Chapter Eleven #3
I’d make him toss and turn every night from the dreams of our passionate tumblings. I’d have him begging and trading every secret in the darkest corner of his mind, all for my lips around his cock, and my body within his arms.
I’d have him level every enemy in my path, and delight in finally finding someone as wickedly harsh as him—doling out death to everyone who made this world dangerous and unbearable for me, my mother, and my sisters. Like I once did to Kirwan. I’d make Alisdair Lumenfell fall in love with me—
—and then I’d leave him and never look back.
“Ah, yes!” I bounced on his face, out of control. My lower belly was so tight it bent me in half, and still I rocked faster—fucking the shit out of myself on his tongue.
Alisdair grabbed my collar and tore my front clean off, freeing my breasts from their cage. He kneaded it under his strong, calloused hands—tugging roughly on my sensitive nipple. My eyes rolled up in my head—pleasure flooding every nerve ending and drowning them.
“Yes, right there, right there, right—”
The door banged open and Aeris walked in. I tipped over the side, scrambling to cover myself, and landed hard on my face.
“Ow!”
“Ooh, oh dear.” Aeris rushed over to help. “I’m so sorry, my lady. I didn’t mean to—”
“To what? Knock!” I slapped her hand away.
“How dare you go barging around my castle without so much as a by your leave! Servants have sense and respect where I come from.” I shoved up to my feet, glaring at a calm and smirking Alisdair as he slid up and lazily licked my juices from his lips.
“This is your fault,” I snapped at him. “You let them get away with this nonsense.”
Aeris backed away, eyes huge—feathers ruffled. “I truly am so sorry, Lady Ana—”
“That is Royal Highness Emiana to you.”
Lips pressed tight, she bowed deeply. “Your Royal Highness, I apologize. I was told you were having a rune lesson in here. If I’d known you were up to more amorous pursuits, I would’ve knocked.”
My amorous pursuits were hanging free in the open air and running down my leg. “Are you going to do something about this?” I demanded of Alisdair, gesturing to my nakedness.
“As you wish, my queen.”
I bristled. I hated how he did that—mockingly used my title as if my Meya-given power was no more than a joke. The beast didn’t know how lucky he was to be married to me. To share my bed, to breathe my air, to live another day now that I had the purple petals in my possession.
Alisdair snapped his fingers and my clothes magically reknit themselves.
“What was so urgent, Aeris?” he asked.
“It’s Foalan. Terrible news, I’m afraid, my lord. The Rajadom chancellor went to temple today and prayed for Meya’s mercy,” she said, “because he’s dying.”
“He’s what? Fuck!” Alisdair blared, punching the chair.
I was having the same reaction, but decorum wouldn’t let me show it.
It may have seemed strange to be angry that a man we wanted dead was dying, but it was the second-worst possible news we could’ve received.
The worst being that our assassins were discovered.
Still, finding out that Rajadom was about to initiate succession protocols was pretty bad.
“All of the heirs are about to scatter to the far corners of Elva and go into hiding, waiting until he’s passed and his chosen is safely coronated,” Alisdair gritted.
“Killing the heirs was supposed to be the simple part. Only the chancellor was the challenge. If it’s a slow disease, they’ll stay in their holes for months. ”
“Which means our plans are delayed for months,” I cut in. “Unacceptable. Give the word to kill the chancellor and his heirs now.”
Aeris’s face was grim. “That’s why the news is terrible, my lady.
The heirs have already left. The chancellor didn’t share his news with the priestesses until after he sent his sons off to the summer palace.
Treasa checked with your servant in the summer palace.
It’s empty, dusty, and everything is covered in white sheets.
No word was sent to open it,” she said. “They’re not going there. We don’t know where they are.”
“Fuck,” I shrieked, decorum be damned. “I will not have this. Not now when everything was finally in place. There has to be something else we can do.”
“Treasa is looking for them, of course,” Aeris said. “As soon as she does—”
“No.” My hand sliced the air. “My father will not live a second past his due. What about the siren? Have we figured out how to harness her song?”
“You forbade it,” Alisdair reminded. “Ordered me on multiple occasions to return her to her home.”
I planted my hands on my hips. “Well, thank Meya you didn’t listen to me. We tried the method of least resistance, it didn’t work, and now we move on to our next plan.” I met his eyes. “As a general should.”
He flashed me an unreadable smile. “Well said. And it no longer bothers you that it will kill every man—heir and innocent—who hears it?”
