To Love a King (Court of Annwyn) (17 page)

It was almost like setting the clock back seven years.

After tonight, they would be back to where they were before everything went wrong. Instead of moving on and forgetting, perhaps going back and redoing and fixing things was exactly what was needed. Her lips curved. There wasn’t any place she’d rather be than with Felan.

She opened the door and slipped into the bathroom.

Two candles flickered on the bathroom vanity, the horn between them. Felan was already in the bath.

“I thought you might have changed your mind.”

She shook her head, unable to find any words. She placed the bottle down and began undressing, aware he was watching her every move. She fumbled buttons and tried not to look at herself in the mirror.

Maybe it was the scent of the candles, or maybe there was magic in the air, but when she stepped out of her panties, she was feeling more settled—more aware of the naked man in the bath and the way his attention was warming her in all the right places.

She didn’t need him to tell her what to do. She picked up the ancient silver-tipped horn and filled it full of wine, then stepped into the bath. Felan ran his hands up her calves and drew her down, so she knelt over his thighs. He wrapped his hand over hers around the horn and took a drink before offering it to her. The metal was cold against her lips, but the wine was warm on her tongue. She took a long drink. The alcohol hit her stomach and spread, warming her blood and making the room fade away until it was just her and Felan. He took the cup from her and drained it, then let it fall into the water.

Around her the water went completely still, so not even a ripple broke the surface. Her skin prickled with anticipation that she couldn’t blame entirely on the wine. The magic was in her. She could feel it sliding around in her blood, washing away the anxiety and replacing it with desire.

His hands caressed her breasts, circling her nipples and raising them into tight peaks. He leaned forward and took one into his mouth, flicking his tongue over her skin. She moved closer, her hands sliding over his arms to rest on his shoulders. As his teeth raked her nipple, she moaned and let her head fall back. Desire consumed her. She smelled it, tasted it—reveled in it. As she lowered her hips, she felt him hard and ready. She moved, letting him slid against her without entering. She wanted him—the heat was in her blood.

She opened her eyes and looked into his. They were pale and bottomless, and in them she saw his endless love and lust for her. His hand slid down her back and cupped her butt, working her over his length. It wasn’t enough; she needed to feel him inside her. She slid her hand between their bodies and angled his shaft so she could take him into her core.

His breath caught as she sunk onto him, and he filled her. She leaned forward to kiss him, her nipples brushing his chest with every movement. Her skin was sensitive to every touch, her body awake in a way it hadn’t been before.
Spring. Life. Fertility. Magic.

The magic was working; she was sure of it.

He kept his hand on her hip, keeping a slow rhythm when all she wanted to do was go faster and feel the rush that was building to release. His tongue traced her lip and slipped into her mouth, their moans echoing around them. She rode him harder, the edge growing sharper, the heat in her blood burning hotter, like she was a sun, expanding and consuming everything she touched.

Her back arched, and she shuddered, unable to hold on any longer. For a moment she was sure she died and saw everything. She saw Felan gasp and hold her hips hard against him as she came. She felt the heat of his seed in her body, and her body accepting the offering as the magic swept through her, taking over for biology. She wanted to watch more, but she felt rather than saw a snap, and she was back in her skin, leaning against his chest, trying to catch her breath. His hand smoothed down her back. His heart echoed in her ear, racing as fast as hers. When she closed her eyes, the image was there. She’d been out of her body for a moment, she was sure of it, and yet she hadn’t been scared—only amazed at what she was seeing and feeling.

But now in the cooling water, she didn’t feel any different. Maybe she’d imagined something magical happening because it needed to happen so badly. It would be a few weeks before she could be sure. And by then if it hadn’t worked, it would be too late. She bit her lip.

His hand stilled as if sensing the change in her. “Are you all right?”

She nodded. She had to trust the magic and Felan. Trust a fairy. But he was more than that. He was the man she’d fallen for, the one who always came back for her, regardless of how long he’d been away. Of all the women in the world, he’d fallen for her.

She lifted her head and kissed his cheek. He turned to catch her lips, his fingers tracing her jaw.

“I think it worked,” he murmured.

“What makes you say that?” If they had both felt something, then surely it had?

“There was a moment when I felt magic run through me, like electricity.”

That made her smile. “You’ve been electrocuted?”

“Lightning…long story, stupid dare when I was a lot younger.” He moved beneath her and adjusted her weight on his thighs. “Did you feel anything?”

“Yeah.” But she didn’t know how to explain it.

“I guess we cross our fingers now.”

“And our toes.”

