12. LONNIE

12

LONNIE

THE GROUNDS OF THE OBSIDIAN PALACE, EVERLAST CITY

I f I'd thought I'd have time to talk Ambrose out of the coronation, I was woefully and painfully wrong.

I assumed it would take weeks if not months to plan an event of that scale, but I'd wildly underestimated both Ambrose's determination for the coronation to succeed, and the staff's ability to make a party appear at barely a moment's notice.

Therefore it was only two days later when I walked down the castle steps toward the lit clearing on the edge of the woods with all the enthusiasm of a prisoner approaching the gallows. It felt similar to the time I'd had to walk down to nearly the exact same spot before the first hunt. Except this time, I didn't have Bael there to protect me.

Arriving with Bael was out of the question. Partly because no one had yet forgotten that he'd paraded me around like a pet during the hunting season, and partly because he had a well-earned reputation as being both terrifyingly dangerous, and something of a drunken slut who had fucked his way through every tavern in the capital.

I'd assumed, therefore, that they'd want me to walk in with Scion, who might have been feared by every man woman and child on the continent, but at least held on to some princely refinement in public.

Again, I was wrong.

Evidently, everything that had ever been said about Bael could also be said about Scion ten times over, with the added issue that he'd killed literally thousands at the behest of Queen Celia.

I'd suggested, entirely seriously, that we should be honest and the three of us should enter together. Unfortunately, I'd been shut down once more. Apparently I didn't want to give myself the reputation of being dangerous, murderous and unstable–no matter how accurate that perception might be.

In the end, we'd all agreed that it would be best for me to be seen arriving at the party alone. We might have been doing this for the sake of the curse, but there was some political benefit as well which could easily be ruined by a single wrong step.

I wasn't sure when I started understanding or caring about political nuance, but for once, I wasn't complaining.

As I no longer had a dedicated maid, and I couldn't bring myself to choose one from the mishmash of rebels and former palace staff who'd lived through the attack on the castle, I dressed myself in a plum purple gown that was both easy enough to put on without help and elegant enough for the occasion. The soft fabric draped effortlessly over my hips, and the intricate design of the bodice hugged my figure in all the right places. Its flowing skirt cascaded down to the ground, rustling with each step I took.

As I walked down the winding path towards the clearing, the distant sound of laughter and music grew louder. The forest around me was alive with fireflies and will-o-wisps, their glowing bodies creating a soft, ethereal light. Dozens of colorful tents dotted the area, each one adorned with intricate patterns and glowing from within.. The sound of fiddle music filled my ears, accompanied by the occasional burst of laughter and chatter from the party-goers.

Suddenly, I was hit with the strongest sense of deja-vu.

I held my breath for a moment, fearful that the music would cause me to sway on my feet or forget where I was going, yet nothing happened.

I supposed that was yet another thing to have been changed by my magic. I was no longer susceptible to fairy music—or perhaps, I was finally hearing it as it was meant to be enjoyed.

I made my way into the clearing, nodding and greeting anyone who caught my eye. The party was a sea of dazzling faeries, their ethereal beauty enhanced by the flickering lights and lively music. I wondered briefly who they all were. The castle had been mostly empty for weeks–but then, I supposed that the nobles of the high fae didn't live within the castle. These were the same city-dwelling nobles who I'd once been terrified to draw the attention of.

Now, as I strolled through the crowd, many of them bowed or curtsied at my passing. I scanned every face, looking for anyone I remembered, but I didn't see anyone who had ever been rude to me in the past, or went out of their way to terrorize me. It was for the best, I supposed. I was supposed to be cultivating an image of stability, not picking fights with the courtiers.

I kept walking through the crowd, searching for Bael or Scion, or even Ambrose. In the center of the clearing, I passed by a large raised platform, and looked up at it, startled. The obsidian throne stood upon it, looking dark and menacing in the flickering light from all the wisps and candles.

I'd only seen the throne outside the castle once before, and on that occasion it had been Penvalle who sat atop it. A tiny shiver crawled down my spine, like insects, and I quickly turned my back on the throne.

