The Dark Fey Chronicles Court of Roses

17

Erik called for a Maid who dressed me in a long black and silver form fitting flowing dress, my long black hair was braided down my back. It was not the dress I would have picked but when I reached the reception hall, I understood why why Erik had picked the dress and I was surprised because the V neck was so low. The dress did nothing for my flat chest. 
Erik's main concern was that I display my Mark to the Court because it would earn me more respect. No one would think twice about disobeying me. It was supposed to make my political standing permanent and indicate that he intended to make me his. It was a rather outdated tradition in my opinion. The Marking of two Mates was supposed to be a private thing. However, I guess. With Erik being king and all, it was important that everyone knew that the King had found a Mate. It was vital that the Families knew Erik had found his Queen.
Or so Erik had put it.
I wasn't sure how I felt about that. The Mark still shimmered and glowed dully and was very noticeable against the canvas of my pale skin and dark dress.
The Valkyrie were present as well, dressed in black gear, threaded with gold and silver threads, the chest pad folded and pounded into a form fitting and flexible material. They stood to my right, staring strictly ahead. Each Valkyrie carried a Drydalien sword made from the finest and rarest of metals. Caro stood off to the side of the rows and rows of Valkyrie. Holding her head high, Caro looked more like a military commander then anything else.  Her outfit was different then the black and silver threaded gear the Valkyrie used. Caro was dressed in a pair of black leggings, black combat boots and a form fitting jacket. There was a folded cape pinned into the fabric of the jacket. There were at least a few dozen Valkyrie present. At the very end of the hall stood Liv, Declan and a tall, dark haired man in his mid twenties stood off to the left, his hands folded behind his back. As we approached, the man leaned forward and I could see his long, thick black hair was pulled back into a lose braid. His skin was olive in tone, his eyes crystal blue and almond snapped. His eyes scanned over me once as we approached but his main Focus was on Erik.
"Brother-"
Erik sighed and waved his hand. "What are you doing here, Jesper?" Erik demanded as he came to a stop before him.
Jesper laughed a little and looked around. "I'm impressed by the reception-"
Erik sighed. "This isn't a reception for you, you fool!" he snapped. "I am leaving for New York. My Queen is to stay here and rule in my stead!"
Jesper smiled as he looked over at me. "Perhaps I should be directing my attentions to your Mate-"
Erik reached and grabbed my hand gently. "Lexi," he introduced.
Jesper smiled. "Pleased to meet you," he insisted. Then he sighed. "As for your question, I am here in response to your letter to Uncle Beau."
Erik looked around the room. "Where is he?" he said and raised his eyebrows
I watched the look on Jesper's face falter a little. "I'm sorry, I thought you knew," he said and looked back at me and then at Liv. "Uncle Beau is dead. Killed. By a Hunter-"
Liv, who was dressed in a shimmering off white and lavender gown, stepped closer. "When?" she demanded.
Jesper frowned. "About a week ago," he said. "I sent word-"
Erik sighed and turned away, pulling me with him. "Well your word never arrived!"
I turned and followed him up some podium steps and onto the small sofa beside him.
"Hunters," Jesper told him. "Beau was outnumber eight to one-"
Erik scowled at him. "And where were you?" he demanded.
I watched Katja look between the two men as she stepped up into the podium. "I was in Toronto. Like Beau asked me!"
Erik sighed. "I don't have time for this," Erik muttered as his phone rang loudly, echoing through the room. "I have to go."
Jesper sighed. "What would you like-"
Erik turned to look at him. "I don't care what you do, but you are not staying here-"
Katja stepped between them. "Erik, don't send him away, again!" she pleaded.
Erik sighed. "Do you remember what he did to the library two years ago?" Erik demanded his voice growing soft again.
Jesper laughed. "I can assure you, I have it under control now, brother!" he said.
I cleared my throat. "What happened to the library?" I said and they both turned to look at me, both of them looking at me, as if they had just realized I was there.
"Jesper over did it with his fire-magic," he grumbled. "Burnt away half of our books and relics."
