Chapter 26
Bastian takes a step closer to me, and I hold my breath. The croaking frogs, wind in the leaves high above, and the endless chirp of crickets serenade us. He’s so close, the heat of his skin threatens to sear me. His enormous hands circle my arms, drawing me near, where he leans in to kiss me. I explore his lips with my tongue, taking the time to map them in my memory as his hands run along my back, lifting me by my ass so I’m straddling him.
His tongue dives into my mouth. I wrap my legs around his back, feeling him hard beneath me.
Oh, gods.
If I’m defying Lady Raven’s orders simply by kissing this man, I might as well make the most of it. My hand dives beneath the surface of the water and lands between his legs. He moans into my mouth as I grip and tug, thankful it brings him pleasure and not pain. It’s not like anyone in Avren gave me lessons on how to do this.
“Mari…” Bastian breaks our kiss and squeezes his eyes shut as I continue to stroke him. He lets out a stifled laugh before turning his eyes on me. “I thought you wanted me to teach you.”
“You teach me by going about everyday life.” I move my hand to his chest. “When you remove your shirt, your muscles flex, and you show me how to seduce you with the removal of my clothes.” I reach behind me and unsnap my bra, letting it drift beside us on top of the water.
Bastian reaches up to touch me, but I block him with my hand.
“You teach me the art of seduction with your words.” I press into him with my hips to show him I know how to tease. “Like when you call me ‘Windsong’ or ‘princess’. At first, they infuriated me, but now they’re like a verbal aphrodisiac.”
“Don’t talk dirty to me, princess.” He snatches my hand, apparently tired of waiting. “I won’t even tell you all the ways you’ve had my heart racing since we met. The way you walk through the woods in Evie’s tight leather fighting gear, or the way you hold the bow like a novice just to get me close to you.”
“I’ve been naughty, haven’t I?” I flutter my eyelashes, wondering if I left the old Mari behind in the village. “But I don’t want to be good anymore if it means being good without you.”
His heart hammers against his chest as he sucks on my lower lip, making me arch my back. The exhilarating feelings ripping through my body make me wish we could stay here in Tenny Rocks and forget about my role as the savior. He lifts me slightly, dips his head, and takes my nipple into his mouth, rolling his tongue over the hard pebble and making the growing ache in the pit of my stomach intensify. I didn’t know this is what the Council took away from us—this hunger for one another.
He moves to my other breast, teasing me with his nips and tugs, and arousing something deep inside of me. I want this man more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life—more than marrying Flynn, more than becoming a dressmaker, more than becoming a Citizen of Avren.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asks, lifting me out of the water, my arms and legs around him like a mythical monkey I’ve seen in fairytales. “We can wait as long as you need.” His words say one thing, but his body and eyes say the complete opposite. He wants me—bad.
And I want him. “Show me how to do it, Bastian.”
He carries me out of the water and sets me on my feet to lay his cloak on the ground. I’d always imagined my first time would be in the apartment I shared with my husband on our wedding night. As Bastian lays me down on his cloak, fireflies blink above his head, and somehow this seems just as perfect.
“What do you know?” he asks, hovering above me, his dark hair cascading down.
I know what my girlfriends told me, things we wouldn’t read in any book in Avren’s library. And when Flynn’s hand touched my breast through the material of my sweater, he whispered secrets about what married partners do behind closed doors. He told me how, late at night, he reached beneath the covers to pleasure himself, imaging it was me.
“I think I know enough,” I say, arching my hips to meet him, only the thin layer of my underwear between us. “But what if I’m bad at it?”
He chuckles, smoothing down my hair. “You could never be bad at it, Windsong.”
After my confession, he’s using my trigger words intentionally, and it makes me long for him more. With his expert hands, he removes my last undergarment, and I lie naked before him in the moonlight.
He sits above me, taking in every curve, dip, and imperfection of my body with a tiny, satisfied smile on his lips. “I promise to protect, love, and worship you until my dying breath.”
