She Conquers, page 10
Allister is still in my mother's room reading over her papers when I finish turning the raw meat into jerky. I decide to leave him to his work and make my way over to Raven. She's in her normal spot. It got cold last night so she's out basking in the sun's warming rays.
"Hey girl," I call as I walk up to her.
"Hey," she says without picking up her head.
"Sorry I didn't let you out this morning," I say bashfully. I'm embarrassed I slept in and wasn't the one to let her out of mother's room.
Now she lifts her head and rolls, getting her feet are under her with her front end up. "It's fine. Allister let me out early this morning. I'm glad you got some rest. You needed it."
I tilt my head. "He was up earlier than usual?"
"He's been up since a little bit before dawn. He opened the door, said good morning, and sat down at the desk. He hasn't taken a break either."
"Hmm... maybe we should give him a break in a minute." But before she can answer I walk over and wrap my arms around her as my knees hit the ground. "I miss you. We haven't had much time together lately."
She wraps her head around mine and leans into me. "I miss you too, girl. I'm getting fat over here eating and sleeping all day."
We chuckle together and I let go of her, sitting back on my heels. "Will you let me try something on you?"
Raven narrows her eyes and huffs out, "Will I like this and is there fire involved?"
I snicker and lift my hands in an I surrender gesture. "No fire involved. I only wanted to try to brush you with my powers. I'll only use air, earth, and maybe a little water, I promise."
Raven lifts her head high in the air in an indignant way. "I suppose that's all right."
I stand up and over exaggeratedly bow to her, my brown hair falling around my face. "Thank you for such a wondrous blessing."
Raven rolls over on her side and belts out a louder laugh than I've ever heard tumble out of her before. She's not very playful so it's rare to see her this carefree and happy. It brings a smile to my face.
It takes her a minute, but her laughter eventually calms down and she pulls herself together. She lets out a big sigh before getting up on her feet. I take a step toward her. I close my eyes and run my hand down her neck, calling the wind to run its way through her blood red hairs.
I open my eyes and watch as her hair ripples through the soft wind blowing through it. I run my hands over the rest of her body and anywhere I feel dirt, I summon it into my hands. I walk all the way down one side of her body and drop the small handful of dirt I retrieve, then I head around her and work on the other side. When her other side's all done I make my way to her dark black mane, it almost appears blue as the sun glistens off it.
The wind I call untangles her mane and tail. I hear the water underneath me, I bid it to wrap around my hands and it does as I ask. Water cascades around my hands, wetting the hairs, forcing them to stay in place as I deftly braid Raven's mane and tail. When I'm done, I tie off all the braids with various pieces of long grass. They won't stay in long, but it works for a moment of beauty.
She shakes her whole body, a few of the grass blades already falling to the ground, as I take a step back to peer at my handiwork. "I must say I've never felt cleaner without taking a bath in my life."
I chuckle. "Good! I'm glad."
As the words leave my mouth I hear, "Attina!"
I spin on my heel and see Allister running out of my mother's room, with a piece of paper in his hand. He stops right outside the door and frantically spins around, searching for me. In my head I say, Calm down. Out loud I call to him, "Allister, I'm over here!'
He stops spinning and locks his gaze on me before rushing over to me. Stops right in front of me, he blankly stares at me and spits out, "I found it! I can't believe it. I finally found it! It makes total sense. I don't know why I didn't think of it before myself."
I touch him on the shoulder as I hear bird wings flap above and behind us. "Hey, you're not making any sense. What are you talking about?"
The blank cloud lifts from his eyes. "We can defeat Henrik."
"Okay good!" I cry, ecstatic he found the key to conquer the evil tyrant.
Allister shakes his head. "It's not all that simple."
I cock my head in question.
From a tree above us I hear, "Spit it out," come from Hazel.
"The prophecy states, the child born of the evil king's people and his enemy can defeat him by joining the broken clans and shedding blood together." He takes a deep breath before he adds, "I think it means we'll need the human and the Fae to work together to defeat him."