I frowned. "I don't remember seeing any relics," I told him.
Erik smiled. "Exactly."
I looked back at Jesper who had a sheepish smile on his face. "For the record, I wasn't the one who burned down the lirbeary. That was Thea!"
Erik sighed and ran a hand over his face. "Thea was Beau's assistant. You were his apprentice. You gonna tell me that a twelve year old knew enough Magic to burn down a library but not enough to take down the Hunter that cut off her head?" he demanded.
I felt my jaw fall open as the room went dead quite. Jesper sighed, his lips pursed. "I came here in response to the letter, delivered you the news of your Uncles death and to officially meet your Queen."
I watched him turned to me, now his head and then looked back at Erik.
"I was told she is a great beauty. Nice to see the rumors were true."
Erik growled at him. "You are permitted to remain on Manor grounds as long as you stay in one of the off houses."
Jesper reached into his coat and pulled out a folded envelope, holding it up to Erik.
"What about this?" he asked as he glanced at me. "Are you-"
Erik stood to his feet, holding his hand out to me. "Absolutely not!" he said. "You are not permitted to use any Magic inside these grounds!"
Jesper nodded, his long dark hair falling over his shoulder as he bowed again. "Yes, brother," he said and straightened himself. Erik sighed and waved him away. In the same second Katy's moved toward Jesper and hugged him close. "It's good to see you son," she said when she leaned away.
I watched them, seeing the look on his face made me feel uneasy. "Mom-"
Katja looked around quickly, shaking her head. "I'm fine!" she insisted. "Now, tell me all about your travels in the last two years!"
I smiled.
It was nice to see Katja happy. It was sad because I knew it was coming. Death. A Mates Shifter didn't last long after the death of their Mate. They would either just slowly wither away or become increasingly sick. Katja still looked good and seemed to be in hood Heath. Her skin was a little pale and there seemed to be more grey in her hair now but overall she seemed healthy. For now.
Erik squeezed my hand as we left the room. "I want you to be carful around my brother, Lexi," he told me. "He can't be trusted-"
I nodded. "How old was he when he burnt the library?" I asked him.
Erik shrugged. "Fourteen?" he mused as we rounded a corner. "He was gone for two years. The last time I saw him was at my father funeral service."
Erik glanced after his shoulder. "He seems nice," I noted.
Erik laughed. "Yeah, he can be," he said, sounding oddly uninterested in the conversation. "Jesper's a dick sometimes!"
I laughed. "He seems funny," I said. "I like him!"
Erik growled, the sound rumbling down the halls. His hand slipped up to my arm, pulling me to the right and into the empty study. Erik didn't waste a second. His hands came up to my face, making me look at him.
"Stop talking about my brother!" he growled. As soon as the door closed, his arms were around me, his face buried in my neck. "Is he still interesting now?"
Erik pressed his lips to my Mark and I gasped as a shudder rushed through me.
"I mean, your mom is happy, too!" I pointed out as my heart beat in my ears.
Erik' trailed his tongue across the Mark as he pressed forward, his hands bunching up the hem of my dress as he hitched me up and wrapped my legs around him. Erik breath out a laughed. "You're gaining weight," he told me.
I scoffed at him. "Are you trying to get slapped?" I asked him with a small laugh. It was odd. I was feeling more and more carefree by the second. What was this?
Erik laughed, his hot breath warming my now chilled skin, as it washed down my exaposed chest, making me shudder.
"My point," Erik said as he kissed along my jaw. "You are getting healthy! You will be back to the old you in now time!"
Something inside me shifted. Closed off. It was like the wall I had put up around myself, the one Erik had been chipping away at for the last month, the one that was now crumbling around me, it was like it was made of steele now.
"Erik," his name left me in a soft whisper. "Erik I will never be the old me ever again!" I told him and pushed at his chest. Erik loosened his arms, letting me slid off him and touch my feet to the ground. I looked up at him, his ice white eyes bright with excitement. It was a sight to behold.
