Chapter 4

“… I ’ve been waiting for you,” I whispered as he kissed the fleshy skin between my neck and my shoulder. That part always made my back arch, causing me to whimper his name—or the name I dedicated to him, Red, since every dream started from this point. With the view of his copper-colored ringlets as they burned a trail down to my dripping core. His face was shrouded in mystery except for the soft, wet trail of kisses and his muscular scarlet-hued arms.

“Red… please,” I begged, as the lines between sanity and insanity blurred. The burning sensation that steered itself from my chest pooled in my stomach, making me delirious. His mouth was an inferno as it wrapped around the tightened peak of my nipple while his other cerise hand ran down the soft curvature of my belly. His touch felt like a heated feather as it roamed over the soft brown curls on my mound. One of his fingers found my inundated lips that waited for his touch. Slipping a long finger into me as his tongue abandoned my achy nipple, he dragged it to its neglected twin. I think this is what my curse of glut must be. A long punishment as this man—or whatever he may be, tortured me with his slow, meticulous fingers that dipped inside of me. For what I was being punished for, I hadn’t the slightest clue.

I opened my mouth to yell his given nickname, but nothing came out but a pleading cry as he pinched my little tender clit between my nether lips.

YOUNA! I cried out shamefully.

My mind was murky as my auburn-headed lover, Red, placed his fiery face over my plump pussy mound, inhaling my scent. The heat in my lower stomach pooled into my pussy as he continued to tear me apart mercilessly with his thick fingers. My bed was damp underneath my body. There’s no hope for these thin white sheets. His face was nose deep in my pussy as he moaned, lapping at my juices from mylips. He sounded needy and almost demonic. The noise hit a nerve in me as I arched for him. If he didn't stop playing with me, I would die right here in my dreams.

I couldn’t take it anymore as he rubbed his face against my soaking pussy. Didn’t he know I wanted him to play with my pussy, not on top of it. I reached to push him lower, and, like every time since these dreams had started, my hand glided through him. My red-haired mystery man could touch me, but not vice versa. A frustrated moan fell from my lips because I wanted more. But I couldn’t, so I pushed myself against him until he got the message.

That wicked mouth of his captured my swollen clit, and I levitated off the bed, planting my feet and lifting my pelvis. I’d gone mad. I thought I heard him calling my name, but that would be a first. He added another finger to my greedy little pussy as he bit and teased the swollen bud. What else could I do but cling to the dampened sheets as I contorted and shuddered? Another free finger that played in my wetness slipped into my forbidden area as he called my name in a panic voice. That was all it took to send me to the edge of the cliff…If he can just keep going, maybe I can…

“WAKE UP, KD!” Del whispered shout. I jolted, waking to Del standing over me. Her small hands were on my shoulder as she held me, shaking me as she tried to turn my brain into an omelet until I woke up.

“I’m up, Del! If you sway me anymore, I’ll be comatose.”

She gave me a pathetic smile and said, “We’re not human, so that’s not possible.” She wiped her hand off on the dry part of my sheets. “Why are you so wet? Were you having a nightmare?”

I rolled my eyes at her, but before I could tell her to give me a minute, Del threw the sheets off my slick body. My white nightgown was bunched up at my stomach, dampened with sweat, and my fingers were still deep inside my wet cunt. The throbbing, aching feeling had tampered down to a dull thud but never satiated. The luck of the unmated psycho, I guess.

“Oh,” Del said. Her blue eyes roamed my body as her gaze dropped to my fingers.

Del had seen me naked countless times before and caught me masturbating, but we never talked about it because she thought it was useless for me to touch myself since I couldn’t have an orgasm without my fated mate.

“ Nothing beats the real thing,” she would say afterward.

How does she know what the “real” thing feels like if she’s in the same boat as I am? Del didn’t have to spend countless nights wondering how it would feel to have the release my high-strung body needed. I could only thank the goddesses who made sure their descendants couldn’t enjoy the highs of sex with just any random witch. Just thinking about it made me roll my eyes.

