21 Shades of Night, page 163
“You have to decide.”
“Between them?
He frowned. “Between us.”
I woke with a start, coated in sweat, clutched tight by Liam’s arms. The room had the light of dawn seeping through the windows. I saw Liam’s face. His frown and furrowed brow. “What? A dream?”
“A nightmare,” I said, seeking his face with my hands. I felt his jaw and along the lines of his cheekbones. He kissed my fingers.
“What about?”
“It didn’t make sense. It was just weird.” I blinked, feeling groggy, like I couldn’t shake the lingering effects of the dream. “How long was I out?”
“Since yesterday morning. You lost a day.”
“Wow. Okay, well, what did I miss?” My stomach growled. I clasped my hands over it to squelch the sound. “Besides food.”
He hopped out of bed and brought me a tray of fruit, cheese and meat. “Your little handmaiden made me promise to give this to you. She’s probably got her ear glued to the door right now to make sure.”
“Probably,” I said, through a mouthful of bread. “So right, besides food, what did I miss?”
“Eleanor and Fiona left yesterday morning. Colleen and Brayden got me up to date on the treaty. Mrs. Graves fussed over me. She’s much more in her element here than back in the human world.”
“Did you see Fiona and Eleanor before they left?”
“Briefly. They know I’m okay.”
“Fiona helped save you. She told me how to do it. I never would have figured it out on my own.”
He grimaced. “Ah, so I owe her a debt?”
“We owe her.”
“Even worse.”
We ate quietly for a moment and then I asked, “What did you think about the terms of the treaty?”
He rubbed his chin. “I think it’s okay. I’d rather it be a bit longer than three years—I don’t know why they set the time limit, other than they’re hoping to come up with a way to bend your will to theirs.”
“I have no intention of bending any time soon.”
“I know, and I love that about you.”
I look into his eyes. “I love you too.”
“Are we good?” he asked.
“Sorry about that,” I mumbled, looking down at my hands. “This place makes me a little crazy. Definitely paranoid.”
“You have to trust me.”
“I do. There was a moment I thought I may lose you and that was enough to push aside my worries. But I do need to know one more thing—something important.”
“Go ahead.”
“How did you know you and I were the match and not Eleanor or Fiona? Could you have picked one of them? They seemed to think so.”
“It’s like fitting a key in a lock,” he said taking my hand in his. “There is only one key that will fit in a particular lock. It was never a choice; it has always been about fate binding us together. I am a Guardian of the land—a role created specifically by the original Goddess. The true Queen must have a companion, not necessarily of her choosing, but one destined for her. This is my destiny, and apparently yours. Together our power will be unrivaled.”
“Fiona and Eleanor thought they could win you over?”
“They stole their kingdoms. They thought they could steal me too.”
“But you knew better?” I asked.
“I had a feeling, one that was realized the day your abilities were revealed.”
A question. The question nagged at the back of my mind. “Why didn’t you just tell me the truth all along?”
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “As much as you had to learn to trust me, I had to trust you. I had to train you and make sure you were committed. I had to know once you got here you would be willing to take all of this on. It’s why I panicked when Grace brought you earlier than I expected. What if you had balked? What if you had run directly to Fiona or Eleanor—or they got to you first? It could have been a disaster. I was hoping to explain all this to you gradually, but life doesn’t always work out the way I want it to.” He touched my face. “I’ve had decades to deal with Fiona and Eleanor and know their true intentions. My time with you has been very intense but so overwhelming. I had to make sure.”
I nodded. “What happens next?”
“We hand over that signed treaty and go home.”
“Home?” The thought of home brought a pang to my chest.
A smile crept over his lips. “I protect the portal. So do you.”
“What about the castle?”
“The day-to-day can be handled by others. I’m sure Mrs. Graves will make the sacrifice. We can make regular visits and,” he shrugged, “If you decide you want to live here you have every right to reassign me.”
