WingsOfDesire-AriannaSkye (23 page)

“Good.” Cerne grinned. “My head was going crazy from the barrage of questions flying back and forth.”

“What can I say? As I mentioned earlier, Rhiannon inherited her mother’s wit.” Maeve smirked from across the table.

Rhiannon had to admit she did get along well with Queen Titania. They definitely were related. She looked exactly how Rhiannon had envisioned herself in about twenty years. And regardless of the almost doppelganger effect, Rhiannon noted she had Oberon’s nose, straight and patrician. She admitted it looked better on her father than it did on her.

Oberon beamed, as if noticing her silent perusal. “I’m proud of you, Rhiannon. It takes a brave woman to stand up against someone as evil as Korrigan, especially for a world you’ve only

just been introduced to.”

“It’s odd, but it’s like I’ve lived here all my life.” Oberon nodded and stood up. He strolled over to Rhiannon and took her in his arms. “It’s not odd at all. You’re our daughter. We love you. We never stopped loving you.” Rhiannon smiled up at her father and another wave of tears welled up. She brushed a salty drop before it trickled down her cheek.

“Why are you crying, my sweet?” Oberon asked, wiping another tear from her cheek.

Rhiannon gazed over Oberon’s shoulder to glance at Cerne. For just an instant, she thought she caught him smiling. But in a fleeting second, his mouth formed a straight line.

Rhiannon shook away the wall blocking her thoughts.
Don’t worry, Cerne. Korrigan will be
stopped.

Cerne nodded and smiled, but it seemed only a little sincere.
I’ll support whatever decision
you make, mo cridhe. I shall be your ever-faithful consort.

Sure you do, she thought back. She kissed her father’s cheek and stepped away from their embrace. Gritting her teeth, Rhiannon replaced the mental block.
So much for trust.
What did she have to do to get Cerne to have faith in her? She saw the trust between her mother and father. If she and Cerne were to be married, she’d expect the same level of trust. She breathed an irritated huff.
Men!
They were as ignorant as ever here too.
Those darn Y chromosomes!

Cerne spun around to speak to Titania and Maeve. “It’s late and I believe the princess has a lesson, does she not?” From the tone, Rhiannon could tell his words were directed toward Maeve.

Maeve turned to Rhiannon and gave her a comforting smile. “Indeed she does.” She switched her gaze back to Titania. “May we—”

A bright light filled the room. Radan and the other elders who’d been conversing in the corner jumped.

“Good Gods, Windstorm!” Evenspring threw up his hands in exasperation. “Do you not know how to announce yourself?”

Rhiannon turned to see Windstorm stepping from the amber light. He brushed flecks of glitter from his green jacket, sending the tassels on his shoulders shaking.

“I apologize for rattling your frail nerves, High Councilman.” Evenspring snorted. “How could a turnip-brained buffoon rattle me?”

Titania glowered from across the room. “Gentleman, I won’t allow this feud to continue, especially with the threat of Korrigan looming so close.”

“Which is why I made such a hasty entrance, Your Majesty.” Windstorm gave Evenspring a sidelong glance. “My scouts inform me the Dark Army, along with troops of ogres and trolls, march this way.”

Rhiannon glanced over to her mother. Titania stood still, her pulse throbbing in her throat, then sat down and lowered her face to her palms. “We haven’t any choice. The time to fight is now.”

Rhiannon nodded. She knew what she had to do. Her gaze locked with Cerne’s. She hoped he knew too.

~*~*~

Cerne took a deep breath. Seeing Rhiannon’s pleading gaze sent shivers of dread up his spine. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her. He worried for her. His jaw ticked and he clenched his teeth. He’d never felt this protective over anyone before. It left him overwhelmed.

Cerne turned a calculating gaze toward Windstorm. “How well informed are these scouts?”

“Very informed, Your Lordship.” Windstorm lifted his hand and allowed the messenger orb to flash in the air. He threw the orb against the wall, allowing the scene to play out in front of them. Korrigan marched alongside the monstrous ogre, General Llwyd, whose green mane of hair fell in mats against his putrid brown skin. On Korrigan’s other side, riding the ugliest horse in all of the otherworld, sat Gwawl, General of the troll folk. There weren’t two fiercer generals to fight against. The storms continued to grow with intensity to the south and lightning flashed in the image on the wall. Fires burned everywhere. Korrigan, with her head held high, raised her staff, signaling her troops. The poor village hadn’t a chance.

