11. Lira
11
LIRA
A vise tightened around my heart. I’d hoped that Father wouldn’t have done this to my fated mate, but that had been my foolish human side taking control.
Tavish’s eyes were swollen and black, and he lay in a thick black puddle of blood.
Unable to stop myself, I hurried over to him. With shaky hands, I touched the injury on his side and saw that it was still oozing blood. He’d been hurt hours ago, and he was still bleeding.
The warm spot in my chest flared, and my body took control. I placed a hand against his wound, and the warm spot in my chest pulsed, the warmth moving from my center down toward my hand as the buzz of our connection sprang to life.
Memories of a similar thing happening the last time we were in this situation almost twelve years ago took root in my mind as the magic reached my palm and warmed where I pressed it against his injury. The yank of the fated-mate connection flared.
Tavish groaned and muttered, “I need Lira.”
I’m right here, I connected, fearful of saying anything out loud since a guard could pass by at any time.
His eyes fluttered open, and when they focused on my face, they widened in surprise. What are you doing here? He scanned the room. How did you get in here without alerting anyone?
With my free hand, I placed a finger in front of my lips.
His brows furrowed, and he touched his own lips. Do I have something on my face?
My chest loosened a little, but luckily, I was too upset to actually laugh. No. On Earth, it means to be quiet, and you were talking in your sleep. There’s a secret passage in here that only the royal family is aware of, and I doubt they considered I’d use it. I nodded toward the door I’d forgotten to close after seeing him like this. Then I realized that something else was wrong—no one was snoring or making witty quips at us. Where’s Finnian?
They took him to another cell. Tavish’s breath caught as his attention went to the secret passage then back to my face.
The buzz between us intensified to a jolt as the warm magic swirled from my hand into his side. His irises lightened to silver, and need built within me. His injury was the only thing keeping me sane and holding me back from being all over him.
Is he as poorly off as you? I tried to focus on the threat at hand, which included Finnian. Getting lost in a world where only Tavish and I existed had become second nature to me.
No, but they did hurt him, Tavish answered while placing a hand over his wounds. You shouldn’t be here. I’m fine.
Like hell I shouldn’t. I gritted my teeth and smacked his hand away. You’re injured, and I can’t stay in my room while you suffer, especially when our link wasn’t warm anymore and you weren’t responding. I thought something awful had happened to you, and clearly, I wasn’t wrong.
They weakened me, but I’m not at risk of dying. This isn’t like you being in the gauntlet—the very game I created and had to watch you actually die from. His face twisted in agony.
So this is you punishing yourself by suffering through these beatings? No wonder he only allowed a few people to be close to him. For someone who had everyone believing he was heartless and to be feared, he wanted to beat himself up for everything. If that’s why you want to lie here and suffer, then you’re foolish.
He lifted a brow and winked. With the way you’re making me feel, I sure am suffering. I never dreamed that someone touching my wounds could feel so exquisite.
That brought me back to the present, and I moved my hand to see if what I suspected had occurred. Smooth, pale skin had replaced the wound.
Tavish tilted his head to look, and his face turned a shade paler. You healed me. How is that possible?
This confirmed what I suspected had happened twelve years ago. Eldrin had helped Tavish escape, but I’d actually healed him. I… I don’t know, but Tavish, this isn’t the first time I did this to you. The night you were here twelve years ago, I snuck into this same cell and found you with horrible injuries. I didn’t realize what I was doing, but like now, something inside me took over, and I was healing you when Eldrin came barging in. Now probably wasn’t the time to tell him, but he needed to know in case something happened to me. He needed to know he didn’t owe Eldrin nearly as much as he thought he did.
Tension lay thick between us, and fear choked me. I didn’t understand the emotions that wafted through him, and I hated that I’d thrown out the information without realizing it could change our relationship.
What if he didn’t believe me, or he thought I was trying to pit him against his cousin? Even though I spoke the truth, I’d seen what denial could do to people.
I tried to control my ragged breathing as I removed my thin, lacy jacket and yanked at the cool, refreshing water magic inside me, hoping I could control it as well as I had when I was a little girl. It’d been so long since I’d attempted to use it. A faint mist came out of my fingertips, and I cleaned the blood from him, wanting him to look untarnished when my father saw him in the morning.
After I’d cleaned him off, Tavish caught my wrist, stopping me as he sat upright. His chains clanked faintly as he adjusted himself, and he pulled me to his chest. With his free hand, he cupped my face, and his expression softened into pure adoration.
I don’t blasting deserve you, sprite. You snuck in here and healed me as a child, even then, going against your father by aiding the enemy. All I’ve done is accuse you of betraying me—even as a child—and stalk your dreams to find you in the hopes of killing you. Maybe you’d be better off without me. Every person I’ve trusted has betrayed me, and every decision I’ve made has been wrong. You deserve someone worthy, though I’ll kill any man who tries to take my place or dares to touch you.
