Chapter 14

GOLL

"One more, Sire!" Lykel called, carrying another brimming tankard to me.

"No more." I gestured that I was done as I stood from the wooden bench they'd erected around their fire out here on the eastern side of the encampment.

A chorus of disappointments joined Lykel, my general of the foot soldiers, as he said, "Just one more." His red eyes were glassy with drink, his long braid coming apart from a night of carousing with his friends.

Two of the cavalry played flutes while a few others danced with the women they'd acquired in Issos on their way out of the city.

I'd given Soryn the order to ensure the soldiers took care not to hurt them. Light fae were delicate-boned, their bodies easily broken by our larger ones. I'd even handed over the coin to pay handsomely for the ladies' company tonight, enough that they could hire coaches from the next village to return to Issos. The last thing I needed as I gained control of each province was the working women who held the ears of many spreading rumors of our brutish ways.

I wanted the people of Lumeria to fall into line easily under their new king. So I wouldn't give them any reason to defy me, not even the mistreatment or underpayment of Issosian prostitutes.

"Lykel"—I raised my voice loud enough for the others to hear as I lay a heavy hand on his shoulder—"if I did one more with every round of soldiers in this encampment tonight, I'd never wake up to return to Silvantis." I eyed the crowd of fae whose faces lit on the mention of home. "And don't we all want a swift journey to Silvantis?"

A cheer went up around this final group I'd visited for the last several hours.

"For those journeying to different parts of Lumeria tomorrow, know that I hold you in the highest regard." While some would return home, many would begin our occupation all over Lumeria. I must ensure the light fae understood who now ruled them. "Enjoy yourselves tonight. You've earned it."

The flute player stopped playing. The fire crackled as I turned my gaze around the small group. "We would not have won this war without each and every one of you. Good sleep, warriors."

With another eruption of cheers, the flute player started up with a swift, lively tune. I then made my escape back into the shadows. I'd stopped at every fire circle tonight, staying longer with the soldiers than with my Culled and the front cavalrymen.

The front line deserved more of my attention. They'd been fighting for my father for years, and only recently for me. I wanted them all to understand how much I appreciated their valor, their honor, their spilled blood, and their loyalty. I needed to tell them myself. Something my father had never done.

Dalya's last vision had left me unsteady. While I knew I was on the right path, that Una was my path, there was the addendum to her vision that kept me awake at night.

Two sides of the same coin. Demon-fae. One true, one not. Beware the raven's back, for he seeks your place…in all things.

Like a lot of Dalya's visions, it was shrouded in mysterious, nonsense verse. But what I gathered more than anything was that I had an enemy in my ranks. Somewhere. Either here among my soldiers or back at Silvantis. Or possibly farther abroad. Perhaps he would be a problem as I took control of Lumeria.

Because of a lurking enemy, I wanted to ensure these fae here all knew their importance to me. They'd all be rewarded justly with coin and provisions when we returned home. Some would be awarded lands for their long and valiant service, something else my father never would have done. Though it was still a dangerous idea, I wanted my people to know that I was not him.

Perhaps in Silvantis, the enemy would be clearer.

Weaving among the tents, the sound of revelry and fucking could be heard from every one of them. Heaving a sigh, I made my way back to my own tent, eager yet not so eager. I'd be forced to lie next to the woman I'd been having too many fantasies about.

Word of Princess Una growing into the most beautiful woman had heightened my curiosity about the girl I carried out of the dungeons long ago. But nothing prepared me for the woman herself.

Vix's blood. She was fucking otherworldly in her beauty, more lovely than Lumera herself. I was sure of it. And a thousand times more alluring.

Black wings. They'd regrown—I'd known that—but somehow, I'd never been told the color. And then to behold them, all the lovelier in contrast to her pearl-white skin. It took every ounce of willpower not to claim her back in N?kt Mir.

Patience , I thought as I rounded toward my tent, noting Meck and Ferryn still stalwart on guard.

I would not take her in haste, but only after all the Silvantian rites had been completed. My blood burned every time I looked at her.

Not long now.

"Meck. Ferryn."

They saluted me, fists to chests, heads and horns bowed. "Sire," they said in unison.

"All quiet here?"

"Yes, Sire," said Meck. "All is well."

"You two can join the others and celebrate."

Ferryn frowned. "Won't you need a guard through the night?"

"I can defend myself and my—" I glanced at the tent entrance and cleared my throat. "I can handle protecting the mizrah tonight. You deserve to enjoy the celebration."

"Thank you, Sire," said Meck with a dip of his head.

Ferryn did the same, and then they turned and walked toward the closest campfire.

I entered the tent, the coal still burning blue, warming the small space. But my gaze went directly to the shape of the woman beneath the furs and the sudden spike in her heart rate. Her breathing quickened, a soft huff in the quiet tent.

Removing my belt with the sword and scabbard, I set it on my side of the bed. "Couldn't sleep, Mizrah?"

She remained still for a moment, perhaps wondering if she should pretend to be asleep.

"I know you're awake. You might as well speak to me."

She bolted upright, twisting her torso to face me, her clear violet eyes more vibrant by the light of the volcanic coal. "Why should I speak to you?"

"You're angry," I noted casually, unfastening my armor.

"Of course I am, you imbecile."

Very angry. I forced myself not to smile.

