The Dark Fey Chronicles Court of Roses

28

Nakoma dismissed everyone to the outdoor dining hall and was instantly pulled away for Drydalien politics. I knew this all too well now. Erik had his routine with guests at Rose Court. Thorn Court was no different.
Erik waved to a Drydalien Maid who returned a moment later with my fur cloak. I smiled when he settled it around my shoulders. His scent was wafted up my nose and I immediately craved his touch.
Erik noticed the change in my body. His eyes flashed white for a moment and his face settled into a frustrated look. It looked almost as if he was struggling with himself. My eyes widened and I tried to distance myself from him, to give him space. But Erik wasn't having any of it. His hand pulled at mine gently but firmly as he guided me to a darkened corner by the garden door.
Cool air washed against my legs and I could feel the heat radiating off of Erik even more. Erik didn't waste a second, his hands ran up my thighs as his lips and tongue left a trail of ice and fire down my throat all the way to my Mark. When he reached the tip of the gold glowing Mark, Erik leaned away, looking at it. Despite the cold, heat washed through me but before I could gasp, Erik's hands slipped around my neck and pulled me forward, his lips devouring mine, stilling my moan.
Erik pressed me back, my bear back pressing into the cold stone of the garden wall. I looked around. We were well out of sight and no one would find us here.
"What is it?" Erik asked me.
I looked up at him. He was staring at me, his eyes completely white. Two glowing white orbs. I swallowed suddenly worried.
"Nothing," I assured him.
Erik growled at me, his hands coming up to my face, making me keep my eyes on his. The longer I looked in his eyes, the more secure I felt. I wanted this. I wanted him.
"Then focus on me," he whispered almost as if he was reading my thought.
My heart pounded into my throat and I nodded, unable to form words. He wanted me to focus? I could do that. Erik sighed and he set me down gently, his fingers sliding up my bare legs. "I like this outfit on you." His fingers slid up my thigh, one single finger tracing the crease of my inner thigh. "Very convenient."
I frowned at him. "Stop," I pleaded.
It's not that I wanted him to. I just couldn't take the torcher anymore. Erik didn't move. His hands stilled, but his lips pressed on, kissing, licking and nipping as he made his way down to my collarbone. "Erik-"
His tongue traced the spot between the corner of my jaw to my ear. "I wonder if I were to Mark you a third time, would it be as beautiful as the first two?" he mumbled. "Would it, as impossible as it is, add to my attraction to you?" His lips pressed to my neck and a small moan left the lips. Before I could do anything else, Erik suddenly hitched me up into his arms and sank his teeth into the side of my shoulder. Erik jerked me forward, his hand coming down over my lips before the startled and aroused gasp left my lips.
Erik moaned into my neck and my legs locked around his waist.
My arms locked around him as another wave of heat washed through me. I sighed in content but that's when Erik suddenly dropped me gently to the floor, his lips and teeth leaving a fresh. I gasped as the pain rippled through my neck, but was immediately replaced by such an intense surge of pleasure when Erik leaned forward and licked the small amount of blood from my skin and I shuddered; it was all I could do to keep from throwing myself at him. The intense sensation was gone and I mourned it's loss. Someone cleared their throat loudly.
I leaned away, looking over his shoulder when Jon appeared at the door. "Sorry for the interruption," he said in a low voice. "But Queen Nakoma is asking for you both."
Erik sighed and turned to face him. "We will be alone in a moment!" Erik pointed out when Jon didn't move. His eyes were fixed on Erik, his face unreadable.
"There has been a sighting," he said reluctantly. "Rumors are already spreading that-"
I felt my heart sink. "Don't say it!" I said in a low voice. It was bad enough that I felt little to nothing for the loss of my only living parent but to find out that Aros was still alive? I wasn't sure I was ready to face that. That would mean two things for sure.
Aros would come searching for me again. And that my powers had not been enough to stop him.
"There is no way he could have survived that-" I began but Erik turned back to face me. His hands came up on either side of my face and he made me look at him.
"You are protected-"
Jon scoffed at him. "You said that before and looked what-"
Jon never finished. Erik's hands dropped from around my face and he was gone, having vanished from beside me and was now across the hall and had my brother off of his feet and pinned to the wall by his neck.
"Like I said, your disrespect is I'll no longer be tolerated-"
"Erik," I warned him. Would he really kill my brother in front of me? Erik ignored me.
