Try Mead They Said…
The night was full of laughter. It echoed around the room, filling it with a warmth I had never experienced. It filled some need I didn’t even know I had somewhere deep in my soul.
“Cassy-bear, it’s your turn,” Dayson called, knocking my chair to get my attention along with using the horrible, yet slightly adorable, nickname he decided on. “Beat their asses so I don’t have to do their washing for a week.”
In this round of pick-up sticks, we decided to team up, and whoever lost had to do whatever the winner told them to.
Dayson and I were paired off against Cole and Gavin in the game’s final round, and I’d had more than enough to drink so it was hard to tell what sticks were where.
Biting my bottom lip, I reached out. I couldn’t tell if the table or my hand was swaying out of control, but I was bound and determined to beat them.
I settled on a stick that was slightly raised over a group of three others.
If I could pick it up without disturbing the ones under it, I was safe to play another round.
Grasping the stick between my fingers, I gingerly pulled it up until I felt my feet slipping out from under me.
Losing my balance, I tumbled to the floor, but thankfully, I landed on something soft and squishy.
I started laughing, imagining how funny it must have looked for me to have been half up on the table to get a better angle on my stick and then to come crashing down.
“Well, at least she’s not hurt,” Zan said from somewhere above me. “Come on, Cass. Let’s get you off poor Payson.”
“Oh, is he why the floor feels so soft?” I asked as I nuzzled into the warmth that oddly started to get firm under my attention.
“Cassy-bear, you really don’t want to be rubbing your face right there. I don’t think you’re quite ready to take responsibility for what you’re starting.” Dayson chuckled, grabbing me around the waist and pulling me onto his lap.
Looking down, I found Payson sprawled out on the floor with his face bright red and unable to look at me. “Did I do something to hurt him? Payson, are you okay?”
“Yeah, blue-balls never killed anyone,” Payson muttered as he picked himself off the floor. “I think our queen needs to be cut off. She’s swaying more than a sailor.”
“Wait, did I get the stick?” I cried, looking back at the table.
“Look down at your hand, love,” Gavin murmured in my ear as he passed.
Sure enough, the stick I’d been going after was in my hand. “But did I win?” I asked, frowning at the others.
Cole and Gavin looked at each for a moment then back at me. “Yeah, mouse, you won. We lost.”
“Yes! Day, we won!” I yelled, wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed him soundly on the mouth.
The room went silent as Dayson turned to stone under me. Sitting back, I blinked then let out a gasp of horror. “I’m so sorry, Day. I didn’t mean to kiss you if you didn’t want me to. Do you have someone else that you like? I can totally apologize to them if you need me—”
I didn’t get to finish my panicked rambling as Dayson’s lips descended upon mine, stealing my words.
His hand curled around the back of my neck, holding me right where he wanted me as he devoured my lips.
Nipping at my bottom lip, I gasped, and he took that chance to deepen the kiss, letting his tongue explore further.
I had no idea what he was doing, but I didn’t dislike it, so I tried to reciprocate what he was doing, and he groaned at the movement.
His other large hand on my hip pulled my lower body closer to his so nothing separated us from pelvis to chest. Dayson’s head jerked back from me as another pair of hands removed me from his lap.
Quickly, I was curled up in Izel’s arms while Cole was hollering at Dayson for some reason I couldn’t understand.
“Come on, little warrior, let’s get you to bed. I think you’ve had enough fun for one night,” Izel said, his soothing voice making it easier to relax into his hold.
“Okay,” I sighed, nuzzling against his neck.
I could hear and feel his chuckle as he walked. “My, you get very affectionate when you’re drunk. We’ll have to keep that in mind for the future. Can’t have you making out in the middle of a feast or other important events, now can we?”
Izel set me down and pulled the blankets back before he turned to help me slide under them. “Was Cole mad because I won?”
“No, he was upset with Dayson, not you.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
Izel smoothed back my hair from my face and set a cool cloth on my forehead. “It’s because he was taking things too far. You are not in a sound frame of mind right now. What if you are mad you kissed Dayson at all when you wake up?”
“No, I won’t be mad about that. I’ll be worried he won’t stay with me after all this is over.” I shifted to look up at Izel’s face. “You won’t leave me, will you? I can’t explain it, but I feel safe with you. I trust you.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Cassarah. No matter how things go, I’ll always stay by your side. Now get some sleep. You’ll have one hell of a headache tomorrow, that’s for sure,” Izel soothed, shifting to get up from the bed.
My hand snapped out, grabbing his wrist. “Stay, please? I don’t really like being alone now that I know there’s something better.”
Izel shifted me over, settled next to me on top of the covers, and stroked my hair. As he lulled me to sleep, I heard him whisper something that sounded like, “All I ask is that you keep me forever, my little warrior, because there is nowhere else I want to be but by your side.”
The sound of a door slamming open and then being body-rolled off the bed onto the floor with someone on top of me was not the best way to wake up.
“Don’t move,” Izel hissed as he shifted off me and army crawled to the foot of the bed.
“It’s me, where’s Cassarah?” Jade demanded.
When his voice registered in my brain, I popped up from the floor and instantly regretted that choice. Groaning, I grabbed my head and face-planted on the mattress. “Oh God, what is wrong with me?”
