Wells strode away between the trees towards the carrot patch. Lincoln followed at his heels.
I twisted in Felix’s arms, until we were nose to nose; his smug grin was deserved. “You’re claiming that was your Fortune Magic…?”
He nodded. “That earns a kiss, right?”
I licked across the seam of Felix’s lips, before pushing my tongue into his mouth and twining it with his. I settled into his safe scent of old books and ink. His body was as familiar to me as my own. He moaned, kissing back with equal joy.
Then I pulled back, dragging him after me. “Come on,” I called to Radley, as I strode towards the farm, “we have a drowned fae to save. Apollo wait for us.”
Radley swaggered next to me. “Are you sure…?”
“He’s a snooty Court Fae…? Yeah, I am. But I’m still helping him.”
“Would you help the Queen if she was about to drown too?” Radley demanded.
“Theoretical moral questions, how fun.” The tips of my ears heated at the glares of the other fae, as we passed. I was used to being seen as the pampered Hostage Lord who wasn’t truly one of the Forest Fae any longer. But outcast, wow, that smarted. “If the Queen was drowning, I’d yell for one of her own people to save her. Then we’d see how real their loyalty was.”
Radley snorted. “She would be so dead.”
“Ah, such a sweet dream.” Felix sighed.
I stared down at Beau, who was gasping and pushing the hair out of his eyes. He stared back like I was there to finish off what Wells had started. It wasn’t like I’d shown him any kindness before. I’d gone out of my way to ignore the Court Fae.
“Time to catch a ride into the shade.” I grinned.
Beau’s eyes widened, and he scrabbled backwards.
Sometimes, I forgot how malevolent my grin was.
Radley merely grunted, before he grabbed Beau and threw him over his shoulder like a…particularly handsome…sack of potatoes.
“I insist that you let me down.” Beau’s cold voice reminded me so strongly of Wells that I had to bite my tongue hard enough to taste blood not to tell Radley to do what Beau wanted, as long as he dropped him on his head.
Why was I helping a Court Fae again?
I led our procession back to the All Spells Apple Tree with Beau attempting to look like he’d chosen to sprawl in a damp fireman’s lift over Radley’s shoulder.
When we reached the shade, Apollo flapped around us in nurse mode. Radley dropped Beau far more gently than I’d been expecting.
Instantly, Beau huddled against the trunk with his wings curled around himself. His eyes were like olive green pools in his pale face.
You’d have thought that we’d been the bullies holding him under the water.
I lowered myself to my knees in front of him. His breathing was too shallow, and he was worryingly pallid.
“Sexy as you are, I’m only going to take off your wet coat now to help you dry out.” I slipped my hands into Beau’s coat, and he flinched.
When I pulled the coat off Beau’s shoulders, revealing alabaster skin, he panted. I brushed a stream of water away with the pad of my thumb, and he arched like I was stroking his prick.
I knew the signs: he was touch starved.
How long had it been since anyone had touched him kindly? Fae couldn’t survive without touch. It was torture to be denied it. I knew because I’d been punished like that as a kid.
I crushed Beau to my chest in the tightest hug that I could manage, before I could stop myself. My wings curled around him. He smelled of the sweetest peaches. My mouth became moist, and my tongue darted out, desperate to lick along his neck.
Beau pushed me back, and his gaze was anguished. “Do not touch me.”
Since when did a fae not want to be touched?
It couldn’t even be the dick Court rules on touch hierarchy because I was a Marquess, which meant that I had dominance.
I frowned. “I mean, you’re only shaking from touch deprivation, but sure, I won’t touch your haughty ass. I wouldn’t want to dirty you with my Forest Fae hands. And you’re welcome, by the way.”
“You didn’t have to help me.” Beau looked down, as his hands balled in his lap.
“Nope, I didn’t.” I caught his startled gaze with mine. “But that’s what it truly means to be a fae and not…” I gestured at the ranks of the neat farm and the gleaming House of Fae beyond. “This is make-believe. It only pretends to reform us. Your Court isn’t civilized, and the truth is that if I give in on the day of Wicked, we’d only be going from one prison to another.”