If I was going to make this work, if I was really going to stay, I would have to be honest with him. I wanted to be honest with him. "I'm never going be that girl again."
It was true. That girl was gone. She was dead. Never to be seen again. This was the new me. However, I suddenly found myself wondering who this person was! Who was I? I had decided to no longer be the scared little girl who had been thrown into a pound where unspeakable things had been done to her.
Erik leaned away, his eyes locked on face. "You can be whoever you want to be, Lexi," he said in a low voice, dealing me back to the conversation. "I know there are things we don't talk about and that there are things you share with Declan rather then with me, but I'd like to change that," he told me. Erik reached up and brushed a stray hair from my face. "It makes me jealous that you have him-"
I pressed closer to him, using the wall behind me as leverage. "Erik Modori." His name left my lips slowly. "Declan is my oldest and dearest friend and I trust him with my life! But you?" I sighed, my mouth suddenly feeling dry. My stomach squirmed and I felt all fluttery inside. "I'm trusting you with my heart!"
I watched Erik's face go blank with shock. After a moment, his hands wandered to my face as he drank in every detail of me. "You have no idea how happy that makes me, Lexi!" he whispered.
I smiled and leaned forward, a sudden and new urge coming over me. I watched Erik's lips for a moment, wondering... I had wondered, from my dreams, what his lips would taste like. My mouth watered just thinking about it.
I tried to remember what it had felt like when he had kissed me in my dreams but I suddenly couldn't recall the dream. I knew I had dreamt it but I couldn't remember what it was. I looked up at Erik, my head feeling fuzzy and warm. It was confusing. My body was at peace when he touched me. My brain was at war with itself. I craved his touch but the fear that it would abruptly become to much filled me with fear. The feeling filled me and a small whimper left me.
Then, I watched as a darkness overtook Erik's face and he leaned forward again, my back slamming into the wall. I watched as white over took his forest green eyes and I swallowed, wondering if I had gone to far.
"Don't tease me," he warned me. I frowned. Had I been teasing him? I hadn't meant to. Erik sighed and pressed his lips to the top of my head, my hands still around his waist.
Erik sighed, his hands pushing the hem of my skirt up, wrapping both hands around my thighs and hoisting me up into his arms as he pushed forward, trapping my body, literally, between a rock and a hard place
I gasped and he grinned at me as he ducked and placed and open mouthed kiss on my Mark.
I felt my hands lock around his wrists. "Erik..." his name left my lips is barely a whisper. His breathing was heavy as he reeled in his urges . My heart pounded in my chest as his hands gripped my thoughts tightly.  With my mind running a mile a minute, I had to admit to myself.
I had hoped he would have kissed me at least goodbye but Erik just let his fingers run the length of my jaw once more before he grabbed up my hand and pulled me down the hall. "Im having Liv deliverer the news of my Mother ruling in my stead to the Elders. She was not to pleased with the idea."
I frowned. "Why?" I asked him.
Erik shrugged. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "She said you should learn to rule sooner rather than later."
I frowned. "Did she have another premonition?" I asked him.
Erik scoffed at me. "Premonition," he rolled his eyes. "What Liv sees if suggestive at best. Not all that she sees will come to pass!" he said and looked down at his feet as we came to a stop at the main entrance of the Manor.
A maid was there with a long, fur cloak and handed it to me. "I am having more fire wood brought in from the East so it may be cold until they get here." he admitted.
I shrugged. "I will manage," I assured him. I slipped on the cloak and was instantly warmed. Erik sighed and reached for my face with both hands.
"Please be here when I return," he whispered. "Please stay." My heart swelled in my chest and I felt the urge to suddenly cry. Did he still think that I didn't want to be here? Did he think that I was going to bolt as soon as he left? Yes, Erik was the single reason I was still at Rose Court. I blinked the tears away, no longer caring. I smiled a watery smile.
"I promise!"
Erik closed his eyes and sighed, almost as if in relief. Pressing his lips quickly to my head, Erik then ducked out of the door and out into the early fall morning rain and into his waiting limo.
