The Dark Fey Chronicles Court of Roses

15

After the Maid dropped me off I stripped out of my wet, cold cloths and took a long hot shower. Lathering my loofa with as much soap as I could, I scrubbed my body clean, and then scrubbed again, rubbing my skin raw. When the water began to run cold, I frowned. I didn't want to warm to stop.
It was funny because I absolutely hated summer time! But I was chilled to the bone and I didn't want the heat to stop. I shuddered under the cooling water and then turned it off.
I couldn't stop thinking about the feeling dread and fear I had felt when I saw Erik attacked. He had been stabbed by a silver blade. My heart seared painful at the thought of him hurt. Or worse.
I wondered again how the Hunters had gotten into the Manor grounds. As I dressed there was a sharp tap at my door. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked at myself in the mirror, my face far to flushed.
I was till boney looking, my skin ashen and waxy looking with some red spots from being in the sun today. I made a face at the stranger in the mirror before me and turned away, trying to ignore the self loathing I felt.
Walking to the door, I huddled into my hoodie, trying to keep warm. I could smell him before I even opened the door. Erik had already showered and cleaned up. His hair was still wet and I could smell the body washed he used too. I smiled and opened the door. Erik could not contain his grin when he saw me. His eyes however still had a glow to them.
"You look nice," he noted.
I looked down at the baggy sweatpants and hoodie I was dressed in. "I'm freezing," I told him and stepped back to let him in.
Erik shrugged. "I have a fire place in my room," he reminded me. I smirked at him.
"Nice try," I scolded him as I turned and pointed to the cold and unlit fire place to my left. Erik sighed and shook my head.
"I still don't understand why my mother wanted a fireplace for each master bedroom," he said thoughtfully.
I smiled, suddenly very relaxed. "I'm glad she did," I said and walked over to my bed to grab up my robe. "I just don't have any firewood. I asked one of the maids to get me some about an hour ago but she never came back."
Erik nodded. "That's because I have Court Rose on lockdown for the next twenty-four hours while Jax, Liv and the Valkyrie canvas the Manor grounds. No one in or out. All staff were asked to return to their rooms. Some staff have their own houses on the compound."
I nodded. "Seems practical," I said.
Erik shrugged. "It is. Caro and Krysta live to the south, closest to the only exit out of here. They are the ones who keep that door guarded. Just wait until you see them in full gear!"
I smiled at his seemingly carefree demeanor. But then his laughter faded away and she sighed. "Lexi, can we talk about your being Helbreder?"
I sighed. "Erik, I know it's dangerous," I told him and he laughed at me. "What?"
Erik laughed but before he could answer, the Maid had returned with some fire wood.
"Sorry to interrupt, Min Dronning, Min Konge, but I gathered some fire wood from the other rooms for you. I know you must be freezing!"
I smiled at her. "Thank you," I told her.
Erik took the wood from the maid and walked back to the fire place.
"Will there be anything else?" she asked us.
I shook my head and looked at Erik who shook his head. "No, that will be all Greta, thank you!"
I closed the door and turned back to see that Erik had the fire lit and was poking at it with the poker. "It's weird," I told him.
Erik looked up at him, the glow of the fire danced across his face. "What is?"
"Being called Men Droning," I told him.
Erik smiled and stood to his feet. "It's Min Dronning," he corrected me.
I frowned. "My Norse is not very good," I admitted. Erik nodded and turned to grab some pillows from the bed. He tossed them on the floor and waved for me to join him. I watched as Erik stretched out on the floor, tucking the pillow under his chest.
I smiled and sat down, picking up the the second pillow to hold in my lap.
"And we don't always use Norse," he reminded me. "It's out of habit, respects. But mostly tradition." I raised an eyebrow.
"Do all Dark Fey speak Norse?" I asked him. Erik didn't answer. He jumped up and and walked to the door and greeted the Maid that was there. She had brought us food. My mouth watered. The sun was just setting but I felt like I had been awake for days. My body hurt and I still felt oddly drained, oddly off balance.
