Jupiter Rising

Chapter Twenty Five- Hes already here (end of part one)

The hours that followed the return from the tunnels were filled with meetings with the council, and letter writing to the Kingdoms. I wanted so desperately to spend quality time with my wife and daughters. Andy had taken the girls to play in the Oaks private grounds in the forest behind us. She had Sycamore, Eris, Willow, and her Mother for company, among a hundred guard. I still had to deal with Cassiopeia, but for now I was letting it go. I had bigger fish to fry.

My letter to the Queens was to announce Princess Mirren's safe return, and the information we had gathered thus far on the Gloam. I told them of the tunnels and how they no longer exist, and I warned them of an imminent attack, one sparked by the Gloams infuriation he would feel after I destroyed something he had no doubt taken an age to build. Princess Emerald was still missing and captive, but Mirren was working with her fallen on a location for Gloam, for she now knew it first hand.

Mirren sent me a letter this early afternoon, arrived with her messenger personally. She apologised for how things ended in the tunnels, and asked if she would be allowed entry to Olamoore if she would come. I knew Andy wouldn't allow her, and it would be unwise to allow a member of Thistle into our heart, when we were still unsure of our allies. I couldn't trust Mirren, not yet, after all she had tried to have Andy poison me not too long ago. Although her desire to protect my daughter was welcomed, it was making me feel anxious. Why did Mirren have such an intense need to protect Jupiter, when she didn't even know her?! Andy and I could protect our children. My need to do just that, had me double down on our boarders, not a Fae was to come and go, and our paths to the Kingdoms were to be closed off. I thought it wise to have the Queens communicate via our messengers, so that we could keep boarders closed, and rely on the skies.

By the afternoon I had collapsed in my chambers,  whilst Robin and Cricket undressed me like a large rag doll as I lay haphazardly on my bed.

"You are dead weight" Cricket groaned as she tried to lift my arms.

The dress was shimmied down my shoulders, revealing my flesh as it slipped away. I felt Robin clamber up my back, her fingers moving over my shoulder to my neck.

Robin gasped "You got hurt... bad" she observed worriedly, touching the red and painful flesh, the wounds new.

I opened my eyes and glanced back over my shoulder to see them. "Oh yes" I murmured, slumping back down and closing them once more.

"It needs a healer... is it a knife wound from combat?!"

My lips squished against my pillow as I reluctantly answered "no"

"Then what?!"Cricked asked.

"Andy and I ... Reconnected" I explained begrudgingly.

"Ewww" they both cried.

Andy I had feared would be in agony from it too, having only just had Leda and still feeling weak from her delivery, but my Mate from the outside, appeared fine. I, as the receiver, seemed to come off worse.

"Well..." Robin sighed "I will say it again...can she not have you without harming you?!"

I sat up slowly and rubbed at my eyes, they were full of sleep. "Where would the fun be in that?!"

"You need to sleep" Cricket scorned "stand up and let us get this thing off" she ordered "and then sleep for the day ... for the love of Fae"

I did as I was told, standing and allowing them room to remove my corset and my garments. The second they fell from my skin, my entire body glowed to be freed. The release of one's breasts after a long day in tight confines, it was a pleasure no man could ever imagine. Bliss. My whimper of pleasure gave me away.