"Funny, isn't it, that Aros so conveniently sent you away just mere days before the attack in the South Mountain?"
Jon seemed unfazed. "You have already investigated this," he reminded Erik. "You found no connection between Aros and myself-"
Erik tightened his grip on Jon's neck. "Perhaps I should reopen the investigation until we know for sure that Aros is dead!"
I walked forward. "Erik!"
I glanced over my shoulder, noticing that people were starting to stare. "Both of you! Stop this!" Jon growled at Erik.
"If I am right, and Aros is alive-"
Jon's words were cut off in a short gag as Erik flexed his hand around Jon's neck.
Erik's sudden and brutal display of power was making me uneasy.
"Erik!"
I watched as Erik lowered my brother to his feet slowly and released him, a low threatening growl rumbling in his chest.
"You know you-"
I stepped closer. "Jon!" I warned him. "Go!"
My brother sighed but bowed before us and left the hallway, heading towards the
onlooking Drydales as they eased in and out of the throne room. I sighed and turned to look back at Erik, who was still turned away from me, his body stiff and ridged. I walked forward slowly, my hand reaching to touch his arm. Erik looked down at me and I dropped my hands to my sides at once. I didn't know the person before me. This stranger was not my Mate.
It was a completely different side of him. Like flipping a coin. One side, the side I loved and would gladly give my life for, the side that loved me and protected me fiercely, was the side I was used to.
This side? This side was dark and disastrous. Cunning and carless. This was the side he kept locked away from me. The side that he kept hidden behind his Forrest green eyes. The side that craved me.
Heat rinsed over my skin as we stared at each other. Erik began to lean forward but I leaned away. I wasn't sure why, but I didn't trust him right now. And because there were still people watching us.
"Come on," I insisted.
Erik didn't move. He glowered at me. "Ok," I agreed and crossed my arms. "It's not me you are mad at!" I reminded him.
Erik looked away. "Jon is-"
I cut him off. "My brother and he are innocent until proven guilty!" I reminded him.
"Oh plenty of people think he is-"
"Innocent until proven guilty!" I insisted.
Erik sighed. "I don't trust him!"
I nodded. "Tell me why!" I insisted.
Erik glanced over my shoulder. "Oh for the love of..." he trailed off and ran a hand over his face as I turned to see Liv and Declan walking toward us, both of them in Valkyrie
battle gear. "What are you doing here?" I demanded and Erik turned to look at them.
"There was another attack on the Manor, Erik-"
He growled and took the tablet from her hands as she held it out to him. "Explain!" he demanded as he looked down at the tablet. He frowned.
"Is this some kind of sick joke?" Erik demanded. I walked toward him to look at the tablet. Erik was watching a security cam footage of hooded figures walking the ground and seemingly setting the lawn and bushes on fire. With Magic.
"H-how is this possible?" I demanded.
"Where is Jesper?" Erik demanded.
Liv and Declan glanced at each other. "He decided to remain at Rose Court. He was needed there, along with his healing abilities.
I shook my head. "I should be there with him," I said. Erik handed the tablet back to Liv. "We will be leaving as soon as we finish speaking to the Queen."
I nodded. "Then let's go," he said, his voice still dead and flat. Erik held out his hand for me and waited. I looked up at him, his face still grim and emotionless.
"Erik, I'm sorry," I told him.
I wasn't even sure what I was apologizing for, but for some reason I felt the need to.
My words broke him. "What are you apologizing for?" he asked me.
I shook my head. "This is all my fault," I told him. "If I hadn't run-"
Erik cut me off. "I'm glad you did!" he said. "Had you stayed in the throne room, I would not have been able to focus on the fight with the demons. You and Nakoma did the right thing. As Queen, when you life depends on it, you must know when to run and when to fight!"
I frowned. I wanted to believe Aros was dead. I wanted to thank Nakoma for saving my life. Twice. I wanted to go home and Mate Erik as soon as possible. I wanted to believe that all would be well when we returned. I sighed, knowing things were no longer that easy. And they ever would be again. Erik sighed and stopped in the doorway, looking up at Nakoma who was now seated on her throne, looking over her crowd. "Is there no Drydalien King?" I asked Erik as he took my hand and guided me slowly through the room.
