Chapter Six #2
I couldn’t believe it, but focusing on him, and his smirk, was helpful in that moment. He gave me something to look at other than the massive, temperature-heating, lust-soaked orgy happening all over the floor, carpet, walls, and for a couple bird faeriken, in the air.
Three faeriken with leopard faces and spots contorted themselves over a lounge—one man plowing into the young lady from behind while she swallowed the other’s cock to the hilt.
My sweet taste-tester Talulla was also being tasted by a furry-faced faeriken with twitching whiskers.
I assumed she was part cat, because she was certainly lapping her pussy up like one.
Something splatted down beside me and I picked up the pace, practically running up the steps to the only safe place not taken up by an amorous couple, or five.
“What is this?” I hissed at Alisdair. “Why are you allowing this?”
“They’re in heat,” he drawled back. “They cannot stop themselves. The drive to mate is too strong. They’re also your subjects now, little queen. You’d do well to stop judging and looking down on them.”
I lifted my chin. “I am not judging them. I envy them.” I jerked my chin at a group of six that was getting very rough, and very loud. “At least they’re having a much better time mating than I did last night.”
“No,” he replied, light and calm. “They’re not.”
I felt my cheeks brightening. “Last night was awful for me. Worst sex I’ve ever had.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“I didn’t complete once. I faked it each time.”
“Seven times,” he corrected, “and no, you didn’t.”
Irritation bloomed in my chest. His calm dismissal of me was a hundred times worse than bluster or arguments. He saw right through me, and to the mess he made of me, and it made me hate him all the more.
I sniffed. “I don’t know why you’re so confident of that tiny little fella in your pants. I doubt it’s ever pleased a woman.”
“It pleased the woman who had to limp onto her throne. You’re welcome.”
“You—!”
“My queen.” I jumped to find Bradach leaning over my ear. “May I humbly suggest you stop while you’re behind? You’re humiliating yourself.”
“I do not recall asking for your input,” I snapped, whirling on him.
Bradach lurched back, nose wrinkling even as he smirked.
Why does everyone keep doing that? The attendants scented my bathwater with rose and jasmine. I cannot possibly smell bad.
Bradach fixed on Aeris. His smirk melted away, replaced by an expression I sensed rarely graced his face. “Hello, Aeris. You look well.”
She sniffed. “Why would I look unwell, Bradach? I am not ill.”
“I meant you look beautiful.” He dipped, bowing his head to her—wings fluttering. “Should you find yourself in need of a mate this heat cycle, I’d be more than happy to fertilize your eggs.”
My brows shot up. What did he just say?
Aeris gave him a flat look. “You’re an idiot.”
Yes, that was the response I expected.
“I do not lay eggs, and bird faeriken do not have heat cycles—as you well know.”
“Ah, must have slipped my mind. Even so, the offer still stands.”
She was walking off before he finished his sentence.
“And you say I’m humiliating myself,” I muttered.
He muttered right back. “My queen, your tongue is as sharp as you are beautiful.”
I hid a smile. Far be it for any of these fae-beasts to think I was fond of them. Far be it for me to think it either. I was going home. I would never belong in Lumenfell.
Alisdair flapped a hand at Aeris. “Send them in.”
Aeris clapped and a door off to the side of the dais was opened.
My brows lifted as dozens of faeriken of all types and sizes streamed in—my count lost at thirty.
This wasn’t for show. This twisted, smirking beast actually held court like a proper ruler in a proper kingdom.
Despite what Aeris said, the free-for-all orgy in the dark, windless cave better fit the picture I had of the kingdom of Wind and Wild.
I tried to stop looking at said free-for-all orgy. “Shouldn’t we make them finish?”
“They do that on their own.”
“Humorous,” I deadpanned.
“Line up,” Aeris ordered. She ushered them into an orderly line, feathers dropping in her wake. “One at a time. Address our lord clearly and be concise.”
I snuck looks at him out of the corner of my eye.
How was I supposed to make my arrangements to escape if I was forced to sit under his watchful eye all day?
The night before he gave me only a ten-minute head start.
Not nearly enough time to arrange a way home.
And even if I did, he had all night to catch me. .. which he did... easily.
He’s quick, strong, and powerful. What hope do I have of slowing him down, or hiding long enough to make it to daybreak? What did I used to do to outrun bullies faster than me?
An idea occurred to me.
“What? No, Alisdair, don’t say that,” I blared. “There’s nothing wrong with bursting into tears when you reach completion. I thought it was very sweet. Adorable even. I do think, however, that you didn’t need to sob quite so long, or so loudly.”