I quickly pulled the two fingers out of me, fisting the wet hand, and got up from the wet bed. My face was asfiery as the Texas sun was in August. Del stood there. Her eyes glued to my breasts. I’m sure she could see right through the gown. I gathered the sheets from the bed and dumped them into the corner. Del's face was the same color as her ruby dress.

“Are you okay, Del?” I’m not sure what’s going on with her.

“I-I’m good.” She cleared her throat and turned to my little desk in the corner. “Seems you were good…I guess.”

“Yeah, I guess…it sucks to be twenty-five and still mateless. On top of that, my fingers don’t even scratch the stupid itch.” A sad giggle left my mouth as I imagined every royal had found their mate at thirteen, which was early enough to enjoy their life together before the bonding ceremony.

“Have you ever thought maybe your mate is um...” Del rubbed her hands up and down her thighs, which meant she was going to say something ridiculous. “Maybe they’re mermaids.”

Del’s smile flattered when she saw the appalled look on my face. She knew better than I did that being mated to a mixling or another supernatural was like disowning our coven. In my mind, I knew she meant well. Del never wished ill on me, but the thought of being mated to another supernatural being that wasn’t a witch made the hairs on my arms stand. My hand shook while I scratched my wrist.

“Well…I…I mean, it would be better than a wolf!”

I stood rooted to the spot in front of Del. My mouth dangled open as I wondered if my best friend had lost every bit of common sense she had. Being mated to a wolf was almost akin to turning your back on your coven. That would be the last thing I needed. There were whispers and stares that made the hair on my arms stand. Some days when I walked into Tou-sin and wanted to scream at the top of my lungs that I knew I was cursed. But I stayed up all night thinking about my misfortune. My room was hazy, with my magic covering the entire area. Fine sheen lined Del’s forehead before she took her hand and wiped the salty sweat away.

“Are you mad? I think you may have transported your brain to one of your pigs on the farm.”

Just the thought of that possibility was absurd.

“Well, wouldn’t it be better than going demented? Or being alone? I mean, how can you cheat fate?”

“My goddess! Fate be damned. Del, you have said some stupid shit before, but this…” I shook my head and fold my arms across my chest. “I would rather go mad than lie with a dog or a fish!”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. Honestly, it was the first thing I thought of when I saw you…I just…it would beat masturbating without an orgasm,” Del said sheepishly.

I couldn’t help but squirm under her watchful eyes.

How embarrassing? How could I explain to my best friend that some figment of my imagination evaded my dreams every Friday night for the past year? I was pathetic. Maybe my parents were right to be worried about me. Maybe my ancestor pissed off the other goddess, and now they seek to take their revenge out on me.

“Quit living in your head,” Del said as she gazed at me. Her face was still scarlet as she sat on my now bare bed. The red sleeveless flapper dress showed off her freckled back. Her usual braided hair was out and in a low bun with silver trinkets in her hair.

“Anyway, go get washed up, and let’s forget about this conversation. We’re going out!”

“No, Del. I can’t get into trouble again.”

It had been two weeks since my mother confiscated my canvases and my book. Since then, I had been on the straight and narrow. No wondering out. No sneaky side remarks. As I tried to be the best Thibodeaux princess, I could be. I attended meetings, hearing hours and hours of coven squabble about the desire to control more land than they needed and what supernatural being crossed them that week. I drifted in and out of the mundane conversation of the typical royal weekly gathering.

“You won’t get caught, KD. Everyone’s locked away. I barely had to hide to sneak up here.”

“Del…”

“KD, a new movie theater opened up downtown! We have to visit.”

A new movie theater…in our backyard. I’ve only read about the Isis theater once in the newspaper, which I snuck in from my last outing into town. It was risky, but worth it.

In the middle of my room, in my damp nightgown, I fought with my conscience. For two weeks, I’ve been good. So, maybe Youna and the other goddess gave me some leniency. Chewing on my bottom lip as I shuffled from one leg to the next.

Del faced me. “Listen, if anything happens, then you can transport us home.”

