Emerald Queen

by L C Taylor

  The room broke into applause as Drake walked Emersyn to the center of the room. Emersyn held her head up high as she glanced around the vast space. Everyone was there. Each of the kingdom’s Queens was there, staring back at her. Sarifena looked at her like a proud big sister. Emersyn tilted her head, smiling back.

  “Now, please honor the Queen by sharing in this momentous occasion. Not only is today the coronation celebration… today she turns twenty-one.”

  Emersyn curtsied, “Thank you all for coming. Please enjoy yourself while in the Emerald Kingdom.”

  Drake led her from the center of the room. They stopped to greet the visiting queens who were crowded together at the back of the ballroom.

  “Emersyn,” Sarifena pulled her into a hug. “You look amazing.”

  “Thanks, Sarifena.” Emersyn blushed, pressing her hands down her thighs.

  “Hello, Emersyn. I am so sorry your parents aren’t here. Please know that the Diamond Kingdom will stop at nothing to bring justice to the Emerald Kingdom.” Queen Glass smiled.

  “Thank you, Dimitra, – for your support and for coming.”

  “Of course. We queens must have each other’s backs.” She tipped her wine glass at the others who were nodding in agreement.

  “And thank you, ladies, for coming.”

  Emersyn hugged each of the others. She felt so honored to have every kingdom here. It wasn’t often they were all in the same place at one time. And Emersyn had only ever met them one other time in her life.

  Emersyn noticed some of the guards moving around quickly. She turned to see one of the Ruby Kingdom guards whisper something in Drake’s ear. She raised an eyebrow in question, confused as his body went ridged.

  “What is it?”

  Drake snaked an arm around her waist, “There was word sent that someone was planning to do something tonight. Ladies,” he nodded toward the queens, “Your guards will be escorting you out of the castle to safety.”

  As Drake started to guide Emersyn away, a loud explosion rocked the ballroom. She was thrown to her knees as Drake fell to the floor beside her. Glancing behind her, she watched as the wall crumbled to the ground.

  Smoke filled the room as people ran for the exit. Drake groaned, rolling to his knees. “Emersyn,” he looked at her, “Are you hurt?”

  “No…” She crawled to him, “The others,” she pointed towards the gaping hole. He watched as several masked men stormed the ballroom. The Sapphire Queen was too busy putting out the fires with her magic to notice the danger. The Ruby Queen was crouched beside the Amethyst Queen who appeared unconscious.

  “Help them…” she stood, pulling Drake from the floor, “Drake!” Emersyn screamed as she watched one of the masked men grab the Diamond Queen.

  Dimitra raised her hands, the air wrapping around them, but the man slapped something on her wrists, halting the magic she was casting. He tossed her over his shoulder, backing out the way he came.

  Drake stumbled after them, “Get them!” He shouted at the nearby guards who were standing still stunned from the explosion.

  Emersyn watched as Sarifena dropped to her knees, the use of magic taking its toll on her. Emersyn rushed to her side, “Sarifena,”

  “I’m fine, Emersyn. Go… check Amalee.”

  Emersyn glanced at the Ruby Queen, sitting with Amalee’s head in her lap. Leaving Sarifena alone, Emersyn found herself kneeling beside them.

  “She’s…” Rory gulped, “She’s dead, Emersyn. The wall… she was closest to the wall.” Rory let out a sob.

  “No…” Emersyn pulled Amalee’s body to hers, cradling her against her chest. Her tears flowed down her face as she closed her eyes. She couldn’t take another loss. Even if Amalee wasn’t family… she was one of them.

  A queen.

  And she’d come to support Emersyn.

  “Emersyn, you’re…magic.” Rory gasped as Emersyn’s body put off a soft glow.

  Chapter 11

  Emersyn could feel the heat in her chest. The magic was alive and awake. It was flowing through her body like a river of emotion. Amalee began to stir in her lap.

  “What… happened,” confusion riddled Amalee’s voice.

  “EMERSYN!” Drake dropped to his knees beside them, “What happened?”

  “Amalee was dead.” Rory gasped, “Emersyn saved her.”

