Tamlin: After the War

Chapter 11 - Kaira

Kaira stretched out her arms and legs, the enormous bed feeling empty without her mate. It had only been a few seconds since Tamlin left, but she felt the pull at her mind, at her soul, searching for him. She slipped her hand below the sheets, closed her eyes and thought of him and his sultry mouth.

She wondered whether he could feel her pleasure all the way in the Night Court.

She dragged herself out of bed and wandered into the kitchen, the female faerie, Muri was busy preparing her breakfast. Kaira greeted her happily, joining her side to wash some of the dishes, "My Lady, please sit down. I will bring you your breakfast in just a moment. Don't bother yourself with the dishes. Moti will get to it."

Moti, her brother, as if on cue, waltzed into the kitchen, a smile plastered on his face, "Good morning, my Lady."

Lady was still a term she was getting used to. She looked down at the ring, one of the treasures his mother kept in the basement. Tamlin had gifted it to her in the middle of the night, when he dragged her out of bed and made her his wife.

She sat down at the kitchen table, staring at the empty seat where her mate usually sat. It wasn't recommended that mates be separated this early into their mateship. She knew why. Every part of her screamed for him and she tried quieting it down, afraid it might alarm him and worry him.

After breakfast, she strolled into the library. She would bathe and clothe herself afterwards, she had absolutely nothing else planned for the day and her High Lord mentioned that he had acquired some new reading material for her.

The library was as she left it, except, on the desk lay the small leather notebook. The same notebook she had once seen him hide from her. Cautiously, she approached it. Unsure of whether he had left it out for her to see, or accidentally.

Gingerly, she ran her finger along the leather. Her curiosity pounding loudly in her ears. She lifted the cover. She would just take one peek. Just read one word. Just to see.

She lifted the cover and glanced down.

I knew you'd snoop. Keep going.

She giggled to herself, filled with pleasure at the thought of him.

She opened the notebook entirely.

There once was a girl who entered my life
She was small, quick and skilled with a knife
My love is beyond measure
Dedicated to her pleasure
As soon as I could, I had to make her my wife

"Ha, I made you my husband, you asshole." She laughed out loud, her cheeks flushed at the thought of her big beast sitting down and writing this. At the thought of him knowing she'd read it.

There was screaming coming down from the kitchen. Muri was screaming. Kaira rushed downstairs, tucking her dagger beneath her gown. Quietly, she peeked into the kitchen. The floor was covered in blood, her breath caught in her throat.

"Where is she?" she heard someone, a male aggressively shout. "Where is Kaira?"

"I'd rather die." Moti whispered before screaming, his screams drowned out by that of his sister.

"Stop!" Kaira shouted as she entered the kitchen. Moti was lying on the ground, the blood belonged to him, streaming out of an open wound as the male hovered over him with a knife to his neck. Another male leaned over Muri, ripping her skirt upward. Kaira recognised the look in his eyes, she knew what he'd do to her.

Muri stared at Kaira, her eyes wide with fear, "Run, my Lady!"

Kaira recognised the male's insignia. He was from the Court of Nightmares. He was here for her. "Let them go and I will come willingly." her heart was pounding in her chest as she watched the life drain out of Moti. "If you continue hurting them, I will run, and I will escape and you'll go back to your king empty handed. Your choice."

The male stood up, a cruel smile spread across his face, "I do love a game of catch."

"Do you enjoy it as much if you lose?" Kaira countered.

The male stepped towards Kaira but was stopped by the other whispering something. They released Moti and Muri, grabbed Kaira and winnowed.

To Hewn City.

To Keir's palace.

Kaira stood in front of Keir on his throne as she had done many times before. Bile traveling up her throat.

"My pet."

"Fuck off." Kaira snapped.

"You seem to have made yourself quite valuable to the High Lord of Spring, which makes you even more valuable to me."

She didn't need to look around to know where the exits were. She spent countless nights mapping the palace, planning escapes. Escapes that almost always got her caught and then punished. Punished by the male who sat in front of her.

And now she was back. Trapped. As she was for so many years and she heard her mother tell her again.

No one is coming.