The Dark Fey Chronicles Court of Roses

13

The next morning the maids woke me before the sun had even come up. Erik ordered a room made up for me just a few doors down from his. I felt a little better knowing he was close. After last night, having seen Aros, his dead looking flesh reaching out to me and trying to grab at me, sleep had not come easy. I could still feel his fingers locked around my neck and at times I felt like I couldn't breath.
After a brief shower, the maids had put out some clothes for me. A pair of long workout leggings, a tank top and a matching hoodie. I slipped them on quickly, along with some tennis shoes before someone started pounding on my door.
When I pulled it open it was Jax, Liv and Mira. The only one smiling was Mira.
"Training day today, Min Dronning!" she told me. "We should get some breakfast!"
I raised an eyebrow as she turned and skipped down the hallway, leaving Liv, Jax and myself dumbfounded to her perkiness.
"Where did she get the energy from?" I asked and stifled a yawn.
Liv shook her head. "I wish I knew,"Jax said. He started off down the hallway so I grabbed up Liv's arm and pulled her to walk beside me. "Hey, can we talk?"
She nodded quickly. "Sure," she said.
I sighed. "About you and Dec?"
I watched her face flush crimson and she dragged me to a stop beside her. "You can't say anything to anyone!" she warned me.
I shook my head. "Of course not but-"
Liv covered her face with her hands, rubbing her face quickly. "Declan is my Mate!" she told me and I felt my jaw drop.
I shook my head. "But how?" I demanded. I shook my head at my stupid question. "I-I mean I know how, but ... when?"
Liv shrugged. "The night he showed up at the Lunar Pass when the Hunters were chasing us. When he arrived at the Safehouse, I knew but there was so much going on and Erik looked like he was about to kill him!"
I sighed, remembering how angry and distracted he had been about Declan. He still didn't care much for him. "He won't have a reason to anymore!" I reminded her.
Liv sighed and nodded. "I hope you're right because I Will fight for Declan. Just like Erik fights for you!"
I sighed, knowing she had a point. Last night at the banquet, that man, Erik's uncle, Regor, had questioned my being here. How many would follow? Erik was fighting against his advisors on my behalf.
"Where is Erik right now?" I asked.
Jax shrugged. "In the gym?" he mused. "Out on a run? Who knows? It's seven-thirty in the morning. He could be anywhere."
I frowned. How early did his day start? I needed coffee.
We had reached the stairs and were now headed down toward the dining hall. Only Summer was standing at the bottom of the steps, dressed in mini shorts and a sweatshirt. I rolled my eyes. Summer seemed to have noticed me and scoffed.
"You got something' you wanna say to me?" she demanded as I passed her.Liv turned to look at her. "Summer, go put some clothes on before you poke someone's eye out!" she said and waved her away. Summer laughed.
"You're right," she said. "Don't wanna make the sick ones jealous now do we?"
I turned back to look at her as she laughed. "Real nice," I muttered.
Summer walked up to me. "Erik will have his full of you!" she reminded me. "He will use you and drop you like he has so many others!"
I smiled at her now. "Oh yeah?" I said. "How quick did he drop your slutty ass?" I really should have seen it coming. I really should have just kept my mouth shut.
"Erik was all about me before you showed up here!" she spit at me. "I was his woman and he gave it to me like no one ever has-"
Liv was beside me in a flash, her hand wrapped around Summer's neck.
"I'd be careful how you speak to her!" she hissed. "My brother won't take kindly to those who disrespect his Mate and Queen!"
Summer shoved Liv off of her.
"Please," she scoffed and straightened her jacket. "She is not even Marked! If Erik really wanted her that bad, he would have Marked and Mated her already! She is a Slut-"
Liv raised a hand and slapped Summer as hard as she could. "Disrespect her again and I will have you committed to the cells for a month!"
Summer rolled her eyes. "Only the King can do that!" she reminded her.
