“Don’t. I want you to stay like you are. I want you to feel all evening that we will continue this later. That you came for me and are going to do it again tonight.”
I shiver at his request, immediately feeling myself getting aroused again. These Guardians are going to be the death of me. Now I need to go to this ball, wet and horny, having to pretend I’m interested in what people are saying, doing small talk and probably dance with guests I don’t know.
Being a Princess really isn’t all it’s made out to be.
To my disappointment, neither Thor nor Loki are attending the ball. Thor’s daughter is here though, a human girl he adopted as a baby. She’s surrounded by a swarm of male Guardians and it’s no surprise. She’s extremely pretty, especially for a human. I’d love to talk to her, but with all the guests vying for my attention, I doubt I’ll get the chance.
My mother doesn’t comment on my choice of dress, so she probably didn’t know what the seamstress had planned for me. Again, I’m making murder plans. I don’t know why that woman doesn’t like me. I’ve been nothing but nice to her… except for the time I had to adapt one of her dresses because Crispin had cut holes into it. Maybe she’s blaming me for that?
I really don’t want to be thinking of dresses, but the wetness between my legs is a constant reminder that I’m naked beneath mine. I feel exposed, as if everyone can see what Storm did to me not long ago. I wish I could just leave and have him do it again and again in my bedroom.
Whenever I meet his gaze, he winks. And when I look at Arc, he raises an eyebrow suggestively. Did he come while watching me come? I didn’t see but I’d love to know. Or if he’s still hard beneath his kilt, waiting for relief…
“Lucifer, may I introduce you to my daughter, Wynter?”
My mother is suddenly by my side, a tall God next to her. He doesn’t look like I imagined Lucifer. Of course I know he isn’t the devil nor does he live in hell, but it’s hard to get those thoughts out of my mind. Growing up on Earth has made me believe in some of the things humans do, and only now I am finding out how wrong they are.
Lucifer’s black hair is pulled back into a ponytail, a stark contrast to his pristine white suit. His dark eyes are scrutinising me, making me want to turn away and hide. It’s as if he can see into my soul and… No, those are human prejudices. He’s just curious, wanting to meet the Queen’s daughter.
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He smiles pleasantly before turning back to my mother.
“You must be so happy to have her back.”
“I am indeed,” my mother replies with a smile. She seems to like Lucifer. I wonder how he got his bad reputation on Earth. Does he have a doppelganger like Loki, who does all the bad stuff and then blames it on the original? Beira has told me how Jack, the God of Mischief, disguises himself as Loki whenever he travels to Earth. It’s how Loki became known as a troublemaker, even though he’s a sweet and gentle God, according to my mother. I’m really looking forward to meeting him, and Thor. Hopefully they’ll be at the next ball.
“How are you finding the Winter Realm?” Lucifer asks me and I turn my attention back to the conversation.
“It’s not as cold as I thought it would be. And what I’ve seen of the Realm so far, it’s beautiful.”
“It is, but of course it’s no match for the fiery beauty of my own Realm.” He smiles mischievously. “You should visit me sometime.”
“I’m sure Wyn and her Guardians would love to visit,” my mother replies with a smile, making it clear that I am already spoken for. Not that Lucifer is my type; he’s far too old, despite his youthful look. Like with most of the Gods, it’s his eyes that give away his true age. They are ancient and tell tales of a life full of both sorrow and happiness. Beira has told me how Lucifer likes to take human wives. He must have had hundreds of them over time, and it can’t have been easy to watch them all die. I wonder why he does it when he knows that it will end in death. Why not be with a Guardian or God who will live forever?
“Guardians? Plural?” he asks curiously.
I shrug. “Why choose?”
Lucifer laughs heartily. “Well said, my lady. Bowing to convention is so boring.”
“Are you here with someone?”
“Sadly not. I am without a partner currently, but I’m looking. If you know someone back on Earth, please let me know.”
