The Dark Fey Chronicles Court of Roses

16

The Manor halls were freezing this time of night. It was just after one in the morning. I hadn't realized that Erik and I had spent so much time alone in my room until after I left. I didn't want to leave, but I needed to speak with Declan. I wanted to stay with Erik. Something had happened in that creek bed with Erik. When I had seen him defend me, when I had seen him hurt and bleeding, something inside me had changed. I wasn't sure what but all I knew was that I had to be bound to him in some way. I wasn't ready for a full on Mating. I just simply could not go there with him yet. It was too much too soon. Erik had said he understood that. But did he really? He had said so himself, more than once, how much he craved me and how much he longed to Mark and Mate me. Now that I was Marked, Erik had made me his.
Before leaving, I had sat there watching him sleep, wondering about our future together. I was still having a hard time picturing it.
I sighed, wondering again if I was ready for the task his Mark came with; being Queen.
I felt slightly sick at the thought. Who would wanna listen to me? Who would want to listen to what I have to say and why on earth would anyone trust me. If Lucian had gotten anything right, it was that I was the daughter of a traitor. I knew that. Yet I also knew I was nothing like Aros. Now that I bore Erik's Mark, I would be able to let the Elders into my mind so they knew I would not be a threat. Why would I want to threaten someone I cared for.  It was just silly. There were people here I cared for. I wanted Erik to Mark me because it would keep everyone else safe too.
I decided to test my theory.
Dec?
I waited for him to answer, waiting for the familier echo of his voice in my mind.  Dec, can you hear me?  It was almost like someone had placed a veil in my mind.
Lexi? His voice was surprised. Erik Marked you.
I felt myself blush a little. Yeah. Where are you?
Declan didn't answer. I rounded the corner and came face to face with Liv and Declan, both of them holding hands. Liv frowned when she saw me. "Lexi, we would have come to get you! If Erik knew you were wandering the halls at night-"
I smiled. "He is sound asleep in his bed," I assured her. "I made sure before I came
down."
Declan sighed and looked around. "We should get somewhere more discreet," he told us. I looked up and down the hallway once more. He's right!
Liv waved at us. Follow me! Her voice echoed in my mind, a warm feeling filling me. It felt right. Natural. Like it was always supposed to be like this. Bound. Connected.
I hugged my hoodie around me and followed Liv down the hall. After a few minutes of walking, she banked off to the left and pushed a side door open, revealing a spiral staircase.
First floor.
Declan went ahead of me, jogging down the steps and I followed him, walking through the door at the bottom and into another hallway. The door on your left.
I turned and pushed the door open. When I stepped into the library, I wasn't sure what to expect.
The vast room was two stories high and filled with rows and rows of dark, polished wooden shelves. Each shelf was filled to the brink with thick dusty volumes of books. It was dark inside, the brazier having either been put out or left to simmer slowly in its pot. Liv walked over to the far window and took a seat. "You think we can talk here?" Declan asked.
I looked at Liv who nodded. "I'm sure," she said. I sighed and took a seat beside her. Liv smiled and leaned closer as she looked at my Mark. "I have never seen a Mark do that before," she noted.
I shrugged. "That's what my blood does on contact with a wound," I said. "Erik asked to try something with my blood and I said yes. My blood has healing properties-"
Liv nodded. "That would explain why you healed yourself at the same time you healed Erik!" she admitted.
I nodded. "The Elders didn't know I am part Drex!" I reminded her.
Liv sighed. "And with Erik leaving today they are bound to try and incriminate you in some way-"
I frowned. "Incriminate me for what?" I demanded. "I am not my father!"
Declan growled at me. "Of course not!" he agreed as he leaned forward. "You are the complete opposite of Aros, Lexi!"
I sighed. "What can I do to appease the Elders?" I asked. I watched Liv glance at Declan and he shook his head a fraction of an inch. I narrowed my eyes on them.
"Tell me!" I insisted.
Declan sighed and leaned back, dropping Liv's hand as he did. "Fine," he grumbled. "Tell her!"
Liv sighed, her face troubled. "They want you Mated and pregnant as soon as possible!" she told me and I sighed.
I had already known this, of course. Erik had already told me and I was not in any hurry to do that. "You don't look surprised!"
I shook my head. "Erik already told me this. I insisted on Marking because I realized that not being ... connected, it's too dangerous."
Liv nodded. "You were smart to do so," she told me. "It is safer."
Declan sighed. "You shouldn't do anything out of fear!" He reminded me.
I shook my head. "It wasn't just fear, Dec," I assured him. I couldn't explain it but now that I was Marked to Erik all I wanted to do was ensure his safety. "I wanted Erik to Mark me!"