Liv nodded. "True," she agreed. "But do you think anyone here is going to disobey me? The sister of the King?"
Summer looked over at me, her eyes filled with rage. "She doesn't belong here!"
Liv laughed at her. "According to the Hunters all Dark Fey are an abomination! None of them belong! Get used to it!"
Summer shook her head and looked back at Liv. "She is dangerous!"
Liv crossed her arms as if challenging Summer in some way. I watched as Summer shot me one last glare and turned away. "This isn't over, bitches!"
Liv sighed and dropped her arms. "If it went for the fact that her father is on the Council she would be at one of the reserve houses with the other Tribe fighters."
I nodded, remembering. "Lucian is her father," I said and Liv nodded and we set off
down the hallway again. "Is what she said before true?"
We entered the dining hall. It looked like we were the first to arrive. The table was still being set and the house staff was running around trying to get everything ready. One of the maids was setting a coffee tray down when she saw us.
"I'm sorry, Mistress Modori, but the cooks are running a little behind!" she said quickly.
Liv looked at me when I didn't say anything and the Maid started to look nervous.
"Me?" I realized. "Darkbloom! My name is-"
Liv sighed and shook her head. "I told Erik you wouldn't like this!" she told me. "Erik has instructed all members of staff to call you 'Mistress Modori'. I suppose it's his way of Claiming you without really claiming you!"
I wasn't sure at all how I felt about that. My name has always been Darkbloom. It was odd to think of myself as something other.
"So," Jax said as Amira came skipping back with her arms full of thick, old books. "Erik tells me you have a healing talent. We are in need of more Helbreder. Are you up for the challenge?"
I looked between Liv, Jax and Mira. "I don't understand, Erik told me I needed training!" I said.
Mira smiled at me. "The Valkyrie would like to see your skills and the King agreed!"
I nodded. "The King also informed me that the Elders wanted to see me first!" I reminded them. "I should go see them before I do anything!"
Liv bit her lip, glancing over her shoulder. "You should take Erik with you!" she said, looking around the hallway as we walked.
"Why?" I asked her and looked around too. "What are you looking for?"
Liv snapped her eyes back at me. "Nothing!" she insisted. "And Erik would want you to be there. The Elders know about your Pound stay and they know now that you are the sworn enemies daughter. They are going to have questions. Erik will want to be there to keep them in check."
I nodded. "Well, where is he?"
Liv looked back to Mira. "He should be here soon. He was running through the outer wall at dawn." Mira said.
Liv sighed. "You saw him?"
I narrowed my eyes on her. "Liv?"
She turned to face me. "What?"
"You need to tell him-"
I never finished. "Tell who what?" Erik asked from behind me as he wrapped an arm around my waist.
Jax seemed not to be able to help himself. He smirked, laughed once and then walked away. "Where are you going?" Erik demanded.
Jax turned to face him, a smile still on his face. He bowed, spreading his arms out wide. "To work, Your Grace!" he said. It was nice to see that he was doing well. I had been unable to ask him since no one but Liv knew I had healed him. I sighed, wishing I could speak to Declan.
Jax laughed once more and walked down the hall. Liv turned to look at Erik and me.
"I should get going too," she said. She seemed oddly annoyed and distracted.
When she was gone, Erik held out his arm to me and led me out of the dining hall.
"Unfortunately the Elders are going back to their Citadel in the city. They requested to see you, and, unfortunately, as you are not Queen yet, you are not able to refuse them!"
I scoffed . "Good!" I told him. "I have questions. And I know they have to have some answers-"
Erik pulled me to a stop. "Lexi, the Elders are not interested in rehashing the past! They want their questions answered. I doubt they will answer any of yours!"
I felt my anger bubble for a moment. "Why?" I demanded.