I think back to my girlfriends. None of them would make a good companion to a God, I think.
But I smile politely. “If I think of someone, I will certainly tell you.”
“I’d appreciate it. I don’t like spending more time on Earth than I need to. My reputation precedes me, if you know what I mean.” He winks. “And now I must leave, your mother has asked me to do some research on a certain plant.” He lowers his voice. “Congratulations on reaching Immortality, Princess. I will do my best to assist you in finding out who did this.”
My heart warms at his sincere expression. It’s good to see how my mother has loyal allies who care about what happens to her and her daughter.
“Thank you,” I say and stretch out my hand to shake his, but he takes mine gently and presses a kiss on it. With a flourished bow, he takes his leave.
“He’s quite the charmer,” my mother chuckles as we watch him make his way through the crowd, giving small bows to most of the ladies he passes. “But he’s a good man, and someone we’re lucky to have on our side.”
Taking the opportunity of having her all to myself, I ask her about the assassin.
“Did you manage to make him talk to you?”
My mother’s expression darkens. “No, I did not. There’s a spell on him, making it impossible for him to talk about it. I tried to lift it, but it’s deeply embedded in his mind. If I removed it, it would likely break his mind and we wouldn’t find out anything. The only solution I see at the moment is trying to gradually weaken the spell by working on it daily. I’m beginning to believe that he didn’t do this willingly, so let’s hope he wants to tell us. That will make it easier.”
“Does that mean you will have to meet him daily?”
“No, luckily not. Ada should be strong enough to do it – she doesn’t need to break the spell, just challenge it. She seems to be building up a rapport with the prisoner, so she might be the one he will confide in.”
I clear my throat, preparing to ask the question that’s been playing on my mind for days.
“Do you think they’ll try again? If the dragon assassin was coerced into killing me, there must be others who will try?”
Beira smiles sadly. “There always are others. I’ve lost count of how often people have tried to kill me. But as you can see, I’m still alive, and so are you. Your Guardians are the best of the best and they would die to protect you. There are security measures in place that nobody knows about but me and a few select people, so don’t worry. You’re safe here. But I would ask you not to leave the Palace for now, until we know more.”
As annoying as it is, I know she’s right. Luckily, for what Arc and I are planning, we don’t even need to leave my chambers. And besides that, I’m going to be busy with Council meetings and other official business. I’m meeting Tamara tomorrow so I can learn more about intelligence and how she gets her information. It’s exciting; I’ve been wondering about that for a while. Tamara is a fascinating person and I’m looking forward to spending more time with her. While I love my Guardians, it’s nice to talk to another woman from time to time. And I’m not sure my mother counts. She’s a bit too… Goddess for that.
Chapter Thirteen
“Guys, get oot!”
I groan as Arc’s loud voice wakes me. I’m snuggled between two men, warm and comfy, and I don’t want them to leave. I draw the duvet over my head, hiding from the world. Noticing that I’m naked, I think back to last night and smile. We had fun, all five of us. No wonder I’m tired.
“Wyn, get up, we dinnae have much time. Yer mother has another meeting scheduled, so we need ta do
it now.”
I’m suddenly wide awake when I realise what he means. My parents. I’m finally going to see them again. Find out if they’re alright. Maybe even persuade them to come live here in the Realm with me.
Crispin gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Good luck, little Princess.”
“I’m not little!” I protest but he’s already left the bed. Storm is the next to kiss me, but he chooses my lips. I want more than just his lips on mine and open my mouth, nudging his lips with my tongue. He responds in kind, kissing me passionately, but ends the kiss far too soon.
“Be good, Princess.”
“When am I ever not good?”
He laughs. “Shall I remind you of last night?”
I blush, but Frost hugs me from behind.
“Don’t worry, you were very good last night.”
