Just as quickly as he’d done it, he disappeared. She rose from the water, peering around the room at the empty space. She rose, stepping from the tub into the silence of the room. Once dressed for bed, she sat on it, staring at the empty side. No matter what had happened, she hated losing Lara, and yet she felt her downstairs, bonding with her newfound family as surely as she felt her heart slowly cracking in fractured pieces. Walking away by choice was easier than knowing Lara would choose them and to be among them. And why wouldn’t she? They could give her everything, and Lilith only had this place, this empty palace to offer her sister.
The candles in the room extinguished as she rested her head against the pillows, refusing to feel sorry for herself. Life had a way of knocking the ground out from beneath you, and she wasn’t any different. Today, though, today had rocked her fucking foundation and left her trembling on unsteady ground. She felt as if she’d become lost in something the Court of Nightmares had attacked her with.
The door opened, and she sat up, watching as Asrian strolled in. He was dressed in nothing more than sweatpants that hugged his form snugly, doing little to hide the bulge that she’d only moments ago been touching her most intimate places with.
“I don’t care if you plan to starve me, my sweet heathen queen, but I’m not leaving your bed. You don’t have to touch me; hell, you don’t have to want me here, but I’m here, and you’re my wife. Most men wouldn’t think twice about feeding elsewhere, but I’m not most men. So for a year, I’m yours, and you’re mine, and we will be faithful to the vows we took before the Gods and Goddesses. So, you’ve been warned. If you touch another man, I will make your life hell, and his will end. You can promise me the same fate, but I doubt you’d care either way.”
“Get in bed, I’m exhausted, and you’re ruining my beauty sleep, Asrian.”
“Not heathen king? That’s progress.”
“No, it’s not heathen king, sleep.”
“You got a smart little mouth, you know that, right?” he chuckled.
“So I’ve been told.”
Chapter 10
Lilith awoke being crushed to death. Something hot and heavy was crushing the air from her lungs as it pressed against her. She pushed at it, prying her tired eyes open to peer up over at the giant Fae who held her. She lifted her body, staring down at the giant brute that was larger than anything she’d ever imagined him to be. He looked peaceful, almost…normal in sleep. She silently took in the sinewy curves of his muscles, the ripple of washboard abs that bespoke of strength.
She inhaled the masculine scent he exuded. Before she could think better of it, she lowered her nose to his chest, inhaling of his unique scent. Her lips pressed against his flesh, slowly exploring the contour of it as her hair trailed over it. Lilith exhaled as a soft moan of desire escaped.
“You’re molesting me in my sleep?” a sleepy tone filled the room, and Lilith lifted a guilty stare to the man she’d been exploring languidly, haphazardly against her better judgment. “No, no, continue. I’m here for your pleasure, wife. Take it in, it’s all yours.”
“I…I…fuck,” she groaned as she lifted her body to her knees, staring down at his amused smirk as his sleepy eyes took in her oversized nightgown. “You were crushing me in your sleep.”
“So you decided to sniff and molest me?” he shrugged as he rested his hands behind his head in a lazy, relaxed pose. “Sounds legit, I mean, when I’m being crushed, my response is to sniff my prey first, fight later. Having all the strategic information about my crusher is important,” he mused.
“You’re making fun of me?” she asked as she fought against the smile that tried to tip the corners of her lips. “Whatever, you smell…nice,” she admitted. “Different than other males,” her voice came out throaty, husky, and sounded like it belonged to someone else.
“You’ve spent a lot of time sniffing other men? No wonder you prefer to remain here, what would the rumors be if the queen went around sniffing everyone?” he chuckled.
She placed her red face into her hands and shook her head. “I’ve never sniffed anyone else before, nor have I woken up next to anyone other than my sister. I also tasted you, so there’s that if you want to throw it at me.” She dropped her hands and chuckled, staring at him as a smile played over her face and his went still, staring up at her as if something was wrong. “What?”
