An Unseelie Understanding

by Amy Sumida

  As soon as Drostan had slid his ring upon my finger, he began to treat me as an equal. I had climbed a rung above consort and become a fiance. As Drostan's betrothed, I was given respect on a whole different level. I was about to become Queen of Unseelie, and that was huge. From slave to monarch; I had impressed the entire court with my leap in status. And then there was Drostan; he became shockingly romantic, and every intimate moment with him had shifted into something profound.

  Ironically enough, Drostan's sincere affections lessened his hold on me. Without the crazy bouts of savage sex, my body became less and less dependent on him. I began to return to myself; the lust haze finally clearing.

  Just in time for my wedding.

  Drostan had begun wedding preparations the very next morning, following the Cu-sidhe revelation. He was eager to see us joined. There was wedding attire to be made, a feast to be planned, and a castle to adorn. The entire Kingdom would be coming to the castle to see their king wed, and the castle would have to provide for the people. Drostan controlled every aspect of the wedding; from the ceremony down to my underwear. I didn't have a single decision to make, though I did have some responsibilities. Our wedding officiant would be Drostan's highest ranking noble; a male sidhe who was also a Duke of Unseelie. He was Drostan's cousin; Percival. I'm not kidding; that was his name.

  Before the ceremony, Percival wanted to prepare me for my role in the ritual. He met with me the day before to go over the procedure and answer any questions that I might have. We were in Drostan's library with him; Drostan didn't leave me alone with any man. Percival had got to the part of the ritual where Drostan and I would be cutting our palms and mingling our blood, and I had paled.

  “It's the strongest magic we know,” Drostan said gently. “Blood magic. It will bind us together forever.”

  I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Oh.”

  “We should remove the previous binding now, Your Majesty,” Percival suggested.

  I blinked in surprise. “What?”

  “You cannot be bound in blood with an Understanding such as the one between you and my king already holding you,” Percival explained. “A blood bond must be entered willingly.”

  “Oh,” I whispered again.

  “It will be all right,” Drostan assured me; as if I were worried about our Understanding being broken.

  The opposite was true; I was internally rejoicing. At the same time, an even greater magic loomed on the horizon. But for one day, I would be free; and a day could bring a lot of changes. Wait; what was I thinking? Would I really risk all I'd accomplished with Drostan on an escape? If he caught me, I'd go right back to being a slave. Even worse, I expect. Drostan couldn't let that kind of humiliation stand. He'd probably kill me.

  No; I couldn't risk it. I'd have to enjoy my day of freedom and then bind myself to Drostan forever.

  “Riley, are you ready?” Drostan asked gently.

  “I think so,” I whispered. “Do I need to do anything?”

  “Take my hand.” Drostan held his hand out to me, and I took it. “Now, I'm going to say the necessary words to release my end of the Understanding, and you will repeat them to finish the break. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “This Understanding is concluded,” Drostan said. “All ties are broken.”

  He nodded to me.

  I repeated his words, and a rush of energy went sizzling through me. I gasped and stared at Drostan in shock.

  “That was it?” I asked.

  “That was it,” he confirmed. Drostan turned to Percival. “Thank you, Duke Percival, I think Riley is prepared for tomorrow.”

  “You're welcome, Your Majesty,” Percival said as he stood. “And may your wedding be a day to remember.”

  “I'm sure it shall,” Drostan said smugly. He turned back to me as Percival left the room. “Are you all right, sweetheart?”

  “Yes; I'm fine,” I said with more strength than I'd felt in awhile.

  I had no idea that our Understanding had weakened me so much; both mentally and physically. I felt as if I'd had the best night's sleep of my life. I was ready to conquer the world... and marry a fairy king.

  “Do you still love me?” Drostan asked teasingly, but I saw the glimmer of concern in his eyes.

  “Of course I do,” I whispered sincerely as I stood. I slipped onto his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I love you even more now. I feel invigorated.”

  “The Understanding had an oppressive component,” he murmured. “I'm sorry for that.”

  “It doesn't matter anymore,” I said brightly. “Tomorrow we'll belong to each other forever, and the past will fade away.”

