The Dark Fey Chronicles Court of Roses

27

The darkness was back.
The cold was back.
My breath came in short, sharp breaths, passing through my lips in giant white clouded puffs. The water at my feet was freezing. I looked around, and again, watched as Aros dropped from the blackness above. He smirked at me when he stood, his thin lips and full, bleach blond hair seemed other worldly. Only this time, the side of his face was burnt black and he looked more like Freddy Kruger than anyone else.
"You tried to kill me," Aros seethed as he snapped his fingers. A puff of black smoke covered his fingers and I watched as a long hunting dagger appeared in his hands.
I didn't answer.
I watched his image shimmer in and out. "You tried to KILL ME!"
Aros lunged forward and I gasped as the blade caught the side of my cheek as I jerked out of his reach-

A startle gasped left my lips as I sat up right in my bed. My skin was covered in a sheen of sweat and my heart pounded in my ears. I swallowed, looking around. The bathroom door was cracked and I could hear Erik moving around inside.
"Did I wake you?" he asked me when he pulled the door open. His lower half was wrapped in a towel but his hair was dry as bone. I shook my head and pulled my knees to my chest.
"How long were we out for?" I asked him.
Erik smiled. "Just a few hours," he assured me. "Queen Nakoma asked us to join her for dinner."
I sighed and shoved the sheets back. "Before I go anywhere, I need a shower," I told him and walked to the bathroom door. Erik, with a sly smile on his face, stepped in my way. "Mind if I join you?"
I felt myself blush. After what had happened last night, I was suddenly self conscious about my body. I mean, I always had been, since being in a Pound but after last night, I could hardly look Erik in the eye. It had happened once before, for him, and we weren't even Mated yet.
"Lexi?"
I looked up when Erik placed a finger under my chin. "If this is about what happened last night-"
I shook my head, praying he wouldn't see through my lie. "Of course not," I tried to assure him. Erik didn't look convinced.
"Then shower with me," he said.
My face turned crimson as I lowered my gaze from his. "Erik." His name was all I could get past my lips. I wanted him. Of course I did. But that didn't mean I wasn't still worried about whatever else he may see on my body.
Erik already knew about the scars in my back. But did I know about the scars on my torso and legs? Did he know how the Hunters had tortured me with silver until I passed out because I couldn't hate the pain anymore?
"Please?" he asked me in a low voice. I looked up at him now. The hard and strict edge had fallen away. Now I could see Erik. There was no judgment in his eyes. There was no longing or need. At least not in the way I was used to.
The longing I'm his eyes now was more than a need rather than a desire. I could see that he was struggling to keep them balanced at times but this? I had never seen this look on his face before.
I had to scold myself. I had been selfish in keeping myself from him. So selfish.
I couldn't deny him what was his. I was his. And he was mine. Always. "Of course," I told him.
Erik smiled and leaned forward. "I will get the bath running-"
I frowned. "I said a shower-"
He laughed and turned away. "A bath is more relaxing, don't you agree?" he said and pulled me into the bathroom behind him. "Besides, have you seen the tub?"
I peered around his shoulder and my jaw fell open. In the middle of the bathroom floor stood a huge, carved rose quartz bathtub. It was filling with hot water and steam started to fog up the mirrors and windows. Erik pointed to the screen by the sink. "There is a robe for you there."
I darted for the screen quickly, wishing I had refused his request. I had never seen another man naked before. Even before...I wasn't sure if I wanted to. I loved Erik.
I did.
But I wasn't sure if I was ready.
With a frustrated grumble I shoved the thoughts aside and stripped off the dress I was in. I herd Erik splash down into the tub and sigh. A pained groan passed his lips and then he sighed. I waited a moment before I peaked around the divider.
Erik was in the tub, his arms raised to either side. His head was thrown back and his eyes were closed. I watched him for a moment but Erik didn't move.
Blood boiled my skin as I walked toward the steaming tub. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do this. I watched Erik's face crease with confusion as he picked up on my emotions.
I didn't want him to open his eyes and see me all flustered so I let the silk robe pool at my feet and stepped into the tub.