“You’re fucking beautiful, but when you smile, you’re fucking stunning,” he admitted as he continued to look at her, his hand lifted, brushing over her cheek gently as he watched her smile fade.
“Thank you,” she muttered, embarrassed at his compliment. It was something she hadn’t had many of since the Night Court was filled with blonde beauties with matching eyes and then there was her, darkness in a court of people who shone beautifully beneath the moon that fed them power.
“This is where you tell me how fucking handsome I am,” he explained as her eyes rounded and she continued to stare at him.
“You’re…” she stopped as she swallowed deeply and frowned.
“Wow, okay then. I know I’m not pretty like Cailean or Tor, but I didn’t think I was that bad,” he laughed.
“You’re rough, which is different considering you’re Fae. You smell like spices, mixed with fire and yet there’s something else mixed into your genetics. But no, you’re not displeasing to look at. In fact, I think I like looking at you, heathen king,” she said, adding the last with a cheeky smile.
“Yeah? Wow, that’s a high compliment from you,” he laughed and then sifted. She stared at the spot he’d just been in and started to turn when he pushed her to the bed, claiming her mouth in a hard kiss that tore a deep moan from her lungs. Her nightgown vanished with his clothing, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, coming undone as his magical lips consumed her mind, as if he was literally sucking her will out through the kiss.
“Asrian,” she whispered once his lips lifted from hers and he stared down at her, silently asking permission to continue.
A knock sounded at the door, and he growled as he turned his head, staring at it. She blushed as she waited, wondering who was outside the door and how they’d explain their current state of arousal should they enter to find them like this.
“Asrian, get it done already you slow-moving fuck,” Tor shouted through the thick door. “We got things to do, and your wife’s freshly plucked lady parts were not on our list today.”
“Shut the fuck up you prick,” Asrian snapped. His eyes heated as he slowly brought them back to Lilith’s mortified face. “We’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
“You need help?” The awkwardness of the question hung in the air.
“No, Torin, I don’t need help, nor does my wife,” Asrian hissed beneath his breath as he lowered his mouth and kissed her forehead. “Pay him no heed, he’s a heathen, like me. Get dressed, we can continue this later.”
“I don’t think that is wise, not unless you want a child,” she said.
“I wouldn’t mind kids; those little monsters tend to be a pleasant surprise. My brother and his wife, they have the triplets and those little ones, they’re smart. They already sift, which is pretty unheard of at their age. But back to the point, I wouldn’t be against a child if it happens, Lilith. And I’d be around to watch it grow. I’m not the type to ignore my responsibilities.”
“One year and one day, so no kids,” she grumbled as she left the bed, leaving him to stare after her as she moved to her chest of clothes. She had a few form-fitting dresses for traveling, ones she’d had made while at the Night Court, necessary items to thrive while alone in her own court.
“And if you’re pregnant already?” he asked.
“Then we will handle it,” she supplied crisply.
The idea of being pregnant was like ice water being dumped over her head. The knowledge that he’d expect to be in the child’s life or participate was sobering. The Horde was notorious for spreading their seed wide and far, for breeding and leaving the poor mothe
rs with mutated children who no caste accepted into their court behind.
No, she wouldn’t be having any child anytime soon. She didn’t want to be stuck with the Horde breathing down her neck if what he claimed was true. It was widely known that those triplets were the key to bringing the new Horde King to his knees, and as much as she desired it, she hated the idea of the poor wee things being used to achieve it.
“Get ready,” he snapped sharply, his tone full of irritation. She closed her eyes against his heavy stare she could feel on her back. “We leave in ten minutes.”
The door slammed behind him, and the heavy weight on her chest filled with the frustration and wariness she felt. It wasn’t that she wanted to be so prickly, but it was hard to let go of the pain and fear, the unknowns and the consequences that being with him would leave on her. Cade hadn’t responded when she had warned him what was coming, he hadn’t even spoken before he’d walked away without looking back when she’d stopped to talk with him before rushing back to Lara.