Aeris cut off with a squawk, gaping at me.
Slowly, dangerously, Alisdair’s narrowed eyes turned on me.
Bold as ever, I patted his hand. “Oh, my poor husband, you needn’t feel bad for not being able to satisfy me. With time and practice and less crying, you’ll improve.”
“Uhh, Queen Ana,” Bradach whispered. “I once again must say—”
“Thank you for asking, Bradach, the answer is many.” I was so loud, I drowned out the moans.
“I’ve had many well-endowed, fierce, passionate lovers, so you’re right, my lord never had a chance with that tiny, little cock, but trust me, with practice, he can at least make it so I’m not so bored.
” I beamed at Shadowsoul’s darkening expression.
“Does that make you feel better, darling?”
He was staring hard at my mouth, like he wanted to rip it out. “You shame only yourself with this display.”
“Shame? No, it isn’t shameful to have a mole on your cock that is bigger than your cock itself.
All bodies are beautiful and wonderful in their uniqueness.
” My smile was sweet. “I only ask that you do not make me suck on it again. I know you get off on that, but it’s so hairy. It was like licking a cat.”
I wanted the fucking couples to cease their activities, and they most certainly had. I claimed the wide-eyed, gawping attention of everyone in the room. I did. They were all—townspeople, guards, servants—blinking at me.
I swallowed hard, keeping my chin high. I didn’t know this face.
Did it blush as easily as my true one? Because if it did, this scene was even more embarrassing than it felt.
Even so, I had to keep it up. I vowed to stay by his side during the day, learning how to rule.
I may not be able to leave, but our promises said nothing about him getting fed up with me and sending me away.
I will make him despise me so much, he wants me nowhere near him before moonrise, and he runs much slower after it.
“Um, my lady?” Aeris ventured, nerves lacing her tone. “Have you finished? May we begin now?”
I laughed. “Oh my Meya, I said the same thing last night! The tragedy was that he had finished, and I didn’t even know we’d begun—”
Alisdair snapped his fingers. My lips kept moving, but nothing came out.
“Proceed,” he ordered.
I cursed foully with no one to hear it. Magic. My plan did not take magic into account.
Two men stepped forward. Thick, scaly bumpy skin covered their faces, hands, and elongated jaws. They looked about with strange, slitted eyes, flashing teeth too long for their mouths.
“State the issue that brings you before our lord and king,” Aeris ordered.
Both men snapped their hands up, pointing at the other. It was only then I noticed their arms were shorter than they should be—as if they were shrinking back into their bodies. I couldn’t begin to guess what kind of animal was taking over them.
“Lorcan, my lord. We have shared the waters of the Lumenfell River for three generations,” Lorcan said.
Beyond his odd reptilian skin, I noted his trim beard, broad shoulders, and quivering jowls.
“His bask has taken over the northern marsh, and are refusing our bask entry. They killed two of our own who tried!
“Most of the prey have taken to the trees,” he said. “We have only the fish in the northern marsh to eat. They’re driving us to starvation.”
Alisdair turned on the other man. “Is this true, Arin? What have you to say for yourself?”
Arin flashed Lorcan a contemptuous sneer.
“He paints himself as the innocent when, in truth, his bask ceased all trading of goods, which is why we needed the northern marsh in the first place. It is us who are starving! He only comes to you now with his bleating because the prey took to the mountains two months early, and their food stores are low.”
“I see.” Alisdair’s expression was unreadable. I couldn’t guess what was going on behind those unfathomable pools. “Have you made every effort to solve this dispute among yourselves?”
Growls and snaps were their reply. Compromise and diplomacy had clearly broken down between these two.
“Very well. What say you, my queen?”
It wasn’t until I noticed everyone staring at me did the words penetrate. “What? Me?” I said, shocked to find I could. “What say me?”
He nodded, clearly irritated. “What is your suggestion for them?”
I blinked at him. We settled on the fact that he was indeed speaking to me, but for the life of me I didn’t know why. Women in Lyrica weren’t asked their opinions on any topic—least of all the runnings of the kingdom and the needs of our people. He truly wanted to know what I thought best?
“Uhh, okay,” I said, sitting up straight. “First, I—” I twisted around to Bradach. “Bradach, what is—?”
“You will address your questions to me,” my husband stated. Had I imagined it, or had something other than flat disinterest entered his tone?
“Very well.” I faced him. “What is a bask?”