Blood and Reign (Cassandra Myles Witch Series) (15 page)

We talked about electing
the next council and worked towards nailing down what the first democratically elected fae government was going to look like. Term length proved to be one of the sticking points. They suggested three hundred years. I felt that was too long. I thought the fae queens all went mad because they had power for far too long. I talked them down a bit and we settled on one hundred and fifty.

It seemed like a long time, but
compared to humans, the fae were immortal. That meant they experienced time differently. They had no urgency to get things done and I had to struggle not to show my impatience sometimes. Humans rushed through life, knowing they only had a finite amount of time. The fae needed to look at everything a hundred times. Hash out every detail to the point of ridiculousness. Maybe it was because they had to live with their decisions longer than we did

Being human
, the snail pace was frustrating, but we were moving forward and every baby step was a step closer to my freedom. There were no more attacks on my life or my mind. I felt optimistic and Lucius played a big part of that. My days were spent with the council and my nights were spent with Lucius.

I was happier then I’d ever been. Every day brought a new challenge to overcome and
, every day, my council met that challenge. Every night, Lucius and I shut the door on the world and we talked and made love. We got to know each other, mind and body. I loved every minute of it.

Killian was getting stronger every
day and, after three weeks, he was chomping at the bit to have Eli return to get his legs done. He no longer stayed in the room off mine. Ruby had set him up in a smaller suite he shared with Dominick. I wasn’t sure if it was so Dominick could keep an eye on Killian or the other way around. For the time being, I think they relied on each other.

Dominick roamed the fore
sts every night. Killian told me he left earlier and earlier every night. The days I often found him still in his furry form sunning himself in the garden, I tried to talk to him, but he just said he was fine. I wracked my brain, trying to find a way to get him to want to join us again, but he wasn’t ready and pushing him didn’t help.

Na’min came by often to help me learn as much as I could about the people I was leading. He and Lucius sometimes
played chess after our lesson and Ruby was always there whenever Na’min was. Her crush on him was sweet and he seemed very fond of her too.

I had never felt this way before. Of course I was happy. I was in love, but I also felt useful. I was fulfilled. My spur of the moment idea of having a council was coming to life and everyone was on board.

Na’min continued t
o take care of Oona. She started getting agitated when he would leave her. My lessons became his respite from her constant demands. She was never in the present and often called Na’min by his father’s name. A former labor of love had warped into an obligation. He had idolized her when she was queen. He felt she embodied everything a monarch should be, but he had changed. Living with the wolves and among humans, he saw her in a new light.

She told him things he wouldn’t repeat to me, but he said if even half were true
, Mab had not been the only heartless queen. I just wanted him to be happy. That was my wish for all my friends. If bringing Ruby and Na’min together made them both happy, then even better. I wouldn’t interfere, but rooting from the sidelines didn’t hurt anyone.

“You are daydreaming again
, beautiful.” Lucius walked into our room, soaking wet.

“Why are you so wet
? It’s a clear, beautiful night.”

“In fae land
, maybe, but not in our world. It’s pouring out there.” He began to strip off his wet clothes. I enjoyed the show.

“Get in here and I’ll warm you up.”

He crawled under the covers. A chill ran over my body. He was really cold. “Ahhhh.” I tried to roll away from him, but he caught me in his strong arms.

“You said you’d warm me up.”

“You never said you were going to put those icicle feet on me. My Goddess, did you even wear shoes?”

“Sorry
.” He giggled.

“You don’t sound sorry.” His lips were on my neck and the distraction almost worked. “Not so fast. Did you talk to Quintus?”

“Yes.”

“Please don’t make me play twenty questions
. What did he say?”

He let out a sigh. “He said he had been too busy to answer my calls before now. He wanted to know when I was coming home. He needed his second in command.”

“What did you say?” Butterflies erupted in my stomach. I didn’t want him to leave.

“I said I didn’t know. I was protecting you.” He rubbed his face and then ran his
hands over his close-cropped hair. “He said you didn’t need protecting and if there wasn’t any other reason for me to stay, then I needed to leave tomorrow.”

“Lucius, are you going?”
My heart was beating faster and I was holding back tears.

“No, but I told him why.” We had discussed not telling Quintus about us until we could tell him in person.

“What did he say?” I wasn’t ready for this.

“He told me to stay. That if you were my priority
, then coming back wasn’t necessary. He would find a new second in command.”

“Oh
, babe, I’m sorry.” This was exactly what I had been afraid of.

“Don’t be
; it’s what I want and at least he isn’t breaking us up. I’ll give him some time, then I’ll call again. He sounded odd even before I told him about us. Although he likely knew anyway. This isn’t a bad thing, Cass.”

“It is and I feel responsible.”

“Don’t do this, Goldilocks. Quintus and I often take decades off from each other. We’ve been together for a long time and we need our space every now and then. We always come back together eventually and everything carries on. He needs time and space. If we give him that the next time we see him, he’ll welcome us with open arms.”

I wasn’t holding my breath. Quintus had a long memory. He was chosen to
be a vampire so he could keep the fae sealed in their world. He was created to hold a grudge.

“I hope you
’re right. Maybe he’ll have met someone by then.”

“Are you still determined to go to the goblin realm without me?”
I was tired of talking about this.

“Nice change of subject and yes
, I am. It makes political sense. I take Na’min and Cian. Both get along well with the goblins and taking a light and dark fae escort makes everyone happy.”

