This afternoon, under the spreading branches of the magical All Spells Apple Tree, I wasn’t certain whether he was furious that I hadn’t warned him about the graduation ceremony or that I’d refused to reform.
Probably both.
“On my wing, if I swear that I’m sorry, will you stop with the I’m going to peck your balls glare?” I winced.
Perhaps, I shouldn’t have given him that idea?
I drew in my breath, as Apollo shifted. But then he grunted and rested his head against my throat.
I stroked the downy softness of his feathers. “You’re my brother in the wing as well, and I didn’t mean to scare you,” I murmured. “Where are the cygnets?”
My friends each had a swan shifter that lived with them in the House of Fae as well, although theirs were only young: two sisters, Odile and Lil Swan. Radley’s shifter had an urban edge, even though she sounded like she should be in nursery. But she did a brilliant rap about life on the wrong side of the pond.
“I don’t know, My Lord,” Apollo’s voice had a soft Scottish lilt and wound telepathically into my mind. “The Countess took them away for training, and we all know what that means. You left me here alone, not knowing if you were dead…”
I shuddered, grasping him tighter.
The Countess Pond was Deputy Head in the House of Fae. She was also a Court Fae, who’d been our tutor as Hostage Lords. The Queen had wanted me to bond with her, until Quinn had tried to rescue me. I was sure that the Countess had followed me to the Wicked Reform School out of revenge at the humiliation the rebellion had caused her.
I’d rather be dead, than live bonded to her. But Apollo didn’t need to know that.
I soothed my fingers through his feathers. “Shh, I’m alive. No one can separate a Fae Lord from his beloved swan. Forgive me…?”
But what would I do on Saturday, when the graduation or execution would be real? Our swan shifters would be left behind in the hands of the Countess and Wells, and what would they do to them?
I sighed, turning to stare out across the miniature English farm that Wells had brought with him and seeded from the Court around the grounds of the House of Fae like a slice of Court life. Actually, not Wells: us Rebels in Horticulture Class.
It was Horticulture now, and fae were stripped to their waist, sweltering under the sun. They tilled, hoed, and planted the ranks of vegetables. There was no shade and their tired wings drooped. I could just glimpse the glimmering blue of Swan Pond at the far side. The silence was oppressive, apart from the clink of tools and the quiet drone of bumblebees.
Wells himself sat underneath a gazebo that shaded him, sipping on a coffee with affected boredom, whilst he was fanned by a fae. His black swan shifter, Lincoln, sat snootily on Wells’ lap but his gaze glittered maliciously.
The garden was enchanted. It wasn’t controlled by the seasons, but by Wells. He could produce any plant, whenever he pleased, in order to create magical properties to add to potions.
Weren’t we just the lucky ones?
Although, I’d heard stories about deadly Gardening Lessons in the rest of the Houses that were more about murdering students than reforming them, so maybe we were.
It shook me that sometimes, I believed Wells when he said that he was protecting us from the rest of the school.
Yet even though he didn’t want to slaughter us each lesson (my expectations really had been lowered), Wells intended to break us as much as the soil. He wished to tame the earth, like he’d tame the Forest Fae.
I snorted. Was cuddling a swan part of his lesson plan?
“Aye, I forgive you,” Apollo’s voice shook, “but when your daft arse prepares to die on the Day of the Wicked, don’t leave me behind with Wells next time. Kill me first.”
“Thanks for the input.” I clenched my jaw, struggling to keep my caresses gentle down his neck. “But on the other hand, not a flying fae in hell’s chance, you overdramatic swan.”
Felix whistled. “I’d listen to him, Apollo. That’s his stern voice.”
Apollo turned up his beak. “Overdramatic but beautiful.”
Felix threw himself down on the grass next to us, dropping a wicker basket by his feet. He drew out a miniature book from his pocket and shook it, which enlarged it to its proper size. He shot me a cocky grin (his easy magic was impressive but nope, I wasn’t telling him that), then settled back to read.
