I couldn’t hold on to the energy any longer, and I let out a long breath, the twister vanishing as quickly as I’d summoned it. The last of the Vampiric Fae came tumbling out of the sky to land at my feet. I bent over, and he opened his eyes, still alive. Without thought, without mercy, I drove my dagger down, slicing through his throat, pinning him to the ground. He jerked spasmodically and was silent.

As I turned around, the others were staring at me. I didn’t care what they thought, didn’t care if they approved. The only thing I could think about was destroying Myst and saving my love, my friends, and me.

But as I walked back to them, Kaylin clapped me on the back, and even my father smiled at me. Grimly, yes, but it was still a smile. Grieve slipped one arm around my waist, and Peyton took the other side. Leaning on them for support, I slowly climbed the grand steps as we headed inside, shutting the rest of the world out.

Regina was waiting. Despite her cool demeanor, I could tell she’d been worried. She raced over to Lannan and encircled his waist with her arms, drawing him to her. They looked a lot alike; I wasn’t positive if they were twins but it sure looked that way. Her hair was as golden as his and they were both so gorgeous it hurt to look at them. As her lips sought his, he sank into her embrace and they kissed, deep, dark, and sensuous.

I turned away, heading toward the stairs. I just wanted some peace and quiet, even for a moment, to relax.

But Regina’s voice rang out behind me. “Don’t be so quick, Cicely. We have to discuss what happened.”

I turned to find her staring at me, coyly giving me a sly smile. “I’m exhausted. I thought I’d take a quick shower to wash the dust and grime off of me first, before we talked.” We were safe enough in the mansion, and whatever might be going on outside tonight, there wasn’t much we could do about it.

She caught my gaze, and slowly licked her lips. Once. Then with a throaty laugh, she shrugged. “Perhaps that is best. You all look worn out. Go take your shower and I will tell the cook to prepare you food. But do not take long—tarrying is not advised at this point, and there is much to discuss.”

And with that, she led Lannan away.

Relieved that she didn’t offer to come with me, and that she didn’t order me to go with them, I motioned to the others.

“Let’s get cleaned up. She’s right. We have a lot to discuss and not much time in which to do it. Let’s go.” But the stairs were more than my legs could muster. I was exhausted, bone-weary. Summoning up the twister had drained me and three steps up, I crumbled and sank down, leaning my head against the railing. Grieve was at my side instantly, sweeping me up and carrying me up to my room.

He set me down on the bed. “Undress. I will prepare a bath for you.” He disappeared into the bathroom and I heard the sound of running water and smelled sweet vanilla and warm musk.

Even though I’d had at least three showers already, the thought of a bubble bath suddenly took over. I pulled off my clothes, realizing just how bruised I was from the shattered building, and how exhausted I was from calling up the winds. I was shivering because, although the mansion was warm enough, the cold outside had gotten to me, and I couldn’t seem to shake the chill that had crept into my bones.

I glanced at the clock. It was well past midnight, and I wondered if the day would ever end. Or would we just keep going and going until finally, we faded into history?

My clothes in a pile on the floor, I pulled a throw from the foot of the bed around my shoulders and closed my eyes, leaning against one of the bedposts, taking stock. My ribs hurt, my muscles hurt, my joints ached, and my mind was so cloudy I could barely think. Not even Grieve’s exercise on pulling on my Fae nature would help me this time. A moment later, I felt him near me.

“Cicely, your bath is ready.” I dropped the blanket and let him lead me into the bathroom. He’d lit candles, and the dancing lights gently illuminated the spa tub that was filled with sweet-scented bubbles. I inhaled deeply, holding the warm scent in my lungs, as Grieve lowered me into the tub. The shock of the hot water was momentary, and then I sank back, leaning against the back of the tub as I rested my neck on the edge, and closed my eyes.

As the hot water began to work its magic, pulling the ache out of my body, Grieve’s gentle hands were slowly caressing me. With a washcloth, yes, but also the pads of his fingertips. I gasped, slightly parting my legs. I was far too tired for sex but this…this sensation was marvelous and so I said nothing, just opened my mouth ever so slightly as his fingers dipped into the water.