"I hope you are hungry," Erik said when he came back with a whole chicken and a tray of fruit. I felt my jaw drop and he laughed at me. "I wanted to have at least one dinner with you alone before I left for New York," he said and set the trays down on the floor.
A whole chicken, a bowl of fruit and a bottle of wine. Erik frowned.
"They forgot cups!" he complained and jumped up. Before I could stop myself, I gripped his wrist.
"We don't need any!" I assured him and reached for the wine bottle with my other hand. I uncorked the bottle and took a swig. Erik laughed at me. "Very well," he said and sat down again, this time sitting as close to me as he could get. My heart thumped unevenly. I handed Erik the bottle and he took a swig. Just watching him drink was making me feel wierd. Whatever happened to me in those woods... I now craved Erik like I had never craved anything before in my life. I blinked when I realized he was staring at me now, too.
"What time do you leave tomorrow?" I asked him, looking down at my hands.
Erik sighed and reached, picking up a small piece of chicken. "First light," he said and offered me the bite.
I blushed a little and leaned forward to take the bite. Erik smiled.
"Caro says you are doing fantastic," he told me and I rolled my eyes.
"How could she possibly tell?" I demanded. "I only just started training today! And I can't even think of tomorrow! My body hurts just thinking about it!"
Erik smiled. "Just think how healthy you will look after a few weeks!" he reminded me. "You already have a better color then a week ago!"
I nodded and sighed. "I think Caro may be overly confident. I have a long way to go!" I said and looked around the room.
Erik looked down at his wine. "A month tomorrow," he told me and sipped from the bottle. I felt my jaw drop. "You have changed so much in such a short time!"
"What?" I demanded. "It's been a month already?" I tried to look back, remember everything. It felt like Liv had just been in New York, stopping me from the Line Up.
I still hadn't thanked her properly. I needed to. Erik reached up and brushed my cheek.
"It has," he said and leaned in to smell my hair. I started to thaw a little. I was definitely getting warmer. "A very long month."
I shook my head. "Feels like a days," I admitted. Erik leaned away and smiled.
"For you perhaps," he said and I felt my heart sink. "Feels like time is going extremely slow. I watch you, your beauty growing and changing each day... I see you struggle, Lexi, I see it. I see you..." Erik stopped, his eyes roaming my face.
"I'm sorry for what I said before."
I raised an eyebrow. "Sorry?" I asked him. "For what?"
Erik leaned away. "I just boldly stated I was going to Mate you -"
I felt myself blush and I lowered my gaze a little a small smile on my face. "Erik-"
Erik gripped my hands. "No, it's OK," he assured me. I sighed and smiled at him. Most people can tell you the moment they fell in love. But not many people can say that they found their Soulmate- in less than a month- and knew they were destined to be. Erik was perfect for me in so many ways. He had given me so much. A new life. A new home. Protection. What was one small bite to the neck?
"Can I ask you something?" Erik said before I could object and explain.
"Sure," I told him. His face had become thoughtful, the flirtatious attitude falling away. Erik reached and took up my hand in his. Playing with my fingers he frowned as I watched him form his question.
"How did you heal me?" he asked.
I shook my head. "I'm not sure," I admitted. "I just sorta felt like I knew how? You were bleeding and I was hurt-"
Erik raised an eyebrow at me. "You were hurt?" he demanded. "Where? How?"
I sighed and nodded. "Yes, in the side," I told him. Erik leaned away, rolling to his knees. "Show me!" he demanded.
I felt my heart sink. "What?" I demanded.
Erik nodded to my belly. "Show me your wound," he demanded.
I shook my head. "See that's the thing!" I reasoned. "I don't have one!"
Erik raised an eyebrow. "That's interesting, but impossible!" he said.
I shook my head and untied my robe and yanked my hoodie up to show him my belly. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Calling me a liar?" I demanded and Erik smirked and nodded. I scowled and tugged my hoodie down. Erik leaned back on his feet.