“Please don’t talk about death.” I sit up and pull him to me. “I only want to know what it feels like to live for the first time in my life.”
Heated kisses meet my eager lips; our hands explore each other’s bodies. And he teaches me. He shows me how the swirls and flicks of his tongue in the right places can send me into ecstasy, screaming his name for all the wildland creatures to hear. He holds my hands above my head, both of my wrists fitting perfectly in one of his, and licks a trail of my sweat from my navel to my throat as I whimper, my voice hoarse from screaming.
Foreplay is what he calls it. Before he performs each act, he lays it out for me, making me more worked up from the anticipation.
After I’m as pliable as a ball of putty in his hands, his lips brush over my neck as he says, “Foreplay’s over, princess. So, I’ll ask you one more time. Do you want me to make love to you?” He rubs my thighs with his strong hands, starting from my knee up to where my leg meets my hip.
Sitting up, I grab both of his arms and stare him intently in the eyes. My body is slick with sweat from multiple orgasms. “If you don’t, I’ll kick your ass.”
He taps his chin. “Hmm… I might have to take you up on that.” Reaching down, he strokes himself. “But I need this more than a good ass kicking.”
He positions himself over my core, and I reach out for something to grab. My fingers wrap around the root of a nearby tree. I squeeze my eyes shut and brace myself for impact, not exactly sure what to expect.
“Mari… Mari… because this is your first time, it might hurt a little at first.” He kisses my neck, sending delicious chills down to my core. “But it’s meant to bring pleasure. We wouldn’t want to do it otherwise.” Long strands of hair sweep across my collarbone as his lips touch my ear. “I’ll be gentle.”
Still, I’m not so sure, so I let him take over. He slides himself inside of me slowly, and the initial pain hits, causing me to wriggle my hips. Two palms grip them, settling me before he moves farther inside. My eyes remain tightly shut, not knowing what to expect.
“Mari, look at me.” His voice is calm, like the air surrounding us.
I open them to stare into his beautiful blue eyes. He’s propped up on his arms, so I can see his muscular chest as he moves in and out of me, setting a rhythm. It feels so strange but entangled with good. I want to wrap my legs around him, to draw him closer, but watching him arouses me as much as his actions do. He bites into his lip with each thrust and sends a jolt of ecstasy through me. I imagine we’re in a bed and I’m gripping the headboard to hold on for dear life.
Heat builds from within as he pumps faster, and I’m on the brink again, unsure if I can hold out for him. Do you build up immunity if this becomes a routine? Because I want to do this every day. What did the old prude, Lady Raven, have against this?
My head spins as he shifts slightly, hitting a pleasurable spot deep within. He’s an expert and knows exactly what he’s doing. I really do feel like a ball of clay in his hands as he shapes the experience to his liking and, obviously, mine.
“It’s going to happen again.” I buck my hips to drive him deeper, not sure if I can get enough.
“That’s my princess. Give into it.” He’s so masterful, not only with his actions but with his words.
With one artfully placed slam, we’re both calling out together, filling the meadow with our cries. My whole body shakes with wonderful release. He falls on top of me, wrapping his arms around my back, his breath heavy.
His lips near my ear, he whispers, “I didn’t know love could make it feel that way.”
Love? He loves me? I knew our connection attracted him to me, but I thought he wanted to break it.
He rolls off me and rises on his elbow, his fingers trailing along my hairline. “I didn’t think I was capable of love until I met you. You’ve turned my world upside down. My duty is to serve and protect the savior, not give her my heart.”
“And what if one of us dies, Bastian?” I hate being the killjoy in the conversation, but we live in a cruel world, not a fairytale. “We’d be reckless to give our hearts to each other.”
His fingers pause on my hairline before he gives me a light kiss on the lips. “I’d rather love recklessly than never love at all.”
The croaks of the frogs and chirping of the crickets surround us as his arms envelop me, drawing me into another deep kiss. While we should go back to the others, we make love again, unable to contain the passions burning inside us, before falling asleep in each other’s arms.
