GOLDEN STRINGS

CHAPTER SIX

THE DAWN COURT

The High Lords of Prythian painted a handsome picture gathered around a glittering pond. The Ladies and Lords of the Courts were seated beside their mates or husbands or lovers. They were flanked by their sentinels and generals and advisors.

The atmosphere was thick in the air, almost choking. The threat of war was suddenly confrontational.

It had been hours, but Kore remained seated beside her mate, stoically listening to the High Lords of Prythian argue like a bunch of children.

Her mate sighed. She felt his frustration through the bond, those golden strings that she'd always cherished pulled tight.

Aidoneus snapped at the High Lord of Spring.

The High Lord snapped back.

Kore locked eyes with the Lady of the Spring Court.

For a second some sort of recognition passed between the two ladies.

Then Rosalyn smiled, kindly. The corner of Kore's mouth lifted.

"What the hell are you laughing at, you half-breed mongrel?" The High Lord of Spring lunged forward, the cursing he directed at Kore made the Lady of the Autumn Court gasp.

In a matter of moments the High Lord of the Spring Court was pinned to the marble floor of the conference room by two shadow beasts; their fangs flashing angrily.

Her mate hadn't even moved. Yet everyone in the room knew to whom that power belonged.

Kore looked worriedly at Rosalyn, but if she felt anything by the possibility of her mate's imminent death she did not show it. The Lady of the Night Court glanced around the room, she could almost smell their fear. If Aidoneus continued like that, he'd never rally any allies for the war.

Kore reached for his hand with hers. His fingers were fisted tightly, but they relaxed at her touch.

"Let him go, my heart." She whispered, knowing that everyone could hear their words in the blooming silence. "The smallest dogs always bark the loudest."

Aidoneus threaded his fingers with hers.

"Be grateful for my mate's generosity, you Hybern-loving-cunt," Aidoneus said.

Kore squeezed his hand in thanks.

They did not let go for the rest of the meeting.

For now, all the High Lord of the Spring Court could do was glare and plot.

#

Aidoneus headed for a bath as soon as they'd returned to their designated quarters. Kore was silently pacing in front of the bed.

When he'd come to retrieve her for Illyria, he had only frowned as she simply told him that Cassian and Azriel would be coming with them. He'd barely spoken to her in the week since, and now here they were.

Kore marched suddenly into the bathing chamber. Aidoneus looked up from the bath. Kore's breath catched at the sight of his naked wet chest.

"Are you alright-"

"No." She snapped. "Do I look alright?"

"Kore-" he made to rise.

"Sit down!" Kore snapped at him and made quick work of her dress.

She climbed into the bath, naked, careful of her wings and settled atop his thighs. His violet eyes gazed at her, surprise and yearning.

Kore leaned over and kissed him. He slid further down the bath, and water sloshed over the rim. Kore gripped the edge for balance, her wings tucked in painfully tight.

She bit his lip, angry and still always wanting him. He breathed heavily in her mouth. Kore crawled further up his lap, her legs on either side of him. His hand had already reached between their wet bodies to guide his cock into her warmth.

Kore barely waited for the pain of his size to settle before she started moving on him, gripping the rim of the bathtub for dear life.

Aidoneus palmed her breasts as she moved sloppily on top of him, he reached for her shoulders, and then over to her wings. He drove her wild with desire, his hands traveling down her spine, settling on her ass, moving her over him.

"Ah!" Kore yelped as he smacked her ass.

He must have felt her delighted surprise through the bond between them.

Aidoneus spanked her again. And again.

Her cheeks were aflame as she climaxed. He jerked helplessly inside of her, his breathing ragged.

Kore fell limply against his chest. The pleasure ebbing away, and grief choking her. She frowned as she placed a palm on his chest and looked up.

"Why are you upset?" She asked, realizing that the grief was his, and it had spilled from his end of the golden strings onto hers.

Aidoneus swallowed. "We should not have done this. Not back at the cabin and not now. I should have controlled myself-"

"Do you deny me then, Aidoneus?" Words she'd asked him long ago.

"Kore." He said defeated. "Never, but-"

"But what?"

"But I cannot stand the thought of you hating me." He whispered, his eyes avoidant.

"What are you talking about-"

"You blame me." Aidoneus said firmly. "For Orion and Nyx. And you have every right to do so, but it still fucking hurts."

Kore shook her head, it had been so long since anyone had said their names out loud. "I do not blame you for their deaths."

Aidoneus looked at her, violet eyes wide.

"I blame you for not believing me." Kore clarified. "I knew it. I knew they would not live. I saw it."

"Kore-"

"You do not believe me still," Kore laughed through her sobs, "but I can prove it to you."

"What?"

"We are to have another child."

Aidoneus sat up suddenly, unsettling the bathwater. "Are you with child, Kore?"

Kore shook her head. "Not yet. But I shall be, very soon, and it will be a girl."

"A daughter?" Her mate leaned forward, his fingers shaking around her.

"Will she-" Aidoneus swallowed. "Kore, I cannot-"

Kore gave him time, for she knew that despite his education, he felt most comfortable in silence, and words sometimes left him abruptly.

"Will our daughter live?" He asked at last.

"Yes." Kore said.

A truth and a lie in one.