“My mother would know if I used my magic to teleport us from the city to the castle,” I said, as I headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower. Before I closed the door, I told Del to wait while I washed. I made quick work of cleaning up my sweaty body and found myself back in the room with Del fifteen minutes later. My mind warred with the decision to sneak out. I couldn’t—I mean, I could, but should I was the question.

For a new movie theater…maybe an hour wouldn’t hurt, right?

“Let’s go,” I said, with my mind made up. I’ll worry about everything as it comes.

Del jumped up and hugged me. Her smile was infectious as we covered our mouths and squealed. With a flick of my wrist, my magic sprung out and opened the enchanted room only I had access to. As the door creaked open, we dashed into the small room, which acted more like a storage or getaway room for the royals. Pushing the mess of used canvases, and the books scattered around the room, I threw some of the unwanted clothing on the floor as I searched for the dress that mirrored Del’s. After a minute of digging through the canvas and my stack of romance novels I stilled needed to read, a light blue flapper dress appeared under the piles of books. Tugging it on, I paired it with a white patent shoe with a welted sole. It was my last white pair of shoes that weren’t desecrated with mud. I beckoned my magic to control my coily hair, placing it into a high bun that made my neck sore because of the weight. Maybe my mother was right! I need to cut my hair. Shaking my head as I reentered my room, I put on the necklace and ring that I had grabbed on my way out of the closet. The nagging feeling deep in my chest tried to work itself to the surface.

We’re only going to be gone for an hour or two. That’s it, no more or less. That’s what I promised myself as I grabbed the little white purse on top of the dresser. “I’m ready.”

Del turned from the window and smiled. Her round apple cheeks lightened to a slight hue of pink. A vast improvement from earlier on.

“You look beautiful, KD. As usual!”

“We look beautiful.” I corrected her. Del was too hard on herself sometimes. “Okay, how are we going to sneak out? Should we use Sera and Luc?”

“No, your mother will surely hear them, especially Sera. She’s wider than the Mississippi River!”

Point taken.

“But we have to go through the servants’ corridor to get to the escape tunnels. Usually, Ms. Kincaid turns in for the night early on Sundays.”

Del's face pinched and twisted. She hated the escape tunnels, but unless we wanted to go the long route, this was the only way.

“Fine,” she exhaled.

“Once we’re out of the village, then at least we can clean the mess off of our dresses and teleport to the movies.”

“Yes, let’s go. We’re losing time. It’s seven thirty!” Del said.

“Okay, let’s go,” I said, as I stuffed the soiled bedding into the laundry basket.

We took off our shoes to prevent the clacking noise of our heels against the tiles and entered the oddly silent hallway. Maybe Del was right. Maybe we can get away tonight with no one knowing. But I won’t celebrate until we’ve reached the end of the putrid tunnels.

With Del’s clammy hand in mine, we hugged against the white wall that leads to the servant's staircase, which is past my parent’s wing for a good reason. Stopping every few seconds to shush Del, who kept gasping as we sneaked away. Especially as we approached my parents’ hall. Since I was leading our little getaway party, I sped our pace before the white walls curved into the soft tan-colored walls of my parents’ hall. My heart thumped chaotically against my chest. The faint green color of my mother’s protective shield covered the hall entrance. I tugged Del’s hand to come along as I thought the coast was clear to cross the large entryway. Del moved so slowly I had to pull on her skinny arms. We were midway across when one of my parents’ doors popped open. My heart logged into my throat as I pushed a wide-eyed Del back to the wall we just vacated. My hand shot out to cover her mouth as she was about to gasp when she almost tripped over her feet.

“She’s been on her best behavior lately, but I’m still worried she won’t be ready to do what she needs to do…” My mother’s soft voice filled the hall.

“She will, Your Majesty.” I heard the familiar deep southern honeyed voice of Ms. Kincaid replying to my mother. If you didn’t know her voice, you would think she was my grandmother.

So much for her being asleep by now.