"Lean forward," he told me.
My heart stuttered for a moment. His voice had gone hard, serious and his eyes? His beautiful, gem green eyes were flecked with gold. I sat up slowly, coming to his level. "Let me hold you," he said in a low whisper. His breath washed over my neck but this time it was completely different, catching me off guard. Goosebumps rippled over my skin and a fluttery feeling danced in my belly. Something had changed. Now, when Erik touched me, I no longer felt like I was going to burst into tears. I no longer feared the feel of his hot, welcoming breath on my skin. In fact, I craved it.
I opened my mouth to speak, not even knowing what I was going to saw but Erik didn't give me a chance.
His arms came up, one arm looped around my waist, the other brushing the hair from my face and over my shoulder. I waited for his lips to touch me but they never did. Erik ran his face along the inside of my neck, inhaling as he went.
My arms looped around him, my heart pounding in my chest. Erik leaned away and smiled. His eyes were flecked with gold and his canines pinched his lower lip.
"I know I told you before, but you should know," he told me and leaned forward once more, running his nose along my jaw. "Mouthwatering."
His voice was so close, his breathing washing down the side of my neck. And then, my arms as if in their own accord, raised and looped around Erik as best as I could. It was an awkward position. Erik gasped and latched his hands into my hip, as I pushed forward and swung a leg over his and straddled him. Erik laughed, his voice unsteady and unsure.
"Uh, Lexi, I didn't-"
I shook my head and smiled, pressing a finger to his lips. "It not like that!" I reminded him. "Marking only!"
I wondered if I was really up for this. Then I thought about how Erik had been hurt and how I had not been able to call for him when I needed him because I wasn't bound to him or the Tribe in any way, shape or form. Erik stared at me for a long moment. The look on his face was slowly making me feel uncomfortable. I couldn't really say why. It was a feeling of unease that was slowly freezing my bones. I needed to do something about it. I wanted to be bound to him. Just when I began to regret this new found trust in myself,  I watched his eyes grow dark. Dread slowly started to creep back into me. What had I been thinking? Erik watched me closely his  eyes locked on my face. "Is this what you want?" he asked.  I nodded quickly.
"Yes," I told him.
Erik frowned at me. "No, say that you want me to Mark you!" he told me. "Tell me this is what you want because I refuse to Mark you if you are having second thoughts." Erik's hands warped around my waist as he leaned forward, pressing his forehead to mine. His breathing was labored and his eyes looked glazed over.
"Lexi." My name left his lips in a frustrated sigh. "I don't want to push you... but it's not easy to watch you, knowing what you have been through and not being able to take that pain away..." Erik trailed off and leaned forward, his breath fanning my face.
"I need you to say the words that way I know that this what you want. Not me. You! You have to be ready!"
I watched the pained look on his face and it made my heart throb painfully. How could I have put him through this for a whole month? Erik had been nothing but good and kind to me.
Guilt washed through me and I said the words I wasn't necessarily ready for, but the words I knew he needed to hear me to say. The words he needed to hear.
"Erik, I want you to Mark me."
I had barely finished speaking when Erik let a small moan escape his lips and he leaned forward and sank his teeth into the side of my neck. Erik bit down hard, a fierce growl rumbled through his chest as his arms pressed me closer to his body. I really wasn't sure what to expect but it certainly wasn't such an intense rush of feeling and emotion.
The pain was immediate. A shrap, stabbing pain lanced down the side of my neck and I let out a surprised and startled gasp, my hands clamping down on his shoulders. My body was instantly telling me to fight back, run, get him off of me as quickly as possible. Panic started to take hold and a small wimped left my lips as Erik pressed me recklessly closer. But I fought the urge to throw myself off of him because I  could feel it coming.
Pleasure washed through me, robbing me of breath as Erik's hands pressed me to him. It was nothing I had ever felt before. I sighed in content and leaned into him, my body going limp in his arms. The stinging pain in my neck subsided slowly as Erik lowered his arms to my waist.