“They would be happier if you were coming home to a fae consort.”
I wondered if he was keeping something from me. It wasn’t like Lucius to be so adversarial.

“They think if they can persuade me to take a fae lover
, then he will be able to control me. They don’t know me as well as they think.”

Lucius
’ rumbling laughter tickled the side of my face as I lay my head on his chest. “No one can control you. No one should want to. You are perfect the way you are.”

“If you’re trying to butter me up so I’ll put out
, it isn’t necessary. You were getting lucky anyway.”

“Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

“Promise, but I have grown to like Trehern. Once you get used to the clicking eyelids and that tongue that I swear has a life of its own, he isn’t so bad. Oh, and keep the eyes above the belt.”

“They aren’t big on clothing
, are they?”

“Do you think the women wear clothes?”

“Don’t see why they would.”

“What do you think they
… umm … have going on down below.”

We both started laughing. I loved having him to talk to at the end of the day. “Well, it
’s likely a vague version of what you have.”

“Another thing I’ll have to get used to
, I guess.”

His hand
slid under the covers to cup my breast and all thought of goblins and anything else besides how he was making me feel was gone. I was lost in his touch, smell, strength. We pleasured each other until we were sated and exhausted. I drifted off how I had every night, in his arms.

Lord Eton was being stubborn again and the whole table was frustrated with
him. Trehern wasn’t here, so nothing official could be accomplished anyway. I just wanted to move on and get back to my room so I could get ready for the goblin feast. Eton was a good man, but he was a micromanager and worried over every minute detail.

I wasn’t going to stay here much longer. I was looking forward to
tonight. Not much ever happened that didn’t feel like work and I was promised tonight was about food and celebration. Knowing the goblins, the menu was causing me a little stress, but I was going to try and go with the flow. As long as it was cooked and didn’t move, I was determined to give anything a try.

“Your Majesty
, you aren’t even paying attention.” Eton’s nose flared when he was angry, but he never raised his voice.

“I’m sorry
, Lord Eton, but you’ve raised this a thousand times and I’ve heard it so often, I could recite it myself. Furgus MacDowell seems like a very capable man. I have met with him and he has done a census before. He doesn’t need you to supervise him. He will count every living fae, goblin sprite, brownie, etc. It will help us make policy that will better serve the people it’s supposed to help.”

“Of course
, Your Majesty, I hope you’re right.” He wasn’t convinced, which meant I was doomed to hear this exact argument again. Still, being bored rated much higher than fearing for my life and, since that hadn’t happened in a long time, I was going to rate this a success.

“Okay,
I have a feast to attend and I will leave the final details for the royal ball in your capable hands. We will take tomorrow off and meet again the next day. I just want you to know that your co-operation the last few weeks has meant the world to me. We are making great strides towards your new and responsible government. Before you know it, you won’t need me at all.”

Kael was the only one of my entourage unlucky enough to escort me to the meeting this morning. We
walked back to my room, side by side. “Do you think I’m making a difference, Kael?”

“I do
, Little Queen. The fae are stubborn, but they don’t want to disappear. Sometimes, necessity can make even a fae bow to change.”

I touched his wing and a ripple of power rode through my body.
“Do you know how overwhelming it is to be in your presence?”

He stopped and looked concerned. “I haven’t meant to be.”

“You’re just so strong and powerful. Your wings are one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. You’re so different from anything in my world. I consider myself very lucky that I got a chance to know you.”

He looked sad and then shook it off.
“You have given me hope that my fae cousins are redeemable after all. That’s a great gift.” He began to walk again and then stopped once more. “Why does the dead one call me an albino bat?”

Oops
! I didn’t know Kael had heard that. “Well, there is a creature in my world called a bat. It’s usually black, but they come in different colors and sizes. Your wings are very similar. The albino comes from you being white. I think the dead one was trying to be funny.”

“Well
, the dead one should try harder.”

“I’ll tell him that.” He he he
, the albino bat was funny.

We
arrived at my door and, as soon as I was inside, Kael was gone. Ruby was waiting for me. “Your Majesty, your bath is drawn and your dress is waiting for you in your room. You’re a little late, but I think we can make up the time.”

Ruby was a stickler for punctuality. I rushed to the bathroom and waved at Lucius on my way by. I had wanted a long
, relaxing soak, but I settled for quick and smelling a little fresher. The fae had the best bath products. They could make millions selling them to humans.

Lucius
didn’t say a word as I got ready, but followed me all over the room with his eyes. I picked up the dress. It was a royal blue with a shimmer to the light, almost sheer, fabric. The lining was a lighter color blue and the two together made a wearable work of art. The plunging neckline was a little risqué, but I felt a little better once I put on the necklace that went with it.

When I was done and my hair was as good as it was going to get
, I turned to Lucius and found that he was very close. Damn those silent vampires. “How do I look?” He had been acting weird since I came from the bath.

“Delicious
, my lover.”

His
deep silky voice echoed inside me and made me blush. His fangs were down and I yearned for him to drink from me. “You should have a taste, then.” I brushed my hair back to expose my neck.

His hands were on my neck and his fangs pressed to my skin.
He growled and his tongue darted out and lapped at my skin. “I want nothing more right now than to mark you that way. To taste you and then have my mark on your skin so everyone will know you’re mine.”