Castle Coeds 10, page 26
The sun had shone brightly on the hundreds of ships that scattered the surface, and light twinkled between them on the black water. The canons had stopped blasting, and the shouts from the men fighting in the garden had gone silent.
The battle was over, but I had no idea how it had ended.
I closed my eyes and focused on my physical body. It was cool, but that was because it hadn’t been standing next to Tevai’s wall of fire for the last several minutes. There was no wind, so that meant the dragon wasn’t in the air.
When I opened my eyes, I was slouched in the leather saddle between the dragon’s shoulder blades. I blinked as I scanned my surroundings. I was at the edge of the garden, and the venue was completely trashed. I quickly freed myself from the harness to jump down.
“Did you get it?” I asked Tevai.
“It is beating inside of me,” the dragon said in my head, and her voice was filled with the victory of justice being served.
Her golden eyes gleamed as she stared down at me, and she leaned her head closer to my face. Her scales were smooth, and I splayed my hand on her snout with affection.
She hummed, and it rumbled into the ground.
I had no idea how she’d gotten her second heart back inside her chest without surgery, but I wasn’t a five-century-old magical dragon, so what did I know? All that mattered was that Tevai was safe and back with her missing relic.
“I’m going to check on the others,” I said. “Will you be okay?”
Tevai nodded, and her cool scales scratched the palm of my hand. She closed her eyes, and I imagined she would rest at least a bit before joining us.
I rushed to the gazebo at the center of the palace’s garden, where most of our group hovered together. Gwen had gotten down from the roof of the stone gazebo, and her bow was slung over her shoulder. She was chewing the inside of her cheek with worry and holding Andamora’s hand.
The Castilan woman’s hair looked wilder than usual, and a few curly strands fell on her face. Asha seemed to be in a tense conversation with Bahdir and Keith.
When they saw me approaching, they lit up with relief.
“Isaac!” Andamora cried, and her thick eyebrows rose with joy.
“How are you?” I asked in a rush of words.
I scoured the three women’s faces and bodies for any signs of injury and was grateful to find none. There was blood splattered on Asha and Andamora, but it didn’t look like it was from personal wounds. Gwen’s dress was tattered and torn at the hem, but she also looked unscathed.
“Better than Constantine’s men,” Asha said.
The dark-skinned woman glanced over my shoulder at what I imagined was Tevai and looked reassured to see the dragon.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Tevai got her heart back,” I said. “And Constantine lost his head.”
“He did?” Andamora gasped, but her face was bright with bubbling excitement.
“The relic Tevai forged on my cuirass let me use my sword while astral projecting,” I said.
I looked around at the strewn corpses of Constantine’s guards. I imagined the garden would be permanently stained with their blood.
“Do we have any news of the others?” I asked.
“Owain went back to the ship once the battle was over,” Bahdir said with a sympathetic expression. “Tevai helped transport the dead back to the ships.”
“Do we have many?” I asked.
The memory of Alarik’s last moments was burned into my brain, and my heart hurt at his loss.
“About two hundred warriors and soldiers,” Bahdir said. “Two of Trinika’s magic-holders, and… Noll.”
The mention of the man from Carl’s crew stunned me, and the image of Bahdir hauling Jacosa across the battlefield sprang into my mind. She’d looked distraught, and I assumed Bahdir was taking her to safety while they retrieved her brother.
“What happened?” I asked.
“He summoned the beasts from the forest,” Bahdir said. “But he needed to get closer to retain control, and… one of the guards stabbed him.”
My Shanukstani representative’s eyes welled, and his lips pressed into a thin line.
“He died bravely,” Bahdir said. “He told Jacosa that he had no regrets.”
Poor Noll.
He’d seemed wary of coming to the island. He was more courageous than he looked, and he helped us immensely to win the fight against the emperor. He and all the others would be honored somehow for their sacrifice. I would make sure of it.
“We also…” Gwen started, but her doe eyes darted to her hands as if she was searching for the right words. “Trinika.”