Erik didn't open his eyes until I was seated, only my shoulders and head were above the surface of the milky looking water. He smiled at me and sighed.
"You look beautiful," he told me.
I frowned, knowing my hair, in a messy bun, was horrible and Liv would have had a stroke had she seen me this way, was an unmanageable mess.
Erik leaned forward and grabbed up a loofa. "May I?"
I blushed crimson, feeling myself reach my limit as to what I was willing to let happen.
"I will be... respectful," Erik promised me.
I sighed and smiled at him. Again, he was choosing his words carefully. I turned away from him, bringing my knees to my chest to turn around in the tub.
Erik lathered up the loofa and started to gently rub it over my skin. "Are you sure you are ok?" he asked me. "With this, I mean?"
I thought for a second. "It's not that I'm not ok, Erik," I answered.
Erik ran the loofa down my back, his fingers tracing the small, crescent moon shaped scars on my back. "Then what?" he pressed me. His voice had taken on an annoying tone. I chewed my lip for a second.
"I love you," I told him.
Erik breathed out a laugh. "I love you too, Elsker ," he told me.
I smiled. "Elskar?" I tested the foreign word on my lips and it didn't feel right.
Erik laughed and leaned forward slowly, his arms sliding down mine. "Elsker," he corrected me. "It means Lover."
I smiled. "I like that," I told him. "Elsker."
Erik dipped the loofa into the hot water before he set it aside to run his fingers over my shoulders. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you-"
I reached up and gripped his fingers and they stopped on my upper arm. "It's not your fault," I reminded him. Then I remembered something. "Did you find Caro?"
Erik sighed and nodded. "Yes," he said. "We don't know if she is going to make it."
I turned to look at him now, keeping my body covered in the warmer.
"She is alive?" I demanded.
I suddenly wanted to go home. I didn't want to be here, even at Nakoma's invitation. "Yes, but she is seriously injured, Lexi," Erik told me. "We don't know-"
I shook my head and reached over the tub to grab the silk robe on the floor. Erik frowned. "What are you doing?"
I pulled the robe around me, not looking at Erik, suddenly not caring if he saw me.
"We need to go home!" I told him.
Erik sighed. "Why?" he asked me.
I turned to face him. "Because I can save Caro-"
Erik shook his head. "She was poisoned with liquid silver, Lexi, she is going to die-"
I growled at him. "You don't know that!"
Erik sighed and reached for his towel on the floor. "Slow down," he said and hoisted himself from the stone bathtub. I turned away as soon as he moved, my face turning crimson as I realized I had just jumped up naked from the tub. I tugged my robe around me tighter as I walked back to the bedroom.
I stopped when Erik reached for my arm. "We can't just leave-"
I pulled away from him. "Erik, Caro could die!" I reminded him.
Erik shook his head. "You don't understand! We are not in our own Court here.
Nakoma is-"
"Someone who has helped us tr
Erik sighed. "Nakoma will want her due before we leave! Drydales-"
I rolled my eyes. "Are cunning and cruel, I know! But Caro is not and she is a Modori. We take care of our own."
Erik smirked. "Yes," he agreed and sighed as he walked up to me. "Yes, we do."
I sighed and watched his face as he raised a hand to my face.
"When we get back, I want to go to my house," I told him.
Erik gowned. "Why?" he asked me.
I shrugged. "I haven't been back there and..."
Erik frowned. "What?" he pressed.
I was already regretting this. "If I didn't kill Aros, he will come looking-"
Erik cut me off. "Absolutely not!"
I sighed and reached for his hands. "Think about it Erik! If I didn't kill him, he could still be out there! He could still pose a threat to us! And I for one don't want to sit back and wait until he does!" I sighed. "I'm done being scared of him. I'm done looking over my shoulder!"
Erik shook his head. "You didn't see that hotel room you destroyed!" he reminded me. "No one could have survived that!"
I felt my heart sink. I had no memory of setting a fire or even being in a fire. I knew I had left the room, after looking at the charred remains that suddenly surrounded me. The sizzling corpses of all of the people that had been in that room. The burnt corpses of the people that had surrounded me. I had done that. And I was still struggling to understand what and how it had happened.