Apollo shouldered his way onto Beau’s lap. To my surprise, Beau allowed it, stroking Apollo’s wings.
Apollo preened. “All he needed was a beauty like me.”
I fought to smother my smile.
Beau cocked his head, and his hair tumbled into his eyes; I longed to brush it behind his ears. “Life is a prison, you know.”
“Oh, you’re a dark one, aren’t you?” When Beau blushed, I leaned closer. “You only think that because you’ve never experienced the wild joy of the forest or the non-magical.”
“What could possibly be so joyous?” His voice was curious in a way that I hadn’t expected, rather than contemptuous.
“Music, dancing, and love for starters…” My malevolent grin was back, and I couldn’t hold in the thrumming wave of magic that pinned Beau to the tree.
He shivered at the same time as me.
The non-magical world was all around us in this reform school. There was even a House of Almost Humans just across from us. They held rowdy parties with music like I’d never heard before, which blared through their windows. It’d taken a combination of Felix’s Fortune Magic and my own sweet talking of one of their Prefects (he had a thing for fae, and I’d never turn down a wing stroking), to sneak across and steal an iPod.
Apart from my sword, I treasured the music trapped inside that tiny machine more than anything but my mates. With my magic, I could free it for everyone.
When I slid my finger across the iPod, Tricky’s “Wash My Soul” wound around the All Spells Apple Tree with a hypnotic and agonizing rhythm. My fingers clawed into my knees, as inside I writhed.
With a shudder, I remembered Professor Succubus as she’d been both watching me from the stage and in my fantasy as Radley had wanked me.
What would she feel like touching me for real?
What would it feel like to touch her? By my feathers, I longed to sink my prick between her thighs and gift my virginity to someone who I’d chosen…and desired.
Yet who was she? And why was someone who was so distressed by the execution of us wicked Forest Fae, working for Court Fae?
“What in the Queen’s name is this music?” Beau gaped at me; his pupils were dilated.
Radley flashed his sharp teeth. “It has nothing to do with the Queen.”
As the song played like the heartbeat of a new birth, I spun to my feet. Then I closed my eyes and simply let myself feel. The music swept through me, catching me in its riptide.
I lost myself then, dancing with the beauty and violence of a battle. It was a desperate plea for the cleansing fire of redemption in every leap and spin.
Why hadn’t I taken hold of Quinn’s wing? Why had I forgotten where I’d come from?
Round, and round, and round, and…
Radley caught me, as I fell. He always did. I knew that he always would.
My eyes snapped open, and I laughed. I hadn’t laughed like that for a long time. Radley’s eyes twinkled; I loved the way that they creased at the edges.
Felix stroked his hand down my hair, before pulling out the swan clips that marked me as belonging to the House of Fae and the Queen. I laughed again, as my hair tumbled to my waist.
“I insist that you stop this.” Beau struggled to his feet, and Apollo flew to settle beside the basket. Beau stared between us like we were crazy. “You’ve broken Dictate 41, 506, and 709…”
“You missed 425. D
on’t worry, I always forget that one.” Felix examined his nails.
Beau raised a shaky finger. “End this madness at once.”
Radley pushed me into Felix’s arms, before storming to Beau and cracking him into the tree. He towered over Beau, holding his arm across Beau’s throat.
Radley’s muscles made him look twice the other fae’s size. “Watch your tongue, soft wings. I wouldn’t want to make you faint again.” Beau reddened. “Who are you to insist anything? This is the Marquess of Spring you’re talking to, even if he forgets it himself half the time.”
“Don’t, Rads,” I said, quietly. “He’s only a Court Fae. He doesn’t know any better.”
Beau’s eyes flashed. “How silly of me. I forgot that I’m nothing but a lowly, ignorant Court peasant in your eyes, beneath your notice and not worthy of attention or even to be remembered.”
Wow, that had been way more personal than I’d been expecting.