Erik sighed. "There are a few in the Council who didn't want the union of the Dark Fey. They would have been happy to leave the Clans and Tribes to squabble amongst ourselves and held judgment over us all-"
I sighed and nodded. "Yes, I heard bits and pieces of it in the Pound. The Hunters were not very good at keeping secrets. You won the war with your men-"
Erik smiled. "Men I unfortunately no longer have!" he reminded me. "My father took those men with him to the Mountain that night. The next day, after I ordered the search for survivors, I was made leader and I gathered the Clan and Tribe leaders for a meeting. We all voted for the ones nominated. Since my father was Alpha, I was naturally next in line. I proved to have the strongest claim and became King... many didn't want me to be King because I was unmated and unwed-"
I sank my head. "The Hunters caught me off guard-"
Erik tugged me to a stop. "I know this," he reminded me. "I am telling you this so you know what happened while you were gone. The Elders will be looking for ways to discredit you in any way they can. Especially Lucian-"
I rolled my eyes. "What is his deal, anyway?" I demanded.
Erik laughed. "Many people wanted the job, Lexi. It's harder to discredit two leaders if they have allies they know they can trust. Inside information alway es helped. And I understood that we needed people on our side right now.
I bit my lip. Erik wanted me to be his. I thought of Summer and how she had said that her and Erik were together. I bit my lip and shook my head. Summer would continue to cause problems until I or someone else put her in her place.
Erik reached up, his fingers catching my chin as his thumb pulled at my bottom lip, effectively unlocking my lower lip from my teeth. He growled at me, rumbling low in his chest.
"Stop doing that!" he hissed at me.
I looked up at him confused. Stop what?
We were standing in the middle of a deserted hallway now and the air was suddenly hard to come by because of how Erik was looking at me.
He looked... hungry. Erik dropped his hand quickly. "I'm sorry," he said in a frustrated tone. I watched him breath out a sigh and rake a hand through his tousled blond hair. "Forgive me, I didn't mean-"
I shook my head quickly. I didn't want him to apologize. He didn't need to. There was no need. In truth, I wanted him to touch me. I wanted to hold his hand. But every time his touch became too heavy or his breath got too close to my skin, it freaked me out.
"Let's just go see what the Elders need," I said and nodded to the closed door at the end of the hall. I didn't wait for him to answer. I didn't want to see the hurt and shattered look on his face. I turned away quickly and started down the hall, Erik only a step behind me.
When we reached the door, Erik stepped around me, not bothering to knock, and pulled the door open. Holding his hand out for me to go first, Erik followed me once inside. The Elders were all seated around a table, almost like they had been the first time I had seen them. Caro was seated to my left and she smiled when she saw me. However Luican and Fenris looked more than annoyed. They both sighed and glanced at each other, each of them making a face at the other. I frowned and I heard Erik growl slowly beside me.
"Miss Darkbloom-" Lucian began but Erik cut him off quickly.
"She is your Queen, you will address her as such!" he snapped.
Fenris bowed his head. "With all due respect, Ser, she is not my Queen," he said. "I serve the Gods, and only the Gods. And she has yet to bear your Mark."
I lowered my head in shame. I was getting Erik into trouble with the Elders now. I should have just let him Mark me. "As you all well know, Lexi has been through a tremendous trauma!" Erik reminded the men sitting at the table before them.
Lucian looked me up and down once, his face disgusted. "Yes," he agreed. "We can see that! That is why we wanted to speak to her. So, if you would please give us the room, My King-"
Erik stepped closer to him. "That's not gonna happen!"
I looked between them. "Erik, I can-"
He growled again. "No!"
Caro and Fenris glanced at each other. "Don't look at me!" Caro insisted when Lucian turned his gaze to her, as if wanting her side with him. "Your King wishes to be present while you interrogate his Queen. He has that right!"
"Interrogate?" I echoed but no one looked at me. No one but Erik.
Lucian sighed before Erik could say anything. "We need to speak to her alone-"
Erik's growl filled the room. "In how many ways must I say 'no' before you hear me?" Erik demanded. "I am not leaving her alone! And where is my Uncle?"