I’ve spent as much time dragging a book out of Felix’s hands, as the Countess has spent it pushing one into mine. I’d never touch this one, however, because it’d been given to him by his brother…the one who’d been executed alongside my own.
“You’re so smart,” I said. “Do you know how hard that makes me?”
When Felix startled, I chuckled.
“And this is my stern voice.” Radley shot us both a glare as he took off with a ripple of muscle to hover amongst the branches of the All Spells Apple Tree. “It’s our duty as Lords to pick these psycho fruits. Instead, you’re snuggling a swan.”
“Guilty.” I grinned.
“Snuggling a beautiful swan,” Apollo muttered. “Why is it that you rascally blue-blooded fae always leave off the sacred?”
Radley ignored Apollo, who was doing the swan equivalent of pouting, and pointed at Felix. “What’s your excuse?”
Felix stretched. “Oh, I hate getting my hands dirty. If the Duke of Wells intends to break us with manual labor, then I’m just protecting myself.”
Radley banged his head against the branch. “By escaping into some fairy tale…?”
“Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream”,” Felix supplied with a helpful smile that wasn’t fooling me. “I can’t decide if this non-magical bard was actually captured once by a Court Fae and wanted to take revenge on them in play form. Maybe I should write a book about Wells…?”
I grimaced. “Brilliant idea. Then we can at least kill him off on paper. Anyway, most fae have just as messed-up a view of the non-magical.”
I glanced across the farm and out over the school. In the distance, the blue-haze of mountains shimmered.
What did humans think was hidden away up here in the forests and mountains?
I bet the non-magical reckoned that the academy was a cult.
Radley flew higher into the branches of the vast apple tree. Even though it was spring, ripe apples grew amongst the delicate pink blossoms. Apples grew all year round on the All Spells Apple Tree and many different types together: glossy green, pink-and-green striped, smooth pink, and deep red. Each one had a spell woven into it, but you never knew what it was until you took a bite…
Yeah, like I ever willingly took a bite.
This unnatural tree was grown from an apple taken from the orchard at Court. It made my balls want to shrink back into my body.
Radley plucked a scarlet apple and dropped it into the basket.
Thunk.
I winced. “That’ll bruise.”
Radley glowered. “I’ll bruise something else in a minute. Get your lazy fae ass up here and help.”
“Pfft, my ass is notoriously bad at picking apples without the rest of my noble self. And when I’ll be dead in four days, why spend them working?”
Silence.
I peered around at my friends who were all now glaring at me. “Too soon to joke?”
“It’s not as if the Court Fae haven’t been trying to kill us for years.” Radley’s smile made me shiver.
I trailed my fingers across Apollo’s downy feathers. “On Belenus’ prick, it’s different than before. Can’t you feel it? They truly mean it this time.”
I wished that I could kiss away the worried frown that creased Felix’s brow, even though I’d been the one to put it there. Should I’ve lied? But I’d always told my best mates the truth before.
It didn’t matter how we schemed against others; we were each other’s truth.
A second, green apple tumbled into the basket.
Thunk.
Followed by a thi
rd, pink apple.
Thunk.
As if in protest, when Radley reached for the next one, the tree yanked the branch to the side. The bees that’d been buzzing between clusters of apple buds swarmed at Radley, stinging his hand. He howled, flying backward, but the tree caught him in its branches, slamming him against its scaly trunk.
Pink blossoms rained down on Felix, Apollo, and me like confetti. I laughed (breaking Court Dictate 506: Never laugh, whilst working). Then I plucked a petal out of Felix’s hair. I placed it back, as he studied me with dancing eyes, because he looked beautiful like he’d been crowned.
I shivered with the desire to kiss him. I’d almost lost him today…almost lost all of them. I rested my forehead against Felix’s, and petals tumbled from my head to his and across Apollo’s feathers.
This was what the Court Fae would never understand. The power of such small moments.
The battle for love, rather than false bonds, had started the Love Rebellion. I didn’t know how yet, but I could sense it burning through me that it’d be our salvation now.
If not, it was the only thing worth dying for.