Had I insulted Beau before today? It was true that I’d barely paid him any attention. But then, as far as I knew, on his visits to the reform school, he hadn’t spoken to anyone.
Felix’s expression hardened. “Rads is right. The Court Fae should show you some respect. We’re Hostage Fae but we’re still entitled to the deference owed to our positions. Plus, they believe in all that hierarchy stuff more than we do.”
Beau ducked his head. “Then, Your Lordship, please stop it, otherwise we’ll end up in trouble that we can’t escape by dancing.”
When a black butterfly of a fae circled my head like a shadow sprung to life, I pushed Felix behind me, straightening my shaky legs.
Yeah, I couldn’t dance myself out of this trouble.
The Countess Pond, Deputy Head of the House of Fae, transformed in a golden spray back into the sophisticated woman, who’d tormented me as my tutor at Court as a kid and haunted my nightmares. She’d planned to make me her bonded and she still did, if I broke on Saturday.
I shuddered.
The Countess’ face was hidden behind a veil of black swan feathers; I could only catch flashes of her eyes and her scarlet lips, which were pursed and thin. She wore the same military uniform as Wells, but a swan brooch was pinned over her heart like a promise.
The Countess would hand that brooch to her bonded...to me. She’d forced me to play act that moment enough times that even seeing it now, made my throat burn with bile.
The Countess swung her hips, until she brushed against me. When she stroked her lace glove across my cheek, it was scratchy and dry.
I stiffened, wishing that I could tell her not to touch me like Beau had said to us.
When the Countess suddenly reached up to a low branch, I jumped. Then she snatched something by its wing and tossed it to the floor.
I caught a glimpse of glistening purple.
The Chief Myrmidon…
“I beg mercy,” I gasped.
The Countess raised her boot, (still caressing my cheek), and stomped down.
The other myrmidons wailed in distress.
“Fly away home,” Radley hollered at them. “It’s too late, stupid bugs.”
But he was as furious at the Countess as me. We’d never been able to fight her, even as kids. If we did, then we risked our tribe being punished. Now, we risked the punishment of the entire House.
Behind me, Felix flinched, and his hand bunched in my coat.
I bit my tongue to stop myself biting the Countess’ fingers or kicking her to see how she liked to be stepped on. But the curses and wards woven into the belts on our own pants restricted us fighting back against our professors.
Wells said that he was only protecting us from ourselves because the Dean of Discipline had his own special deterrent for students who fought with professors. They said that if you injured a staff member, you were marched to the Detention Center and locked in for twenty-four hours with flesh eaters…or worse.
I didn’t like to think about the worse, and Wells had a point, although I thought that his rivalry with the Dean of Discipline (who he hated because he had the power to punish us), was the real reason that he protected us.
My magic hissed and seethed at being restrained.
The Countess’ fingers curled tighter into my cheek, until I winced. “You forget the true dangers all around you. Myrmidons are killers. Bugs can flay you, fountains can drown you, and the other students are locked up because they’re deadly. So, why such emotion over an enemy, hostage boy? You don’t love those who could offer you security and respectability, but you throw away your tears on those who’d slaughter you. Fascinating.” She turned my head from side-to-side, scrutinizing me. “Will you cry more that you’ve earned the entire House two hours extra weeding tonight without magic or tools?”
My chest was tight, and I darted a glance at Beau, who wasn’t sporting an I told you so expression like I expected but rather the same disdainful mask that he always wore around Wells.
It was no wonder that I thought Court Fae looked the same. They’d been taught to act haughty since birth. Yet no matter what they’d tried with me, I just hadn’t been able to wear a mask.
I got why they called us the Rebels.
“Sure, you could go the cruel collective punishment route.” Come on, killer combination of both pious and holy face… “But since it was me who broke the Dictates with (why be modest?), my truly brilliant dancing, punish me alone. You seem to get a kick out of that.”
Apollo raised his head and shot me a hard look. “Will you leave off sacrificing yourself. Didn’t you already promise me?”
