5. Secrets

5

SECRETS

N o one does enigmatic like a Master Vampire—and the Barone Quindici DaPonti’s mind-missive is certainly that, as he calls Ariana and me back to the Red Letter Hotel Florence.

Promptly.

Ariana, Lucca. Get back to the Hotel. We need to talk.

Ariana and I had been eating a glorious picnic in our waterfall field, chit-chatting about our day and the ramifications it has for the Summer Fae society. I curse internally now as I hear Quinn’s curt mind-sending. I was having a very enjoyable afternoon and was hoping we’d get to quite a lot more, as the afternoon stretches long beneath the white oak trees and flowering ash.

But that’s all trashed now.

“Did you just get what I did?” I darken as I regroup from Quinn’s summons, and Ariana returns my tight frown. I give a wry chuckle, tense now from that damnable Master Vampire and his mysterious ways, when I had just been so relaxed.

“Quinn just summoned us back to the Red Letter Hotel Florence. Pronto,” she says. I feel through our bond now how much Ariana also hates that our day has come to such an abrupt end. Quinn is the third of our bound trio, however, and the mastermind of all our plans to better our world and the creatures who live in it.

Plans that are very much in motion and need constant attention right now.

“Should I live a thousand years, I’ll never get used to Quindici DaPonti summoning me like a peon.” I feel my aura darken, irritation lancing through me. I drain my glass of white wine and set it aside on the picnic blanket.

“You’ve already lived six hundred years enduring Quinn’s attitude. What’s four hundred more?” Ariana says, trying to recapture our blithe afternoon with a smile. Once friends, comrades, even lovers, Quinn and I have been at-odds for centuries until Ariana’s Dark Fae magic drew us back together. Bonded now by ancient Fae magics, we might almost become a true trio if we play our cards right.

And don’t step all over each other’s big egos.

“Yes, but you recall, I didn’t have to deal with Quinn’s attitude for the vast majority of those six hundred years,” I say with a sardonic chuckle. “Still, I can’t say being bonded to him hasn’t been useful. This is the glade where I made that Vampire Bloodsign that almost killed me last week, but saved us when we were fighting those Revenants. Look over there.”

I nod towards one cascading waterfall where a dark sigil stands out, thirty paces from us in the grass. Large and hastily scrawled, the complex Vampire blood-rune I made that night is black, burned into the glade where it’s killed all life. Though my blood has absorbed into the greenery now, spilled Summer Fae blood always causing tremendous growth in nature, the rune stands out in the bright summer day.

A reminder of the wildly powerful—and dangerous—magic we unleashed that night.

“I still can’t believe you wielded Vampire magic from your old bond to Quinn,” Ariana says. I feel how impressed she is at what I did to save all our asses. The Vampire community learned you don’t mess with our trio that night.

Quinn’s enemies quiet ever since.

“I still can’t believe it didn’t kill me.” I chuckle with dire wit now as I rub my left forearm, the arm I slashed open with my blazing longsword to work the magic that saved us. Though it’s healed, a long, ugly scar still shows below my rolled shirtsleeve in the hot summer afternoon. “I am quite respectful of what Vampire magic can do now—I don’t think I’ll be trying anything like that again soon.”

I shake my head; since Ariana arrived in the Twilight Realm a few months ago, I’ve learned that the interplay of Fae, Dark Fae, and Vampire magic is far more complex than I was ever taught. The lines between them are deeply blurry, thanks to our common ancestry from fallen Ascendants.

I feel both Quinn’s and Ariana’s presences inside me at all times now, via our bond. They’re not dissimilar, though we are all a spectrum of Night and Light with Quinn at one end, Ariana in the middle, and my power the furthest towards the Light.

Dark like midnight suns scorching through my veins, Quinn’s power is a sensual, delicious counterpoint to my rainbow-prism glory. Ariana’s power surges now as I note our connection—her beautiful, bright-dark rainbow aura swirling around me in the hot summer day.

“I’m glad you’ve recovered; in record time, too,” Ariana says, smiling as she scoots closer on the blanket. “And that we’re getting to spend some time together. Even though it still has to be political, pretending we’re talking up your father’s agenda when we’re really bolstering yours.”

