13. Lysandra
When I got back to my suite last night, I didn’t even bother to undress fully before locking the bedroom door and touching myself. I didn’t mean to leave it unshielded, but I was so pent up that I needed to ease the ache between my legs. And then, he joined me.
Trying to hold out longer than Puck made my orgasm so intense I think I blacked out. He wasn’t even in the room and it was easily the most erotic experience of my life.
I couldn’t get the sound of him out of my head, or the way he growled, “Come for me, princess.” Fantasies of what he was doing, if he was using his vines to fuck himself the same way I did, brought me to orgasm three more times. Even now, the thought of it has my skin flushing and my core tightening.
Puck hadn’t looked at me all morning, but Hades gave me a knowing smile the moment she saw me. I didn’t stop to think that, if Puck heard me, the rest of the palace could have as well. I know exactly what they think we did, and the accusatory glances have fire boiling my blood and heating my cheeks. I want to yell, “Nothing happened!”
But that’s not entirely true, is it?
Ignoring the crowd judging me, I turn my attention to the edge of the Varesen Forest, the location of our first trial. I can sense the magic of this place even from the outskirts. The trees seem to reach for us, leaning as close as they can without snapping. The wind blows through them, tickling the leaves that range from a deep hunter green to the lightest chartreuse.
There’s been no information on the trial yet, other than to wear ‘combat clothes,’ which means leathers and a tunic. Luckily, the tunic is long; the leathers hug my ass way too tightly to be considered decent for a future queen. The warmer attire leads me to believe we’ll be traveling the length of the forest, which spans both Spring and Autumn Courts, where it’s typically chilly.
Beside me, Hades is silent and immobile. If it wasn’t for the shifting of her eyes, I might have forgotten she was there. Izar and his mate are chatting animatedly with Larisa and her boyfriend, Behar—the male I saw her with at the labyrinth party. It’s very early, the sun barely cresting the horizon and painting the sky in pastels while the stars cling to the last of their time hovering overhead.
The monarchs are clustered to the side, along with Devorah, who is standing in for her mother. Queen Talias absence is the other fodder for gossip. Everyone heard the tongue-lashing that King Simi gave Devorah about the subject. To her credit, she took it with remarkable grace, keeping her head held high and not back-talking him. I need to take notes on her approach; I would have told him to shove it.
Puck laughs loudly. He’s with the redhead from the village, who is currently hanging on his arm. I wonder if he’s told her of our incident last night. Maybe she doesn’t mind. I wish I could say the same, but watching as she smooths his hair off his face makes jealousy churn in my gut. I have no right to feel like this. He’s not mine, and I don’t want him to be. But I’m self-aware enough to know it bothers me anyway.
“You’re turning green.”
Hades’ voice makes me jump out of my skin, and I shoot her a sidelong glare. I’m not sure how to respond. I can’t deny I wasn’t staring at the female with murder in my eyes—Hades is annoyingly observant—but I also don’t want her to know just how affected I am by the display.
“I suppose I would be too if the male who spent the evening making me scream like I was being murdered was talking to another female,” she teases.
I cover my face with my hands. “Nothing happened.”
“If you were that hard up, you could have called me. I, at least, would have soundproofed your room.”
“I wasn’t—” I wish I could open up the earth and hide beneath the soil. I would, if it didn’t mean looking weak. Instead, I say, “Thanks, but I only like males.”
“In five hundred years, I’m going to remind you that you once thought you had a preference.” She leans closer, gesturing to the redhead who is now fawning over Edina and Eldoris. “That’s his mother.”
“Mother?” I squeak, my jealousy receding like the tide.
“And while we’re at it, Puck and Edina are so platonic they could be related. As far as I know, Puck is practically celibate—last night excluded. You have no reason to be threatened.”
“I’m not.” Hades hums derisively and I scowl at her in return. “Just be careful there,” she warns. “There’s no way that won’t end in heartbreak.”
“There’s nothing to end,” I insist, and she finally drops it.
Devorah, looking like a goddess in her flowing white judges’ robe, steps forward. Her chestnut hair is in a high ponytail that hangs down the middle of her back, and she’s accented her robe with dripping gold jewelry. Her wings are out, their iridescent color changing as she moves, hinting at oranges and reds and making them look like they’re on fire. She looks so different than Eldoris, despite being twins—her skin is pale as opposed to his deep umber brown, and her hair is straight and silky in contrast to his curls. But their eyes are the same stunning shade of ocean blue.
I don’t recognize the other two judges on the panel, but one is a dark-skinned male with shaggy black hair and the other is a female with lavender skin and royal purple hair that seems to sparkle under the early morning sunlight. She keeps tugging on her robe, fidgeting with the collar like it’s the most uncomfortable thing she’s ever worn.
“The male is Raul, head of one of the more prominent werewolf packs in the Autumn Court,” Hades murmurs. “And the female is Celesta, one of the siren elders. They interviewed everyone extensively, and they were the most impartial. Which is good, because I’m not sure Devorah is.”
