by Amy Sumida
I screamed out in rapture as he emptied into me again.
Just as Kaden came—with powerful jerks of his tail—I began to have trouble breathing. He saw my distress and rapidly took us to the surface. Once there, Kaden swam us to the shore and laid me back on the soft grass. I sighed as air filled my lungs; stretching my arms languorously over my head as Kaden smiled down at me.
“Thank you, Riley,” he said. “That was the most amazing sex I've had in years.”
“It was pretty amazing,” I agreed with a smile.
Kaden settled his body between my legs and lowered his mouth to my breast. He began to lazily lave my nipples before sucking on each one. I wrapped my legs around his waist, held his head to me, and laid back; closing my eyes and relaxing in the sunshine as I ground my slit against his. I fully intended on rubbing him until he came out to play again.
“You fucking whore!” Drostan shouted as he grabbed me by the arm and drug me out from beneath Kaden.
My eyes shot open, and I saw Drostan's angry face glaring down at me. I glanced back at the water and saw Kaden gaping at us.
“You'll pay for lying to me, merman,” Drostan growled as his palm started to fill with light.
“Go!” I shouted to Kaden. “Leave me; I'll be fine!”
Kaden scowled—obviously torn—but finally dove into the water and fled. A bolt of light shot out from Drostan's palm and skimmed the surface of the pool right where Kaden had been.
“Protecting your lover?” Drostan snarled as he wrestled me to his horse.
“He was only protecting me from you!” I shouted back.
“You don't need protection from me,” Drostan snapped. “That is; not until now.”
He pulled a leather collar out of his saddlebag and strapped it around my neck. As soon as it was fastened, I went weak, and my will to leave him vanished.
“Who is your master?” Drostan demanded angrily.
“You are,” I said immediately.
“That's better.” He took a deep breath and calmed himself. “It seems as if I must make that clearer to you, Riley.”
Drostan helped me onto the back of his black stallion and then climbed into the saddle behind me. I was completely naked; my clothing down the river on some other shore. But Drostan didn't wrap me in his cloak; he held me before him like a war prize and didn't bother to cover me at all. When we rode up to Castle Unseelie, several soldiers were waiting for us and got a nice eyeful of my nudity.
“Call off the search,” Drostan said to them. “I've found her.”
Drostan pulled me off the horse and dragged me into the castle. The Unseelie stopped to stare lasciviously at me as we passed by, but I couldn't bring myself to care. The collar was sending out submissive pulses; making me accept whatever happened. Drostan took me into his bedroom and slammed the door shut behind us.
“I don't understand why you left, Riley,” he growled. “I thought there was something between us. But now that you've publicly defied me, I must publicly punish you. You have brought this upon yourself.”
He went to a wooden chest and tossed the lid open. After rummaging through it, he came back with a pair of objects. One looked like a polished penis, and the other was a shorter version of the first. They were both made of a blue gemstone.
“Go to the bed and bend over,” he commanded. “Then spread your legs and pull your ass cheeks apart.”
I obeyed without thought; laying over the mattress and spreading my legs before I spread my ass. Drostan came up behind me and thrust the bigger object into my pussy.
“You're still fucking slick with his cum,” he growled as the phallus started to slip out. “You goddess-damned traitor.” He shoved the stone deeper in, and then pushed the smaller item up my ass. “Get up, and don't let those fall out or it will go worse for you.”
I stood and turned to face him. Drostan narrowed his cerulean stare at me and then went back to the chest. He returned with two sets of manacles. He strapped one set on my wrists and the other around my ankles. Then Drostan wrapped my hair into a bun on the top of my head and secured it with a comb.
“We don't want anything getting in the way of the view,” Drostan growled as he grabbed my hand.