Declan regarded me for a second and then sighed. "If I ever find out that he pressured you-"
I cut him off quickly, a twinge of annoyance washing through me. "I can take care of it myself, Dec!" What was he getting at? That Erik would force himself on me?
"We should talk about the trip to the house." I insisted and looked down at my phone. It was three in the morning. Erik would be walking soon. "We don't have long."
Liv nodded. "Keep it simple then. Once we get close enough to the house, we all shift and wait and observe the house before entering."
I nodded. "I like it."
Declan sighed. "What if there are Hunters? Or Ghouls? Or something even more nasty?" he asked. "Erik would throw us in the cells for months if anything-"
I shook my head. "I have to see it for myself!" I said in a low voice. "I have to see what Aros did!"
No one spoke for a moment so I stood to my feet. Erik would be waking in less than an hour and I needed to get back before he did. "Ok, just explain to me one more time why Erik-"
I shook my head but Liv was the one who spoke. "Erik would never let Lexi out of his sight like this! Not knowing there would be danger
"Aros knows I will go back there," I said. "He knows I'm here and he knows Erik would never risk taking me back to New York! He will be waiting there."
Liv didn't seem surprised. She just nodded while Declan shook his head.
"This is insane!" he said. "If Erik finds out-"
"I need answers, Declan!" I reminded him. "Erik won't let the Elders speak to me alone. They won't answer my questions unless they have me alone! My hands are tied!"
Liv frowned. "She's right," she said, her eyes far away and unfocused. "I have seen her back in that house. Followed by a shadow-"
I scowled at her. "And you are just now telling me this?" I demanded.
Liv frowned. "You have been busy," she reminded me and pointed to her neck. "I have looked at your future from all possible angels and each path leads back to your old house. You can plan this for any other day, Lexi, and the vision all ends the same. You go inside and the shadow follows you!"
I raised an eyebrow and waited. "And then what?" I pressed.
Declan sighed and leaned forward. "And then nothing! She can't see past that!"
I looked between them. "So what your saying is-"
Liv leaned forward again. "What I am saying is, that it doesn't matter when you go back to your old house, Lexi. One thing is for sure; something is there, waiting for you! I don't know if you leave that place alive!"
I leaned back, my heart beating.
I didn't know what to do. I could wait it out and ask Erik. Or I could go and risk losing my life. Or worse: ending back up in the Pound! I shuddered. "I will ask Erik about it!" I said quickly. Liv sighed and leaned back in her chair.
"I'm going to wait!" I said in a low voice.
Erik didn't need the extra stress right now and I didn't need him distracted before going to New York.
"I can't tell Erik," I said in a low voice. "If I tell him now he will be distracted-"
Declan did not look pleased. "So we are not going?" he demanded.
I sighed and looked at Liv. "How accurate are your visions?" I asked her.
Liv shrugged. "I guess it just depends?" she mused. "I don't control them. The vision takes hold whenever it pleases. There are no triggers or warnings. It just happens!"
I nodded. "So you can't see me beyond going into the house?" I asked her.
Liv nodded. "I have looked at it from all points of view, every possible timeline, days, weeks, months from now, it all ends the same. You go inside and then nothing," she told me.
I frowned. "So what do we do?" I asked her. I was at a loss on how to avoid this. Liz and Declan glanced at each other. "What?"
"Lex, you're not understanding," he told me.
Liv sighed and shook her head. "What I'm saying is, no matter when you go inside the house, your future goes dark. You are gone. Dead."
I shook my head. "So you mean-"
Liv stood to her feet now. "I'm saying no matter what you do, anything you do is going to take you there to that house! You are going to end up on that doorstep no matter how long you put it off. It could be now, two weeks or two years from now but that's where you will end up," she said.
I stared at her, my mind still trying to process, to understand what she had just told me. I shook my head, trying to think.
"So, are you saying I'm going to die?" I asked her.
Declan growled. "We won't let that happen!" he vowed. "Erik will protect you with all he has! As will I Cousin. Aros won't-"
I suddenly felt sick. "Aros," his name left my lips in a disgusted tone. "He left me to rot in a Pound... knowing what would happen-"
Liv gasped. "You were hoping Aros was going to be there!" Her jaw hung open and Declan looked between us, his face astonished and bewildered. "I'm sorry, what?" he demanded.
I frowned and crossed my arms at her. "Do you see everything now?" I demanded.
Liv shook her head. "No, this one I figured out on my own!" she admitted.
I narrowed my eyes on them. "What?" I demanded. "Are you going to tell Erik?"