With a growl, Erik pulled his teeth from my flesh. His lips lingered on my skin now, his tongue sliding across my skin. I sighed in content  as the butterflies filled my belly. My heart throbbed, pounding away in my chest.  Had I known this is what it felt like to be Marked by him, I would have done it much sooner. Perhaps the first time he had asked. However, I knew that was not true. Something inside me had changed when I saw Erik hurt. I bothered me. So I decided to do something about it. I needed the Mind Link. He smiled at me me, my blood staining his teeth and lips. "Mine," he told me.
I felt a sated smile spread across my face. "Yours," I promised him.
Erik smiled and reached up to touch my face. "Can I ask why the sudden change of heart?" he asked me. "I mean, not that I am complaining but I thought... Lexi, if you are doing this because of the Elders-"
I shook my head. "Absolutely not!" I assured him. "I am doing this because I realized... after seeing you hurt today and realizing how easy a Hunter could kill either of us... I didn't want to spend another day not being bound to you in some way. This was the best thing I could-... Erik I can't give you anything else! Not yet-"
Erik leaned forward, his hands pulling me to him. "Lexi...," my name left his lips in a soft whisper. "By the Gods, what have I done to deserve you?" Erik reached up and caressed my face with his left hand. We stared at eachother for a long moment, the only sound was my thumping heartbeat and the fire that cracked beside us.
"Mark me," he ordered. It was as more of a demand.
I reached up, sliding my hands around his shoulders and up the back of his neck as Erik lifted me forward, his hands around my thighs. I could hear his heart beating now. It thumped steadily, his breathing evan as he leaned back on the small sofa by the fireplace.
Pulling me forward, Erik pressed his lips gently to my Mark and I shuddered in his arms. My heart pounding my my throat, I leaned forward as Erik tilted his head to the side. As soon a my teeth  sank into his neck, Erik let out an almost angry growl. I felt his hand wander to my hair as I pulled away. Brushing his thumb over my lip Erik sighed, his face at peace but looking like he wanted to say something.
"What?" I asked him. His gaze lowered to my lips fora fraction of a second and then he smiled.
"Nothing," he said in a low voice. Erik smiled and reached to run a finger along the healing outline of my new placed Mark. I watched his face become curious again.
"Lexi?"
He looked back up at me. "What is it?" I asked him again.
He eyes seemed suddenly so far away. "You had blood on your hands when you touched me, didn't you?" he asked me, his eyes far away.
I frowned, leaning away a little. "Yes," I told him. "Why?"
Erik shook his head. "I had heard rumors that powerful Drex that have the ability to heal with their blood are the daughters of Hel," he told me.
I raised an eyebrow and laughed at him. "What, you think i have this special blood?" I asked him. Erik nodded. "I do-"
"Aros, unfortunately, is my father. My mother is dead, Erik, you know this!" I reminded him.
Erik shook his head. "Yes I know," he said and nodded. "Forget I said anything-"
I shook my head. "No, why did you ask me that?" I asked him.
Erik reached up again and touched my Mark. "I have a theory about your blood," he told me.
I raised an eyebrow. "What?" I asked him.
Erik reached and grabbed up the steak knife and cleaned it with a napkin. "You blood heals on contact. I had Liv take a look at the wound when we returned. There is nothing left. Not even a scar." I frowned because I could remember there had been a small scar. "Are you up for a little exspirment?" He held ip the knife.
I frowned at me and lowered his hand. "I am not going to cut you or myself-"
Erik shook his head. "Just a prick of the finger," Erik told me and I stopped.
I sighed and watched as Erik raised the steak knife again and pricked his finger. Blood pooled from the cut and he raised the knife and held it out to me. I frowned and told it from him.
"What am I going to do about the Elders?" I asked as I cut the tip of my index finger.