The two men sighed. "Very well," Caro said as she settled into her chair.
Lucian looked very much annoyed. "Regor is out of Tribe business. He is in a meeting with the New York Pound-"
Erik cut him off quickly. "Who authorized this?" he demanded.
No one spoke and then Fenris, a bald headed short man leaned forward. "With all due respect, my King, Regor, told us that you authorized the mission!"
I felt my jaw drop and a surprised gasp left me. I turned but Erik didn't look at me, his face enraged as he stared down the Elders. "Where is my Uncle now?" he demanded.
"On his way to New York," Caro admitted.
Erik sighed and turned back to me. "Come, Love," he said and held out his hand to me. "One more thing before you leave, Madam, Ser," Lucian said quickly.
Erik sighed and rolled his eyes. "What is it?"
"The Annulus Ball is in three weeks," Caro said.
I looked up at Erik. "Anulus Ball?"
He sighed. "It is a meeting of the Families. Modori, Vespari, and the Mortem. Normally we don't have this ball because the Tribes refuse to work together because they feel they do not profit from anything that is offered.It is rather annoying!"
I smiled a small smile as Erik turned back to look at the Elders. "Lexi does not have the answers you seek. She has been locked up for the last two years, if you dumbasses have forgotten!"
The only one who really seemed offended was Lucian. He scowled at me and shook his head. "She is the daughter of a known traitor!" he told Erik. "It would be best-"
Erik dropped my hand and was gone, having vanished from beside me and reappearing beside Lucian, his first locked around the blond man's neck. I felt my skin crawl when I noticed Erik's talon-like claws were what was holding Lucian up to the wall.
"Choose your next words extremely carefully, Elder Lucian," he said in a low voice. Erik's face seemed to glaze over for a moment, as if really thinking about the words that came out of his mouth next. "Because if you don't, I can promise you that Summer will be an orphan in the blink of an eye!" Erik's voice was quiet and deep. I shuddered. It was odd to see his acting so aggressive. I wasn't surprised, not really. It was just strange to see him like this. "And I will make sure I take my time with you! I will be sure to make you suffer! Just when you think thats its over-"
I couldn't listen to it anymore. I didn't want to hear it. "Erik!"
He turned to look at me, his hand still locked around Lucian's neck, pinning him to the wall. His eyes were a vibrant, luminous green. "What?" he snapped at me.
I backed away from him a few feet and the enraged look on his face vanished. It was like someone had flipped a switch. His hard and fierce expression vanished and he dropped Lucian to the floor.
"Lexi-"
I shook my head, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. "I have to go!"
I didn't look at the Elders or back at Erik before I ducked out of the room and down the hall. I knew he wouldn't follow me. I ran as fast as I could through the halls, looking for a way out of this place. I needed to be outside. I needed to be with nature. Perhaps I needed to just shift and spend a few days out in the wild. Perhaps I should grab Declan and we could go back home. It was only a few days from here. We could hunt and sleep along the way. It was possible. I frowned. I hated that I didn't know where to start to find him. I still wasn't Mated to Erik so I had no Mind-Link to the Tribe yet.
I grumbled as I walked quickly through the halls.
Most of the staff were still bustling about and the dining hall was now full of people. I stopped and looked around inside the room for a moment. The room was filled with mostly guards and Valkyrie. I sighed, giving the room one last sweep before my eyes landed on Declan who was standing against the far wall of the dining hall.
Declan was dressed in the brown leather fighting gear, a long yew bow stepped to his back. He was surrounded by three men, talking to them. He looked rather annoyed at them as they spoke. I narrowed my eyes and stepped into the room, noting how some people turned to look at me, others ignoring me completely.
"So we hear you are related to the traitor's daughter!" one of the men was saying as I approached them from behind. None of them seemed to notice me.
"Why should we believe in a turncoat like you?" another added.