As I turned, I finally caught sight of a familiar golden tent. My smile widened into a grin, and I made a beeline toward the entrance.

Suddenly an idea occurred to me, and I reached out a hand to stop a passing servant. "Excuse me."

The girl jumped in surprise. She turned around, her blonde hair falling out of its bun, and her eyes widened with nervousness when she saw me. I wanted to tell her that she needn't bother with formality, but decided it wasn't worth the time it would take to convince her. I'd be gone soon enough, anyway.

I pointed at the jug in her arms. "Is that wine?"

"Yes, my lady."

"May I have it?"

She looked slightly confused, but thrust it at me anyway. "Of course, my lady."

I thanked her and marched toward the golden tent, my jug held out in front of me.

As I stepped inside the tent, the familiar sight of silk cushions and blankets covering the ground greeted me, along with trays upon trays heaped with an array of delectable foods. The air was filled with the rich aromas of spices and roasted meats, making my stomach grumble in anticipation. The flickering light from low hanging paper lanterns cast the entire space in a glow.

The only differences from the last time I'd carried wine into this tent were the people inside. Instead of the beautiful courtiers and half-naked dancers that had once lounged upon the cushions, there was only Scion, and a handful of nameless Seelie nobles.

As I approached, Scion looked up from his conversation. He's been chatting idly with a male I thought I might have seen around the castle once or twice, but stopped mid-word the moment he saw me.

I made a small bow, fixing him with a teasing smile. "Good evening, my lord."

Just as I'd hoped he would, he jumped to his feet to meet me.

With a wicked smirk, I deliberately stumbled over my own feet and dropped the jug.

It spilled across the ground, splashing Scion's expensive shoes. For a long moment he simply stared at me, seeming frozen to the spot. As he continued to stare, my confidence weakened and for a brief moment I feared I'd made a mistake.

Then, he blinked, and his eyes darkened with desire and hunger. I barely had time to register the change before his hand shot out and grabbed my upper arm in a vice-like grip and tugged me with him into the darkness.

A moment of dark disorientation later, we stepped out of the shadows onto a vaguely familiar stone balcony.

It was an open air terrace meant for gazing out over the grounds, and was probably no wider across than the average bathing room. The dark stone wall of the castle rose behind us, providing some protection from the wind. Even so. The air was slightly crisp because we were so high off the ground. Over the wind and the sounds of crickets chirping in the distance I could still hear the music and laughter from the party below.

I peered over the stone railing, and my head swum for a moment. The tiny people on the ground looked like nothing more than insects, the colorful tents like postage stamps standing out against the dark lawn.

I turned back around and leaned against the railing, smirking at Scion. "This is nice, but I must admit I'm confused. Is this really the moment to admire the view."

He took a step closer, looming over me. His lip curled in the ghost of a sneer. When he spoke however, his voice was soft. Coaxing. "What were you hoping to accomplish with that little stunt, rebel? Do you simply enjoy provoking me?"

"Always," I breathed.

He growled low in his throat, and his hand shot out to grip my hair tightly forcing my face up so I couldn't look away from his captivating eyes. He must have seen something in my expression that he didn't like—or maybe liked too much—because his fingers tightened, all but yanking my hair out by the root.

"Did you want all those people to see me punish you? Maybe you want me to make you get on your knees to lick my boots in front of all those people?"

I shrugged, feigning disinterest. "You couldn't force me to do anything I don't want to do, even if you tried," I hissed.

"True." His eyes lit up and his mouth curved into a satisfied smile. "But I think you'd want me to. I could have fucked your mouth right there and you would have loved it."

I let out an involuntary whimper and Scion grinned like a wolf flashing its jaws to its prey.

"Why didn't you?" I gasped.

"I didn't want an audience for this."

Unbidden, my mind conjured up the memory of the time he'd watched me across the lawn while some fae woman knelt between his legs openly sucking his cock. The thought of it sent a tiny spark of anger through me. "Really? As I recall, you don't mind an audience, my lord."