I walked out into the overhang and watched his car vanish around the corner. I sighed, suddenly feeling like some piece of myself had been taken from me. I didn't like this.
Erik?
He couldn't be that far away yet. Yes, Love? His voice echoed in my mind, caressed around me and sent a shiver down my spine. Goosebumps rippled over my skin and I smiled.
Come back to me!
There was a moment silence before Erik replied. I promise!
I knew he would be true to his word. I didn't like that he was leaving me here, unmated but Marked. I didn't like that he was going after his Uncle who clearly did not play by the rules. I felt the exact moment Erik's mind left mine. He was to faraway now.
I sighed, feeling hallow and empty.
"Hey you," Liv greeted me as she walked out under the overhang.
"Hey," I said.
I wasn't in the mood for her positive and joyful antics. I wanted to go back to my room and sulk. Erik said said a few days tops. How long was a few days? Two days? A week? "So you left the job up to my mother?" she asked me.
I sighed and looked up at her. "I know you don't approve," I said as I turned and we both set off down the hall. The servants and valet that had been outside with us were all now bustling about, shutting up the doors as soon as we walked inside.
"It's really not for me to approve, Lexi, but the Elders!"
I grumbled. "They hate me," Intold her.
Liv shook her head. "They don't know you!" she reminded me. "The one you really have to worry about is Lucias,"
I didn't want to think about the Elders. I knew they would be looking to speak with me as much as possible. I still wasn't sure how I was going to approach that. I held the collar of the cloak to my face, inhaling deeply. My head swam and heart fluttered. It was so soft and it forever smelled of Erik. I sighed, wondering how long his scent would last. Liv looped her arm through mine. "Erik will be back before you know it!" she assure me. "He has plans . And you play a big role in them!"
I smiled. "I hope so!"
Liv tugged at me playfully. "We should go out tonight!" she insisted. "Yeah, you me and Krysta!"
I laughed. "Krysta? She's twelve!" I reminded her outraged. Liv laughed at me.
"She's seventeen!" she told me and I felt my jaw drop. "Yup!"
"No, there's no way!" I insisted as I pictured the small girl before me. I sighed as we tugged up the steps as a maid came to take our coats. I smiled at her and shook my head. "I'm fine, thank you!"
The Maid bowed quickly and then quickly hurried away to put Liv's coat in her room.
"If we were to go out, where would we go?"
Liv grinned at me. "Dagobert," she told me. "It's low key, crowded but nothing to bad."
I nodded. "What about the Anulus ball? It's in a few days. We need to go shopping for you-"
I sighed. "I am sure I have something in my-"
Liv laughed and shook her head. "Absolutely not!" she insisted. "The Anulus ball is where the three families come together and celebrate. There used to be five, now there is only three. It's a big deal and should be celebrated in the most extravagant ways possible. It's a way we respect our dead."
I sighed. "Will Erik be back in time for this?" I asked her. The thought of having to host a room full of strangers filled me with a cold blooded fear. Liv shrugged.
"He should be," she said. "My mother will take point for the Ball though, so all you have to do is show up and look pretty!"
I rolled my eyes. I knew I was Liv's personal, life size dress up doll.
"Fine," I grumbled. "Clubbing tonight and shopping time tomorrow." I nodded as Liv reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. "It's Dec," she said and text him back quickly. "He wants to go out for breakfast. Let's grab Krysta and go get some breakfast! We can go shopping after and perhaps take you to get your hair done!"
I looked down and o Ike's at the dead ends of my hair and sighed. She had a point. Perhaps I could surprise Erik when he returned I nodded. "Let's do that then!"
Liv smiled. "Go get changed!" she told me and pulled at the strings of her own coat. "Meet me downstairs in ten!"

I returned to my room, ditched my dress for some leggings and a turtleneck and some boots. I left my hair in the messy braid and walked down stairs. Declan was already headed down so we walked together. "Having Erik withdraw yet?" he asked me.