I shook my head trying to focus. "What if your wrong?"
We stared at each other. "Tell me about this plan," he said at last.
I nodded. "I go ahead to the south mountain. You and your choice of warriors are only twenty minutes behind and will be there if I need you-"
Erik shook his head. "I don't want you alone with him!" he reminded me. "For any amount of time!"
I nodded. "I know and I understand that," I said as gently as I could. "But if I can lure him to a location that we can control-"
Erik nodded. "We could capture him," he agreed. I nodded. "If we did that... it would take every able body at Rose Court-"
I nodded. "Nakoma would want to help!"
Erik sighed. "Her help will come with a price, Lexi, I hope you understand that!"
"You don't think it is worth the risk?"
Erik shook his head. "Not if it means he is anywhere near you!" he said again. "Not if it means you put yourself in danger-"
"By the time you get to my house, Arous will be so distracted he won't see you guys coming!"
Erik sighed and crossed his arms over his bare chest. "I don't like it," he admitted.
I nodded. "I know," I assured him. "I'm also going to take Tinfa before I go inside the house-"
Erik looked appalled. "Why would you do that?" he demanded.
"Because, I don't like the fact that Aros can get in my head," I told him. "I need all the advantages I can get. I think he was messing with me back at the Manor and I think he was messing with me when I torched that room, I think he is still alive! And I'm going to prove it!"
"Why are you suddenly so sure he is alive?" he asked me. I smiled a rueful smile. "Because if there was one thing Aros ever taught me, it was how to survive."
Erik nodded, pushing off of the dresser behind him. I watched him walk toward me, his face thoughtful. "I will agree to this under one condition."
I raised an eyebrow. "And that is?"
Erik nodded. "Jesper will teach you," he said. "He is the only other Drex I have seen."
I nodded. "Thank you Erik," I told him.
He shook his head. "If you get hurt-"
My arms went around his waist. "I won't," I promised. Erik hugged me closer.
"You better not let anything happen to yourself!" he warned me. "I will hold you personally accountable if anything-" I reached up and touched his face, a small, faint smile on my lips.
Before I could answer there was a knock at the door. Erik dropped his arms from around me and sighed.
"Nakoma is waiting for us," he said. "We should get dressed." Erik turned and pulled the door open as I disappeared back into the bathroom. I heard Erik speaking to a Maid. After a moment, the door closed and I heard Erik's feet pad back toward me.
"Dinner at ten," he said from behind the closed door. "Nakoma arranged for Jesper to be brought to her Court per Portal."
I nodded to myself. "Do you trust Jesper?"
I heard Erik sigh as he hung something on the door. I reached for my brush and started to yank it through my hair. I had become so spoiled that I was used to having it done for me. So I swept my hair into a long plated braid down my back.
"I don't," Erik admitted. "But I doubt we have a choice. I spoke with Nakoma before I came to see you last night. She is right. A war is coming and if I have learned anything about you these past few months is that you will want to be part of it. You will have to learn to defend yourself sooner rather than later."
I sighed. "And Aros, if he is still alive, will be leading that war!" I grumbled as I grabbed the dress from the door. I pulled the bag open and felt my jaw drop. Inside was a two piece dress, the top glittering gold and bronze breastplate and a satin, striped tied dress. It wasn't something I would have picked for myself. I frowned but pulled the dress on anyway.
When I returned to Erik, he was dressed in an all black tux. He smiled when I joined him, his eyes roaming up my exposed legs.
"Well this is different," he mused.
I blushed a little. "I'm not sure if-"
Erik reached forward, his hands running around my waist as he looked me up and down. "No, no, I like it!" he assured me.
I looked up at him as he reached to trail a finger up my inner thigh.
"The Drydales like their woodland attire to be... exposing," he murmured, his hand vanishing into the folds of fabric. His fingers grazed the inside of my thigh and I gasped. "Why is that?" I wanted to know.
Erik shrugged. "Better for sudden and unexpected combat?" he mused. "Who knows." His eyes had taken on a white tint.
"Erik." His name left my lips in a small whisper and he smirked as his other arm came up around my waist.