I cleared my throat and they all turned to look at me, Declan's face became worried as he straightened up off of the wall quickly. There was no way for me to get inside Declan's head anymore. His mind was closed off to me. I wasn't Marked into this Pack. I sighed, wondering if an offering to the Gods would help. Odin knows I was supposed to be doing more for them.
"If you are all done with your chest thumping, I would like to speak to my cousin," I told them. Declan laughed and shook his head at me. The two men, both big and brawny, grimaced at me. The one to my left was Drydale, his white hair thinly braided and tied back behind his pointed ears. The one to my right was a short and stocky looking one. I wasn't sure what he was but his eyes were bright red, clouded by black and blue shadows. They didn't say a word to me. They just grimaced and walked away.
I sighed and turned back to look at Declan.
"Are you always getting into trouble?" I asked him.
Declan laughed at me. "Life would be no fun without a little trouble," he reminded me.
I laughed. "Only you would think that!" I told him. "I have had enough trouble to last me a lifetime!"
Declan made a face and suppressed a laugh. "The Gods are cruel," he said.
I shook my head. "Why do you say that?" I asked him.
"They put you through what you have been through and then pair you with one of the most powerful men in the world?" he asked me and shook his head. "Cruel!"
I shook my head. "Erik is not as bad as he seems-"
Declan scoffed at me. "How would you know?" he demanded. "You have known him all of three days! He is not always smiling and compliments, Lex!"
I frowned at him. "I survived the Pound, where unspeakable things have happened to me but I survived, Dec!" I suddenly felt annoyed. "I can take care of myself!"
He sighed and shook his head, looking me up and down once. "I know you can-"
I crossed my arms at him now, folding my arms across my flat chest. "I'm fine!" I insisted. "I am actually headed to the gym to find Liv right now!"
Declan smiled. "You were one of the best fighters-"
I nodded and then looked down at my feet. "That was years ago," I reminded him and sighed. "I am a far cry from the person I used to be, Dec."
Declan pursed his lips. "I know you can do this," he told me.
I raised an eyebrow. "What part, specifically?" I asked him.
He shrugged. "All of it," he said. "Liv seems to genuinely like you and Erik is too scared to let you out of his sight." he said and nodded to the doorway I had come though. I followed his gaze and saw Erik standing in the doorway, his eyes on me. He looked calm now. He smiled when I met his gaze. "He cares for you."
I sighed and turned back to look at my cousin. "He scares me," I admitted.
It wasn't a fear really. What scared me was my reaction toward him. What scared me most was how I craved his touch. What scared me was that I wanted him. In a way I had never wanted someone or anything before in my life. It was a very confusing feeling. "Is he pressuring you?" Declan demanded in a low voice. "Is he trying-"
I shook my head and gripped his arm to shut him up before Erik could catch onto the conversation. "No!" I assured him in a hushed whisper. "Absolutely not! Erik has been the perfect gentleman!" Declan did not seem convinced.
"Lexi, you do know that Erik is one of the most powerful men in the world right now, right? He asked me and I sighed, rolling my eyes.
"Yes, I know that," I assured him. "We need to talk. Somewhere private. Meet me at the gym around seven?" I asked him.
Declan nodded and sighed. "I think I should get going," he told me. "I have to be on patrol in ten-"
I frowned. "Erik really kicked you off the Council?" I asked him.
Declan shrugged. "I am fine with it," he assured me. "I would rather spend my days in combat than sitting and listening to the political leaders squabble about borders and turf possessions! It bores me." He sighed and shrugged. "I better go. See you at seven!"
Declan bowed before briefly and then walked away, leaving me alone in the corner. I turned to look at the dining hall around me. In the few minutes I had been standing here, more people had arrived for breakfast. I wasn't about to stay here and listen to people whisper about me behind my back. I grabbed an apple from the tabe closest to me and headed for the door. Erik was gone, having vanished before I could reach him. Instead, Liv and Krysta were waiting for me.
"Ready?" Krysta asked me.
I nodded. "Not even a little bit," I admitted. "Let's go!