The thought of him even thinking of letting me go had me sliding over his body and straddling him while my mind blurred. He didn’t get to think about leaving me. I gripped his chin between my thumb and pointer finger, forcing him to look into my eyes. I connected, You aren’t allowed to let me go. You are the person I want. You’ve been placed in a horrible situation, and you did the best you could with the information at hand. The yanking in my chest came to an all-time high, and the need to connect with him overwhelmed me. If you ever think about letting me go again, I will punish you. Remember, you’re going to kill anyone who touches me, and if you don’t, I’ll do it for you.
He smirked and placed a hand on the back of my neck, bringing me down for a kiss. His lips brushed mine, and I sucked in a breath at the jolt between us. I licked his lips, begging for entrance, and he opened to me. Our tongues collided, and his velvet feel and frosty night taste filled my senses.
Between seeing him like this and the words he’d said, I needed to connect with him. The desire was so strong that I rocked my hips against his crotch. His hardened dick hit perfectly, causing my back to arch.
You should go, he connected as his hand slid under my thin gown, caressing my nipple.
He was suffering the same conflict as me, knowing we shouldn’t do this, but something overrode our common sense. With all the trauma, we needed to connect. Even if I truly wanted to leave, I couldn’t walk away from him… and I didn’t want to.
My fingers tangled in his hair. If you don’t want—
I’m not sure I can let you go, he replied, kissing down my face and my neck until he hoisted me up so my nipple slipped into his mouth, and his chains didn’t make a sound. His tongue glided over my breast, and he slipped a hand between my legs.
When his fingers slid against me, he moaned faintly. Fates, you’re already ready for me.
That I was, and the thrill of doing this where we shouldn’t added to the excitement. I nodded, moving slightly back to tug his pants down. He lifted his hips enough to lower them so his dick sprang out, revealing how huge and ready he was.
I shifted my weight and slid onto him. As he filled me, it didn’t hurt like before, though I felt like I couldn’t hold anymore.
He leaned his head back and bit his lips to hold in his groan.
He was blasting sexy and mine .
I rocked my hips, and the fated-mate connection between us opened wide, our pleasure mixing together. I panted, and he captured my lips with his. We kissed each other to hide our noises.
Each time I moved against him, he somehow hit deeper and deeper. He gripped my thighs, spreading them farther apart so I could take more of him. Our teeth hit each other as my pace increased since he couldn’t move without risking making louder noises with his chains.
One hand slipped back into my top to caress my breasts again as he placed the fingers of the other hand against my clit. I rolled my hips against him, that touch sparking a fire inside me.
I love you, Lira, he connected, his hands and mouth working my body. Always and forever.
You’re my everything now, I replied. The pleasure heightened between us, and our emotions mingled. I continued, We’re each other’s. No matter what it takes. Promise me.
The corners of his lips turned upward as he kissed me harder. I promise. You’re never getting rid of me, sprite.
Our orgasms slammed through us, and I clung to him as our bodies rode out the pleasure and our souls connected. A sense of peace filled us as we felt complete once more.
Maybe this time hadn’t been slow and romantic, but it’d been raw and exactly what we needed after our cruel separation and the challenge to our relationship. After a few minutes, our bodies calmed down, but I refused to move, needing one more moment.
He kissed me tenderly, pressing our sweaty foreheads together.
I never realized I wouldn’t hate being a prisoner the entire time, he teased.
I rolled my eyes, but the corners of my mouth tipped upward. I’d still prefer to be in your bedroom so we could do this more than once and stay in each other’s arms the entire night. The thought of leaving him to return to my room made my heart bitter. No one should keep us apart.
It’s our bedroom. Not mine. Not anymore. Everything that belongs to me is yours, including the crown. Warmth exploded through our bond from the magnitude of his love for me. And we’re getting out of here soon, which is why you need to return to your room even though it’s the last thing in Ardanos I want. But getting out of here and determining a way that you’ll never be taken from me again is more of a priority.
Right. If I got caught tonight, it would make our escape harder, which would prolong this problem, and Father would take out his frustration on Tavish. Fine, but I need to know if they hurt you like that again. I need to be able to trust you, or I’ll lose my mind.
He sighed and nodded. I’ll tell you. I wasn’t trying to trick you. I didn’t want to risk you doing something foolish, though… He kissed my lips. I really enjoyed your visit, and it was something we both clearly needed.
My heart shattered at the thought of walking back to my room. But I’d already risked staying here too long.
I’ll be fine, and we can talk throughout the day tomorrow. He brushed a finger along my cheek. And I get to smell you as I sleep.
Footsteps sounded outside the room a little ways away, and I stood quickly. Tavish lifted his bottom, pulling up his pants, and I snagged my thin jacket with his bloodstains from the ground.
Go. Hurry, he replied, his eyes darkening with concern.
Hurrying on my tiptoes, I was thankful I’d forgotten to close the door. It would have taken a moment to open it. I darted into the passage. Tavish and I locked gazes right before the door shut completely, and then another one opened.
Sweat beaded on my brow, but it wasn’t from sex this time. I’d almost gotten caught, and somehow, I’d escaped in the nick of time.
I grabbed the lantern I’d left behind when I’d opened the door and hurried back to my room. Still, I worried what the late-night visit meant for him.
Is everything okay? I connected, trying to prevent my legs from spinning around and racing back to him.