"They like easy access," he told me as he leaned forward to press his lips to mine.
I laughed at him. "You calling me easy?" I teased him. Erik leaned away now with a mischievous smile on his face.
"If I wanted to, I could say all the right things and touch you in the right places and you would be powerless to stop me."
I leaned away and looked up at him. His face faltered for a moment. "Sorry," he said quickly and dropped his hands. "I didn't mean it like that-"
I reached and touched his face. "I know that," I assured him. Erik smiled.
"Shall we?" he asked me. "I'm sure Queen Nakoma will be very interested in your plan!"
I frowned. His flirty persona fell away once more and he was back to being off and oddly cold. What else could I say or do to make him understand that I was OK. I was still within my comfort zone. I sighed and followed him to the door, feeling uneasy in this revealing outfit.
The Drydalien throne room was beyond my vocabulary. I could not find the words to describe how breathtakingly beautiful it was and it was a sight to behold. As we walked, people stared at us, whispering. I couldn't help but feel that they were talking about me. And I could help but marvel at the beauty of the Drydales around me.
Not all of them had ice white hair like Nakoma and Lucian. Some had red, some had black or brown. But each of them was incredibly beautiful in every way. It made me feel a little insecure about myself and it caused Erik's fingers to tighten around me. I looked down at my thin form, my flat chest was covered by a satin sash just under the mossy corset.
What is it? Erik demanded.
I looked up at him to see him staring down at me. He's hands gently pulled me to the side and we quietly slipped into the crowd and turned to face the throne where Nakoma sat.
She was dressed in a burgundy and gold dress, her stark white hair hung in ropes and loops at her temples and cheeks. Her face was painted red and white, with runic symbols on either cheek. I raised an eyebrow. What's with the face paint?
Erik shrugged. Tradition.
Nakoma raised her hand and the double doors at the end of the hall were tugged closed. "The Gathering hereby in session,"she proclaimed. "Summer, present."
I watched as Summer stepped forward. She was dressed in a long black riding outfit, the hunting cloak was warped around her shoulder and covered her almost as a poncho. Her silver like hair, in its thin dreads was now threaded with black gear and there. "There has been a disruption at the Modori Court, my queen," she said loud and clear. "It seems one of its members has gone missing."
Nakoma raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Summer sighed. "A girl named Lexi," she said. "A pound Slut-"
Nakoma narrowed her eyes on Summer. "You will be respectful in this Chamber!"
Summer lowered her head quickly. "Yes, My Queen," she said quickly.
You mean to tell me that it was fucking her that was spying on us? I almost screamed in my head. I could hardly contain my anger. Erik reached and gripped my hips to pull me back against him. His chest was so warm and welcoming. How did it do nothing to ease my anger? Wait for Nakoma! Erik reminded me and nodded back up to Nakoma.
"Who is she?" Nakoma demanded.
Summer shrugged. "She came to Modori Court about six months or so ago. Liv, the King's sister, is the one who brought her in. It wasn't long before I found out that she was a hybrid."
Nakoma frowned. "How did she expose herself?"
Summer nodded. "I framed her," she admitted. "Provoked her."
"What happened when you provoked her?"
Summer shrugged. "She attacked me," she said. "Threw me in the air with her mind and threatened to kill me!"
"Why go through all the trouble of framing her?" Nakoma asked her. "Why not just voice your concerns to Erik Modori?"
Summer sighed and lowered her head. "I tried, but he would not listen to reason."
Nakoma nodded, leaning back on her throne, her face thoughtful and curious. "What would you recommend?"
Summer shrugged. "I agree with my father's assessments of her," she admitted. "Alessandra Darkbloom is a dangerous beast and should be put down before she kills more people!"
I frowned. Was she talking about the ones back at the hotel in Germany? I still couldn't remember it clearly.
Nakoma nodded, her face amused as she leaned back on her throne. "You would frame a Queen?" she asked and shook her head. "You would conspire to kill a Queen? I have to say, Summer you have some guts."