"Nakoma ruled before many of us were even born," he reminded me. "She is extremely... experienced. Shifters and other Dark Fey rarely live to see their great grandchildren because Hunters track them down."
I frowned. "Our children will have their parents-"
Erik stopped and faced me. "Of course they will," he agreed. "I never realized that was something you wanted."
I looked up at him, my cheeks burning. "It's not that I haven't thought about it," I admitted. "I am just horrified to bring a child into this world. I feel pressured by the Elders-"
Erik touched my face. "I told you, no one is-
"But they are, Erik," I reminded him. "The fact that I have been at Rose Court for months now and you still haven't-"
Erik leaned away from me. "You needed time!" he almost snapped at me. "You said you needed time! And I gave it to you-"
I gripped his arm. "I'm not accusing you!" I assured him. "I'm just... " I fell silent, not even sure if I had a valid argument.
"Forget the Elders," Erik insisted. I watched him reach forward, stepping closer to me so his hands wrapped around my waist.
"It will happen," he promised. "I will put a child in you some day."
I blushed crimson and leaned forward to press my face to his chest. "I love you," I told him. Erik smiled and took my face in my hands. His eyes flashed white and my Marks prickled. Before I could protest a low, lustful sigh left his lips as he pulled me forward and pressed his lips to mine.
"Erik? Lexi?"
Erik pulled away reluctantly and we turned to see Nakoma. "Join me in the Gardens, please."
I looked over his shoulder to see Nakoma standing in the doorway and there were four guards surrounding her. Eeik didn't move. "Has something happened?"
I looked up at him and then back at Nakoma as the two more guards appeared behind us. I turned to look at them as one stepped forward and grabbed my arms roughly. "Hey!"
Erik turned, a loud growl rumbling in his chest. "Release her at once!" he demanded. The guard ignored him and shoved me forward, my heels catching my dress causing me to trip and stumble. Erik held out an arm and caught me.
"You forget yourself!" Erik snapped at him.
Nakoma sighed and folded her hands before her.
"Take them below and interrogate them both," she insisted. "Do what you must to get them both to talk!"
The guards grabbed up on Erik and restrained him. "Have you lost your mind?" he demanded. Nakoma laughed.
"No, but you are about to!" she reminded him. I growled at her.
"You betrayed us!" I scoffed at her.
Nakoma laughed again, only this time, it was not her laugh. Her voice had gone deep and scratchy. "You bitch!"
Nakoma laughed even more and held up her hands. "Nakoma would love to know you called her a bitch!"
I felt my stomach turn as her skin began to melt and fall away, falling to the floor with a wet and bloody slap. I watched in horror as Aros raised his hand and ran it over his face, pulling the strings of flesh and blood away from his face. Screams erupted all around us as Drydalien Court members poured from the throne room, screaming.
Erik stiffened beside me. "Warg's," Erik hissed. I felt the blood drain from my face.
I had heard of them before, of course. Read about them in the Rose Court Library.
"How?"
Aros laughed. "Did you not know, Love?"
I narrowed my eyes on him. "I am a shapeshifter. Only I shift into other people-"
Erik growled. "You know that is forbidden-"
Aros laughed at him and nodded to the guards. "Take the King to the cells below." The guards struggled with Erik as they forced him down the hall. "Mark my words, Aors, if you harm a hair on her head-"
Aros scoffed, looking offended. "She is my daughter. I would never!"
Erik was dragged down the hall.
"How dare you?" I demanded before he could speak. Aros rolled his eyes at me and turned to look at the Drydales who were being slaughtered before us. "Stop this-"
Aros laughed and looked back at me. "Why?" he asked me. "Listen to them! They brought this on themselves! They didn't want to conform to my rule, so now they will die-"
"So you are going to kill everyone who disagrees with you?" I demanded.
Aros turned to look at me again, a thoughtful look on his face. "Yes," he agreed. "That sounds about right! Anyway, now that you are Mated, you can bear children! How soon do you think that will be?" he asked me and rolled my eyes.
"What is it with you and-..." I stopped.
The one my other people who had been pestering Erik and me about having a child as soon as possible were the elders. They may not have said much to my face but it had always been implied. Erik had told me as much. Aros smirked at me as he watched as I pieced it all together. "You infiltrated the Elders!"
Aros raised an eyebrow and clapped his hands at me, slowly. "Bravo!" he congratulated me. "You are smart! You had me worried for a moment that you may just be a pretty face!"