When I peeped around the corner, my mother was in another robe. This time in a deep green color like our magic. Ms. Kincaid was still in her work attire. The plain gray house dress was starched and flared at the knee with a white apron tied at the waist with her gray flat shoes. The gray dress stood out against her dark brown skin. Ms. Kincaid’s shoulder-length gray and white coily hair was pulled back into a ponytail today. She stopped aging in her forties, which was a tossup with the coven witches, but she looked younger. Without me seeing her face, I knew her hazel eyes would be attentive and assessing my mother, or anyone else, in her presence. Just like Sir Reid, she was another loyal member of the family who tied their servitude to Youna and her descendants.

She spun around to search the hall entrance. Luckily, I pulled back in the nick of time as I silently thanked the goddess for the plain white walls.

“What is it?” my mother asked.

“…nothing, I guess. Just me being paranoid,” Ms. Kincaid replied.

“Oh, there goes my mischievous little queen!” The fresh voice that joined us said.

With my hand over my heart and Del’s hand forgotten, I waited until my heart stopped pounding and the soft click of a door locking before I popped my head into the hall to see if the coast was clear.

Clenching my teeth, I whispered. “What’s the matter with you, Bernadette? I told you to quit sneaking up on folks.”

“Oh, Youna, not now!” Del said under her breath. “Tell her we’re on a mission now.”

“My! My! My! Del sure is anxious tonight!” Bernadette’s thick country accent boomed. Luckily, I was the only one who could see or hear her.

Bernadette, or the annoying mess I nicknamed her, stood on the other side of the hallway with her hands on her hip as her foot tapped away. She tilted her partially severed skull as she tsked. It was almost as if she had enough of my foolishness. The tattered “white” apron she was murdered in had turned red as the blood moon. Her fingers, which used to be the “best” in the village, were chopped to the last joint, leaving behind short stubs. Luckily, her murderer didn’t hack off her thin legs as well. That would have been too much of a blessing for me.

She was the last person I wanted to see now. Not that she could utter a word to anyone... besides my mother. This was the ugly side of being the only family with necromancy abilities. One of my great-grandmothers had long since instilled in us to just use our magic to block the wayward ghosts away, since sending them to the underworld would leave us weak and vulnerable for long periods of time. After a while, they stopped begging for our help, muttering we were useless hags. Bernadette pops up from time to time, invading my privacy and my space. When I first met the crazy ghost, she had found her missing fingers and dropped them in front of me. She pleaded for me to kill the wife of her lover who she was allowing to pass her a bit more than flour in the pantry. When the wife found out and made her suffer, forgoing the sharp butcher knives for a dull old bread knife. The wife took her hostage in the tunnels beneath the castle and took her time hacking at her body, one ligament at a time, until she was found dead. Sir Reid mentioned if he hadn’t known better, he would have sworn the wife was going to eat her.

I think the wife had kept her partially hacked skull as a souvenir because they never found it.

“Bye, Bernadette!” I whispered, shooing her away until she faded into the castle’s wall, but not before she muttered, “Foolish girl.”

“Do I even want to know?” Del asked.

Shaking my head as I took hold of her hand, I told her to be quiet as we ran across the hallway and down the old cement stairs, blackened by all the usage over the years. When we reached the bottom of the stairs, all the doors were shut. It was smooth sailing down the long hallway and past the castle guard, who always had something smart to say to me. The sound of his soft snores echoed off the walls. I made a mental note to keep this information in the back of my mind for the right time. When we reached the dark metal door that led to the tunnel, I held the latch in my hand and gently lifted the heavy bronze bar. Pushing slowly, the door creaked and groaned. Del looked at the lone guard in the hall.

“He’s still knocked out. Shoes, KD.” She pointed out before I stepped out onto the brick pavement.

Thank Goddess, she remembered. I would hate to think what I would have stepped on in these tunnels. The rank smell hit us hard, leaving us both gagging and choking. It smelled like something died down here recently—make that several things.

“Let’s just run for it. I don’t see anyone at the end of the tunnel.”

Del nodded her crimson head. Poor Del.