For the first time in weeks I considered that everything would be okay. “So that’s the plan? Having our cake and eating it too?”
“Yes. That’s the plan.” He laughed. “Now, I think you agreed to revisit something from yesterday?”
“Something?”
Liam leaned forward and kissed me. His lips were warm, and for once we were truly in synch. No injuries or warring emotions. No race against death, evil queens or soldiers breathing down our necks. The only breath I felt was his mingled with mine.
“Should we do this?” I asked. He pressed against me, I had no idea how “no” was even a possible answer.
“We should definitely do this.”
“You said once we consummate our bodies outside of the protective sanctuary then we’d fully merge—I’m not ready for all of that.”
“Trust me?”
I nodded, even after he held up his blade.
“I’ll make it quick,” he said, rolling me to my side. Heat boiled in me as he worked. With a tense jaw and concentrated eyes, he marked the soft flesh of my hip. Energy sourced between us, the intention of the mark spreading through my limbs. By the time he finished, pressing his mouth against the symbol and whispering ancient words warm and commanding, I panted. Desperate for him.
“There,” he said. “It’s like mystical birth control.”
“That’s why you carry the mark?”
“Among other reasons.”
His mouth covered mine and like that I submitted. My t-shirt and both of our shorts fell to the floor. I had no desire to fight him. My only wish was to be with him. My blood ran through his veins. We were already joined. We’d joined in the Valley, and just as I knew then, his feelings were pure. He was my destiny and I was his.
For the first time I gave myself to him fully. No mind-tricks. No magic. Just his hands on my body, his body in mine, joined, sticky and slick. Letting go allowed me to fully embrace the moment in a way that eluded me before. My stomach tensed and my brain shut off, falling into a haze of ecstasy. Colors danced between us, blue and purple. Through the pleasure, I felt him—all of him—as he moved hard and swift. My hands clenched his back, pulling him closer.
“Gods,” he murmured against my cheek. He still prayed to the very entities that he was nearly one of himself.
I felt the rush of him in me and my body complied, tightening around him, pleasure painting our colors deep red.
I lay beneath him, wiggling away as he kissed my sensitive inner thighs.
“How do you feel?” he asked, kissing his way up my belly.
“Happy.”
He looked up, a wide grin on his face. “Me too.”
But there was more—something greater rolling beneath the surface. Power, but we already knew that. This feeling, it anchored us together, to this place and to one another. I knew why Fiona and Eleanor wanted it so badly. It was the one thing they could never have, set aside the day they murdered Celeste.
The strength and rewards of unconditional love.
Chapter 38
Liam
WE RODE OUT of the kingdom toward the meeting point. This time we had an entourage. Several guards including Colleen and Brayden. Nadya had requested that Grace come along. Servants carried our bags, as we planned to leave for the human world from the meeting.
Mrs. Graves stayed back at the castle, pleased with her role of caretaker. Colleen would stay back as well to serve as a liaison between the kingdoms. It seemed like a stable set up. If not, Nadya and I would be only a portal-hop away. I had faith we could make this arrangement work—at least until I figured out what Fiona and Eleanor planned. Of course they had something planned. Didn’t they always?
I glanced at the woman beside me. Nayda insisted on wearing her human clothing to the meeting. Some sort of attempt to stand her ground. Whatever she wanted. I trusted her instincts. She gave me a small knowing look, a smile on her lips, before focusing on the trail ahead. Our time in bed was intense. I could sense her desire to join with me again. Or maybe that was just my own want. Her horse moved forward and she gave me a fast glance, eyes narrowed, lips playful. No, she wanted me too. Gods, we just needed to get through this treaty signing and I’d take her home and keep her in bed for days.
Camelot picked up her pace to stay close. I kept my eyes on her hair, the way it swung back and forth from the knot Isla had arranged it in. Her bangs lay blunt across her forehead, purple streaked down the sides. Small studs sparkled in her ears, the necklace from her mother hung around her neck. I noticed the glint of the red, jeweled ring on her finger as she gripped the reins.