“We’ve seen enough, General,” Titania said, with a weak voice. She rocked her body back and forth.

“Mother?” Rhiannon gasped. “Are you okay?” She rushed to her mother’s side and took her in her arms.

Titania gasped as spasms wracked her body. Everyone gaped in wonder as the princess held back her tears. It was as if no one cared.

Windstorm blinked and dissolved the image. “Good Gods!” The room bustled into action, forming a circle around Titania and Rhiannon. Rhiannon’s tears spilled onto Titania’s cheeks while she held her tight.

“The Mother Amulet.” Jonas pointed. “It’s glowing!” Oohs and ahhs erupted from the crowd as Rhiannon ran her hands over her mother’s face.

“Please, Mother, I just met you. You can’t leave me yet.” Watching Rhiannon hovering over her mother’s still form, Cerne’s breath caught. He wondered if she had showed as much tenderness and thought when she’d healed him.

Suddenly, Titania coughed and spluttered in Rhiannon’s arms, then rubbed her eyes and shook her head. “Wha...What’s going on?” she gasped.

“You had an episode of some sort.” Rhiannon smoothed her mother’s hair from her face.

She turned to Maeve. “Come help me?”

Rhiannon amazed Cerne. She had the healer’s blood along with the heart of a warrior and the intelligence of a sage. It was almost intimidating.

Maeve stood over Rhiannon, watching her sit the Queen up. Titania sighed and brushed the back of her hand against her forehead. “Korrigan grows stronger. You must stop her.”

“I will, Mother. I promise.” She gazed over to Cerne with fiery emerald eyes. “Cerne has promised to defend me. The kingdom will be safe.”

“If I wasn’t so ancient, I’d fight alongside you as well, my brave princess.” Oberon took Titania in his arms.

Maeve smiled. “The Queen needs you now more than ever. Having you at her side will be as strong a force as an army of a thousand faeries.”

“And having Cerne at my daughter’s side will be just as strong as well.” Oberon gave Cerne an entreating glance. He smoothed a curl from Titania’s cheek and kissed her forehead. “It’s been a long day, my love, and you need your rest.” Titania nodded and brushed her cheek against Oberon’s chest. “I’d like to take a nap.” Their affection for each other never failed to amaze Cerne. He could only dream of having such an open and loving relationship.

“’Tis probably a wise decision,” Maeve replied.

Cerne turned his gaze to Rhiannon. She brushed a tear from her cheek and stood, then walked over to the king and queen and kissed both their cheeks. “I’ll come by tomorrow morning

so we can get better acquainted.”

Titania brushed a finger down Rhiannon’s cheek. “I’ll miss you.”

“And I you.” Rhiannon wrapped an arm around Oberon. “Let me know if her condition worsens.”

Oberon nodded and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “You’ll be the first we notify, daughter dear.” Oberon snapped his fingers and both he and her mother disappeared into the violet mists.

Cerne turned to Rhiannon. “I’m proud of you.” His voice was strained, but he meant every word. She was extraordinary.

Rhiannon nodded and, to his utter surprise, flung herself in his arms. “Thank you,” she breathed. “You don’t know how much I appreciate you standing by me.” Cerne shrugged, trying to remain indifferent. “I’m your consort. I’m required to.” At least that’s what he would keep telling her—and himself.

Rhiannon sighed and pulled away, gently brushing a dark chunk of hair from his cheek.

“You confuse me.”

As do you.
“What’s so confusing, Princess?” Rhiannon punched his shoulder. “Well, for one, you call me by words normally reserved for a lover.” She bit her lip. “Second, you draw away from me as if I have a disease. Third, you give me searing glances when you don’t think I’m looking. You make me catch my breath whenever you’re around. Even in the presence of my parents, you manage to turn me on.” She clenched her fists. “I’ve never seen so many mixed emotions, but I refuse to open the mind link. I think I owe you some bit of privacy.”

Cerne looked around the room. Radan, Maeve, and the other elders were starting to look with curious gazes. Windstorm glowered. “The elders are staring.” Rhiannon threw her arms up in apparent exasperation. “You know what? Let them.” She wrapped her arms about Cerne’s neck and fisted his hair. With a strength he’d never known a woman to possess, she pulled his face to hers.

Usually being the one in charge, Cerne had no idea how to handle Rhiannon’s soft lips crashing to his. On sheer instinct, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her body closer to his. Her lips, hot and needy and hungry, devoured him. He swirled amongst a tidal wave of honey, elderberries and heather along with the intoxicating scent of lavender and vanilla.

