WingsOfDesire-AriannaSkye (25 page)

edge. She screamed. She actually screamed, as wave after wave of heat and ecstasy rolled through her. Through her own wild heartbeat, she heard Cerne’s loud grunts and growls of pleasure. His cock jerked, sending jets of hot cum inside her. She continued to spasm as each spurt filled her.

“Gods, that was incredible.” He pulled her against his hard-muscled body and his fingers danced across her skin. Rhiannon sighed, contentment washing over her. She could definitely see herself with Cerne in a long-term sort of deal. She lowered her lips to his and nipped and nibbled. With a soft, satisfied sigh, she wrapped her arms around his neck and entwined her fingers in the soft tendrils of hair.

“I could get used to that,” she murmured in his ear.

A lazy smile swept across his face. “Aye, and I could too.” He squeezed and tapped her butt cheek.

Rhiannon giggled, enjoying the closeness between them. She traced a fingertip along the hard planes of his biceps. “I love this. I hope it’s always like this.” Cerne traced his tongue along her lips. “It’s not always like this,
mo cridhe
.” Rhiannon frowned. “Don’t say that.”

A wicked grin curved his lips. “It will be better...when we gain our wings.” Could she go through with it? Wings and the whole faerie get-up? She had her friends on Earth and her job—if she still had one. She had feelings for Cerne, she couldn’t deny that one bit. She would never have gone this far had she not. Would he come back to Earth with her when they defeated the Dark Faerie Queen? Rhiannon sighed.

Was this even love? She’d thought she’d been in love before, but then she recalled what had happened with that. She gazed at Cerne through the lashes of her eyes, hoping he didn’t sense her unease.

“Is everything all right?” He lifted his hand to her cheek and brushed a wisp of hair from her cheek. Damn him for being so perceptive.

“I’ve been thinking.” Rhiannon cringed on the inside, remembering the last few times she’d uttered or even heard those words.
I’ve been thinking...this hasn’t been working out, etcetera,
etcetera
. Rhiannon took his hand in hers, so as not to alarm him.

“Should I be frightened, my sweet?” He nuzzled his nose against her neck, sending shivers down her spine. Gods, she loved the way he made her feel.

“No, I don’t think so.” She pressed closer to him, brushing her breasts against his muscled chest. She nestled against his cheek, inhaling his woodsy scent. “When this is all over and this evil faerie is taken care of...” She trailed off, trying to be careful with her words. She could definitely see herself spending the rest of her time, here in Fey, with Cerne as her mate.

However, she had responsibilities she needed to take care of on Earth. Would he understand?

Would he come with her?

“What is it,
mo cridhe
?”

She nibbled her lip. “What I’m meaning to say is when this is all done and over, I need to go back to Earth. I—”

“What?” He ripped his hand from hers. His face hardened and his teeth clenched. This wasn’t going well at all. “I’ve just shared with you the most magical act possible between two faeries, and you’ve been planning to leave us all along?” Rhiannon’s eyes pleaded with him. “I mean I want you to come back with me for a—”

“Fey is my home, where I stay.” He pushed her off him and rolled away. She leaned down to brush her hand against his back, but he shoved her hand away. “You used me for pleasure. I’ll not let it happen again.”

“Cerne! Please let me finish.”

Shaking his head, he sat on the edge of the bed. With his back still to her, he reached down for his breeches. “Do not speak another word. Don’t open your thoughts to me. Don’t even think of touching me—ever again.”

Tears welled in Rhiannon’s eyes. She had really screwed this up. Damn men! She’d never understand them, no matter how hard she tried. Now he thought she’d used him for his body. As if she’d do something so cheap and low after taking such a serious vow. “I took a vow, remember.”

“Vows are made and broken every day—especially on Earth.” He stood up and stalked toward the door, his footfalls echoing ominously through her chamber.

“But we’re not on Earth, we’re in Fey.”

“Much to your disappointment, I’m sure.” With that, he threw open the door and strode out.

The slamming of the door reverberated throughout the entire room and tore at her heart. Flipping herself over, she pounded her pillow and fisted the delicate fabric, twisting it in her hands. How could she prove she would be faithful to him and their cause?