  “Tomorrow is too far away,” Drostan said with deep intensity. “I need you now. I need you to prove to me that you're still mine.”

  “Whatever you want, Drostan,” I said sweetly.

  “Take off your clothes,” he growled.

  I blinked in surprise, but stood and started removing the layers of clothing I wore. Drostan's eyes followed my every move. He stood as I got to my underwear, and started removing his clothes as well. When we were both naked, he nodded to the desk.

  “Sit on the edge of the desk and make your pussy wet for me,” he said. “I want to see how I affect you.”

  I hopped up onto the desk and smiled sensually as I rubbed my breasts and pinched my nipples with one hand as I delved into my pussy with the other. Drostan started to stroke himself as he watched me, and I set my gaze on his cock as if it were the most erotic thing I'd ever seen. I heard him moan, and I lifted my gaze to roam his muscular body. I started to sigh and wriggle my hips as I worked myself faster and faster. I was getting the ancient wood of Drostan's desk wet.

  “Lay down, put your feet up on the desk, and spread your legs wide,” Drostan commanded.

  I laid back as he approached me. Drostan's hand went to my pussy and started rubbing the moisture down to my ass. He spread it around that other hole and then worked it inside. I flinched; it had been a long time since he'd fucked my ass. Drostan still believed that I didn't like it and had been refraining from it for me. After that night when he had first taken back his body and fucked me over that barrel, I decided not to tell him about Andras and my ass. It would only enrage him. So, I had kept my mouth shut and suffered a lack of ass play for it. But perhaps now I could show him that I had changed.

  “Do you love me enough to willingly let me fuck your ass?” Drostan asked as he pumped his finger into me.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  “Even if I use this to fuck you?” He grabbed a paperweight off the desk; it was an onyx obelisk; longer and thicker than his cock and tapered to a point.

  “That looks... painful,” I murmured.

  “There are no sharp edges.” Drostan smirked. “Even the tip is rounded.”

  “But it's so big.”

  “Will you let me, Riley?” He set the point of the obelisk at my entrance.

  “Yes.”

  But Drostan moved the obelisk to my pussy and shoved it into me there. The cool stone was startling at first but quickly warmed with my heat. He started working it deep, and I moaned as it stretched me. If it was filling my pussy like that, I was afraid of what it would do to my ass.

  “I thought you were going to fuck my ass with it?”

  “I am,” he purred. “I just wanted to get it nice and wet first. I don't want to hurt you, Riley; I just want your submission.”

  Drostan pulled the obelisk out of my pussy and worked it slowly into my ass. I groaned as the width of it stretched me uncomfortably, but Drostan kept shoving it deeper until the entire length was inside me. I whimpered, but it wasn't in pain; the obelisk was exciting my nerve endings to the point where ecstasy was making my mind fuzzy. Then Drostan rubbed my clit as he sank his cock into my pussy; using his balls to keep the obelisk in place. He started to pound into me; his cock throbbing inside me as the unyielding obelisk stretched my ass—with his balls tapping against it—and his i
nsistent thumb rubbed my clit. The pressure built until I exploded into an orgasm; my pussy and ass clenching around flesh and stone. I screamed and clawed at Drostan's shoulders as I came, and he spilled himself into me with a shouting cry.

  Drostan pulled out of me slowly, then stood staring at the onyx obelisk in my ass. My legs were splayed out to the sides, my pussy was dripping with both of our juices, and Drostan smiled slowly at the view. He rubbed his hand over my pussy possessively, and then slowly pulled the obelisk out. I thought it was over, but then he slammed it back into me. I cried out as he began thrusting the obelisk in and out of my ass ferociously while he rubbed furiously at my clit. My body thrummed the desk as I came in blinding waves of pleasure, and then finally went still. Drostan leaned over and kissed my pussy tenderly as he eased the obelisk out of my ass and set it on the desk beside me; it was gleaming wet.

  “I believe you, Riley,” Drostan murmured as he lifted me into his arms. “And I love you. I will never do anything like that to you again.”

  “But what if I wanted you to?” I purred in his ear.