“Until Quinn summons us for some insane plan of his yet again.” I feel thoughtful now rather than angry, though. “Sometimes Quinn is a secretive ass, Ariana, but sometimes he’s right about things. The fact is, my endeavors among my people have been successful this past week not just because of your Dark Fae presence and how your truth-uncovering ability sways folk, but also because of Quinn’s deeply convincing magic running through me now since our new bond. I’ve been eloquent in a way I never was before; for the first time, my Summer Fae are questioning my father’s rule from the things you and I have said with Quinn’s and your magic pouring through my veins. And that is a good thing.”

“You may have been eloquent from your recent bond to Quinn, but the kindness I’ve seen is all yours,” she says, reminding me of who I am.

Prince of the Summer Fae—and beloved by my populace.

“I treat my people well because they are important, Ariana.” I am serious now. “Not just the Royals and High Houses who dwell at the palace and in the wealthier quarters of the city, but also the Low Houses that provide the basis upon which our society functions. Our growers and artisans set the tone of Summer Fae life. My father does not aid them. So I do.”

I feel how my words make her love me even more after such an insightful day of watching me serve my people. As her heart swells, my world shines, and I feel her thoughts through our bond—that I’m a good man, and worthy of the Summer Fae throne. As her love pours through me, I can’t help but smile, brushing a lock of her wild red hair back from her face.

“You’re making me blush, Ariana. With your feelings for me,” I say now as my heartbeat rises, pounding in my chest for her, as other things rise down below.

“You should be blushing.” She quips back, though she holds my gaze, frank. “You’re a good prince, Lucca; after our sojourn today, I’m convinced of it. Once you lead a rebellion against your father, your people will support you.”

“Maybe.” My ardor flags now as I frown, knowing I’m still so far from where I need to be to create a proper revolution among the Summer Fae. “I still need the Magistros Courts behind me, though, in which I have few allies, and military support. I also need at least seven of the Royal Houses and quite a few of the High Houses to stage a coup, not to mention the Darkwatch. Some sympathize with my ideas of modernity; unfortunately, many of the elder Fae still see me as a hotheaded young ruffian.”

“They’ll be paying attention now, though, after how your power has grown since bonding Quinn and me,” she says, and I feel her reasoning that we’re all so much more now than we were before.

“Perhaps.” My gaze strays to the burned, black sigil in the grass now, as if pulled there by our conversation. “Being bound to a Master Vampire and a Dark Fae does not ingratiate me to my people, though. My people need to trust me, Ariana; and their opinions on Vampires and Dark Fae are wary after the severe slander campaigns my father wielded against those Lineages these past centuries, even worse than those against the Rock Giants and Dark Elves. Besides, Quinn and I?—”

“Do you still not trust Quinn?” She cuts me off, reaching up and setting a hand to my cheek. “Even after all the machinations he’s working on to get you on the Summer Fae throne so you can better your people’s lives?”

“And him on the Vampire Council, don’t forget.” I go stiff now beneath her touch, though I want so much to be open-minded about Quinn and all his damnable ways. “Quinn is a two-edged blade, Ariana. He always has been. On one hand, he’s kind, forthright, and honorable, always trying to do what’s best. On the other hand, he’s Machiavellian, always plotting twenty steps ahead and figuring out how to manipulate everything to his advantage. I see how he’s honestly trying to do better than in the past when he shut me out of every decision. But I need someone who shares with me. And Quinn has always held back.”

“Which is where I come in.” Ariana is trying to keep things bright, though a dark shadow has fallen over our afternoon now. “By bringing you two together when otherwise you would just simmer in your big egos and fight.”

“You’re right.” As the darkness in me lessens to her on-point directness, I laugh. “We are stronger together. I’ve felt it this past week—our trio’s bond. My magic changed that night we became bound to each other. Like a Vampire, I can feel my people now, alive, all around me. Sometimes I can sense their heartbeats, even, and tell when people are lying to me. Now I know for certain the lower classes are disapproving of my father, and every woe that’s befallen them he’s ignored.”

“No one likes a tyrant,” Ariana says. She has met my father, King Archivolio Bellari, on a few occasions, and hated him more each time because of how badly he treated her. “The Vampires in Florence never loved Emiliana DiClario, either. Seems it’s time for a regime change on both sides.”