I scowled at him. "Why are you doing this?"
Aros folded his arms behind his back. "Why else?" he asked me. "Power! As Helbreder you should know!"
I shook my head disgusted. "I would never betray my blood-"
Aros burst out laughing as he turned to walk to the throne room. The guards behind me pushed me forward to follow him. Refused to look at the steaming pile of flesh that Aaron had shed from himself. The Hellhounds were still shuffling people toward the downstairs staircase, biting and scratching at the Drydalien Court members.
"Once you get a taste of power you will be unstoppable and feared!" he told me.
"I don't want to be-"
Aros walked up the throne steps and laughed. "But you will be," he assured me. "Once you give us a child-"
I felt my stomach turn. "Any child I have will be Erik's!" I reminded him. There was no way in hell that I was going to let him or anyone else touch me.
Aros shrugged. "I have found a Match for you," he continued as if I hadn't spoken. There was a muffled shuffling behind me and I turned to see John, his black silk shirt and cloak were formed and in shreds as he was shoved to his knees. The guard who was holding him grinned a yellow grin at me. I wrinkled my nose in disgust.
"You will Mate or your brother will die!" Aros told me. "It is that simple!"
I looked between them. "You want me to Mate my brother?"
Aros scoffed at me. "No dear child, I want you to Mate Regor," he said. I narrowed my eyes on him. Regor? I felt a surprised and startled expression settle onto my features.
I watched Regor appear in a black shrouded smoke beside Aros.
"You Traitor!" I heard my brother scream as Regor ascended the steps, an evil smile on his face. Jon grinned as his guard punched him to silence him.
"You have gone completely-"
Regor laughed. "Mad?" he asked me and held up his hand. I felt my body lock into place and my arms were forced out to my sides and my feet left the ground.
"Magic and madness go hand in hand," he mused. "Summer was all too eager to tell us what all about you!"
I sighed. I should have known. Erik and I already knew we had a spy at Rouse Court. I never would have guessed the mole was Regor. Summer, yes. But not Regor.
"What?" Aros taunted me. "Nothing to say to your new Mate-"
Informers. "I don't understand!" I insisted. "I am Marked to a King! Why isn't that enough-"
Aros leaned back on Nakoma's throne. "Because I am going to be King and unless you would rather carry my child-"
Jon growled behind me. "Or your brothers," Aros amended. "You will Mate Regor tonight and you will receive his seed-"
I growled at him. "I'd rather die!"
Aros thought for a moment and then shrugged. "That can be arranged!" he agreed. "After you birth his child."
"Why?" I demanded. "Other than Power, what is your reason for this?"
Aros shrugged. "The three of us, you me and your brother, are the last of the Drex-"
I scoffed. "Who's fault is that?"
Aros frowned and shrugged. "Sacrifices had to be made."
Jon, having broken free and kicked his guard unconscious, rushed at Aros, pulling a dagger from his belt. Aros, with an almost bored look on his face l, raised his hand again and Jon went flying up into the air and was held there by Aros.
"And what do you think you are doing?" he demanded. "Hot headed as always, I see. Perhaps it is time to change that!"
I watched Aros raise his other hand and focus on Jon who screamed at the top of his lungs and his hands went to his hand, pulling at his hair.
"Stop it!" I pleaded, looking up at him. Blood poured from his nose and ears. Aros grumbled. "A stubborn one, your brother," he said and raised his other hand. I felt the force around me vanish and I fell to my knees where Regor slapped me as hard as he could. I fell back, my head cracking against the stone floor. "You belong to me now-"
I glowered up at him. "I belong to Erik!" I snapped at them. Regor laughed as he reached forward, taking a fist full of my hair and making me look at him.
"Good thing you are Drex, you little bitch," he told me. "I'm going to tear the Marks from your flesh and make you mine!"
Aros sighed. "But first she must be purified," he reminded Regor. "She has been sullied by that idiot Erik Modori-"
I pushed up off the floor, rage brewing inside of me. There was no way in hell I was going to let this happen. "If you think I am going to let you-"
Aros was before me in a flash. "Let you?" He reached and grabbed my neck, choking me. "Let you? You do learn quickly."
Aros nodded to Regor. "Congratulations, Ser Regor, on your new bride!"