Liv sighed. "The fact that I worry about Erik tells me a lot, Lexi. You are my brothers Mate, but you are also my Queen so, whatever you want to do, I will follow-"
Declan leaned forward. "What the hell are you doing-"
"With only one exception," Liv said. "If you put yourself in any kind of danger, I will go straight to Erik!"
We stared at each other. "Fine!" I agreed. It was better than nothing. Liv had to be wrong about her vision or there was something she was missing or simply overlooking. "When you say you looked it over from all possible angles..."
Liv shrugged. "Future. And present. They both show you, no matter how or when or where you are... you end up there at that door."
I sighed. The one million dollar question was, what was on the other side of that door? "Can I at least go and scout the way there?" Declan said, looking at Liv.
"How far would you go?" she asked.
Declan shook his head. "Not far. Just far enough to still be able to make it back here in a hurry if I had to."
Liv sighed and nodded. "Fine, I will set things up for that," she said and Declan leaned in to kiss her cheek.
"Catch you later," he said and then waved to me. Before I could answer, warmness spread through me and rippled over my chilled skin. I did my best not to react as my heart hammered against my rib cage.
Lexi?
Erik's voice sounded in my head for the first time and it felt like he was right behind me, whispering in my ear. I could almost feel his breath on my skin.
Lexi, where are you?
I waved at Liv and ushered her to the door.
"Erik is looking for me!"
Liv vanished down the hall without another and I stood there a moment, listing for anything out of place. When I heard nothing, I turned and came face to face with Erik, his face stony and his breathing even.
"You were gone when I woke," he told me.
I nodded. "I couldn't sleep so I went for a walk," I told him.
Erik frowned. "By yourself?" he asked me and reached to touch my face. "I wish you would have woken me," he told me.
I smiled. "You were tired," I reminded him.
Erik smiled. "Well I'm not anymore," he told me. "Come with me," he said and held out his hand. I raised an eyebrow.
"Where to?" I asked as I reached and gripped his hand. Erik tugged me closer, his hand wrapping around my waist.
"The East gardens," he told me. "For a morning run."
I looked up at him. "A run?" I asked, my heart pounding. I had yearned to shift for a while now. "Is it safe?" I asked, thinking about the Hunters that had been on the Manor grounds. Erik nodded.
"I had people canvassing the property. They found two more in the west spring by the wall." he told me as he stopped to open the door on his left. "We counted five that climbed over the wall. Three died in the creek yesterday and the other two are awaiting death."
I followed Erik outside and into the gardens. "There is a changing room right over there," Erik told me as he pointed to the small bamboo and paper door to my left. The outside patio with the steaming pool and hardwood deck seemed so out of place for Erik's medieval manor.
" Go ahead, I will meet you over there," he told me. Erik didn't wait for me to answer, he turned and ducked around the side of the house and into the thicket. I turned to the changing room and pulled the door closed behind me.
I was eager to Shift and I couldn't get my clothes off fast enough. The almost giddy-like feeling made a smile spread across my face. I folded my clothes quickly and stood there for a moment, feeling the cold air on all of my skin for a moment before the prickling sensation seemed to spread throughout my body. I closed my eyes and let the shift take hold, a growl leaving me as I landed hard on all fours and immediately heard Erik's whimper from behind the door. I jumped up and leaned against the door, causing it to fall open.
I watched as Erik's overly large sandy blond Wolf loomed up before me.
You are still so tiny, Erik told me.
I growled at him. I could take any Hunter down!" I assured him.
Erik laughed. I'm sure you could!
Erik walked up to me, running his head along my face and neck, rubbing up my side. Come on, let's run!
Erik circled me once before taking off into the woods, kicking up dirt and rocks and he pushed off the ground with his back legs.
The forest around me had gone from a deafening silence to a wildlife haven. Frogs and crickets screamed and called into the night, deer moved ever so carefully and gently, squirrels squeaked at each other. And the cool air that had once chilled my Human skin, warmed me now, my fur thickening around me.
You look beautiful, Erik told me and I looked up to see him lying on the ground, watching me.
I snorted in disagreement and jogged over to him. Race you to the river?
I looked up at him, and then into the woods around us, my ears up and at attention, my eyes and ears scanning for any signs of danger. Is it safe? I asked him and Erik grumbled.
Would I take you out here if it weren't? he asked me.
I sighed,breathing out deep through my nose. To the river? I asked him, my ears immediately picking up the sound of it to the east of me. Erik's tail wagged once quickly. What does the winner get? he demanded as he raised a massive paw, grinding his claws into the forest floor.
I felt the giddiness increased as his voice caressed my mind, making me shiver. How about we decide that when we get to the river! We can figure that out later!
I laughed. Deal!