Finnian. They brought him back. Tavish didn’t sound happy. He’s hurt, but don’t come back. He’ll be fine. No one but the two of us should know about your healing magic. Not even my trusted friend. I suspect the guards will be watching us more closely now that we’re together.
Mouth drying, I wanted to march to my parents’ bedroom and tell them everything they were doing wrong. I despised the way they were treating Tavish and Finnian, but that was the crux of the problem. They didn’t want me to care about those things, so it’d only make them unhappy with me.
I made it back to my bedroom and was relieved that it appeared like no one had tried to check on me. I washed my jacket, not wanting evidence of Tavish’s black blood on my clothes. The water here washed it out, proving it had to be magic.
After that, I crawled into my bed. The place that had once comforted me made me feel like a prisoner in my own world. I lay on several fluffy pillows and closed my eyes, picturing Tavish. He was the one thing that made sense in this completely foreign world.
A knock on my door had my eyes popping open. I expected to find Tavish next to me in the bed with Nightbane at my feet, but reality swooped in.
I was in Seelie lands, and my beastly friend wasn’t here.
God, how I missed my animal companion.
“Princess Lira, the queen and king are requesting your presence for breakfast. They’ve asked me to help you get ready, as there is a special visitor. May I enter?”
I glanced at the open window, considering the consequences if I flew away and didn’t show up. They hadn’t informed me about a special visitor last night, and my pulse quickened at the fact that they’d sprung it on me at the last second. Leaving wasn’t an option. Not with Tavish and Finnian trapped here.
I threw off the covers and strolled to the door. When I opened it, I found a gorgeous woman who seemed somewhat familiar. Her straight, dark-blonde hair contrasted with her sky-blue dress, and she glided into the room like she knew it well.
Of course she did. She worked here.
“Lira, it’s so good to see you again.” She smiled, but no warmth entered her aquamarine eyes.
I tilted my head, trying to figure out who she was.
“I’m Gaelle.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I’m sure you don’t recognize me. You’ve been gone for so long and formed an interesting connection with the nightfiend king.”
Out of everyone, it would be Gaelle. I remembered her now. The one high fae who was close to my age and had tried to seduce my father numerous times, wanting to bear his child and help her own social standing. She was the type of fae who would do anything to get what she wanted, just like Eldrin.
“Ah, that’s right.” I forced a smile, though my blood ran cold. She was always nice to me, but she enjoyed collecting information as leverage against other people and to elevate her position in society. The less I talked, the better.
“So, Earth—” she started, but I cut her off by going into my closet.
“Did he specify a certain dress, or may I wear anything of my choosing?” I asked, pretending I hadn’t heard her.
She followed me into the closet and ran a hand along the intricate dresses. “No, and I think this would look amazing on you.” She removed a white gown with gold woven into the lace, emphasizing the breasts and waist.
I didn’t care what I wore as long as it kept my father from focusing on me, and I knew Gaelle wouldn’t risk the wrath of her king by allowing me to present myself in an inappropriate way.
She removed the dress and held it open for me to step into, and I froze. I wasn’t used to people helping me dress anymore, and now that I thought about it, Tavish didn’t have that either. I wondered why.
Forcing myself to not act awkward, I dropped the nightgown from my body and tried to ignore the way goose bumps spread across my arms as I stepped into the dress. It fit me perfectly, brushing the floor and emphasizing my cleavage.
“Perfect.” She removed some shoes made of vines and set them down for me to slip into.
When my outfit was settled, she waved her hands over my face, and the tingle of glamour slid across my skin. Then she grabbed a brush and braided my hair before pulling it into a twist.
I stepped into the bathroom to glance in the mirror; I didn’t recognize the woman staring at me. Yes, the eyes were mine, as well as the features, but with jewelry emphasizing my pointed ears, it was as if she’d used magic.
In fairness, she had.
I noted one major issue: She’d hidden my fated-mate markings.
I moved my hand to unglamour the very thing that proved Tavish and I belonged together, but Gaelle caught my wrist.
“Trust me. It’s for the best that your marks remain hidden.” Gaelle lifted a brow, and her forehead creased with concern. “Your parents’ guest will cause all sorts of abyss if he sees them.”
The truth ringing in her words gave me pause.
“You should hurry. We don’t want to upset the guest or the royals.” Gaelle gestured.
I gritted my teeth, wanting to correct her that I did not, in fact, care if they got upset, especially since my fated-mate mark was hidden, but her worry seemed genuine, and I swallowed my words. I marched out the door and turned toward the dining hall.
More fae buzzed around, working and stealing glances at me as I passed, and I forced my back to stay straight as I flew past them like I didn’t notice.
After making the turns, I found the opening to the dining room. I slowed, preparing myself for whatever stood on the opposite side of the wall.
As I breezed over the threshold, I noticed two people at the table. Father sat on one end, seeming too big for the chair made of roots and the leaf he was perched on. Mother looked more natural and dainty sitting on his left, her legs crossed.
When my attention landed on the third man, the world stopped, and so did my heart.
Each time I blinked, the prince of the dragons reappeared, standing by the middle of the table, his amber eyes locked on me and a scowl on his face.
What the fuck was he doing here?