His lips twitched as if he were about to smile, but it never formed. “I love you.” He cupped her cheek and placed a simple kiss on her lips.

“I love you too.” Her legs began to ache from being cramped in the bath. The candles were flickering and reality pulled apart the small moment they’d shared where nothing else had mattered.

She wanted that back, if only to pretend for a little longer that the fates of two worlds didn’t rest on them. Using his shoulder as leverage, she stood up. It was only as she stepped out of the bath she realized the water had been perfectly still the whole time. It had never once lapped at her skin or sloshed around. She watched for ripples as he got out, but there wasn’t a single one. When he pulled the plug, the water slid down the plug instead of gurgling.

“Fairy silver keeps the water calm.” Then he picked up the horn, washed it in the sink, refilled it with wine, and offered it to her. “Once more before I leave?” He smiled, his eyes glittering in the candlelight.

She took the horn from him, and heat and lust tumbled through her body. She wasn’t pregnant yet, as it hadn’t implanted and taken hold—would the drinking from the cup guarantee that? What if it didn’t? What if it only got the whole process kick-started? There was still a big chance it wouldn’t happen. Once more wouldn’t hurt.

“In bed this time.”

He’d left her sleeping, curled up under the quilt, her hair tangled around her face. She hadn’t stirred as he’d eased out of bed, and he didn’t want to wake her. He’d paused for a moment to watch her sleep before quietly closing the door. In the hallway he put on his boots and shrugged into his coat, the cup of life and his sword hanging from his belt. The house was quiet, but he knew people weren’t sleeping. He would like to sleep peacefully again. For too many months, maybe years, he’d been waiting for this moment. Now it was here, he still wasn’t ready.

He hoped the magic had worked.

He thought it had, but until he’d seen the proof in her human technology—the ultrasound she wanted, that he now wanted to see—he wouldn’t believe it. The stairs creaked as he walked down them. The TV was on, so he went into the front room.

Dylis, Bram, Lydia, and Caspian were watching the news. He was aware that their attention quickly turned to him, but he was looking at the numbers scrolling across the bottom of the screen. The death toll listed by country. He should have acted sooner. At least he wasn’t waiting another week.

“It’s been called a global state of emergency, an unprecedented catastrophe,” Caspian said.

“It’s not unprecedented. It’s just that no one alive has experienced it before. At least it hasn’t reached a billion yet.” He knew that it wasn’t uncommon for up to a third of the human population to die in a power shift. He’d read human history and compared it to the stones singing. He’d made it his job to learn everything he could about both worlds. He was willing to bet Sulia knew very little beyond how to get her own way at Court.

“No one has mentioned fairies. It’s a toss-up between climate change and biological warfare. Although there are a few now calling it end of days and waiting for the other signs.” Bram leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Are you ready to leave?”

Felan looked at the hopeful faces, then back at the TV. At least even if he failed, the death would stop in the mortal world. However, he’d be condemning Annwyn to the rule of a scheming monarch who’d toy with mortal lives for her own amusement. He had to win for the fairies. He had to win for Jacqui and his child being created, for his son, Caspian. He checked his watch. Dawn was coming to Annwyn, gray over the skeletal, winter-clad trees.

“Let’s do this.” He handed the watch to Dylis. “The execution will be at noon.”

She took the watch and put it on even though it was too loose around her wrist.

“The next time you see me, I’ll either be King or banished.” He didn’t mention the other possibility—that war was declared and he was killed in battle.

Caspian stood and hugged him. “Good luck.”

He patted his son’s back. “I’m sorry for any pain this will cause you.”

“I’ll live.”

“Yes, you will.” Felan drew back, the heaviness growing in his heart. As much as he’d rather spare Caspian any pain, he didn’t want him caught. If Sulia won, he had a better chance here than in Annwyn.

Lydia gave him a quick hug too. “We’ll be thinking of you.”

Dylis and Bram had a quick kiss, then Bram gathered up his things from the floor. They’d all been waiting for him to come downstairs. “Taryn is outside with Verden.”

He’d already guessed that. No one was saying good-bye, but it was on the tip of everyone’s tongue. In silence, Bram and Felan walked out the back. Taryn and Verden were sitting at the table. She was on his lap, her back to his chest as they stared up at the sky. They were talking softly but stopped at the sound of boots scuffing on the paving stones.

Taryn got up. “It’s time then.”

Verden stood with her, his hand on the small of her back. For a moment Felan wished he had woken Jacqui, so they could have one last kiss, one last touch.
No.
This way he had to survive to get that reward.