~*~*~

Viviane stood amongst her fellow courtesans and other palace servants. It wasn’t until that human-raised bitch had arrived that she’d started having these
episodes
. The only way to stop them was to get rid of Rhiannon.
The best thing would be to get the palace help on her side.

“Good people, how do you like being commanded by a human?”

“The princess isn’t human,” the ignorant maid, Onora, replied. She sat on the floor with her legs crossed, twisting her fists in the skirts of her linen dress.

She’s a fool!

She is the princess’s maid-in-waiting.

But a fool, none-the-less. She ate nightshade berries. How intelligent is that?

This was going nowhere. She needed this beast out of her mind.

Do what I want you to do.

She’d do what she wanted to do.
Find someone else to do your bidding.

“As I was saying, how much of our culture does a human-bred know?”

“She saved the Queen,” a mousy, brown-haired serving wench said. “She saved Lord Silverwing earlier in the day as well.”

Your plan isn’t working, Viviane.

Viviane bit her tongue.
Kiss my arse.

“I haven’t heard of this incident with Cerne,” Viviane continued. “As for the Queen, what’s to say it wasn’t the Mother Amulet that saved her life?”

“It’s said to give its wearer tremendous power,” Kendra chimed in. “They say it glowed when the Queen came to.”

Viviane smiled. “Thank you, Kendra.”

This is fruitless, Madam Viviane. Kill the bitch.

Viviane stood proud. She was a White Faerie. Killing for one’s own gain never solved anything. She would get rid of Rhiannon some other way.

You’re pathetic.

Perhaps, but I’m not stupid. Since you’re my subconscious, you should already know that.

You’ll be sorry, Viviane.

But at least my time in the afterlife won’t be tainted.

Very well, have fun.

Aye, I will. With the servants and fellow courtesans at my side, we’ll seek out Titania and
send the human back to Earth. Then my mind will be at ease.

Her subconscious laughed.
You? At ease? You’re more pathetic than I thought.

Viviane shrugged and turned back to the crowd. “Well, mull over what I’ve said everyone.” She flapped her wings and floated off with the mists.

~*~*~

Korrigan could’ve sworn the palace slut had a spot of black on her heart. What kept her from succumbing? She was getting nowhere. Should the psychic storm be continued until Viviane had no choice but to submit? Korrigan’s informant had insisted Viviane would be the one to do the deed. Apparently, her informant was as clueless as that hare-brained harlot.

“Fergus!” She shouted, the tent shaking around her. She laid her whip across her lap and caressed each strap of leather.

Fergus flitted into her tent and bowed. “How may I be of assistance, Your Majesty?”

“Bring me some mugwort root. I need to increase the enchantment.” Fergus nodded. “I’ll see if the sorcerer can locate some. It’s rather dangerous.”

“Do not tell me how to perform my magic. You’re a mere guard. Now go!” Without further argument, Fergus scuttled from the tent.

Korrigan blinked back into Viviane’s mind, where she found her floating down the hallway.

How can I get them on my side
?

“You won’t, you bloody fool,” Korrigan said out loud, rolling her eyes. This pathetic woman’s idiocy made her stomach roil.
You need his thick cock. Do you not remember how good
it was to lay with him?

Why must you torture me so? I was lonely and Cerne was an attractive enough escape. It
was nothing more than that.

“I wouldn’t be saying this, Madam Viviane, if I didn’t know better.” Korrigan flicked the whip on her arm to test its effectiveness.

Viviane gasped, rubbing her reddened arm.

Korrigan smirked. It was working. Now, if only she had more mugwort root, it would work even more, and then she would finally have complete control.

“There’s more where that came from, Madam Viviane.” Korrigan cracked the whip again.

Tears dripped from the whore’s eyes as her body shuddered again. For the Gods’ sake, these White Faeries had no backbone. She thanked each and every God for blessing her with her Dark Faerie blood.

What in the deities was taking Fergus so long? The sorcerer wasn’t halfway across Fey. He should’ve returned by now. She severed the connection between her and the slut. She needed to check the armies anyhow, and she needed the mugwort if she planned complete control.

Korrigan stood, adjusting her thigh-high boots. She tugged at the leather hauberk she wore and, with a reluctant sigh, set her whip to the side. She made her way toward the entrance of the tent, threw open the flap and flew out. Taking in the scene, she let a grin scrape across her face.

