16. Chapter Sixteen Brannoc
Chapter Sixteen: Brannoc
I watched from the shadows as the three of them finished, fascinated by the look of pleasure on Rhowyn's face. Then she turned her head, finding me in the darkness. One of the only fae who had ever been able to do so, and I couldn't figure out exactly why that was.
Letting them bask in the afterglow for a moment, I left them to go and wake the others. Baer woke startled, sitting up in a near panic. “I've information. We need to speak. Head to the living room,” I told him succinctly before fading back out and heading to Arryn's room.
When I woke Arryn, he grabbed me by the collar, a blade at my neck faster than I had anticipated. His knife stopped when he realized it was me, instantly awake and ready for battle. Such was a warrior's curse, never sleeping deeply, always prepared for an attack.
Looking at his bare chest, the covers having slipped down to his waist, which I could tell was just as bare, the line of hair leading down to his lower abdomen, teasing me to pull the covers back to gaze fully at him. Pulling back from his grip, I pushed away those new thoughts and emotions that threatened to ruin our longstanding friendship. As my only friend, I couldn't afford to lose him. Desire and lust were fleeting, but his friendship was not.
“We need to talk. Head to the living room. I'll get the others.”
He simply nodded, not bothering to apologize for the knife at my throat, before throwing the covers back to reveal himself further without concern for me being there. Instead of looking, I faded again, going back to Lennox's room.
Back in the room, I hesitated to reveal myself. The sight of her breasts and body was on full display as Lennox and Callum curled around her. Each of them was gloriously naked. The amount of skin my eyes perused had me hardening, even in this smoky state.
Rhowyn's eyes met mine again. “I know you're there, Brannoc,” she said, the men stiffening at her announcement of my presence. Lennox moved to cover her, but instead, she sat up, her breasts the perfect size for a handful. Not too large and not too small. I had the urge to reach out to take them in my hands, to find ways to make her come by my touch, but I forced it back. The information I had discovered was too important. Fading into view for them, I smirked at Rhowyn and her ability to find me. She simply smiled in return.
“Is there a reason for your visit? Or do you simply like to watch?” she asked me, reveling in my examination of her perfect body.
I winked at her playfully, my eyes still glued to her form, no shame in my voice as I spoke. “While I did enjoy the show, that was not the purpose of my intrusion.”
“Oh?” She leaned back onto her hands, her thick, creamy thighs revealed by the absence of the other men. I let my eyes drift over her without chagrin. She apparently didn't mind my looking, so I would take advantage of the unspoken offer.
Shaking my head and pulling my mind from the lascivious thoughts that were now plaguing me, I said, “I've got information that you all need to hear.”
“It couldn't wait?” she asked, finally moving to stand up.
“No. It's time sensitive.” I watched as she pulled her pants over that perfect ass, slightly disappointed now that it was covered. “As much as I would love to watch you three go for another round,” Callum growled at that pronouncement, but I ignored him, “Sadly, this news must be imparted as quickly as possible.”
Nodding and bending over to reach for her bra, she said, “We'll be out there shortly.”
Sensing the dismissal for what it was, I faded again to the living room, finding a rumpled Baer and anxious Arryn. Granted, he didn't appear anxious to anyone else, but for me, someone who had known him the longest, I could see the subtle clues in the tension of his body. He was ready to react, his muscles coiled and tight as he awaited what I had to tell them. He immediately found me when I faded into view, hand going to his waist to find the sword that wasn't there. His shoulders and visage relaxed slightly when he realized it was me.
“What's this information that couldn't wait until morning?” Baer asked, running a hand through his hair with a yawn. He plopped down into one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. “I'd just fallen asleep.”
I moved over to the table against the wall, finding the spirits I kept there and pouring myself a strong drink. The emotions and sensations that had started taking over since meeting Rhowyn were completely foreign to me. I had always managed to maintain my aloofness, even with Arryn. While he was my best friend, he'd never affected me in this way. I had seen him naked plenty of times, appreciated his form, but this desire for him was new to me. Now that she was in my life, I was noticing things about the two of them that I'd rather not.
Taking a long sip, I turned to Baer. “When the others have joined us, I'll tell you. No sense in repeating myself.”
Arryn's brow furrowed as he watched me take another long drink, finishing off the strong spirit and pouring another. He crossed the room to me. “You okay?”
His voice was low, only audible to me, but his concern was evident. I took another sip. “I'm fine.
He eyed me, and I kept my expression neutral, not giving anything away. But I could see on his face that he didn't buy what I was selling him. Our friendship was a double-edged sword. While I noticed things about him that he'd rather not reveal, he could also do the same.
Accepting my claim for the moment, he grabbed a glass and poured himself a drink. A movement in the shadows had me turning to watch as Rhowyn sauntered in, completely put together, but I noted the fullness of her hair. The green strands rumpled and giving off that thoroughly fucked impression. Her lips were plumped and full from their activities, and the desire to kiss them swept through me. Her hips swayed enticingly as she neared, hypnotizing me. I took another long drink, something to do with my mouth that didn't involve her. Arryn eyed me, and I knew he could see my desire for her. But she wasn’t mine. She was theirs. I needed to remember that, or I would find myself in a world of hurt.
She moved to sit next to Baer, and he smiled as his nostrils flared. The smell of sex permeated from her. “Did you have a good time?”
She laughed softly, her eyes finding Lennox's and then Callum's. “Yes. We did.” He hugged her and pulled her into his lap.