But that’s what a leader did. I’d learned that much from Quinn and Prince Lysander. They protected the fae, no matter what, even if they were hated for it.
My breath hitched, as the Countess moved her face uncomfortably close to mine. Her hot breath through the veil ghosted across my mouth. I winkled my nose at her cloying scent, which was sweet like marzipan; it choked me.
“You’d suffer for them?” She asked.
“I’d suffer anything to save my people.”
Beau shot me a grudging glance of respect.
The Countess’ lips curled into a smile. “Then you’ve earned a session with our new Emotions Counselor.”
That didn’t sound good.
Was this Counselor Wells’ new method to tame us?
I squared my shoulders. “Counsel away.”
The Countess’ smile widened. “I didn’t say that it would be your session, did I?”
My brow furrowed. What had I missed?
The Countess turned away from me, yanking Felix from behind me by his wing. He gasped, but she twisted his wingtip, until he stilled.
“I hope you understand that this shall be the last day of your defiance.” The Countess narrowed her gaze at Felix. “Professor Emerald will change the way that you—”
“Emerald?” Felix arched his brow, unimpressed. “Did she need an alias when she was filling out the application form and just looked into Wells’ eyes or admired his hair? Emerald, she thought, that’ll do.”
When Radley laughed, the Countess twisted Felix’s wingtip again.
“He has a point.” I licked my lips, wishing that I couldn’t taste the marzipan sweetness of the Countess that shrouded the orchard. “Look at me, feathers all tingly in fear from the terrifying counselor who named herself to sound like a unicorn.”
Radley snorted. “Take that back. Unicorn shifters are badass.”
“My apologies.” I mock bowed to Radley. “Named herself after your dream fae. I know your wank fantasies.”
Radley flicked me off.
“If you behave like that in your sessions,” the Countess glanced between us, “the succubus will eat you alive.”
Did she mean literally eat me alive, and wait, succubus…?
I fought not to meet Felix’s gaze because I knew that my own would blaze with jealousy that he was meeting Professor Succubus…Emerald…before me, and his would gleam with excitement that our plan to scheme and save t
he House of Fae could start.
Yet there was a cold ball in my gut that I didn’t understand. I remembered Emerald’s sad smile, and the urge to protect her the same as my own people surged through me. At the same time, the need to make her smile with joy.
I’d die or live to make her happy. I’d only ever been prepared to die before.
Was that a bond?
I cringed at what the other Fae Lords would think of me if they discovered that I’d betrayed them. We’d sworn never to bond and enslave ourselves.
My hands tightened into fists, and I steeled myself.
What if the succubus had been sent here to break us up and trick us into bonding? I could resist her and turn the tables. She might be a succubus, but I could seduce her into saving us all, instead.
The Countess misunderstood my expression, letting go of Felix and waltzing to snatch up the basket of apples. “Why so melancholy, hostage boy? Are you feeling left out? There’s no need to worry, the three of you will be punished as well.”
Beau straightened. “Three?”
“Didn’t you choose to stand wing by wing with these Forest Fae?” The Countess’ lips pinched. “Then you deserve to be treated just the same. How about a round of the Apple Game?”
“That sounds fun. But on the other hand, I’m allergic to apple.” I backed away. “It makes me transform into a neurotic snake who goes around tempting people to eat the fruit, and you don’t want that in this orchard.”
“You will each eat the fruit in my game. Then we’ll see what spells the tree has woven today,” the Countess’ voice was ice-cold. There was never any escape from her, as much as there wasn’t from the reform school. “I shall teach you to control your emotions, as shall the new counselor. I wonder who shall tame you first?” The Countess’ eyes gleamed maliciously. “I’ll show you how it should be played beside Swan Pond. I believe that I will win.”
The Countess shoved the basket into my arms and then transformed into a butterfly. Her wings glittered as she wove out of the shade and into the sun, towards the pond.
I shuddered, glancing at the magic apples in the basket. Then I stalked after the Countess and towards punishment.
Rebel: House of Fae: A Dark Fae Paranormal Romance Page 5