The lush lands of her kingdom faded away and we met the place unclaimed by the Deadlands’ revival.
“Is this the furthest the vegetation reaches?” she asked. Deep lines marred her forehead.
“It will happen, eventually. Total reclaiming will take time—years even.”
We came to a river and the guards crossed it first. Nayda waited at the edge and I eased Camelot next to her. “Afraid to cross?”
“No,” she said. “I dreamed of this place.”
“A nightmare?” Dreams held significance in Otherworld. Often they were more than a restless mind. Any disturbance Nadya had I should know.
“Sort of. Nothing happened in the river—it was more about what we find on the other side.”
“Did anything bad happen? Dangerous?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m being silly.”
Grace’s horse came along side ours. She’d heard Nadya and the same concern I had was evident on her face. She frowned and looked between the two of us. “I’m sure it was just nerves about the meeting.” I prodded them along and followed behind them. The remaining guards brought up the rear.
“Eleanor and Fiona picked this spot because it was a crossroads for the kingdoms,” I explained to Nadya. The lands meet here, which gives you all even footing. It’s symbolic more than anything else.” We rode over the small hill and the clearing of green grass was visible. The ancient tree sat in the middle, the true middle of our three kingdoms.
As we approached, the tension never left Nadya’s face. Her eyes were locked on the tree. I felt stress in our bond. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I don’t trust them.”
I took her hand. “Don’t worry. We have everything under control. This is a good deal for them too.”
“I hope so, Liam.” She gave me a final look and rode toward the tree.
Chapter 39
Nadya
THE TWISTED FEELING in the pit of my stomach grew with every step my horse took toward the tree. I may be a believer of horoscopes and even more recently magic, but dreams becoming real? That scared the heck of out me, and there was nothing I wanted more than to turn tail and run all the way back to the secure walls of the castle.
As I approached the tree, I reconciled the fact the grass was green and not brown and brittle, like my dream. No rope or noose hung from the low-hanging branch. Just a shady, flat stone platform had been built at the bottom, I assume for meetings like this one.
As if they were waiting for our approach, Fiona and Eleanor strode on handsome horses toward the tree. “Dismount,” Liam said behind me. A wave of emotion passed over me as he helped me down. Fear that he was here, like in my dream. Relief that he would assist me.
“Nadya,” Eleanor said in greeting. Fiona simply nodded. “You look well, Liam.”
“Let’s get this done,” he said, unrolling a long sheet of paper. I had a brief longing for an iPad or something.
“I see you added some stipulations,” Eleanor said, looking over the details. “You’ll be returning to the Humanworld?”
“For part of the time—to continue my mother’s work at the portal.”
Her eyes widened slightly. “Of course.”
“Don’t worry, we’ve left the castle in capable hands and we will return often.”
Fiona eyed Liam with equal measures of wanting to harm him and just wanting him. Increasingly I wasn’t convinced of her stability. They read the remainder of the treaty, pausing to ask a trivial question here or there. Liam answered them all in short, clipped replies. I saw Eleanor’s black polished fingernail stop at the final notation. “This isn’t possible.”
“What?” I asked leaning forward. I knew what that stipulation had been.
Grace.
“Grace doesn’t belong to you, dear. She’s my sister’s property.”
Fiona nodded as if she cared. I suspected she didn’t. I looked behind me and found Grace waiting on the hilltop with the others. “Grace is my friend. I gave her sanctuary at my kingdom.”
“You really have no choice. You do not get to interfere with the ways of our people. She is a traitor and must be punished.” Eleanor flashed me a condescending grin. I hated her. “Unless you have something of equal value to trade for her life?”
I turned to Liam seeking advice, a suggestion—anything. He shook his head. “There has to be something.”
“There’s not, and Eleanor’s right. She’s from Solar. We have no right to keep her.”