“Next time, I'd be happy to join,” he said as he nuzzled into her neck. She laughed, pleased with him and his playfulness. The light around her drew me in like a moth to the flame. A surge of jealousy spiked through me, and I shoved it down.
My shadows wanted to dance with her light, but that wasn’t meant to be. As a lower fae, I could never hope to be with her, a High Fae. Even if she was in a human glamor, it didn't change who she was or what I was.
She turned and looked at me over her shoulder. “So what's this news you have for us?”
I moved to the front of the fireplace, a fresh drink in my hand. Taking a deep breath, I began. “After our discussion, I frequented some of my more salacious sources, the ones with looser tongues or with information for a price. It didn't take long for me to discover what the Queen's next move is.” I eyed Rhowyn, watching her reaction to my next words. “Apparently, she's announced that Genevieve has won the trials and will be crowned the next Queen.”
She stiffened at the name, her anger rising. “How can she do that?”
I shrugged in response. “I'm not sure, but she is. She's to have the ceremony tomorrow morning. Or rather, later this morning.”
“That shouldn't be possible,” Baer said, confusion written on his face. “Surely there can't be a transition if Avalonia has already chosen Rhowyn.”
Arryn walked up to me. “You're sure?”
I nodded as he turned to pace, taking a sip of my drink as I watched him work through this new information. “The Queen's not just holding the ceremony tomorrow, she's broadcasting it to all fae kind. Just like she did with the trials so that everyone can see that Genevieve will be the next Queen.”
“We need to be there,” Rhowyn said, sitting stiffly in Baer's lap as he rubbed her thigh with his hands, trying to soothe her.
“We can't. We're the most wanted traitors in this land. Even if we had someone we could trust, they'd surely sell us out for the amount of money she'd be offering for our arrest,” Lennox said, vitriol at his mother dripping from his lips.
“A lot of people would be eager to find us. We need to stay here for the moment. We can't risk revealing ourselves until we're ready,” Callum said in agreement, his thick arms crossing his broad chest as he glowered.
“Then you'll be glad that I've managed to procure one of the devices that will allow us to watch the proceedings,” I said nonchalantly.
Callum stormed over to me in a couple of strides. “Then why the fuck didn't you say that to begin with?” I shrugged again, unconcerned with him and his anger.
Trying to defuse the situation, Rhowyn stood and placed a hand on Callum's chest. “Where is this device?”
He calmed slightly with her touch, though he still glowered at me. I strode over to the entrance of my home, picking up a bag. Opening the velvet cloth, I reached in and pulled out a crystal. Setting it on the mantle in front of us, Rhowyn's brow furrowed. “How are we supposed to watch anything on that? It's tiny.”
I smirked at her. “You should know by now not to underestimate something. Magic is at play.”
At her continued look of doubt, I assured her seriously, “Trust me, it'll work.”
“If you say so,” she said, eyeing the crystal as if it held all the secrets that she wanted to know. “So, when does this charade begin?”
Looking at the clock, I answered her, “In about three hours. At the crack of dawn, the fanfare will begin. The Queen has some entertainment planned before the actual ceremony takes place at nine.”
She sighed, running her hands over her face. “Okay. Then I'm going to try and get some sleep.” She turned to walk out of the room, calling over her shoulder, “Wake me when it's time.”
The rest of us sat there quietly, watching her as she left. Baer pushed up from the chair. Obviously, he was going to get some sleep too, whether it was in his own bed or with her, I couldn't say. I took another long drink, wishing I could go curl up with her. My jealousy leaked from me, my shadows drifting out to dance away from me. Arryn's eyes met mine before I reined them back in. “I'm fine,” I snapped at him before he could say anything. Callum and Lennox left as well, and I was glad to have some solace, but Arryn remained.
He picked up his own drink again, eyeing me as he took a drink. “I know you well enough, old friend, to know you're not fine. However, I also know that you're not ready to talk about it.”
“Good. At least we have that settled.” I tossed back another drink, my buzz starting to lower my defenses.
He sighed, looking down the hallway. “You should probably get some sleep and sober up. We need you with a clear head. Do whatever you need to to make that happen.” His eyes were telling me just what he meant. I needed to jerk off, but I knew it would be fruitless and unfulfilling. Not when what I really wanted was now sleeping down the same hallway that I'd be on, just a few doors away from my own room.
“Brannoc,” Arryn said softly, placing a hand on my shoulder and pulling me back to him. He studied me, concern written on his face.
Softening, I placed my hand on his. “What?”
“I see more than you think. We've all discussed this and agree that whatever Rhowyn wants, that's what will happen. None of us are against it, but we will not tolerate her being toyed with. So be sure it's really what you want before you do anything.”
While he didn't outright say it, I could read between the lines. I looked down the hall, knowing the longing was written on my face when I turned back to him. Unable to speak, I simply nodded at him. He didn't need me to say it. Never had. He knew that I'd be careful with her. That I'd protect her in any way I could.
Not that she'd ever lower herself to be with someone like me, but on the off chance we ever had a moment, he needed to know that I wouldn't play with her. It would be the best moment of my life, one I'd treasure for all of my long-lived days. Because even if it happened, there was no way she could ever keep me. It would only be for a night, one blissful moment. The likelihood of that ever happening, though, was slim to none. She didn't want or need me. She had them, and I was okay with being by her side, never having the chance to hold her. I just needed to be near her, to serve her however I could. Somehow, I would tamp down my emotions again. Somehow, I'd find the cool aloofness that had served me well my entire life.
I walked to my room, telling myself that it could be done. That I could keep my distance, but in the back of my mind, a niggling doubt told me that I would never be the same again.