“That, little warrior, is what we call a hangover,” Izel informed me as he scooped me up and set me down at the table. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to grab what’s needed to make a remedy for it.”
I nodded, letting my head fall into my hands. Then another pair of hands started to massage my head. I flinched then turned boneless as the touch felt heavenly.
“What did they do to you while I was gone?” Jade asked with a smirk in his voice.
“Apparently, they were teaching me to have fun. We had a night off with drinking and games. It really was a good time, and I was happy to see everyone enjoying themselves and letting loose.” Turning my head slightly, I glanced up at him, his bright green eyes watching me.
“The way you entered, it seemed like you had something important to say.”
“Queen Mary wants to meet with you… now. She is open to the idea but wants to talk with you and see that Gavin is truly alive and well.”
“This is good. What time is it?” I prayed I had gotten some sleep so I wasn’t still drunk.
“It’s almost dawn. Alto stayed behind so I could fly faster to get back to you. Little bird, you’re in no condition to meet with the queen.” Jade sighed, squatting down next to me. “Can I take a wild guess and assume the others will also be suffering from the same affliction?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. I can’t remember many details from last night. Is that normal?” I questioned, turning my face fully to the side to see him better.
Jade grinned with humor, making his eyes dance. “Yes, little bird, the whole point of getting drunk is to let your mind forget all it has to worry about and live in the moment. The price you pay for it is not remembering everything, sometimes nothing, along with headaches, puking, and dizziness.”
“Why do they do it if the repercussions are so bad? I don’t like this at all,” I whined.
Jade’s face fell for a moment before he brushed off whatever memory he’d been thinking about.
“Sometimes people prefer the physical pain over the emotional, but as you gain a tolerance to drinking, the aftereffects lessen. Though, I wouldn’t recommend you follow that logic.
For you, less is more. Enjoy a drink or two but don’t get carried away, and you should have nothing to worry about. ”
I grunted my response, letting my eyes trace his face as we sat together. “I kissed Dayson… and he kissed me back… like a lot.”
Oh God, why am I telling him that?
Jade blinked at me, surprised by my statement. “Did you want to kiss him or for him to kiss you back?”
“Why did you kiss me?”
“I’m not very good at telling people how I feel about them, so I figured actions would be a better option. Every time we go on a mission, there is a chance we won’t make it back home, and I didn’t want there to be a chance I couldn’t tell you that I like you.”
“You like me?”
“After a kiss and the confession I just made, you can’t tell? I thought you were the smart one,” Jade teased, tapping my nose. “Yes, Cassarah, I like you. I like you very much. I know a few others do as well, and I wanted to make sure I got my foot in the door.”
I frowned at that. “Foot in the door for what?”
“Being one of your consorts. I’m under no illusion I’ll be the only one, but I would like the chance to be considered.”
“Jade, we hardly know each other. How could you know that you want to be my lover?”
“Think of all that we’ve been through. How many people can say they met the woman they are falling in love with by saving her life and moments later attacking an army to free the crown prince of our country?
Then there is the second time I saved your life and found out you’re the queen of a second kingdom.
” Jade sighed and brushed a thumb over my cheek.
“I’ve seen you scared, hurt, angry, demanding respect from others, and protecting those around you however you can.
If that doesn’t tell me who you are at the core, then I don’t know what else to look for. ”
The surge of emotions that flooded through me was so foreign and scary but at the same time exhilarating. I didn’t know what to do other than raise my head and lean in to accept Jade’s kiss on my lips ever so gently.
“All I ask is that you consider it. Know that I’m interested and willing whenever you are ready to do anything about it.
I know we have a war to deal with, and so many things are hitting you left and right.
I’m not in a hurry. I just needed you to know how I felt in case anything should happen,” Jade murmured, his lips brushing mine as he spoke.
A person clearing their throat broke us apart, and Izel was standing just past the door with a steaming mug. “I have that tonic for you. I’ll just leave it and go wake the others. I’m guessing there is news.”
“Wait,” I called, stopping him in his tracks. “The queen wants to meet with me and Gavin. I don’t remember a whole lot about last night, but how drunk did everyone get? Do you think they’ll be ready to head out?”
“They will be fine, I assure you,” Izel said with a soft smile. “How many of them do you want to take with you?”
I looked back to Jade with a questioning brow.
“We settled on meeting at Hillney Lake near the Creisal border. There have been no reports of any unknown troops or movement in that area. Queen Mary said she would only bring her personal guard of seven people on dragon back,” Jade reported.
“The agreed-upon time is the middle of the afternoon, ensuring that neither party could move a large number of men to the designated meeting area in time.”
As Jade talked, I gulped down the foul-tasting drink, knowing it would help. I just hoped it would help fast enough, seeing as my brain wasn’t working as clearly as it should.
“The dragon riders are still here, correct?” I asked Izel.
“Yes, none of them would dare leave without speaking to you,” Izel assured.
“Wake them up and get them in the strategy room along with the clan leaders, Sal, and my other guardians,” I ordered, waving them off. “Please send Becka in. I’m going to need her help getting ready.”
Jade rose, letting his fingers trail through my hair as he walked to the door and left with Izel behind him. As my head started to clear and the pain subsided, I hobbled over to my trunk and tossed back the lid.
What the hell does a mercenary queen wear to a meeting like this?