“Liam! She helped save your life!”
“So did Fiona,” he whispered, as though he didn’t want to remind them. As if they’d forgotten. “I need to go get her.”
“No, I’ll go,” I said.
I walked away from the others. Away from the snarky grins on the Queens’ faces. The frown on Liam’s. I walked back up the hill, thankful for my jeans and boots. Halfway there Grace caught my eye and ran to meet me.
From her expression she’d already guessed. “They want me.”
“They do.”
“It’s okay, Nadya. You’ve been so good to me.”
“It’s not okay.”
“Yes it is. Please let me go. It’s for the best.”
“But they’ll hurt you,” I said, fighting back tears.
Her blue eyes sparkled. “They may, but I’ve got some fight in me.”
I flung my arms around her and squeezed tight. I felt the thin lines in her back from her wings and wished she’d just fly away. “No,” she said, following my train of thought. “I will not be the reason to break this treaty that hasn’t even started yet. You’re going to do great things. Let me be part of that.”
I nodded, unable to speak. Hand in hand we walked back to the tree.
Grace wiped a tear from her eye and faced the guard that wrapped chains around her wrists and across her back so she couldn’t unfurl her wings. Liam stood by my side and the bond ebbed between us. He felt my sorrow. I used his strength.
“There,” Eleanor said, amending the portion about Grace. She signed her name in black ink and sealing it with a hot stamp of wax. Fiona picked up the same pen and signed her name in loopy gold ink. Freaking magic. She handed me the pen I looked at the tip, glinting with silver ink.
“Your turn, Your Highness,” Eleanor said, voice thick with amusement. Her tone made it click—the fact she didn’t respect me. This was all another move in the game.
It was time for me to make my play.
I bent to sign the paper but turned fast, stabbing the pen clear through the pale flesh of Eleanor’s hand, nailing her to the table. She screeched and Fiona jumped up, a second too late. Liam had her from behind, bronze sword at her neck.
“Little girl,” my black haired aunt declared, “You have no idea what you’ve unleashed.”
The pen was nothing for a woman of Eleanor’s strength; she muttered words and the metal dissolved into dust. I unsheathed the blade attached to my thigh and she held a long black, jewel encrusted scepter in her hand.
“Take me on,” I said. “I dare you to without your magic.”
“You want a cat-fight? Hair pulling and slaps across the face?” she sneered.
I shrugged. “I just want to punch you in the face.”
She pulled the end of the scepter out and revealed a long blade that glinted in the afternoon light. “Take your best shot.”
I charged her, making the first move. It was risky, something Colleen had warned me about many times but the rage and fury under my skin had pushed me to the brink.
She blocked me easily, our blades clinking with a fiery spark. I dug into my wheel-house, fighting like I’d been taught. Knees, elbows and fists. Eleanor’s style was graceful, but not enough to escape a debilitating jab to the gut.
“Oof,” she exhaled, distracted, and I kicked her sword out of reach. She went for my face, tearing at my skin with her claw-like nails. Leg out, I swept her ankles, pushing her back with my palms. She landed face first in the dirt, rolling over quick, dress tearing at the hem.
My feet tangled in the fabric and I stumbled, her ribs breaking my fall. Crack! Her elbow slammed into my jaw. Dazed, I swung. My fist grazed her eye. She pulled at my hair, yanking me off. When I pressed a thumb to her still healing hand, she screamed painfully.
I rushed to my feet and grabbed her sword and my blade. I held the point to her throat.
“A flick of my wrist you’ll be bound to that tree.”
I took a deep breath, allowing my essence to flow from my limbs. Blades of grass moved as though the wind blew, the roots from the ancient tree quaked and the leaves rustled, trembling under my command. Vines wove around Eleanor’s ankles and wrists and birds screeched from the treetop.
“That tree answers to me,” I said. “This land heeds my call. I will use it against you if you break the treaty—the original one.”