The sky lightensas we walk back to the village, passing the early morning fishermen on the river. We climb the stone stairs before reaching the armory. I turn my eyes away. I don’t want to see the remnants of the carnage from our fight with the Miscretes. We walk across the square to the inn, confident in the story we’ve developed to tell the others.
The door to the inn creaks open. Katiana looks up from stoking the fire in the hearth as we enter and tries to suppress a grin. “You never change.”
Bastian ignores her, taking my hand and leading me up the stairs. After my night with him, I try not to think too deeply about her comment either.
He turns the knob and opens the door. All three of our siblings are out of bed and dressed, loading their cloaks with their weapons.
“Where have you been?” Evie crosses the room, hands on her hips. She looks down at our clothes, covered in the remnants of the blood we couldn’t wash out in the pond. “Was it you?” Her eyes drill into Bastian’s. “Katiana told Gray this morning what happened in the armory after the dance floor collapsed. I knew this had you written all over it.”
“They were tracking Mari.” Bastian crosses the room and pulls off his shirt, then digs through his bag for a different one. “I kept her away from the inn last night in case there were more.”
“But we could have helped you,” Levi signs. He hasn’t taken his attention away from me since we entered the room. It’s as if he can read the lies between Bastian’s carefully crafted lines.
“Leave them alone.” Grayson flips a dagger and loads it into a compartment inside his cloak. “They’re exploring each other for the first time. It’s obvious she’s just been f?—”
“Gray,” Evie warns, throwing a shoe across the room at him.
“Like I said.” Bastian yanks his fresh shirt over his head. “Miscretes. That’s all. It was safer for everyone if we were outside the village.” He tosses me my bag. “There’s a washroom down the hall. Go get dressed.” His commands are so different from the soft caress of his voice the night before. It’s a way for him to throw them off our scent. And his scent is still all over me.
An oversized basin sits in the room filled with suds and a bit of murky water. Though someone has used the tub, it must be cleaner than my body. Thankfully, the water is still hot as I sink down to my shoulders and let it calm my nerves. Today, I will face King Cirrus with little knowledge of the Unseelie Court or the fae and operating on less than two hours of sleep. Levi will protect me. I close my eyes to block out what’s coming. Levi will protect me.
But what if I need to protect him?
I stand up in the tub, water cascading from my body as I shiver in the cold air. Levi put those thoughts in my head. In the preparations for going to Frostacre, I never once thought I’d depend on Levi for physical protection. He knows a lot more about his ancestors, so his knowledge of customs and tricks will help, but I will have my daggers with me. I have every intention of leaving with all my siblings and the prophecy.
I settle back into the suds and wash my hair and body. When I’m done, I step out of the tub, pat myself dry, and pull my clothes from my bag. Someone packed me a green velvet dress and boots with dagger sheaths built into them. An envelope is on top of the dress. I open the seal and pull out the note.
Mari,
I can’t have my little sister facing the fairy king without the proper attire. Show them what you’re made of.
Evie
Her note makes me smile. It’s not just me and Levi entering the court. I have the full power of the Kindred Few behind me.
There’s a knock on the door, so I gather a towel around me to open it. It’s Grayson, looking sheepish and older-brotherly. He blocks his eyes with his hand as he enters and holds his other arm out, swinging it wildly so he doesn’t bump into anything. I lead him to a bench and help him sit down.
“You don’t have to cover your eyes.” I sit beside him and look at my puckered toes. “I’m fully covered.”
He drops his hand. “Trying to show an inkling of respect. As the only other Avrenian, I feel responsible for you.” He clasps his hands between his knees, his fingers forming a steeple. “But that’s not why I came in here. I want to talk privately.”
“Does this have to do with where Bastian and I were last night?” Suspicion runs deep over each of my siblings’ faces.