The Unseelie King strode angrily through the halls of the castle; dragging me with him. I clenched down on the stone phalluses; trying to keep them inside me as I walked, which was difficult with Drostan jerking me along. As we passed through the corridors, fairies gathered behind us. They followed us to the dining hall, where Drostan shouted for the cross to be brought forth. I had no idea what that meant, but as he fumed, I waited patiently for it. The room started to fill with eager fairies; all watching me hungrily as they licked their lips. Then a pair of redcaps rolled in a platform with wooden beams on it. The beams were set into an X formation, and there were hooks at each point.
Drostan took me onto the platform and hooked my wrists to the upper points and my ankles to the lower. I was spread as far as I could be; every intimate part of my body on full display. And then Drostan pushed the X back. I felt a small surge of adrenaline as I fell, but then the cross hovered in the air, and the wooden platform was pulled away. I floated there and spun slowly so that the whole room could get a good look.
“Here lies my traitorous concubine!” Drostan declared. “She has forgotten her place, and I need you to remind her of it. You may touch her, but you may not penetrate her with anything other than the objects I've already placed inside her. Begin.”
I had one last glimpse of Drostan's face before a swarm of fairies descended on me. He looked heartbroken and lowered his gaze to the floor as if he couldn't bear to watch. Hands and mouths descended with greedy grins and grasping fingers. The first eager touches fell upon my body; soft strokes and cruel kneading. Then the hot breath of a redcap warmed my pussy as his mouth opened and lowered over me. His massive fingers parted my pussy as his thick tongue crept out of his mouth.
“Stop!” Drostan's voice rang out, and everyone froze. “Get off her!” He elbowed his way through the crowd, and when he reached me, he shoved the fairies away from me with a snarl. Even the redcap went flying. “That's enough! I said get off her!”
“But we haven't even touched her yet, Your Majesty.” The redcap grumbled; his hungry stare still locked on my pussy.
Drostan ignored him and undid my manacles as his fairies watched in shock and horror. He left the steel restraints on the cross and picked me up.
“I'm sorry, Riley,” he whispered as he cradled me to his chest and rushed from the room. “I'm so sorry.”
Drostan carried me into his chambers; shutting and locking the door behind us. Then he went straight to the bathroom. First, he removed the phalluses and then he sat me on a stool as he ran the bath water. Drostan was visibly shaken, and his movements were jerky. As the water rushed into the tub, he braced his hands against the rim and hung his head.
“Have you completely unmanned me?” He whispered.
I just sat there and stared at him complacently. Drostan glanced back at me and groaned. He pushed away from the tub to unbuckle the collar and then tossed it into a corner with an angry cry. I gasped as my will returned and a shivering took hold. I wrapped my arms around myself and moaned as the shock settled in. Drostan began to rub my arms.
“Here, let me help you into the bath,” he offered as he lifted me.
I got into the tub and sighed as the water rose over me and warmed the chill from my bones. It relaxed me and the tight hold I'd had on my emotions. I began to cry softly; wondering where Trenton was. Was he still searching for me? Was he worried? Scared? Or had Drostan notified Queen Tana that I had been found? Would I ever see my lover again? Or was this my life now?
“Damn you!” Drostan snarled as he grabbed me and pulled me to him. He hugged me tightly over the rim of the tub; letting his clothing get soaked in the process. “Damn you for making me want you despite your duplicity, and damn you for making a fool of me before my court. They will never res
pect me now. I've made it clear that I care more for you than I do for their opinion of me. And you knew! You knew that I felt this way about you. So, why, Riley?” He pushed me away and shook me. “Why would you run from me? And why go with Conall of all people?”
“I didn't run from you.” I sniffed and blinked. “I woke up on Conall's horse. He said that you had given me to him; that you were developing feelings for me, and you needed me to go away for a little while so you could get over them.”
“Go away?” Drostan whispered as his eyes narrowed. “That son of a bitch!” He shouted. “He must have used the secret passages.”
“What?” I frowned at him.
Drostan blinked and then cleared his throat. “There are hidden ways out of and into this room. I believe that Conall used them to steal you from me.”
“So, you didn't send me away?” I gaped at him.