"I will handle them," Erik assured me as he looked at the cut on my finger. Taking my hand in his, Erik let a drop of my blood fall into his wound. I watched in amazement as the small cut on his finger lit up in a small, golden light. Erik let out a surprised breath, his eyes transfixed by the magic before him. "Lexi." My name left his lips in a soft whisper. "Your blood has healing properties. Did you know?"
I shook my head. "No," I admitted, still staring amazed. I frowned the more I thought about it. "Has this ever been-... is this normal?" I asked him.
Erik sighed and shook his head. "The only ones who would know for sure would be the Drex and they are not a people to be trusted."
I sighed. The three families. I didn't know much about any of the three families. The leaders were said to be the most powerful of the Dark Fey. Each race having their own representation with
Drex, the keepers of magic. Otherwise known as Witches or Warlocks. They were rare and I didn't know much about them.
Vespari. The Watchers of the Wild. I knew even less about them then I did the Drex. Mortals called them Elves. It is said they they possess great beauty, elegance and grace. They prayed to the same Norse Gods we did.
And then there was the Modori, my new found family. Shifters of the Underworld. Ranging from a cat to a beetle, the Modori could shift into any animal they pleased.
"Why can't they be trusted?" I asked him.
Erik sighed. "Because their Priestess despises me for taking the throne. She wanted to rule. She rules her own people with an iron fist and crushes anyone who would oppose her. They say she killed the last Priest of her Coven because he voted against her on the throne. Drex are powerful and unforgiving."
I wrinkled my nose. "She is already Priestess of her own Coven. How much power does she want?"
Erik leaned forward, his arms wrapping around me, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Once you get a taste of power, you might understand her," he told me.
I leaned away from him. "No way would I kill my own people just to gain power," I told him. Erik smiled.
"I haven't had to yet, and I pray I never have to. Ruling is not as simple as it sounds. It's about keeping your people safe, no matter from who or what-"
I nodded. "Liv told me about that," I said as I remembered the fairies I had seen my first day here. "You have all sorts of Dark Fey here."
Erik nodded. "The compound was built to house well over two-thousand people-"
"Is that how many people are here?" I asked in amazement. Erik laughed at me.
"I'd say closer to about eight hundred. I have my scouts at other compounds like these all across the Canadian border."
I stifled a yawn and leaned back against the sofa. Erik smiled at me and looked down at the early eaten food. "You need to start eating more," he reminded me.
I frowned. "I eat," I assured him.
Erik smiled and leaned his head back against the sofa. "It's late," he said and looked down at his phone. "I should go."
I nodded. I didn't want him to go, but I didn't want him to be in my room or my bed while I slept either. "What time do you leave in the morning?" I asked him.
Erik shrugged. "Five or six," he told me.
I nodded. "I want to see you off," I told him.
Erik smiled and pressed a small kiss to my forehead. "I won't leave without saying goodbye!" he promised.
Erik left soon after, leaving me alone with the bottle of wine and the rest of the now cold chicken. I sipped from the bottle until I felt sloshy enough to sleep. Before going to bed, I went to the bathroom and looked at my Mark.
Erik's teeth had left two crescent shaped wounds on my neck. The bite mark was a bright, glittering gold. All Marks had some kind of color to them. I watched at the Mark glittered and shimmered with a dull
glow. It was beautiful. I wound weed how Erik would feel about his in the morning.
I sighed, feeling oddly numb. I knew I should feel happy and overjoyed. I couldn't shake the feeling something bad about to happen. Something very bad.
I knew things were about change. Drastically. I could only hope I would be able to handle it. With a sigh I slipped on some socks and some boots, stuffing hems of my sweatpants into my boots.
Declan would be waiting by now and I was sure Erik was sleeping by now. He had drank quite a bit of wine. I hated keeping secrets from him, and I didn't want to do anything behind his back. But I needed answers. I wasn't getting them just sitting here. Looking both ways down the hallway before I slipped from my room, I headed for the stairs, eager to get to the library.