Lightning flashed in the night sky as warriors honed their skills and prepared for battle. The wind whipped around, swirling her hair across her face.

She spotted Gwawl and Llwyd skirmishing in the training fields. Llwyd took his spiked club and slammed it against Gwawl’s already mashed face. The pulse at the base of her throat quickened. Despite the hideousness of these two creatures, excitement coursed through her.

Watching the blood fly from Gwawl’s head, she licked her lips.

Yes, these two tribes were just what she needed to take over the White Plains, along with her prized dragons. She turned to the hold, where the dragons rested for the night. Smoke billowed from their nostrils as they snorted in their slumber.

“Your Majesty!”

Korrigan spun around. Fergus rushed toward her with mugwort root in hand. “It’s about bloody time,” she growled, placing her hands at her waist. “Did you have to wait for the plant to grow?”

Fergus sighed. “I knew you’d be displeased. The sorcerer sends his apologies. He was in the midst of a protection spell. He’s given you extra for your trouble.”

“Very well.” She grabbed the mugwort from his hands. “Be gone now. I have a mind to infiltrate.”

Fergus bowed. “As you wish.” He fluttered his wings and floated away into the darkness of the night.

She couldn’t dawdle. She had the mugwort now. It was time to test her power. Korrigan ruffled her wings, floated back to the tent and swooped her head across camp to check the ranks.

Everything was in order. Then again, with her in charge would anything ever be out of order?

That fact started to disappoint her. She was running out of people to cower at the crack of her whip. The sooner she took over the rest of the White Plains, the better. She grew excited just thinking about it.

She took one last look at the encampment and squinted…
Who in the deities does she think
she is?
Korrigan clenched her teeth as she saw Aine practicing with one of the guardsmen. A rock had more magic than her fool of a sister. Korrigan rolled her eyes and slammed her wooden staff to the ground, sending a faint tremor across the earth.

With a haughty snort, Korrigan threw back the flap to her tent and winged inside. She plumped down into her makeshift throne and crossed her legs. Lifting the mugwort root to her nostrils, she inhaled deeply and wrinkled her nose. Did she really need to eat that? Dragon dung smelled better than this vile plant. She had no choice though. She pressed the brownish-gray mass of roots to her mouth.

“Here goes nothing,” she said, a sinister glint flickering in her eyes. She stuffed the root into her mouth and chewed, swallowing as quickly as she could. Even though it was the vilest thing she’d ever eaten, she refused to shudder.

Korrigan settled back in her throne and closed her eyes, entering into the not-so-deep recesses of Viviane’s simple mind. The slut still meandered about the palace corridors. Probably looking for customers, no doubt
.

Have you given up yet, whore?
Korrigan cackled as the telepathic energy flowed through her.

I’m not one to back down from a challenge.
Viviane raised her chin in defiance.

This bitch had a stubborn streak. It was time to break her.

“Unfortunately for you, Madam Viviane,” Korrigan said out loud in a cool, chilling voice,

“you haven’t made the right choice. I’m afraid I’ll be making the decisions from now on.”

Cerne gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. How had he fallen for her ruse?
He was that
man? Bah! Women!
They were sneaky and sly, especially the human ones—and those raised by humans. He wouldn’t deny he enjoyed sinking himself into her warm—too inviting—pussy. He hadn’t felt that damn good in—well—a few days, actually.

But why couldn’t she realize Fey was her home, where she belonged? Maeve had insisted she’d get the princess to change her mind. It would take an act of one of the Gods for that to happen. He’d have better luck locating one of those hideous green men from the island to the north and his mysterious pot of gold.

He realized he’d been a little too hard on her. After all, she’d spent most of her natural life on Earth. It was only to be expected that anyone, even a faerie, would forget what they had grown accustomed to. But she was more than a faerie. She was their princess and would eventually be queen. The elders told him it would be different for her.

Blast it all to Ogre! Why did everything have to be so difficult? He exhaled sharply, his mind reeling for answers. There had to be a way to convince her?

“Cerne, darling. Why are you roaming the halls this late in the evening?” Definitely not the voice he wanted to hear right now. He groaned inwardly and gazed up to see Viviane leaning against the side of the white alabaster wall. Her milky white bosom strained against the bodice of her tight burgundy velvet gown, while a smooth creamy leg peeked from below the hem of her too-short dress.