“You think she’s pulling for Puck?”
“I didn’t say that.” Hades bares her teeth in a grimace that I think is supposed to be a smile. “I think Devorah is going to judge you both harshly. Your courts share a border, and Titania staged an attack on Summer before her death.”
I had heard of the rogue army my mother hired—mercenaries with a twisted form of magic that were meant to take over the realm in her name. The army went on to attack even after her death, but the rest of the courts—including Spring—banded together to stop them.
Devorah steps forward and clears her throat, the action magically amplified so her voice carries across the Etherealia Meadow behind us. “Contestants,” she calls, her voice light and melodic, as if it has a magic of its own. “Welcome to your first trial. As you know, there will be three separate events—each one designated by a different court—to test what they believe are the most important traits of a ruler. Today, we will test your leadership skills.”
Some of the gathered courtiers clap while others raise glasses of fizzy orange drinks similar to mimosas, but foaming at the top.
“Please assemble your teams and approach so I may give you the rules.”
Izar kisses his mate, and Larisa smiles coquettishly at her boyfriend before they fall in line with Hades at my side. Edina, Eldoris, and Radley surround Puck and the eight of us step toward the judges. Devorah keeps her voice magnified as she explains the rules.
“Today is quite simple. Guide your teams over a series of obstacles in the Varesen forest. Along the way, some items must be retrieved by a certain Fae on your team—it will be obvious which teammate the item will be for. The first team to cross the finish line with all three items and all members of your team will be declared the victor of this trial.”
That seems too easy. Even if the obstacles are difficult, surely the four of us can figure them out quickly enough, more so if we delegate. Puck and Edina bump fists, and Radley rubs his hands together as though eager to get started, but I remain wary.
“One more thing,” the siren elder says, and her hands turn webbed, her nails growing into long, spindly barbs. Edina inhales sharply. Izar swears. “Your teams will be magically blinded, unable to use magic, and you will be unable to touch them.”
“That includes all body parts as well as magic,” the werewolf leader says. “So no levitating, guiding spells, compulsion, or mind magic.”
Well fuck.
“You’ll need to use specific commands to each member of your team to guide them through this obstacle course,” Devorah says. “Any questions?”
Hades sticks her hand in the air, a polite gesture so at odds with the glower on her face. “If you think you’re coming anywhere near me with iron—”
“Relax,” Celesta drawls with a roll of her eyes. She clicks her barbed nails together. “Your magic will be suppressed with siren venom. The antidote will be waiting for you at the end of the trial.”
Hades purses her lips but appears otherwise pacified.
Devorah continues, “The dryads who live in this forest will be keeping a close eye on you, so if your plan involves cheating, know that you will be disqualified and immediate victory will be granted to your opponent. We’ll give you five minutes to devise a strategy before we call you up to have your magic removed by Celesta—” a pointed look at Hades, who returns it with a vulgar gesture that makes the courtiers gasp, “—and be blinded by me.”
I turn to my team and they all huddle in close. “I put up a silencing shield,” Hades says, and I feel the familiar kiss of magic roll over my skin. “Since, you know, that’s not your strong suit.”
“Fuck off,” I quip while the others snicker. Good to know everyone heard us. I was hoping maybe Hades had amazing hearing.
“What’s the plan, captain?” Izar says, looking more like he’s getting ready for a football game than a magical obstacle course.
“Do any of you know the forest well?” I ask, and they all shrug. “I visited yesterday when they told us the trial would be here, but I’ve only seen glances. Are there things we should be worried about?”
“Not that I know of,” Larisa says, tying her hair into a ponytail. “As far as forests go, it’s pretty nice.”
“In Autumn Court, there are colonies of leprechauns who live in the leaves,” Izar offers. “So, maybe avoid any underbrush.”
“Okay, then here’s what I think.” I go over my plan with them, dictating precisely what they’ll need to do so that when they’re blinded, they won’t have to worry about specifics.
“Time’s up,” Devorah calls. My group heads to Celesta, who pricks them with one of her barbs, injecting them with venom that will paralyze their magic. Larisa goes first, shivering as her magic recedes, dulling the shine of her hair and the luminosity of her skin. Then, she turns to Devorah, who waves a hand over her eyes, taking away her sight. Raul takes her arm and brings her to the edge of the forest, telling her to stay still as he retrieves Izar.
Once everyone has been blinded and is in place, the werewolf guides them a step forward, so they’re at the tree line. “Contestants, you’ll step into the forest here. Puck, your team will veer to the right, Lysandra to the left.”
I take my spot, keeping my back to the forest and my eyes on my team.
“On my count,” Devorah says. “One.” I release a steadying breath. “Two.” I square my shoulders and sneak a look at Puck, who is cracking his neck from side to side. “Three. Let the first trial begin!”
The courtiers all cheer. Puck barks out an order, but I wait. I want to make sure my team will be able to hear me over the din, and I don’t want them getting distracted or listening to something else. As soon as Radley, the last member of Puck’s team, disappears into the forest, I address my team.