“No.” I refused to believe it.
“She drained herself,” Gwen said. “Akoni is on the Sláine with her and the others.”
Akoni had just been reunited with her mother, and the Outlands was just starting to return to normal. I needed to get back to Owain’s ship to check on her. I knew what it was like to lose parents, and Akoni had already lost her father to the corrupted magic.
“Is everyone off the island?” I asked.
“Yes.” Keith nodded. “There were a few hiding in the palace, but we found and killed them. We have already torched their ships in case any more were hiding there.”
“What about the servants?” I asked.
“There weren’t many on the island,” Keith said. “Many died in the battle, and those who didn’t clung to their loyalty to Constantine like they were hypnotized. I dealt with them quickly and with as much mercy as possible.”
“Good,” I said. “Then it’s time to go home.”
Tevai was too tired to fly, so she returned to her human form and joined us on the Sláine. I decided it was best to skip the tiny island of dragon bones and go straight home instead. No one argued with me.
When we climbed onto the deck of Owain’s ship, I rushed to the captain’s cabin, where Akoni was. She was sitting on the leather sofa with her mother’s head resting on her lap. It looked like Trinika was taking a nap, and her bony hands rested on top of each other on her motionless chest.
Locs from the bundle on Akoni’s head had fallen out and hung over the witch’s downturned head. The bone and metal carvings tinkled from the gentle shake of her slumped shoulders as she silently cried.
Akoni’s ringed fingers lovingly stroked her mother’s locs, and a whimper escaped her.
“She is dead.” Akoni sniffed.
I knelt in front of her and placed my hand on her tear-streaked cheek. Her big brown eyes met mine, and her brows arched over the bridge of her nose in a pleading look.
“She helped Noll find the creatures,” Akoni said. “She was weaker than she let on… The corruption was embedded in her… It drained her magic and essence.”
Tears rolled down Akoni’s cheeks and dripped onto her chest. Her purple-painted lips quivered, and she pressed them together.
“I should have done something to stop her,” she said.
“I don’t think anything would have stopped your mother from protecting you,” I said. “And if it was the lingering corruption, there was nothing to be done.”
I wiped one of her tears with my thumb.
“I’m sure she loved the time she got to spend with you these last few months.” My voice was filled with empathy, and I had no doubts about the truth of my words.
I spent the rest of the afternoon comforting Akoni, but when the sun started to dim, I had to lead her back outside. Trinika would have to be placed with the other fallen, and we’d have a ceremony for them.
Lanterns had been hung from the masts, and they cast a warm glow over the deck. The soldiers, sailors, and the Woodhouse women cheered when they saw me, and a wave of emotions flooded inside of me.
“Isaac!” Ellaria ran out of the group.
She practically slammed into me and wrapped her arms around my neck. Her skin was soft under my touch, and her pinned-up hair tickled my ear, but I welcomed it.
“I’m so relieved to see you,” she sighed.
I squeezed her with affection, and she hummed in the crook of my neck.
“Huzzah!” the soldiers shouted with glee.
Their sudden cheers startled me, and Ellaria pulled away with a smile on her pretty face.
My eyes drifted over the crowd, and I tried to memorize every detail of the moment. Olivia, Kryze, Arden, and Asha had their arms entwined with one another. Gwen and Nora held Akoni in an embrace. Tevai watched me with pride twinkling in her golden eye, and Andamora’s head rested on the dragon-woman’s shoulder.
Owain stood off to the side with Odine, and his eyes shone with a mixture of grief and happiness, and he raised a mug of sloshing wine in the air.
“To Isaac!” Owain shouted.
“To the end of the dark days!” Keith called out.
“To Emperor Isaac of Woodhouse!” Nora screamed with a huge grin on her face.
To my surprise, everyone on the boat repeated the redhead’s words without hesitation and cheered some more. I didn’t know what to say and stared with my mouth open at the scene. My chest swelled with warmth and pride for all of them.