Erik's hand tightened around mine as he pulled me forward. The crowd immediately parted, cutting a path for us as Erik tugged us forward. Guards walked up behind Summer and stuck her legs causing her to fall to her knees. Summer cried out and she crumpled to the stone floor.
"Oh, I forgot to mention, we have a guest at Thorn Court today," she announced and Summer jerked up to look at us. "Welcome, King and Queen of the Modori Shifters."
The whole room erupted into applause and people even bowed before us.
We walked up the podium and sat down beside Nakom. Erik walked me to my seat first, holding my hand as I sat so I wouldn't catch my skirt on my heeled boots.
The thin and revealing material made it impossible to sit in properly. Erik's eyes scanned up my legs as he raised my hand to his lips. I watched a flash of white rim
His eyes smiled at me and took his seat beside me. I looked down at Summer. She had gone extremely pale and she looked like she was about to pass out.
"You had so much to say before, Summer," Erik noted. "What happened?"
I looked down at Summer as she stared up at us, her face confused. "Erik-"
He leaned forward. "You are hereby banished to the Wall-"
I watched the fear and despair fill her face. Summer threw herself down, bowing before us. "Please Erik, don't send me away-"
Erik waved his hand at her. "You have lost the right to address me so formally, Miss Vespari. And you are hereby banished from the Modori Court."
I watched a little relief wash over her face. "My Lord, with my father dead I am now head of my House and am needed-"
Erik growled at her. "Then it seems we need a new House to represent the Drydales at Court."
Nakoma nodded. "As soon as I choose someone," she assured him.
Summer's jaw dropped. "You can't do that!" she protested. "I am the head of my House- the last living female-"
Nakoma waved her hand in the summer. "When your brother comes of age, he may decide if he wishes to take the seat-"
Summer rolled her eyes. "Lucas is fourteen-"
Nakoma shrugged. "Older than I was when I took the throne at twelve, Miss Vespari."
I looked between the two. Is she really going to allow a child to join her Council?
Erik gripped my fingers. The Vespari are a powerful family and they offer much to the other families of the Dark Fey World-
I looked back at Summer who was glaring at me now. She did this to herself! I narrowed my eyes on her. She admitted to everything right here!
Erik nodded but before he could answer, Summer spoke again. "What will happen to me now?" she wanted to know.
Nakoma shrugged. "Your betrayal goes beyond my Court, Miss Vespari. It will be up to the Modori rulers-"
Summer shook her head. "King Erik is ruler of the Modori and Lexi is nothing more than a Marked One. She won't-"
Erik was in his feet and in her face before I could blink. I didn't even see him move. One second he was beside me, the next, he was across the room, his hand locked around Summer's neck as he lifted her off the ground. "You have disrespected my Queen long enough!" he reminded her.
Nakoma leaned back in her seat, her eyes on the scene unfolding before her. "Speak again and it will be the last time you do so!"
Summer's face crumpled into a grimace before her eyes filled with tears and she let
out a sob. "But I love you, Erik!" she cried.
Disgusted, Erik dropped her to her feet. Summer dropped to her knees, taking her face in her hands as she cried out loud now. "Take her away," Nakoma ordered and the Drydalien guards walked forward and gripped Summer under her arms. She didn't resist. She let them drag her away, her cries and sons and choking down the halls. I sighed and watched as Erik walked back to his seat beside me.
What will happen to her?
Erik shrugged. That will be for Queen Nakoma to decide.
Even in his thoughts, Erik's voice had gone cold. I didn't want Summer to go to a Pound. As much as I despised her, I would wish that on her. I chewed my lip, wondering if there would be any reasoning with Nakoma.
Don't.
I looked up at Erik. What?
He sighed and took my hand. Summer will likely spend the rest of her days here at the Drydalien Court.
Nakoma stood to her feet. "The Vespari are hereby removed from the Drydalien Court until Lucas Vespari comes of age and is willing to offer his services to his Queen and her allies."
There was a murmur through the Court and I sighed. I didn't like this. I wanted to know that Summer was not headed for a Dark Fey Pound. As much as I disliked her, she didn't deserve what would happen to her there. I sighed, hoping I would be able to convince Nakoma that a Pound would not be in Summer's best interest.