“Yes. Although such things must happen slowly, to not implode into chaos.” As a dark mood takes me again and I stew, she moves closer, squeezing my knee in support. Her movement breaks me from my rumination. Brightness flares in me as I lean in, still lounging on the blanket, and cinch her in my arm. As I draw her against me, I pull her down to the blanket so we’re lounging face-to-face on our sides now. With a chuckle, I nuzzle my lips against hers.

Wanting her with a passion so hot and bright it feels decadently dark as we lay together.

I feel how much she wants me, and I kiss her then, deeply, as I squeeze her waist. Everything tingles and rushes inside me as I feel not only my ardor, but hers also through our connection. I feel how much I turn her on, and I can’t help the sexy chuckle that slips out of me. I palm her waist harder, gripping her and claiming her.

She presses into me and kisses me back, as I heat like crazy now.

Our trio have been managing strange aspects to our magic since we bonded, though; I see now how Quinn’s dark, decadent personality has affected me as I wrangle Ariana almost possessively by the back of her neck, kissing her until I’m breathless.

Bright yet also somehow dark, my energy swirls through me with the deep flavor of Quinn’s mysterious gardenias-in-a-waterfall scent. As we finally part, I discover I’ve rolled Ariana to her back on the blanket. I’m supporting myself on my hands above her, passion searing through every part of me as I stare down at her.

Dark with eros now—and desire.

“Wow! That was… wow.” She shivers as a wave of heat drives through me. Though she and I have kissed a few times since we bonded, I was still recovering this week from nearly dying and she was busy with the Meeting of the Havens, so we’ve not taken it further.

“I’m finally feeling better.” I smolder as I lay down atop her now, pressing my long, fighting-honed body to her, though I’m careful to not crush her.

“I can see that.” She grins up at me, and I feel how much she loves that I’ve pinned her.

“Yes, but can you feel it?” Everything inside me darkens sensually as I move my hips against hers now, my cock hard and definitely felt through my riding breeches and hers. “Perhaps I’ll fuck you right here, Ms. Ariana Summers. And make a picnic out of your divine flesh as we devour each other on this glorious summer day.”

Her lips fall open at my salacious words, even though I do not know where they came from. Though I’ve always been a cad with the ladies, everything I just said sounded almost like Quinn rather than me. As a wave of rainbow-dark power surges from Ariana with flashes of gold and silver light, I find I don’t care how those words came to my mind. I chuckle deviantly.

And kiss her again, letting my lips linger.

“Maybe I want you to fuck me,” she says. She is breathless now, feeling this depth of desire between us that still has yet to be consummated. “Maybe this glade will do.”

“Maybe.” I stare her down now rather than kiss her, arresting her with the intensity I feel inside. “It does not escape me that Quinn beds you regularly now, while you and I have yet to enjoy such delights. Even though I wasn’t healthy this past week, it’s been on my mind. Everything you and he share… that you and I have been missing out on. ”

“Me, too,” she says, as she lifts to her elbows now, running her lips over mine. Rainbows cascade through the air, dark in the shade and bright in the sun from our joined power. “I’m not obtuse to how unbalanced things have been.”

“But I want it to be right, Ariana.” I impress my point as I smooth her wild locks back. “I’m eager to share our bodies, but it’s because of you that everything has been going so well lately. That Quinn and I are, at least partly, getting along. I don’t want to break that truce.”

“You both do have rather hot tempers, you and Quinn.” She gives me a cheeky smile.

“We do,” I smile back, feeling everything inside me shine brighter in the dappled shade.

Then dark again—hot.

“Enough talk of Quinn. Undress with me.” I simmer above her now.

“What? What about Quinn’s summons?” she asks, her eyebrows lifting.

“It can wait.” I stroke my lips over hers, needing her so badly it hurts. “Whatever Quinn wants, it can wait.”

“What if it’s an emergency?” I feel how unsure she is, as our bond to Quinn pulls inside us both.

“He said he needs to talk, not that it’s an emergency,” I say, offering reassurance now as I pull back and share a truth about Quinn I’ve known for ages. “Believe me, when it’s urgent, we’ll know.”