“That has a good ring to it,” Owain chuckled. “I see no better man to step into the role.”
My cheeks flushed from all the attention, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in the job. My mind was reeling, and I couldn’t wait to see how Tullia would thrive under the rule of someone who actually cared about its wellbeing.
Everyone drank and celebrated our victory, but as the night went on, I grew more exhausted. I hadn’t slept much in the last couple of days on top of the full day of battle.
I excused myself and snuck into my room for some rest. The quiet was pleasant, and instantly put me at ease. I fell onto the mattress, but despite the exhaustion and the lulling movement of the waves, my nerves were too jittery from the day’s events.
It almost felt like a dream.
My brain raced with flashes from the battle, and my heart raced inside my chest.
A light knock at my door snapped me back to reality, and I stared at the foot of my bed with curiosity.
“Isaac…” a soft woman’s voice called from the hallway. “I need to see you.”
Chapter 17
The woman’s voice was familiar, and it was tinged with desperation, as if she was running out of air and needed a hit from an inhaler. Her words dripped with yearning that yanked me out of bed and had me stumble to the door in two seconds.
Ellaria stood in the hallway with a nervous expression on her beautiful face. She was still wearing her wedding dress, and from up close, and without the bouquet covering her, I could finally make out the details of the gown. Gold swirls were embroidered where the satin fabric cinched under her small breasts and hung over her narrow hips to her feet.
Her sleeves were loose and draped over her slender arms, and her plunging neckline directed my attention to her tits that peeked out from under the material.
Ellaria bit her lower lip, and my gaze darted back up to her face. A few wispy curls had escaped their pins and fell over her almond-shaped eyes. Her gaze was unwavering, and her attention made my heart flutter and set a frenzy of butterflies free in my lower abdomen.
“May I come in?” she asked, and her high cheekbones turned a deeper shade of pink.
I supposed it was bold for a lady to ask.
I nodded and opened the door wider for her.
Ellaria’s chest brushed against my arm as she slipped past me into my room, and my breath was suddenly just out of reach. The scent of lavender and sea salt from the ocean air drifted after her, and I shut the door behind us.
“I must thank you…” The words tumbled out of her full lips in a breathless urgency. “From the bottom of my heart. You saved me.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” I said in a gentle tone. “I’m just happy you’re safe and free from Constantine and your father.”
“How can I repay you?” she asked in an almost wistful tone, and her light brown eyes gleamed when they locked with mine.
“You don’t owe me anything,” I assured her. “But, if you insist, you can thank me by living your life how you choose.”
“You are perfect.” The moment the words escaped her mouth, they seemed to startle her, and her hand shot up to press her lips closed.
I chuckled, and warmth flooded my chest with the sentiment. She was so wholesome and kind, I couldn’t imagine a time when I didn’t know her.
“I’d argue that you were the perfect one,” I said, “but I’ll take the compliment.”
Ellaria blushed, and her light brown eyes twinkled as she looked up at me. Her Cupid’s bow was pronounced, but her wide, full lips softened their look. Her dramatic eyebrows curved almost like a silent plea.
“I was so worried about you,” she said.
“It was hard to let you go,” I agreed with a sympathetic nod. “But you were safer on the Sláine with the others.”
“They were lovely.” Ellaria’s smile was soft. “They helped calm my nerves. Lady Nora… she is quite charming.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” I chuckled.
Ellaria’s smile faded, and a thoughtful expression fell on her elegant features. She crossed the room to stand right in front of me, and I was surprised by the sudden boldness of the action. She lifted a delicate hand to rest on the collar of my shirt. It was such a casual motion, I thought she might pluck a piece of lint off the fabric.
Her touch lingered and warmed the skin of my neck, and when Ellaria tilted her head up, her gaze seemed to pierce into my soul. I was stunned into place, and all I could do was stare back at her dumbly.