“In a way.” Running a hand through his hair, he sighs. “Be careful with Bastian. I don’t want to see your heart broken.”
“And what would he think if he knew you were in here talking to me about this?” I cross my arms, appalled Grayson thinks he knows what is right for me. “You know about as much about our life in private as I know about yours with Evie.” He said he loved me, and it wasn’t the same with other women.
“There are things you don’t know about him—beyond his sexual exploits—that garner my concern. Just be careful.” He lays a hand on my arm.
“What things?” I don’t understand why people are so damn secretive around here. “He’s your brother. Why are you so concerned?”
“They aren’t things I know, only things I sense based on observations.” He gives me a lopsided smile and ruffles my wet hair. “So, you can take it or leave it, but I’m usually pretty good with my intuition.”
He leaves me alone again, not nearly as happy as I was when I first sank into the tub.
I enter the room barefoot; the skirt of the green dress sweeps over the floor. All eyes turn to me, taking in my formal attire for my appointment with King Cirrus. Levi adjusts the cuffs on his button-up shirt. He looks handsome in black pants and shiny dress shoes.
“Are we distracting Cirrus or going to a ball?” I tug at my sleeves, the material tighter than I had hoped.
“If we don’t show up in formal attire, we’ll offend him.” Levi has his foot on a chair to tie his laces. “It’s one of the rules. Remember, our primary goal is to keep Cirrus talking. The longer we can give the others to search for the prophecy, the better.”
“What if I mess up?” My plan is to let Levi do the talking.
He crosses the room and lifts the Kindred Few necklace I’ve left on the table. “I’ve added a magical element to your locket. Besides the yarrow, it contains a spell which will draw you back to this spot if you clasp it in your hand.” When he snaps the locket open, the herb glimmers with the supernatural element.
“And you added this to yours?” I nod at his locket.
“Of course,” he says, turning to lift his other shoe to the chair.
With our bags slung over our shoulders, we leave the room and head out the front door of the inn, Katiana’s voice calling out to Grayson behind us.
“I looked for you last night,” she calls from the open door. “You must have missed me. I wore my pink floral.”
“I bet you looked ravishing.” Grayson tips his hat at her but doesn’t slow his steps. “Next time, my love.”
Katiana’s face flames a color that is probably similar to the color of the dress she wore.
Bastian falls into step beside me, behind the others. It seems like a betrayal, not telling him about my conversation with Grayson. He slips a piece of paper into my hand, which I quickly crumple and stuff between my cleavage. I’ll read it when it’s not as obvious to the others.
“If anything happens, use Levi’s locket.” He’s tied his hair back in a knot, and his black fighting gear is loaded with weapons. Very different from the man who made love to me last night, but still just as handsome. “We’ll meet you in Tenny Rocks.”
“Do you know where to find the prophecy?” From what I imagine about the Unseelie Court, it is a vast system of underground tunnels and caverns, easy to lose yourself in.
“Levi says Cirrus will keep it close—his throne room, his sleeping quarters, or where he stores his gold. While we search, Levi will poke around with his questioning, trying to get a clue from the king himself.” He reaches into his pocket and removes a black box. “This is a communication device we swiped from two of Avren’s soldiers. We’ll have them both turned on so we can hear what’s happening in the throne room.”
I take it from his hand, inspecting the familiar equipment. “It’s called a radio. It’s part of a soldier’s standard gear. They need to communicate with each other in the wilderness.”
He stops, taking my arms in his hands. “Do not take any chances. We need you alive more than we need the prophecy. The other savior will reveal him or herself, eventually. But if you haven’t noticed, I’m not very patient.”
“I’ll do my part for our family,” I say, slipping the dress from my shoulder and tapping my tattoo with my fingernail.
He glances ahead before kissing my shoulder, sending all kinds of warmth through me. “I know you will, but we need the two of you alive.”
I don’t know what this evening will hold, but I will make sure everyone else makes it out before me. They are my world, and I can’t imagine life without any of them.