His eyes flashed, and I was sure he knew exactly where my memory had gone. "Were you jealous, rebel?"

"Of you?" I scoffed. "Hardly. I didn't think she was that pretty, personally."

He laughed darkly before reaching down and gripping my chin forcing my face up to meet his gaze. "With you, there will never be an audience, because you're mine and I'd kill anyone who so much as looked at you."

He yanked me forward, using the hand in my hair to push me down to my knees on the cold stone floor of the balcony. Something low in my stomach clenched in anticipation.

I knew we were playing a game—that he wouldn't really hurt me—but some dark part of me hoped he might try. Afterall some pain could be fun, even life-affirming, and Scion knew more about how to cause pain than any other being on this continent.

I rose up on my knees, the cool leather of his belt brushing against my fingers as I inched forward. My hands trembled slightly as I reached for his waistband, feeling the warmth radiating from his body. With careful precision, I undid his belt and unbuttoned his pants, my heart racing with anticipation. As I snaked my hand inside, I could feel his thick cock pulsating with desire. Scion let out a low growl and his grip on my hair tightened when I ran the nail of my thumb over the sensitive head.

"Stop playing," he growled.

A smile curved my lips as I freed his cock from his pants, finding him already hard and ready for me. I leaned forward to replace my fingers with my mouth. I ran my tongue up his length, savoring the taste of him and relishing in the way he responded to my touch. Taking him fully into my mouth, I swirled my tongue around him, feeling him grow even harder with each passing moment.

I leaned back on my heels and took him out of my mouth just far enough to speak. I looked up at him through my lashes. "Is this supposed to be you punishing me?"

He looked down at me through a mixture of lust and defiance.

I drew in a sharp intake of breath as something soft and light brushed over my core, sending a spark of pleasure through me.

"What was-" I looked down and broke off, realizing that there were dark shadows swirling along the ground and all around where I knelt.

I gasped again, and it turned into a moan when again a feather light touch danced over my most sensitive skin. It felt like warm breath, but somehow more solid. As if he'd taken a paintbrush and lightly stroked my clit.

The shadows moved higher, covering my entire body and brushing against my neck, down my chest and over my tight nipples. My pulse quickened, my entire body coming alive as goosebumps erupted over my entire body and I felt myself growing wet between my thighs.

Then without warning, a tiny spark of pain lashed me, adding a small jolt of electricity to the stroking shadows.

I went back to teasing his cock, determined to give back just as much pleasurable torment as I was receiving.

Scion pushed my hair back from my face with his real hands, while his shadowy fingers danced over my skin, stroking and pinching every inch of my body. Pleasure and sensation poured over me, until I wanted to climb out of my own skin just to escape the exquisite pleasure of it.

"Look at me," he commanded, his voice shaking with authority as well as the effort to control himself.

I looked up, meeting his gaze as I sucked him deeper into the back of my throat.

Scion swore, and titled his head back groaning with pleasure. Then, abruptly he pulled back "You've got to stop that, rebel, or I'll come and I'm not nearly ready to be done with you yet."

Yanking me to my feet, Scion backed me toward the railing of the balcony. I glanced back once, feeling just slightly nervous as he lifted me until my ass was positioned firmly on the railing.

"Lean back," he said roughly.

I gave him an odd look. There was nothing behind me except open air and a fall that would undoubtedly shatter every bone in my body.

Scion's gaze flicked behind me, and smirked. "Trust me."

To illustrate his point, I felt the air behind me thicken. The shadows wrapped around me, cradling my body and preventing me from falling.

He slowly pushed my skirt up my thighs, then reached underneath the fabric and dragged his fingers over my throbbing core. With a smirk, he brought his fingers to his mouth and sucked. "You taste so fucking perfect, rebel."

He bent down, his strong arms lifting my legs and draping them over his broad shoulders, and pressed his mouth to my core.

My back bowed against the wall of shadows, and my eyes fluttered closed. Dear Gods.