“I believe I never married… or wanted to wed…” She took a deep breath, and her dramatic brows rose. “Because… I was waiting for you.”
The whole world seemed to have paused around me, and even my heart went still in my chest. My peripheral vision went dark, and all there was was Ellaria and me.
The Lydmark woman tugged at the material of my shirt, and I let her pull my face toward hers. Our mouths locked, and I was overwhelmed by her scent of lavender and mint. Her lips were plush and soft, and they plucked mine with tenderness and without hurry.
It was like she was savoring each second, and I would have been lying if I said I wasn’t doing the same. She parted her lips, and I slipped my tongue inside.
She tasted just as good as she smelled, and I let out a low growl of desire. Ellaria’s hand brushed over my shoulders and up my neck like an explorer on uncharted land. She cupped the back of my neck and pulled me closer to her. Our lips moved in tandem like they were made for each other.
Her delicate fingers tangled in my hair, and her long nails scratched my scalp and sent a tingling sensation down my spine. It was like my muscles and bones had turned into mush from her touch, and all I wanted to do was melt into her.
“Hmm,” Ellaria hummed against my mouth.
My hands fell on her waist and drifted over her hips. I glided over the silky fabric of her dress and reveled in learning every curve of her body for the first time. I moved up her sides, and my thumbs brushed under her small breasts before moving to her back.
Ellaria quivered under my touch as I trailed my fingers down her spine and cupped her firm ass. She sighed before nipping at my lower lip and sending a frenzy of butterflies loose in my lower abdomen.
She pulled away to stare at me with dewy eyes and swollen, parted lips.
“I have dreamed of this since the moment we first met,” she admitted breathlessly.
Even in our brief meeting when she’d introduced herself as Ellie, there had been something about her that I couldn’t shake off. She’d crept into my brain and had nestled herself in my chest.
“I give myself to you, Isaac.” Her voice was sincere and filled with emotion. “My heart, soul, and body.”
Warmth cascaded through me, and my core simmered with hot desire. It felt like my chest was about to burst, and I couldn’t stop staring at Ellaria’s stunning face.
Her fair skin seemed to glow in the moonlight that flooded the room from the circular window over my bed.
“I’m yours, too,” I said, and I kissed her forehead tenderly.
If I could have drowned in her scent, I would have happily. She was intoxicating.
I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear before working on the pins at the back of her head. One by one, I plucked the tiny, metal pins out and flicked them onto the dresser nearby. Her braids loosened and unraveled before they finally came undone.
I stepped back to marvel in her beauty.
Her wavy brown hair cascaded around her slender shoulders like a waterfall that reached her hips.
Without breaking eye contact, Ellaria carefully loosened the ribbons of her bodice, and the low neckline of her wedding dress slid off her shoulders and hugged her at her elbows.
She wasn’t wearing anything underneath, and her perky tits were on full display. Goosebumps pricked up on her smooth skin, and her rosy nipples budded like flowers ready to bloom.
My dick strained against my pants, and my mouth watered at the sight of her. Ellaria let the heavy material fall, and it pooled at her feet. It reminded me of the seashell from that Botticelli painting Nora had once shown me from her old textbooks.
I traced the subtle curves and planes of Ellaria’s naked body with my eyes like an artist about to sculpt their muse. Her high cheekbones turned a pale pink, but her light brown eyes fixed me with a need and hunger that matched my own.
I closed the space between us and allowed my hands to explore every inch of her like a pioneer discovering new territory. She was soft to the touch, and my fingers trailed over the side of her small breast, down the slope of her flat stomach, and back up over her chest to the sensitive skin of her collarbone.
Ellaria sighed, and her head lolled back as she closed her eyes. I kissed her sharp jawline, one of her high cheekbones, an eyebrow, and her full lips. I wanted to memorize all of her with every one of my senses.
I stepped around Ellaria to stand behind her, and her back fell against my chest. She tilted her head back on my shoulder, and I nibbled and sucked at the smooth curve of her neck as she moaned.