It feels like a rock drops into the pit of my stomach.
Humans and Fae will refuse to work together. We'll never be able to defeat Henrik.
I stand there in quiet shock for a minute before calling out to the air above us. "Hazel, did you know this and simply not tell us?" I'm not sure where she's perching, and I am not about to search for her.
She glides down from wherever she was sitting and plops in front of me. She gazes up at me. "No. As I said before, I didn't remember what the end said but now, hearing Allister say it, the words sound familiar."
I cross my arms over my chest. I'm not sure I believe her, but I push on anyway. I scan around at the four of us. "What do we do from here then?"
Allister takes a step forward and takes my hand in his. I'm so thankful for the gesture, it's grounding and comforting. He turns to me, "Well you remember when you told me we would travel back to the Eastern Fae one day?"
I cock my head and exaggeratedly say, "Yeeeaahhh..."
"Well, I think we need to head there and get them on our side."
"What?" I pull away from him, my hand shooting up to my necklace.
Raven pushes her side up against mine."He's right, girl. The humans and Eastern Fae are his enemies. Henrik killed their king, and essentially usurped their throne by taking their queen for his own, they must hate him. Getting their help is our best chance at defeating him. We can't do it on our own, and maybe if we have the Eastern Fae army on our side, the humans will understand if we join forces we can take down Henrik together."
"But... how?"
"It was my birthright to become king. I will simply go claim my birthright."
I scoff and narrow my eyes. "You make it sound easy."
"It's a solid plan, Attina. It's the only plan we have." Hazel pipes up.
"What about all the intel you told us you were gathering? None of it helps us take down Henrik. Maybe we can make some other plan with it?"
She shakes her head and flies down, landing on the ground in front of me.
"What was the point in it then?"
"I went to see his mental state."
"What? Why? He's a crazed madman."
She ruffles her feathers and begins pacing in front of me. "He's been perpetually crazy. But it's been a calculated crazy, until recently. Over the past decade, I've noticed him taking some major missteps, more so lately." She stops pacing and faces me, "Like you. What would possess him to allow you to remain alive? He could have easily killed you as a baby."
"My father would have protected me," I counter.
She audibly huffs. "He was human, he couldn't do anything against the Fae king. He wouldn't have stood a chance." I don't argue with her again. I know she's right.
Allister shimmies back over to me, placing his arm around my waist and pulls me to his side. Keeping me grounded. I briefly turn to him, and mouth thank you.
"You're his blood. Even if he didn't think you would have any powers, he had to have known you would come after him, with or without them, and he still let you live. He took every single thing from you and now here you are trying to take him down. He must have seen this coming. Was he so deluded he thought you wouldn't be a threat? Even after he turned your mother into a monster who killed your family?
I hear Raven gulp in air behind me. Even though her perfect image of my mother was shattered the night of my Awakening I know she still holds a soft spot for her and probably always will.
Hazel shakes her head. "No. Henrik's pride is what made him ignore you, and it will be his downfall. I've been keeping a closer watch on him since your Awakening, and he's been losing his mind. No one is allowed in his chambers or the throne room. You," she says as she pointedly stares at Allister, "seem to be one of the only exceptions to the rule. You saw what he was like when you were there last time. He's only gotten worse. His people weren't fairing well before, now they starve. The only ones not starving are the royal family and his army."
Allister wraps his arm around me and pulls me into his chest. "When I was there last he hit my mother. He's always been a vicious tyrant but, to my knowledge, he hasn't laid a hand on her before. He was unkempt and his behavior was maniacal. Some primal thing seems to have broken in him. We can't let our people starve, Attina."
"I agree they need to be saved, but how am I supposed to do such a thing? I'm only one person!" I shout, suddenly overwhelmed.
"It's already been foretold you will be the one to defeat Henrik," Hazel cuts in.