“And you didn't run from me,” he whispered.
Drostan smiled softly and pulled me into a hug. I fought him violently, and he let go in surprise.
“You think that you can just hug me and it will all be better?” I shouted. “After what you just did to me?”
“I found you fucking a merman, Riley!”
“I had to,” I huffed.
“You had to?”
“It's a long story,” I growled. “But it all started when you highhandedly sent for me.”
“Conall sent me a message that you had convinced him to take you to Seelie and hide you there,” Drostan growled. “I had searched the woods for you for weeks, and finally I knew where you were. Of course, I sent for you. I had to stop myself from going after you personally.”
“But I was happy there,” I whispered.
“You were happy as a Seelie slave?” He gaped at me.
“Conall tried to make me his slave, but the Queen took me from him and gave me to her brother,” I said. “He's a good man, and I love him.”
“You what?” Drostan whispered.
“I love him,” I said more firmly. “That's why I ran when you sent for me. Trenton helped me escape, and then he was going to find me in the forest, but I got lost.”
“Trenton,” Drostan murmured. “You and Prince Trenton were together?”
“That's right,” I growled. “And he would never toss me to his court to punish me. Queen Tana doesn't allow her slaves to be abused. Even if I hadn't been with Trenton, I'd still fare better with the Seelie than I would here.”
“The Seelie can be vicious in more subtle ways,” Drostan muttered. “I'm sorry, Riley. I'm sorry that I punished you when you were innocent, but I was functioning under the information I was fed, and I was...”
“What?” I snapped.
“I was hurt,” he admitted. “Don't you know? Can't you see? I love you, Riley.”
I went still.
“I know that you think you love Prince Trenton, but he's famous for his disregard of women. He would have tossed you aside eventually.”
“No, he wouldn't have,” I protested. “He even told his sister that he loved me. Trenton tried to keep me, but Queen Tana said that you threatened to go to war with Seelie if I wasn't returned.”
“What?” Drostan hissed. “Prince Trenton declared his love for you to his sister? No, that's not possible. Trenton only loves two people; Tana and himself.”
“He's changed,” I said. “Or rather, he has found the strength to be himself.”
“No one can change that much,” Drostan growled.
“You act as if you know him,” I huffed.
“I did,” he snapped. “Once.”
“It doesn't matter,” I said. “I know I'm stuck with you, and I'll accept that, but don't expect me to give you what is already gone. You lost your chance at my heart when you threw me to your court like scraps to your dogs.”
I got up in a surge of water, snatched up a towel, and stomped out of the bathroom. After I dried off, I climbed into bed naked and curled up on my side. I heard Drostan come into the bedroom a moment later, but he didn't get into bed with me. I didn't care. Perhaps it hadn't been his fault that I had ended up in Seelie, but he chose to react the way he did when he found me. It didn't matter that he stopped the attack before it started; he had intended to give me to them. Drostan had destroyed any small piece of affection I may have had for him with that cruel intention. I may not be able to be faithful to Prince Trenton, but he was the only man I loved, and my heart would be his until the day I died. Even if I never saw his handsome face again.
Chapter Thirty-One
The next morning, Drostan was gone. A silent fairy woman came in with a breakfast tray for me and deposited it on the dining table before she left. As I was eating, Hugo dropped onto the table.
“Well, you've made a right mess of things,” he noted as he helped himself to a strawberry.
“You are functioning under false information,” I said before sipping my tea. “I did not run away; Conall kidnapped me.”
“Yeah; I know that,” he said.
“What?”
“King Drostan had to explain why he stopped your punishment so soon,” Hugo said. “He informed the whole court that as they began, he found a letter in his pocket from Conall.”
“He what?” I scowled.
“King Drostan produced the letter, and we all recognized Sir Conall's seal,” Hugo went on. “It saved our king from a mutiny; I'll tell you what.”
“I think mutiny only applies to ships,” I muttered.