Radley struggled, before collapsing against the tree. Then he cleared his throat. “Ehm, I might be trapped up here. Did I ever let your pampered ass off working just because you’re the leader?”
I smirked. “You shouldn’t have upset the poor tree.” The All Spells Apple Tree sighed, and the branch loosened around Radley. If I waited for Radley to play nice, then he’d be trapped up there until nightfall. Wait, make that all week. “Anyway, I am working. I’m scheming.”
Radley rolled his eyes. “Snuggling.”
Apollo preened, curling his wing more firmly around me.
I nodded. “Snuggling and scheming. But since I was almost brutally executed today, I need the touch.”
Touch was essential to fae. To Court Fae, it meant hierarchy and dominance. To Forest Fae, it was love, family, and brotherhood.
Apollo’s feathers ruffled in distress. “Don’t say that like nobody would miss your elegant behind. I wept all morning thinking that…”
I smoothed Apollo’s feathers. “Hush,” I whispered, “I’m still here.” Gently, I pushed Apollo off me, even though he hissed his protest, attempting to cling tighter. “I have a damsel to rescue who’s tied to a tree, before a dragon turns up for the sacrifice.”
Radley’s growl made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. Yeah, I was in for a spanking. Perhaps, I shouldn’t let him down just yet…?
Felix snickered.
“You’re no help.” I booted petals into Felix’s face, and he spluttered, throwing them back at me: blossom fight. Then I sauntered to the base of the tree. Sweat slicked my chest; it stuck my coat to my back. I slipped my arms around the broad trunk and rested my cheek against it like I was slow dancing.
“Who’s a gorgeous hunk of wood then?” I licked along the grooves, which tasted tangy. The sweet scent of the apples smothered me. “I love the way you taste.”
Behind me, Felix gagged.
He could only judge me, when he made sweet love to a tree in order to free his friend.
Now that was brotherhood.
The branches loosened even further around Radley.
“I just…” Come on, use your honeyed tongue and no snickering Quincey, “can’t hold it together around apples as fresh and round as yours.”
When the tree let Radley go with a gasp of delight, Radley landed on me.
Of course he did.
Perhaps, Wells was right that Felix was really a jinx…?
“Well, I don’t know about the tree but I’m turned on now. I’m claiming Quince tonight.” Felix’s pupils were dilated, and to my shock, he’d even shrunk and pocketed his book.
He must be really serious.
I lay with the air knocked out of me beneath Radley, staring up at him with startled eyes. His chuckle was low and dangerous, as he sprawled on top of me like he’d arranged this to happen. Then he shifted, rubbing our crotches together (he was hard because he was always hard), and pushing me more firmly into the dirt.
“He’s mine right now.” Radley’s lips curled around his gleaming teeth. “You look good beneath me.”
“The words that you’re struggling for are: Thank you, Your Lordship, for rescuing my unworthy damsel wings.”
Radley cocked his head, as one strong hand crept up to pin my wrists above my head, and the other worked to undo my belt.
Okay, that didn’t look like a thank you. Why hadn’t I learned never to tease a psycho fae?
Oh yeah, because it was fun…
When Radley’s hand slipped into my pants, teasing at my cock and balls, I bit my lip. “The words that I’m struggling for are: You’re going to regret calling me the damsel.”
Good job me at pissing off the only Fae Lord who the other Houses truly should fear. I’d watched Radley take on a lion shifter, demon, and a zombie in our Fighting Lessons all by himself and be the only one left standing.
Although, if pissing him off led to the firm way that he was now stroking my prick, then I was all for it.
I shuddered, relaxing into his hold.
Then I flushed. Wait…could Wells see what was happening? I was already in disgrace but I wasn’t an exhibitionist and being wanked off in public was a step too far. Plus, Wells would probably have a heart attack.
Wait, now we were back onto the positives.
Felix crawled closer, shielding me from the view of the other fae by stretching out his wings. He always protected me. I smiled at him, even as I panted, battling not to arch. Radley twisted his hand along my hardening prick in the way that he knew I loved.
A decade as the only male house and unable to trust the women in the rest of this prison was too long to go without some relief.