“Should it?” I turned back to Aeris. “As for that rat woman, bring her here. It’s unacceptable that we’re receiving vital information after it’s passed through half a dozen ears.”
“But, my lady, it’s difficult for Treasa to travel with the babies.”
“Then send the litter for her,” I snapped. “Must I think of everything?”
“No, Your Highness.” She backed further away. She bowed deeper. “It will be done.”
“Good. Now leave us.”
Aeris didn’t move. “There was one more thing. Eadaoin has asked to see you. She’s in the garden.”
“Excuse me?” I scoffed. “The servant asked to see me? Who is she to send for me like a kitchen maid?”
Aeris’s blandly polite expression didn’t change. “She said it was a topic you preferred to speak about in private. She merely thought the garden best for such privacy. Of course I can send for her if you wish.”
I pursed my lips, but didn’t give the order. Something we needed to speak about privately? I confessed, the tiger-beast piqued my interest. “It’s fine. I’ll go down to the gardens. In exactly ten minutes, send one of my attendants out with my hot cider.”
I left without listening to her agreement. She’d do what I ordered. Why wait around for her to confirm it?
Heading out to the garden, I spotted Eadaoin sitting on a bench under the rose bushes, waving me over. I barely kept control of my curling lip. It was simply disgusting how familiar these peasants were with their betters.
“There you are, my lady. Come, come.” She took my hand and tugged me down, letting me go before I slapped her off. “I have good news— Well, I hope it’s good news. I think I know where the boy is.”
I stared at her, patience running out fast. “Boy? What boy?”
“The fox boy,” she said. “Honora was in the east wing earlier today when she overheard a child’s voice coming through the wall.
There wasn’t a door to the room in that hallway, so there has to be another, possibly concealed, way in.
” Eadaoin looked at me expectantly. “Well, isn’t that good news?
That child must be the fox boy, and he has to be on the other side of that wall. All you have to do is find the way in.”
Snowflakes dusted my hair, hands, and shoulders—spreading their cold gift and chasing away the lingering warmth of my almost-orgasm. Along with my razor-thin patience.
“Why in the name of Elva would I do that? I don’t have time to go chasing around after little peasant beasts,” I snapped. “If you haven’t noticed, we’re at war!”
Eadaoin flinched, her smile melting away.
“Meya knows why I was so obsessed with that brat.” I tossed my head. “I had obviously taken leave of my senses, and how dare you make fun of me by rubbing it in.”
“But I wasn’t,” she cried. “I was only trying to help, my lady. Honest.”
“I don’t need help from the likes of you.”
Eadaoin’s eyes blew wide. Pathetically, her eyes filled.
Egh. Don’t tell me she deluded herself into thinking she was my friend. As if I’d ever lower myself that low for company.
“I’m certain whatever Lord Lumenfell did with the boy was for the best,” I continued, “and don’t ever question him or his will again.”
“Yes, my lady.” Fixing her face, she straightened. “It won’t happen again.”
A fluttering noise turned my head up to the falling snow. I saw nothing but white, black, and gray. “See that it doesn’t,” I said, rising to my feet.
“Do you still wish me to escort you?”
I halted. “Escort me where?”
“To Riordan. It’s at this time that you usually bring him a sack of jewels.” She noted my surprise. “Yes, I know, my queen, but it’s not my business to question. They are your jewels after all.”
“Yes, they are, but all of that is done with.” I tossed my head, feeling a memory coming and throwing it back. “We’re about to go to war. We need all the coin in our coffers. Now is that all?” My voice said that it had better be.
“Yes, my lady.” She rose to her feet. “I’ll escort you to your archery lesson now.”
I held up a hand. “My archery lessons are over. To imply that I need to learn to defend myself is to say that my guard intends to fail in her single, most important task—which is protecting and defending me with her life. Is that the case, Eadaoin?” I stuck my face in hers.
“Are you such a pathetic excuse for a companion, guard, and soldier that I’d better learn to rescue myself, because you’re no better than a furry-faced ornament? ”
“No! Of course I’ll protect you. I will not fail you.”
I sniffed. “Good. Now if you ever mention archery to me again, I’ll have you flogged for—”
“Excuse me, Lady Ana.”
I spun around. “What!”
Cold, freezing water splashed in my face. My scream echoed over the mountaintops.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, keva?” Bradach demanded. “First I heard you dressing down Aeris for doing nothing wrong, and now you’re berating Eadaoin for helping you and keeping to your schedule?”
I breathed hard, gaping at the birdman as snow and ice swarmed my wet face and clothes, eagerly making more of itself.