“Out!” Storm calls and they both jump out of bed, leaving me alone with my Scottish Guardian. Not that he’s actually Scottish, but his accent and dress style certainly are. He reminds me of home. Most of the guys wearing kilts in Edinburgh do it for the tourists, but still, it’s always a nice sight.
I sit up and the blanket slips down, giving Arc a nice view of my boobs.
“Put some clothes on or I won’t be able ta focus,” he growls and I laugh at his desperate look.
“Dinnae worry,” I mock his accent and am promptly rewarded by having a pillow thrown at me.
I crawl out of bed and put on a silk kimono to hide most of my nakedness from Arc. My smooth legs are still visible though and he seems to have a hard time evading his eyes. Becoming a proper Demigoddess when I entered the Realms had the pleasant side effect that I no longer need to shave. It’s saved me so much time, especially when having to wear dresses all the time.
“We need ta touch while doing this,” Arc informs me and pats his lap. He’s sat down in one of the large armchairs by the window, looking exceedingly comfy. I follow his invitation and lean against his broad chest, wiggling a little to find the best position.
“Dinnae distract me,” he complains and I stop moving. “We need ta touch but we need ta concentrate as well.”
“Okay, explain to me again how this is going to work.”
“We’re going ta connect with a demon who’s currently in front of yer parents’ hoose. If we’re lucky. Demons aren’t the most reliable people.”
From the beginning, Beira had said that it would be too dangerous to send a Guardian there. After the Calanais battle, the Scotland Gate was only used for emergencies in the fear that demons might still be lying in wait on the other side.
So a demon is our only chance. Luckily, Arc knows a few that are amenable if the bribe is high enough. It’s costing us a small fortune to get this one to do what we want, but being the Winter Heiress has its advantages. Access to the Royal coffers is one of them.
“I’ve only done this once before,” Arc warns me. “It’s not a nice feeling ta be in a demon’s head. It’s… slimy.”
He checks his watch. “It’s time. Ready?”
I nod. “Let’s do this.”
Without warning, everything goes black.
My parents’ house looks surprisingly intact. Last time I saw it, the upper floor was on fire and the street was being shook by an earthquake. My earthquake, to be precise. Now, only a few thin lines on the wall tell of what happened. They’ve either had excellent builders at work or someone helped out with magic. I’m pretty sure it was the latter. You can’t just restore an almost destroyed street back to how it was before in just a few weeks.
It feels strange looking out of the demon’s eyes. We can’t see him, just what he sees. He could be a hideous winged devil for all I know, but I’d hope that Arc has chosen one who can blend in. Or one who can do glamour magic. My parents have been traumatised enough, they don’t need a demon on their doorstep.
Knock on the door, Arc commands inside the demon’s head. Okay, now I really hope that the demon looks human.
We walk forward – well, the demon does, I’m just a passenger. It’s a very surreal feeling. I can somehow feel his body, but only in a faint way, more an echo than an actual sensation. But his vision is as clear as if it was my own eyes.
The demon knocks once, twice. Nothing happens.
What’s your name? I ask to bridge the tension.
Surprise fills the demons’ mind.
Andrew, he finally answers.
I’m having a hard time hiding my laughter. A demon called Andrew? Seriously? That is the least demony name I could think of.
I can feel Arc’s amusement through our link but hope it’s not transmitted to the demon. We don’t want to piss him off.
Finally, there are noises on the other side of the door and it slowly opens. My mother is looking straight at me. At the demon.
“Yes?” she asks tiredly. What time is it on Earth? Must be early morning, judging from her robe hastily thrown over her nightie.
She looks like she’s been up all night. Her hair is tousled and there are shadows all around her eyes. She looks older than I remember. I hope it’s just because she didn’t sleep well and not because of … well, me.
Tell her you’re here on behalf of her daughter, Arc commands.
“I’m here on behalf of your daughter,” Andrew repeats dutifully.
“My daughter isn’t here. Please leave.” Her expression darkens. She turns to close the door but Andrew puts his foot in the way.