I throw my hand toward the tree where my mother's desk sits with all those papers piled high. "Why? Because some paper says I will? For all we know my mother made it up!"
All of a sudden I'm shot forward and I fall onto my knees. The earth catches me at the last second so it doesn't hurt when I make contact with the ground. "What the hell!" I shout and spin around, but I'm stopped mid turn by Raven’s hulking head.
Her eyes are thin slits as she puffs out, "You are not doing this."
"What?" I snap.
"We have not gotten this far, lost this much, for you to chicken out now. I won't allow it. I will grab your hair in my teeth and drag you to the Eastern Fae if I have to."
I gulp and drop my head. As I stand up I whisper, "I will die, Raven. There's no way we can pull this off. We can't get the Fae and humans to work together. You know how awful humans can be."
"I also know they can be easily manipulated." She almost smirks as she says it and I stroke her muzzle.
Allister steps up to my side. "And if anyone is going to try to kill you, they'll have to get through me first." I grab his hand and pull him into me. He leans down and presses a kiss on my forehead. The gesture takes the overwhelmed feeling I have and turns it into a calm determination.
Hazel says, "Then, we're agreed?"
I turn and peer down at Hazel. I chuckle and shrug my shoulders as I answer, "I guess we are."
17
JAMES
We've made it past the town where I last saw Attina. Ned is in the lead now, showing us where he sent her to search for supplies.
Each night I swear I'll kill him in his sleep, but he's constantly awake.
The man doesn't sleep.
How does he do it?
I know he knows what I'm up to now.
Each night he situates his bed roll right next to the Commander's. And each night I wait until Ned's breathing deepens. I quietly get up and make my way to his side, my hand inching to the dagger on my hip. Figuring I can kill him, drag him off, and make it look like some animal took him off into the night and clawed out his throat.
Then every single time at the last moment his eyes shoot open.
It's like he can hear me somehow but there's no humanly way he can hear me when I reach him. I'm quiet as a mouse.
He doesn't even ask me what I'm doing. He just winks at me, reaches behind him, and puts his hand on the Commander. Threatening to wake him. He doesn't show an ounce of fear as he stares me down.
I can get rid of Ned without much backlash. But the Commander, while he might be old and slow, I can't harm and still be welcomed at Sanctuary.
So, for now I will wait. It's a long trip, he has to sleep at some point.
I'll get him. One way or the other.
18
NED
I hope Attina and Allister are far away and have figured out some sort of plan. I wish I knew how to contact them and warn them we're coming. I'm not sure how all this will turn out.
If John realizes James is telling the truth, I don't know what it would mean for us all.
19
ATTINA
We make our way up to the tree house, Allister gets the lamps lit, and we both get changed for bed. I pull on one of Allister's shirts he left up here from his time here before and Allister changes into loose pants.
I make my way around my makeshift changing area and my stomach drops when I see Allister. He's sprawled out on our bed, lying on his side, waiting for me. His black hair is flipped around his back cascading down to the bed. His purple eyes are intense as they prowl over every inch of my body. The hungry gaze he gives me makes me want to wrap my arms around my body and hide. But I refuse to show him how nervous he makes me. I realize this is the last night we'll be sharing this bed for who knows how long. I don't know how long it will take us to get to the Eastern Fae stronghold, and until we make it there we will be sleeping next to Raven and Hazel. This is the last night we get some privacy.
I slowly walk over to the bed, hyper aware of each step I take. As I walk, my eyes devour Allister's hard body. I can't deny the attraction between us. He draws me to him like a moth to the flame. The curves of his body make my mouth run dry. I lift the cover and crawl under the blankets.
He cocks his eyebrows at me before he crawls under the blankets along with me. His strong thighs and rock hard abs tighten as he moves under the blankets. I roll on my side, embarrassment getting the better of me. My cheeks become scorching hot, I'm not sure how I'm not on fire.