“Whatever.” Hugo rolled his eyes as he plopped down on the table. “It saved his ass from disgrace and rebellion. But I know that the King didn't sleep in his bed last night, and that is another type of disgrace. What did you do?”
“I was angry that he tossed me to his court like that!” I nearly shouted. “You saw what he did. Drostan strung me up and let those savages assault me!”
“For like ten seconds,” Hugo huffed. “They barely touched you.”
“They were going to,” I growled. “He even gave them guidelines for how they could do it, Hugo.”
“Yeah, okay,” Hugo gave in. “Still; the King didn't know that you were kidnapped. He thought you had betrayed him. His reaction was appropriate. In fact, most of us thought that it was lenient... or at least it would have been, had he let it happen.”
“Letting his entire court sexually assault me was lenient?” I hissed.
“He should have killed you,” Hugo went serious. “That's what most kings would have done to a traitorous concubine.”
I went still.
“But I was innocent,” I whispered.
“Again; he didn't know that,” Hugo said gently. “It's lucky for you that he cares so much for you... and that you saved his life. It gave him an excuse not to take yours.”
“Jesus,” I whispered. “This place is so fucked up.”
“It's the Unseelie Court.” Hugo shrugged.
“Tell me something, Hugo,” I said suddenly. “What does 'Aja' mean?”
“You don't know?” Hugo chuckled. “I heard him say it to you once, but I figured that he had explained it to you.”
“He didn't,” I growled. “What does it mean?”
“Ease up, bitchy face,” Hugo huffed. “It's nothing bad. Aja is a term of endearment; something you call your lover. Loosely translated, it means 'beloved.'”
“Beloved,” I whispered.
“Yep.” Hugo smirked. “I told you that you fucked up. You have a chance to be someone important to our king and our kingdom, and you're blowing it.”
“Where did Drostan sleep last night?” I asked as I tried not to let on how much that word had affected me.
“His library,” Hugo said. “I'm the only one who knows; I didn't spread the news because I like our king. And I happen to like you too.”
“Thanks,” I said with a smile. “I like you too; you're my only friend.”
“Which is why I'm reminding you of your tenuous position here,” he went on. “You had your temper tantrum, now get over
it, little girl. Drostan holds your life in his hands, and you've just used up your only free pass. You must return to being the obedient concubine again.”
“I know,” I sighed. “I don't think I'm even mad at him anymore.”
“Now that you know what his alternatives were?” Hugo asked with a lifted brow.
“Yeah.” I swallowed roughly. “But, Hugo, I've fallen in love with someone else.”
“What?” Hugo's eyes went wide. “When did you fall in... oh. He's a Seelie.”
“He's their prince,” I whispered.
“Prince Trenton?” Hugo whistled. “Then it's a good thing you were returned to us because Trenton doesn't like women. Most of us think he's secretly into men.”
“He just needed a certain type of woman,” I said.
“You tricky little human!” Hugo exclaimed. “You snagged the Prince of Seelie!”
“Maybe.” I smiled a little. “But now I'll never see him again.”
Hugo went pensive for a few minutes. I used the time to eat some of my breakfast before he could hack at it.
“Royal fairies are hard to shake,” he finally said in a grim tone. “You saw how it went with King Drostan; Prince Trenton will no doubt find a way to get to you as well.”
I started to smile.
“Stop that!” He hissed. “Can't you see how bad that will go? King Drostan will never give you up. If Prince Trenton comes for you, our king will refuse to even speak to him. That will be an offense that Queen Tana will not be able to abide. We will go to war with Seelie all because the royals of Tirne are addicted to that little, human pussy of yours.”
Hugo and I stared at each other as the weight of war settled upon us.
“So, what do I do?”
“You have to convince both of them that you don't love Trenton anymore,” Hugo declared.
“It will destroy Trenton,” I whispered as I shook my head. “No; I won't do it.”
“If you don't, it will destroy Tirne.”
Chapter Thirty-Two