Moonbloods season 2: The High Warlock's Queen

Consulted. (Unedited)

I jerked up from my sleep and glanced around. Sweat beaded my forehead and wet my back. Tears filled my eyes once more and I felt a sob hitch in my chest as I remembered where I was.
I'd almost forgotten.
Prince Knox' fortress in the desert wilds. A thriving, bustling city surrounded by an open, desert waste. Sweat dripped from my forehead, neck and shoulders as I shoved my light silk sheets away. The heat was unbearable, boiling my skin. I longed for the coldness of Vendera. And I yearned for Emris in a way I never would have thought.
Hali and Cienna were both tucked in the bed across from me, both of them sound asleep. Knox had gifted Cienna to me, as a possible marriage gift. Only he had never intended it to be for my wedding to Emris. Knox wanted me as his bride for himself. When I told him that I had already married Emris he did not seem happy. He peppered me with personal questions and demands of my relationship with Emris. I knew exactly what he was asking and I wasn't going to answer. Emirs and I  had hadn't yet been intimate with each other. Not really. When I stopped answering his questions he had stopped asking. Instead he of answering my questions, Knox insisted I learn my Subjects at Clurt. I need to know who is where when and why. Many of the Lords and Ladyes don't travel much. They either raise if their Lands or at Corut, like the Lady Drodic did. She resided in Negera Woods but also spent much of her time at Court.
"My Queen?"
I turned to look at Cienna, the black eyes, raven haired beauty who seemed to glow from with in. She had some type of Magic, I was sure of it, I just couldn't say what type. And I was positive she didn't know she possessed the gift either. Whatever it was. Knox had locked her up in here as well. No telling how much power was brewing under the surface. I still had a very hard time with it myself. I was so spent most of the time because of energy build up in my body that I didn't know what to do anymore.
I rolled my neck a little and cleared my throat, trying to focus.
"I'm fine, Cienna, go back to sleep," I told her. Cienna shoved her sheets aside and joined me at the window. "You are still trying to reach His Majesty's The King?"
I sighed and nodded. "If I train myself enough, I will be able to reach him."
I'd said the words now so many times that they had lost all meaning. It had been five days. Emris should have been here by now. I didn't understand why it was taking so long. Perhaps he didn't know where his brother was hiding out. This desert wasteland was the perfect place to hide. No one would think to look for me here.
"I told you it doesn't work like that," she reminded me and I turned to face the window once more. "It's been to long." Fear was bubbling in my belly again. "Emris should have been her by now."
Cienna nodded. "If I could help you I would -"
I shook my head. "Knox planned this with Graven Melbourne," I reminded her. "Knox told me so himself and then he locks you down here because you disagreed with him?" I shook my head.
"Sorry if I have a hard time believing you." I didn't trust her. I wanted to. Big my gut was telling me to keep her at arms length. She had been helpful when it came to teaching me what she knew of magic but I was even going over every word she had over and over again at the end of the night, looking for hidden messages, double meanings and phrases. So far I'd come up blank. I couldn't read Knox like I could Emris. I didn't know him like I knew my husband. My heart seared at the thought of him and my chest rippled in an odd, pleasurable pain. I missed him. I missed him dearly and it pained me physically to me parted from him.
"Cienna... when you fell for Knox, what was it like?"
She frowned. "I haven't felt that way about his Majesty for a long time-"
I shook my heard. "I'm sorry- I shouldn't have said anything."
Cienna shook her head. "It's fine, Nalia. It is but a memory now. Something I conjured in my mind." Cienna had confessed to me that she did in fact once love Prince Knox but after she birthed him a son, he hadn't touched or bed her since the birth of their son. He had g as much said two words to her when alone. He spent his nights away from her, leaving her alone I. Her chambers. Evidence of an affair with other Dark Fey eluded her.  Knox never really gave her reason to believe he cheated on her and she never found reason to believe he did. The fear had just always been there.
"I wish I could say it didn't hurt.... Knox, believe it or not is a loving Husband when he wishes to be."
I shook my head. "How old is your son?" I asked her in a low voice.
Cienna narrowed her eyes at me. "He is seven," she said and crossed her arms. "Knox has what he wants from me. He just doesn't want the repercussions of having murdered his Mutt wife. Bad for politics."
I wrinkled my nose. "Politics are messy-"
"Be happy you won't have to mess with that much once Emris comes into power."
I shook my head. "What are you talking about?" I asked her.
"Well, Emris is King and your are his Queen but in name only."
I shook my head. "What does that mean?" I asked her. It couldn't mean what I thought it did? Did it?
Cienna shuffled uneasily beside me. "It is what it says," your Majesty."
Before the I could demand an answer from her, the door to my left opened and Lnox walked in.
"Good, you are awake," he mused as he waved a handful of maids into the room. "Emris is on his way to retrieve you," he said. The serving girls, dressed in transparent dresses and fine silks, stripped my bed and pulled the long sleeved summer gown from the dresser by the window. Knox narrowed his eyes at me and then back at the lavender colored dress that was spread acoss the bed.