Lilith had known what could happen if her father didn’t work towards the tithe, and he hadn’t. No matter what she told herself, her father was self-serving, self-indulged and uncaring who paid for his actions. His people starved at the gates to the court and instead of sharing what they had, he barred them from getting into the safety it would offer them.
She’d known the Horde would come, and when they did, they’d demand payment. Then rumors of the Summer Court being offered to give one daughter to a prince of the Horde had followed. Meaning there was an easy way out, which she knew her father would take if offered. His only focus was to keep his throne, and while he loved his children, he loved himself more. Yet she’d told herself he wouldn’t do that to her. That turned out well.
So she’d warned Cade, and no matter how much she ignored the facts, he wouldn’t be back after the year and one day; nor would anyone else. Men didn’t want the women soiled by the Horde who they viewed in the lesser courts as ruined, tarnished things.
Ten minutes later, she was dressed, with weapons hanging from her hips and a silver bow with matching quiver and arrow tips hanging from her back. Her hair was braided into one thick, dark braid that was wrapped into a bun tied to her hair by jeweled pins.
The moment she entered the hall, silence met her. Asrian turned, taking in her dress and fine weapons before he started towards the doors. Outside, there were horses saddled and ready for them to use.
“We’ll take them as far as the upper lands. Once there, we will need to sift into the Hidden Realm, where your people are,” Sinjinn announced, obviously the one used to being in charge. “After that, we need to make a stop at the Guild before returning here.”
“Guild?” Lara asked.
“It’s where we will meet with the king and queen before returning here. We have to let them know the wedding has been consummated and that there were no hiccups with it.”
“Define hiccup? I think I’m going to be a hiccup to him, and I’m not sure I’m ready to meet him and tell him I’m his sister,” Lara admitted as she turned to Lilith, who had become as white as freshly fallen snow.
Lilith’s heart lodged in her throat as she stared at Lara, and the idea of losing her struck her dumbfounded. This was happening; it wasn’t just a nightmare, it was her new reality. She was losing the one person who had loved her unconditionally, without caring that she was a mishmash of two courts packaged into one.
“Let’s get moving, shall we, ladies?” Cailean asked excitedly. He clapped his hands together, unaware of the tension between the sisters. His eyes slowly moved between them, and he frowned. His hand went to his tipped head as he scratched it. “Fairy fucks. Being Horde isn’t so bad, sis.”
Lilith expelled a shaky puff of air as she moved without thought, running from the hall to empty her stomach as the stark reality settled into her soul. Lara was Horde. She was the sister of the Horde King; sister to the monster who had sealed her fate with his generous offer. She had never felt so fucking alone in her entire life.
Chapter 11
The sun settled on the mountains, bathing the upper lands of Faery in its warming glow. Lilith hadn’t spoken, hadn’t said one single word since she’d thrown up repeatedly outside her great hall, right onto Asrian’s boot-covered feet, much to her own horror.
Asrian spoke to his brothers in friendly banter, arguing over things she had no idea about. Lara rode beside her, answering for her when the men asked something. She laughed with them, told them of her version of the fight that had occurred so long ago, things she’d never told Lilith to date.
Everything felt as if it was happening to someone else. As if someone else was stuck in this horror of endless torment that continued to unravel her world thread by thread. She knew she should be thankful that they weren’t of the same ilk their father had been, but things kept being brought to light, and every time it happened, it was something big, something that pushed her a little further over the edge.
She was on a horse, marching to meet people she’d thought long since perished, and the fucking Horde King. This wasn’t happening. She’d dreamt of his death, relished the death blow she could never land, since the King of the Horde held a beast within him, one that couldn’t be killed.
“We leave the horses here,” Asrian said from beside her.
She turned, staring through him as the others began to dismount. She lifted her leg over, revealing her thigh as she dismounted and stood there awkwardly as she waited. She hated sifting; not the quickness, or ease of it, but the nausea and unsettled feeling when they landed. Not to mention, she had no idea where the Hidden Realm was and had never even heard of it before.