“She’s here with me through a mental link. She wants to talk to you.”
My mum looks at him as if he’s crazy. “Prove it,” she challenges him and inside, I applaud her. Even though she’s human, she’s known about the supernatural world ever since she adopted me. She knew I wasn’t human, but she accepted that.
Tell her that she drew me magic for my birthday.
He repeats it and my mum’s eyes widen. “Tell me something else.”
I rack my brain for something only she will know. When something comes to mind, I chuckle.
“She says she believed that haggis were real until she was in her early teens.”
Mum smiles and opens the door. “Come on in.”
Andrew follows her into our living room. On the way, she shouts up the staircase for my dad to come down quickly.
“Would you like some tea?” Oh how I love my mum. Offering tea to a demon. Not that she knows… but she’d probably do the same if she knew. That’s just the way she is.
Andrew shakes his head, making me slightly dizzy.
A moment later, my dad enters the room, a bathrobe slung around his thin body. Just like my mum, he looks like he’s not had much sleep recently. His face isn’t as clean shaven as I’m used to either. What’s going on with them?
“What’s going on?”
“He’s here for Wyn,” mum tells him excitedly. “He’s got a… mental link with her, he said?”
Andrew nods. “She’s watching you right now. She can see and hear through me.”
“Impossible,” my father says with the frown usually reserved for his students.
“He knows things only Wyn would know,” mum is quick to reassure him. “Let’s hear him out.”
With a sceptical grumble, dad sits down across from Andrew, scrutinising him.
Tell them that I miss them.
“She says she misses you.”
Mum smiles. “Tell her we miss her too.”
Are they alright?
“She wants to know if you are alright.”
“A lot has happened since she left,” my mother sighs. “There have been strange—”
“Don’t tell him, he could be one of them,” dad interrupts. “You may have convinced my wife, but you’re yet to prove to me that Wyn is with you.”
He adds vanilla to his pancakes. He always makes them for my birthday.
“You make vanilla pancakes for your daughter’s birthday,” Andrew says and my father’s eyes widen.
“How much vanilla per pancake?”
One pinch of
ground vanilla.
A smile spreads on my dad’s face when Andrew repeats my words. Good, now that both of them are convinced that it’s really me talking to them, we can start to talk properly.
Ask mum what she was going to say.
“We’re being watched,” my mum says before Andrew even has the chance to speak. “They follow us wherever we go. We’ve had phone calls where someone was whispering gibberish. And we’ve received these letters…”
Dad gets up and takes a stack of letters from the mantlepiece. He hands one of them to Andrew who slowly unfolds it.
WE’RE WATCHING YOU.
That’s all it says but it makes a shiver run over my back.
My father gives Andrew a second letter.
SHE WILL KILL YOU.
Who is she? I ask no one in particular. I don’t expect Andrew to know. Arc gives me a mental hug and I wish it was a real one.
Andrew reads a final letter.
INVITE WYNTER OR YOU WILL DIE.
“Of course, even if we’d known how to contact you, we wouldn’t have asked you to visit,” my mum hurries to say. “But you’re not here in person so I’m sure they won’t know it’s you.”
They’re using my parents as bait. Anger boils up in me. Someone is threatening my parents just to get to me. That’s unforgivable.
Ask them if they’ve ever seen one of the people watching them, Arc tells Andrew.
“At night, we sometimes see glowing eyes outside,” mum says with a shudder. “They’re all around the house, even in the garden. We no longer go outside after dark. At the beginning we called the police, but they never found anyone sneaking around. And nobody has ever tried to come into the house.”
Andrew suddenly gets up.
“That’s because we can’t enter without being invited in.”
He stretches out his hands and fiery ropes shoot towards my parents, wrapping around them, tying them up in seconds. They both scream in pain as the ropes burn their skin. I’m screaming too, shouting at Andrew to stop, to end this madness, but all he does is laugh as he watches my parents slump to the ground.
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