I push off from Ariana and settle to a seat beside her now, needing this to happen before something interrupts us for the thousandth time, as has been happening ever since we met. I shove the rest of our food and drink to the edge of the picnic blanket, because I don’t care about any of that now. Now is only about her as I glance at her and begin stripping off my grey silk vest, then unbuttoning my white silk shirt. I’ve never been as elegant at stripping as Quinn, but neither am I hasty. I let Ariana feel the intensity that roars through my entire body as I stare her down .

As I heat like a blazing bonfire in the warm summer day, my heart pounding.

I can hear Ariana’s heart thunder also, as I strip the rest of my clothes away now and she begins undoing hers. It’s a side effect of bonding Quinn, growing more pronounced ever since we bonded as a trio a week ago. Hearing how excited she is for me somehow makes everything between us more intimate than it otherwise would be, as I feel her excitement surge through me via our bond.

Bright with rainbows, yet dark also from the influence of Quinn’s magic and her own Dark Fae might, her power makes everything inside me throb and shiver, feeling like she touches me with a thousand caresses. My aura sears all around me, shimmering with bright rainbows in the high day as it sweeps her, caressing her like a thousand hands. I don’t touch her for real yet, though; I do nothing but stare at her while we both strip.

Increasing the intensity between us like wildfire.

At last, I’m nude, and Ariana’s nearly there. She’s down to just her lacy beige bra and underwear as I finish—and I stare to see her now, so supple and fit in the shadowy sunlight beneath the trees.

Curvy in all the right places, in the way I most like.

Ariana is transfixed, however, at seeing me nude for the first time during the day. Golden-tan from a life in the sun, I feel her thought that my body is an artist’s dream, as my strong yet lean fighter’s muscles stand out in perfect detail in the dappled sunlight.

I feel her gaze trace the gold and white Faeanic tattoos that spread across my shoulders and continue down my back. My skin blazes with rainbows as the light hits it; like a diamond, I shine in my natural element as I revel in the sun and afternoon wind, and the rush of water all around.

And in Ariana—as she revels in me as well.

I know it’s time. We will never have a more perfect moment as I reach out, sliding her bra straps down her shoulders with a deft touch, then reaching a hand around to unclasp her bra with the same skill. Her bra slips away, and she lets it. I sigh as I gaze at her beautiful, full breasts revealed.

Then reach out, stroking the tops of her breasts and making her shiver.

“Gods, you are glorious,” I can’t help but say, as we take each other in under the dappled summer sunlight. My touch makes her lean back to her elbows as heat floods through her, inundating me in the already hot day. She hooks her thumbs in her lacy underwear, breathing hard.

Then slides them off, tossing them aside as well.

As she reveals herself before me now, it makes everything inside me roar. I feel my body illuminate with heat and darken with need all at once. Something tremendous blazes through me then, as I both watch and feel her take me in beneath the shadows and light. Trees whisper all around as a wind blows; I realize it’s my magic stirring the breeze as I heat in the glorious summer day.

For her.

I crawl to her on the picnic blanket and lay my body out beside her, supporting myself on one hand as she lays back beneath me. As my fingers caress over her breasts, I tease her with my hands now, and my wind, which I’m fighting to keep gentle; a thousand caresses are in it now as I breathe hard and Ariana’s eyelashes flicker beneath the dappled sun.

As I lean over and caress her, I whisper my lips over hers until they touch. I stroke her with my fingertips as we kiss, and I feel my aura surge. My power is glorious all around as my auric wings shimmer from my back in a bright wave of magic, unfurling from my spine.

Everything about her, and this moment, annihilates me. Our lust is decadent as she reaches up, caressing the lines of Faeanic script that curl over my shoulders, then down my hard chest to my cut abdomen.

I feel her thought then, about how Quinn and I are different. Unlike Quinn, I’m not a god of marble, hard and austere, or unearthly in my beauty. I’m touchable, my skin soft and my strength yielding as I move with her now in an intimate dance .

Her eyes burn with light as we touch, and move, and kiss—and I feel mine do, too. Each kiss flames our ardor more; each touch of wind and magic burns our fire hotter. We’re scorching now beneath the swaying trees, but it’s not the heat of the day anymore as we sweat, and dance, and caress.

It’s pure revelry, moving the Summer Fae bloodlines inside us.

Making us heat with power—as we heat with sex in the decadent late afternoon.