"Tell me what's on your mind, Una." I hefted the giant piece of shoulder and chest plate armor over my head and dropped it to the floor. Then I went to work on the thigh plates that were fastened into my pants with leather lacing.

"You brought harlots from Issos to celebrate your victory," she spat venomously.

"I could hardly bring them from anywhere else. We needed many to serve the soldiers who wanted to partake. Issos is the closest city to accommodate our needs."

"How could you force prostitutes to…to do their work after you just conquered their city," she accused rather than questioned.

It had not missed me that her fury had her chest rising and falling swiftly, pressing her full breasts against the thin fabric of her nightdress. I tried not to let my gaze linger too long, instead focusing on her ire as I continued undressing.

"I am aware that you're a sheltered maiden and are perhaps un aware of a male's needs, but the brothels could've refused our coin. They did not. They welcomed it and sent word to several bawdy houses along your lower Issosian district, who in turn showed up in our encampment by the carriage-load just in time for our celebration." I began unlacing the top vee of my black linen shirt.

"I'm not unaware of a male's needs. I'm not ignorant." Her gaze dropped to the fur covering her lap.

"I see. But you've never experienced the fire of battle blood, have you?"

Her eyes rounded, finding my gaze again, giving me a near-painful look of innocence. I reached over my shoulder and pulled my black linen shirt over my head, trying not to snag it on my horns lest Havallah chastise me for ruining another shirt. I dropped it beside the bed with my armor. Her eyes widened further then I went on.

"Battle blood builds up, pumps a man into a fury of unspent energy and emotions following a vigorous fight. Oftentimes, they can cry out their victory, hack their enemy up a little more to release that energy. But on a night like tonight, when they recently won the battle on the plains outside Issos, only to capture the city and restrain their energy for hours upon hours while they awaited word of our final victory, that the peace treaty was signed..." I huffed out a breath as I shoved off my boots and began working the lacings of my trousers. "Let me tell you, princess. They needed to either spill blood or their cum."

She flinched and I found some perverse thrill in her discomfort. The haughty princess needed to be reminded that she was in the hands of the barbarians she proclaimed us to be.

" I opted for brothels over blood," I added casually.

"What are you doing?" Her wide-eyed gaze was on my trousers. My cock twitched beneath the fabric.

"It isn't customary for me to sleep in my clothes," I said softly.

"You should keep…some clothes on." Her voice had ticked up, laced with nervousness.

I had one hand gripping the flap of my trousers, the other I dropped to my side. "Wraith fae males do not wear all the pretty underthings and excess clothes as Lumerians, Una. As you most certainly have noted, we are much less civilized." With that, I shoved my trousers down, my half-hard cock bobbing between my legs.

She gasped and squeezed her eyes closed, then promptly fell to the bed, facing the other direction. I smiled at her modesty even while I couldn't help but give myself a half-hearted stroke. I certainly appeared to be the vile monster she thought me to be now.

With a frustrated sigh, I jerked my hand away and scrubbed it down my face. I lifted the furs and fell onto my back, clasping my hands behind my head and closing my eyes to focus on leveling my breathing. This was going to be very difficult.

"I don't care what you do with other women," she snapped with bitterness, still facing the opposite wall, "but do not sleep with any while we are trying to create a child. Sexual promiscuity can spread diseases and…it's—it's humiliating to me." She whispered the last part, seemingly embarrassed that she'd even confessed it aloud.

I turned my head toward her, noting the silky softness of her hair flowing over the pillow and fur. What I wouldn't do to caress those beautiful tresses, press their silkiness to my face and lips, inhale her sweetness.

"You do not want me to fuck other women while you and I are?" I asked, using coarse language to try to remind myself there would be no soft thoughts or tender words between us. I couldn't get lost in asinine thoughts about caressing her hair.

She stiffened. "Whatever you did with whomever tonight, let it be the last time until…until I've conceived and can leave your bed."

Her back was a straight line, her shoulders stiff. She thought I'd fucked my own harlot tonight while I'd left her here alone on her first night away from Issos. And it…bothered her. It bothered me.

Still, I couldn't get wrapped up in concern over her feelings. She was here to beget my heir and give me the alliance needed so I could ensure complete control over Lumeria. That was all.

I could've let her believe I'd been enjoying the pleasure of a woman all night. I could've even lied and told her I'd fucked several and would have as many fae whores ride my cock as I liked. But instead, I found myself mesmerized and worried by that hard line of her back to me.

So instead, I admitted something to which I hadn't ever planned. "There will be no women in my bed while you are in it." Her shoulders rounded forward ever so slightly. Then I added more quietly, "There was no other woman tonight."

That straight line softened, curving with the sinuous slope of her beautiful womanly form. Her body relaxed, pressing sweetly into the bed. Her soft huff of relief loosened something inside me and agitated me.

Forcing my gaze away, I looked up at the slanted slope of the tent roof, then threw my arm over my eyes. Defiantly, I added with bite, "Get some rest, Una. You will need to perform that duty soon enough."

I ignored the immediate tension I sensed from her, and I refused to look at her to see if that soft curve had stiffened again. I fought against any urge to soften for the woman who I'd saved and whose family launched a war against my people.

In all my recent dreams and fantasies of this woman, I never thought that I'd yearn for more than her body, the child she'd bear me, and her royal alliance. But now—against my will—there was a small coal of my own, smoldering in the dark recesses of my blackened heart, longing to be ignited. To burn hot and bright.