He licked me slowly, sending shivers of electricity through my body. The sensation was overwhelming, each stroke of his tongue igniting sparks of pleasure within me. I could feel the heat building inside me and I moaned and writhed against the wall of shadows, my fingers tangling in Scion's hair as he continued to pleasure me with his mouth. The sensations were overwhelming, each stroke of his tongue igniting sparks of pleasure within me.

My back arched off the railing as I felt myself getting closer to the edge. Scion's hands gripped my hips, keeping me steady as he continued to devour me with his mouth.

"Let go, rebel," he growled against my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

And with one final flick of his tongue, I did just that. My body exploded in a wave of pleasure, my release crashing over me like a tidal wave. I cried out his name as I rode the waves, and Scion held me tight as I slowly came back down from my high.

He stood straight again, looking down at me with a predatory hunger in his silver eyes.

Without asking or waiting for me to recover, he reached out and tore the top of my dress down exposing my breast. His touch was electrifying as he trailed kisses down my neck and chest. He took my nipple into his mouth, his tongue rolling over it just as he'd done moments before. Every inch of my body felt alive under his touch, begging for more.

I wrapped my legs around him and pressed closer, grinding against him.

With a fierce growl, he released his grip on me and pulled me forcefully down from the railing. My feet stumbled against the ground as he spun me around, positioning me so that I was leaning over the edge of the railing, peering down at the dizzying drop below. The wind whipped through my hair and torn dress, grazing over my exposed skin and hardening my nipples.

Knowing exactly what he wanted, I pressed my ass against him. He pushed up my skirt and without any warning slammed every inch of his cock inside me.

I moaned as he filled me. My body instinctively arched towards him as he thrust in, filling me completely and causing my breath to catch in my throat. The sensation was overwhelming and I couldn't help but moan as he continued to drive himself into me with powerful, rhythmic movements.

Scion's thrusts were relentless, each one sending me closer to the edge of ecstasy. I gripped onto the railing for support as he pounded into me from behind, his movements becoming more urgent and animalistic.

I could feel my entire body humming with pleasure, my senses heightened by the rush of adrenaline and danger. With each thrust, I felt myself getting closer to a peak that I didn't want to come down from.

My stomach muscles tightened, but just as I was on the brink of release, Scion abruptly pulled out and turned me around. He lifted me up and carried me over to the adjacent castle wall, pressing my back against it and positioning my legs so that they were wrapped around his waist.

He kissed me fiercely, his hands roaming over my body as he held me against him. My heart thundered in my ears and the rough stone wall scraped against my back, but I hardly noticed.

Pulling back from the kiss, Scion looked me in the eye before deliberately bending to drag his tongue over the scar on my neck where he'd claimed me long before either of us really knew what that meant.

"Do you regret this?" he asked suddenly.

I looked at him sharply. "What? Why would you ask that?"

"You didn't have much of a choice. If you'd been able to choose, would you have let me claim you?'

I glared at him, almost angrily. In answer, I leaned forward and sank my teeth into his skin with all the force I could muster. A metallic tang filled my mouth as blood gushed between my teeth, carrying with it his raw power and unbridled desire. I could feel his body tense, before he entered me again, this time with a slow and steady pace that had me gasping for breath.

I could feel the heat building inside me once again, and this time I knew there was no holding back. I dug my fingers into his skin as he thrust into me deeper and harder, our moans loud enough that I was sure the entire court could hear us far down below.

With one final thrust from Scion, I cried out his name as waves of pleasure crashed over me. He followed soon after, burying his face in my neck as he rode out his own release.

"I love you," I said, feeling as if perhaps he needed to hear it.

"I used to feel as if I was sleep-walking through life. I didn't even fucking realize how numb I was until you woke me up." He shook his head, and looked up to meet my gaze, trapping me with his intense silver stare. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to be entirely happy in the way that others are. Maybe I'm still half asleep. But if so, I'm the luckiest bastard alive because that means I get to dream of you."