Taryn walked over, her lips pressed into a thin line. She’d grown up so much since the moment she’d first come to Annwyn a few short months ago. When he’d asked for her to attend, he’d never expected she’d end up as Hunter, helping him win the crown.

Verden didn’t move. He crossed his arms, his sword glinting in the starlight. “I’ll make sure Dylis and Jacqui get to the doorway.”

“Thank you.” But Felan knew Verden was doing it for Taryn. Once Felan was King, Taryn would be free to return to Verden’s side. “The first thing I do will be to lift your banishment.”

The previous Lord of the Hunt nodded. “You’d better.” Then he released a sigh. “I have people looking for Sulia’s hostages. We will find them and free them no matter the outcome.”

Would it matter if he lost? If he won, he would have to keep a better eye on the fairies in the mortal world and remind them that they still must abide by Annwyn’s rules. He was also going to close some of the loopholes that Sulia was exploiting.

Felan took a final look around. Jacqui hadn’t woken to come running down to say farewell. This was it.

He turned and walked through the garden and out the front gate, toward the cemetery where they would cross to Annwyn. Taryn and Bram walked behind him. He listened for any sign of a Grey, watching and waiting. There were a small number of Greys all over the world in various states of wasting. How quickly would Sulia be able to rally another group? He was guessing not fast. She’d planned the attack at the grove for a while—that he’d already saved the trapped fairies had annoyed her, but not spoiled her plan for his death.

He stopped at the doorway and glanced back at the house. It would be a long walk for Verden, Dylis, and Jacqui if they came under attack, but there was nothing he could do except trust they would get to Annwyn before he shut the border.

“Before I risk my life, I’d like to know if congratulations are in order?” Bram kept his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Everything is in place.” He sounded so cold. But he couldn’t let himself celebrate, not until afterward. He looked at Bram. “I will not celebrate until I am on the throne and stability is assured.” Then he would let himself be distracted by the joy of having another child and what that meant. He had to be a better father this time around.

Bram nodded. “Shall I go first then?”

Felan nodded. They all drew their swords, expecting the worst when they stepped through but hoping those loyal to Felan would have kept the doorway clear.

The air shimmered and the temperature dropped. The smell of frost and decay hit him as he inhaled. Snow drifted down from the heavy, gray sky and landed like stars on his dark blue coat. No one was at the doorway, but someone had been watching and was now running toward Castle Annwyn.

Felan turned to the gate and thrust his sword into the side of the tree. It hummed for a moment. When Taryn put hers in the tree opposite, the doorway would be completely sealed, but that wouldn’t happen until after his mother’s execution, as Jacqui and Dylis still needed to get through. This was just a partial seal to stop people from leaving. It would make it much harder for Sulia to implement her plans if she couldn’t get messages across the veil. A partial seal hadn’t been done since…since his great-grandfather had been on the throne. Sealing the border was a forgotten trick, one which he was counting on.

“Test it,” he ordered Bram.

Bram gave the sword a tug, but it remained firmly lodged. He looked at the hilt. “That’s the King’s sword.”

“I swapped with my father.” Two swords were needed to close the doorway: the King’s and the Hunter’s. He’d been hoping it didn’t have to be the King who activated it, and for the moment, luck was on his side. So far, so good. Except he was now unarmed. “Let’s move.”

Felan didn’t want to give the watcher of the doorway time to make a full report and for Sulia to make alternate plans. If the watcher was on his side, well, the sooner he acted, the better.

The powdery snow coated the ground, covering the dead grass and mud, giving Annwyn an eerie stillness. In the castle he heard music, but it had lost the lilt of summer and was more raucous, harsher and harder.

Someone, one the fairy servants who had been loyal to Gwyn, ran up to him with a clean coat and shirt.

“Get me a sword,” he said without looking up.

He stripped in the hallway and redressed in the black. They had really reached the bottom of winter if black was in fashion. The cuffs of the coat glittered with obsidian beads, and gold thread spread from the buttons across his chest and over his shoulders. The collar jutted under his jaw, and the hem swept the ground. At least if he was going to die today, he looked good. A silver sword was placed in his hands. His sword. What was his father wearing?

“Ring the bell.” The fairy nodded, gathered the old clothes, and disappeared.

Felan pushed open the doors to the Hall of Flowers and stopped. Sulia was having a party. Food, half-eaten, and drink lay on the tables. A couple cavorted against the wall.

Gone was the glamour of the Court—this was a shallow mockery. Sulia and her human consort sat at the table where the King usually sat. They raised blood-red glass goblets and then laughed.