I didn't wait for him to answer. I dug my paws in and took off running, zipping through the woods and leaping over roots and ducking under branches. My paws padded against the muddy floor in a quick thumping beat as I tore through the forest, the trees and shrubs around me becoming a blur. Lexi, stop!
Erik's voice echoed in my mind and I dragged myself to a stop, just in time to realize I was already at the river bank. Erik came to a stop beside me. It's beautiful here.
Erik sighed and leaned down to sniff the water at his paws. I watched him turn and look up at the Manor through the trees. I followed his gaze, looking up at the lit Manor, a gold, glowing light against the darkness of the obsidian sky above us.
This was my fathers permanent place of residence. I have had a lot of construction done over the last two years.
I felt my heart sink at the mention of his father. I'm sorry that Aros... I'm sorry about your dad.
Erik raised his head and looked around, his ears up and listing, his left ear tilting behind him every now and then.
You are innocent, Lexi. His thoughts had taken on a harder edge and I could feel him growl through the water. It vibrated through the water and up my bones. I could feel his anger and disappointment as he thought of how he had failed me. I whined and walked up to him.
Erik. I don't blame you! I told him in a soothing voice. I never have. Not once!
Erik sighed and leaned down, licking the top of my head before turning away and jogging off into the forest.
We don't have much time. Erik reminded me as he looked up to the brightening sky.
Erik, when was the last time you were at my house? I asked him. My old house, I mean. The one on -"
Erik slowed his pace and looked both ways at the creek where he had killed the Hunter the day before. Of course I have been watching your house. I figured Aros would try and-
I cut him off quickly, jogging to stand before him, my padded feet patting the forest floor softly. Liv had a vision of me ending up at that house. It does not matter how much I try and avoid it or put it off, I go into that house and I don't come back out-
Erik growled at me and I hunched down a little, startled at the sudden sound. Stop talking about things Liv sees! He growled at me and leaned forward to run his head along my neck and side. Not all she sees comes to pass! he said, as if to remind me of something I should have known. I frowned. Liv's premonitions were not always accurate, she had said so herself and I knew they were subject to everyone's actions.
I will be fine! I assured him.
Erik growled. I know you will be, he answered. Because I am not leaving your side-
I grumbled as we trotted back the way we had come. That is just silly! I scolded him. And completely unnecessary. I am safe as can be here and I don't plan on leaving the Manor unless you are with me!
I knew it wasn't the truth but the more I thought about how the Hunter could have killed him, the more I wanted to put an end to Aros. Who do you think sent those Hunters yesterday?
Erik sighed. It could have been anyone, Love, Erik admitted.
I sighed and looked straight ahead as the backyard came back into view. I think it was Aros!
Erik shook his head and growled. Aros is still Dark Fey. There is no way he would turn on his own kind to side with a Hunter!
I walked over to the changing room and pulled the door open.
Aros may be Dark Fey, but he is dangerous! I didn't like the idea of being left alone here while he ran off after his uncle in a city run by Hunters.
I pulled my pants and tank top on. I heard the door beside me slide open and I turned to see Erik, shirtless and in his jeans. His belt was still undone, hair was messy and his eyes were fixed on my face. Erik didn't speak. He pressed forward and his hands were at my shoulders before I could protest.
Erik's hands went around me, his arms pressing me closer to him. His breath was hot on my skin. He sighed in content, almost longingly. "You smell like the wild," he noted. "Truly mouthwatering."
Electricity rippled over my skin as Erik leaned forward and pressed his lips to my Mark, tongue sliding across my flesh. My hands came up quickly, gripping his shirt, not quite sure if I was pushing him away or pulling him closer.
Erik ignored me, his hands at my hips pressed me closer. "I didn't realize it would be this hard!"
I swallowed, trying to get past the lump in my throat. "Erik-" my words fell away as my breath left me again.
Erik's lips worked their way across my neck, my arms around him. With a frustrated sigh, Erik suddenly leaned away, his eyes unfocused, as if he were listening to something or someone else.
"Shit," he cursed. "We have to go! Someone is here to see us before I leave!"
I raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Erik's face was grim as he pulled on a black muscle shirt and then reached up to touch my face. "My brother, Jesper is here!"
I felt my jaw drop. "You and Liv have a brother?" I demanded.
Erik growled and sighed. "Not by choice," he said. "Jesper was adopted into the family. He is not of Modori blood. He is Drex."
I felt my mouth fall open. "Drex?" I demanded. "How?"
Erik shook his head as he pulled in his blouse. "My mother adopted him. He has no claim to the throne and no political standing whatsoever. He is a real pain in the ass!"
I smiled. "If my brother were still here, I would call him a pain in the ass too!" I told him. Erik leaned forward and kissed my head. "If you would like to meet him, go get dressed! I leave in twenty minutes."