I shrugged "Not so much." I said. "Some time apart will do us good!"
Declan laughed. "You haven't seen the two of you!" he told me.
I raised an eyebrow. "How do you mean?" I asked him. Declan sighed, his two toned eyes curious.
"It's odd," he admitted. "Erik can be obsessive and sometimes to direct for his own good. He is a hood King but he still has a lot to learn-"
I nodded. "He does seem a little strong-headed," I agreed. Liv sighed and her face because thoughtful.
"I have to admit, I am surprised that you went through with it," Declan told me.
I sighed and nodded. "It wasn't an easy choice but the other day when Erik got stabbed by that Hunter, I-... Erik told me he didn't want me to go into this because of fear, but that is exactly what I di-"
Declan sighed and shook his head. "I knew it!" he scoffed at me. "Lexi, you are better then that! You were never this reckless before-"
I pulled Declan to a stop and made him face me. "You don't get it!" I snapped at him. "You don't understand what it was like in that Pound, Declan! The things that happened to me there... I Erik this before, and I will tell each of you!"
Declan turned when he herd a noise behind him. Liv and Krysta were waiting for us. "What's going on?" Krysta asked us.
"I just want everyone to understand," I said in a low voice. "The person I was before is gone. The girl everyone knew before is dead. Aros killed her. She is never coming back so stop asking for her and stop looking for her!"
I pushed past them and headed for the door.
I was eager to leave these ivy covered walls for a while. It would distract me from everything else going on in my head right now.
My brain was a wild jungle, filled with scary thoughts. Aros was looking for me. Erik had left me here alone to chase down his uncle in New York. Liv thought it was best that if I had rules in Erik's stead instead of his mother just to show that I could stand up to the Elders. Declan didn't like the fact that Erik had Marked me even though I was sure that it was what I had wanted. What was his deal anyway. He hasn't even Marked Liv yet. I sighed.
Liv jogged to keep up with me. "You OK?"
I sighed and nodded as I stepped outside, my breath coming out in a bright puff. The early fall morning smelled of wet leaves and rain. I smiled. Liv had been right. It was a beautiful morning.
"I'm fine," I assured her. "I'm in a mood!"
Liv smirked. "Heat always bothers me," she said. "I get moody." Heat. The time of month a Shifter experiences the urge to Mate. I knew I had the urge. Erik must have it too by now. I frowned. I didn't like that he had left me here, unmated.
I sighed. "It's not Heat," I assured her, hoping she would not hear the false tone in my voice. "I need coffee!"
Krysta leaned around Declan's arm. "I second that!"
Declan laughed. "Where is Jax? Isn't he coming?" he asked.
Krysta sighed and shook her head, he blond, curly pigtails bouncing with her movements. I still had a hard time believing she was seventeen. She looked so much younger. "What are we doing?"she wanted to know. I sighed and nodded toward the garage. "I don't know about your guys but I need coffee to start my day!"
Liv shrugged. "Sounds good to me," she said. I followed Liv down the hall and into the garage, Declan and Krysta training behind me. I wasn't willing to admit I was already having a hard time with Erik being gone. It was extremely dangerous in New York. I didn't like that he was going by himself to the most dangerous place for a Dark Fey. "Lexi?"
I looked up when Declan said my name. "You good?" he asked me.
I nodded quickly and waved away is concern. "Fine," I said. Amira had unlocked her huge Hummer and pulled herself up inside. We all piled into the car, me sitting in the front with Liv.
"Starbucks?" Liv asked as she pulled from the drive way. I watched as the path before me wound around corners and trees, a grunt black gate coking into view. A Valkyrie stood there, gun strapped to her chest and a bow strapped to her back. Her face was hidden by the hood she had drawn up. Liv just waved at her and the Valkyrie nodded, pressing a button inside the small white booth to open the gates.
As we passed through. My heartbeat picked up. I was excited and terrified to leave the compound. It had been a long time I had been anywhere else other then inside the Manor. I was happy because I was leaving to go somewhere other thank this ivy covered mansion.