He slid his fingers down my stomach, over my tattoo, and then down into the bubbles to reach between my thighs. I moaned gently as he began to stroke, light butterfly touches, flicking me to life, igniting the embers of a low fire that burned steadily, if not brightly.

I shifted, another moan escaping from my throat. “Grieve…”

“Shush. Be still. Let me play you. Let me release some of the tension.”

And with that, I gave myself in to his hands as he worked me, flicking this way and that with his fingers, softly encircling me to stir my desire, to stir the embers to life. As the feel of his hands on me heightened, as my stomach tightened, I shifted in the water, squirming under his gentle but firm ministrations.

I couldn’t keep quiet any longer. I began to pant, raggedly, as the pressure mounted, wanting him in me, wanting him to satiate the driving need that raged through my body.

Grieve was suddenly naked and climbing in the tub, and I pulled him to me, the hardened length of his cock sliding firmly inside my cunt as I pressed my breasts to his body. The loss and devastation of the night began to sink in and as he rocked against me, his hips pulsing as he drove himself deeper and deeper, I burst into tears and held him close, coming as hard as I was crying, in a burning mixture of relief and of loss. Grieve moaned into my ear as he gave one last, long thrust, and then he cried out, exploding within me.

As we lay entwined in the hot, frothy water, all I could think about was how even in the darkest times, the union of bodies, the connection of hearts, could wipe away all pain for at least a brief moment. I gazed into his eyes, the sparkling eyes of the Vampiric Fae, and whispered words to him I never thought I’d hear myself say.

“If we come through this…if we survive, I want your child within me. I want to create life with you. I’m tired of destruction.”

Grieve nodded, holding me close. “When we win this war, you will be my queen, and I will be your king, and we will give rise to a kingdom. Cicely, you will be a queen. You know that, don’t you?”

“What are you talking about?”

But he silenced me with a kiss, then with one final move, lightly leaped out of the water and pulled me to my feet. “We must get dressed and downstairs. They will be waiting for us.”

I stared at him, wondering what he’d meant, but there was no time for debate because a low sound rang through the room—the chiming of bells. Lannan was summoning us to his side. And right now, the last thing I wanted was a punishment for disobeying the vampire who held my reins, who forced me to call him Master.

Chapter 18

Grieve handed me clothes from my dresser and I wearily drew them on. He had it easier—the full Fae were able to fashion their clothes from the air around them. Changing was easy. That was one attribute I would have given a lot to have—to never have to worry about shopping again. Decadence!

As we headed downstairs, the smell of roasting beef made me salivate and I realized just how hungry I was. I looked over at Grieve and smiled, feeling both sleepy but recharged. He knew what I needed, and I had needed to cry, to rage, to let go of tension, to fuck, to connect.

Lannan and Regina sat at the head and foot of the table. “I’ve had the chef prepare another meal. You must keep your strength up,” he said.

Neither of them had plates, but the rest of us were served sizzling slices of roast beef with a peppercorn sauce and a fluffy mound of fork-whipped mashed potatoes. A row of string beans glistened with melted butter, and crusty bread rounded out the meal. Lannan started to say something, but as the rest of us fell to the food, starved after all the fighting, he shook his head.

“I’ll wait until after you dine. Perhaps then you will be too full to do anything but listen to me.” But he said it with a faint whisper of a smile, and I had the feeling that, superior bastard or not, he wanted his guests to enjoy themselves.

I dug in, scooping up mashed potatoes. I was starving. As I sliced into the steak and dipped it in the peppercorn sauce, something rang an alarm, but I was too hungry to pay attention to it. But when I put the steak in my mouth, I knew something was wrong. The minute the sauce hit my tongue, my mouth began to tingle, along with the back of my throat.

I dropped my fork and shoved my chair back, spitting out the food as my throat began to swell. Frantic, I scrambled for the EpiPen I always carried in my pocket, but it wasn’t there. Rhia saw what I was doing and raced around the table.

“Her EpiPen! Did someone take it out of her clothes? Goddamn it, hurry! She’s having an allergy attack!”

Rhia patted me down as Lannan streaked out of the room. As the room began to spin, I couldn’t think straight. My lungs begged for oxygen, but there simply wasn’t any. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t feel my fingers or toes. Regina was by my side the next moment, loosening my top, as Rhia cried out something to someone that I couldn’t understand.

