The Rise of the Fallen Queen

Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

Lord James' Castle...

The crackle of a log in the fire and the low roar of the flames under the flue sounded much too loud in the quiet room. The room's sole occupant sat in silent contemplation occasionally sipping the intoxicating "nectar" from a whiskey glass.

Lord Donavan James watched blurry eyes the dancing light of the fireplace. He had a list of names and worked out several locations of the group known as the Prime Purity. The information would later be passed to the Protector. It was not the worries of a convert operation that troubled him now in the darkest hours of night. The sweet scent and beauty of a woman troubled him as he stared into the oblivion of beyond the flames.

His housekeeper, Hilda, timidly walked into the room. She could not fault her master for his morse behavior and carried the guilt that she had conspired against him in helping the young sprite escape his lair.

"Sir? You have visitors."

"Who?"

"Lord and Lady Falcon, sir."

Lard James raised a brow at the title "Lady." In the centuries since finding his water nymph Eternal One, Lord Rinan Falcon had never publicly acknowledged his Beloved.

"Please send them in."

"Yes, Sir."

Perhaps it was a relative of his friend that had come to visit, Lord James wondered. But no one knew where the Sprite resided. The sound of light footsteps heralded the arrival of his unexpected guests.

"Good evening. Our apologies for arriving so late." Lord Falcon greeted as Lord James stood.

"Hello again, Lord James."

Lord James gallantly kissed the back of the nymph's hand. He admired her new look. She was dressed as elegantly as vampire lady but still maintained the wild untamed beauty of her kind. Her dark green eyes sparkled with happiness as her soft voice asked after his welfare.

"I'm well but curious." He replied. "What brings Lord and 'Lady' Falcon to my door?"

"An invitation." Rinan replied.

"To our wedding." Ria added

Lord James smiled brightly. "Well then a toast." He said smoothly opening a bottle of champagne that he kept in a mini fridge under the bar.

Pouring the golden liquid into three flutes, he handed them out. "Here's to my best friend. After two centuries, he finally pulled his head out of his ass."

"Here, here!" Ria agreed giggling.

Rinan merely chuckled in good humor because he knew that he had been an ass.

"What did your illustrious family say to the news?" Lord James asked.

"There has definitely been a divide." Rinan said as he lifted his Beloved's hand and placed a lingering kiss on the back. "But honestly, I can't find it within me to care. I have everything I need. My Beloved, my daughter, and a best friend whose house might become our temporary living quarters in case my parents disown me."

Lord James barked with laughter. "You and your family are more than welcomed my friend but you and I both know that it's you that controls and makes the 'family' fortune. Your family are no more than leeches hanging on the strings of your very generous purse. They may feel entitled but without you they won't have a dime to shine."

"I plan to divide the wealth evenly. Each member will sign a contract. I will gladly hand over everything and start from nothing to free myself from them if that's what it takes to live in peace." He replied with a sigh. "I've grown tired of their pettiness and unwillingness to change."

"Well, if it indeed comes to that point. Let me be the first to offer you whatever amount you need in order to restart your life. I have plenty and it's good to be an ally of a business guru. Especially one who will no doubt create a bigger and stronger empire than one he will leave behind."

"I will drink to that." Ria said lifting her glass in a salute.

Rinan leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Thank you for being here with me."

"Of course, my love. Now if you don't mind Lord James, it is quite late and I am tired."

"My apologies." Lord James quickly stood and pulled the bell string hanging in the corn of the room. He overheard Rinan tell his Beloved that he wished to stay behind.

The housekeeper appeared seconds later.

"Hilda, please show Lady Falcon to the guest room please."

"Yes, sir. This way m'lady."

The men stood as the women left the room. Taking their seats, Rinan asked, "So how are things with your Beloved?"

Lord James sighed. "She's back in the Sprite kingdom. My housekeeper helped her return. It was probably for the best."

"I don't understand." Rinan said.

"I can't be with her. I will only hurt her."

Rinan's brows furrowed. "That doesn't sound like you. As skilled as you are in torture methods, you've always been good to the people you care about. There is something else at play."

Lord James shook his head. "Whatever happened. I am forbidden to say anything."

"You were cursed?" Rinan asked as he started to put two and two together. "That witch that you were with cursed you?"

Lord James could not speak.

"Damn it, Van." He sighed. He never liked that that his friend kept allowing that witch, Helena, to constantly come back. She was clingy in an obsessive way and even rejected her Soulmate for the Sprite even though he made it clear that he wanted no more than an occasional bed mate. Lord James never tried to fully end the relationship because she was easy, convenient, and she already knew what he liked.

That selfish decision ended up costing him though Rinan didn't know to what extent. The Sprite king could end the curse but if Lord James could not speak of the curse nor tell them the type of spell that was used then Athens wouldn't be able to break it. Helena was a tricky when it came to spells and by silencing Lord James, she made certain that it was only the two of them that would know.

"Helena had a sister, didn't she? They were close though her sister was not very powerful. Perhaps she knows something. You never know." Rinan commented. "Maybe if you tell your Evangeline-"

"No. I cannot tell her anything. All I do is treat her badly. I-" he swallowed hard and bowed his head in shame. "I've forced her so many times. I want to love her, cherish her, instead I'm a monster around her. And she'll never know why. Only in our dreams can I be with her as I wish."

"I'm truly sorry to hear of your troubles."

Lord James stood and grabbed another bottle of drink. "Be at ease and enough of my sorrows. Come let us drink to celebrate your forthcoming nuptials."

The men drank and reminisced. But something that Rinan said made Lord James think, Helena did have a sister and he knew where to find her. It just so happened he was headed in that direction.

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Not going to lie... this was a boring chapter. The only bit of relevance was in the last paragraph. I was three quarters of the way through and was like, "Was all this really necessary?" I could have squeezed this entire chapter in two paragraphs. Oh well, it's done now.