I turned to look at Regor but his hand tightened on my neck as he guided me off to a side powder room. With a grunt, he hurled me away from me, causing me to crash into a small vanity table. My feet actually left the floor. I had never realized just how massive Regor was until now. Then he was on me, pulling and tugging at the laces of my corset. I didn't know what else to do. So I filled my lungs with air and screamed as loud as I could, thrashing against him.
Regor laughed now, tearing at my dress. "You know what?" he mused in my ear. "I am more than sure that you beloved would love to watch!"
I felt my heart sink. I couldn't let Erik see me like this! I couldn't let myself see what was about to happen. I turned to look at Regor quickly. "No!" I said and reached reluctantly for his hand. "Please-"
Regor scoffed at me. "I don't think so!"
"I will do anything you ask!" I pleaded. "Just-just please, don't do this to him!"
"That little prick took my Crown!" Regor seethed at me. "Why should I spare him any comfort? Because of him, I lost my wife-"
I felt my eyes widen. Regor had no Mate? "You know that once a Mated Dark Fay passes, it's only a matter of time!" I reminded him.
Regor nodded. "That is where you come in," Regor reminded me. "You are going to reverse the process and bear my child!"
I scowled at him. "You know that is impossible! Once a Dark Fey Mate dies, the other one dies too! I have been watching it happen with Erik's mother!"
Regor grimaced. "Katja." He rolled his eyes. "I should have killed her when Aros asked me to! Good thing she is dead now!"
Erik!
There was a moment's silence. Lexi?
My heart pounded in my chest. Jon! Where is Erik?
He is being held in the cell next to me. He's been rendered unconscious.
My bottom lip quivered. Regor wants to take me as his Mate! He just told Katja is dead!?
Jon didn't answer. Jon?
Regor laughed and loaned his belt. "We can do this one of two ways!" he said. "You can lay back and enjoy what I have to offer you, or you can scream and try and fight me. Preferably, I'd like it if you would try and fight! I like a challenge!"
A fierce growl rumbled through me and the door behind us opened and Aros walked in."What is taking so fucking long?" he demanded. "Haven't you not finished?"
Regor sighed. "Your daughter seems displeased at the idea-"
Aros rolled his eyes. "She is a sixteen year old child! Beat her into submission if you must but hurry up! We have places to be!"
Aros pulled the door closed and left us alone again. Regor stripped off his shirt and tossed it aside. "Ready or not, you bitch!"
I growled and pushed off the floor. "Stop!" I said and raised a hand. Regor laughed and pushed my hand away, slapping me again.
"You will learn your place, cunt!" he reminded me. "You are not a Queen. You are mine. My slut! My personal plaything."
Before I could compose myself Regor pulled his leg back and kicked me in the side. I felt my ribs crack and I cried out in pain. I could hear faint growls and howls from within the Thorn Manor.
"I told you," I reminded him. "I belong to Erik!" Power brewed within me and I gasped at the pain and burning sensation in my hands. I knew what was coming. I could feel it. I stood on my feet and looked at Regor who laughed. "What?" he taunted me. "What could you possibly do to me?"
I smirked and I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror across the room.
My eyes were glowing with fire and a bright orange aura was building around me. I watched Regor's face falter for a moment.
"What is this?" he demanded. "Aros said you were incompetent with your Powers!"
I smirked and held up a hand.
I watched as Regor was lifted off of his feet and he dangled in the air before me. I growled and clenched a fist. Regor let out a single, strained wail and then burst into flames.
Energy and power washed through me and I screamed as it all came to the surface. I watched everything around me burst into flames only this time, I was in control of it.
I looked to the closed door where I could smell Aros waiting.
Regor's remains, his ashes, spilled to the floor into a pile of dust and bone. The door before me burst open and Aros walked in with a dagger in his hand. "Fine... I will kill you myself then!"
Before he could do anything, I raised a hand and he went flying backward, through a window. A fierce scream left my lips and I dropped to the floor.
There were a rumble of growls and shouts as Drydalien soldiers rushed into the room.
"Queen Alexandra, are you hurt?" One of the guards offered me a silver cloak.
I shook my head and let them help me to my feet. Only I could not stand. One of the guards caught me and hoisted me up into his arms. "The Modori King-"
The guard nodded. "Is being released as we speak!" I nodded, no longer having the strength to keep my head up.
I leaned forward, my head glancing off of my shoulder. "Take me to him!"