I am here. Calm, child, calm. Lannan is bringing your medication. Try to remain calm. Ulean’s voice swept over me, and for a moment I relaxed, but then the gasping for air began again and I began to thrash about.

Then, a sudden rush seared through my body as someone stabbed me with the needle-sharp pen, and as I began to shake, the tension in my throat began to ease. I coughed, shivering as I broke out in a cold sweat. Dizzy, I buried my head in my knees as Rhiannon rubbed my back gently until the attack subsided. Lannan stood there, used EpiPen in hand, looking terrified.

By the time I was able to sit up, everyone was seated again, except for Lannan, Rhia, Grieve, and Lainule. I stared at the table. My poison came disguised as food. I could hear Lannan tearing down whoever it was had cooked the meal.

“She’s allergic to fish and shellfish. This, I told you. Who put fish in the sauce?”

“It has lobster in it, Master, not fish.” The voice was high and breathless. I glanced over to see a young woman—probably in her early twenties—wincing as she glanced over at me.

“Imbecile! Lobster is a crustacean.” At her blank look, he really let go, screaming in her face. “Shellfish. Are you brainless? Dolt! I want you out of my stable. I should punish you, but I don’t want to waste the energy. Gather your things and be out of this house in fifteen minutes.” He turned his back on her.

The girl fell to her knees, crying. “No, please, Master. Please don’t turn me away!”

Lannan whirled back around. His voice was low this time, so controlled that I shivered. “I gave you an order. One more outburst and I’ll rip out your throat. Go now, while you still live. And be glad for my mercy. You won’t get a second chance.”

The girl backed away, then scrambled to her feet and ran out of the room weeping. Lannan strode over to my side, pushing everyone away. He leaned down, took my hand in his.

“Do you need a physician? Shall I summon a doctor?” He sounded worried. Too worried for my comfort. I liked Lannan better when he was ignoring me.

But he was right, I needed to assess my health and whether I’d make it without a second injection. Sometimes one dose of epinephrine just wouldn’t do it. But the itching in my mouth and throat were subsiding, and I could breathe, and it didn’t feel like anything was starting back up.

“No…wait…” I squinted, trying to remember if I had another EpiPen in my dresser. I usually carried three. And yes, I’d replenished them the last time I’d inadvertently swallowed a piece of cod. And they were still good. “I’ll be okay for now, though tomorrow I should replace this EpiPen.”

Regina frowned lightly. “You know, if you would let us turn you, you would never again have to worry about dying from a bite of fish.” Her offer sounded genuine, and she looked almost confused when I shook my head.

“Thanks but…um…no. That’s not enough reason for me to give up life as I know it and take up feasting off blood. But I appreciate the offer.” I tried to smile at her, to show her I wasn’t being sarcastic. Hell, after a jolt of epinephrine, sarcasm was the last thing on my mind. But the adrenaline flowing through my body would sustain me until I crashed.

“Let me help you upstairs.” Rhia turned to Lannan. “The rest of us can discuss matters afterward. Cicely’s going to need to rest. These attacks are pretty harsh on the system and she’s already drained her energy today.”

He frowned but nodded and stood back as Grieve and Wrath edged him out of the way. My father picked me up, and as if I were no heavier than a stuffed animal, he carried me upstairs to my room. Rhia and Grieve followed. Rhia helped me get into a nightgown and she crawled into bed next to me.

“I don’t want to leave her alone in case she has another reaction. You guys go down and talk to the others. You can tell us what went on later.”

As Grieve and Wrath left the room, I leaned against Rhia’s side—she was sitting up against the headboard—and closed my eyes. I was tired, very tired, but I was also jittery from the medication. But after a few minutes, the sound of her breathing began to calm me, and she stroked my head gently, smoothing my hair, until I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

I found myself in a frozen wasteland, wearing a pale blue gown that shimmered with silver embroidery. At first I wondered that I was not cold, but then I realized the snowflakes felt good against my skin, cooling me and soothing my thoughts. As I turned, a pale bird appeared—an owl. I raised one hand in greeting to it, and it dipped low, winging by, to land on my outstretched arm. I slowly brought it toward me, bending my elbow, keeping my arm straight, and the owl gazed into my eyes, and its eyes burned with frozen fire.