Allister's arm wraps over the top of me, constricting around my body, his massive muscles flexing as he pulls my body back into his. He inches forward, his breath hot as he whispers in my ear, "Do you realize how gorgeous you are?" His hands move from around my stomach to around my hip, and down my thighs. I try to answer him, but words fail me as I lean back, allowing his hands better access to roam over me. I lean my head back and shake my head in response. He growls in my ear, making my entire body go loose and taut at the same time.
He gingerly runs his hands back up my thigh to my hip. His calloused hand travels up my shirt covering me as he leans over, kissing my neck. His hand reaches up further and further until his calloused hand is cupping my breast. He nibbles my neck at the same time he pinches my nipple, making me moan out in pleasure. "Do you like that kitten?"
"Mhmh," I unintelligibly groan out as I rub my butt into him in emphasis. He groans into my ear in answer.
His fingers continue to move over me, I try to spin around toward him, but he pins me in place. "I want to see how your body reacts, if you're comfortable with this?"
I say, "I am, but I want to touch you." It comes out as more of a whine.
He chuckles. "You will, kitten. Just give me tonight. I did win our fight the other day. Remember you owe me one request." I want to argue. He said it wouldn't be sexual, but I really want this man. I guess I can let him have this one.
His hands search my body, finding all of my pleasurable spots, and claiming them for his own. As his hand moves between my legs I begin panting as I feel myself coming closer and closer to a precipice. I move into his hand, intensifying the pleasure. Closing my eyes, I cry out in pleasure as I find my release.
I instantly smell smoke and when I open my eyes I see the smoke hanging in the air around us. I lift my hand to my mouth, embarrassment coursing through me as I roll over to face Allister and see a wolfish grin covering his features. My cheeks instantly heat. "Well, I guess you're not too scared of your fire now?"
I shove my head into his chest. "I honestly didn't even think about it until it was all over."
His finger sneaks under my chin and he lifts my gaze to his. "I'm glad I can make you forget and bring you such pleasure."
I lift my lips to his, claiming him as mine as I nibble on his lower lip. He groans in reply. I run my hands up his chest and wrap my arm around his neck. When I pull away, I yawn and push to crawl on top of him but he's like an immovable rock. I stare down at him with pinched eyebrows, confused as to why he won't let me move him.
"You're exhausted and we should talk about what our next moves are." I'm instantly disappointed but I lie back on the bed, realizing he's right. It's already hard for me to keep my eyes open and we should try to figure things out.
We stay up half the night talking about what we should do. But after talking through them, none of our plans seemed to end well, so we decide it's better to get a good night's sleep.
It's nice lying in a cushy bed wrapped in Allister's warm, comforting arms. His presence always makes me feel completely safe, even in my sleep. I haven't had a night terror since the first night here, when I woke him up and asked him to cuddle with me. I hate to admit it but he's right, cuddling does keep the night terrors away.
But like all great things it had to end. Morning eventually came which meant we had to get out of bed and pack. I take a couple blankets with us too. It's getting later in the year meaning the nights should be getting colder. Around this tree is perpetual summer, but it should change as we move further away from it, further north. I really don't want to be out in the elements with nothing but my bedroll.
"I'll let you down with the platform, bring it back up and climb down the tree myself," Allister says as he walks up behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle. The black fighting leathers he again has on, squeak at the movement.
I turn in his arms and stare up into his mesmerizing purple eyes, his long ebony hair is pushed forward over his shoulders. The sword strapped to his back gleams in the sunlight. "You don't have to do that! I know how much work bringing the platform up and down is."
He squeezes me once and shakes his head. "I want you to have some time in your mother's room alone. Maybe being in there will bring you a little closer to her somehow." He smiles down at me as I open my mouth. He lifts a finger to my lips, effectively cutting my words short. "I've had plenty of time in her room reading those papers. I feel like I got a chance to catch back up with her, now I'd like you to do the same."