Lara stopped beside her as the men unharnessed and saddled the horses before slapping them on the rear, sending them away. The chilled air sent a few stray strands of Lilith’s hair wafting through the air as they stood there, waiting to be sifted to the unknown.
“Breathe, Lilith,” Lara uttered as she stared at her, her Fae eyes now tri-colored in turquoise and ice blue shades that were filled with endless galaxies within their depths. Her thick hair was darker, mixed colors of midnight and chocolate fighting for dominance as her brands pulsed. She looked away from her, hiding the traitorous tears that struggled to be let loose.
Lilith straightened her spine as Asrian reached for her, her flesh connecting with his sending a shock racing down her spine, zeroing in on her belly as heat pooled there. Stupid Fae and his stupid touch. He’d been silent since they’d left the palace, holding his tongue when she’d released her meager supper on his boots, and still, said nothing.
They sifted into a realm full of fragrant blooms and bubbling brooks, much like the one they’d just left. People milled about the small town they’d sifted to, hair as dark as the shadows that filled the world. Heart racing, Lilith smiled as those people turned, staring curiously at them as they slowly approached. Eyes; their eyes were filled with the dark galaxies she’d heard of, the beautiful darkness that filled the midnight skies and fed their powers as the night took control and shadows became abundant, adding to their power.
“I told you, not all of your court perished, and that’s because my brothers and I got them out before he got to them,” Sinjinn said beside her.
Lilith nodded silently in shock as she moved closer, listening to them playing in the streets in beautiful clothing, their current state more than most courts could afford for their people. They laughed with no fear for the Horde who approached them now.
“You’re back so soon?” a woman’s musical voice said from not far away, and Torin chuckled.
“I knew you’d be missing us, Liliana,” he snorted, and a feminine shrill sounded, forcing Lilith to draw her blades as the familiar scream ripped through the air, but Lara was running towards the woman with her arms out.
“Mother!” she cried as she threw herself into the woman’s astonished arms.
Lilith stifled a sob of disbelief as she watched the woman begin to cry, wiping a
way the tears that fell from Lara’s eyes. Her eyes, ice blue, rose to stare over Lara’s head at Lilith, who stepped back, bumping into a hard form behind her. She swung around, staring at Asrian who was quickly doing the math of who held Lara.
This wasn’t fucking happening.
“Lilith, oh, my baby!” the woman cried as she pulled Lara with her towards Lilith, who stood stone-still, unable to get words out. “Oh, look at you. You’re so beautiful.”
“You’re dead! You’re fucking dead,” Lilith half hissed, half screamed as she forced Asrian to move away from her.
“No,” she uttered. “I’ve been here.”
Lilith slapped her, hard. “You left us. I waited for your rotting fucking corpse to fall from the Horde’s castle walls so that we could bury you! You’ve been here? You abandoned us to come here? Who the fuck does that? Who abandons their children like that?”
“Lilith, I couldn’t come back, not to find Lara dead. I thought her dead! I knew you’d be fine, you’re your father’s daughter, his heir, I couldn’t come to get you. And I thought my sweet Lara had been among the dead, with her grandfather. So when they told me of our people who they’d saved, I came to them. They needed me with them. I am the Queen of Shadows, they needed me.”
“I’m…I needed you! I have needed a mother, Lara needed a mother. When I found her, she was alone, filthy and alone. She had no idea how to hunt or how to survive, but then…” she paused, turning to stare at Lara. “She’d transitioned by then, hadn’t you? How fucking pathetic I must have been,” she whispered as the knowledge hit her. “That’s why you disappeared at night when you thought I slept, to feed. And me, I spent countless hours securing food that I thought you needed. But you’re High Fae, and I’m just less.” She wiped at the tears that trailed down her cheeks. “Take me to the Night Court.”
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