  “Your power,” Sarifena joined them on the floor, “you’ve come into full power, Emersyn.”

  “You saved me?” Amalee sat up.

  Emersyn released her, “I thought you were dead. I’ve had enough death in the last month. I…” she shook her head, “didn’t know that would happen.”

  Amalee tugged her hand into hers, “Don’t… you saved me. What the fuck happened?”

  The Amethyst Queen looked around at the carnage in the ballroom. A gaping hole was all that was remaining of the rear wall. Several guards were on the ground buried partially beneath the rubble.

  “Where are Onika and Dimitra?” Rory asked glancing around the room.

  “The Diamond Queen has been taken. I have several men searching the grounds. But it seems she is gone. I do not know where Onika is. They are searching the debris for her. She was standing beside Amalee.”

  “How the hell did they take Dimitra? She could have knocked them down with the air.” Rory rubbed her head.

  “They snapped something on her wrist. I remember now.” Emersyn closed her eyes.

  “Sir,” one of the Diamond guards approached Drake, “We found the Onyx Queen. It appears she tried to stop them from taking The Diamond Queen. They knocked her unconscious.”

  “Is she alive?”

  “Yes. The Ruby Commander has taken her to his quarters and called for the doctor. Sir,” He shifted on his feet, “There’s more.”

  “What is it?”

  “We’ve been informed someone inside the castle allowed the men on the property.”

  “Fuck.” Drake stood, pulling Emersyn to her feet, “We need to go.”

  “Go where, Drake? Look at this place.” She waved her hand, causing some of the rock to move. “What the fuck just happened?” Emersyn stared at her hand.

  “Emersyn,” the Amethyst Queen, “You control the earth. This room is now nothing but rock. You can fix the damage.”

  “What?” Emersyn stared at the other queen. It was too much to take.

  Drake placed his hand on her shoulder and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “You can do this, Emersyn. Close the hole up.”

  Emersyn closed her eyes. She could feel the magic thread in her chest. Asking herself, she begged the earth to listen. She willed the rubble to move, silently pleading for it to go back together. Her chest burned, her fingers tingled.

  A few minutes passed and Drake wrapped his arm around her waist again, “Emersyn, you can stop.”

  She opened her eyes and leaned into his body, exhaustion taking over. The entire hole was gone, if it hadn’t been for some debris on the ground, someone wouldn’t have known there had been a huge hole in the wall only moments before.

  “Come, let’s get you to your room.” Drake scooped her up.

  “Wait…” Emersyn scanned the room, “Where is Cassie?”

  “Captain Hill is with her. Don’t worry about her.”

  The other queens were being helped from the room. Drake nodded to several of the guards, “There are plenty of rooms for them to rest. Traveling in the dark is probably not a good idea. The guards from all kingdoms have been informed to secure the castle.”

  Emersyn couldn’t fight the sleep, she pressed her head against his chest and gave into the darkness as he carried her from the disaster area.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Drake carried Emersyn into her room and laid her on the bed. After speaking with the guard outside, he locked them in for the night. He wasn’t going to leave Emersyn’s side. Stripping off his uniform, leaving him only in boxers, Drake sat on the bed beside her. She was out cold.

  Using her magic had taken a toll on he
r. Emersyn didn’t budge. She was out cold on top of the covers. Carefully, Drake slipped her shoes off. He unpinned the crown that was still, impressively, attached to her head. Drake slowly untied the dress’s sash and slid the silky material down her shoulders. He took a deep breath, reminding himself to behave like a gentleman.

  Carefully he wiggled the fabric down, leaving her in only her panties and bra. Faster than he thought imaginable, he pulled the cover over her naked legs and pulled it over her sensuous body.

  Drake stood, easing around the massive bed and climbed in beside her. Staying on his back, he willed himself to fall asleep. He needed to be there to protect her, not take advantage of her.

  Chapter 12

  Emersyn felt like she was burning up. Shifting her body, she realized she was pressed against something in her bed. Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she was surprised to find herself wrapped around a body.

  A very large, chiseled body. Her eyes traced the defined muscles of his stomach, coming to rest on none other than, Drake – and he was sound asleep.