“Come to join in the revelry?” She grinned, her pink eyes and pointed smile making her look like an angel hell-bent on revenge.

“There is a Court meeting today.”

“We know, but you are here without a human. Stuart has seen her, claims she isn’t pregnant.”

“Stuart does realize that up until about three mortal months, there is no outward sign of pregnancy. My fiancée is safe in the mortal world. I will not bring her for you to attack, again.”

Stuart had the grace to fidget and look away. He’d simply been telling Sulia what she wanted to hear. Did he realize what he’d signed up for?

“Oh, it was hardly an attack. We just wanted to know who she was and knock that baby out of her.” She laughed as if were a joke.

Felan’s fingers curled. He couldn’t leap onto the table and kill her. He had no good reason to, and the laws still stood. He could get himself banished. On the other hand, there was no rule to say he couldn’t kill Stuart. He glanced at the smug-looking human, not pretty by fairy standards—probably not by human standards either. And certainly not smart enough to finish the job, fortunately. Stuart wasn’t worth his time. “The child is fine.”

The bell began to chime, calling the fairies to the Hall of Judgment.

“If you don’t mind, I have a meeting to preside over. Party if you wish, but some of us have the serious business of ruling to attend to.”

Sulia threw down her glass, which shattered over the table. The party stopped as people turned to look. “You aren’t King. You will never be King. The people like me; they come to my parties, play my games. I will win.”

“Are you willing to declare war when you haven’t even declared yourself as a contender? I think you are all talk, Sulia. Stop wasting my time and stop playing games.”

Her mouth opened.

Felan spun on his heel and left before she could form a reply. This time there was more than Bram and Taryn at his side. He nodded to familiar faces, including those that had returned from the mortal world to avoid the power shift. Just because they didn’t live at Court didn’t mean they didn’t have a stake in what happened here. What happened in Annwyn rippled across the veil and into the mortal world. And the effects amplified and came back to Annwyn, swelling the river, and back and forth it went until something changed.

Smart fairies understood that.

Dumb ones partied with Sulia and hoped to pretend it would all be fine when she became Queen. It would, but the kind of Court she led would touch the mortal world, and not in a good way. Open debauchery, sneaky games…it would be worse than his father’s Court that had allowed scheming and backstabbing to become commonplace.

His would be different. He wanted it to be better for everyone. As he walked into the chamber, now empty and hollow, snow falling through the bare branches and his father sitting on the throne, he wondered if he was aiming too far and the distance was too great. One step at a time and he could cover the ground he needed to.

“Father.” He bowed and kissed his father’s hand. His skin was cold and dry. And when he looked him in the eye, the wasting was there, turning pale blue eyes cloudy. He doubted his father even had the strength to leave the throne anymore. There was no silver buckled at his waist, as there was no point in wearing a weapon when there was no strength left to wield it.

“I hope you plan to do more than talk today, Son. Annwyn is draining me.” His words were soft, like the rustle of summer leaves now long forgotten.

Felan leaned close and whispered in his father’s ear. “It ends today.” He almost choked on the words. He was going to lose his mother and his father not long afterward. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. There were so many things he should have spoken to his father about, things he should have said.

His father sighed. “Thank you.” Then his father gripped his wrist. “Do not let that bitch take my throne. If I wanted her to have it, I’d have given up waiting for you.”

“I have a plan. I won’t let her take it.”

His father released him and eased back against the throne.

Fairies filed into the hall. Some were obviously Court fairies, dressed up in black and shades of red and blue so dark they were almost black. Their faces seemed sharper, impossibly pretty yet cruel. Winter was affecting everyone, even if they didn’t realize it. Even those from the fringes of Annwyn were dressed in darker clothes. Those that had been in the mortal world looked different; their features were still angular, but their beauty was still there, luminescent instead of deadly. Some wore mortal clothing; others had changed for the occasion. A few still wore the bright colors of summer, as if to remind everyone what they were missing.

The changeling, Isaac, was there with his fairy lover, the woman who had his soul. Felan recognized her as the daughter of the man who’d been Lord of the Hunt before Verden. A powerful family to have on his side. Felan knew Sulia had tried to win them over to her side, but it seemed they had chosen long before crossing the veil. Felan hoped he didn’t disappoint them.

They flooded in until Felan wasn’t sure if the room would hold anymore. As he stood and waited by his father’s side, he scanned the faces, trying to gauge how many clearly supported him, how many supported Sulia, and who was undecided. It was hard to tell. Who had been offered deals by Sulia while he was on the other side of the veil? More importantly, who had taken the deal?