“Izar, take one step forward.” Izar—in the middle of the group—does as he’s told, taking one step only and then waiting. “Larisa, lift your right arm.” Her arm lifts and she finds Izar’s shoulder. The rules said I couldn’t touch them, there was nothing said that they couldn’t touch each other.
Hades doesn’t wait for my instruction; she simply lifts her left arm and connects with Izar’s bicep. “I’m not reaching for his shoulder all day.
I chuckle and give a nod she can’t see before taking ten steps into the forest, looking at the floor and making sure there’s nothing that they can trip or stumble on. I have to move one fallen branch, but other than that, the path is clear.
“Ten paces forward, beginning on your left foot,” I instruct. “And step.”
As one, my team moves forward, their steps in perfect synchronicity. Their feet fold down the thick grass on the forest floor and kick up some patches of dirt. No one trips, no one falls, and I breathe a sigh of relief as we start without incident.
We travel like this for a long while. Once, Larisa needs to drop back to avoid a large tree root, which we do by having her take Hades’ hand and shifting into a straight line. It’s slow going, but I hope Puck’s team isn’t as coordinated as ours and will take longer to get where they’re going.
Slow and steady. That’s all we can do.
As the sun and temperature rise, sweat quickly dews my skin and pools under my boobs. I wish I wore a tank top under this tunic, or at least a sports bra. Even though my team can’t see me, I don’t want a bunch of dryads getting a view of my cleavage in my lacy, push-up bra.
About half an hour into the forest, I see something ahead. The sunlight streams through the trees in a direct beam, illuminating the crimson flowers where the item waits. No, it’s not an item. It’s a Fae. A frail girl with pale skin and brown hair sits in a silk robe. Her head twitches at the slightest movement, and I can tell by the milky color of her eyes that she’s been blinded as well.
“Hello?” she calls.
Hades goes ramrod straight, losing her hold on Izar as she stops in her tracks.
“Stop,” I tell the others. Izar comes to an abrupt halt, and Larisa runs straight into his back. The two of them start bickering as Hades inches her way toward the girl.
“Minthe?” she whispers.
“Hades!” the girl cries, turning toward the sound of her voice. “I’m here. They grabbed me out of bed; they told me I had to wait until you came for me.”
“She’s your item,” I murmur. Hades’ hands ball into fists. I take a step toward the girl, stopping when I find a shield surrounding her. I’d bet the shield will keep everyone out, except Hades. “Hades, listen to me. I’m right next to Minthe. If you take—”
Hades drops to her knees and starts crawling through the underbrush like a woman possessed. Short, curved horns, the same sleek black as her hair, extend from her head, making her look like some kind of demon escaped from hell. Chunks of grass and the occasional flower go flying as she paws at the ground in search of Minthe.
Minthe, as if sensing Hades’ agitation, starts crying. Izar and Larisa keep asking what they can do.
How did this fall apart so fast?
I need to get control of the situation. This is the test. They’re using loved ones to make my team members act irrationally, and it’s working.
But as queen, I’ll need to control irrational Fae all the time.
I can do this.
“Larisa, Izar, quiet,” I command, and they instantly silence, turning toward me with malice on their faces. They don’t like the direct order, but I can’t be bothered to care.
“Hades,” I bark as she starts veering off course and is about to run into a tree. She turns toward my voice and snarls. “Minthe is okay, she is not hurt. Now, listen to me and you’ll get to her.” Hades pants, but rises to her feet. “Good. Stick your left hand out.”
She does so and connects with the rough tree bark. She was so close to running head-first into that beast of a tree, and if she passed out, I probably would have lost.
“Use the tree as a guide and take two steps forward.” She rounds the tree until she’s back on the path. “Side step to the left. There’s a root below so lift your leg high.” She does as I ask, narrowly avoiding the root. “Now, move forward, and in about ten paces, you’ll feel a shield.”
Hades keeps her movements even as she gets closer to Minthe, who keeps talking and encouraging her forward. As she reaches the shield, the magic shudders, glimmering iridescent before vanishing. “Bend down, she’s sitting,” I instruct, and Hades crashes to her knees, reaching out and cupping Minthe’s cheek.
“Fuck,” she swears, and slides her hand back, wrapping the female’s hair between her fingers to guide her forward into a searing kiss. Minthe whimpers and clutches Hades’ tunic, shimmying forward on her knees until their bodies are pressed together.
“You alright, pet?” Hades asks, pulling away and kissing her temple.
“Fine.” Minthe wraps her arms low around Hades’ waist. I was just scared.
“I’m going to kill whoever came into our room and took what’s mine.”
“Can we get to the end of the course first?” I ask, breaking a little of the tension.
Minthe giggles and Hades softens at the sound. “Not like I can do much without my magic.”
I guide the two forward until they reach Larisa and Izar. Hades puts Minthe in front of her, so Minthe holds onto Izar’s shoulder while Hades wraps her arms around her waist.
“Everyone good?” I ask. They all nod. “Off we go. Ten steps forward.”