  Emersyn pressed her cheek against his shoulder, snuggling herself against him harder. She didn’t want to move – he felt so nice pressed against her skin.

  Wait… she realized she was nearly naked. Lifting the sheet, she realized he was also nearly naked. The only thing they were wearing was their underwear.

  “Looking for something?” Drakes deep voice startled Emersyn, causing her to drop the sheet.

  “What?”

  “Good morning, Emersyn.”

  Drake started to move away from her, but Emersyn wrapped a leg around him, halting him in place.

  “Wait… don’t move. Why are we in bed together?”

  “After you used your magic, you passed out. I put you to bed.”

  “Naked?”

  “You’re not naked.”

  “Might as well be,” Emersyn wiggled, eliciting a growl from Drake.

  “Emersyn…” He froze, “What are you doing?”

  “I…” she shifted, leaning on her elbow so she could see his face. “I don’t want to get up yet. Stay with me, please?”

  “It’s probably not a good idea for me to stay in this bed with you barely clothed, Emersyn. I won’t be able to keep my hands off you.”

  “Maybe that’s what I want.”

  “Emersyn,” Drake rolled, so his body was covering hers.

  Emersyn ground her pelvis into him, “Please.”

  Drake pressed his hardness into her, grinding his body closer, “Are you sure, Emersyn? Once I start… there will be no stopping.”

  “I’m sure, Drake. I want you.”

  The early morning light filtered through the massive window, bathing his body in a light orange glow. Emersyn ran her fingers through his cropped hair, tugging his head to hers as she took his lips against hers.

  Drake kissed his way down, stopping to suck on the tender flesh below her ear. Emersyn writhed beneath him, her sounds driving him mad.

  “Emersyn, slow down, baby.”

  “Please… I…” she grunted, thrusting her hips against his firm erection.

  “I know… but we have to take this slow. I need to get you ready for me.” He eased his body down, licking and biting her soft skin. He cupped her breast, flicking the lacy fabric to the side as he took her nipple into his mouth.

  “Oh, God.” Emersyn cried out, her hands fisting the sheet.

  Drake smiled against her pink bud, blowing air against her erect nipple. He eased his way between her legs, hooking his thumbs in her panties as he slowly edged them down.

  “What are you doing?” Emersyn sat up. Her legs naturally clamping shut around him.

  “Relax, Emersyn. I’m going to take care of you.”

  Emersyn relaxed her legs, unsure of Drake’s intentions. But as his lips pressed against the inside of her thigh, she knew. He was going to kiss her in her most intimate place.

  “Drake,” Emersyn whispered.

  “Do you want me to stop?” Drake lifted his head, peering into her eyes.

  “I…” She glanced toward the wall. Emersyn was glad he couldn’t see her clearly, or he’d see the embarrassing blush covering her skin. “I’ve never done this.”

  “I know, baby. I promise I’ll make you feel good. If something doesn’t feel right, just say and I will stop. But I have to get you ready for me, or it will hurt.”

  Emersyn nodded, “Ok. I trust you.”

  Those three words made his dick harden to steel. This beautiful woman was giving him something precious. His tongue connected with the soft flesh of her inner thigh. He trailed his way to the outside of her center. Swiping his tongue across her pink lips, Emersyn let out a moan.

  Drake took that as permission to feast on her flesh and dove in. He flicked his tongue through her folds, hammering it in and out. Emersyn wiggled beneath him, responding to every move of his mouth. Drake added a finger, stretching her walls as he sucked and bit at her lips. He could feel the moment she exploded. Her walls quivered, locking down on his finger as she screamed out. Adding a second finger, he scissored her opening, lapping up her juice as he did. Kissing the inside of her leg, Drake withdrew his fingers. He watched Emersyn as he licked her honey from his digits.

  “You’re ready. You sure you want this?” He fisted his dick he positioned himself between her legs.

  “Yes. Please…” Emersyn clawed at his arms, trying to pull him closer.

  Drake pressed himself between her folds and eased the tip inside. Pulling out, he eased back in a little further.

  “Drake…” Emersyn moaned, “Don’t stop.”