I shivered, and a scent caught at my mind of hot ginger: the golden-haired Professor Succubus from the graduation ceremony.
All of a sudden, I was lost in her again.
My prick pulsed, and my balls ached. I imagined that she was here with us in her flaming white dress and with her soft smile. Then that her small hand joined Radley’s large one around my prick.
Perhaps, she was just a little disapproving like I hadn’t handed in my assignment and now she’d punish me, along with the pleasure…
Where’d you like this naughty Lord to bend over, ma’am?
I gasped, and my eyelids fluttered shut.
On the Fair Shining One, I needed her…
Radley’s hand squeezed my balls, and I hissed.
“It’s rude to not be entirely present, when I’m putting in all this work. Who’s attracted your attention?” Radley’s eyes narrowed, and his thumb swiped warningly over my balls. He knew me too well. “Drain the gold from my wings, it’s not one of those fish hugger mermaids?”
Jealousy alert…
I swallowed nervously, as Felix leaned over me and licked my neck, before kissing up my jawline. “Don’t be greedy, Quince, share your fantasies.”
I gave a sly smile. “I really can’t wait to do that, if Rads would just remove his fingers from around my balls, so I’m certain that he won’t bust them. They’re the only pair that I have.”
Radley grunted but returned to stroking my prick.
Here goes… “She’s a succubus.”
Felix’s brow furrowed. “Who is?”
“The new professor and my fantasy bond. I saw her just before we were mock executed.”
Both Radley and Felix stilled.
Then Radley leaned down, so that his lips grazed mine on each word, “You know better than to fantasize about potential bonds. Plus, there aren’t any succubi staff, and even if there were, why would you bring her into this…?” He twisted his hand, and I gasped into his mouth. Our lips touched, and he kissed me with as much passion as if he could claim me and vanish all thoughts of the succubus.
Felix sank his sharp teeth into my collarbone at the same time, and the delicious pain added to the sensat
ions that were tearing me apart and remaking me at the same time.
Felix was a biter: he loved to mark me.
With difficulty, I pulled back. “Convincing as that argument is, clearly a succubus is now working for the House of Fae. It’s the will of the forest, I can sense it. And you didn’t see how—”
“Hot she was?” Felix sat back on his knees, crossing his arms defensively.
“Kind she was,” I retorted. Felix looked at me, shocked. “It’s astounding that at last they’ve employed someone who doesn’t want us hurt or dead.”
“If that’s true,” Felix played with the hilt of his scimitar, “then maybe we’ve discovered our Save the Fae Scheme. No one else in this hellhole would care to put into that fund but…what if this new professor would…?”
I grinned. Could I help it if my malevolent side was shining through? I wasn’t my brother, Quinn, but I had brilliant mates. Together, we’d find a way to take on the challenge of saving my tribe.
A new and innocent professor could be the perfect mark.
“You all talk too much,” Radley growled.
Radley crushed his lips to mine again, as his hand rubbed across the head of my prick. Then he edged his thumbnail into the slit, and I came in my pants. My cry was swallowed by his kiss. He stroked me through the orgasm, until I was oversensitive and squirming.
“Mean fae.” Felix bumped Radley’s shoulder.
Finally, Radley let go of my prick with a final swirl along its head, as if to be certain that I wouldn’t forget him.
How could he think that I would? No bond would ever break what we had, right?
Then he slid his hand out of my pants with a satisfied smirk.
I rested my forehead against his and raised my wing to touch Felix’s knee. “We live for our brothers,” I whispered.
Radley and Felix’s eyes widened, before their expressions softened with desperate understanding, as they chorused, “We live for our brothers.”
Then Radley muttered, “Just be careful. I don’t trust succubi, and she won’t trust you.”
Felix brushed his hand nervously through his hair. “Everything that I’ve read makes their Court sound as frightening as the Fae Court. They don’t mate for life, however, but take multiple incubi bonded. But the male partners still have no choice. What if she just wants you as another one of her harem?”
Rebel: House of Fae: A Dark Fae Paranormal Romance Page 3