His heart thundered as the blood pumped to his now engorged cock.

She sucked and nibbled at his lips. Her fingers dug into his hair while she rubbed her breasts against the ridges of his chest. Good Lord, he was mad with desire. He would give her no more than this kiss, though. She’d been under stress and that was it. He would not take advantage of her. Not when they had a battle to fight.

Briefly, she pulled away to look up at him. “Why do you fight this?” She traced her fingertip against the broad expanse of his chest.

“Now isn’t the time, Rhiannon.” He wrenched away from her. Did she not realize it was the excess energy from the evening causing her to act in such a manner? “You’ve had an exciting night. I’ll not take advantage of it.”

With all the strength he could muster, he strode toward the door.

“Lord Silverwing!” Maeve called. “Wait.”

Without another sidelong or backward glance he threw open the doors. “I’m retiring for the evening, as the princess should as well. We have a busy day ahead of us.” He slammed the door behind him with an ominous thud and proceeded down the hall back to his chamber and the
comfort
of a cold bath.

~*~*~

“Just great! Just bloody great.” Rhiannon paced the large chamber. “I thought he wanted me.” Lord knew she wanted him. Every day, her need for him grew stronger. This was bordering on insane.

Maeve gave her an assuring smile. “He does! More than you realize. But he’s honorable.

Perhaps we should take this conversation back to your bedchamber?” Belenus came up behind Maeve and wrapped his arms around his life-mate. “How about our bedchamber?”

Maeve placed a small peck on Belenus’s cheek. “As soon as I’m done with the princess.”

“I’ll be waiting, my love.” He snapped his finger and vanished in a puff of blue smoke.

“Everyone!” Maeve motioned to the remaining elders. “The princess wishes to retire to her chambers. I have some matters to discuss with her. I request the High Councilman’s leave.” Windstorm snorted. “How like a woman to leave when things need to be attended to!” Both Maeve and High Councilman Evenspring gave him a disapproving glare.

Radan Evenspring was the first to speak out. “The poor girl has had a trying day. Meeting her parents, saving her mother, being called to lead the White Faerie armies. Show your princess some respect.”

“Thank you, Radan,” Maeve whispered.

Radan shrugged. “I do it for Queen Titania, only.”

“I’m sure you do. And I won’t leave until Windstorm offers his allegiance to Rhiannon.” Maeve crossed her arms and glared at General Windstorm.

Windstorm huffed, irritation creasing his brow. “I swear fealty to you as a princess, but I have yet to see your performance on the battlefield. Until then, I won’t allow you to command me.”

“Fair enough. It’s a deal.” Rhiannon reached out and offered Windstorm her hand.

With a begrudging snort, he took her hand in his and shook it. “I’ll be watching you, Princess.”

“You won’t be disappointed, General.”

“I certainly hope not.” He turned away and strode back toward Evenspring.

“Well, I guess that’s better than nothing,” Rhiannon muttered. “Let’s go.” Maeve nodded. She snapped her fingers, returning them to the confines of Rhiannon’s personal quarters.

With a sigh, Rhiannon dropped her exquisite gown to the floor and strode to her bed. She grabbed the flimsy peach negligee that sat on the satiny surface and pulled it on over her body.

“I made my decision before I met the Queen. Does Cerne not understand that?” Rhiannon flung herself onto the bed and beat the pillows with her fists. Pent-up frustration—emotional as well as sexual—was making her crazy.

Maeve chuckled. “He’s a man. Their thought processes do not work the same.” Rhiannon shook her head. “Why do men have to be the same here as they are on Earth?

Jeez! You’d think the otherworld would change them!” Maeve smirked. “Do you know how long I needed to tame Bel?”

“How long?”

“Does he seem tamed to you?”

Rhiannon raised an eyebrow. “Well, he seems pretty compliant.”

“In matters of politics, yes, but in the bedchamber he wants to be in charge. It’s the faerie

way.”

Oh, so she was supposed to sit around and wait for him to make the first move? She didn’t think so. “Well, I’m a take charge sort of girl.” She really didn’t know why she was so adamant about fucking him right now. She’d been a virgin for all her life. What was another two or three weeks? “What’s gotten into me?”

“The faerie fire,” Maeve said. “Sex increases our powers and our energy, especially in times of battle. It’s only natural for you to want to join with your life-mate.” Sure, that was a logical reason as any. She wouldn’t let Maeve know she’d planned on screwing him long before she learned she’d have to lead an army.