncaps the bottle, shrugging nonchalantly. “As you wish. For me, it is just a duty. I prefer a good Fae cock myself as well. If you don’t mind my saying, to have four, and Declared to you? I’m jealous.”
I laugh, sitting down and letting Daelera do her job. Her touch is relaxing, easing my muscles that have been knotted with tension since this morning’s trial. “Don’t be. You are pretty enough that I’m sure you’ve got plenty of admirers.”
“Aye, but not like them . . . and to have His Excellency take interest in you as well? Well, must be the fangs. They are sexy, in a bad girl sort of way,” she says, rubbing at my neck. “So, when did you get them?”
Guardians of Moonlight: A Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (Guardians of the Fae Book 3) Page 3