  Drake tried to ease himself inside her, but her body tightened, sucking him deep. He pressed forward, feeling the resistance of her virginity, and paused.

  “Are you ready? It’ll hurt for a minute… but after,”

  “YES…” Emersyn cut him off, “Do it already.”

  Drake chuckled, pulled back and thrust through her barrier.

  He stilled.

  Being buried deep inside her for the first time felt unreal. “God you’re tight, I need to move, Emersyn. You good?”

  “Stop asking and move… PLEASE.”

  Emersyn begged just as he began moving his hips. Drake started slow, but soon found a rhythm that was sending Emersyn near the edge. Her body tensed as her womb clamped down on his rock-hard member. Squealing, she dug her nails into his shoulders.

  “That’s it, Em. Let go for me.”

  Drake pounded relentlessly, driving himself higher and higher until he could feel the familiar tingle in his balls. He was close to release.

  “Come for me one more time.” He changed his angle, digging his cock into the depths of her core.

  Emersyn started to tense, “Oh… I’m going to come, Drake.”

  Drake took that as a sign, twisting and gyrating his ass, drawing her orgasm out. She arched her back, screaming out his name as his own release burst from his body. He shook, his seed spilling deep inside her as he let go. Spent, Drake collapsed beside her, tugging her into his arms. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, “That was…”

  “Wow…” Emersyn giggled, “ I had no idea it was like that. Is it always that good?”

  “No… it’s different with you, Emersyn. It’s unreal.” Drake kissed her again and slipped from the bed, “Wait here.”

  He rushed to the joined bathroom and emerged carrying a towel. With a delicate touch, he cleaned her thighs and legs. Pressing a kiss to her belly, “Let’s try to sleep.”

  “What if I want to do that again?” Emersyn smiled.

  Laughing, “Baby… we can do that as many times as you want – but you need to rest or it’ll just cause you to be sore. Plus, we need to get up and meet with the other queens.”

  “Poo.” She pretended to pout. “Well…” she stood, letting the sheet slip from her body, “Maybe you could help me in the shower.”

  Drake shook his head. He was smart enough to know they would be doing more than just shower
ing. He was pretty sure he’d just created a monster.

  Chapter 13

  Emersyn tried to hide the smile from her face when they entered the dining room. Everyone was seated around the massive table waiting for her. She was pleased to see Onika seated at the table.

  “Onika,” Emersyn went to the queens side and bent down to hug her, “I am so glad you’re ok. I assume they have briefed you on everything?”

  “Thank you, Emersyn.” Onika gave her a half-hearted smile. “I wish I hadn’t been knocked out. I could have helped… maybe I could have stopped…”

  She was cut off by Amalee, “Don’t, Onika. You cannot blame yourself. Whoever took Dimitra had this all planned out.”

  “She’s right.” Luca Holsten, Commander of the Ruby kingdom, glanced her way. “The only person to blame for this is the monster who took her.”

  “Do we have any leads?” Commander Fritz directed his question toward Drake.

  “There has been no ransom request or any demands.”

  “What about the letter?” Fritz asked.

  “Letter?” Emersyn glanced around the table, “What is he talking about? I thought you said there was no ransom.”

  “I was going to tell you after the ball,” Drake stiffened, “We received a letter, with photos of you attached to it, several days ago.”

  “And you’re just now telling me?” Emersyn stood abruptly, knocking her chair to the floor. “What if it could have stopped this from happening?”

  The others stood, “Perhaps we should leave you two, to talk this over.” The Sapphire Queen rose, “Commander Meyer, please send word once you know something. I must get back to my kingdom.”

  “Emersyn,” Amalee tugged Emersyn’s hand into hers, “I owe you my life, literally.”

  Emersyn squeezed it, “I have lost enough people, Amalee – I wasn’t going to lose you too. Even if we don’t know each other that well.”

  “Well, let’s change that. Come to the Amethyst Kingdom and spend some time with me.”

  “Of course,” Emersyn smiled.

  “And Emersyn,” Amalee held her gaze, “Don’t be too angry at him. He was trying to give you something normal. Not telling you about the letter wasn’t done to hide something.”