"I implore you once more,  Princess, you should reconsider-"
"Stop it!" I snapped at him. "And it's Queen Nalia now. You knew Emris was coming for me. He is on his way-"
Knox laughed at me. "Do you really think you can stop me from getting a few drops of your blood?" he mused as he tugged a dagger from his belt.
I smirked. "No, but I can assure you any harm that come to me, Emris will unleash upon you tenfold!"
"Oh, I am sure he will!" Knox chuckled at me as he crossed his arms. We stared at each other. "Very well... attended one last meeting with me then, as my sister in law and new Queen. And my Lady Cienna needs all the training she can get."
I raised an eyebrow. "I already told you, Lady Cienna is welcome to remain at Court."
Knox scowled at me. "She is my wife," he reminded me. "Why should she attend court when she already has a Husband?"
I sighed and shook my head. Knox had been very clear that he didn't want Cienna at Court but had been tight lipped on why. The reason that she was already wed seemed to matter little to him.
"It's a matter of education, Lord Knox, and I think she would benefit greatly from it."
He glowered at me. "Perhaps the desert heat is getting to you, Your Majesty, but I remain firm in my decision for the Lady Cienna to remain here."
I clasp my hands before me. It's not like I could force them. I knew Knox wouldn't follow my authority. The authority of a woman. "Very well," I said and nodded to Cienna. "Know you are welcome anytime, the both of you."
Knox turned and headed for the door. "Do no fool yourself into thinking my brother will be anything but angry when he arrives. He may even try to kill me."
I felt my heart sink. That couldn't happen. Knox had told me that a Priest in his Temple back in Star Hill had found a way to know if I am immortal. All they needed was a few drops of blood. But I wasn't fool. I know blood magic was powerful and dangerous and even deadly if you didn't understand it. There was no controling it. I my by learning to channel the think wen that rippled between life and death. It was extreme Necromancy and not easily explained or learned. One of the many things I'd  read in the deep libraries in the Halls of the Vendera Citadel when Emris was out roaming the woods hunting and patrolling his boarders.
I didn't trust Knox and I wasn't anywhere close to where I needed to be in to even considered trying that kind of Magic.
"I understand your eagerness, Prince Knox, however I do not trust it. Or you, for that matter."
"Yet you haven't made a single attempt to flee or even overpower me. If you are truly a Moonblood, you are even more powerful then Emris himself. He will not take to that kindly."
I smirked and remembered how Emris had said he saw me as a head strong and powerful Queen. Knox didn't know what he was talking about.
"You are mistaken," I assured him. "You had me kidnapped from my home and brought out here to Gods knows where!?"
Knox smirked at me. "I'll admit I went about it the wrong way. Not that you would have come willingly-"
I scoffed. "Willingly sail off to who knows where for a blood test for something that may not even work?" I demanded outraged. "I would have said no! And the King would have said no-"
Knox scoffed and waved his hand. "My brother is wise beyond his years and would make a fine ruler for a generation that wasn't about to go to war-"
I shook my head. "What are you talking about?" I demanded.
Knox glanced at Niko. "When you return to Vendera you should insist on sitting in on a council meeting. See what your subjects are up to."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why should I believe anything you say?" I demanded. "You did kidnap me, after all."
Knox pursed his lips. "My Queen," he dropped his gaze and bowed before me after a moments pause. "You are free to go. I apologize for any inconveniences I may have cause you." Knox straightened himself. "I humbly offer you my services."
I raised and eyebrow at him. "Your services?" I echoed. "You insult me upon our first meeting, have me kidnapped and thrown onto a slaver ship- which by the way, you should be ashamed of, Lord Knox-"
He cleared his throat, cutting me off mid rant. It was purpose for me to shut my mouth now. What had I just beeen rambling? Like I could really stop Knox if I wanted to.
"I do apologize, My Queen, I was just very eager to offer you this information. I may have been overwhelmed by my ambition."
I sighed. "I want to go home," I instead. "Can you manage that?"
Knox straightened himself and offered me a small smile.
"Consider it done, my Queen," he said and then pressed his lips together. I glanced at Niko and Hali who were both glowering at Knox.
"I will be along for the Council meeting in a moment."
Knox smiled a wide smile and closed the bedroom doors behind him. I turned to face my companions. "Before either of you speak a word-" I stopped and held up a finger when Niko opened his mouth. "Emris is on his way. I know he is." Hali shook her head at me. "How do you know?"
I glanced over my shoulder and then back. "My Mark burns when he is close- ... I just know. Just help me get dressed please, Hali."
Niko grabbed his cloak and retreated to the hallways, closing the door behind him. Hali hurried to the dresser and helped me dress in what I found to be a whores dress. It was skimpy and see through and I hated it. I knew Emris would not approve of this if he saw me in it.
"Isn't there anything else?" I demanded as I shuffled through the mess of silks and satins inside the drawers.
"There in the wedding dress-"
I nodded. "That will have to do," I said and walked to the walk in closet. Knox had had a dress made for me for my wedding. When I had told him I'd already had one, one that Emris liked, his face had turned sour and he he had ordered the maids to store it in the adjoining room. Hali pulled the navy blue  dress out, still attached to the mannequin. "Are you sure?"
I stared at the dress and nodded. We don't have a choice. Let's get this over with so we can go home," I said.