  Drostan's whole body jerked in shock, and then he started to smile. He quickened his pace to our bed.

  “Truly?” He asked as he set me down.

  I went to the foot of the bed and grasped the bedposts. “Cast your magic and make them hold me.”

  Drostan waved at the bedposts, and they came alive; winding around me and lifting me. They eased my legs apart but then paused.

  “Have them spread my ass cheeks for you,” I said with a sultry look over my shoulder. “And then fuck me up the ass with that beautiful cock.”

  Drostan groaned as he positioned himself behind me. He held his cock at the entrance to my ass and looked up at me in question.

  “Fuck my ass hard, Your Majesty,” I begged.

  “Oh, Goddess, Riley,” Drostan groaned as he slid his cock into me. “You're fucking incredible.”

  “So is the feeling of that slick cock in my ass,” I whispered to him. “Go deeper, darling.”

  Drostan thrust himself all the way inside me with a groan.

  “Do you want something in your pussy?” He asked as he reached around and rubbed my clit.

  “Yes, please.”

  Drostan waved a hand, and a phallic end of a wooden vine slid into my pussy. As he pounded into my ass, he drove me onto the wood and continued to circle my clit with his fingertip. Finally, Drostan set his mouth to my neck and began to suck and nip at me as we climbed back toward the apex of ecstasy.

  Cool wood in my cunt, hot flesh in my ass, an expert working of my clit, and an eager mouth at my throat; perhaps having the Unseelie King's love wasn't such a bad thing after all.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Fairy weddings were performed in the forest. It was something about being closer to their source of magic; Nature. So, Drostan and I rode out to the forest on a pair of snow-white horses; his a stallion and mine a mare. All of the Unseelie followed behind us; waving banners and throwing flowers into the air. We came to a clearing where an altar had been prepared. Percival waited for us behind the altar with a welcoming smile on his face. The scent of burning resin competed with that of blossoming flowers as we approached. The wood altar had a white cloth laid over it, and two items were on the cloth: a knife and a cup.

  Drostan dismounted and then helped me from my horse. I was dressed in a flowing gown of white silk; another nod to my human blood. Drostan was dressed in black and looked magnificent. He had a sable cloak fastened over his wide shoulders and a dress sword strapped to his hips. My cloak was white fox to match my gown, and my dainty slippers were white leather. A band of pale flowers circled my head; holding a white veil in place. The veil didn't cover my face but flowed out behind me with my train.

  Drostan and I stepped up to the altar together, but the Unseelie hung back at a respectful distance. Percival nodded and smiled at us before he said a few words of greeting to the Unseelie; a declaration of the importance of the event about to transpire. Then he began the ceremony. The words were similar to vows humans made, but had connections to magic and Nature. When it came to his part, Drostan stated his vows clearly—his stare confidently on mine—and slid a black band upon my finger.

  Then it was my turn. I repeated the words that Percival prompted me with, and then placed a black ring on Drostan's finger. Percival presented us with the chalice, and Drostan took it from him. First, Drostan offered it to me, and I drank spicy wine from it before taking the cup and offering it to Drostan. Once the sacred wine had been drunk, it was time for the final act that would magically bind us forever; the Blooding.

  Percival lifted the knife just as the sound of hundreds of hoof beats echoed through the forest. We turned in shock to see Trenton and Conall leading a Seelie army into the clearing. I gaped at the men as they reined in before us. Drostan snarled and pulled his sword as Conall leapt off his horse and did the same.

  “Care to try this again under fair conditions, King Drostan?” Conall growled as he settled into a fighting stance.

  “Get behind me, Riley,” Drostan said as he started for Conall.

  “No!” Prince Trenton shouted. “Come to me, Riley. We know the Understanding has been broken, and we've come to take you home to Seelie.”

  “What?” I gaped back and forth between the men.

  “My sister has finally given me her support,” Trenton said with a triumphant smile. “If this brings war between us, King Drostan, then so be it; I will face you on the battlefield. But I cannot live without Riley.”

  “Nor can I,” Conall added as he lifted his sword. “She belongs with us.”

  “We're nearly married, you fools!” Drostan hissed. “One more step and Riley will be mine forever.”

  “Then our timing is fortunate,” Trenton declared. “Riley, hurry!” He reached a hand out to me.

  I looked from that strong hand to Trenton's anxious face; his beloved face. I started to move toward him automatically.

  “Riley!” Drostan grabbed my arm. “You said that you love me. We've already spoken vows to each other.”

  I looked from him, to Trenton, and then to Conall.

  “I'm about to make you Queen of Unseelie!” Drostan roared. “Do not betray me now, Riley.”

  “You were cruel to me, Drostan,” I whispered. “Don't you remember?”

  Drostan's face fell, and his grip loosened. “I... I'm sorry. I was a different man then.”

  “And you made me a different woman,” I said sadly. “A woman who had to deceive to survive. I'm sorry, Drostan, but I don't love you. I said what I had to say so that you would be kinder to me.”

  “Riley,” Drostan whispered in horror. “Please don't do this.”

  “How could I love a man who deceived me and tormented me?” I was easing away from Drostan as I spoke; moving slowly toward Trenton. “There was only one man in my heart, and then I made room for another, but it's not you. I love Prince Trenton and Sir Conall. Goodbye, Drostan.”

  I made a leap for Trenton, and he grabbed my forearm to swing me up and drape me across his lap. I gathered up my train and as soon as I was secure, Trenton's horse reared, and we turned about in a circle. I saw Conall mount up—brandishing his sword in Drostan's direction as he did so—and then race after us. I clung to Trenton and laid my head on his chest as we dashed out of the clearing. My veil was torn away by the wind and trampled by the horses behind us, and it felt somehow appropriate. The Seelie knights scattered the startled Unseelie, and we galloped out toward the main road unhindered. Within minutes, we were on our way to the Seelie Kingdom.

  “Dear Goddess!” Trenton exclaimed. “I can't believe that I have you in my arms again.”

  I lifted my face to his and kissed him sweetly. “I can hardly believe it either.”

  “Nor can I,” Conall said crisply. “But let's not celebrate just yet. We need to get into Seelie as fast as possible. The Unseelie may not have had their horses with them, but it won't take long to fetch th
e beasts. They'll be on our trail soon enough.”

  “You're right, Sir Conall,” Trenton said as he set his stare ahead of us and tightened his hold on me. “We need to get our lady to safety.”

  “Are you really willing to share me with Conall?” I asked Trenton.

  “If he makes you happy, then I'm happy... as long as I have you too,” Trenton said with a soft smile. “I know that Conall's the reason you came to Tirne, and I can hardly take you from him and keep my honor.”

  “You fairies are so strange,” I said teasingly.

  “But you love us anyway,” Trenton said.

  “Well; two of you, at least.”

  “We love you too,” Conall declared. “And we will finish that ceremony you started with Drostan; except it shall be the two of us you share blood with.”

  “We will?” I asked in surprise.

  “Unless you don't wish to,” Trenton said gently. “No one is pressuring you, Riley.”

  “No; I wish to.” I smiled brilliantly and then laid back into Trenton's embrace. “I very much wish to.”

  “Then hold on tightly, my love,” Trenton said as he spurred his horse on, “and I shall give you all you desire.”

  Chapter Forty-Five

  We had just reached the Seelie border when the rear guard spotted a host of Unseelie knights approaching. I peered warily over Trenton's shoulder at the smudge on the horizon. My imagination sharpened the image into the savage soldiers of the Dark Court; riding frothy-mouthed beasts, with their vicious king in the lead. I could see his grim expression in my mind, and I knew that Drostan would not stop until he had me back. The Unseelie King was not a man to be thwarted.

  Luckily, the Seelie Queen was a brilliant tactician and had sent the rest of her army to line the border of Seelie. They closed in behind us after we made it past their ranks. Queen Tana had sent Trenton with a mounted force small enough to move quickly through Unseelie, and then had backed him with the bulk of her army. Thousands of fairy soldiers stood staring out towards Unseelie; armored and eager to cross swords with their enemies.